Education

Montgomery College One of Four Community Colleges in the Nation to Receive Ascend/Aspen Institute Funding to Support Student-Parents

By MCS Staff

Montgomery College will join a cohort of four community colleges across the country selected to partner with Ascend at the Aspen Institute’s Postsecondary Leadership Circle Activation Fund. Ascend’s new capacity-building fund provides financial support and expert technical assistance to selected community college campuses to accelerate institutional investment into expanding effective, equitable, and culturally-informed student parent supports.

Nationally, one in five college students – close to 4 million – is a parent. Almost half of all U.S. student parents attend community college, and 70% of these parents are mothers – making institutions like Montgomery College uniquely positioned to improve student parent outcomes, especially for single mothers.

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MoCo Government

Fight Breaks Out Before Public Hearing on Restaurant Tips

By Patrick Herron

At the hearing, proponents of Bill 35-23 said it would reduce wage theft and help working families, while opponents of the bill said it would lower profits, increase prices for customers, and reduce the income that tipped employees currently earn. The bill would adjust the calculation of the minimum wage for tipped workers and phase out the tip credit amount under the Montgomery County’s minimum wage law. Currently, businesses are required to pay servers $4.00 per hour; if a server does not make the current minimum hourly wage ($15-16.70) per hour, employers are required to make up the difference.

If the bill passes, there will be incremental increases over the next five years:
• $4.00 per hour, until July 1, 2024;
• $6.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2025;
• $8.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2025 until July 1, 2026;
• $10.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2026 until July 1, 2027; and
• $12.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2027 until July 1, 2028

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Crime

Four Charged with Killing and Burying 18-Year-Old Woman in Shallow Grave in Olney

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Two women, one man and a teen are in custody and charged with murder, in connection with the death of 18-year-old Rosa Sanchez Merino. Roberto Carlos Rivera-Delgado, Iris Yudella Alonzo-Salgado, Aracely Abarca-Melgar and Edwin Alexander Rivas-Salvador are accused of killing Sanchez Merino on or about May 1, 2023, and burying her in a shallow grave in the 3600 block of Brookville Road, in Olney.

Rivera-Delgado was arrested for a parole violation in Nevada and extradited to Maryland on Tuesday, September 29, 2023. The 23-year-old suspect led Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes detectives to the location where Sanchez Merino was buried. On October 1, 2023, an autopsy of Sanchez Merino was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the death was ruled a homicide.

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg Police Officer Receives Life-Saving Award

By MCS Staff

The Gaithersburg Police Department proudly recognizes Officer Carissa Fortin, a 5-year-veteran of the police department with the Life-Saving Award. During a chaotic scene, Officer Fortin demonstrated a calm and decisive officer as she responded to a call for service on July 30, 2023, in the 200 block of Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg, Md.

Responding to what was initially dispatched as a shooting call, turned out to be a domestic situation. Arriving on-scene, Officer Fortin discovered an adult female who had jumped from a moving vehicle. As a result, her arm was caught under the vehicle, causing a severe laceration to her forearm, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding. Without hesitation, Officer Fortin applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding while simultaneously calming the female down. Officer Fortin recognized the need to apply a second tourniquet which was successful in stopping the bleeding.

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Crime

Update: Police Looking to Identify Suspect Wanted for 4th Degree Sex Offense

By Patrick Herron

The Maryland-National Capital Park Police is seeking the public’s assistance with identifying the person pictured above. The photograph was obtained via security camera footage near the intersection of Manchester Road and Hamilton Avenue. This is in reference to a 4th Degree Sex Offense that occurred on the Sligo Creek Trail in the area of Three Oaks Drive on Sunday 10/15/2023 between 3:50PM and 4:00PM. The suspect was described as a 5’8 to 5’9 medium build teenage Hispanic or light skinned black male. The suspect was wearing a black ski mask covering most of his face, blue/teal windbreaker jacket, brown or tan cloth backpack with buckle fastener, and khaki pants.

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Gaithersburg

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 Alisson Fernanda Alfaro Quinonez, a missing 15-year-old from Gaithersburg. Alfaro Quinonez was last seen on Monday, October 16, 2023, at approximatley 9 a.m., in the 100 block of Sharpstead Lane in Gaithersburg. She is 5’1″, 97 Ibs., with long brown hair, brown eyes, and has a dimple on her left cheek. She was last seen wearing pajamas and crocs.

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

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Damascus

Ridge Road Closed Tuesday Afternoon After Vehicle Driven Into Utility Pole

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 27,100 block of Ridge Rd., between Woodfield Road & Gue Rd., in Damascus for the report of a collision involving a vehicle into a utility pole. Ridge Rd is currently closed at Woodfield Rd. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, “lanes are blocked by downed pole and wires, road will be closed to large vehicles, likely, i.e. School buses, delivery trucks, etc..”

Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route and to expect significant delays. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

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MCPS

The MoCoShow MCPS High School Football Top 10 – Week 7

By Damon Anderson

1. Quince Orchard Cougars (Last Week: 1) – Undefeated at 7-0: The Cougars showcased their dominance once again, storming past Richard Montgomery with a commanding 43-7 victory. Running Back Iverson Howard was the standout player of the evening, amassing an impressive 111 yards of total offense and punching in three touchdowns. The undefeated Quince Orchard squad is now gearing up for a colossal showdown against archrivals Northwest in the highly anticipated Black Hole, Germantown this Friday night.

2. Walter Johnson Wildcats (Last Week: 3) – Unblemished at 7-0: The Wildcats continued their unbeaten streak in style, leaving Wheaton in the dust with a resounding 46-6 triumph. Next, they’ll take their unblemished record to Olney, where they’ll clash with a formidable Sherwood team in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.

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MCFRS

Pedestrian Hospitalized With Minor Injuries After Being Struck by Driver Tuesday Morning Near Northwood High School

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) and Montgomery County Police responded to a collision involving a pedestrian on Tuesday, October 17. According to police, “MCPD responded to the 900 block of University Blvd. for the report of a collision involving a pedestrian. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on scene. An adult male was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. This is an ongoing investigation.”

We will provide an update if additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

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Restaurant

Tropics Ice Cream & Jerk Has Closed

By Patrick Herron

Tropics Ice Cream & Jerk at 9324 Georgia Ave in Silver Spring has permanently closed, according to a report by Source of the Spring. The restaurant, which originally opened as Tropical Café, served York Castle Caribbean Ice, Jamaican patty’s, smoothies, and jerk chicken. The location is currently available to lease on LoopNet.

Last week, Milk & Honey, a southern inspired brunch and soul food restaurant which has locations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, opened in the space next door at 9326 Georgia Avenue. The news of its opening was first reported by Source of the Spring.

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Education

Thomas Edison HS of Technology to Hold Open House Event (Open to All MCPS Families)

By MCS Staff

Thomas Edison High School of Technology (12501 Dalewood Dr. Silver Spring) is hosting its Open House for this school year on October 19th from 6-8PM. All MCPS families are welcome to come learn about Edison’s programs and meet their career and technology teachers and community partners.

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