Montgomery County Public Schools sent out the following community message on Wednesday, August 2:
“Dear MCPS Community:
Fall is right around the corner! As families prepare to return to school, here are a few health care reminders from MCPS and School Health Services:

  1. School immunizations—The Maryland Department of Health released updated school vaccine requirements for the 2023-2024 school year. Families of incoming kindergarten students, new students, and 7th and 8th graders may need additional vaccines to start the school year. For students whose required vaccines are incomplete, updated vaccine records must be submitted by the first day of school; proof of exemption or a vaccination visit must be submitted within 20 days. School staff are reviewing records and contacting families of students with incomplete vaccination records. Not sure if your student is up to date? Contact your child’s health care provider or access their immunization records online. Students 18 years old and younger eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may obtain free vaccines through the county’s Immunization Program.

  1. School Health Forms—Returning students may need certain forms if they have a health condition that requires medication, other health support or accommodations, or an emergency health plan at school (for example, asthma, food allergies or a seizure disorder). Common forms include:

  1. Athletics—Sports team tryouts start on Aug. 9 for high school, and Sept. 12 for middle school. Student-athletes will need a sports physical if they are registering for the first time, or if it has been 13 months (high school) or two years (middle school) since the date of their last exam. Parents/guardians must submit their student’s physical form as part of the online registration process. For more information on registration, required forms or other resources for sports physicals, visit the MCPS Athletics website.

  1. For more information about school health services, see the program information on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website. For an overview of mental health services and supports, download the MCPS Stronger Student App or click on “Mental Health Support” on the MCPS website.

We are excited to see everyone at the 2023 MCPS Back-to-School Fair / Feria de Regreso a la Escuela para el Ciclo Escolar 2023-2024 at Westfield Wheaton Mall on Saturday, Aug. 26! The fair is a great opportunity to learn about school and county services, and will include a free immunization clinic.

Enjoy a safe and healthy summer!

Sincerely,

Patricia Kapunan, M.D., MPH
Medical Officer, MCPS

Mark Hodge, MS, B.S.N., RN
Sr. Administrator, School Health Services, DHHS”

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Gold’s Gym will be holding a Grand Opening celebration for its new Germantown location at 12922 Middlebrook Rd. The gym opened earlier this month in the former location of DSW in the Germantown Commons shopping center, next to the recently closed Bed Bath & Beyond. The celebration will feature over $10K in giveaways and will take place on Tuesday, August 15th from 10am until 7pm.

Per Gold’s Gym: “Join us from 10AM-7PM to celebrate our brand new gym location by experiencing group exercise classes, free giveaways, special membership offers, fitness competitions, Therabody recovery clinic, free food, live dj and more — Presented by Celsius! Attend to enter for a chance to win a 1 year FREE membership!

OPEN HOUSE Group Exercise Classes – Led by Les Mills Master Trainer Jessica Wong:
5:30PM – BodyPump
6:30PM – BodyCombatSee you at the gym.”

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The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old. Fernanda Azevedo De Silva was last seen on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m., on Bronco Ct. in Germantown Silva is 5 feet, 120 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.

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

 

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Longtime local radio host Michael Sorce, better known as Don Geronimo, was fired from radio station WBIG “Big100” over the weekend after making on-air remarks about WUSA9 sports reporter Sharla McBride on Thursday, July 27. The incident occurred while Geronimo and co-host Crash Young were broadcasting live from Commanders training camp. Geronimo referred to McBride as “Barbie”, and initially thought she was a cheerleader. Geronimo released the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:

Last week, during my live radio show from the Commanders training camp, I used inappropriate words in a way that hurt someone. I deeply and sincerely apologize for the pain I caused WUSA sports reporter Sharla McBride.
As has been reported, I insensitively used the terms “Barbie,” “Barbie girl,” and “chick” when talking about Ms. McBride, a fellow broadcaster who I did not know or recognize, when she walked by our broadcast position. My attempts to be humorous and topical backfired, and I needlessly deprecated a professional colleague.
I want to correct one inaccurate aspect of some media reports. Contrary to those reports, neither I nor my producer used the word “tight” to describe Ms. McBride. Rather, my producer used the word “tight” – a common term in the broadcast world that refers to seamless production – to describe a technical aspect of our show that day. The timing of it was unfortunately misconstrued in some reports as part of my reference to Ms. McBride.
I have reached out to Ms. McBride to apologize. When she feels ready, I hope that we can have a conversation and that I will have the opportunity to reiterate my apology to her in person. I hope that Ms. McBride and the listeners who heard me will forgive me. I am better than this, and I promise to demonstrate that going forward.”

