Boyds Archives - Page 5 of 7

Edward U. Taylor School Site in Boyds Added to County’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation

Published July 19, 2023 at 5:47PM

The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted July 11 to add the former Edward U. Taylor Elementary School property to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The County Council’s vote designating the Taylor School a historic site aligns with the recommendations of the Montgomery County Planning Department and the Montgomery County Planning Board. The Taylor School was built in 1952 as an elementary school for Black students at a time when Montgomery County used legally sanctioned racial segregation to prohibit Black children from attending white schools. The facility was built to modern school design standards and represents the movement by the county’s Black community to have better facilities and opportunities after decades of public underinvestment in educational facilities for Black children. One of the last schools to be desegregated in 1961, the Taylor School was the only segregated Black elementary or high school that retained its original use as a school building when it integrated.

“Montgomery Planning commends the County Council for designating the Edward U. Taylor Elementary School site historic,” said Acting Planning Director Tanya Stern. “The Taylor School is a significant landmark in the fight against racial segregation in Montgomery County and the nation and educates current and future generations about the struggle to integrate schools. Adding it to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation ensures the inspiring efforts of individuals like Edward U. Taylor and Black organizations, parents, and teachers to obtain quality educational facilities for Black children in the mid-20^th century will never be forgotten.” The draft amendment to add the Taylor School to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation also proposed adding the former Weller’s Dry Cleaning site in Silver Spring to the master plan. The County Council followed the Planning Board’s recommendation and voted to not designate the Weller’s property historic. Historic designation criteria are established in Chapter 24A in the Montgomery County Code. The Council evaluated the sites against the criteria and found that the Edward U. Taylor School met the following criteria:

MCPD: Traffic Stop in Germantown Leads to Arrest for Possession With Intent to Distribute and Firearm Charges

By Patrick Herron

Published June 16, 2023 at 3:16PM

Per MCPD: Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police- 5th District Community Action Team have arrested 20-year-old, Elvis Gomez of Boyds, for possessing a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and a privately manufactured firearm (PMF).

At approximately 5:30 p.m., officers observed a blue 2016 Toyota Corolla commit a moving violation in the area of Wisteria Drive and Father Hurley Boulevard. Officers initiated a traffic stop of the Toyota, which turned into a shopping center in the area. When the vehicle stopped the front and rear passengers jumped out of the car and ran away. Gomez, who was driving the Toyota, remained on scene. After talking with officers, Gomez took off on foot, running down Wisteria Drive. While running, officers observed Gomez throw the keys to his vehicle into a sewer drain. Gomez was quickly apprehended without incident.

Boyds Man Sentenced to Over Three Years in Federal Prison for Purchasing and Distributing Drugs Through the Darkweb

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 11:02PM

The Defendant Laundered the Drug Proceeds by Converting Bitcoin into Cash, and Through a Series of Transactions, Transferring the Money into Bank Accounts He Controlled

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Vishesh Aragam Guruprasad, age 31, of Boyds, Maryland yesterday to 42 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for a drug distribution conspiracy involving the purchase and sale of drugs through darkweb marketplaces, and money laundering.

MCFRS Respond to Fire Friday Night

By Patrick Herron

Published March 25, 2023 at 10:02AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 15900blk of Barnesville Rd in Boyds on Friday night for the report an outside fire. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, firefighters encountered three buildings (two sheds and a 2-car garage) on fire a half-mile off the road. There were no injuries reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Piringer tweeted, “Power supplied by extension cords/power strips. Due to damage & numerous competent ignitions sources, incl smoking materials.” Damage is estimated to be ~15K. We will post an update if additional information is available.

Update – Barnesville Rd, fire is under control, involved Small shed, Sea container and 2 car garage. No injuries @mcfrs on scene https://t.co/FwZWPNNr03 pic.twitter.com/nQO2TC2lAV

Detectives Seek Assistance in Locating Missing 16 Year Old

By MCS Staff

Published March 11, 2023 at 2:13PM | Updated March 13, 2023 at 8:41AM

Herrera is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has brown eyes and dark brown hair. She was last seen wearing a grey zip-up hoodie with the number ‘23’ on the back. Police and family are concerned for her welfare. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Brianna Herrera is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.

Manslaughter Conviction in Shooting Death of 23-Year-Old in Clarksburg Neighborhood

By Patrick Herron

Published March 9, 2023 at 8:54AM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Kevin Hessler, a jury has found defendant, Rodjaun Neal-Williams, 21 of Clarksburg, guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter and Use of Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence for the death of 23-year-old Javon Gordon of Boyds. The jury returned the verdict on Tuesday, March 7^th, 2023. Defendant, Neal-Williams, faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before Judge Hessler on May 31^st at 1:30 p.m.

This stems from an incident on April 13, 2021, on the 12900 block of Ethel Rose Way in Boyds. The defendant who was 19-years old at the time, was a passenger in a vehicle that pulled up to small group of individuals in the street. There was an altercation between Neal-Williams and Gordon while Neal-Williams was seated inside of the vehicle, and he fired a handgun, killing Gordon.”

