Tacos El Pariente has announced it will be holding the grand opening of its brick and mortar location at 7889 Cessna Ave. in Gaithersburg, in the space previously occupied by Daytime Eats. Daytime Eats closed this past spring.
Tacos El Pariente also has food trucks at 20220 Frederick Rd in Germantown (the original truck) and at 18000 Georgia Ave in Olney. Their menu items include birria tacos with consome (their specialty), tortas, burritos, enchiladas, esquite, and more. For its grand opening, the restaurant in Gaithersburg will be open from 9am until 9pm and offer breakfast options at 50% off from 9am-10am and free tacos (maximum of three) from 3pm-4pm.
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Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Community Partnerships today announced the winners of this year’s Show Your Pride! LGBTQ+ decal contest, which was open for submissions in early June. Bethesda resident Vinnie Yankowski was named winner of the youth category and former Silver Spring resident David Spengeler won the adult category.
“Anti-LGBTQ+ bias is surging across the U.S.,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It’s more critical than ever for Montgomery County to stand behind our diverse LGBTQ+ communities. These decals are a symbol of who we are as a county—everyone is welcome here, and this is no place for hate.”
Submissions were grouped into youth (23 years and under) and adult (over age 23) categories, de-identified and scored by a committee comprised of members of Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and LGBTQ+ community members. The committee selected three adult and three youth finalist designs that were shared during pride month events and on social media for public voting.
“Hands are the perfect way to express a sense of community and inclusivity,” said Yankowski of their design. “By holding hands and coming together, we can all celebrate what it means to be ourselves.”
Design created by Vinnie Yankowski, youth category winner.
Spengeler drew upon his experience as an immigrant to the U.S., creating a design he describes as simple and effective. Based on his observations of living in Montgomery County, he said, “I have never seen such a public LGBTQ flag like the one in Silver Spring at Veterans Plaza. I am happy to contribute my design to make it even more inclusive.”
Design created by David Spengeler, adult category winner.
Each category winner received a $1,500 prize and the winning designs will be printed and distributed for use by businesses, nonprofit organizations and County agencies to show their public support for Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ communities.
Designs were required to include the County seal, as well as the words “Montgomery County Pride” to reflect inclusion of trans and gender expansive communities and to demonstrate the concept of intersectionality.
Stone Mill Elementary School has been selected a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The winners were announced on Sept. 19.
Per the MCPS press release: Stone Mill is the 43rd MCPS school to be named a National Blue Ribbon winner. The school was among 313 public and 40 private schools being recognized this year. It is one of six schools in Maryland to win the honor. The others are: Church Hill Elementary School and Matapeake Elementary School in Queen Anne’s County, Northeast Elementary School in Allegany County, Oakdale High School in Frederick County and Smithsburg Middle School in Washington County.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments. These schools demonstrate what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.
Located in North Potomac, Stone Mill has 558 students and was named an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon award winner. More than three-quarters of its students are identified as gifted and talented or are working above grade level or both. It also has the largest special education preschool education program (PEP) in MCPS, and about 20 percent of its students are English Language Learners (ELLs). The school was able to earn this significant recognition because of its dedication to each of its students, its focus on individual data and its strong leadership.
“Congratulations to the Stone Mill Elementary School community on being named a National Blue Ribbon School,” said Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight. “What an incredible example of how highly engaged staff can partner with parents and community members and get extraordinary results for our students. This is a perfect illustration of what the district prioritizes for all of its schools.”
Stone Mill relies on relationships and community to support its academic and social-emotional work with children. School staff work to create a positive, professional and engaging culture to inspire children to work hard. Children start every day with ‘Stone Mill Expectations,’ which remind everyone to be their best selves. Staff believe that everyone is important, and that diversity keeps everyone strong and learning. Stone Mill is a place where children can become all they imagine.
“I am incredibly proud of the staff, students and community who have worked tirelessly to make Stone Mill a shining example of student engagement, hard work and success,” said Stone Mill Principal, Dr. Kimberly Williams Cascio. “In my 23rd year as the principal of Stone Mill, I am still honored every day to work with the amazing people who call Stone Mill their home.” The winners will be honored during a recognition ceremony on Nov. 16–17.
Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “This afternoon, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, a jury convicted defendant, David Lee Brown III, 29, of Washington D.C. on charges of attempted voluntary manslaughter, first-degree assault, and use of a handgun. He faces up to 55 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 20th, 2023.
This stems from an incident at the Clyde’s Restaurant in Chevy Chase on November 14th, 2022, that began as an altercation between Brown and a woman. Several people came to the woman’s defense and a physical altercation ensued. Brown pistol-whipped one male victim and shot another man. The shooting took place outdoors, but the fight then continued inside of the establishment sending employees running for cover.”
“This was a violent act at popular establishment that placed people in danger, including innocent bystanders. We thank Montgomery County Police for their work leading to the arrest and commend Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and John Lalos for handling the prosecution of this defendant,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.
Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Karen Cruz Garza, a missing 15-year-old. Garza was last seen on Saturday, September 16, 2023, around 11:30 p.m., in the 13100 block of Ideal Drive in Glenmont. She is 4’10″, 130 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and black ripped jeans with white sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Karen Cruz Garza is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
Update: This event has been postponed due to weather. The new date will be Saturday, October 28th from 12pm-3pm.
The Germantown Volunteer Fire Department and Montgomery County Police Department District 5 will be holding a joint event on Saturday, September 23 from 12pm-3pm at 20001 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown.
There will be an ambulance, rescue squad, boat support, and fire engines all on display for tours and pictures. The US Park Police will also be landing their Eagle helicopter (time permitting, as they’ll be on duty). There will also be a sprinkler demonstration, showing how quickly a room can burn with vs without sprinklers.
