Beyond MoCo Archives - Page 131 of 187

NASA Administrator Names Dr. Makenzie Lystrup New Goddard Center Director

Published April 6, 2023 at 5:41PM

Per NASA: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has named Dr. Makenzie Lystrup director of the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, effective immediately. She will make history as the first female center director at Goddard. Lystrup succeeds Dave Mitchell, who has served as Goddard’s acting center director since January 2023, and now resumes his duties as the agency’s chief program management officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Makenzie is a natural leader, bringing to Goddard a scientist’s drive for discovery along with a wealth of industry experience and knowledge. As center director, she will lead a world-renowned team of scientists, engineers, and technologists focused on Earth and space science. Under her leadership, the Goddard workforce will continue to inspire, innovate, and explore the unknown for the benefit of all,” said Nelson. “I’d also like to thank Dave Mitchell for serving as acting center director since January and ensuring a seamless transition. We look forward to Dave resuming his role at headquarters.”

Goddard Space Flight Center is one of NASA’s largest field centers. Its sites include the primary campus in Greenbelt, Maryland, as well as Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification & Validation Facility in West Virginia, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the White Sands Complex in New Mexico, and the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Texas. Goddard is responsible for the oversight and execution of a $4 billion portfolio and is home to the nation’s largest concentration of scientists, engineers and technologists dedicated to Earth and space science. Its workforce consists of more than 10,000 employees, both civil servants and contractors. “Goddard is an incredible center and true national asset with the best and brightest minds in science and engineering – I’m humbled and honored to lead such an amazing and diverse world-renowned team,” said Lystrup. “To build upon our legacy, I’m keenly focused on growing the next generation of innovators along with ensuring our team has the resources and tools to advance technologies and make new discoveries that boost the space economy and benefit us all.”

Kennedy High School Staff Member Shot and Killed By His Nephew in Apparent Murder-Suicide

By MCS Staff

Published April 6, 2023 at 4:02PM

Earlier today a message was sent to the Kennedy High School community informing them of the unexpected death of staff member Kofi Frempong, a coordinator of the school’s Leadership Training Institute (LTI). Anne Arundel County police has since released information revealing that a 27 year old suspect, Daniel Amponsah, shot Frempong, his uncle, before turning the gun on himself. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. The press release by Anne Arundel County Police and the letter to the Kennedy High School community can be seen below:

Per Anne Arundel County Police: On April 5, 2023 at approximately 10:00 p.m., officers responded for an unknown disturbance in the 7300 block of Red Pond Court in Glen Burnie. As officers approached the residence they heard gunshots and multiple people began rushing out of the residence. As officers made their way into the residence they located two male subjects suffering from gunshot wounds. Homicide detectives were summoned to the scene. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, a 27-year-old male, identified as Daniel Amponsah, requested that family members meet him at the residence. When Amponsah arrived at the address he became agitated and produced a handgun and began threatening his family members. The victim, identified as Amponsah’s uncle, 47-year-old, Kofi Frempong, was shot by Amponsah as the remaining family members rushed out of the home. Before patrol officers were able to reach Amponsah, evidence at the scene indicated that he turned the firearm on himself. Officers located both Frempong and Amponsah and administered medical aid, however, both men were pronounced deceased at the scene. Based on the totality of the evidence and consistent statements of the witnesses involved, homicide detectives determined that the incident was a homicide/suicide.

Sticky Fingers, Founded by Two-Time Cupcake Wars Winner, to Take Over SouperGirl Location

By MCS Staff

Published April 5, 2023 at 9:57AM

Sticky Fingers, a vegan bakery founded in 2002, is will be taking over the space that was recently home to Soupergirl at 314 Carroll St NW in Takoma DC, just outside of Takoma Park (first reported by Source of the Spring). Sticky Fingers founder, Doron Petersan, has been making award-winning vegan sweet and savory items from the original bakery, Sticky Fingers and plant-based café, Sticky Fingers Diner (formerly known as Fare Well). She is a two-time winner of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, and author of Sticky Fingers’ Sweets: 100 Super-Secret Vegan Recipes. Below is the announcement from Sticky Fingers:

“Yes, the rumors are true! Sticky Fingers is opening in Takoma Park this fall, in the space that was formerly Soupergirl. The new commercial kitchen space will give us the room we need for our rapidly growing mail order and wholesale baking mix production (order online at stickyfingersbakery.com), and will have a retail counter to sell our cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies and buns. We’ll even have a grab and go to sell popular items from our H Street NE Diner as well as local favorites (like Soupergirl). For more information follow us here and sign up for our mailing list. You can also find our full menu of sweets along with a diner-style menu at StickyFingersDiner.com (formerly known as Fare Well)”

MoCo Resident Wins $50,000 on Lunch Break

By Patrick Herron

Published April 4, 2023 at 4:55PM | Updated April 4, 2023 at 5:51PM

A Silver Spring resident is $50,000 richer after purchasing winning a scratch-off ticket from the Shoppers at 4720 Cherry Hill Road in College Park during a recent work break. Full […]

‘Welcome Aboard’: Metro Supports Autism Acceptance Month with ‘Special’ In-Stations Announcements Featuring Local Enthusiast with Autism

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 1:04PM

Per WMATA: Many young people with autism have a unique connection with transit. In recognition of that special bond, Metro invited 26 budding train announcers with autism to record boarding and safety announcements that will be heard throughout the transit system in the month of April to raise awareness about autism during Autism Acceptance Month and the Autism Transit Project.

