Bethesda

MCPS Student, Larry Liao, Advanced to Quarterfinal of 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee

By MCS Staff

Larry Liao, a student at Cold Spring Elementary School in Potomac, advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee. To get there, Larry correctly spelled his first word, taedium vitae. He then correctly answered the question, “What is cybernetics?” with “the comparative study of communication and control in human and artificial intelligence.” To get to the quarterfinals, he correctly spelled conspiration. Unfortunately, in the quarterfinals, Larry was unable to spell the word precisian correctly. Larry made Montgomery County proud, earning 74th place in the National competition.

According to Larry’s bio, he was born on May 9th, 2012 and is now 11 years old. He participates in many extracurricular activities, but one of his favorites is tennis. The word he spelled correctly to make it to the National competition was flugelhorn, his favorite movie is Treasure Island, his favorite food is bacon, and his favorite subject is science.

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Education

MCPS Celebrates Excellence in Autism Services

By MCS Staff

MCPS celebrated excellence in autism services during the second annual Autism Unit Awards on May 24. Teachers, paraeducators, administrators, service providers, volunteers and substitutes were recognized. Awards included:

• Outstanding New Paraeducator: Given to paraeducators in their first two years with the autism program, who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their roles.

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Derwood

Candlewood Principal, Carolynn Walsleben, Wins Mark Mann Award

By MCS Staff

Carolynn Walsleben, principal at Candlewood Elementary School in Redland/Rockville, is this year’s winner of the Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award. The Mark Mann award is presented annually to an MCPS administrator who has shown exceptional performance in promoting academic excellence, positive human relations and community outreach.

Walsleben has been principal at Candlewood since 2020. She began her teaching career in MCPS in 1999, as a first grade teacher at Bells Mill Elementary School. Colleagues, staff members and parents say Walsleben is a natural leader. She is a strong administrator who exemplifies what it means to be a caring, forward-thinking, data-driven leader. She sets high expectations, and believes in progress and celebrating along the way. As curriculum changes, she ensures that adequate tools and support are put in place so staff can efficiently meet student needs. She continually encourages staff to become social together and to build strong relationships, knowing that students will benefit from their strong bonds and positive energy. She helps teams build on one another’s strengths, and uses her skills to build the capacity of other leaders.

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Takoma Park

‘Celebrating Sligo Creek’ Art Opening Reception Takes Place on June 15

By MCS Staff

Sligo Creek is a lifeblood for wildlife in Takoma Park, an important tributary in our watershed, and a source of creativity and inspiration for local artists. Two photographers and a mixed-media artist will share their work inspired by the creek and its environs in the Celebrating Sligo Creek exhibition at the Takoma Park Community Center, with a free opening reception on June 15. The exhibition, which will be on view until Sept. 7, features work by Julius Kassovic, Lynn Alleva Lilley, and Steven Robinson.

Julius Kassovic is a fine-art photographer based in Silver Spring. Since 2005, Sligo Creek has been his major muse and the subject of his Intimate Waterscapes series.While working around the world in staff positions with the Peace Corps, he used color negative film to document Peace Corps projects. His work has been exhibited in galleries in the D.C. area and in other states and countries. “I have been intensively shooting photos in Sligo Creek, and I keep finding new expressions of its beauty,” he said. ”I wade into the creek to capture dreamlike images reflecting through the shallow water that appear to be double exposures but are true representations of the creek’s beauty.”

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Clarksburg

30-Year Sentence for Defendant in Shooting Death of 23-Year-Old in Clarksburg Neighborhood

By Patrick Herron
Courtesy Google Maps

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Kevin Hessler sentenced defendant, Rodjaun Neal-Williams, 21 of Clarksburg, to 30 years in prison. Neal-Williams was convicted by a jury on March 7th, 2023, on charges of Voluntary Manslaughter and Use of Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence for the death of 23-year-old Javon Gordon of Boyds.

This stems from an incident on April 13, 2021, on the 12900 block of Ethel Rose Way in Boyds. The defendant who was 19-years old at the time, was a passenger in a vehicle that pulled up to small group of individuals in the street. There was an altercation between Neal-Williams and Gordon while Neal-Williams was seated inside of the vehicle, and he fired a handgun, killing Gordon.

