ICYMI (12/16) A private Elementary School in Bethesda, @mcfrs responded – laptop battery pack went into ‘thermal runaway’ (child sitting on laptop in classroom, laptop started smoking) Teacher removed hazard from building, fire alarm was activated & bldg evacuated, no injuries https://t.co/OktIXcieZd pic.twitter.com/Ek6nPCzS3R
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 19, 2022
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Samar Hammad 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.
The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office announced today that it has doubled the Lyft rideshare credit to $10 to encourage more Marylanders to take advantage of the safe ride option this holiday season. The rideshare credits are available through a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association, Responsibility.org and Lyft.
According to preliminary data, so far this month (December 1 – 13, 2022) 500 people have been arrested for driving under the influence, with at least one arrest occurring in each of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions. MDOT is encouraging Marylanders to take advantage of the free rideshare credits to put toward a safe alternative to driving impaired. Each Marylander is eligible to receive one $10 rideshare credit each weekend while supplies last. A select number of rideshare credits will be available between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. on the following dates:
Summer fun starts at Good Counsel! Our Summer Camps are packed with exciting activities, sports, creativity, adventure, and unforgettable memories for campers of all ages. From the field to the classroom and everywhere in between, there’s something for everyone at Good Counsel’s Summer Camps!
Spend your summer learning, laughing, and making new friends with the Good Counsel community. Spots are filling fast so be sure to register today!
Register at: www.olgchs.org/camps
The Rockville City Police are attempting to locate a missing teenager last seen at the Rockville Library (21 Maryland Ave) on December 11. Per RCPD:” Missing -Julia Echo Ames, 19, last seen at Rockville Library on 12/11/22 wearing a dark blue tank top, light gray windbreaker jacket, zebra print leggings, small blue backpack. Concern for her welfare. Call RCPD CIU at 240-314-8938 with info. A photo of Julia Ames is included.”
Missing -Julia Echo Ames, 19, last seen at Rockville Library on 12/11/22 wearing a dark blue tank top, light gray windbreaker jacket, zebra print leggings, small blue backpack. Concern for her welfare. Call RCPD CIU at 240-314-8938 with info. A photo of Julia Ames is included. pic.twitter.com/9NK9DqGhDf
Beautiful venue; great art, gifts and hand-crafted items; refreshments; and meet the award-winning painters, photographers, mixed media artists, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more – some 40 artists in all. It’s an extraordinary array of framed wall works, 3-d media including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber pieces, and unframed prints.
Among them, you’ll see:
Per the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Office of the Attorney General today released the body-worn camera footage from the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on November 29, 2022, in Frederick, Maryland. The decedent was previously identified as 23-year-old Aaron Mensah, of Frederick, Maryland.
The Independent Investigations Division will generally release the name of the decedent and discharging officers within 48 hours of the incident, though that period may be extended if there is a specific reason to believe that an officer’s safety is at risk. The deputies who discharged their firearms were not equipped with body-worn cameras. Other officers on the scene were wearing body-worn cameras, which recorded portions of the incident. The Independent Investigations Division will generally release body camera footage within 14 days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 14 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.
For the past 8 years, the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union (ESFCU) on behalf of their Support Education Foundation, Inc, hosts an annual Warming Hearts and Hands campaign. The foundation works to gather winter clothing items to be donated to the MCPS Homeless Liaison to give to our students in need. On Dec. 14 the foundation dropped off hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and a many toiletry kits including a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap and deodorant.
Per MCPS: “MCPS is grateful to the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union and their Support Education Foundation, Inc. for their efforts each year to support the social and emotional well-being of our most vulnerable students.”
According to Buffalo News, a Seattle man, Joey George (37), was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to two years in federal prison for threatening to kill Black customers at a grocery store in Buffalo as well as other businesses across the country, including a cannabis dispensary in Rockville.
According to the Department of Justice, George pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to making interstate threats and committing a hate crime for interference with a federally protected activity. The defendant has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 22. According to the plea agreement, Joey David George, 37, of Lynwood, telephoned multiple grocery stores in Buffalo, New York, and threatened to shoot Black people in the stores. George told the staff at the store to “take him seriously,” and ordered the store to clear out the customers, as he was “nearby” and “preparing to shoot all Black customers.” One store closed. The threats followed a racially-motivated shooting at another Buffalo grocery store in May. Law enforcement traced the phone number and identified George as the person who made the call.
Per the Takoma Park Police Department: Chief Antonio DeVaul from the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrests of Luis Samuel Rios Rodriguez, 35, of no fixed address and Abed Jonathan Midence-Lopez, 39, of Greenbelt, Maryland, for multiple offenses. Rodriguez was charged with attempted first degree murder, first degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and second degree assault. Midence-Lopez was charged with conspiracy to all of the listed charges.
On December 18, 2022, at approximately 2:47 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland. (Barriles Restaurant & Sports Bar) for shots fired with injuries. Upon officers arrival, both suspects were exiting the establishment to leave but were detained.
Below is a list of several recent openings and closings in the Germantown Plaza shopping center on Wisteria Dr. in Germantown.
Last January we reported that Boston Market would be opening a new Rockville Pike location, according to signage that was put up at the old Katsu Go location in Towne Plaza (the shopping center that’s home to Navy Federal Credit Union and PM Pediatrics) at 12238 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852. This morning we spoke with a klnb representative who told us that Boston Market signed a lease, but is pulling out of the space. The restaurant previously had a location just a couple miles away– on Randolph Road in Loehmann’s Plaza. That location closed back in February of 2019 and has since been replaced by Toosso.
Boston Market also closed its White Oak location in early 2020, but has remaining MoCo locations in Aspen Hill and Gaithersburg. Boston Market was founded as Boston Chicken in 1985. Currently the chain has over 340 company-owned restaurants nationwide. An expected opening date is not currently available.
Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), received top awards in creative marketing campaigns and initiatives from the Public Relations Society of America, Maryland Chapter (PRSA Maryland) at its 2022 Best in Maryland Awards on December 8, 2022, where 28 awards were given across over 20 categories. Each year PRSA Maryland presents awards to communication professionals who have successfully addressed a communications challenge with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness.
“It’s exciting and an honor to be recognized for these projects that have been so impactful for park users,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “The pandemic years were challenging for everyone and we are proud of our efforts to bring awareness of all the benefits of our park system to the community during that time.”