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Clarksburg High School senior sentenced …
24-04-2018 Hits:235 Local 
Suzanne Pollak
Alwin Chen, the Clarksburg High School senior who was charged with carrying a loaded handgun with him into school, was sentenced to the maximum of three years in jail, with all but four months of that sentenced suspended. Chen, 18, who has been in jail since his Feb. 15 arrest said, “What I did was stupid. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”
Read moreFormer PTA treasurer sentenced for embez…
24-04-2018 Hits:194 Local Kathleen Stubbs
ROCKVILLE – A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge sentenced a former PTA treasurer, who pleaded guilty to embezzling and misappropriating PTA funds, to nine months in jail Tuesday. Judge David A. Boynton sentenced former Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations treasurer Lisa Betts, 46, to five years in jail, with all but nine months suspended. In addition, Boynton ordered Betts to pay the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations $1,000 for their insurance deductible, pay $44,000 to the Greencastle Elementary School Parent Teacher Association and $27,000 to the Travelers Insurance Company.
Read moreGaithersburg Presents Environmental Awar…
21-04-2018 Hits:400 Local Peter Rouleau
GAITHERSBURG — Mayor Jud Ashman and the City Council presented the city’s annual Environmental Awards at City Hall Monday Night. First given in 2002, the awards ceremony recognize businesses, nonprofits, individuals, schools, and other organizations for their environmental conservation efforts. Ashman described Brown Station Elementary School, one of the honorees, as near to his heart, as his own children attended the school. “Brown Station Elementary recently reopened and its students are enjoying the eco-friendly design features of the new campus,” Ashman said. “The school involves its students in many environmentally-responsible activities, including the recycling efforts led by the green team of fourth- and fifth-graders. Students have also been studying pollution in watersheds. In the fall, they took a field trip to learn about food production, waste, and the water cycle and the implications for the Chesapeake Bay.”
Read moreTakoma Park approves contract for resident survey
The Takoma Park City Council has approved awarding a contract to have a resident survey done. The last time the city held a resident survey was in 2007, 2009 and 2014…
Local businessman leads efforts to stem opioid epidemic
NORTH BETHESDA — H. David Meyers, a Rockville-based businessman turned on the local news one day and saw his secretary Carin Miller. Miller, founder of the Maryland Heroin Awareness Advocates, was…
“Aggressively”
County counters federal moves against immigrants with a plan to help them out Immigrants who find themselves in federal immigration court often cannot afford legal counsel and have to represent themselves…
Potomac residents look to county for cutting noise levels from Reagan airport
Potomac area residents say they have cause to hope they can rid their neighborhoods of aircraft noise with an upgrade in flight GPS technology. The frequent noise from commercial flights led…
BOE to spend more for safety
ROCKVILLE — In light of recent shootings at schools in Parkland, Florida and St. Mary’s County, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith said he plans to ask for more…
Concert set to help raise opioid awareness
The Music Center of Strathmore will host a benefit concert for Maryland Heroin Awareness Advocates on April 17. COURTESY PHOTO The opioid epidemic first hit home for Carin Miller after both…
Chen to plead guilty to carrying a gun in school
Alwin Chen. FILE PHOTO ROCKVILLE — Alwin Chen, the Clarksburg High School student who brought a loaded Glock 19 handgun to school, is expected to plead guilty on a charge that…
County Council holds forum on workplace sexual harassment
ROCKVILLE — For months the “Me Too” movement was among the biggest stories in the nation. Reporters, politicians, movie producers and stars were all accused of sexual harassment – something all…
Metro consultants confirm resident fears regarding noise and vibrations
A consulting firm hired by Metro has confirmed local residents’ concerns about Metro’s new 7000 series trains – they are louder than the old ones and may have a tendency…
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State News
Advocacy groups make final push as sessi…
10-04-2018 Hits:253 State Peter Rouleau
As the 2018 Maryland legislative session enters its final days, state advocacy groups are making a final push for the passage of legislation. “While there are a few bills still alive that we’re still supporting, unfortunately most of the major environmental legislation this year was either voted down or amended down into a non-sensitive form,” said Elaine Lutz, staff attorney for the Maryland office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, an organization which advocates for the health of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waterways. Lutz said the CBF’s primary focus during this session was strengthening the Forest Conservation Act, which she said designates certain areas in the state as priority forests and calls for them to be preserved, but provides few specific criteria or guidelines towards accomplishing that goal. “We are seeing the loss of some of our best contiguous forests,” Lutz said. “The legislation we introduced this year would have provided specific, transparent criteria for preserving the forests and reforestation requirements, but after opposition from some of the counties and the development community, the senate amended it into a more task force-oriented bill to find out where the forests are being lost and require certain recommendations to be made.”
