Clarksburg man arrested in Peeping Tom incident at Walter Johnson HS in Bethesda

Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect in a Peeping Tom incident at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. Students found a video camera in the control booth of the school's theater. Looking at the contents, they discovered videos filmed in the girls' changing room of the theater. James Mulhern III, 43, of Clarksburg was arrested, having allegedly been identified from video that showed him placing the camera in the changing room. Mulhern is a media services technician at the school. He has been charged with sex abuse of a minor. 

Walter Johnson student is National Honor Society finalist for 2024

Allison Xu, a senior at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, is one of the 25 finalists out of nearly 17,000 applicants who will receive a $5625 scholarship award from the National Honor Society. She is now also eligible for the $25,000 national winner scholarship, which will be awarded at a gala event on April 5. 

Xu is Editor-in-Chief of her countywide student newspaper, The MoCo Student, and her high school’s newspaper, The Pitch. She was named the 2023 Youth Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, and has performed at Kennedy Center, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the American Courage Awards.

"I feel incredibly honored to earn this prestigious recognition," Xu said in a statement yesterday. "Winning the NHS Scholarship also inspires me to continue striving for excellence and serving as a role model for others."

"Allison has gone above and beyond to excel academically and lift up her community through selfless service and leadership," National Association of Secondary School Principals CEO Ronn Nozoe said. "Her actions today exemplify the incredible leader she is, and I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes." NASSP is the parent organization of the NHS.

Davina Canagarajah of Sherwood High School, and Raei Tamiru of Wheaton High School, were named as two of the 575 semi-finalists yesterday, and will each receive a $3,200 scholarship.

Assault reported at Walter Johnson HS in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Walter Johnson High School at 6400 Rock Spring Drive in Bethesda late Monday morning, October 2, 2023, to investigate a 2nd-degree assault reported there. The assault was reported at the school at 11:01 AM Monday.

5 teens charged, one as adult, in violence after BCC-Walter Johnson football game in Bethesda

Five alleged participants in violence after a Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School-Walter Johnson High School football game last Friday in downtown Bethesda have been charged, one as an adult, Montgomery County police announced today. The arrests follow public outrage over a joint letter from Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery County police chief two days earlier, the content of which led many to conclude no charges would be filed in the video-recorded violence, which went viral on the internet and TV news. But the letter noted that a criminal investigation was ongoing, and police said today that they expect more arrests to be made as additional participants are identified.

16-year-old Kharon Crosby of Bethesda has been charged as an adult with armed robbery and second-degree assault. Two other teenagers, aged 15 and 16, have been charged as juveniles with robbery and second-degree assault offenses. Another two 15-year-olds are facing first-degree-assault charges. The armed robbery charge appears to confirm an allegation that one teen's shoes were stolen, and rumors that a weapon was involved in the incident, which took place at the Bethesda Metro Center after the September 1 football game.

Police did not release a mugshot of Crosby. Anyone with additional information or video related to this case is asked to contact the Montgomery County Department of Police 2nd District Investigative Section at (240) 773-6710.

Bethesda natives off to a winning start for Harvard, Navy women's lacrosse teams

Two Bethesda natives are in the news as the college women's lacrosse season gets underway this month. Stephanie Hong has been named a captain of her team at Harvard, an honor she also held at Bethesda's Holton-Arms School in 2019. An Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association Academic Honor Roll selection, Hong became a starter for Harvard last season, scoring her first goal in her first game as a starter.

Closer to home, Navy goalkeeper Emma Richardell has played two complete games for the Midshipmen. A graduate of Walter Johnson High School, she has already exceeded her ground ball total from last year in this young 2023 season. Richardell has a history of excelling early, being named lacrosse team MVP in her freshman year at WJ.

Photos courtesy Harvard University Athletics/Navy Athletics

Walter Johnson student dies

A student at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda died Saturday, according to an email to parents from Walter Johnson principal Jennifer Baker. The student was the second Bethesda-area high school student to die unexpectedly in the last week.

Public meeting tonight on Grosvenor Metro minor master plan

Here's something that popped up on short notice during a holiday week: A kick-off meeting is being held tonight for the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station minor master plan process.

