Near the end of a Saturday night concert in Downtown Silver Spring, 16 juveniles and adults were arrested for offenses including assault and disorderly conduct. The concert was sponsored by Mixed Unity, a new youth group involving many Blazers.
A watched pot never boils, right? As soon as we considered our snow day prospects over, winter finally arrives, albeit fashionably late. Since Valentine's Day, we've shed our jackets for our windbreakers, we've again found our place in the Cold Stone line and we've started online window shopping for bathing suits (unless that's just us...). Heck, even spring sports tryouts began on Saturday. But not so fast, summer breeze: the Weather Channel predicts four to eight inches (not to be confused with 48 - that fast-talking meteorologist fooled us too) of snow overnight.
What a way to start the semester! A chance to sleep in after staying up late to check out your new schedules on BILL and talk about how much homework you don't have. We left you all hanging last night (for the record, MCPS had no bold red banner up online, which totally threw us off). Then again, as MCPS students, we should have expected the unexpected.
With every lick of the guitar, thump of the drum and tinker of bells, rapture ripened in the eyes of the crowd. They came fleeing the cold December rain and found an exciting, eclectic mix of poetry, music, humor, dance and adrenalizing altruism. For yet another year, the Students for Global Responsibility's cultural extravaganza, known as the SGR Spectacular, displayed the brilliant talent of Blair's diverse community.
"Nothing lasts forever," sang Guns 'n Roses, "even cold November rain." True enough. Today - Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 - midway through sixth period, the cold November rain that has darkened our moods for days ceased to make way for magic. Across the school, children huddled together against the windows to see it happen. At first, silence and disbelief; then, cheers and ecstasy.
Around 8 p.m. Saturday, junior Dimitrios Philliou was shot by an acquaintance in the basement of a Silver Spring residence. He was transported with life-threatening injuries to a local trauma center, where he remains in critical condition awaiting a second surgery, according to Lieutenant Robert McCullagh of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
Yesterday morning, members of the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force in Houston arrested two additional suspects involved in the shooting death of freshman Tai Lam on Nov. 1. Detectives had obtained arrest warrants for Gilmar Leonardo Romero, 20, and Mario Ernesto Milan-Canales, 30. Romero's warrant was for first degree murder and Milan-Canales's warrant was for accessory after the fact for first degree murder, according to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) released new evidence today as investigations continue regarding the murder of Blair freshman Tai Lam this weekend. As Blazers mourn his death, school administrators are preparing to provide support for grieving students.
After a dispute on a Montgomery County Ride On bus last night, freshman Tai Lam, 14, was shot and killed, WTOP News reported this morning. Two other students are currently in serious condition at Georgetown University MedStar Hospital. At least one of those students also attends Blair. Silver Chips Online is still compiling information, and a more complete story will be posted soon.
Ah, the boy band - that treasure of the 1990s, lost but not forgotten. We all knew them, we all loved them and virtually every '90s child has some sort of opinion on the 'NSYNC vs. Backstreet Boys debate. "Altar Boyz," an off-broadway musical now playing at Bethesda Theatre, takes a look at the boy band phenomenon through the confession window.
We're proud to announce a new Silver Chips Online feature: blogs. We decided to introduce blogs as a new way for our writers and readers to express themselves. There are some similarities between blogs and articles, but blogs will allow SCO to cover a much wider range of topics with more left open for reader-generated commentary. As we embark on this new frontier, we always welcome feedback at editors.sco@gmail.com. We also encourage commenting, but note that profanity or personal attacks will not be posted. Readers should respect the privacy of commenters, and all opinions can and should be freely discussed.
Blair Magnet teacher Leslie "Les" Rogers died on July 24 after a six-year battle with a brain tumor, according to Magnet Coordinator Dennis Heidler. Rogers, a longtime Earth Systems Science teacher, is survived by his wife Linda; together, they formed an active pair in the Blair community.
Candidates for the 2008-2009 Student Government Association (SGA) delivered prepared speeches in the Student Activity Center (SAC) during both lunches today in anticipation of elections that will be held tomorrow and Friday. The speeches lasted for less than a minute each and outlined each candidate's campaign platform.
Blair parent and 1963 graduate Leon Walczak died on March 28 at age 61 of pancreatic cancer. The Kensington resident left behind Maria Recio Walczak, his wife of 19 years, and their two daughters, Alanna and Alexa, a Blair sophomore.
There's a reason why hummus rhymes with "YUMmus." Best served as a pita bread dip, this delectable Middle Eastern staple means "chickpeas" in Arabic, after the main ingredient of the dish. Our version is a simplified side dish with an aftertaste that kicks. And cooking skills? What are those? All this recipe asks for is a food processor and an open mind.
Since he started at Blair, senior Willy Marte has worked hard to maintain an above-average GPA and an excellent attitude. His teachers can only sing his praises. But Marte is 19 years old and while he intends to stand proud in a cap and gown this May, for many in his situation, age is more than just a number - it is the deciding factor in the fate of their education.
The labor dispute at the core of the Writer's Guild of America strike cost billions of dollars and put thousands of people out of work, but most viewers can only testify to one travesty: falling out of touch with weeknight television. Many shows will either resume in the next two months or be re-launched in the fall, and Silver Chips Online has the details on what to expect and what not to miss for all those suffering from primetime amnesia.
It's hard to say which are lower, general expectations for Disney's "College Road Trip," or the box office numbers it deserves. Melanie Porter (Raven Symone) is an over-achieving high school senior with her eyes set on Georgetown University. Her overprotective police chief father (Martin Lawrence) has groomed her since birth to attend nearby Northwestern. To sway his daughter's choice he takes her on - you guessed it - a college road trip, with taser and Northwestern garb in hand. For the viewers that don't yield to the plot and previews as "road"-side warnings, there are a few surprises in store, but for the most part, this movie will make college-bound Blazers dread their spring break tours.
