Maryland

Governor Wes Moore Announces Record Federal Funding to Support International Efforts for Maryland Small Businesses

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland: “Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to broaden the state’s international reach and help companies create jobs and access new foreign markets. The funding is the highest single award that the department has ever received through the State Trade Expansion Program, which supports participation in overseas trade shows in targeted industry sectors and funds the state’s ExportMD program.

“Maryland’s economy will grow and thrive when our small businesses have more opportunities to succeed,” said Gov. Moore. “We thank the U.S. Small Business Administration for their support in expanding Maryland’s global economic reach. This record funding represents boundless possibilities.”

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MCPD

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 12-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Cesar Urial Gomez Valasquez. Gomez Valasquez was last seen on Monday, October 16, 2023, at approximately 8 a.m. in the 300 block of University Boulevard East in Silver Spring.  He is 5’6″, 130 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing black sweatpants with white stripe, black shirt with rose design and a black sweatshirt.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Cesar Urial Gomez Valasquez is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

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MCPD

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 15-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Xavier Beltran. Beltran was last seen on Monday, October 16, 2023, at approximately 1 a.m., in the 200 block of Poplar Spring Road in Rockville. He is 5’6″, 120 Ibs., with black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black hat, black hoodie and black sweatpants.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Xavier Beltran is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

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Germantown

Update: Report of Germantown Kidnapping Determined to be Unfounded

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigation Division has determined the report of a kidnapping involving a 13-year-old girl to be unfounded. On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the girl reported that she was kidnapped by two suspects, described as Hispanic and Black males, between 3 – 3:15 p.m. She alleged that the suspects approached her in a dark sedan in Germantown, and forced her into the car. The girl reported that at some point, she was able to get out of the vehicle, where she was located by a resident and transported to an area hospital by Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel for evaluation.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that the report was unfounded and there is no threat to the community or to the safety of children.

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Crime

Update: Officer in Critical Condition After Being Intentionally Struck by Driver on I-270

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to give an update on an incident that occurred early this morning on I-270 north that involved an officer being struck by a driver. The injured officer has been identified as Patrick Kepp, 36, who currently serves on the Alcohol Initiatives Unit. According to Police Chief Marcus Jones, Kepp has lost the use of both of his legs and remains in critical conditions.

The suspect has been identified as Frederick Raphael Mayorga, 19, of Frederick, MD.  Mayorga is said to be well known to Montgomery County Police due to several prior incidents, and has a reputation for attempting to provoke officers into high speed chases.  Prior to the incident, officers were monitoring Mayorga, who was seen driving a green Dodge Challenger recklessly at the Clarksburg Outlets and on I-270.  Jones said officers did not pursue Mayorga.

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Education

Watkins Mill High School Enacts Shelter in Place Wednesday Due to Online Threat; Afterschool Activities and Sports Canceled

By Patrick Herron

Update: In a message sent to the Watkins Mill community principal Vilma Najera at 7:41pm Wednesday evening, the threat was deemed not credible by Montgomery County Police. The full message can be seen below:

“Good evening Watkins Mill families and staff,

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DMV

Doors Opening… Faster! Metro is Preparing For Auto Doors

By MCS Staff

This week, customers may notice doors opening faster on some Red Line trains when they stop at stations. On Wednesday, Metro will begin certifying operators who have been trained to use Metro’s Auto Doors function. The feature enables doors to open automatically when the train stops at the platform. Not only is it safer and more reliable, but it also eliminates the delay of operators manually opening the doors.

Currently, operators are required to open and close train doors manually. They’re instructed to stick their head out the window, take a few seconds to verify they are opening the doors on the correct side of the train, and then press a button to open the doors. The process can take up to 15 seconds and happens more than 20,000 times a day across the system.

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MCPS

Week 8 MoCo High School Football Preview & Predictions (MCPS)

By Damon Anderson

This week’s matchups offer a blend of history and rivalries!