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Gaithersburg

Red Door Escape Room Announces Grand Opening Date

By MCS Staff

Red Door Escape Room has announced the opening date of its 14th location at 125 Boardwalk Place in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront Shopping Center. The Grand opening event will take place on Friday, June 9th from 6pm-8pm. At the event, once the reservation system goes live,  you’ll be able to book your “episode” for 50% off.

“We are excited to bring the Red Door Escape Room experience to all of our guests and cannot wait to get involved in the local community surrounding Gaithersburg,” said CEO Nick Madden. “At Red Door Escape Room, we combine technology and puzzles to create a truly collaborative and mentally-stimulating experience for families, friends, and coworkers alike. We want our guests to successfully decipher the codes and complete the challenges; but more importantly, we want them to talk and laugh about their experience on the ride home.”

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Rockville

PNC to Close 26 of Its DC Metro Area Giant Branches, Including Three in Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Last year PNC Bank announced it would be closing “about 127 in-store branches at Giant Food and Stop & Shop supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia and the District as well as in New Jersey and Delaware.” The Pittsburgh-based bank has been closing many of these branches in waves throughout 2023, but at the time did not mention which specific branches would be closing. Today it was reported by the Washington Business Journal that 26 branches in Maryland and Northern Virginia would be closing, including three in Montgomery County (listed below).

Let year, PNC began the conversion of what will be 1,000 branches to an automated model. The conversion of all of these branches is expected to be completed by 2026. In September 2020, PNC Chairman and CEO William Demchak announced the bank was on track to close nearly 160 branches that year and another 120 in 2021 (109 ended up closing), as part of the bank’s strategy to lean harder on more prosperous digital sales. The three Montgomery County locations that will be closing are listed below:

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Crime

MCPD: Six Arrested in Connection With Gang Related Murder

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Six suspects have been arrested in connection with a November 2022 homicide and shooting in Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park. On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, Montgomery County Department of Police 3rd District officers responded to the 9000 block of Piney Branch Road for multiple calls of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds in a wooded area behind an apartment complex. That victim was transported to an area hospital in serious but stable condition.

As K-9 officers canvassed the crime scene, they discovered a deceased male with apparent gunshot wounds, close to the area where the shooting victim was found. The body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and identified as 20-year-old, Edvin Moises Agustin Leon. The victim had no known address. Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the shooting and homicide were gang related.

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Takoma Park

Police is Searching For Missing 15 Year Old Male

By MCS Staff

Takoma Park Police is searching for a 15 year old male named Jaydon Naim Ponce Sosa who has been missing since Tuesday, May 30th at approximately 7:50pm. He was last see on the 8500 block of Flower Ave in Takoma Park and was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black ripped jeans, and white nike shoes. If you can help find this person, please reach out to Takoma Park Police by calling 301-270-1100 or texting tip411.

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Germantown

Opening Information for New Grand Mart in Germantown; Details on Food Court

By Patrick Herron

New Grand Mart, a Korean grocery chain with locations across Maryland and Virginia, will open its newest store at 13069 Wisteria Drive in the Germantown Plaza shopping center on June 8th. It is taking over the space previously occupied by Lotte Plaza, which closed in November. According to its website, “New Grand Mart carries a variety of fresh produce, fish, meats, and ethnic specialty items that is hard for other markets to match.”

In addition to the grocery store, New Grand Mart will also feature a food court. Vendors announced include Gogi Friends (Korean BBQ), Noodles & Friends (Korean-Chinese fusion), Tous les Jours (bakery), Sushi Friends, and Fortune Cha (bubble tea and dessert.) According to a representative at Grand Mart, the food court is scheduled to open a few weeks after June 8th.

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Crime

Police Investigating Georgia Avenue Theft

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Patrol Investigations Unit (PIU) are investigating a theft that occurred in the 11300 block of Georgia Avenue on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

The preliminary investigation by detectives has determined that the suspect entered the store at approximately 1 p.m., walked to the back of the store and entered the manager’s office. The suspect searched the office until he located an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect stole the cash and exited the store.  The suspect is described as a Black male, tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a black shirt and dark jeans.

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