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Silver Spring Stage presents atypical ‘Arabian Nights.’ B-6
The Gazette SILVER SPRING | TAKOMA PARK | BURTONSVILLE
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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Report blames ills of transit center on poor management
Blair student is named a Presidential Scholar High school senior, teacher to be honored in June at White House n
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
Early on, Hueyjong Shih made an impression on Angelique Bosse, the magnet research coordinator and a teacher in the Science, Math and Computer Science Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High
School in Silver Spring. “He has the greatest sense of curiosity,” Bosse said. “He’s very personable and talented not just academically, but musically and athletically.” The pair will be among those honored during a White House ceremony on June 22 after Shih was selected as one of two 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Maryland and 141 nationwide. He is also among the program’s
See SCHOLAR, Page A-11
Problems in Silver Spring identified early, but not addressed n
BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Presidential Scholar Hueyjong Shih (right), a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, and science teacher Angelique Bosse will be honored during a White House ceremony in June.
‘It’s about changing the whole person’
Problems with the design and construction of the Silver Spring Transit Center project were identified as early as 2010, but the people involved in the project did not act effectively to solve the problem, according to a new report from Montgomery County’s Office of the Inspector General. The report, released Tuesday finds that 14 of the 22 construction control methods analyzing the design, implementation and effectiveness of the project were either weak or ineffective, and suggests a range of suggestions that the county’s Department of General Services should take on future projects to avoid similar
problems. The significant structural issues found in the long-delayed project in downtown Silver Spring were the result of construction deficiencies, design problems and a “failure to effectively address these issues when they were first identified,” according to the report. The facility at Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue has been plagued by problems since construction began in 2009. It has been a consistent theme in the campaign for county executive, which pits current executive Isiah Leggett against former executive Douglas M. Duncan and Councilman Philip M. Andrews in the Democratic primary, with Duncan consistently criticizing Leggett and the County Council’s oversight of the project.
See CENTER, Page A-11
Expo provides chance to experience Nigeria Organizers hope to shine light on country’s rich culture n
BY
ALINE BARROS STAFF WRITER
PHOTOS BY DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Angela Brown (right) of White Oak speaks with Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy (center) before an adult drug court graduation. Brown is a past graduate of the drug court, along with Jack Hitt, at left.
Drug court frees criminals from addiction BY TIFFANY ARNOLD STAFF WRITER
Before entering Montgomery County Circuit Court Adult Drug Court, Angela Brown’s life options were limited. “Jail or death,” said Brown, 43, of White Oak, who graduated from the program in 2010. The year was 2008. Brown was in jail again. She had lost custody of both of her daughters and said she had stopped caring about life. She smoked crack while she was pregnant with her oldest child, whom she delivered during a previous stint in jail. She stayed
clean during her second pregnancy, but relapsed after that. “I cared, but I didn’t care,” Brown said, “because I didn’t change. I didn’t find a solution to my addiction. I wanted to get high.” Thanks to drug court, Brown is no longer Angela Brown, the crack addict. She’s a proud mom, a career woman, a student. Brown is clean and sober, living a life full of options. “I thank God for the drug court program for helping me
See COURT, Page A-11
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Joseph M. Quirk (left) and Judge Nelson W. Rupp Jr. dance to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams during the May 14 adult drug court graduation ceremony.
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Colesville woman will be there to supervise team of first-hole volunteers.
Three graduates from 2007 state title team sign deals with teams.
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A shopping and lifestyle expo featuring authentic Nigerian products will take place Monday at the Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring. Organizers of the All Things Nigerian Expo said they have already begun preparations to take the event to Houston later this year. “We wish to create a day of cultural immersion for visitors with an open air market that consists of varied products ranging from food, fashion, literature, music, and arts,” event organizer Andrea Kamara wrote in an email. At the expo, there will be activities for people of all ages. Attendees will experience fashion shows, Nigerian cuisine, live music, comedians and children’s activities. TradsLoft Clothing and McDoris Fashion from Takoma Park and Suya Master of Lanham are among the vendors iin the expo at One Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring. Jay Cube from Baltimore and Phrey Tunez from New York will perform, along with Chief Obi of the African Comedians. Kamara said the organizers are expecting 20 vendors, sell-
ing Nigerian barbecue called Suya, jewelry made from Nigerian corals, natural body butters and other items. “The vendors coming from abroad are bringing products made from some of Nigeria’s finest raw materials. Those from the states usually import their materials. Other vendors offer services and products to the Nigerian demographic,” Kamara wrote. Organizers hope the expo will “shine a light on a country that is so diverse and rich with culture, yet so plagued by not so true stereotypes and controversies,” she wrote. “With all the recent tragedies surrounding the kidnappings and terrorism going on in Nigeria, this event will allow people to be able to see all the positive things about Nigeria,” she added. All Things Nigerian Expo has partnered with Omolola Adele-Oso, a lead organizer of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, to raise awareness of the 300 girls kidnapped from a boarding school in Nigeria on April 14. An Islamic extremist group called Boko Haram has claimed responsibility. Campaign representatives will talk about how the public can help, either by calling the Nigerian embassy to request daily updates or writing letters to politicians. For more information, visit www.allthingsnaija.com abarros@gazette.net
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