While the agenda refers to improving pedestrian conditions and connectivity, what's really going on here is that WMATA is seeking greater density for its development project at the Metro station. It cannot receive that density without this process, which has previously been referred to as a minor master plan amendment.

The meeting will be held tonight at 7:00 PM at the Strathmore Music Center, Comcast Lounge, at 5301 Tuckerman Lane.

WMATA seeking more density than currently allowed for redevelopment of Grosvenor Metro site

Existing apartment towers adjacent
to Grosvenor Metro station

WMATA is asking Montgomery County for additional density beyond what the existing master plan allows for the redevelopment of a parking lot at the Grosvenor Metro station. In response, the Montgomery County Planning Department is initiating a minor master plan amendment process.

Since it is illegal to use that process for just one property, it will be interesting to see which additional properties nearby might be included in the scope of work for this amendment. In Aspen Hill, for example, small properties like gas stations were added to the amendment that rezoned the Vitro/BAE property.

Any added density will only increase the number of students that would enter Montgomery County Public Schools' Walter Johnson cluster in the coming years. Add in the WMAL site, Rock Spring, White Flint 2 and the recent supersizing of Pooks Hill, and...well, this could be pretty controversial among current and prospective Walter Johnson cluster parents.

The specific density increase - if any - that WMATA will receive will be determined through the amendment process. WMATA has been soliciting for a developer partner since the fall of 2013. A person who had examined the solicitation documents told me he estimated that their concept, under the existing density limits, would have allowed up to 600 units and building heights of 143-175'.

WMATA wants to redevelop
the surface parking lot in
the lower right quadrant of this
Google Maps satellite image.
Note forest preserve on
far right, and stormwater
facility at bottom right

Grosvenor Metro has many topographical issues that limit the developable space. An existing stormwater management facility on the site cannot be relocated underground without great expense. The 600 unit estimate above assumes WMATA would not be willing to pay for that relocation. There are also steep slopes, and a forest preserve area on the station property.

WMATA's 2013 plan included an underground parking garage beneath the new development, and the ability to extend part of the building out over the Kiss-and-Ride area at a height of 16 feet and 9 inches. Ingress and egress for residents would be via curb cuts on Tuckerman Lane.

Ground floor retail was also included in WMATA's plan, and parking provided would be less than one space per unit.

MCPS forecaster says new ES needed for Rock Spring, White Flint 2 school capacity

Bruce Crispell, Director of the Division of Long Range Planning for Montgomery County Public Schools, gave his forecast last night for how many students he expects the Rock Spring and White Flint 2 sector plans to generate. Also at the meeting at Luxmanor Elementary were other MCPS officials to outline the Walter Johnson cluster roundtable discussions, and the new Subdivision Staging Policy currently being reviewed by the County Planning Board.

The night got off to a rough start as technical difficulties prevented the detailed presentation from being projected onto the screen. Speakers had to then go forward with no Powerpoint slides. The presentation is promised to be on the Rock Spring and White Flint 2 pages on the Planning Department website at some point today.

Crispell's prediction for the mid-size alternative for Rock Spring is:

70 ES students
30 MS students
35 HS students

For the maximum 2400-unit build-out of Rock Spring, he forecasts:

135 ES
60 MS
75 HS

All of those go into the Walter Johnson cluster.

For White Flint 2, a small portion of students will go into the Downcounty Consortium Cluster of schools:

Mid-size build-out (524 units):

45 ES
20 MS
25 HS

Max build-out for the DCC (871 units):

75 ES
30 MS
40 HS

In the Walter Johnson cluster for White Flint 2, the mid-size build-out option would generate:

250 ES
105 MS
130 HS

The max build-out of White Flint 2 (4920 new units) would generate this many students in the WJ cluster:

285 ES
120 MS
150 HS

The combined numbers for both clusters from White Flint 2 in mid-size scenario:

320 ES
135 MS
165 HS

Max build-out for both clusters in White Flint 2:

420 ES
180 MS
225 HS

Altogether, Crispell said the numbers are close to the threshold for dedicating an elementary school site, but not a middle school or high school. A resident asked if Crispell used the southwest generation rates, which tend to be higher than the rest of the County. He said those calculations are still in the works.