Read moreState song may soon be demoted to histor…
03-04-2018 Hits:448 State Suzanne Pollak
“Maryland, My Maryland,” the Civil War battle hymn that refers to “Northern scum” soon may no longer be the state song. But rather than replace “the embarrassing, outdated and racist song,” as Senator Cheryl Kagan (D-17) called it, the State Senate opted last week to demote the song to historical status. “It will be designated as historical. We are putting it aside,” said Kagan, who stressed that her preference for the new designation is “historical, not historic. ‘Historical’ means that’s what we used to believe.” The lyrics, which are from a poem written in the early days of the Civil War by James Ryder Randall, “are offensive and outdated,” she said, explaining why she has been trying to repeal and replace the song since 2016. Before the song is officially downgraded, the House of Delegates must agree. An official vote in the House has not yet been scheduled.
Read moreStatistics show gun violence rising in M…
31-03-2018 Hits:894 State Neal Earley
With a renewed push to enact gun control legislation taking this place last weekend in Washington, some state politicians are saying Maryland could serve as model of gun control reform for the nation. Since the murder of 17 people in Parkland, Florida, students and gun control advocates have staged walkouts and protest marches in hopes of pressuring Congress to enact new gun control laws such as banning assault weapons which Maryland did through its legislation in 2013.
Read moreMaryland legislative update
With less than a month left to go in this year’s legislative session, both chambers of the Maryland legislature are still working their way through several key pieces of legislation…
Maryland crafts legislation targeting presidential tax return
A Maryland bill that would require all future presidential candidates to release their tax returns passsed the Maryland Senate last week, taking aim at President Trump. The Presidential Candidate Tax Transparency…
Kagan says video shows evidence of inappropriate touching
Cheryl Kagan (left) and Gil Genn (right). FILE PHOTOSNewly-released security camera footage of an interaction between State Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-17th District) and lobbyist Gil Genn is leading to different…
Gun advocates and control supporters rally in Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS — Even a casual observer who visited the House of Delegates’ offices Tuesday could easy deduce the issue of the day by taking notice of the sartorial sameness displayed…
Kagan accuses lobbyist of inappropriate touching
Cheryl Kagan (left) and Gil Genn (right). COURTESY PHOTOS State Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-17) alleges that a lobbyist inappropriately touched her during a legislative event on March 1. “Last night, former legislator…
Gubernatorial candidates talk issues in Takoma Park
Gubernatorial candidates gather in Takoma Park COURTESY PHOTO BY EDWARD M. KIMMEL TAKOMA PARK — Six of the eight Democrats hoping to replace incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan (R) made their…
Gun control legislation to be reconsidered
The mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people last week has brought new attention to state bills on gun control and school security as…
Gubernatorial candidates Madaleno, Ross pick running mates
Two of the Democrats who are vying for the chance to unseat Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in this year’s general election announced Lieutenant Governor picks this week in hopes of…
Controversial state song may finally change
Maryland’s controversial state song – “Maryland, My Maryland” – could soon go the way of eight-track tapes and cassettes if a number of state legislators get their way. The Civil War-era…
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Columns
Creatures of scary habits
20-04-2018 Hits:565 Editor's Notebook 
Brian J. Karem
Somewhere in Potomac tonight there is a family sitting in a home that cost more than $1 million, upset with the noise coming from commercial aircraft flying into Reagan National Airport and they’ve convinced the county to spend $150,000 to an aviation expert in order to come up with alternative flight plans into Reagan.Putting aside that it is still hard for me to swallow that there is an airport named after the president who took a giant squat on air traffic controllers, I’ll happily sign up to take the money from the county because I can tell you there can be little if no change in the traffic pattern at National.That’s not something those people living in multi-million dollar homes want to hear, but it’s something that’s going to be said.
Read moreMr. Zuckerberg goes to Washington
20-04-2018 Hits:280 Paul's View Paul K. Schwartz
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Senate's combined hearing by its Judiciary and Commerce Committees, during which Facebook owner and creator Mark Zuckerberg fielded some five hours of questions.Clearly the concern of the some 42 senators was user privacy and the protection of personal information in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal in which the personal information of some 87 million Facebook users was improperly taken and used for unauthorized political purposes during the 2016 presidential election.While a comparison was made by some Republican senators to the voter targeting done during the Obama presidential campaigns, the difference here is the deliberate flood of misinformation done by Cambridge Analytica during the 2016 Trump campaign.Certainly user privacy and the protection of personal data are a concern of major proportions. Facebook is an enormously large company with over $40 billion in annual income, more than 25,000 employees and more than 2 billion monthly active users.However, as I listened to the testimony I couldn't help but think that the true overarching issue is more than privacy; it is responsibility. What is the responsibility of platform providers to manage the content of those platforms?
