Christian Veilleux was a two-year letterman for head coach Patrick Cilento at the Bullis School in Potomac. Today, the freshman quarterback entered the game for Penn State after starter Sean Clifford was injured in the first quarter.
Prior to this game, Veilleux last threw a pass in a live game in November 2019, but he was still able to provide the spark the struggling Penn State offense needed. He threw for three touchdowns and 235 yards after the offense produced 32 yards and one first down on its first four possessions, prior to Veilleux entering the game.
Veilleux was named the 2019 Interstate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year when he was at Bullis (the team did not have a 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
He was rated a four-star recruit by ESPN, the No. 20 pro-style quarterback overall, and the No. 16 prospect out of Maryland by 247Sports before coming to Penn State.
No word on who will start at quarterback for Penn State next week when the Nittany Lions travel to Michigan State to take on the Spartans.
The following letter was sent to students and parents Thursday afternoon from Montgomery County Public Schools:
Dear MCPS Community,
The Athletics programs at MCPS are designed to support and enhance the academic experience for our students and help build school and community spirit. Each week, our students participate in and attend hundreds of athletic contests, and they almost always demonstrate the respect and sportsmanship that we expect. Recently, there have been reports of altercations and incidences of disrespectful behavior at some of our contests. While these incidents involve a small number of students, they are entirely unacceptable and require us to consider some changes to ensure the safety and security of students, staff, and community members, especially at events where large crowds are expected. These changes may include:
- Increasing the presence of police officers;
- Increasing the number of MCPS security personnel, as well as school and central office administrative staff;
- Enhancing lighting where necessary;
- Possibly limiting the number of attendees, rescheduling events to weekend days, and/or changing event start times;
- Requiring student IDs to attend and requiring elementary and middle school students to be accompanied by a parent or guardian; and
- Potentially closing concession stands.
MCPS and county leadership will review each large event to determine the necessary safety measures and those will be communicated by the school. It is our hope that these measures will help to eliminate any future problems at athletic events. As a reminder, students can and will face disciplinary action as a result of poor or unsafe behavior at school events, including athletic contests.
MCPS Athletics’ R.A.I.S.E. core values teach and reinforce respect and sportsmanship, academic excellence, integrity and character, spirited and safe competition, and equity and access. It is the responsibility of all of us to model appropriate behavior from students and adults who attend events at MCPS schools. We are reinforcing this message to our students at school and ask that you remind your children of these expectations before they attend any MCPS event.
Montgomery County Public Schools.
Trevon Diggs was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2020 draft. The Gaithersburg native now leads the NFL with 6 interceptions. His older brother, Stefon Diggs, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 is also considered one of the best wide receivers in the league.
Trevon played for the Wootton Patriots before transferring to Avalon. At Avalon, Diggs played on both sides of the ball and became a four-star recruit and was two-time All-Met as a wide receiver.
After his time at Avalon Diggs continued his academic and athletic career at the University of Alabama. By his junior year in 2018, Diggs had become a full-time starter for Coach Nick Saban’s defense until he broke his foot midseason, ending the 2018 season with 20 tackles, one interception, six pass breakups in six games.
By his senior year, Diggs started 12 games and posted 37 tackles and two fumble recoveries. (including a 100-yard score). During his senior year, he was a third-team AP All-American and second-team All-SEC.
As a rookie, Diggs played in 12 games and started 12 of them. He had 58 tackles, one forced fumble, a sack, and 3 interceptions. This year, his second in the league, he has 6 interceptions in just 5 games and leads the NFL.
Damascus Native Wil Armstrong Completes Cross Country Bike Ride For ALS
72 days after commencing his cross country, against the wind bike ride for ALS, Damascus native Will Armstrong has completed his trip. He started on June 26th from Rehoboth Beach, DE, and finished September 6th in First Beach La Push, Washington.
Throughout this journey, Wil updated his daily blog with his progress, experiences, and related statistics. Inspired by his mentor and former basketball coach, Rodney Lapp who has ALS, Will dedicated his cross-country journey to ALS and crowdfunded for the ALS Association.
Over the past 73 days, Wil has ridden and camped in various weather conditions. Riding in the haziness of the Canadian Wildfires in Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota was strenuous work. He would wear a mask while riding to avoid breathing in the smoke.
After camping out in storms, Wil faced another one of Mother Nature’s obstacles, a heat wave in Montana. Morning temperatures were about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and would rise to 100+ degrees Fahrenheit by 2:00. To avoid as much of the heat wave as possible he started to wake up between at 3:30/4:00am to get going before the heat and wind picked up after noon.