But he said these numbers should replace any previous forecasts. "These are pretty much hot off the press to me," Crispell said of his predictions last night. He added that he is including the WMAL site in his long range forecast, a separate one from the above data.

Crispell also outlined the process by which MCPS addresses the need for more capacity. First they examine if they can add on to an existing school in the plan area. If not, look at a boundary change to a school adjacent to the plan area. If that can't be done, they determine if they can add on to a building adjacent to the plan area. The last resort is to designate a school site for a new building.

"We are at the point where we need a new elementary school site," Crispell said last night. Walter Johnson High School is currently over 2400 students, he said, and MCPS is considering options including using the former Woodward campus as a high school again.

Crispell said there are "tons of [housing] units being planned in this area of the County," but added that in his opinion, "there's no way" there is enough demand for the number of units currently proposed.

Debbie Szyfer, senior planner in Crispell's division, said that a new elementary school could be fast-tracked in time to open in 2022. She said Walter Johnson HS is "the most critical right now. The middle schools we're taking good care of," with additions.

Unfortunately, the promised results of the WJ roundtable were not actually available last night. The roundtable report is instead expected to be posted online in the next 9 days, Szyfer said. That report will cover the approaches to the problems discussed by members of the roundtable from the WJ cluster, but will not make recommendations.

Actual recommendations will be made by new MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith after July 1, Szyfer said. Among the approaches discussed by the roundtable were reopening old schools, repurposing Woodward, and acquiring office park land. Other ideas that had little support included split sessions and online learning.

The roundtable schedule will be as follows:

June 8 "or later": Roundtable report posted online

October 13: Smith's recommendations will be released to the public

November 3: Board of Education will hold a worksession on the recommendations

Szyfer said the period between October 13 and November 3 will be a critical one for those in the community to make their voices heard. Whether you like the recommendations or hate them, it is very important that you let the BOE know either way, Szyfer advised.

November 10, 14: Public hearings on the recommendations (only 30-40 people can testify)

The BOE will make a final decision after those hearings.

Several members of the roundtable were in attendance at last night's meeting. One of them commended Crispell and Szyfer for doing something that hasn't been done before by MCPS. She said they took "the list of development within our cluster...and tried to do a 30 year analysis of what this would look like for our cluster." "We were pushed," Crispell said. He said that 30-year forecast showed a need for a high school with a capacity of 3500, a middle school of 2750 students, and 5500 seats at the elementary school level. Crispell noted that those numbers include the WMAL site, but not the latest Rock Spring and WF2 projections he released last night.

Crispell received a round of applause. Somewhat taken aback by a positive response from parents, he said, "Thank you. I don't usually get applauded for forecasts."

One resident expressed concern that middle school needs might end up not being addressed in the sector plans. "Those projections support another middle school," she said. "If we don't designate a site in one of these master plans, we'll never get it."

The president of the Luxmanor Civic Association challenged officials to be more transparent and communicate more closely with the community than they have in past White Flint discussions. Those past processes "truly haven't been transparent," she said. "We've had to hire police to patrol our streets because of what's been going on right now." She asked if the community could have more meetings and more open discussions as this process goes forward.

Both sector plans are slated to go the Planning Board this fall, and following board worksessions late in the year, to the County Council for approval in 2017, said Andrea Gilles, the lead planner for the Rock Spring plan.

Use this map legend for
the maps below

Idea of adding school on Walter Johnson HS site not acceptable to residents at Rock Spring meeting (Photos)

About 50 residents attended a meeting on the Rock Spring master plan update last night at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. Apprised by planners of the recommendation by a developer-funded Urban Land Institute "Technical Assistance Panel" (hosted by the Montgomery County Planning Department) to build a new school on the same site as Walter Johnson, attendees did not respond favorably.

During a later break-out session, one resident told planners to exclude the ULI recommendation from the master plan update, because it was not viable. "We're as skeptical as you are," one planner assured her.

Many other issues came up during that break-out session, as attendees pointed out problem areas for pedestrians and drivers, weaknesses in current transit access, opportunities for better connectivity, and concerns over projects already in the development pipeline for Rock Spring.