Read moreDemocrats face a messaging problem
13-04-2018 Hits:315 Paul's View Paul K. Schwartz
The biggest issue facing Democrats as they head toward the 2018 midterm elections and their quest to retake both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to identify what Democrats are for and not just against. The search is for a rallying issue, so to speak.The difficulty is that it is sometimes a bit challenging to distinguish the two especially when dealing with such a destructive force as the CONmander-in-Chief.There are a couple of good places to start, however. First, simply look at all of the Obama Administration actions that have been, item by item, undone by the current administration. Re-entering the Paris Climate Accord since we are the only nation, and I said only nation thanks to Trump, who is not a signatory is one easy issue to adopt for Democrats. Climate change, by the way, is real, and not being part of the solution implies we are part of the problem. Current efforts to roll back automobile emission standards are a prime example.Rescinding President Obama's executive order on DACA, Deferred Actions on Childhood Arrivals, only served to create an unnecessary crisis. How this issue will ultimately be addressed remains to be seen, but it is likely that...
Read moreThe battle between the press and the President
Of the two comments I’ve heard most regarding media activity in the White House press room, the most ridiculous comment I hear is “Why don’t you guys all get up…
We all should be "Mad as Hell" again
“What's that you say?”“Come again?”“I can't hearrrrr youuuuu!”That is, in essence, what our state legislators have said to taxpayers in the state of Maryland. Basically, their message is: I can't…
King, Kennedy, Mom and Dad - Deja Vu all over again
In the early Spring of 1968 my mother began playing a Michelle Lee album she’d purchased.For Weeks “L. David Sloane” and the laments of a woman trying to escape a…
Thirty Days in the Hole!
Woke up this morning feeling half past dead, with this silly rock lyric running through my head.The mailman was early and gave me a shout about something I had no…
And now gun rights for everybody!
Have you ever wondered just how our legislators receive their gun lobby ratings? You know, A-plus through F-minus. Clearly much depends on their voting record on gun-related legislation, whether in…
Keep your hands off the pension, dude
Back, way back, in the early 1980s, the New York office of the United States Customs Service experienced a full-fledged scandal concerning illegal kickbacks, graft, extortion and more, much more…
Disturbing the Snow of Your Thoughts
Curious how old habits stay with you.When I was a young boy and it snowed I loathed walking into either the front or backyard disturbing the fresh powder. It looked…
Everyone needs to establish standards
There are certain expectations we, as citizens, have for the individual occupying the White House. We expect that they have a certain level of integrity, honesty, morals, intelligence, experience, judgment…
Remember the Hawking Legacy
"My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all." – Stephen Hawking Stephen Hawking’s last warning…
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Sports
Landon boys narrowly defeat archrival G…
25-04-2018 Hits:108 Sports Brandy L. Simms
Landon’s Joey Epstein (1) makes his move to intercept Georgetown Prep’s Jake Giulieri (8) who’s on his way to his fourth goal of the game. PHOTO BY MIKE CLARK NORTH BETHESDA — The visiting Landon Bears met the Georgetown Prep Little Hoyas on the gridiron Friday in the latest installment of the area’s top boys lacrosse rivalry. Landon senior Joey Epstein scored four goals to lead the Bears to a 6-5 road victory over the Little Hoyas. “I don’t care what the sport is,” said Landon head coach Rob Bordley, “whenever Landon plays Prep, it doesn’t matter what sport it is, it’s going to be a dogfight.” That was evident as Landon rallied from a 1-0 deficit early to take a 3-2 lead into intermission.
Read moreWhitman girls remain undefeated with vic…
24-04-2018 Hits:879 Sports Eva Paspalis
Whitman’s Abby Waldvogel (11) fires the goal past Quince Orchard’s Kate Faraone (23) and goalie Josie Juhring (18). PHOTO BY GEORGE P. SMITH GAITHERSBURG –Whitman girls varsity lacrosse continued their perfect season Monday as the Vikings defeated Quince Orchard 12-4 at the Cougar Dome improving to an 8-0 record on the season. Nine different players were responsible for Whitman’s 12 goals, with seven players scoring in the first half alone. Vikings head coach Katie Bitonti said that the group effort mentality is one of her team’s main focuses in practice. “From start to finish, we need everyone working together. We don’t like to rely on one player,” she said. “We like to keep the ball moving on attack. We have a very well-balanced team and they work well together. They like feeding the ball to each other.”