He ran off of 6 packs of bagels for weeks, ate over 200 different kinds of bars (fruit bars, nature valley bars etc), and ran an impressive banana and apple count (86 bananas and 74 apples in his second month). Audio books, music playlists and educational podcasts (on crypto currency and economic theory) helped him pass time keeping his mind busy as he peddled his way through. A special shout out goes to the Home Depot theme song, he would loop the song from the commercial almost every day. He even got to apply for jobs and write up cover letters at camp.
Throughout the trip, Wil has been met with the overwhelming kindness of friends, families, and strangers. From getting to know and exchanging stories with strangers, to sleeping on strangers boats, sleeping arrangements (hotels and motels) paid by individuals along the way, camping in strangers back yards, and couch crashing.
To learn more about his daily encounters through out this trip his website is linked HERE. ALS Research donations can be found HERE. To learn more about his ride you can check out our previous article HERE.
Photo Curtesy of @wilsride Instagram
What’s Still Open Inside Lakeforest Mall, What’s New & What’s Coming Soon
Yes, it is open, and there are still over forty retailers open for business inside.
Earlier today we let you know that Warrior Canine Connection is now open inside Lakeforest Mall.
Article: Warrior Canine Connection Now at Lakeforest Malll
Back in September we wrote about Equity Coffee, which will be opening up this fall inside of the space formerly occupied by Ruby Tuesday.
Read all about it in the article below.
New Coffee Shop Opening Soon at Former Ruby Tuesday Location at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg
The most recent update on the redevelopment of the mall is that on August 16, the Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council adopted the most recent Lakeforest Mall Master Plan Amendment. According to Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, “A lot of things have to come together for a redevelopment to happen, but what we’re doing with this Master Plan update is laying the groundwork for it”.
Read more about that here.
Below is a list of what was open, and a few photos, from when we stopped by:
Food/Beverage:
- COMING SOON: Equity Coffee
- Charly’s Philly Steaks
- Kelly’s Cajun Grill
- Nori Japan
- Pollo Campero
- Rita’s
Lower Level: - NEW: Warrior Canine Connection
- Aeropostale
- Allure Jewelers
- Bath & Bodyworks
- Beautiful U (eyebrows, waxing)
- Central Newsstand
- Champs Sports
- Damian Style (clothing)
- Dollar Up
- DTLR (clothing)
- Finish Line (shoes)
- French Perfume
- Hakky Shoe Repair
- Home Décor & More
- Photo Forever
- Metro by TMobile
- Rainbow (clothing)
- Spencer Gifts
- Test America
- Time Out Zone I & II (mini arcades)
- Walden Jewelers
Upper Level: - Charile Fashions (clothing)
- Claire’s
- Class Act (dresses)
- Essie Allen (clothing)
- Grace’s Place (eyebrows, manicures)
- JW Event Center (party rentals)
- Lens Crafters
- Macy’s / Macy’s Backstagre
- Style One (clothing)
- TMobile
- Trade My Cell
Michael Jordan is an avid open sea fisher. During the fishing season, MJ spends time traveling the coast in his 8 million dollar fishing boat to participate in fishing competitions. MJ and his boat Catch 23’ were registered for the 2021 White Marlin Open, (August 2nd through 6th) for the third year in a row. In the past he hasn’t caught anything worth a cash prize.
For three years in a row, the arrival of Jordan’s private plane at the Salisbury airport has been something local residents look out for. CATCH 23′ is powered by MTU engines and has a max speed of 40 knots and a range of more than 500 nm. The yacht can accommodate eight guests and a crew of two. The 216 square-foot cockpit is built for deep-sea fishing. There’s a transom door, a massive freezer, a large storage space, and fish wells The boat features Jordan’s signature elephant skin print that is also on his private jet. The elephant skin print was used on the Jordan 3s sneakers.
https://youtu.be/a-drHwVUeI4
Montgomery County Police SVID Arrest Gymnastics Instructor; Possibility of Additional Victims a Concern
Per MCPD:
For Immediate Release: Friday, August 6, 2021
Gaithersburg, MD – On July 1, 2021, detectives from the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigations Division-Child Abuse Unit arrested 40-year-old Mark Samuel Yellock, of the 3000 block of Bladensburg Road NE, Washington, D.C.
