Arts

Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) Wins Big at ESTA

By MCS Staff

Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) has announced that their production of “Pride@Prejudice” by Daniel Elihu Kramer was selected Outstanding Production at ESTA (Eastern States Theatre Association) on Sat., April 15 at the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware. Participating states included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland). “Pride@Prejudice” received several other accolades as well:

– Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Acting – Niranjali Amerasinghe, Lena Winter, Meghan Williams Elkins, Ian Swank and Joseph Coracle

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Bethesda

Approximately 45 Firefighters Respond to House Fire Friday Morning in Bethesda

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire on Lynbrook Dr in Bethesda on Friday, April 21, around 6am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, a neighbor across the street called 9-1-1 after seeing a fire on the porch of the two-story brick house. The lone occupant of the home was alerted by smoke alarm and self evacuated. Approximately 45 MCFRS firefighters responded to the scene and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Piringer reports there was “extensive clutter throughout house” and that the fire likely started on the porch. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – Lynbrook Dr, Bethesda, 2sty brick house, neighbor across street called 911, fire likely originated on front porch, otherwise large volumes of furnishings & other combustible materials throughout the home, occupant self-evacuated, no injuries, ~45 @mcfrs  FFs responded”

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Takoma Park

Takoma Park Police Weighs in on Twitter’s Removal of Verification Checkmarks

By MCS Staff

Many celebrities, journalists, and other notable people or businesses have recently found themselves without the “blue checkmark” that previously signified verified accounts on Twitter. New owner Elon Musk has now made the check mark verification system a paid add-on ($8-$11) for social networking site that is otherwise free. While many notable people have made public comments, Takoma Park Police is one of the first local organizations to comment publicly:

“Blue check marks: @elonmusk You should provide the blue checkmark to police departments for free so we can distinguish ourselves as legitimate & giving out correct information to our communities. It would be the appropriate thing to do to support law enforcement. Thank you.”

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MoCo Police

Montgomery County Police Asking for Assistance in Identifying and Locating Guardians or Family of Non-Verbal Man

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police are asking the public’s assistances in identifying a non-verbal man that walked into a hospital on April 20.  Per MCPD: “Montgomery County Department of Police is asking for assistance in identifying and locating guardians or family members for a male that walked into a Montgomery County hospital Thursday, April 20 at approximately 8:30 p.m. He is approximately 5-feet 8-inches to 5-feet 9-inches tall, with short black hair and all black clothing. He is non-verbal.

Anyone with information regarding guardians or family is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).”

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Poolesville

Poolesville Takes Action Against Climate Change

By MCS Staff

On Monday, April 17, 2023, The Commissioners of Poolesville adopted Resolution 001-23, which establishes a One Hundred Percent (100%) renewable energy goal for municipal electricity use by 2030 including at least 80% renewable energy by 2027.

Over the past several years, the Town has actively pursued opportunities to respond to the climate change emergency and demonstrated how even a small town like Poolesville can tackle climate change head on. Through the 1.1 mega-watt solar array and LED streetlight program, we are already exceeding the 80% renewable energy goal.

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Montgomery Planning

Incentive Zoning Update Presented by Montgomery Planning

By MCS Staff

Comprehensive update to the Public Benefits Point System for Commercial-Residential and Employment Zones will determine what amenities should be provided by new development

The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, presented the scope of work for the Incentive Zoning Update project to the Montgomery County Planning Board at its meeting on April 20, 2023. The project will examine the current Public Benefits Point System for Commercial-Residential and Employment Zones which ensures that in order to maximize the allowable density in these zones, new developments provide community amenities like affordable housing, environmental features, and public infrastructure facilities.

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Crime

Maryland MS-13 Gang Leader Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murder

By MCS Staff

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: Brayan Alexander Torres, a/k/a “Spooky,” age 29, of Adelphi, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday, to a racketeering conspiracy, including murder, related to his participation in the Weedams Locos Salvatrucha clique of the MS-13 gang.  Torres admitted that he was the clique’s “First Word” or leader. 

On March 24, 2023, co-defendants and MS-13 members and associates Brian Samir Zelaya Mejia, a/k/a “Chispa,” age 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland and Jorge Isaac Argueta Chica, a/k/a “Timido,” age 22, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, also pleaded guilty to their participation in the racketeering conspiracy, including extortion and accessory after the fact of first degree murder.

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Boyds

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

By MCS Staff

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.

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North Bethesda

RASA Announces Opening Date For Rockville Location

By MCS Staff

In November we let you know that RASA, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with four locations in DC and Virginia, would be taking over the recently-closed Slapfish location at 12033 Rockville Pike in the Montrose Crossing shopping center. Earlier today, RASA announced that it will be opening its Rockville location on Thursday, April 27th at 10:30am.

The restaurant, founded by Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman (combined to create the name, RASA), opened its first location in Navy Yard in 2017 before opening a location in Mt. Vernon Triangle in 2020, Crystal City in 2021, and Fairfax this past summer. The menu offers seven chef-curated bowls under the “We Got You” portion of the menu, that includes their signature bowls like the “Tikka Chance on Me”, “Open Sesame”, “Eat Your Veggies”, “Home Cooking”, “Goa Your Own Way”, “Aloo Need is Love”, and “Caul on Me” or the “You Got It” portion of their menu that allows customers to “DIY” and design their own bowl using the assembly line format of a base, main, sauce, veggies, toppings, and chutneys/dressings. The full menu can be seen here.

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Education

MCPS: Five Things to Know for Thursday, April 20

By Patrick Herron

All secondary students were eligible to vote in the SMOB election and 55,598 students cast ballots. Mr. Saeed received 70 percent of the vote, while his opponent, Mr. Yoseph Zerihun, a junior at Springbrook High School, received 30 percent. The SMOB election was held on April 19 through an electronic ballot that all students received in their MCPS email; students were encouraged to vote during a class lesson.

The celebration will also recognize the MCPS Rising Star Teacher of the Year, the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision winner, the Supporting Services Employee of the Year, the Community Champion for Children, and the inaugural R.A.I.S.E. Champion of the Year.

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