MCPD

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Nasean Dion Waters, a missing 15-year-old from Rockville.  Waters is approximately 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.  Police and family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Nasean Dion Waters 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.


Health

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host its annual mental health and substance use disorder spring forum from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. “Overcoming Disparities and Barriers to Treatment for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder” is a free event that will focus on treatment access within underserved communities and will include a track for adults and a concurrent track for youth, planned by members of the County’s Youth Ambassador Program.  The forum will be hosted online.

Youth will participate in youth-led sessions, exploring ways to help their peers or themselves access support for mental health or substance use disorders. Youth participants will then rejoin the adults in the main Zoom room so all attendees can ask questions during a live Q&A panel.  The event will conclude with links to various resources for mental health and substance use prevention, intervention and treatment. Students who attend for the full two-hour event will receive SSL hours.


Crime

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, Jean J. Pierre, 50, of Montgomery Village, guilty of second-degree murder for the death of his wife, 41-year-old Nerlande Foreste. The jury deliberated for just two hours, reaching a verdict Friday evening, May 5th, 2023 after a five day trial prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Ryan Wechsler and Assistant State’s Attorney Gabe Carrera.

It is believed that Pierre stabbed and killed Foreste inside of their home on the 20000 block of Rothbury Lane in Montgomery Village on August 21st, 2019, then placed her body inside of a shipping container and carried it out to a dumpster. The victim’s remains have not been recovered. The defendant faces up to 40 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday, July 14th 2023, at 10 a.m.”


Rockville

The Rockville City Police Department (RCPD) announced this morning that “RCPD and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) safely and successfully trapped and relocated the Rockville bear to a new home outside the City and County. We wish we the bear the best in his new journey.”  The Rockville City Police Department’s Neighborhood Services/Animal Control Division released a statement back on May 3 alerting the community that there had been several sightings of a large black bear throughout the city.  A bear was also caught on camera going through the trash in a Kensington neighborhood  near Connecticut Ave back on April 25.

Footage of the bear’s capture can be seen below courtesy of RCPD on Twitter.


Downtown Silver Spring

Tastee Diner at 8601 Cameron St. in Silver Spring permanently closed on March 22, at 2pm. The diner was sold on March 21 to D.C. based Roadside Development for $3.1 million according to Maryland Land Records. Now you can own a piece of the diner’s long history, as the contents of the restaurant are currently being auctioned. From artwork, to photographs, to tables, chairs, and booths, you’re able to bid on almost everything inside the diner.

Roadside Development, which purchased the adjacent Capital One bank lot back in August, plans on creating a “multifamily mixed-use” redevelopment at the two sites. According to a press release, the original dining car from the diner will be incorporated into the future project. Tastee Diner opened its Silver Spring location on the corner of Wayne Avenue and Georgia Avenue in 1946. After 65 years, the diner faced being closed and destroyed to make room for Silver Spring’s Discovery Building but local residents rallied to save and move the diner to the location it was in until recently.


Derwood

On April 29, the Col. Zadok Magruder High School cluster, along with local community organizations, held a Health and Wellness Fair for students, families and staff. Attendees participated in a number of educational sessions and activities, and learned about community resources. Watch the video below, courtesy of MCPS:

 


DC Sports

The D.C. Defenders will face the Arlington Renegades in the 2023 XFL Championship Game. The 2023 XFL Championship Game will be played at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT Saturday, May 13 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and will air nationally on ABC.

D.C. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has been named the 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year. Ta’amu helped lead the Defenders to a 9-1 regular season record and a berth in the XFL Championship Game. All of the 2023 XFL awards were voted on by each team’s respective head coach and/or Director of Player Personnel.


Bethesda

Last summer we let you know that Andy’s Pizza, the 2021 winner of the International Pizza Challenge™, is coming to Montgomery County with an upcoming location at 4600 East West Highway– the former site of sandwich shop Booeymonger in Bethesda. In January,  a representative from Andy’s let us know the restaurant is “approximately six months away from opening”, which makes an early summer opening likely. In addition to progress with construction, the restaurant also has its hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services (ABS) on Thursday, May 18 at 10am.

Andy’s Pizza currently has locations in Adams Morgan, NoMa, Navy Yard, and Shaw in DC, with an additional NoVa location at Tysons. Another upcoming location is planned for Old Town Alexandria. Owner Andy Brown, who grew up in Bethesda, stated that he had been looking in the area since his restaurant began expanding. According to Business Journal, “The Bethesda location will also have more space than average — its other locations run roughly 1,800 square feet — to accommodate larger parties.”


Education

Rock Creek Valley Elementary School (Rockville) students joined students across Montgomery County and around the world to participate in Bike & Roll to School Day today, May 3. Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, County Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez and Chris Conklin, director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, participated in the event, which promoted biking and walking to schools as a healthier, greener travel alternative. Watch the video.

Bike & Roll to School Day is a global event that encourages students to walk, bike or scooter to school. The initiative focuses on active lifestyles and the benefits of walkable communities. The event was organized by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MDCOT’s) Safe Routes to School program as part of the Vision Zero plan. MCDOT and Vision Zero staff were on site distributing safety education materials and giveaways. Students also met Zeal, the Traffic Safety Zebra, and Sparky, the Fire and Rescue Dog.


Bethesda

Greek Aroma Grill has closed the Montgomery Mall location the restaurant opened back in the fall of 2022. The restaurant was located in the food terrace and offered items that included, dolma, gyros, kababs, salads, souvlaki, and baklava. Greek Aroma has additional location/ at 177 D Thomas Johnson Dr. in Frederick, MD and at 4555 Woodberry St, in LeFantome Food Hall (Riverdale, MD).

According to Greek Aroma, “every dish is created using only the freshest and finest ingredients. We serve only the finest meats, freshest vegetables, and desserts that are baked fresh daily. Our authentic menu and atmosphere create a truly enjoyable dining experience. Every dish is made to order.” For a full list of what’s new and what’s coming soon at Montgomery Mall, check out our recent update here. The news of Greek Aroma’s closing was first reported by Robert Dyer.


Education

On May 2, Argyle Middle School, in Silver Spring, re-dedicated and renamed its media center after Dr. Judith Docca, its former principal. The school held a ceremony honoring the former Board of Education member.

Argyle Principal James Allrich offered opening remarks, and other spoke on her life and legacy. Dr. Docca spent 38 years with MCPS—as a teacher, human relations specialist, assistant principal at Montgomery Blair High School and principal at Argyle Middle School. She was elected to four four-year terms on the Board of Education.