Food Drive
The Potomac Community Center is conducting its 9th annual food drive, through Nov. 24. Canned foods and non-perishable items may be dropped off at the center between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. All donations will benefit local families.
Club Friday members are encouraged to bring their donations on Nov. 21.
The community center is located at 11315 Falls Road. Call 301-983-4471.
Testimony sought
The Higher Education Affordability and Access Commission will hold the first of three public hearings on Nov. 20.
The meetings are concerning tuition at public and private universities in Maryland.
The Nov. 20 meeting is likely to be the closest to Potomac, said Del. Jean Cryor (R-15) a member of the Commission. It will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Adele Stamp Student Union Building at the University of Maryland, College Park from 6-8:30 p.m. From 6-8:30 the commission will discuss budget and tuition policies and practices. From 8:30-9:30, public testimony will be heard. Sign-in sheets for speaking will be available from 5-7 p.m. in front of the ballroom. Speakers will be given three minutes and are asked to bring 40 copies of their testimony.
Residents who can not attend but wish to comment can send their comments directly to Del. Cryor. Those who do so need only send one copy which Cryor will share with the commission. E-mail Jean_Cryor@house.state.md.us, fax to 301-424-7718 or mail to Jean Cryor, Lowe House Office Building, Room 226, 84 College Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401.
Mercury Spill
A small mercury spill caused a Spanish class to relocate in Walt Whitman High School, but not much else on Nov. 17.
“A student had, in her possession, a small quantity of mercury,” said Dr. Cathlyn Carol, a vice principal at Whitman.
The student had been given the dangerous substance by her father as a gift when she was 10. She kept it on her dresser and had accidentally put it with her make-up when going to a family gathering, Carol said.
She realized that she had brought it with her to school and though she would get in trouble for having it, so she gave it to a friend. He showed to another student when it was spilled, Carol said.
The teacher notified the main office which called the administration who came and cleaned up the spill. Less than one ounce was involved, Carol said.
The classroom is now safe. “Students are going to give reports about the dangers of mercury,” Carol said. Parent conferences are also being held.
Correction
The correct mailing address for Zorita Thomas is Music by Zee, PO Box 073, Bethesda, MD 20827.
Residential Burglaries
* Between 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 and 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 9 a house on the 9100 block of Fall River Lane was broken into. The door was broken through, nothing was taken.
* Between 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 7, a house on the 14500 block of Pebblewood Drive was broken into. Suspects entered through the garage and took a handbag and cash.
* Between 10 p.m. on Nov. 6 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 7, a house on the 11400 block of Brandy Hall Lane was broken into. Suspects entered through the garage and took a Sony Discman.
* Between 5 :45 p.m. on Nov. 6 and 8:50 a.m. on Nov. 7, a house on the 11300 Coral Gables Drive was broken into Suspects entered two vehicles in the garage and took a wallet, cash, sunglasses and a Sony player.
* Between 11 p.m. on Nov. 4 and 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 5 a house on the 11900 block of Clover Knoll Drive was broken into. Suspects twisted the knob on the garage door and took a purse, wallet, cash and checkbook.
* Between 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 7 a.m. on Nov. 11, a house on the 11400 block of Royal View Court in North Potomac was broken into. Suspects entered through an unlocked garage door and took a purse and bookbag.
Men Charged as Pickpockets
Montgomery County Police have arrested two men who they say were targeting senior adults in Friendship Heights for pickpocketing.
On Nov. 10 at 11:50 a.m. undercover Police officers were conducting surveillance on two buildings where pickpocketing incidents had been reported.
Police say they observed two well dressed men in the lobby of one building one reading the building directory, the other talking on his cell phone.
Police say that as senior adults got on the building’s elevator, the men would board the crowded elevator. After a few minutes, the men would re-appear in the lobby and take their positions again. Neither acknowledged each other during the incidents say police.
The men then met at a coffee shop say police. One of the officers retraced the men’s route and found a wallet/checkbook with the name of an 80-year old Rockville woman. When the woman was called at home, she confirmed that she had just been to a doctor’s appointment and that her wallet/checkbook was missing.
Gary Cornell Mitchell, 48 and Tyrus Timothy Pollard, both of Washington were each charged with theft under $500 and conspiracy to commit theft under $500. Both are being held in the Montgomery County Detention Center.
Kay Cleaners Clothes
Residents who dropped off their clothing at Kay Cleaners at 1331 Rockville Pike in Rockville may be able to recover their clothes even though the business has been abandoned.
The Montgomery County Department of Consumer Affairs has agreed to take custody of the clothing. Kay customers who wish to pick up their clothing should contact the department at 240-777-3636. Since most of the clothing is not labeled, consumers will need to provide a written description of the clothing and be prepared to bring personal identification.
Clothing not recovered by Dec. 31 will be donated to charity.