 

 

Don Geronimo co-hosted the nationally syndicated Don & Mike Show with Mike O’Meara from 1986 until 2008 and began hosting mornings at BIG100 in September 2021. BIG100 is the flagship radio station of the Washington Commanders and is owned by iHeartMedia, which broadcasts out of studios located at 1801 Rockville Pike in Rockville.

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The Maryland State Police Crash team continues the investigation into a multi-vehicle crash which claimed the life of a Pennsylvania woman and injured nine others last night in Montgomery County. Full press release per Maryland State Police below:

The deceased is identified as Elizabeth Velez, 36, of Easton, Pennsylvania.  She was the driver of a Nissan Pathfinder involved in the crash. Velez is the mother of three children, ages 2, 5, and 15, all of whom were passengers in the vehicle.

The front seat passenger in the Nissan is identified as John Tejada, 36, of Pennsylvania. Velez, along with two of the passengers, Tejada and a 15-year-old girl, were transported to Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center. The two younger children, ages 2 and 5, were transported to Inova Hospital in Virginia. The driver and four passengers of a Lexus SUV were also injured in the crash. All five adults were transported to Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

Police received 9-1-1 calls reporting a white Mercedes CLS 450 traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-270 near Rockledge Drive last night shortly before midnight. The preliminary investigation indicates the driver, later identified as Jayleen Hannor, 23, of Macon, Georgia continued driving the wrong direction on I-270 on to the outer loop of I-495 when he crashed into a Nissan Pathfinder and a Lexus SUV at exit 34, Route 355. Hannor continued driving until he bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot in the area of Connecticut Avenue.

Hannor was taken into police custody and transported to the Rockville Barrack for processing. He was later transported to Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center where he is currently under police guard.

Hannor faces multiple charges to include driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to immediately return and remain at the scene of a crash involving death. Additional charges are pending further investigation and consultation with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team leads the investigation. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department assisted at the scene while the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted with lane closures on the outer loop of I-495 in the area of Route 355. All lanes were reopened at 5:00 a.m. this morning.

Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact police at the Rockville Barrack at 301-424-2101.  All callers may remain anonymous. The investigation continues.

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Per MCPD: A 19-year-old from Damascus has been arrested and charged with murder, in connection with a Father’s Day homicide. Khamani Imes was arrested on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, for allegedly giving a gun to Isaiah Brown-Hawkins that was used in the homicide of 33-year-old James Joel Austin on Sunday, June 18.  The 16-year-old allegedly shot Austin and then drove away in the victim’s Honda that was located in Washington, DC. Brown-Hawkins was not with the vehicle and has not been found.

Imes was taken into custody at his Bethesda Church Road home where Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes detectives, with the assistance of the MCPD SWAT Unit, executed a search warrant. A firearm was recovered during a search of the residence.  Imes was placed under arrest for underage possession of a firearm and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was also charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy. He is being held without bond.

 

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Per the Maryland Department of Health: Following Governor Wes Moore’s proclamation of August as Immunization Awareness Month in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Health has launched a social media campaign urging parents and caregivers to make sure their children are up to date on their back-to-school vaccinations. The campaign will take place across the Department’s TwitterFacebook and Instagram accounts.

“Our children deserve the best protection we can give them against preventable diseases, so we urge all parents to keep their children updated on their vaccinations, especially those required for school enrollment,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Laura Hererra Scott. “We want to start the new school year with every child healthy, happy and ready to learn.”

The campaign features videos of trusted Maryland pediatricians and pharmacists, as well as graphics and helpful resources highlighting the importance of back-to-school vaccinations for children and adolescents.

“Parents no longer worry about measles or polio, or a dozen other diseases which used to be prevalent in our society, because of vaccines,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman. “We have also made it through the pandemic, in part because of the protection we received and continue to receive from COVID vaccines.”

