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Woman Who Murdered 92-Year-Old Roommate Sentenced to 23 Years

Published June 29, 2023 at 5:56PM | Updated June 29, 2023 at 6:13PM

Courtesy Google Maps

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney sentenced defendant, Julia Birch, 28, of Kensington, to 40 years in prison suspend all but 23 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. She must also complete 240 hours of community service upon probation. Judge Maloney recommended the defendant be admitted to the Patuxent Eligible Persons Program while incarcerated.

This stems from an incident on July 28, 2021. Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a residence on Spruell Drive in Kensington, Maryland for a death investigation. Upon their arrival, the complainant, 26-year-old Julia Birch, told officers that she had suffocated and killed her 92-year-old roommate, identified as Nancy Ann Frankel, who was found deceased in her bedroom. Birch had staged the body to look more presentable, laying the victim on a pillow, folding her arms over her chest, and putting perfume on her. This was after initially unsuccessfully trying to get the body back into her bed. Birch was taken into custody and transported to Montgomery County Police Headquarters to be interviewed. She admitted to killing Nancy Ann Frankel by trying to place a plastic bag over Frankel’s head to suffocate her, and when the victim poked a hole in the bag, Birch took her to the ground and strangled her to death. Physical evidence and autopsy confirmed the method of death. Birch admitted to then calling 911 to report the death.

DMV

Free Metro Rides After 5pm on July 4th

By MCS Staff

Published June 29, 2023 at 5:49PM

Per WMATA: This July 4, let Metro get you to and from Independence Day festivities stress and fare-free. Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess will be fare-free on Tuesday, July 4 from 5 p.m. until the system closes, with frequent service to the National Mall and other celebrations across the region.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on July 4, Metrorail faregates will be open, and fare-free signage will be posted throughout the stations and on buses to communicate that customers do not need SmarTrip cards if using Metro after 5 p.m. “The Metro Board of Directors is proud to support our region’s Independence Day celebrations by providing fare-free service for all customers traveling after 5 p.m. on July 4,” said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “The best way to beat traffic and get to barbeques, parades, and fireworks is with Metro, America’s transit system.”

Burtonsville

Paint Branch’s Heather Podosek Announces Retirement in Letter to the Panther Community

By MCS Staff

Published June 29, 2023 at 5:29PM

Paint Branch Athletic Director Heather Podosek has retired from MCPS after 31 years. Podosek has been Athletic director since 2010, following two championships and 13 years as the girl’s head basketball coach. Earlier today, Podosek posted the following letter to the Paint Branch Athletics website saying goodbye to the Paint Branch community:

“Today is a emotional day for me as I retire from MCPS after 31 years, but it is also filled with reflection and gratitude! As I look back at my career (and all the stops along the way) which brought me to my “home” at Paint Branch, I will always be thankful for the guidance, patience and encouragement of the administrators, colleagues, coaches, students, and families that help me in my journey. You have been such a big part of shaping my career which is filled with love, laughter and happiness!

Montgomery County showcases its unique ecosystem at World Vaccine Congress 2026

By Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation

Published May 13, 2026 at 4:45PM

AstraZeneca's Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility in Rockville, Montgomery County. Photo courtesy of the Montgomery County Government.

Montgomery County, MD is commonly known as being a suburb of the nation’s capital, but what might surprise some is that it is also home to a thriving biotech ecosystem. With over 350 life sciences companies, including global brands like AstraZeneca, United Therapeutics, and Novavax, Montgomery County anchors the third largest biophama hub in the U.S., behind only Boston and San Francisco.

Running annually in Washington D.C. for over 25 years, World Vaccine Congress attracts an international audience from over 80 countries and convenes more than 3,000 people to learn about the latest trends, research, and technologies in the vaccine industry. This year, Montgomery County took center stage, with a featured session on the extensive Biologics Value Chain in the County, as well as a session during which County Executive Marc Elrich spoke about the extensive resources available to companies here, and an exhibit space showcasing these resources.

A Complete Biologics Value Chain in One Region

One of the defining strengths of Montgomery County is its ability to support the full lifecycle of biologics, all the way from early research to large-scale manufacturing. During the panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Stefanie Trop, Director of Life Sciences at the Maryland Department of Commerce, local leaders emphasized that the region’s strength lies in its network of partners who work collaboratively across discovery, development, testing, and production. Panelists from companies in all stages of the value chain spectrum included Dr. Andrew Lees, Founder of Fina Biosolutions, Benjamin Moutier, Senior Vice-President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies at AstraZeneca, Dr. Helen Sabzevari President & CEO of Precigen, and Dr. Frederick Holtsberg, Chief Scientific Officer of Integrated BioTherapeutics.

This end-to-end capability in close geographical proximity gives companies a unique advantage and is rare to find in other markets, even established ones like San Francisco and Boston. In fact, only a handful of places worldwide offer the combination of infrastructure, expertise, and collaboration found in Montgomery County and if diversity, education and population density are taken into consideration – then Montgomery County standouts even more.

“Gaithersburg is one of the six places in the world where we can do what we’re doing,” explained Benjamin Moutier, Senior Vice-President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca. “We have the right partners at every step of the value chain [in Montgomery County].”

A Strong Partnership Network

Biotech breakthroughs rarely happen in isolation. They depend on strong partnerships between private companies, local and state governments, academic institutions, and workforce training organizations. Montgomery County has intentionally cultivated these connections, making collaboration and coordination defining characteristics of its life sciences ecosystem.

