For the fifth year in a row, the City of Takoma Park received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its current fiscal year budget. “In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as a financial plan, as an operations guide, and as a communications device,” said Michele Mark Levine, Director of GFOA’s Technical Services Center, in a press release. “This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. Its attainment represents a significant achievement by the organization.”

The award was created in 1984 by the GFOA to “encourage and assist state and local governments to prepare budget documents of the very highest quality that reflect both the guidelines established by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting and the GFOA’s best practices on budgeting,” according to its website.


Per MCPS: In an effort to help support families in need in the school community, Weller Road Elementary School hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 12 to officially open a new food pantry. This food pantry is now sixth one opened at an MCPS school this school year to serve as an onsite resource to provide additional support to local students and families in need.

Weller Road is defined as a “community school,” which provides extra health, mental health, academic and extracurricular support services students and families need to flourish. Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz attended the ribbon cutting to highlight all who came together to make this effort possible.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating, Liz Rivera Guzman, a missing 15-year-old from Silver Spring.  Guzman was last seen on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at approximately 3:22 p.m., in the 800 block of University Boulevard East.

Guzman is approximately 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. She has red hair, brown eyes and a birthmark on the right side of her face. She was last seen wearing a black sweater, pink pants and carrying a black Adidas backpack.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


At approximately 10:36 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the intersection of Fenton St. and Ellsworth Dr. for the report of shots fired.  The preliminary investigation by detectives determined that two Black males were shooting at one another.


Update: Olivia Woods has been located

On 1-11-23 at 8:05 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to 8200 block of Roanoke Ave., in reference to a missing 17-year-old Black Female, Olivia Woods. Olivia Woods is 5’10 and weighs 140lbs. She was last seen wearing a navy-blue jacket, green shirt and yellow / white Vans shoes. She is missing from home. Anyone with information on these events should contact the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230001801


Per Purple Line MD: On or about January 23, 2023, crews will begin work on the Purple Line’s Silver Spring Library station located at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library. Access to the library and businesses surrounding the library including Bonifant Street will be maintained at all times. ADA-compliant pedestrian access will be maintained to and around the library via Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street. Pedestrian pathways will change intermittently around the work zone; please follow on- site signage. Fencing will be installed to delineate the work zone immediately followed by excavation, utility relocations, systems, and trackwork. Access to Bonifant Street will remain one-way, eastbound from Georgia Avenue. Construction may occur 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays and weekends, as needed through December 2023. Please note that weather and unforeseen conditions may impact work schedule.

Featured photo courtesy of MCDOT


On 01/11/2023 at approximately 11:52 am, Takoma Park Police units were dispatched to 6400 block of New Hampshire Avenue Takoma Park, for an armed robbery carjacking that just occurred at a gas station. Upon arrival, Officers met with victim, who advised he was robbed and carjacked by an unknown suspect, described as a black male about 6 “3” in height, wearing a black ski mask and all black clothing.

The victim exited his vehicle which he left running and locked at the time. He further advised that he observed a black Dodge charger with black tinted windows drive into the parking lot and park nearby. When the victim exited the store, and he observed the suspect attempting to open the driver’s side door to his BMW X6 vehicle. Once he reached the field/grass area the suspect then chased him and pointed a black handgun towards him demanding his car/fob keys and wallet.


Four MCPS students—three at Montgomery Blair High School and one at Poolesville High School—have been named Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars. This is one of the nation’s most prestigious science and math competition for seniors. A total of 300 scholars were selected from the U.S., Puerto Rico and four other countries. Each student will be awarded $2,000 and their schools will be awarded $2,000 for each enrolled scholar. The MCPS Regeneron scholars and their research topics are:

Later this month, 40 of the 300 students will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. 2023 List of Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars


Per MCPD: The suspect wanted in connection with multiple stabbings at a McDonald’s restaurant has been arrested. 34-year-old Theodore Andrew Brandy was taken into custody at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

Brandy allegedly stabbed three adult males the morning of Tuesday, January 10, inside of a McDonald’s in the 8400 block of Colesville Road.


Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will celebrate the opening of its fourth food pantry at a community school with a ribbon-cutting event on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m.  The food pantry at Weller Road Elementary School is a partnership between the Capital Area Food Bank’s (CAFB) School Pantry Program and MCPS to provide a reliable source of nutritious food to families throughout the year.

The food pantry will be open on Tuesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 2-3:30 p.m. by providing consistent access to staple shelf-stable items. These items include pasta, rice, non-perishable fruits and vegetables, cereal, and canned and dried beans. Schools that are part of the program are able to choose what food items from CAFB’s available inventory fit the needs of their respective communities.


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