Childhood vaccines prevent approximately 4 million deaths worldwide annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to immunizations that infants and young children receive, important protection is also provided against HPV and meningitis through vaccines available for adolescents.

Maryland maintains specific vaccination requirements for participation in child care and public schools. For more information about back-to-school vaccinations, visit health.maryland.gov/immunization. To find a local vaccination clinic near you, visit marylandvax.org.

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A Montgomery County man is $100,000 richer after purchasing a winning lottery scratch-off ticket at the King Kong Restaurant (2350 University Blvd) in Adelphi. Full story below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:
“A lucky Montgomery County man just received the win of a lifetime. The construction worker purchased a $10 In the Money scratch-off and celebrated a $100,000 top-prize win. The 43-year-old made a stop at his usual place of Lottery play, King Kong Restaurant located at 2350 University Boulevard in Adelphi. Once he spotted the $10 instant ticket, he quickly made a choice to buy the blue and green scratch-off.

He learned of his Lottery luck shortly after purchasing the instant ticket and has been excited ever since. The Silver Spring resident also took time to share the great news with family members and friends. The lucky winner hasn’t made any plans yet for spending his prize. His Lottery retailer, King Kong Restaurant in Prince George’s County, will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling the $100,000 top-prize winning scratch-off. The In the Money game went on sale in February with eight top prizes; two are unclaimed. This game also has four $20,000 unclaimed prizes along with seven $10,000 prizes, nine $1,000 prizes and others ranging from $10 to $500.”
Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

 

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Update – Phone service has been restored.

Per Rockville Police: The Rockville City Police Department is currently experiencing an issue with incoming calls to our non-emergency Communications Center as well as the Administrative Offices. At this time, if you are in need of police assistance, please contact the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 or 911 if you are experiencing an emergency. We apologize for the inconvenience, and are working to fix the issue as soon as possible.

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While nobody matched all five numbers in last night’s $1.1 billion Mega Millions lottery drawing, two tickets sold in Maryland were $10,000 winners. Full details below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:
“Congratulations to the 117,549 Maryland winners in the Tuesday, Aug. 1 Mega Millions drawing! Although no one hit the jackpot, Marylanders won prizes of $2 to $10,000. The winning numbers to match on the white balls are 8, 24, 30, 45 and 61; the gold Mega Ball was 12 and the Megaplier was X4. The Mega Millions jackpot rolls to an estimated annuity of $1.25 billion for the Friday, Aug. 4 drawing with an estimated cash option of $625.3 million. The jackpot is the fourth largest in the game’s history and the sixth largest in U.S. lottery history.

Maryland’s two third-tier $10,000 winning tickets were both sold in Anne Arundel County. Check your tickets closely if you bought them at Pantry One Food Mart, 1090 Spa Road in Annapolis or South River Colony Exxon at 111 Mitchells Chance Road in Edgewater. Lottery officials encourage all winners to sign the back of their tickets immediately and put them in a safe location until they can claim their prize. Winners get 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes.

Instructions on claiming prizes in person or by mail are available HERE. Players must redeem prizes larger than $25,000 by mail or at Lottery headquarters in the Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. The Lottery’s Claims Center in Baltimore is open by appointment only (no walk-ins). Click HERE to schedule an appointment.

Nationally, the Aug. 1 drawing created more than 4.9 million winning tickets. Maryland has now had three second-tier winners of $4 million and $1 million and 20 third-tier winners of $10,000 to $40,000 during the jackpot run. Since the last jackpot of $20 million was hit in New York on April 18, there have been more than 31.3 million winning tickets across all prize tiers (except the jackpot) nationally, including 53 worth $1 million or more. In Maryland, this jackpot run has generated 812,212 winners.

The last Maryland jackpot win came in March 2014, when Maryland and Florida players split a $414 million jackpot. That winning ticket was sold at Lady’s Liquors in La Plata. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 47 states and jurisdictions. Odds of winning a $1 million prize are 1 in 12 million with overall odds of winning 1 in 24. Winning numbers are available at mdlottery.com and on your mobile phone by downloading the free MD Lottery app.”
Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

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