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A LIFE’S LESSONS Strathmore tribute honors Polish hero turned professor. A-10

The Gazette SILVER SPRING | TAKOMA PARK | BURTONSVILLE

DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

25 cents

County crimes plunge since 2007 n

Cooperation a major factor in success, officials say BY

ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER

Crime dropped by 26 percent in Montgomery County, comparing crime rates from 2007 to 2013, according to police data released Tuesday — this despite a recent rash of homicides to start 2014. Officials say cooperation between dif-

ferent law enforcement agencies and the community has contributed to a drop in crime in Montgomery County over the past few years. County Executive Isiah Leggett, State’s Attorney John McCarthy, County Council President Craig Rice and Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger spoke at a Tuesday press conference to tout their combined efforts to reduce crime in the county. Overall, the number of crimes in the county dropped by 26 percent from 2007

to 2013, according to year-end crime statistics from the county. Nationwide, the number of crimes declined by 9 percent from 2007 to 2012. This year, however, already has almost matched last year’s total number of homicides at eight as of Tuesday. There were eight criminal homicides in the county in 2013, down from 15 in 2012 and 19 in 2005, the earliest data available online from police. So far this year, there have been seven

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger (speaking), flanked by County Council President Craig Rice (left) and County Executive Isiah Leggett (center) and State’s Attorney John McCarthy (right), speaks on Tuesday about the reasons for a decrease in crime for the county.

See CRIME, Page A-8

Silver Spring man is found dead at home

Cookies on

CREDIT

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Officials releasing few details of incident SYLVIA CARIGNAN

BY

STAFF WRITER

A Silver Spring man found dead in his home Thursday has become Montgomery County’s seventh homicide this year. Shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Montgomery County police responded to a call for a home in the 2000 block of Hanover Street in Silver Spring. According to police, a co-worker had gone to the home to check on 65-yearold Phillip F. Welsh Jr. after he failed to come to work that day. Welsh was a Barwood taxi dispatcher, according to a statement from the Kensington-based company. “A veteran employee, Phil, as we called him, started work-

ing for Barwood in 1971, and was loved by all employees,” according to the statement. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled Welsh’s death a homicide, but could not comment on the circumstances surrounding Welsh’s death. There were eight criminal homicides in the county in 2013, down from 14 in 2012 and 19 in 2005, the earliest data available online from police, The Gazette previously reported. Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Rebecca Innocenti said the homicide in Silver Spring was the seventh homicide in the county this year. Police have not yet identified any suspects. scarignan@gazette.net

Familiar names abound on County Council ballot Hucker, Barclay, Trachtenberg, Katz, Spiegel, Moore among candidates n

BY

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

STAFF WRITER

Girl Scouts from Bethesda Troop 4959 — Amalia Sulk, 12, of Bethesda, Samantha Christenson, 12, of Rockville and Miriam Herman, 14, of Bethesda — use a special smartphone device to take credit card payments for cookies at the NAMI store in Rockville on Saturday.

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In June’s primary elections, Montgomery County voters will have familiar political names to choose from for County Council seats. In District 5, Del. Tom Hucker (D-Dist. 20) of Silver Spring filed for the seat Tuesday and school board member Christopher Barclay filed for the seat Monday. In District 1, former Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D) of Rockville will challenge Councilman Roger Berliner (D) of Bethesda. District 3 features a show-

GIRL SCOUT TROOPS IN CAPITAL REGION NOW HAVE CREDIT CARD OPTION FOR SALES BY

SHEMAIAH ELLIS

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

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o you have a Samoa fix, but no cash? Do you need to satisfy your Thin Mint craving, but you’re short on dough? Your neighborhood Girl Scout might let you pay for your cookie order by credit card. The Girls Scouts recently adapted to

the technological curve, thanks to Spark Pay by Capital One. This feature lets Girl Scout troops across the region accept credit cards, after years of cash-only payments. “This is an optional agreement depending on what troops think will work best for their group,” said Nancy Wood, the public relations director for the Girl Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capital. In addition to credit cards, Girls Scouts also are accepting personal checks

this year. Troops that want the electronic payment option will get credit card readers that can attach to smartphones and tablets. “Working with Capital One is very exciting for the Girl Scouts. We have a good relationship with the company and I think having this optional way to pay for cookies is a great thing to add,” Wood said.

See COOKIES, Page A-8

NEWS

SPORTS

Economic opportunity, social justice and youth engagement for blacks among topics to be discussed at annual forum.

Blake indoor track team needs only five athletes for a top three finish.

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ADDRESSING THE ISSUES

SMALL SQUAD, BIG RESULTS

Automotive Business Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion School News Sports Please

RECYCLE

RYAN MARSHALL

down with three sitting elected officials in the Democratic primary: Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz and Councilman Ryan Spiegel, and Rockville Councilman Tom Moore. Tuesday was the filing deadline for candidates to be eligible for the June 24 primary election. According to the Maryland State Board of Elections website, 24 candidates have filed to run for seats on the council. Meanwhile, Del. C. William Frick (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda, who had announced a bid for attorney general, filed Tuesday instead for re-election. Besides Hucker and Barclay, the District 5 race includes Evan Glass and Jeffrey Thames, who filed for the Democratic primary earlier. Terrill North filed Friday. The seat came open with the resignation of former Coun-

See RACES, Page A-8

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