Planning Board Unanimously Recommends Historic Designation for Edward U. Taylor School in Boyds; County Council Will Make the Final Decision

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 10:07AM

The Montgomery County Planning Board recommended the Montgomery County Council designate the Edward U. Taylor School in Boyds as historic by adding it to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation at a public hearing on Thursday, February 23. The County Council makes final decisions on historic designations of properties in the county. “We commend the Planning Board’s recommendation that the County Council designate the Edward U. Taylor Elementary School as a historic site,” said Acting Planning Director Tanya Stern. “This school is a landmark in the history of the Black community in Boyds and served as a community anchor. The Taylor School represented the efforts of individuals like Edward U. Taylor and Black organizations, parents, and teachers to obtain quality educational facilities for Black children in Montgomery County in the mid-20^thcentury.” Historic designation criteria are established in Chapter 24A in the Montgomery County Code. The Planning Board evaluated the sites against the criteria and found that the Edward U. Taylor School met the following criteria:

About the Edward U. Taylor School site: The former Edward U. Taylor School (19501 White Ground Road, Boyds, MD) was built as an elementary school for Black students at a time when Montgomery County used legally sanctioned racial segregation to prohibit Black children from attending white schools. The Modern Movement-influenced building was completed in 1952, and features several additions built between 1954 and 1969. The facility was built to modern school design standards and represents the cumulative efforts of the county’s Black community to obtain better facilities and opportunities after decades of public underinvestment in educational facilities for Black children. The building currently serves as the Taylor Science Center for the processing and storage of science kits for Montgomery County Public Schools. The recommendation to study the school was brought forward in the MARC Rail Communities Plan, which was approved by the County Council in April 2019. View a short video on the Legacy of the Edward U. Taylor School. View the September 2022 Edward U. Taylor Elementary School Master Plan for Historic Preservation Designation Form.

Public Hearing Scheduled for an Amendment to the Master Plan of Historic Preservation for Two Sites on February 23

By MCS Staff

Published January 29, 2023 at 9:36AM

The Montgomery County Planning Board will consider the Edward U. Taylor School and Weller’s Dry Cleaning sites for historic designation at the Planning Board meeting on February 23, 2023. The public is invited to offer testimony during the public hearing either in person or virtually. At the meeting, the Planning Board will make a recommendation for or against designation which will be sent to the Montgomery County Council for their final decision. The last amendment to the Master Plan of Historic Preservation was the historic designation of the Potomac Overlook District in 2022. View the public hearing draft of the amendment.

“We are so pleased to bring two important Montgomery County sites to the Planning Board for their consideration for historic preservation,” said Montgomery County Planning Department Historic Preservation Office supervisor Rebeccah Ballo. “Historic preservation is an integral part of planning, economic development and what makes our community special.”

Kayla DiCello, Northwest HS Alumna, Named SEC Specialist of the Week (Gymnastics)

By MCS Staff

Published January 20, 2023 at 8:25AM | Updated January 30, 2023 at 3:21PM

Kayla DiCello, a freshman from Boyds who recently graduated from Northwest High School in Germantown, was recently named the “SEC Specialist of the Week” a week after being named the “SEC Freshman of the Week.” DiCello won the all-around in the quad meet against Ball State, Lindenwood and West Virginia with a top score of 39.475. DiCello’s score was the highest all-around mark among SEC freshmen, second among nation’s freshmen and tied for nation’s 10th highest for the opening weekend.

She is now one of seven Gators to win the all-around in their first meet since 1986. DiCello tied with Trinity Thomas (2019) for Florida’s top all-around in the first collegiate meet. She shared second place on balance beam with teammate Ellie Lazzari at 9.90, and also captured third place on bars (9.925) and floor (9.875). In July DiCello was selected to compete at the upcoming Pan American Championships. In August, DiCello competed at the National Championships. She finished finished fourth in the all-around and third on balance beam.

Montgomery Parks Celebrates Future New Classroom at Black Hill Regional Park

By MCS Staff

Published November 17, 2022 at 10:13PM

Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs will host a virtual talk and silent auction on Friday, November 18, 2022, at 6 p.m. to support the development of the new, self-sustaining classroom

Montgomery Parks and The Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs will host a virtual talk and silent auction on November 18, 2022, from 6 – 8 p.m. tocelebrate and support the future development of Black Hill Regional Park’s new, sustainable classroom. The silent auction takes place through November 19 and will be available on the Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs website. 

Park Police to Conduct Search and Rescue Exercise at Black Hill Park Today (Saturday, November 5th)

By MCS Staff

Published November 5, 2022 at 9:43AM

Montgomery County Park Police will be conducting a multi-agency Search and Rescue exercise this Saturday, November 5th from 7am-7pm at Black Hill Regional Park.

Per Park Police: “The park will remain open, however do not be alarmed if you see search and rescue dog teams, horse teams, and a large police presence throughout the day.”