This story was updated at 9:05 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, to include a statement from WMATA.

Construction of a mezzanine to help connect Metro Red Line passengers to a future Purple Line light-rail station in downtown Bethesda is now estimated to cost roughly 10 times as much as anticipated, although a county official cautioned the new price tag is still a rough estimate.

The higher cost of roughly $25 million, first reported by the Washington Post, reflects that the initial estimate was provided to county officials by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) about five years ago, around 2016, according to Maricela Cordova, the county’s Purple Line implementation manager.

In an interview, Cordova said the initial estimate of about $2.4 million was based on “limited information” from WMATA and state officials. She added that the new estimate of $25 million is still not an exact figure because WMATA hasn’t yet solicited construction bids for the mezzanine project at the Metro station on Wisconsin Avenue.

County officials say the county can pay $5 million of the new estimated cost and are hoping state and federal funds would cover the rest. Cordova said the overall budget picture for the project will remain unclear until bids are received. 

The mezzanine project is meant to more easily connect Red Line riders to the Purple Line, Cordova said. An escalator from the subway train platform will connect riders to the mezzanine. From there, a walkway will connect to high-speed elevators, which will take passengers to the street-level Purple Line station, under construction near Elm Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

Cordova said it is a separate project from the ongoing construction of the 16-mile Purple Line that will run from Bethesda to New Carrollton. 

“Ideally, the mezzanine would be designed and built so that once the Purple Line is open, it can be immediately connected underground with the Red Line,” she said.

It’s unclear how the cost estimate for the project jumped by such a considerable amount. Cordova hinted that inflation could be a factor.

“As far as the programmatic requirements, nothing has really changed … officials put together a budget based on a planning estimate, and in large programs, this happens, it’s a large piece of work and it changes and evolves,” Cordova said. “And it’s been more than six years since talks have started about when this is going to be built.”

Del. Marc Korman (D-Bethesda) said that despite the estimated increase in cost, county and state officials are still focused on completing all facets of the project.

“The county and the state have made their commitment to the Purple Line and getting it going,” Korman said. “And interconnectivity between the [Metro] station in Bethesda and the Purple Line is an important part of that, so we’ve got to find a way to make it work.”

Ray Feldmann, a Maryland Transit Administration spokesman for the Purple Line, wrote in an email that “WMATA is designing and constructing the Montgomery County-funded Bethesda Metro Mezzanine. Any early estimates would have been completed by WMATA as the project owner.”

“At this time, MTA has not received any request for assistance with funding for this project,” Feldmann added.

Sherri Ly, a spokeswoman for WMATA, provided the following statement to Bethesda Beat about the project:

“Metro is in the process of soliciting the design proposals for the mezzanine at the south entrance connecting to the future MDOT/MTA Purple Line. As such, any estimates are general in nature and it would be premature to provide definitive project costs. Metro is building the mezzanine under an agreement with and funded by the MDOT/MTA Purple Line project. Due to changes in the project timeline and increased costs of construction industry wide, any estimate would need to reflect the actual cost of construction at today’s value. We do not yet have a timeline for construction.”

Steve Bohnel can be reached at steve.bohnel@moco360.media 

The father of a baby girl who was found in New York City after she went missing last month from Silver Spring is being held without bond on charges of harboring an abducted child younger than age 12 and hiding her from her lawful guardian.

Cornelius Smith, 28, of Washington, D.C., is accused of taking the one-year-old girl to the city last month, even though custody belonged to her biological mother, Sandy Barrientos of Silver Spring, according to Montgomery County police.

On Tuesday, District Court Judge Karen Ferretti ordered Smith held without bond after noting during the hearing that in addition to the charges of harboring an abducted child and hiding her from her legal guardian, Smith has a previous charge  from a different case in Charles County of failing to register as a sex offender in Maryland. Ferretti said she is concerned for the safety of Barrientos and the baby, and that Smith presents a danger to society.

As of Wednesday afternoon, court records did not indicate when Smith would next appear in court.

