Up County Archives - Page 128 of 203

Northwest High School Junior, Dwarakesh Baraneetharan, Was Finalist in Statewide Black History Month Essay Contest

Published March 3, 2023 at 8:21AM

Dwarakesh Baraneetharan, a junior at Northwest High School in Germantown, was one of 20 finalists in a Black history essay contest sponsored by WJZ-TV, CBS Baltimore. His full essay can be seen below:

George Washington Carver once said that “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” While true, the keys and doors are actually multiple, freedom a multi-level building with incremental levels separated by doors. As you acquire more education, you receive keys to unlock higher levels, gaining eligibility for opportunity. Of course, people aspire to reach different degrees of freedom. Some aspire to have the freedom to possess a lavish lifestyle, while others may aspire to escape poverty. Education is key in both scenarios.

MCPD Respond to Incident Involving Barricaded Person Thursday Afternoon; No Threat to Community

By Patrick Herron

Published March 2, 2023 at 5:26PM

Montgomery County Police responded to the 11800 block of Morningstar Drive for a barricaded person. The adult male has been taken into custody, and there is no threat to the community. #MCPD #MCPNews pic.twitter.com/w83k69bwIw

— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) March 2, 2023

$50,000 Winning Powerball Ticket Sold at Germantown Wegmans

By Patrick Herron

Published February 28, 2023 at 10:44AM

Powerball and Double Play drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night. The Powerball drawing happens at 11 p.m., and is followed by a separate Double Play drawing 30 minutes later. Powerball tickets are $2, and players can add the Double Play option for an additional $1, making the ticket good for both drawings.

The Powerball jackpot has rolled to an estimated annuity value of $143 million for the March 1 drawing, with an estimated cash option of $73 million. This year, the Maryland Lottery has sold 17 third-tier winning Powerball tickets worth $50,000 to $150,000 and four third-tier Double Play tickets.

Amentum Announces Relocation of Headquarters From Germantown to Fairfax County

By MCS Staff

Published February 27, 2023 at 9:31PM

Today, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Amentum Services, Inc., a leading provider of engineering and advanced solutions and services to the U.S. government, allies, and commercial companies, will invest $495,000 to relocate its headquarters from Germantown, Maryland (20501 Seneca Meadows Parkway #300) to Fairfax County. In 2022, the company acquired PAE Incorporated, another leading government services contractor, and will consolidate its integrated operation at Amentum’s office at 4800 Westfields Boulevard in Chantilly. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland for the project, which will create 157 new jobs.

Per the announcement: “Fairfax County offers the location, access to decision-makers, and talent pipeline that global providers like Amentum are seeking, and we are proud to welcome the company’s leadership and operations team to Virginia,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Amentum joins the ranks of the Commonwealth’s diversified ecosystem of more than 800 corporate headquarters across a broad cross-section of industries.”

$100,000 Winning Scratch-Off Sold in MoCo; $2 Million Winning Scratch-Off Sold in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published February 27, 2023 at 7:57PM

A $100,000 winning $100,000 Extreme Cash scratch-off sold at Hillandale Beer ‘N’ Wine (10117 New Hampshire Blvd) was the top lottery prize claimed in Montgomery County for the week of February 20 – 26. Other local winners this past week included a $10,000 winning scratch-off sold at Safeway (9807 Main Street) in Damascus and a $14,204 winning Racetrax ticket sold at Beer on Tapz (19520 Walters Road) in Germantown. Additional information on winners across the state of Maryland, including a $2 million winner in Millersville, below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Claims Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.

Quincy’s South Bar & Grille Releases Additional Information on Restaurant’s Closure Due to Building Redevelopment

By Patrick Herron

Published February 27, 2023 at 1:33PM | Updated February 27, 2023 at 6:15PM

Quincy’s South at 11401 Woodglen Dr in Rockville, which will be closing its door on March 31, has released additional information on its closing due to redevelopment, as well as an update on the restaurant’s future and its staff. Quincy’s has additional locations at 9813 Main St in Damascus, 616 Quince Orchard Rd in Gaithersburg, and 1093 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac. Per Quincy’s:

“It’s the end of a 9-year run for Quincy’s South Bar and Grille in North Bethesda, the popular sports bar from restaurateur Marty Magill and partners Jeff Greenberg, John Sahakian and Chris McCasland.

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 11-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published February 25, 2023 at 8:11PM | Updated February 26, 2023 at 9:13AM

Sernetiy is approximately 4-feet, 11-inches tall and weighs 95 lbs. She has hazel eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing gray leggings and a black hooded sweatshirt that has a white rabbit and pink writing on the front. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Sernetiy Mackenize Evans is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301)279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

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.

Police and Family Concerned for Two Missing Juveniles

By Patrick Herron

Published February 24, 2023 at 10:38PM | Updated February 25, 2023 at 3:53PM

Tony is believed to be with 15-year-old Fernanda Azevedo, who was last seen on Friday, February 24, 2023, at approximately 6 p.m., at her residence on Bronco Court in Germantown. Fernanda is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weights 130 lbs. She has brown eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black Adidas jacket and black Adidas pants. Police and family are concerned for their welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Tony Offutt and Fernanda Azevedo is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301)279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

MS-13 Members Involved in Murders That Took Place in Gaithersburg and Germantown Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering, Murder, Extortion, and Federal Drug Charges

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 7:56AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has sentenced Luis Flores-Reyes, a/k/a “Maloso,” “Lobo,”’ and “Viejo Lovvon,” age 42, of Arlington, Virginia and Jairo Jacome, a/k/a “Abuelo,” age 40, of Langley Park, Maryland, to life in federal prison, for charges related to a racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or “MS-13.” Jacome and Flores-Reyes were convicted by a federal jury on September 29, 2022, of a racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and an extortion conspiracy. The jury also found Flores-Reyes guilty of a drug distribution conspiracy. Flores-Reyes was sentenced yesterday and Jacome was sentenced today. The defendants and co-defendants were also involved in murders that took place in Gaithersburg and Germantown.

On January 12, 2023, Judge Xinis also sentenced co-defendant Brayan Contreras-Avalos, a/k/a “Anonimo” and “Humilde,” age 28, of Langley Park, Maryland, to life in federal prison for his participation in the same racketeering conspiracy.

Girl Scouts Spread Kindness at South Lake Elementary

By MCS Staff

Published February 23, 2023 at 7:18AM

Earlier this year, three Girl Scout Cadettes from Troop 2219 in Damascus—Sarah Cohen, Kaylie Eising and Jadyn New—painted a series of positive messages in bathrooms at South Lake Elementary School in Gaithersburg.

This Silver Award project was motivated by the girls’ concern about students’ mental health, as well as their desire to spread kindness and promote school community well-being. The girls planned the project, shopped for supplies and brainstormed positive images and encouraging words.