A number of proposals had wide support among Monday night's crowd. First, many asked for a Circulator bus that could connect all of the properties in Rock Spring to either the White Flint or Grosvenor Metro stations. Some said this option would be more practical and less expensive than the proposed North Bethesda Bus Rapid Transit line.

The existing medical campus on Rockledge Drive also retains strong support from residents. On that, they happen to agree with the ULI-TAP; the panel recommended branding the Rock Spring area as a healthy-living hub around those healthcare businesses and doctor's offices. With its location in the I-270 biotech corridor, the recommendation - and residents' sentiment that they want those offices to stay - both make perfect sense. "Everyone in that area goes to the doctor and dentist in those buildings," one resident noted.

There are several spots where better and safer pedestrian connections are needed, attendees said. Among the primary ones are the bridge over the I-270 Spur, and pedestrian crossings of Fernwood Road between the medical campus and Marriott, Democracy Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road.

One option planners discussed was eliminating free right turns through the "pork chop" corners at intersections. A pedestrian bridge over Democracy is not feasible, planners said, due to the length that ADA specifications require today for such facilities.

While parks and green space are in demand, some residents strongly criticized the existing pond between Rockledge and Rock Spring Drives as "wasted space" and "ugly". It would be much improved by either adding seating areas and cafes around it, residents said, or by replacing the pond with a ball field. One resident mentioned that many of the companies in the Rock Spring offices field softball teams, and that a convenient ballfield could help companies retain workers.

Residents of the neighborhood behind the Wildwood Shopping Center are not happy about changes in landowner Alvin Aubinoe Incorporated's plan to add an apartment building and townhomes near the Balducci's market on Old Georgetown Road.

Originally, a resident told planners, the proposed building was to be 5 stories, stepping down to 3 on the side facing the single-family homes behind the shopping center. Now it's going to be 72' tall, "way too high" next to homes, she said. A secondary proposal to add 4 townhomes facing Berkshire Drive met with similar displeasure from residents, who said it would eliminate the current green buffer their neighborhood has from the noise and congestion of Old Georgetown Road.

"It's very important for us to maintain this barrier behind the Wildwood Shopping Center," one said.

One avid cyclist who said he would like to be able to bike safely throughout Rock Spring said separated bike lanes were crucial to that end. Along with a bike loop, one of the groups advocated for a running loop. And more bicycle parking is needed, according to residents.

Other items on the wish list? A community center, picnic tables, breaking up large blocks into more walkable sections, a new high school site, soccer fields, and perhaps some rehabilitation of the creek that runs through Rock Spring.

One resident said he would "rather see the whole [office park area] dark than overcrowd the Rock Spring schools."

A point everyone agreed on - there's already too much traffic congestion on Old Georgetown Road, and hundreds of new housing units at Rock Spring - and thousands in the Pike District and Pooks Hill -  definitely won't cure that.

At the end of the meeting, the Lead Planner for the Rock Spring master plan process, Don Zeigler, announced he would be replaced by Senior Planner Andrea Gilles going forward. Gilles is already assigned to the nearby White Flint 2 Sector Plan project.

The next Rock Spring session will be on January 28, 2016, as outreach and plan development continue through June of next year.

Residents report to the
larger crowd on their
group discussions after
a break-out session

Fundraiser for Walter Johnson HS Tech Fund tonight in Bethesda

A holiday kick-off party will launch the fundraising drive for Walter Johnson High School's Technology Fund tonight in Bethesda at 7:30 PM, at 4935 Bar and Kitchen, at 4935 Cordell Avenue. Sponsored by Creative Gifts and Favors, the party will include music, dancing, drinks, appetizers and a silent auction.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

ASSAULT AT WALTER JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL, 3 THEFTS FRIDAY IN MASSACHUSETTS AVE. AREA OF BETHESDA - CRIME UPDATE

An assault was reported to police last Wednesday at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda.

In other crime news, 3 thefts occurred in the Massachusetts Avenue corridor Friday. Two thefts from vehicles took place on consecutive blocks of Earlston Drive in Glen Cove.

And a theft was reported in Westmoreland Hills in the 5200 block of Westwood Drive.

Lock your car and house doors if you are in that area, and report suspicious vehicles and activity to police.