According to charging documents, the girl’s foster parents dropped her off at Barrientos’ Silver Spring home around 9 a.m. Nov. 26 for a scheduled visit. Barrientos, 29, was supposed to return the girl to the foster parents on Nov. 28, but did not do so. The foster parents then contacted county police, the documents state.

Officers tried to contact Barrientos and Smith, but could not reach either one, the documents state. The foster parents then told police that Barrientos held a protective order against Smith and that Smith has not been a part of his daughter’s life. Additionally, Smith did not have custody or visitation rights for his daughter, according to documents.

During the investigation, county police determined that Smith and Barrientos met Nov. 28 in Washington, D.C., and had an argument. D.C. police were called to the scene during the argument and arrested Barrientos and Smith went to an unknown location with the girl, according to documents. It was not clear whether Barrientos was charged with a crime.

County police alerted the public about the disappearance of Smith and his daughter on Nov. 29, and two days later authorities found Smith and the girl in New York City. New York and Montgomery County police officers found the pair Dec. 1 at a homeless shelter in the Bronx after a subway passenger recognized the baby, county police said.

County police and the State’s Attorney’s Office have credited a social media post by the group Black and Missing Inc., a nonprofit aimed at finding missing people of color, with helping to find the infant after the group shared her photo on its website and on social media. Police have said the subway passenger  identified her after seeing the posted photo.

Smith was arrested by New York authorities and was later extradited to Montgomery County.

Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media

This story was updated at 1 p.m. on Dec. 16, 2021, to remove a reference to Sherwood High School being one of the schools with an outbreak. Montgomery County Public Schools had originally included the school in its list, but a spokesman later said it was done so erroneously. 

Montgomery County Public Schools has set a new policy for athletic teams that experience outbreaks of coronavirus, following clusters of cases on teams at five high schools.

The guidance came Monday from the county’s Department of Health and Human Services. If a team has five or more active cases, all team activities will be suspended for 14 days from the point of exposure, MCPS spokesman Chris Cram wrote in an email to Bethesda Beat on Wednesday.

Teams at Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Derwood, Poolesville High School and James Hubert Blake High School have been affected by the new guidance, Cram wrote.

Cram did not elaborate on which specific teams were affected, how many cases had been reported or when the outbreaks occurred. He did not immediately respond to follow-up questions from Bethesda Beat.

Mary Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning.

Paint Branch High School’s junior varsity boys basketball team suspended its activities earlier this month following an outbreak of more than 20 cases at the school, WTOP reported.

Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media

Gov. Larry Hogan has signed off on Linda Foley, the chair of Montgomery County’s Democratic Central Committee, to fill a state delegate vacancy in District 15.

Hogan announced Tuesday that he had appointed Foley, two weeks after the central committee nominated her through a vote.

She defeated five challengers to win the county party’s nomination. She received 20 of the 22 votes cast during a Nov. 30 public meeting online.

Saqib Ali and Michael Schrier each received one vote. The three other contenders — Amy Frieder, David Griffith and Colin Richard — did not receive any votes.

Foley recused herself from voting, but said she was allowed to vote if she wanted to.

“I am confident that Ms. Foley will represent the citizens of Montgomery County admirably in her new role as delegate,” Hogan said in a press release on Tuesday afternoon.

Foley is a former journalist and a former union leader.

The press release says she founded and served more than 20 years as the president of the Berger-Marks Foundation, “a nonprofit that promoted young women as union leaders and social justice advocates.”

The vacancy came when Hogan appointed Kathleen Dumais as a Montgomery County circuit judge.

Dumais was in her fifth four-year term as a delegate. Her current term ends in January 2023.

Because Dumais is a Democrat, the party’s central committee in Montgomery County got to recommend to Hogan a Democrat to succeed her.

Foley already has said she plans to run next year for a full four-year term.

Foley will join the other District 15 Democratic state lawmakers for the 2022 session that starts in January — Dels. Lily Qi and David Fraser-Hidalgo and Sen. Brian Feldman.

