gaithersblog.net

From the City’s website. The artist’s homepage is here.

Olde Towne Mural Artist Selected
Posted 8/20/2007
Concept to be Unveiled at Celebrate Gaithersburg Festival

Olde Towne Gaithersburg will soon be graced with a mural created by well-known artist William Cochran. In June 2007, the Mayor and City Council approved the Art in Public Places Committee’s selection of Cochran as the artist for the mural project on the historic Belt Building, located at 227 East Diamond Avenue.

The mural will be in the trompe d’oeil or “fool the eye” style, looking so true to life that viewers may momentarily believe the painting to be real. Cochran is currently researching the history and people of Gaithersburg for inspiration and content, and will unveil his initial design concept at the Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne street festival on September 16, 2007.

The Art in Public Places Committee selected Cochran for his outstanding technical, aesthetic and professional standards; the compatibility of his style with the site; and his established record of extensive community involvement in the public art process.

Employing both traditional and contemporary techniques, William Cochran creates public works of art that explore local history and the meaning of place. His artworks are carefully woven into their social and architectural environments, yet they are timeless, detailed and multi-layered. He was the first American to be invited to Keim Mineral Paints in Augsburg, Germany for in-depth training in the legendary 120-year-old mural technique of Purkristalat, which creates murals that last for many decades and are impervious to everything from fire to acid rain.

Cochran’s well-known Community Bridge mural project transformed a plain concrete bridge in Frederick, Maryland into a potent catalyst for revitalization and renewal. Mr. Cochran’s work is in great demand and he is currently working on a range of projects for sites in and around Washington D.C. and New York. He teaches painting and is a popular speaker at universities, museums and conferences.

For more information please contact Gaithersburg Cultural Arts Director Denise Kayser at 301-258-6394 or dkayser@gaithersburgmd.gov.

From the City’s website:

Monday, August 20, 2007
Arrest
On 08/20/07, at 12:56 a. m., police responded to the CVS located at 546 North Frederick Avenue, for a report of a suspicious situation. Upon arrival, officers were advised by the complainant that a male suspect sitting outside of the CVS, inappropriately touched her 12 year old daughter, and whispered in her ear. The victim stated that the male suspect asked her if she wanted to be kissed, then rubbed his arm across her chest area while refusing to let she and her sister walk by. A view of the surveillance camera video supported her statement. The suspect was arrested and made a statement that he did ask her if she wanted to be kissed but denied touching her.

Arrested: Konstantimos Vasilio Kokolakis, white male,31 years of age, with a Frederick, Maryland address.

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Sunday, August 19, 2007
Arrest
On 08/19/07, at 12:37 a.m., police responded to the 600 block of Coral Reef Drive. for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a victim suffering from severe face and head injuries she sustained from being struck several times with a blunt object. The victim was transported Suburban Hospital. The suspect was observed running form the scene, and was apprehended a short distance away.

Arrested was Lenin Martinez, 18 years of age, Hispanic male, with a Gaithersburg address.

Coral Reef Drive is near Muddy Branch, between West Side Drive and School Drive.

Thursday, August 16, 2007
Burglary
Sometime between 6:00 p.m. on 08/15/07 and 9:00 a.m. on 08/16/07, an unknown suspect pried the rear door to a business in the 300 block of S. Frederick Avenue. Property was stolen.

WTOP reports: Md. Burglar and Assault Suspect Picture Released:

A composite sketch has been released for Gaithersburg residents to help police track down a man who is charged for burglary and sexual assault.

The full press release from the County states:

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division - Homicide/Sex Section are continuing to investigate a burglary and sexual assault that occurred on Saturday, August 11, in Gaithersburg. They now have a composite to release to the public.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. on August 11, 6th District officers responded to the 18200 block of Lost Knife Circle in Gaithersburg, for the report of a burglary and sexual assault that had just occurred.

Through the course of the investigation it was learned that the 25-year-old female victim was asleep in bed when a lone male suspect forced the sliding glass door open and entered the victim’s apartment. The suspect walked into the bedroom and made demands for sexual actions from the victim. After a brief struggle with the suspect, he fled the apartment and was seen running towards the rear of the apartment complex.

The suspect, who closely resembles the computer-created composite, is described as a black male, 18 to 21 years of age, 5’6” to 5’7” tall, weighing 160 pounds. He had a close shaved head with no facial hair. He was carrying a white t-shirt and wearing blue jeans.

Anyone who has information about this incident and/or suspect is asked to call the Homicide/Sex Section at 240-773-5070. Callers may remain anonymous.

Ernesto Londoño and Karin Brulliard write in the Washington Post, Liberal Suburbs Don’t Avoid Heated Debates On Immigration:

Uncharacteristically, Leggett lost his cool.

“Shut up and listen for a moment!” he cried, silencing the crowd. “We are not in the business of enforcing immigration issues.”

Kathleen Miller writes in the Examiner, Area pro-immigrant groups say Va. proposals not all bad:

The leaders of Washington-area immigrant rights groups say Virginia communities that are considering denying services to illegal immigrants are actually helping immigrant advocacy organizations to get organized and coordinate tactics.