Rockville Archives - Page 211 of 366

True Respite Space Available in Rockville; Brewing Company Currently Exploring All Options

Published June 5, 2023 at 4:27AM

True Respite owners Brendan and Bailey O’Leary opened up shop at 7301 Calhoun Place Suite 600, off of East Gude Drive, in 2018 and the local brewery has been able to make a name for itself in the local beer community. Recently, the location on Calhoun Place has been made available and the O’Learys have let us know that they are keeping all options open as they plan their next move for True Respite.

Anyone interested in the current location would be taking over the lease and purchasing the equipment at the 7500 SF production brewery with 2500 SF taproom. The True Respite brand and intellectual property is not for sale. Initially, True Respite considered expanding, but currently it doesn’t appear to be the most likely option for the company. “The beer industry is hard right now” Bailey O’Leary told us “and the taproom model seems to be the most sustainable for us” noting that opening a smaller location in Bethesda remains a possibility.

Rockville Pride Takes Place June 24th

By Patrick Herron

Published June 4, 2023 at 3:04PM

Per the City of Rockville: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. The commemorative month also recognizes the impact LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history—locally, nationally, and internationally. The City of Rockville has issued proclamations declaring LGBTQ+ Pride Month since June 2017.

The event is free and open to all ages, and will feature:

MoCo Resident Wins $50,000 at Rockville Convenience Store

By Patrick Herron

Published June 4, 2023 at 11:19AM

Moments later, that “wrong” instant ticket – the $20 $50,000 Cash game – would become his best purchase ever. Chastising himself for his carelessness, the player returned to his car to scratch off his instant game. “When I saw the prize, I couldn’t believe it. ‘This can’t be true,’ I thought.”

The $50,000 Cash scratch-off went on sale in late December. The instant ticket is unusual in the 160 top prizes it had to offer when it debuted. This latest $50,000 winner, purchased from Metro Coffee Convenience at 202 Park Road in Rockville, leaves 107 top prizes available. In addition, 118 second-tier prizes worth $5,000 also remain unclaimed. For selling this top-prize winning instant ticket, the Montgomery County business will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery.

Former MoCo Bank Employee Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison After Accepting Cash Bribes to Open Accounts From Co-Conspirators Engaging in Fraud

By MCS Staff

Published June 3, 2023 at 9:54AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Diape Seck, age 29, of Rockville, Maryland, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a bank fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators obtained or attempted to obtain almost $2 million by fraud, including the theft of checks from the mail of churches and religious institutions. Judge Chuang also ordered Seck to pay restitution in the amount of $1,708,446.49, and to forfeit $114,647.50. A federal jury convicted Seck on February 24, 2023.

According to the evidence presented at his eight-day trial, from at least January 2019 to January 2020, Seck, a customer service representative with Bank A, conspired with Mateus Vaduva, Marius Vaduva, Vlad Baceanu, Nicolae Gindac, Florin Vaduva, Marian Unguru, Daniel Velcu, Vali Unguru and others to commit bank fraud. Specifically, the evidence showed that Seck fraudulently opened bank accounts in fake identities in exchange for cash bribes. Co-conspirators engaged in fraud that included fraud involving rental cars and the deposit of checks stolen from the incoming and outgoing mail of churches and other religious institutions, into the fraudulently opened bank accounts. The co-conspirators then withdrew the funds and spent the fraudulently obtained proceeds.

High School Students Can Work Out For Free at Planet Fitness Locations Across The County This Summer

By Patrick Herron

Published June 1, 2023 at 8:45AM

Now through August 31, high school students ages 14-19 can work out for free at all Planet Fitness gyms. Students can sign up for the free pass at PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass. Planet Fitness has Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, and Silver Spring. Additional details below:

“Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, officially kicks off its High School Summer PassTM program today, opening its doors to high schoolers ages 14 – 19[1] to work out for free this summer through August 31 at any of the more than 2,400 Planet Fitness locations throughout the United States and Canada. Sign up now at PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass or at any Planet Fitness club. Teens under 18 in the U.S. and under 19 in Canada must register with a parent or guardian online or in-club.

Candlewood Principal, Carolynn Walsleben, Wins Mark Mann Award

By MCS Staff

Published June 1, 2023 at 6:36AM

Carolynn Walsleben, principal at Candlewood Elementary School in Redland/Rockville, is this year’s winner of the Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award. The Mark Mann award is presented annually to an MCPS administrator who has shown exceptional performance in promoting academic excellence, positive human relations and community outreach.