District 15 stretches from Potomac in the south to Clarksburg in the north and includes Darnestown and Germantown, but not Rockville.

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, a Catholic high school in Olney, is closing early before its holiday break after 21 people reportedly tested for COVID-19, according to a message from the school.

School officials decided that Tuesday would be its last day for students, faculty and staff prior to the holiday break, according to a message from the school’s president, Paul Barker.

Barker wrote in the message that through Tuesday afternoon, 21 positive cases of COVID-19 had been reported. Through Friday the school had averaged less than one case per week during the school year, but there has been a “significant increase” in the number of cases among students in the last two days, Barker wrote.

Barker did not specify whether the 21 people who tested positive were students, faculty or staff.

“By stepping back, we hope to optimize the opportunity for all our families to have a safe and healthy Christmas,” he wrote.

According to the school’s calendar, midterm exams were scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with the break officially starting on Dec. 20. On Tuesday Barker wrote that the exams had been postponed until the new year. The school plans to let students know of the revised exam schedule during the break, Barker wrote.

Barker added that all extracurricular activities have been canceled through Dec. 28, although free COVID-19 testing will be available at the school Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

Principal Tom Campbell could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Another private high school, North Bethesda’s Georgetown Preparatory School, announced this week that it was shifting to online classes after 30 students tested positive for COVID-19, WTOP reported.

Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media

The County Council approved roughly $1.5 million in settlement payments on Tuesday to address grievances of 83 public safety employees concerning COVID-19 hazard payments.

The action marks the end of what has been a contentious debate between County Executive Marc Elrich’s administration and County Council members. They have argued over the reimbursement of coronavirus-related expenditures and hazard pay by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the circumstances that led to the need to settle with county public safety employees over disagreements about hazard pay.

Of the roughly $1.5 million in payments, about $626,000 will go to county police employees, $602,000 will go to county Fire & Rescue Service employees and $224,000 will go to county Sheriff’s Office employees. The money will come from the county’s fire and general reserves, according to council staff documents. 

The county negotiated the settlement with the 83 public safety employees because those employees, who are managers in their public safety agencies, alleged they were left out of an earlier agreement with other employees concerning hazard, or differential, pay. That pay was awarded because of the extra risk some employees faced while working during the pandemic, particularly if they worked directly with the public.

County Attorney Marc Hansen previously told council members that his office and Elrich’s administration made a settlement offer partly because those public safety managers presented a strong case that they also should receive hazard pay.

The council’s action does not mark the end of the issue. Members also sent a memo to Elrich and Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno highlighting concerns about the overall process for requesting reimbursement from FEMA, along with multiple requests for information from Elrich’s administration.

The memo is similar to a draft obtained by Bethesda Beat, but there are some minor differences, including some softening of language critical of Elrich, and condensing some of the council’s requests. 

Part of the memo highlights a letter that Elrich sent to FEMA in July 2020 requesting reimbursement for the money, just over $20 million, the county spent on hazard pay. Council members have said they were concerned that the letter did not undergo a full legal review by the County Attorney’s office and that it could have worked against the county in the settlement. 

In a recent interview, Elrich denied that the letter impacted the settlement in any way, adding he needed to send it in an effort to save county taxpayers money. Hansen said during a recent council meeting that the letter could have been a factor in the legal dispute, but quickly added the plaintiffs likely would have had a case without it.

In its memo, the council requested the Elrich administration address the following, setting a deadline of Dec. 23:

1. We request that both the County Executive and the Chief Administrative Officer appear before the Montgomery County Council for review of these issues. 
2. Provide all emails, memoranda, and/or other documents related to or discussing the July 2, 2020, letter that the County Executive sent to FEMA. 
3. Provide a written description of the required review process for letters or memos sent by the County Executive or Chief Administrative Officer, including who reviews them and in which order before a signature is approved. If this review process differs from what was required under prior administrations, please note any changes and why they were made. 
4. Effective immediately, provide the Council with prompt notice whenever any litigation, grievance, or unfair labor practice is filed against the County that may have a potential significant fiscal or policy impact. 