A junior firefighter challenge will be available for kids, where they can try to put out all of the “fires” and then go through a crawl space. There will also be cpr mannequins to learn hands-only CPR **not for an official certification.** Parking for the public is available in the lots by the Germantown Panera and Chick Fil A, as well as the Red Robin/Señor Tequilad area. Limited parking will be available behind Regal because the helicopter will be landing there.
Per the United States Department of Justice: A Maryland man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Steven Patrick Cook, 24, of Bethesda, Maryland, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with two felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Cook is charged with several misdemeanors, including entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds. Cook was arrested in Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, and made his initial appearance today in the District of Columbia.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Cook was identified via multiple body-worn camera footage and open-source videos as among the crowd of rioters on the West Plaza of the U.S. Capitol. At 2:28 p.m., three individuals linked arms and marched into the police line on the West Plaza, breaking the line. Cook followed soon after and began pushing and hitting police officers. Cook grabbed an officer’s baton and punched another.
As Cook continued his assault on the police, the line broke and officers retreated into the Lower West Terrace Tunnel. Cook followed close behind, entering the Tunnel at approximately 2:43 p.m. Cook quickly made his way deeper into the Tunnel, left, and returned at 3:02 p.m. When he returned, Cook took a gas mask from a nearby rioter, put it on, and ran back into the Tunnel, bull-rushing the police line and grabbing an officer’s baton.
Cook eventually left the area at about 3:05 p.m., only to return once more to participate in a coordinated push against the police with other rioters. Cook ultimately left the Tunnel area at 4:08 p.m.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire on Wednesday afternoon in the 19000 blk of Montgomery Village Ave, near Centerway Rd. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, there was a small insulation fire on the roof of the upcoming Baskin Robbins in the Montgomery Village Shopping Center. The fire is out and there were no injuries reported.
We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.
Baskin Robbins, 19300blk Montgomery Village Avenue near Centerway Road, 2-sty commercial building, roofers working, small insulation fire on roof, fire is out, @mcfrs PE708, PE734, E753, PE729, PE722, PAT708, T734, RS729, A708B, BC705, BC703 & others responded pic.twitter.com/EwS5H1vJ8m
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) September 20, 2023
Per Montgomery County: Committees will review the Spending Affordability Guidelines for the FY25 Capital Budget and the FY25-FY30 Capital Improvements Program and review Montgomery County Public Schools FY23 End of Year Categorical Transfers; receive an update on adult education efforts from Montgomery College and the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy
The Education and Culture (EC) Committee will meet on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 1:30 p.m. to review Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) categorical transfers and receive an update from Montgomery College and the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL) about their adult education efforts.
The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink.
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will also meet at 1:30 p.m. to review Spending Affordability Guidelines for the FY25 Capital Budget and the FY25-FY30 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
The members of the GO Committee include Chair Kate Stewart, Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Sidney Katz.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) FY23 Operating Budget Categorical Transfer Request
Review: The EC Committee will review the resolution to approve categorical transfers among seven state budgeting categories totaling $21.4 million for the MCPS FY23 Operating Budget as requested by the Board of Education.
In FY23, four categories ended the year in deficit, which included: Category 9, Student Transportation; Category 10, Operation of Plant and Equipment; Category 11, Maintenance of Plant; and Category 12, Fixed Charges. To fill these deficits, the Board of Education has requested categorical transfers totaling $21.4 million from three categories, which include: Category 3, Instructional Salaries; Category 4, Textbooks and Instructional Supplies; and Category 5, Other Instructional Costs.
Montgomery College and MCAEL Adult Education Efforts
Update: The EC Committee will receive an update on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs from MCAEL and Montgomery College. MCAEL provides grants to partner organizations, implements community learning groups and provides resources, training data analysis and community education related to adult ESOL classes.
Nearly 134,000 Montgomery County residents self-identify as limited in their English proficiency. In FY23, MCAEL delivered more than $1.3 million in grant funding and provided instruction to 6,117 unique learners across 764 classes.
Review: The GO Committee will review Spending Affordability Guidelines for the FY25 Capital Budget and the FY25-FY30 CIP. These guidelines limit certain types of debt that may be programmed for expenditures in the CIP and set the Council’s voting thresholds for the capital budget each year.
The Council must adopt spending affordability guidelines for the aggregate capital budget by the first Tuesday in October of every odd calendar year. By evaluating and setting appropriate debt levels every two years, the Council preserves the County’s fiscal health and manages the amount of general funds required for debt service.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who committed an armed carjacking and strong-arm robbery in Silver Spring.
On August 29, 2023, at approximately 2:14 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the to the 8060 block of 13th St. for the report of a robbery that just occurred.
Detectives have determined that the adult male victim was walking when he was approached by the suspect on a bicycle who made threatening remarks and indicated he had a weapon.
The victim gave the suspect his wallet, containing cash, and the suspect left the scene on his bicycle, going southbound on Georgia Ave.
On the same date, at approximately 2:26 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the 7-Eleven in the 7900 block of Georgia Ave. for the report of a carjacking that just occurred.
Detectives have determined that the adult male victim was standing outside the 7-Eleven when the suspect, who was riding a bicycle, approached him, pulled out a black handgun and demanded the keys to a silver Toyota Camry. The victim gave the suspect his keys and the suspect drove away in the Camry, toward Washington D.C.
The suspect is described as a juvenile Black male, approximately 14 to 16-years-old, 5-feet, 4-inches to 5-feet 6-inches tall, wearing all black clothing, a black face mask, and white/black Nike Air Jordan 12 Retro shoes.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that same suspect, and three other suspects, used the stolen Camry in another armed robbery attempt which developed into a shooting in Takoma Park on that same day.
Detectives have obtained surveillance video of the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding these suspects or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects. Tips may remain anonymous.
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