Elvis lives – in food form. To celebrate the 52nd anniversary of his very first record release on March 13, 1956, follow this recipe inspired by the music sensation's two famously favorite ingredients – peanut butter and bananas. Wise men say only fools rush in, but there's no other way to enjoy this quick and honorary snack.
As they gear up for the spring sports season, Blair coaches and teams are reminded of a small rule that means a lot when it comes to preseason training. Per Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) policy, high school coaches are only allowed to hold organized practice with their teams within the limits of the season, according to the Maryland State Board of Education Athletics handbook. In late April, the MPSSAA will consider changing the rule. Is the policy dispensable?
About 140 of the "best seats" for Blair's spring musical "Beauty and the Beast" will be reserved for advance purchase, stage crew director John Kaluta announced last week. In addition, the Montgomery Blair Players (MBP) will present a full-length show for local elementary and middle school groups in the auditorium on March 5.
In mid-December, County Executive Isiah Leggett proposed a $23.6 million savings proposal to taper the enormous $401 million deficit in Montgomery County. But only on Jan. 14 did he remove a controversial component of the legislation that would have burdened Blazers who routinely flash a Blair ID for a free ride home.
Editor's Note: John Edwards dropped out of the presidential race on Jan. 30, 2008.
Editor's Note: Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race after the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3.
Editor's Note: Chris Dodd dropped out of the presidential race after the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3.
Young people en route to the real world are inheriting a country that faces a number of challenges. Voting is "one of the big steps to taking responsibility for the society you live in," according to State Senator Jamie Raskin, who represents Takoma Park and part of Silver Spring. "Many of the great social movements in American history were led by young people."
Political Party: Democrat Current Position: U.S. Senator State: New York Political Experience: First Lady of Arkansas, 1979-1981, 1983-1993; First Lady of the U.S., 1993-2001; U.S. Senator, 2001-present
The Blair community ice hockey team could not keep up with Springbrook Friday night, crumbling 7-2 to bring their record to 0-3. The Blazers held their own in the first period, but the game "got taken from us," according to freshman goalie Peirce Marston due to disputable officiating and a loss of momentum.
The bus stops, and the scrambling starts. Forty-eight students file out with one thing on their minds – money – and, of course, not getting lost amidst thousands of bargain hunters crowding the messy streets of New York City's wholesale district. Four and half hours later, the students will be back on the bus, their wallets a little lighter, and the negotiations will begin.
The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) recognized four Blazers with the Mark Curtis Award for outstanding achievement in the humanities. Senior Charlotte Aldebron and juniors Allie Berger, Caleb Seavey and Melanie Snail were among 98 Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) high school students and three Montgomery College students honored at the 12th annual awards ceremony Thursday night at Olney Theatre.
In real life, freshman Eric Ruggieri may not actually have 509 friends. But one aspect of his Facebook page rings true – he doesn't want his Shetland sheepdog to be used as live shark bait. Below his "Top Friends" list appears a small box labeled "Causes," where the group "Stop using live dogs for shark bait" shows Ruggieri's avid support for animal rights.
Junior Lily Ross is an artist under pressure. The clock ticks as she paints stripes of gold and purple between square slices of wheat. A member of Blair's Pom Squad, Ross, tripping over loaded utensils and swerving between globs of jelly, is leading a PB&J sandwich-making marathon to raise money for the upcoming year.
What a difference a few months can make. At an Annapolis show last May, Eric Hutchinson was playing to a half-filled room whose patrons seemed more interested in their Tavern burger than the talent on stage. Sunday night, the singer/songwriter was the unmistakable center of attention at his sold out show at Jammin' Java in Vienna.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) plans to remove the brief constructed response (BCR) and extended constructed response (ECR) sections of the required High School Assessments (HSA) beginning in May 2009, MSDE Education Program Specialist William Reinhard said. The change is in response to complaints of slow grading from Maryland school systems, including MCPS.
BLAZER STADIUM, SEPT. 4 – Blair's varsity girls' soccer team triumphed over the Watkins Mill Wolverines 6-0 in their season opener Tuesday night.
The Silver Spring Borders hosted a block party last night to celebrate the release of J.K. Rowling's seventh and final Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
"License to Wed" shouldn't sell itself so short. Its trailers showcase some of its worst aspects – crude innuendo and obnoxious physical hijinks. Its release date was a Tuesday, which in the movie realm is often code for "awful." On the surface, it radiates more dreadful "Monster-in-Law" than intelligent "Meet the Parents."
It is the first day of ninth grade, and a group of anxious freshmen girls nervously filter through the door to room 162. But as soon as their English teacher begins to speak in a warm Southern accent, the girls immediately feel at ease. "Y'all are my babies," Dr. Dana Simel tells them, "And I'll do anything to protect you."
The O'Bidens are in step in their first moments of power.
The President and First Lady wave from the Capitol.
Peanut butter and Silver Chips Online: a perfect match.
After freezing, the dreamboat is easier to eat.
Cut up the dreamboat for a snack that's great to share.
Add your choice of toppings.
Peanut butter and Silver Chips Online: a perfect match.
Spread the peanut butter on a peeled banana.
Once the banana is completely covered in peanut butter, it is ready for toppings.
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall make an appearance at the Grand Hallows Ball.
Fans dressed as Ron, Hermione and Harry pose during the costume contest.
After 17 years in higher education, Dr. Dana Simel is having a blast teaching English at Blair.