Council President Gabe Albornoz called on Elrich, Madaleno and others to respond to the requests in a timely fashion.

“I just want to acknowledge that while this will resolve this specific grievance, it by no means closes the door on our continued oversight of the broader policy and procedural issues identified as part of reviewing these grievances …,” Albornoz said. “It’s the council’s responsibility to ensure that all agreements obligating county funds are in the best interest of the county, our employees and our taxpayers, and we will continue to uphold this responsibility with the utmost sincerity.”  

Steve Bohnel can be reached at steve.bohnel@moco360.media 

A Rockville man who Montgomery County police say killed his mother three years ago outside of a church pleaded guilty in Circuit Court on Tuesday, the State’s Attorney’s Office announced.

Kevin McGuigan, 24, pleaded guilty to killing his mother, Jaclyn McGuigan, 49, outside the St. Raphael Catholic Church at 1513 Dunster Road in Potomac. He had been found competent to stand trial prior to the plea. Police said an “unknown cutting weapon” appears to have been used in the killing.

McGuigan will be sentenced Jan. 3 and could face a life term in prison.

According to charging documents, police were called to the church around 6 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2018, and found Jaclyn McGuigan’s body with blood nearby. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two witnesses told detectives they heard someone screaming outside of the church that night, and then saw Kevin McGuigan standing over his mother’s body. One of the witnesses told police that they chased McGuigan, and the suspect then fled in a Honda.

According to the documents, police found the Honda at a park nearby and determined that it was registered to Jaclyn McGuigan. They then determined she was the victim found at the church by matching her face to her photo on file with the state Motor Vehicle Administration. Police said they also found Kevin McGuigan’s phone inside the vehicle and it had blood on it.

McGuigan was charged with first-degree murder, but was found incompetent to stand trial in 2019 and was committed early that year to the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup—a maximum-security state psychiatric hospital. Employees at Perkins have said McGuigan was receiving medication involuntarily to manage symptoms of schizophrenia.

Following a later finding of competency, McGuigan was ordered to be transferred to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

In July, McGuigan was again found incompetent and was ordered to go to the same state psychiatric hospital. However the State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday that he was later found competent in the fall.

David Martella, McGuigan’s attorney, said in a statement to Bethesda Beat Tuesday when asked for a comment on the plea that “on this occasion, we will have to let the record speak for itself.” He did not comment further.

Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media

Amy Ginsburg, executive director of Friends of White Flint, said Monday she’s seriously considering running for a new county council seat that stretches from Takoma Park to North Bethesda.

Meanwhile, Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart, who had previously expressed an interest in running for that district, has filed as a candidate.

The new District 4, which also includes Silver Spring and Kensington, is the product of the redrawing of Montgomery County Council’s political map. That was prompted by the need to redistrict after population changes determined by the 2020 U.S. Census and the addition of two council seats through a ballot initiative.

To date, Stewart, 51, is the only candidate to officially file to run in the district. Ginsburg, 60, has been vocal about her interest in running.

“I believe we have a narrowing opportunity to make a difference in the county, and I want to help make that difference,” Ginsburg said.

She also said she’s still “looking at who is in the district” before making her candidacy official.

A resident of North Bethesda, Ginsburg said she’s a lifelong resident of District 4.  A graduate of Charles W. Woodward High School, she has headed a number of nonprofits, including Neediest Kids, the  Manna Food Center and the Low Vision Information Center.

Most recently, as executive director of Friends of White Flint, Ginsburg is involved in efforts to promote a “walkable, bikeable, sustainable, transit-friendly community” in an area that once was dominated by the now-demolished White Flint Mall on the Rockville Pike.

Ginsburg said her background makes her an ideal candidate for a downcounty district that is home to “the most progressive people in the county.”

The Montgomery County Council’s approval last week of a new map, which now has seven council districts as well as four at-large seats, has attracted a number of candidates, especially to a redrawn east county District 5, which has a plurality of Black residents. More candidates for County Council are expected, especially in District 4, District 5 and other districts that will not have incumbents, including Wheaton-based District 6.

