Bethesda Archives - Page 182 of 277

Water Main Replacement Brings Nighttime Lane Closures to Chevy Chase

Published December 15, 2022 at 9:41PM

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) will soon begin the next phase of a water main replacement project in Chevy Chase. Crews have already replaced water mains under portions of Brookeville Road (MD-186) and several residental streets in Chevy Chase Section Three and The Village of Chevy Chase Section 5.

Crews will be working along Connecticut Avenue throughout the rest of December and January. Approximately 800 feet of water main will be replace, underneath Connecticut Avenue between Rosemary and Thornapple Streets (North of Bradley Lane and South of East–West Highway). According to an Upcoming Project Activity Notice published by WSSC, crews will be working overnight, between 9PM and 5AM, to complete the water main replacement underneath Connecticut Avenue.

Detectives are Seeking Additional Victims in a Cash for Gold Robbery Scheme

By MCS Staff

Published December 15, 2022 at 9:26AM

Per Fairfax County Police: On Oct. 29, a victim was driving home, when he saw three people on the side of I-495 in Bethesda. The victim stopped to provide aid. A woman said the stranded group needed money to continue their travels. She showed the victim a watch and gold jewelry. She requested cash in exchange for the items. The woman convinced the victim to drive to an ATM. Two men in a black SUV followed the victim and woman. The victim began driving and quickly realized this was likely a scam. The victim stopped in a parking lot and exited his car. One of the men from the other vehicle exited their car and told the victim to sit in the driver’s seat while he drove the victim to obtain money.

The suspect then drove the victim to four locations in Fairfax County. Through intimidation, the crew forced the man to withdraw money. Once the victim’s accounts were empty, the suspects left the victim, and he called 911. Officers believed this crew was likely operating in the area and continued to search for the black SUV used in the crime. On Nov. 3, an officer saw a gray Chevrolet Tahoe that appeared to be disabled on the Dulles Toll Road. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the occupants as Magdalena Mazil, 39, Hagi Voinescu, 36, and Romeo Voinescu, 23 all from Baltimore. Officers obtained consent to search the vehicle and located large amounts of fake gold jewelry.

40 Year Sentence for Co-Defendant in Bethesda Target Store Stairwell Murder

By Patrick Herron

Published December 14, 2022 at 3:13PM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the honorable Judge Karla Smith sentenced defendant, Joshua Wright, 18, of Bethesda, to life in prison suspend all but 40 years for the death of 33-year-old, father of six, Lawrence Wilson Jr., on December 19^th, 2021. Judge Smith ordered that Wright be admitted into the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program while incarcerated. He will be placed on five years of supervise probation upon release. Wright had pleaded guilty to the charge of first-degree murder in July 2022. Co-defendant, Antonio Lawrence, who is facing charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, is scheduled for trial beginning February 6, 2023.”

Original December 2021 report: Detectives from the Montgomery County Police – Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section arrested and charged two juveniles and an 18-year-old with first degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery, following the death of a 33-year-old male in Bethesda. 16-year-old Antonio Lawrence, 17-year-old Joshua Wright, and 18-year-old Blaise Uchemadu, all from Bethesda, are accused of killing 33-year-old Lawrence Richard Wilson, Jr. on Sunday, December 19, 2021.

MoCo’s Joshua Pitsenberger Named Ivy League Rookie of the Year

By MCS Staff

Published December 12, 2022 at 8:10PM

Joshua Pitsenberger has been named the Ivy League Rooking of the Year after an impressive freshman year at Yale. Pitsenberger, who is from Bethesda and attended North Bethesda Middle School before going on to star as a student-athlete at The Avalon School, helped lead Yale to a 8-2 overall record (and 6-1 in the conference).

This season, Pitsenberger has rushed for 667 yards on 120 carries for 5.6 yards per carry and 6 touchdowns. He also has 10 catches for 53 yards and one receiving touchdown. He has been named Rookie of the Week four times this season and was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding freshman player in the NCAA. As a senior at Avalon, he rushed for 1,156 yards on 188 carries and scored 13 touchdowns, and had 36 receptions to go along with two receiving touchdowns. He also added two returns for touchdowns. Growing up he played football in Bethesda’s Maplewood Athletic Association and comes from a large, football-loving family. According to the Yale athletics website, he has eight brothers who have also played football.

Police Investigating Theft of Electric Wheelchair in Bethesda; Video of Suspect Released

By Patrick Herron

Published December 12, 2022 at 12:14PM

The investigation by detectives has revealed that the suspect entered the apartment building, stole a person’s electric wheelchair that was in the parking garage and left the scene. Detectives reviewed the surveillance cameras of the apartment building and obtained video of the suspect.