Governor Moore Announces New Partnership Between Maryland Department of Environment and University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability to Model Maryland’s Climate Goals Pathway

By Patrick Herron

Published April 4, 2023 at 10:01AM

Per the State of Maryland (4.3.23): Governor Wes Moore today announced a new partnership between the Maryland Department of the Environment and The Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland to model Maryland’s pathway toward ambitious climate goals. The announcement came during a roundtable discussion at the State House with climate goal stakeholders including representatives from the Maryland Department of the Environment, University of Maryland, League of Conservation Voters, Maryland Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities, and Blink Charging.

“We face an historic challenge – and we will tackle it with an all-of-government, an all-of-community, and an all-of-state approach,” said Governor Moore. “We cannot win this fight alone. It will take partnership, it will take collaboration, it will take teamwork; that includes this partnership with the University of Maryland and all of the stakeholders today.”

Gaithersburg Man Killed in Nevada Motorcycle Crash

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 6:19AM

A Gaithersburg man is dead after a motorcycle crash near the Lake Mead National Recreation area just outside of Las Vegas at approximately 2:30pm last Monday on State Route 167, according to Nevada State Police.

According to investigators, 29-year-old Richard Bienve Batista Peralta, from Gaithersburg, MD, was speeding and lost control of the motorcycle when he approached a curve. The motorcycle went into the dirt shoulder on the side of the road, overturned, and Peralta was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fugitive Roy McGrath, Ex-Chief of Staff to Former Gov. Hogan, Has Died After Being Shot During Arrest in Tennessee

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 4:53AM

Roy McGrath, the fugitive ex-chief of staff for former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, has died after he was shot during an arrest in Tennessee, according to a statement by his attorney Joseph Murtha. “It is a tragic ending to the past three weeks of uncertainty,” Murtha said. “I think it is important for me to stress that Roy never wavered about his innocence.”

FOX 5 reports that “the FBI confirmed McGrath was found Monday in the 10700 block of Kingston Pike at Lovell Road in Knoxville, and was shot during the arrest. The FBI said McGrath was wounded and had to be taken to the hospital.”

Update: Grandmother Arrested for Kidnapping Her Eight-Year-Old Granddaughter

By Patrick Herron

Published April 3, 2023 at 5:13PM

Through the investigation, detectives identified Martinez as the suspect and determined that Martinez had taken the child to Springfield, TN. On Monday, March 27, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Martinez, charging her with kidnapping related charges. Detectives notified the Springfield Police Department of the abduction and the arrest warrant against Martinez.

Beyond MoCo: New 126,000 SF Indoor Water Park Opening Sooner Than Anticipated

By MCS Staff

Published March 31, 2023 at 10:07AM | Updated April 6, 2023 at 9:06PM

For the second time in the last couple months, the expected opening date for Great Wolf Lodge, North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, has moved up. Great Wolf Lodge will be opening its newest resort in Perryville, MD (located in Cecil County, northeast of Baltimore City) this summer. Originally scheduled to open in August, construction has been ahead of schedule and the lodge announced it would open on July 15. Now, it has moved opening day up again and is currently scheduled to open on June 29.

Great Wolf Lodge Maryland will be the company’s 20th resort in North America, and their largest. It will offer 700 family-friendly suites, a 126,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 57,000 square-foot entertainment center, and 12,000 square-feet of conference space. Perryville is about 70 miles and a little less than an hour and a half away from most parts of MoCo. The company has released additional information about the water park and is offering a 25% discount on reservations.

Montgomery County Man Identified as Suspect in College Park 4th Degree Sex Offense (Unlawful Touching) and Indecent Exposure Cases

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 6:00PM

Per University of Maryland Police: The suspect in the 4th Degree Sex Offense (Unlawful Touching) and Indecent Exposure Cases has been identified. On March 29, our Detective applied for and received an arrest warrant for Marquise Tranell Mahoney of Silver Spring. He was charged with the following: One Count of CR 3-308 ((b)(1)) Sex Off 4th Deg-Sex Contact, One Count of CR 3-203 Assault – Sec Degree, One Count of ED 26-101 ((b)) Schl Molest Etc Other Loc, Two Counts of CR 11-107 Indecent Exposure.

If you see Marquise Tranell Mahoney on our campus, call UMPD immediately at 301-405-3333 or #3333 (for AT&T and Verizon Wireless). You may also text or call UMPD using the UMD Guardian app. If you have any information on his whereabouts, you are encouraged to call UMPD at 301-405-3555.