Education

Two MCPS Teachers Named P.E. and Health Teachers of The Year in Maryland

By MCS Staff

Two MCPS teachers have won top honors from the Society of Health and Physical Educators Maryland (SHAPE MD). They were recognized for their work and contributions to health education, physical education (P.E.) and/or student wellness. Brian Baker of Takoma Park Middle School was named Middle School Physical Educator Teacher of the Year. Heather Giovenco of Sherwood High School was named Health Educator of the Year.

Three staff members also received the Simon A. McNeely Award, given to teachers who demonstrate outstanding innovation in teaching health education or P.E., along with active involvement in school and community affairs. They were: Heather N. Bruns, health teacher at William H. Farquhar Middle School; Jamie Unger, P.E. teacher at William Tyler Page Elementary School; and Stacy Azizirad, teacher of adapted P.E., Wheaton High School.

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Kensington

The Growing Years Consignment Shop to Close After 30 Years of Serving the Community

By MCS Staff

Sandra Lucas, owner of Kensington consignment shop The Growing Years for the last 30 years, has announced that the shop will be closing on November 18th. Lucas worked at a consignment store in college and had such a great experience working there during my winter and summer vacations that she moved into a full-time position upon graduating, according to her website. With  encouragement from family and friends, she bought The Growing Years in 1998 and has operated the store ever since. The full letter announcing the closure, titled “Thank You and Farewell” can be seen below:

“Dear Consignors and Customers,

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Health

Maryland Attorney General: Health Education and Advocacy Unit Saves Over $3.3 Million for Patients

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that the Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU) within his Consumer Protection Division closed 2,037 cases in Fiscal Year 2023, helping patients save or recover over $3.3 million dollars, including more than $2.6 million in appeals and grievances cases. The information was included as a part of the comprehensive Annual Report on the Health Insurance Carrier Appeals and Grievances Process that was submitted to the General Assembly.

The HEAU offers mediation services to consumers with health insurance and medical billing issues, hospital financial assistance applications, medical debt collection, and access to medical records. The Unit also helps consumers who have problems enrolling in a private health plan on Maryland Health Connection, the state’s health insurance marketplace, or obtaining financial assistance to lower the cost of coverage.

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Gaithersburg

SB I-270 Closed Due to Collision Thursday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police tweeted the following on Thursday, November 9 at 7:38am: “TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A traffic collision has southbound 270 closed at Exit 9A (370 ramp). Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect significant delays. #MCPNews #MCPD #Traffic”. Fox 5 reports that  a vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a wooded area. It is unclear if anyone involved in the crash was injured. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

We’ll provide an update if additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps. 

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Arts

New Horror Film, The Haunted Forest, Being Filmed in Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Director Keith Boynton (The Winter House, The Scottish Play) is poised to direct his eighth feature film and first foray into horror this Halloween season with The Haunted Forest, starring seasoned genre star Jamie Bernadette (/ Spit on your Grave: Deja Vu) and newcomer Grayson Gwaze. The movie will be filmed at Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Dickerson/Poolesville, which has recently concluded its 31st season as one of Maryland’s scariest haunts.

The Haunted Forest stars Grayson Gwaze as Zach, a high school senior who, after landing a job as a scare actor at Markoff’s Haunted Forest, becomes the potential victim of a string of real-life murders happening inside the maze itself. Jamie Bernadette stars as Susie, who oversees the haunted forest and its merry band of misfits, alongside her husband, Mark (Cedric Gegel, The Coroner’s Assistant).

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Maryland

Maryland Selected as New Home for FBI Headquarters; Joint Statement From Maryland Leaders

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland: Today, members of Maryland’s federal, state, and local governments including Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey, and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks released the following statement regarding the General Services Administration’s decision to select Prince George’s County as the home for the new, consolidated FBI headquarters:

“This is a historic moment for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and our nation. For decades, the dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover Building has failed to meet the FBI’s operational needs, which has undermined our national security. The once fabled building has crumbled before our eyes, with nets surrounding the facility for years to protect pedestrians from falling debris. Today’s decision by the General Services Administration (GSA) will ensure we fulfill the FBI’s dire, longstanding need for a new consolidated headquarters that meets the modern-day demands on the Bureau’s work to protect Americans and our nation.

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Beyond MoCo

Montgomery County Man Sentenced for a Spree of 10 Armed Robberies During a Four-Week Period

By Patrick Herron

Per the United State’s Attorney’s Office: “Quaysa Flumo, 35, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 234 months in prison and Emmanuel Sumo, 29, of Takoma Park, Md., was sentenced to 214 months for a string of armed robberies that struck a series of gas stations, liquor stores, convenience stores, and restaurants in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, all within a four-week period in 2018.

According to the government’s evidence, Flumo and Sumo were members of a trio – which included Enyinna “Reggie” Onyewu, 31, of Silver Spring, Md. – and were found guilty by a jury in U.S. District Court on March 28, 2022, of federal conspiracy, robbery, and (for Flumo and Sumo) related weapons charges. The government’s evidence showed that Onyewu took part in five of the robberies; Sumo in seven of the robberies; and Flumo in all 10 of the robberies.

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Education

Watkins Mill Athletic Director Provides Principal With Encouraging Update

By MCS Staff

Watkins Mill High School athletic coordinator, Lisa Magness, provided new school principal Vilma Najera with an encouraging update following an analysis of the Fall sports teams at the Montgomery Village school. The full letter can be seen below.

“Dear Ms. Najera: I have completed the academic analysis of the Fall sports’ teams at Watkins Mill High School. Using the data from the 1″ marking period report cards, I found some terrific information:

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Clarksburg

Approximately 50 Clarksburg High School Students Plan Walkout Thursday Morning in Support of Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

By MCS Staff

Updated to include full community letter sent out by Clarksburg High School principal, Edward Owusu.

Over 50 students are expected to participate in a walkout at Clarksburg High School tomorrow in support of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, according to the President of the school’s Student Government Association (SGA), Sabrin Niamathullah. According to Niamathullah, the walkout is being hosted by her and the school’s Muslim Student Association and will occur during second period on Thursday, November 9th.

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MCPS

MCPS Pre-K/Head Start Coat Drive Begins

By MCS Staff

The Prekindergarten and Head Start offices are accepting donations of new coats for students in need. Hats, gloves, scarves and boots are also welcome. Donations are needed for boys and girls in sizes 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Items can be dropped off in person from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday– Friday, at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, MD 20852. Items may be dropped off in person from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday – Friday, or may be ordered online and delivered directly to Rocking Horse Road Center, to the attention of Lisa Conlon.

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Bethesda

Peruvian Chicken Restaurant Coming to Former Tara Thai Location in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Brio’s Chicken has announced it will open a location at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) in Bethesda. The restaurant will be located in the space previously occupied by Tara Thai, which closed this past spring.  Menu items at Brio’s will includes Peruvian charbroiled chicken, empanadas, paninis, steaks, and seafood. Brio’s plans to be open daily from 8am-9pm and will offer Sunday brunch (full menu below.) No opening timeframe has been announced.

Brio’s Chicken was scheduled to open a location in the Kentlands but after several years of delays and issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant never materialized.  Brio’s Chicken previously had a location in Aspen Hill in the Aspen Manor shopping center, where Outback is located, but that location is under new ownership and is now known as Gio’s Chicken.

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