Walsleben has been principal at Candlewood since 2020. She began her teaching career in MCPS in 1999, as a first grade teacher at Bells Mill Elementary School. Colleagues, staff members and parents say Walsleben is a natural leader. She is a strong administrator who exemplifies what it means to be a caring, forward-thinking, data-driven leader. She sets high expectations, and believes in progress and celebrating along the way. As curriculum changes, she ensures that adequate tools and support are put in place so staff can efficiently meet student needs. She continually encourages staff to become social together and to build strong relationships, knowing that students will benefit from their strong bonds and positive energy. She helps teams build on one another’s strengths, and uses her skills to build the capacity of other leaders.

PNC to Close 26 of Its DC Metro Area Giant Branches, Including Three in Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Published May 31, 2023 at 5:09PM | Updated May 31, 2023 at 6:56PM

Last year PNC Bank announced it would be closing “about 127 in-store branches at Giant Food and Stop & Shop supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia and the District as well as in New Jersey and Delaware.” The Pittsburgh-based bank has been closing many of these branches in waves throughout 2023, but at the time did not mention which specific branches would be closing. Today it was reported by the Washington Business Journal that 26 branches in Maryland and Northern Virginia would be closing, including three in Montgomery County (listed below).

Let year, PNC began the conversion of what will be 1,000 branches to an automated model. The conversion of all of these branches is expected to be completed by 2026. In September 2020, PNC Chairman and CEO William Demchak announced the bank was on track to close nearly 160 branches that year and another 120 in 2021 (109 ended up closing), as part of the bank’s strategy to lean harder on more prosperous digital sales. The three Montgomery County locations that will be closing are listed below:

Rockville to Celebrate “Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week” June 3-11

By MCS Staff

Published May 31, 2023 at 5:37AM

Per The City of Rockville: Rockville is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Actions we take in our own backyards can have a significant impact on the health, habitat and wildlife of local waterways, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. Help Rockville celebrate Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, from Saturday, June 3-Sunday, June 11, by sharing, with friends and family, these actions to help protect local water resources, the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay:

Reduce pesticide and fertilizer use. Or better yet, don’t fertilize at all if it isn’t necessary! Never fertilize or use pesticides if rain is forecast within 24 hours. Fertilizers and pesticides can end up in streams and harm aquatic life — and most synthetic pesticides are prohibited in Rockville. Learn more and find organic lawn care tips at www.rockvillemd.gov/pesticideban.

Man Found Guilty of Murder and First Degree Assault For Stabbing Two People in Rockville Last September

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 4:01PM

Per the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: This week, In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, defendant, Scorpio Alexander Stanfield, 32, of unknown address, was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree assault for stabbing attacks on two victims in Rockville.

Both trials were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Lauren Turner and Gabe Carrera. The stabbings occurred on Saturday, September 3^rd, 2022 on Hungerford Dr. in Rockville. Officers with Rockville City Police and Montgomery County Police arrived at the 700 block of Hungerford Dr. at approximately 9:55p.m. for a report of a stabbing. They located man suffering from a stab wound who provided a description of the suspect. That victim was transported to the hospital and survived.

Rockville Residents Will Vote on Lowering Voting Age to 16, Ranked-Choice Voting, and More in Upcoming Election

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 3:54AM

As well as choosing seven members to elect to the city’s Mayor and Council, voters will decide on advisory referenda questions for the City of Rockville’s 2023 election. The questions, if approved by voters, would amend the city charter to:

The amendments are recommendations from the Charter Review Commission. Ballots will be mailed to all registered voters who live within Rockville city limits. All ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. Voters will be able to vote by mail, in person at the two election day vote centers on Nov. 7, or at an election drop box.

Water Safety Day to Take Place on Friday, June 2

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 3:49AM

Per the Cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville: As part of National Water Safety Month, the City of Gaithersburg and the City of Rockville are jointly hosting Water Safety Day, a free event designed to help people of all ages safely enjoy water activities throughout the summer. It takes place on Friday, June 2 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Water Park at Bohrer Park. The event will be held rain or shine.

Water Safety Day includes information booths, lifeguard demonstrations, instructions to safely assist someone struggling in the water, the importance of sunscreen to prevent skin damage, and free swim lesson screenings.As a bonus, when you attend Water Safety Day and visit the various information booths, you can stay to enjoy a free swim. An adult must accompany children under the age of 14.