In addition, two upcounty districts will have no incumbents: District 2, which includes North Bethesda, Darnestown and Poolesville, and District 7, which includes Laytonsville, Olney and Damascus.

The candidate filing deadline is Feb. 22.

The Montgomery County Council approved spending $231,000 Monday to help county businesses impacted by Purple Line construction and the coronavirus pandemic.

County Council Member Evan Glass, who has pushed for passage of the appropriation, introduced an amendment Tuesday that entrusts the county’s Latino Economic Development Corp. with administering grants to businesses. Council members unanimously approved the amendment.

The money, coming from state funds, is meant to help businesses along the construction route of the 16-mile, 21-station light-rail system, which will include stops from Bethesda to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. Local elected officials have stated the funds are needed to help businesses impacted by the construction as well as economic challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Grants will be awarded in amounts of up to $5,000 to businesses that can prove they have had their operations impacted by Purple Line construction. 

State lawmakers also recently voted to override a veto on legislation by Gov. Larry Hogan that,  among other things, allocates an additional $2 million to help impacted businesses in both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, with the funding split between fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

Council approves guaranteed income pilot program

Council members also approved a program that aims to give low-income residents $800 monthly payments, beginning in early 2022. 

The payments will go to 300 households, which will receive them for two years. Montgomery County will work with the Meyer Foundation and philanthropic organizations to provide the funds. 

The initial rollout of the pilot will consist of $1,993,832 from the county government’s general fund reserves, and $1 million from the Meyer Foundation, council staff documents show. The total cost of the pilot for 24 months is $5.76 million. Officials will work with philanthropic organizations to cover the difference. 

Elected officials and the foundation said they hope they can expand the program in the coming years, given overall demand and the success of similar programs nationwide.

Residents who may be eligible for the program include those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, but final details are still being worked out, according to officials. 

“I think it’s going to be a great, innovative program, the first in Maryland to help families towards an equitable recovery, and change the way we deliver services for the long term,” said Council Member Will Jawando, who helped spearhead the pilot.

Steve Bohnel can be reached at steve.bohnel@moco360.media 

Several new restaurants and businesses are slated to open in the Park Potomac retail development in Potomac next year, and the site is 100% leased, according to property manager Foulger-Pratt.

The following businesses are scheduled to open by the end of March, according to a press release.

• Yirasai Sushi: A fast-casual sushi restaurant that is relocating from Bethesda to the space in Park Potomac formerly occupied by Elevation Burger.
• Elysiem Pet Store: -A pet supply store with a Bethesda location

These restaurants are scheduled to open between April and the end of June:

• Gregorio’s Trattoria: A local Italian restaurant that is expanding from its existing locations in Bethesda, Potomac and Reston, Va.
• Kruba Thai: A restaurant based in Washington, D.C. that serves both traditional Thai entrees as well as sushi.

National chiropractic clinic chain The Joint Chiropractic and a Compass Real Estate office are slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the press release.

Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media

Dog Haus, a fast-casual restaurant and bar specializing in fancy hot dogs, has opened its third Montgomery County location at 933 Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

Dog Haus’ hog dog menu includes a corn dog, “Sooo Cali” (avocado, tomato, crispy onions, basil aioli), “Chili Idol” (chili, cheese sauce, onions) and “Old Town” (smoked bacon, caramelized onions, chipotle aioli, jalapenos, cotija cheese) among others. Dog Haus also serves bratwurst, hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. The restaurant serves a variety of local craft beers, according to the menu.

A restaurant employee told Bethesda Beat on Thursday that Dog Haus had its soft opening two days ago and so far business has been busier than expected. A grand opening is planned for Wednesday.

Dog Haus’ Silver Spring location is open Sunday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The Silver Spring restaurant joins locations in downtown Bethesda and Gaithersburg’s Kentlands retail development.

Source of the Spring previously reported on Dog Haus’ opening in Silver Spring.

Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media