Read moreStar pitcher leads Damascus to victory o…
24-04-2018 Hits:244 Sports Matt Cohen
POOLESVILLE — Damascus head coach Scott Frye said he had “no doubt” about sending Connor Manion out to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning, protecting a one-run lead against Poolesville. The decision worked out perfectly for the visiting Damascus Swarmin’ Hornets, as Manion slammed the door shut in the bottom of the seventh, sealing a win for Damascus. Manion’s bottom of the seventh finished off a complete game for the senior pitcher, a performance which led the Swarmin’ Hornets to a 5-4 victory over the Falcons. Poolesville and Damascus are regarded as two of the top three teams in Montgomery County, and thus it was no surprise to see each team to put star starting pitchers on the mound. For Poolesville, it was preseason all-state selection and High Point commit Brady Pearre, while Damascus chose St. Mary’s commit Manion. “It’s preparation throughout the week,” Frye said of facing Pearre.
Read moreSherwood wins 4A North division in extra-inning victory over Blair
Sherwood outfielder Michael Mbony hits a home run out against Blair. Sherwood would go on to defeat Blair, 6-5, and clinch the 4A North division. PHOTO BY MIKE CLARK SILVER SPRING…
QO baseball team keeps Gburg at bay to win 7-6
GAITHERSBURG — Despite a late-inning rally from the home varsity baseball team, the visiting Quince Orchard Cougars escaped Thursday with a 7-6 road victory over the Gaithersburg Trojans. Gaithersburg, who fell…
B-CC lands on top at gymnastics tri-meet with Blair and Blake
B-CC’s Frances Leadman placed first all-around, first in bars, beam, and floor, and third in the vault during the gymnastics tri-meet at Blake High School. PHOTO BY GEORGE P. SMITH SILVER…
Blair girls win LAX Battle of the Boulevard against Northwood
SILVER SPRING — The 2018 high school varsity lacrosse season may only be a few weeks old, but Blair senior attacker Markeeta Reed has already had her favorite moment of…
Wheaton wins double victory in doubleheader against rival Kennedy
On fire against rival Kennedy, Kelvin Pedroza pitched all five innings in the Wheaton Knights’ 15-2 win of game two. PHOTO BY MIKE CLARK SILVER SPRING — The Wheaton Knights varsity…
Gburg Trojans dominate NW Jags in girls lacrosse, 12-8
Gaithersburg Trojans’ Maisie Scott (23) brings the ball down the field under the watchful eye of Northwest Jaguars’ Jenny Lee (19). Scott scored five goals in the Trojans’ 12-8 win…
Whitman baseball team gets payback with defeat of WJ Wildcats
Whitman Vikings’ Sam Mermelstein (15) makes it back to second base after taking too much of a lead on WJ Wildcats second baseman Ian Rickles (3). PHOTO BY GEORGE SMITH BETHESDA…
G. Prep’s pitching dominates St. Albans in 4-0 victory
BETHESDA — “After one of the worst losses we’ve had…you can’t blink or you’re going to have some issues,” Georgetown Prep head coach Chris Gonzalez said. It had been two days…
Bethesda resident Marin stops Ruiz in second round, title shot looms
Romanian-born Alexandru Marin of Bethesda scored a second-round knockout of Michael Ruiz Jr. on Saturday, ending their junior bantamweight (115 pounds) bout at the 44-second mark at the Masonic Temple…
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Features
Finding adventure by traveling down the …
15-03-2018 Hits:490 Entertainment Barbara Trainin Blank
Beloved characters come to life in Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s production of “Alice in Wonderland.” COURTESY PHOTOAlthough dancers learn to smile onstage – other than during tragic moments in the plot of a ballet – Genevieve Pelletier was concerned she had perhaps overdone it in her last role. She was the lead in the Marzipan dance in Metropolitan Ballet Theatre and Academy’s production of “The Nutcracker.” Then along came a role in which an oversize smile fits perfectly. The 17-year-old Quince Orchard High School senior will be playing the Cheshire Cat. “I love the Cheshire Cat, who smiles all the time,” she said. “It fits in with my personality.” Every year Metropolitan Ballet Theatre presents a different full-length ballet during the spring. This year it’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
Read moreIsraeli Dance Festival attracts diverse …
15-03-2018 Hits:439 Entertainment Barbara Trainin Blank
Ilana Preuss and children in 2016 Israeli Dance Festival DC. COURTESY PHOTO You don’t have to be Israeli – or even Jewish – to love Israeli dancing. Margaret “Peggy” Antonisse, 66, is neither, but she attends Israeli dance sessions open to the public a few times a week. She also serves on the planning committee for the annual Israeli Dance Festival DC, which showcases Israeli dance performing groups of all ages in the area. “It also cultivates an appreciation of the rich culture of Israeli dance and encourages participation of people from all backgrounds, ages and skill levels,” said Abby Kerbel, one of the co-chairs. Israeli dance is diverse in and of itself – drawing on Arabic, Yemenite, Latino and Eastern European roots. It incorporates line and circle dances, and sometimes couples’ dances. “I first developed an interest in Israeli dance as part of international dance in college,” Antonisse said. “It was great aerobic exercise and had a wonderful sense of community – when you hold hands in a circle and the group is moving as one in the same direction.”
