Gaithersburg

A Gaithersburg man is $50,000 richer after purchasing a winning lottery ticket at the 7-Eleven located in the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. Additional details below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:

“A Montgomery County man, who just recently started playing the Lottery, felt extra lucky this past Monday. That feeling led him to a nearby 7-Eleven to purchase two Pick 5 tickets. A couple unexpected visitors knocked on the 63-year-old’s door to talk about the meaning of life. Feeling euphoric and enthusiastic after their conversation, he decided to test his luck by picking up two Pick 5 tickets containing his license plate number. “I was having the craziest day,” he said. “Random things that never happen to me were happening.”


Crime

A Montgomery County Police Officer was injured after responding to the Wegmans at 20600 Seneca Meadows Pkwy in Germantown on Thursday, April 27. According to MCPD, the officer responded to the Wegmans for a theft call which led to a brief foot chase between the officer and suspect. The suspect got into his car and attempted to drive away. The officer grabbed hold of the suspect as the suspect sat in the driver’s seat and the suspect began to drive away, briefly dragging the officer. The officer let go, but injured his hand and arm and was was transported to an area hospital as a precaution. The suspect got away.

We will post an update if additional information becomes available.


Education

Led by team captain Meghna Singh, members Cody Gao, Lucas Kim, Zoe Gorbachev, and Kiran Oliver remained undefeated throughout the morning’s round-robin style competition before advancing to the final round. After an intense final round, Frost defeated Takoma Park Middle School, sending them home with second place, while Herbert Hoover Middle School placed in third.

“As the defending champion, there were a lot of expectations for us to live up to, and I’m glad we didn’t disappoint.” said Meghna Singh. “This year was really special because it was the first time we had competed in person after COVID.”


Maryland

Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced via social media on Thursday that he is in remission. “Tuesday I thanked nurses, doctors and pharmacists at Georgetown Hospital who serve with splendid kindness—and who saved my life over 5 months. I finished 6 rounds of 5-day chemo sessions—which they organized so I didn’t have to miss votes or hearings—and I rang the bell! A new chapter begins.” the congressman was diagnosed with cancer Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in December.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=188271080299667&mibextid=cr9u03


Event

Join Kaiser Permanente for Healthy at the Harbor, a free community health and wellness event taking place Saturday, June 6, from 11 am to 4 pm at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bring your family and friends for free full day of fun, fitness, and preventive care along the waterfront.

Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. A lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.


Crime

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Justin Kuchta, age 40, of Annapolis, Maryland, to four months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for threatening to murder a United States Member of Congress. 

According to his plea agreement, Kuchta made threats to murder a Member of the U.S. Congress.  Specifically, a U.S. Member of Congress’ district office in Texas reported that on July 18, 2022, it received a threatening message via an event management website.  The website was being used by an event planner to coordinate an event held in the State of Missouri, being attended by Member of Congress 1.  The Subject line of that email read, in relevant part: “Rally in Missouri – Featured Guest [Member of Congress 1], [Individual 1], and [Individual 2].”  The message stated, “Thank you for the address!!! I’m coming to murder all of you Satanist f*ckers!!! Especially the chuckle-f*ck Zodiak [sic] Killer [Member of Congress 1]!! That fat fake f*cker ass will be the first on the gallows!! SEE ALL OF YOU F*CKERS REALLY SOON!!! With my fresh militia and weapons!!! Thanks for the info f*ckers!!!”  The Member of Congress’ Washington office reported that a similar message was sent on July 22, 2022, using the same event management website.


Events

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, announces its lineup of special events and programs in May for people of all ages. Events include the start of Acoustics and Ales and Salsa in the Park programs, guided hikes on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, and Family Archaeology Day. May events in Montgomery Parks include: 

Kingsley Schoolhouse Tour | First Sunday of the month through October 2023 | 1 – 4 p.m.


Education

James Allrich, principal at Argyle Middle School, is the MCPS finalist for The Washington Post Principal of the Year. Additional information on Allrich below, per MCPS:

In the six years James Allrich has been principal at Argyle Middle School, he has been recognized as a student-centered leader, a fierce social-emotional advocate, a visionary on equitable and anti-racist practices and a community builder. Students are always at the forefront of his decision-making. He often reminds them: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”


Arts

The Gaithersburg Parks, Arts & Recreation Corporation (G-PARC) Arts & Culture Alliance, in conjunction with the City Stormwater Management and Cultural Events & Services Divisions, is pleased to announce the winners & honorable mentions of our Storm Drain Art Contest 2023. The judges selected their artwork out of a total of 46 entries for its great interpretation of the contest theme, which was to bring attention to the importance of protecting our Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Per G-PARC: The eleven winners’ artwork will be painted on the storm drain covers at two locations in two phases. Phase 1 will paint on Saturday, June 3 (rain date June 4) in Diamond Farm Park. The second phase will paint in Walder Park in the Fall. The winning designs & honorable mentions may also be used in banners, posters, coloring books, other educational materials, and on social media. Congratulations to our winners & honorable mentions:


Clarksburg

Charles Orifici, instrumental music teacher at Clarksburg High School, is the MCPS finalist for The Washington Post Teacher of the Year. More on Charles Orifici below, per MCPS:

For 25 years, Charles Orifici has been teaching instrumental music, 24 of them in MCPS. Since opening Clarksburg High School in 2006, he built the instrumental music program into one of the hardest working and successful school marching bands, culminating in this past fall’s Maryland Marching Band Association competition, where the band went undefeated.


Gaithersburg

The 2023 Junior Mayor Contest for the city of Gaithersburg has concluded. Milly Abdo, a fourth grader at Fields Road Elementary School, begins her term on May 1, when she is officially sworn in at the Mayor & City Council Meeting. The ceremony will also include outgoing remarks by 2022 Junior Mayor Loriele Nix of Summit Hall Elementary School. The meeting can be viewed on the City of Gaithersburg’s YouTube channel.

Congratulations, Milly! Her full essay can be seen below:


DMV

The New Orleans Saints drafted Damascus alumnus Bryan Bresee with the 29th pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Bresee graduated from Damascus High School in 2019 and went on to Clemson University where he was a second-team All-ACC selection.

Per the New Orleans Saints, “Bresee, a 6-foot-5, 305-pounder from Damascus, Md., was a former No. 1 recruit in the country who burst onto the scene as a Freshman All-American in 2020. Bresee became the second ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in Clemson history. He has tallied 64 tackles (15.0 for loss), 9.0 sacks, and four pass breakups in 915 snaps from scrimmage over 26 games in his college career.”