The investigation related to Yellock’s arrest began in August 2020, when an individual came forward and revealed that Yellock, who was her gymnastics coach at the time, engaged her in inappropriate sexual contact in Montgomery County, MD. The survivor was a minor at the time of the event.
Mark Samuel Yellock was a gymnastics instructor at Silver Stars Gymnastics and Dynamite Gymnastics, both located in Silver Spring, MD. Neither gym was aware of the incidents prior to being contacted by SVID detectives. Both gyms have expressed their full support of the victim and have provided full cooperation to the investigation. Yellock is known to have coached at other facilities in the area and outside of Montgomery County, MD.
Information developed related to this investigation suggests that multiple victims may exist. Detectives are urging anyone who believes that they have information, or believes they are a victim, to contact the Montgomery County Police-Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.
Rockville’s Helen Louise Maroulis Becomes The First American Woman to Win Two Olympic Medals in Wrestling
Helen Louise Maroulis is a Rockville-born freestyle wrestler who competes in the women’s 55-kg 53-kg and 57-kg categories. She was the first-ever American to win a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling back at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
On Wednesday, she became the first American woman to win two Olympic medals in wrestling when she beat khongorzul Boldsaikhan from Mongolia
She attended Magruder High School for three years, where as a freshman she became the first female wrestler to place at the Maryland state wrestling championships. She has been a great spokesperson for mental health awareness after suffering many physical injuries, brain trauma and the effects of prescription medicines.
(2016 Rio Olympic Games, first-ever American to win a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling)
Katie Ledecky Has Now Won More Gold Medals Than Any Other Female Swimmer in History
Bethesda raised Katie Ledecky won the gold medal Friday at the Tokyo Olympics in 800m women’s freestyle. In total, Ledecky has won seven gold medals across three Olympic Games. Ledecky has now won more individual gold medals than any other female swimmer in history.
On Wednesday, Ledecky won the gold medal in the 1,500m freestyle, the first time that race had been held for women at the Olympics.
Ledecky attended Little Flower School through eighth grade and graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in 2015.
Thank you, Tokyo, and thank you all for the tremendous support this week and over the years! I could hear you all! 🥳
Bringing 2 Golds, 2 Silvers, and countless memories back to the USA❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XpXx7oDELQ
— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) July 31, 2021
A THREE-PEAT for LEDECKY!
Gold in London, Rio, and now TOKYO in the women's 800m freestyle for @KatieLedecky! #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA
📺: NBC
💻: https://t.co/Hne9Yk1CKr
📱: NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/Yw613YyWi6— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 31, 2021
YouTube Stars Trained at Rockville Boxing Gym for Today’s Boxing Event in The United Arab Emirates
Social media “celebrities” Slim Albaher (@slim_slimmofication) and Adam Saleh (@adamsaleh) were at Champion Boxing in Rockville earlier this month to prepare for their bouts at today’s fight card in the UAE. Both individuals have millions of social media follows.
The “Social Knockout” event is marketing itself as the world’s first ever crypto currency only pay per view event and is available via LiveStreaming PPV at tk-fightnight.com
Photos below:
The fight card is currently in progress as of the writing of this article. We will update the article later this evening with results.
Former NFL Player to Run for Montgomery County Sheriff
Three-term Montgomery County Sheriff Darren Popkin announced in June that he will not run for re-election and former NFL star Robert Bass has announced he is running to take over the position.
Bass, a 50-year-old Democratic candidate, is the second candidate to enter the race.
Bass, originally from Brooklyn NY, moved to Montgomery County in 2008 to join the County’s sheriff’s office as a deputy, and is currently a Silver Spring resident. He has worked in the domestic violence and court transportation units.
Later, in 2012 Bass created his own company, Never Left Alone Security Consulting. The company provides security services for a multitude of different establishments including residential complexes, religious grounds, universities, hotels and more.
The sheriff’s responsibilities include court security, issuing criminal warrants, criminal transportation, service of process for the county court system, child support enforcement and combatting domestic violence.
Bass hopes to focus on officer training implementing de-escalation tactics and a bigger focus on mental health. He believes that MCPS could do better job with outreach, to recruit officers in the sheriff’s office from within the county.
Before moving to Montgomery country he worked as director of player development for the Miami Dolphins. From ‘91-‘94 he played football for the University of Miami, the Linebacker continue to his football career in the NFL for two years (94-‘96). Bass played for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
The 2022 primary will be on June 28 and the general election is on Nov. 8