Several Pets Unaccounted For Following Sunday Afternoon Fire

By MCS Staff

Published December 11, 2022 at 4:35PM | Updated December 11, 2022 at 4:58PM

3:35pm Update per MCFRS: Two dogs were located in the smoke filled house, likely over come by smoke. They did not survive, no other injuries

Original report: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call on the 4800 block of Chevy Chase Rd near Hillandale Rd in Chevy Chase at approximately 2:40pm on Sunday afternoon, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson, Pete Piringer.

Churchill Alumna Kamie Crawford to Host Newest Season of ‘Are You The One?’

By MCS Staff

Published December 9, 2022 at 5:35PM

Kamie Crawford, a 2010 graduate of Churchill High School, has just announced that she’ll be the host of the latest season of Are You The One?, which will air exclusively on Paramount+ after 8 seasons on MTV and a 3 year break. Crawford is no stranger to MTV, as she she served as part of a panel of rotating hosts for the second part of season 7 of the television series Catfish after Max Joseph’s departure from the series. In 2020, she became the permanent co-host of the MTV series.

On July 24, 2010, just weeks after graduating from Churchill High School in Potomac, Crawford represented Maryland in the Miss Teen USA 2010 pageant where she made history by being the first contestant from Maryland to win the title. While at Churchill, Crawford was the captain of the Varsity cheerleading team. She was selected into the medical program for the Congressional Student Leadership Conference at Georgetown University. In September 2010, Crawford enrolled in classes at the New York Film Academy while taking some core classes at a local college. She graduated from Fordham University in 2015 with a degree in communications and media and began a career in television and hosting.

La Catrina Opens Today For Dinner and Dancing

By MCS Staff

Published December 9, 2022 at 8:02AM

Back in August we let you know that La Catrina Bar & Lounge is coming to 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, taking over the location that was formerly home to George’s Chophouse, 4935 Bar & Kitchen, The Loft at 4935, Tragara’s, and others. The has pushed back the opening date a couple times, but has now announced that it will be opening on Friday, December 9th. The dining room will be open at 5pm and the dance floor will open at 10pm, according to the latest social media post by La Catrina (available below).

La Catrina boasts “the true Mexican experience” and “tacos, tequila, and party”, as the space consists of two levels that can be used for dining, dancing, and more, which allows for a different experience from the other recently opened restaurants in Bethesda that offer Mexican cuisine (Chaia, Mexicue, Tacombi).

Montgomery Parks to Modify Open Parkways Schedule on Beach Drive

By MCS Staff

Published December 7, 2022 at 2:55PM

The entirety of Beach Drive in Montgomery County will remain open to vehicles on Fridays beginning Friday, December 16, 2022. Portions will continue to remain (closed to cars) and open to pedestrians and cyclists on Saturdays and Sundays.

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is modifying its open parkways schedule to reopen portions of Beach Drive to vehicles on Fridays. Beach Drive will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists (closed to vehicles) on Saturdays and Sundays. The change will go into effect on Friday, December 16, 2022. The modification is being made in response to analysis of traffic data showing a substantial increase in vehicle traffic on neighborhood streets on Fridays.

Arts and Social Justice Fellowship Program Presented by Strathmore and Partner Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Extends 2023 Application Deadline to Monday, Jan. 2

By Patrick Herron

Published December 7, 2022 at 12:02PM

The Arts and Social Justice Fellowship (ASJF), presented by Strathmore with Core Partner Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company,  is looking toward its second year of identifying a next generation of artists with activism. The application deadline for the 2023 program has been extended to Monday, Jan. 2. The program supports youth leadership and vision at the intersection of arts and social change.

The fellowship centers youth leadership, young people’s vision of the future and building community in the face of crisis. It was created in 2021 as part of Strathmore and Woolly’s co-presentation of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon. It is seeking young artists whose activism reflects Butler’s dynamic lineage. More about the program, and the application form, can be found at 2022 Highlights (strathmore.org).

La Catrina Bar & Lounge Announces Updated Opening Date

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 8:21PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 8:01AM

Back in August we let you know that La Catrina Bar & Lounge is coming to 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, taking over the location that was formerly home to George’s Chophouse, 4935 Bar & Kitchen, The Loft at 4935, Tragara’s, and others. The has pushed back the opening date a couple times, but has now announced that it will be opening on Friday, December 9th. The dining room will be open at 5pm and the dance floor will open at 10pm, according to the latest social media post by La Catrina (available below).

La Catrina boasts “the true Mexican experience” and “tacos, tequila, and party”, as the space consists of two levels that can be used for dining, dancing, and more, which allows for a different experience from the other recently opened restaurants in Bethesda that offer Mexican cuisine (Chaia, Mexicue, Tacombi). Below is the social media post announcing the opening date: