Montgomery Co. mother continues cancer treatment search after son dies
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Passionate to the end
20-07-2017 Hits:1655 Local 
Suzanne Pollak
Jonathan Shurberg COURTESY OF KEVIN GILLOGLY Jonathan Shurberg, a Silver Spring attorney and Democratic activist, died Thursday morning after suffering from cancer and pneumonia. He was 54 years old.
Read moreGaithersburg Council votes on new develo…
20-07-2017 Hits:311 Local Matt Cohen
GAITHERSBURG -- The City Council discussed and voted on development plans in the Kentlands, salary increases for the mayor and City Council members and amendments City policy at its meeting Monday night. Saul Holding Limited Partnership presented its sketch plan for development in the Kentlands, which, while corresponding well with the vision for the master plan, left the Council members with some questions. The sketch plan presented at the meeting displayed a 12-acre plot of land which is set for multiple uses including both commercial and residential. The city council members expressed some reservations regarding the plan, including the wording of the plan as well as height limits of the buildings. Most notably the plan included the phrase “up to” when describing most of the developments, which concerned City Councilmembers who thus did not know exact specifications of what will be built. In the end, however, the City Councilmembers voted unanimously to support the sketch plan. “It’s early, but the sketch plan conforms very closely to the master plan that was adopted and planned years ago by the city,” said Gaithersburg mayor Jud Ashman. “I think it’s got that going for it. I remain concerned about potential for large densities and its...
Read moreCounty Council gets cheers over circus a…
20-07-2017 Hits:312 Local Neal Earley
Circus animals may no longer be welcomed in the County as the County Council is likely to pass a bill banning performance animals from staying in the County. Eight of the nine County Council members are co-sponsoring Bill 23-17, which would ban businesses and traveling shows such as circuses from keeping their performance animals in the County. The bill was well received during its public hearing Tuesday with almost all testifying in support saying it would be a strong stance against animal cruelty.
Read moreLocal man wins big in state lottery action
We often dream of what we would do if we were to one day win the lottery. For one Gaithersburg man, that dream became a reality this past Independence Day weekend…
New Potomac bridge draws support and ire from some
Reignited talk about a possible new bridge over the Potomac was the last thing politicians in Montgomery County wanted to hear. But with or without the blessing of politicians in the…
Police Chief warns county of uptick in gang violence even as homicide rate slows down
Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger on Monday warned of a growing trend of gang violence in the County.
Purple Line is now back on track
Federal judges granted a stay on lower court’s ruling on the Purple Line, clearing the way for the light rail project to move forward. On Wednesday a three-judge panel from…
Riders inhale pepper spray at Green Line Metro station
GREENBELT-- Dozens of riders started coughing and covering their noses as they entered Greenbelt Station, purchased SmarTrip cards and rode the escalator to the platform after inhaling police pepper spray Tuesday morning…
Aspen Hill Library reopens to the public
ASPEN HILL — The Aspen Hill Library held its grand reopening on Saturday morning after being closed since November. Many Montgomery County residents and politicians were in attendance. The size of…
Grand jury indicts three in Northwest HS murders
Edgar Garcia-Gaona, Jose Canales-Yanez and Roger Garcia have been indicted for the murders of Northwest High School students Shadi Adi Najjar and Artem Ziberov. FILE PHOTO A grand jury indicted…
Looking to let the dogs out . . .
The long wait for some dogs to legally roam free may be finally coming. On Tuesday the County Council held a public hearing on a bill that would allow dog owners…
New student board member lays out education agenda
The new student member of the Board of Education laid out his plans for his term in office to tackle some of the major issues facing Montgomery County’s school system. “It…
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State News
Montgomery County resident Richard Madal…
20-07-2017 Hits:100 State Matt Hooke
Kensington resident, state senator and vocal critic of the incumbent governor Richard Madaleno announced his candidacy for governor of Maryland on Monday. Madaleno, if elected, would be the first openly gay governor in history of Maryland. “I am running for governor, and I am going to win,” said Madaleno to applause at the Universities of Shady Grove.
Read moreBernie supports a Jealous vote
20-07-2017 Hits:210 State Carolyn Komatsoulis
Though Gov. Larry Hogan says he did not vote for President Trump, Ben Jealous, a progressive candidate and former NAACP president, is trying to turn his campaign for governor in 2018 into a referendum on the two Republicans. “We are a great state with a great future with great people, but our children will not be able to realize their full potential if we continue to tolerate the status quo,” said Jealous. Hogan is popular in the state, but certainly not among progressive voters in Takoma Park, many of whom were drawn to Bernie Sanders’ appearance at the rally. Trump, however, is not as popular in Maryland, and Jealous is ready to capitalize on that.
Read moreRaskin hopes to train next gen politicos
20-07-2017 Hits:206 State Nickolai Sukharev
Since his first campaign for elected office in 2006, Congressman Jamie Raskin has trained young adults to become political organizers. "Politics at its best is all about education," said Raskin, who represents Maryland's 8th Congressional District. "You're educating people about the process, you're educating people about the substance of the issues, and then you're educating and getting educated by people about the prospects for real social and political change," he said. Known as Democracy Summer, the program was formed alongside Raskin's first campaign for the Maryland State Senate in 2006 as a way to not only conduct political outreach but also to educate and encourage young adults to become involved in politics.
Read moreMedical Marijuana on hold
The first availability of Maryland-licensed medical marijuana appears likely to be in November, a couple months later than the state government’s earlier forecast of “late summer.” On July 6, Gov. Larry…
Maryland lawmakers disagree with Trump on climate accords
SEABROOK — Climate change may not be at the top of the president’s agenda, but local representatives are keeping up the fight against it in the wake of the withdrawal…
Trump's budget would force state, county to 'pick up pieces'
President Trump proposed a detailed budget May 23 that kept the themes of his March budget blueprint: steep cuts to science-based agencies, many headquartered in Montgomery County, and to programs…
CareFirst files for massive health premium hike
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield proposed monthly premiums averaging more than 50 percent higher for 2018 than for 2017, in filings to the Maryland Insurance Department for the online health insurance marketplace…
Franchot looks to reform alcohol laws
The state comptroller said Tuesday he is starting an alcohol task force to review state laws because the state is more “restrictive” on craft breweries than every other state in…
State passes legislation to give one-year write-offs for manufacturing equipment
The Maryland General Assembly included one-year write-offs of manufacturing equipment for tax purposes in its end-of-session legislative rush on April 10. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed the new tax law on…
State’s Congressmen and Senators meet with Bay advocates
CAPITOL HILL – An annual gathering of clean water advocates took on more urgency this year in the wake of President Donald Trump’s budget, which proposes deep cuts to the…
Ariana Kelly takes helm of group dedicated to fighting for women
Del. Ariana Kelly (D-16). COURTESY PHOTO After being elected president of the Women Legislators of Maryland, Del. Ariana Kelly (District 16) proclaimed that she had just “fulfilled one of my…
Power to the Attorney General
Democrats look to expand attorney general powers to sue the federal government The General Assembly passed a bill Wednesday that will give the state’s attorney general more power to sue the…
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Columns
The president is right - and here's to y…
19-07-2017 Hits:3890 Editor's Notebook 
Brian Karem
The caller on the other end of the phone was adamant. “Have reporters lost their mojo?” She asked.Before I could respond she explained all the reasons why reporters are taken advantage of by the current presidential administration, how and why reporters need to react and how she was “tired of watching you all take it all the time.”She was also upset with reporters who “constantly tell me what to think,” and said the media are their own worst enemy.
Read moreThe president finally makes sense
13-07-2017 Hits:2069 Editor's Notebook Brian J. Karem
I finally get it.All these months I could not understand why our president tried so hard to disrupt and destroy the investigation into Russian hacking of our elections. There are those who are convinced it is because the president was directly involved in collusion with the Russians.Still others think the president is just a buffoon, but I’ve never bought into that theory – he has some innate intelligence and survival instincts or he wouldn’t be able to thrive in the cutthroat world in which he’s cruised all these years.
Read moreThe real problems in the press
05-07-2017 Hits:1190 Editor's Notebook Brian J. Karem
“Why didn’t someone in the press stand up for themselves before?”That question has been in thousands of emails, tweets and snail mail correspondence we’ve received at the newspaper this week following a viral moment I had with Sarah Sanders during an on-camera briefing at the White House last week.I don’t know. Well, I have an idea.The other question I’ve seen quite often is – “What is wrong with the press?”On that issue, I have a few more ideas.
Read moreAbout enduring press freedom
I walked slowly to my bunk and looked up at the television set. Twenty pairs of eyes were on the NBC Nightly News watching a story about me.One man turned…
Go To Your Room - and Grow up!
The simplest requests can often lead to the most obtuse results.When my children were extremely young my wife and I tried to persuade them to “use their words,” when they…
The best speech Trump has made yet
In the stifling heat of the muggiest day in recent D.C. memory, last Monday President Donald Trump made his most enduring and remarkable speech since he took office. With hundreds…
Learning lessons the hard way
Wednesday morning, shortly after I got up to go to work, I received a tweet that would change my day and should change our world.While practicing for a charity baseball…
Federal infrastructure and us
Congressman John Sarbanes, Senator Chris Van Hollen and a host of other federal elected officials say they have a bone to pick with President Donald Trump.Van Hollen, along with Republican…
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen budget?
Apparently having an appreciation for the absurd is necessary in assembling a budget for President Trump. “I feel like I’m in a Monty Python skit,” said OMB Director Mick Mulvaney…
Violence against reporters and a presidential solution
Remember Bill Biggart (at left) or Chauncey Bailey?I’ll get back to you on that.Meanwhile, for the first time in my memory an American politician was recently charged with assaulting a…
While the President's away - who wants to play? Marijuana? Okay.
The president is away this week on his first international trip, and with just the normal cacophony in the District, it seems oddly quiet here.The president made headlines in the…
One Little Tweet gave us this?
It was a very simple tweet.“POTUS says GOP is coming together. Jovial as he cheers vote.”I tweeted it from the Rose Garden as President Trump exclaimed how happy he was…
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Sports
No matter the age, chasing the baseball …
20-07-2017 Hits:139 Sports Marc Lande
In Montgomery County, the dream of being involved in baseball lives on for umpires Chazz Smith, 68, and Steve Murfin, 62, of the Ponce de Leon Baseball League. Ponce de Leon Baseball is a recreational league for fast-pitch baseball for men and women over 30 years of age who play in Montgomery County and Northern Virginia. Some of their fields are Wheaton Regional Park, Blair High School and Martin Luther King Park. Registration for the league is open for spring, summer and fall seasons. But what about the umpires?
Read moreJenkins Camp Gives Parents Recruiting Ti…
20-07-2017 Hits:183 Sports Brandy L. Simms
OLNEY – J. Everette Pearsall, founder and executive director of the National Alliance of African American Athletes, was among the keynote speakers Saturday at the parent’s seminar during the third annual Jelani Jenkins Youth Football Camp at Good Counsel High School. Since 1992, Pearsall’s organization has been responsible for presenting the annual Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award trophy to the nation’s top African-American male high school scholar athlete. Various major college football programs recruited Jenkins, who was a Watkins Award finalist and boasted a 3.96 grade point average during his senior campaign at Good Counsel, before he opted to sign with the University of Florida in 2009. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2013 National Football League Draft, and although he left school early, he returned to Gainesville last year to pick up his undergraduate degree in applied physiology and kinesiology.
Read moreWhitman eliminated from summer league pl…
20-07-2017 Hits:160 Sports Eva Paspalis
ROCKVILLE – When Georgetown Prep took on Whitman Monday in the Maryland Elite Summer Basketball League, one thing was certain: The loser would be eliminated from playoff contention. Both squads showed how badly they wanted to enter the postseason in a game that saw several ties and lead changes at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School Daniel Pearl Memorial Gymnasium. The Little Hoyas made sure nothing was left to chance and avoided a last-minute Whitman surge to earn their fourth win of the summer season, 67-62.
Read moreBethesda Big Train walk off Alexandria Aces in Cal Ripken League classic
BETHESDA -- In a 15-inning marathon, the Bethesda Big Train tied the Alexandria Aces at the top of the division as they walked off the Aces 6-5. Fans at Shirley Povich…
Crosby’s sac fly lifts Express to 4-2 win over DC Grays
ROCKVILLE—Two last place teams faced off Tuesday night as the Rockville Express (12-21, fifth in North division) hosted the DC Grays (11-20, fifth in South) at Montgomery College. The game…
Springbrook tops Good Counsel in hoops
Our Lady of Good Council Bez Mbeng (48) goes for a layup. PHOTO BY MARK POETKER ROCKVILLE — In a game that was purely a tale of two halves…
Reflections on victory . . .
No one knows the pain of Maryland’s Men’s Lacrosse’s long suffering history more than Louis Dubick. That’s because Maryland Lacrosse runs through Dubick’s blood. He’s a third-generation Terrapin; both his father…
Good Counsel slips past Whitman in Summer hoops competition
ROCKVILLE – Good Counsel guard Christopher Margarites took aim from behind the arc and landed his third trey of the game to help put Whitman away 45-41 Monday night at…
Georgetown Prep trounces Urbana in Summer league
Eric Mitchell (3) on the floor Sean Berry (12). PHOTO BY MARK POETKER ROCKVILLE — The Georgetown Prep Little Hoyas varsity boys basketball team (5-5) trounced the Urbana…
Gaithersburg Giants capture first victory against T-Bolts in fourth matchup of season
GAITHERSBURG —After losing the first three games against Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (10-16), the Gaithersburg Giants (15- 13) beat their divisional rivals 5-4 Saturday night. The game at Criswell Automotive Field remained…
Express upsets Big Train on the road 3-2
BETHESDA — The Rockville Express (10-19) staged a road upset of the Bethesda Big Train (22-8), 3-2, in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League game at Shirley Povich Field on…
Wootton captures its own 7-7 tourney crown
Wootton captured its own 7-7 summer league football tournament this weekend. PHOTO BY JACQUI SOUTH ROCKVILLE – The War at Wootton 7 on 7…
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Features
Fringe festival has enough for everyone …
20-07-2017 Hits:286 Entertainment Barbara Trainin Blank
Only five more days remain in the vast, multifaceted, and overwhelming (in a good sense) Capital Fringe Festival 2017. Though only in its 12th year, the annual event founded by artist and community organizer Julianne Brienza seems to have been around forever. Its goal according to the web site, is “expanding audiences’ appetites for independent, Fringe theatre, music, art, dance, and unclassifiable forms of live performance and visual art – and serving as a catalyst for cultural and community development.”
Read moreImagination Stage offers fun for those s…
20-07-2017 Hits:197 Entertainment Barbara Trainin Blank
Elyon Topolosky has been in the area only about four years, but he’s already performed in four productions at Imagination Stage. Most recently, he appeared in “Bye, Bye Birdie” in one of the summer camps run by the community arts organization, whose mission is to integrate the arts into the lives of children. “I love Imagination Stage,” said Topolosky, 13. “It’s not just a month of auditioning, learning your part, and putting on a performance. It’s a whole process – of learning different techniques, like drama, music, makeup, puppetry, dialects, and stage combat.”
Read morePlath and Dietrich take a new turn in th…
13-07-2017 Hits:422 Entertainment Barbara Trainin Blank
Marlene Dietrich. COURTESY PHOTO The two women couldn’t have been more different. Marlene Dietrich was an internationally known movie star who radiated sexual magnetism. She was also unapologetically androgynous and bisexual, at a time neither was openly accepted. A married woman whose list of lovers seemed endless, Dietrich was defeated only by aging, which made a dent in her prodigious selfconfidence. Sylvia Plath was a shy but influential poet and novelist. While she captured the public imagination of other artists and lovers of her art forms and won a Pulitzer Prize, she never became the household name Dietrich was. Plath is also known for her turbulent relationship with husband and fellow poet Ted Hughes. After several bouts of depression and suicide attempts (possibly due to bipolar disorder), Plath took her own life at the age of 30. Dietrich and Plath are now posthumously “sharing the same space,” in exhibitions dedicated to them at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Read moreOne-act plays dominate community theater festivals
Two Montgomery County community theaters will offer multi-week festivals of one-act plays this summer, featuring characters such as a lonely woman at a bar and a former U.S. president (in…
A Renaissance man turns 83
As a child, Mike Ritter was drawn to the sound of classic big bands. Now at the age of 83, the Oscar-winning filmmaker leads The Not So Modern Jazz Quartet…
Local artist Raul Midón captures all that jazz
Blind musician Rául Mídon performs at Bethesda Blues and Jazz. PHOTO BY MATT HOOKE BETHESDA — Raul Midón, midway through his concert Thursday night at Bethesda Blues and Jazz, showed…
There’s some “Dangerous Curves” here
The band Dangerous Curves performs at Hershey’s Bar and Grill. PHOTO BY MARK POETKER GAITHERSBURG — By day John Brian Jameson works as an arborist in Montgomery County…
Re-envisioned “My Fair Lady” mostly delights at Olney
Danny Bernardy and Brittany Campbell star in the Olney Theatre Center's production of "My Fair Lady." COURTESY PHOTO Virtually any production of “My Fair Lady” – one of the best-beloved…
Takoma Park lights it up with Jazz Festival
The Chuck Redd Quartet performing at the Takoma Park Jazz Festival. PHOTO BY MATT HOOKE TAKOMA PARK – On Sunday Takoma Park hosted its 22nd annual jazz festival. The…
Local music festival features young talent
Silver Spring rappers Mike of Doom and Kasey Jones perform at the Strange Adventures Music Festival. COURTESY PHOTO On Friday and Saturday, the Twin Moon Arts Collective, a record label…
Heritage Days to celebrate 20 years of bringing history to life
Heritage Days, a project of the non-profit historical organization Heritage Montgomery, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this weekend. Held annually on the last weekend of June, the event is a…
Documentaries shine in AFI DOCS Festival
Programming staff, front-line screeners and members of a screening committee spent the better part of this year winnowing down documentary films to include in the American Film Institute’s 15th annual…
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Political Cartoons
MC/DC Cartoon: McConnell Falls Short
20-07-2017 Hits:191 Political Cartoons 
Mark Cabot Robinson
Read more MC/DC Cartoon: Donald Jr. Can't Tell a L…
13-07-2017 Hits:202 Political Cartoons Mark Cabot Robinson
@MCRgh1
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