Dr. Frederick Holtsberg, Chief Scientific Officer at IBT Bioservices, a full service CRO offering clinical & preclinical contract research services, says the company’s close partnerships between them and local stakeholders have been crucial to its success. “As a Rockville-based company, we’re grateful for the partnership and support from city, County, and state leaders,” explained Dr. Holtsberg. “These programs have helped fuel our growth, and we’re excited about the continued momentum of our community.” (more…)

Montgomery College

Agreement Reached to Resolve Sexual Harassment Case at Montgomery College Involving Professor Requiring Female Students to Remove Shirts

By MCS Staff

Published June 29, 2023 at 4:40PM

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that Montgomery College, Takoma/Silver Spring Campus, has entered into a resolution agreement to resolve a sexual harassment complaint. OCR’s investigation established that a College professor, who was not named, engaged in sexual harassment of female students during a class he taught by requiring the students to remove their shirts and wear only their bras – and then commenting on their bodies – ostensibly to demonstrate a medical assessment despite the fact that the assessment did not require the clothing removal, or the bodily commentary.

Within approximately three months of the initial report of the professor’s harassment, the College’s investigation confirmed that the professor’s conduct created a hostile environment on the basis of sex. The College terminated the professor’s employment and the College provided written notice of the outcome of its investigation to the student in the class who initially reported experiencing sexual harassment, and also offered supportive services to affected students. However, the College did not notify all affected students regarding the conclusion of its investigation, raising a concern that the College may not have taken necessary steps to ensure that a hostile environment did not persist for affected students.

Event

Closing Reception at “Inspired!” Art Show & Sales

May 30, 2026 12:00 pm -5:00 pm

BlackRock Center for the Arts

12901 Town Commons Drive

Germantown, Maryland 20874

Website Contact Social

Beautiful venue; great art, gifts and hand-crafted items; refreshments; and meet the award-winning painters, photographers, mixed media artists, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more – some 40 artists in all. It’s an extraordinary array of framed wall works, 3-d media including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber pieces, and unframed prints.

Among them, you’ll see:

Restaurants

“Boozy” Taco Bell to Open First Montgomery County Location

By MCS Staff

Published June 29, 2023 at 4:20PM

Taco Bell Cantina, known for its fast-paced environment, tech-forward innovations like kiosks and digital menu boards, and a variety of alcoholic beverages to go along with traditional Taco Bell fare, is opening its first Montgomery County location in Silver Spring, according to a BizJournals report.

Per the report, the new restaurant will open at 8662 Colesville Road, next to the Fillmore Silver Spring and across the street from Ellsworth Place in the space that was most recently home to Pollo Campero until it closed in late 2021. The Taco Bell Cantina alcoholic drink menu “features an assortment of beers, wines, sangria and Twisted Freezes, including your favorite fermented alcohol”, but the exact drink menu will vary by location. An opening timeframe is not yet available.

MCFRS

Three Displaced After Dryer Fire

By Patrick Herron

Published June 29, 2023 at 2:58PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a house fire in the 9000 blk of Pickwick Village Terr in Silver Spring on Thursday, June 29 around 12:15pm. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was caused by a clothes dryer in the home. Three people have been displaced and there are no injuries reported. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Update – Pickwick Village Ter, MOR TH, dryer fire, no injuries, 3 people displaced pic.twitter.com/FuNbgjOs6r

Gaithersburg

Construction Progress at Gaithersburg Wawa

By Patrick Herron

Published June 29, 2023 at 2:37PM

After initially breaking ground at the site in March 2022, construction of MoCo’s first Wawa at 405 S Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg is starting to pick up speed. The convenience […]

Health

Maryland Department of Health, Department of the Environment urge Marylanders to take Precautions Due to Code Red-Level Unhealthy Air Quality Across the State

By Patrick Herron

Published June 29, 2023 at 12:39PM

Per the Maryland Department of Health: The Maryland Department of Health and Department of the Environment are urging Marylanders to take precautions as Maryland is once again under a Code Red Air Quality Alert today resulting from the Canadian Wildfires. The departments are advising Marylanders to expect unhealthy air conditions today as smoke and fine particles produced from the wildfires continue to spread across the state and region.

“We are working in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment to monitor the impact that wildfires burning in Canada are having on the air quality in Maryland. We recommend that everyone stay indoors as much as possible today, especially those who suffer from any respiratory conditions,” says Department of Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott. “If you must be outside, consider wearing an N95, KN95 and FFP2 masks to reduce particles you breathe in.”

Montgomery Parks

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Wins $18.5 Million Federal Grant to Improve Trail Networks

By MCS Staff

Published June 29, 2023 at 10:24AM

Money from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant will be used to enhance trails in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties as part of the Capital Trails Network.

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced this week that it has awarded The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission an $18.5 million RAISE grant to fund the rehabilitation of multi-use paths to fill gaps in the Capital Trails Network. The Capital Trails Network is a plan developed by local jurisdictions, the National Park Service and trail advocacy organizations, to connect 990 miles of trail between Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Maryland

Governor Moore’s Statement on the Fifth Anniversary of the Capital Gazette Shooting

By Patrick Herron

Published June 29, 2023 at 10:09AM

Per the State of Maryland (6.28.23): Governor Wes Moore released the following statement on the fifth anniversary of the Capital Gazette shooting, one of the deadliest attacks targeting American journalists in our nation’s history:

“Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters were taken from us far too soon.

Health

Maryland Department of Health Partners with The Trevor Project to Expand Support for LGBTQ+ Youth

By Patrick Herron

Published June 29, 2023 at 10:01AM

Per the Maryland Department of Health (6.28.23): The Maryland Department of Health today announced Caring Out Loud, a year-long partnership with The Trevor Project to bring trainings, resources and support to LGBTQ+ Marylanders.

“As behavioral health professionals, we must continue to address disparities, build hope and save lives,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrera Scott. “This partnership reflects our commitment to protecting hope and providing necessary care to LGBTQ+ Marylanders.”