Read moreLatest Dance Exchange project zeroes in …
22-02-2018 Hits:698 Entertainment Barbara Trainin Blank
Andy Torres, pictured in the foreground, is a collaborator in the Dance Exchange project “Growing Our Own Gardens.” COURTESY PHOTODance involves not only movement and music but community involvement. That’s the viewpoint of Dance Exchange, a Takoma Park-based, non-profit arts organization devoted to dance-making and creative practices that engage individuals and communities of all ages to cultivate a deeper understanding of one’s world. “Dance Exchange collaborates across generations, disciplines, and communities to channel the power for performance as a means for dialogue, a source of critical reflection, and a creative engine for thought and action,” said Matthew Cumbie, associate artistic director. One of the communities Dance Exchange is now exploring is the D.C. area’s queer community. With the collective title of “Growing Our Own Gardens,” the organization has created an ongoing project that promotes “dialogue and action about issues faced by LGBTQ+ communities and centers the stories, lives, and questions of LGBTQ+ throughout history,” Cumbie said. “We’re looking at the history of these communities but bringing the conversation into the modern day.”
Read moreLandscape painter finds outdoor inspiration, but executes canvases indoors
PHOTO OF “BAIE ST. PAUL CREEK by Leni BerlinerLocal artist Leni Berliner did some painting as a high school student many years ago, and like most student artists, she laid…
Exhibit pays tribute to laborers with extraordinary art
“Woman Cleaning Shower” by Ramiro Gomez from National Portrait Gallery exhibit on work. COURTESY PHOTO “The Sweat of their Face: Portraying American Workers,” an exhibit on view at the National Portrait…
Maryland Youth Ballet’s unique production of The Nutcracker
A past production of Maryland Youth Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” with Justin Metcalf-Burton and Maya Beeman. COURTESY PHOTOMaryland Youth Ballet can boast of many illustrious alumni. Walk along the hallways of the…
Award-winning author speaks at Gaithersburg High School
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie spoke at Gaithersburg High School on Sept. 26, as part of the One Maryland, One Book program. COURTESY PHOTO GAITHERSBURG — Award-winning and world-renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi…
Chekhov-inspired comedy opens Highwood Theatre’s season
The cast of Christopher Durang's comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” now playing at Highwood Theatre. COURTESY PHOTO Richard Fiske admits to being an adrenaline junkie. He fulfilled that…
Halloween attractions gear up for opening
In 1993, the venture that would eventually become Markoff's Haunted Forest began modestly as a haunted bus ride that visited area. Brothers Matt, Nick, and Alex Markoff conceived of the…
Rockville Little Theatre Celebrates 70 years
Nik Henly and Krisyn Lue rehearse a scene from Rockville Little Theatre's recent production of "Almost, Maine." COURTESY PHOTO ROCKVILLE — Montgomery County experienced a radical change in the aftermath…
“America’s Presidents” exhibit reopens at National Portrait Gallery
A George Washington portrait is among the many works of art on display in the "America's Presidents" exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. COURTESY PHOTO The “America’s Presidents” exhibition at…
Love comes in many forms on Rockville stage
Alexandra Guyker rehearses one of her roles in the play "Almost, Maine" at Rockville Little Theatre. COURTESY PHOTO Sabine is a woman at an exciting point in her current relationship…
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Political Cartoons
MC/DC Cartoon: Hannity Hates the Playa, …
18-04-2018 Hits:244 Political Cartoons 
Mark Cabot Robinson
@MCRgh1
Read moreMC/DC Cartoon: Not a "Witch" H…
11-04-2018 Hits:355 Political Cartoons Mark Cabot Robinson
@MCRgh1
Read moreMC/DC Cartoon: Outrageous Perspective
04-04-2018 Hits:373 Political Cartoons Mark Cabot Robinson
@MCRgh1
Read more
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