Quince Orchard (7-0) at Northwest (6-1): Battle of Rivals- Friday night lights will blaze as the undefeated Quince Orchard Cougars prepare to face the once-mighty Northwest Jaguars, now looking rather vulnerable. Last week’s stumble against Churchill showcased Northwest’s weaknesses, leaving them in a precarious position. However, in the world of high school football, history often repeats itself. A decade ago, an underdog Northwest team, fresh off a narrow defeat to Clarksburg, ambushed the then-undefeated Cougars to steal their championship dreams. Could history favor the Jaguars again?

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Crime

Maryland Attorney General Announces Guilty Plea And Sentencing of Curtis Bay Energy LP – Owner of Largest Medical Waste Incinerator in United States 

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office (10.18.23): – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the guilty plea and sentencing of Curtis Bay Energy, LP (Curtis Bay Energy), the owner and operator of a special medical waste incinerator facility located in south Baltimore City, to a forty-count criminal information that resulted from a long-term investigation conducted by the Office’s Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit (ENRCU). The charges to which Curtis Bay Energy pled guilty relate to the insufficient treatment and improper handling of special medical waste and the operation and concealment of an unpermitted discharge outlet.

On August 18, 2023, in sentencing Curtis Bay Energy, the Honorable Judge Martin H. Schreiber II of the Circuit Court of Maryland, placed the company on 2-years of probation and ordered the company to pay a fine of $1,000,000 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund. As a special condition of that probation, Curtis Bay Energy will fund a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) that will direct $750,000 into communities surrounding the facility for environmental projects to protect and improve the environment and reduce risks to public health. The SEP will be administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, a nonprofit grant-making organization. This sentence is one of the largest penalties in the Office’s history for an environmental criminal case.

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Entertainment

HalloWheaton Bar Hop and Family Events Taking Place Later This Month

By MCS Staff

Wheaton is the place to celebrate Halloween! There are fabulous Halloween events for adults, children and families in and around the Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District!  Options for celebrating include adult trick-or-treating (a themed bar hop for adults), family events with Halloween crafts and activities for children as well as a  beer garden for adults at HalloWheaton, and child friendly options like the nearby Eye Spy Train or Westfield Wheaton Boo Bash!

HalloWheaton (family oriented), Sunday, October 29, 12-4pm, Free Admission: Get a jump start on celebrating Halloween in the Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District  for free s’mores roasting, pumpkin painting, costume contests, Halloween crafts, face-painting, photo ops, and more at HalloWheaton.  This is the 3rd annual HalloWheaton event at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, 2424 Reedie Drive. Adult activities include a beer garden, fire pits, yard games, and a zombie trailer.

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Bethesda

Rowan, a Piercing Studio With Piercings Performed by Licensed Nurses, is Opening its First Maryland Location

By MCS Staff

Rowan, a piercing studio with all of its piercings performed by licensed nurses, is opening a new location in Bethesda. This will be the studios first Maryland location and already has over 30 locations open/coming soon in various states. They offer different styled of ear piercings including, hoops, studs, charms, threaders, cuffs, and others. Rowan will be moving into the space previously occupied by Roll by Goodyear at 4919 Elm St. in the Shoppes at Bethesda Row, according to Danny Rubin of WashUrban. An opening date is not yet available.

“All our piercings are performed by licensed Nurses only—as they should be. After all, piercing is a medical procedure. All our earrings are hypoallergenic. Meaning: premium metals only. Our jewelry is made of 14K solid gold, gold vermeil, gold plating over sterling silver, and sterling silver. Meet the Founder, Louisa Serene Schneider: “An experienced Board Member with a history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Asset Management, Equities, and Capital Markets. Louisa observed first-hand that products and services that were labeled “girly” weren’t paid much attention and especially, in the ear piercing industry the choices were limited to either an impersonal experience at the mall and tattoo parlors or an intimidating one at a doctor’s office. As a mom, she wanted only the best for her kids. Which began her search for a fun, celebratory and safe ear piercing experience for everyone that can also be affordable. And when Louisa didn’t find one she founded one. Welcome to Rowan, where we offer safe and celebratory piercings for all.”

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