Last year, Winston Churchill High School in Potomac celebrated Jeff Fritz’s 300th victory as head boys lacrosse coach at the school and became the first Montgomery County lacrosse team (boys or girls) to ever win a State Championship. Following another successful season in 2023, Coach Fritz has announced that he’ll be stepping down as coach.

Churchill boys lacrosse won the 2022 Maryland 4A State Championship, after defeating Anne Arundel County powerhouse Broadneck 15-7 in the championship. This stories season was memorable for many reasons, as coach Fritz was celebrated for winning his 300th game. Churchill welcomed Montgomery County Councilmember and alumnus Andrew Friedson to the school’s game against Sherwood High School. At halftime Councilmember Friedson presented his old lacrosse coach with a Proclamation from Montgomery County for Coach Fritz’s 300th career win. Churchill boys lacrosse finished 13-0 in 2022.


The National Theatre has presented the Brandon Victor Dixon Awards for excellence in high school musical theatre, a regional partner of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®), also known as The Jimmy Awards®. The awards program is named in honor of Brandon Victor Dixon, a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award nominee originally from Gaithersburg. Dixon recently portrayed Terry Silver on the STARZ hit series ‘Power.’

The award for Best Actor went to Ian Rubin, a senior at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, for his work in Matilda The Musical. Per the MD Theatre Guide website, Ian is honored to be nominated for best actor for his performance as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical. In the fall, Ian will be attending the University of Michigan where he will be pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of his favorite credits include Young Artists of America’s Cabaret (Emcee), A Chorus Line (Mike), Into the Woods (Wolf); WCHS’ senior showcase production of The Last Five Years (Jamie), and Ovations Theatre Spring Awakening (Moritz). Ian currently studies voice with Thomas Pedersen and dances at City Dance Conservatory.


Popular Potomac dessert spot, Sprinkles, which was listed for sale on BizBuySell last year for $850K is currently listed on the site at a newer price of $599,999. The 34-year-old family owned ice cream store and bakery is located in the Potomac Village shopping center and is described as being approximately 600-700SF. All assets will transfer with sale– including “existing inventory, ice cream and frozen yogurt machines, bakery oven and equipment etc.” The store is also touting a brand new HVAC system and floor in the kitchen, an in-store bathroom for employee use, a seating area for customers, and describes itself as “the only ice cream store in the Village and within at least a 3-5 mile drive.”

Additional information, per the listing: “Sprinkles Won Best Dessert place in Potomac Maryland in 2022 from Potomac Lifestyle Magazine. We are a woman owned, family-run, small business that has been serving the community for 33 years. Sprinkles is a staple in this community and is a favorite of families for over three generations. Hand made ice cream and frozen yogurt shop that has expanded to sell baked goods, gourmet candies & treats and novelty gift items. We have major corporate and non-profit clients including, but not limited to: Akin Gump, PNC Bank, Make-A-Wish Foundation, RSM, DC United, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Serco, etc. Corporate gift box business for Fortune 100 companies – Verizon, Marymount University, etc, nationwide. WE ARE NOT a franchise- it is a stand alone store.


Last June we let you know that Augie’s Mussel House and Beer Garden was coming to 7747 Tuckerman Ln in Cabin John Village, taking over the space that was previously home to Lahinch. Lahinch closed permanently last May. Since then, Common Plate Hospitality has decided to bring a new concept to the space– The Grove. According to a report by Eater DC, the restaurant believes its chef, Jose Lopez-Picazo, “has the potential to win a Michelin star here,”.

According to the article, The Grove will feature Mediterranean cuisine (Spain, Italy, and Greece) and hopes to open in July. “We realized there’s nothing there to cater to a higher-end, fine-dining experience,” says (Commonplate Founder) Chad Sparrow). “People don’t have to go to D.C. — we can offer that at the Grove.” The Grove had its hearingwith Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services on Thursday, May 4th at 11am, where it was granted its license. Construction is ongoing at the restaurant.


Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: Denish Sahadevan, a/k/a “Danny Devan,” age 31, of Potomac, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, relating to his scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) of more than $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”).

According to the plea agreement, beginning in about March 2020, Sahadevan submitted EIDL and PPP application on behalf of four Maryland entities that he controlled, often creating fraudulent and fabricated documents, such as tax forms and bank statements, to be used in the applications.  In addition, Sahadevan used the identifying information belonging to a tax preparer that he knew, without that person’s knowledge or agreement, to legitimize the fabricated tax forms he created and submitted.


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.


Baskin Robbins at 1079 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac Woods Plaza, which opened earlier this month, will hold its official grand opening event on Saturday, June 3, from 11-4pm. The event will feature a DJ, prizes, giveaways, and 2$ scoops of ice cream. Baskin Robbins is  located in the space that was previously home to Ibhana Creations.

Last February, Baskin Robbins closed its doors at Cabin John Village and announced its plans to open in the nearby Potomac Woods Plaza shopping center. Baskin Robbins was replaced in Cabin John Village by The Scoop, which was opened this past August by Timothy and Mitch Ryoo– Potomac natives and Winston Churchill High School Graduates (2010 and 2006). Baskin Robbins will also be opening a location later this year in the Montgomery Village Center.  Featured image courtesy of @baskinrobbbins on Instagram.


Winston Churchill High School senior Sebastian Tulin will receive the Ida F. Haimovicz Visual Arts Award for 2022–2023. This honor includes a $1,500 prize and a solo exhibition at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery in Silver Spring.

Sebastian’s exhibition, Surrounded by Solitude, will be on display on Fridays through July 14. Gallery hours are Fridays from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. The Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music Room is located in the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place in Silver Spring. Read more about Sebastian.


Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival organizer LaTisha Gasaway-Paul discusses the struggles and triumphs of the county’s original African American settlements: Montgomery Parks is hosting its May Speaker Series on Montgomery County’s first African American owned community and the upcoming Juneteenth federal holiday.

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival Chairperson LaTisha Gasaway-Paul will discuss the triumphs of this historic community, the challenges residents face in the present, and their hopes for the future. Gasaway Paul, is a fifth-generation resident of Scotland, a Potomac neighborhood that is the first community where African Americans owned land in Montgomery County.  


Three MCPS students have received $2,000 scholarships from the League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP). The students were honored for their level of scholarship and their interest in pursuing a career in education. All applicants who applied are planning to major in education and show experience supporting the Asian American community and/or organizations.

They were recognized during the May 11 Board of Education meeting. They are:


The Washington Commanders and a partnership led by MoCo native Josh Harris (Chevy Chase) have entered into a purchase and sale agreement, it was jointly announced on Friday, May 12th:

”We are very pleased to have reached an agreement for the sale of the Commanders franchise with Josh Harris, an area native, and his impressive group of partners. We look forward to the prompt completion of this transaction and to rooting for Josh and the team in the coming years.”


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