Montgomery County Police today identified the man killed in yesterday’s garage collapse at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Carroll Dexter Wills, 57, of the 1600 block of Mason Court in Prince Frederick, Md., died after a 50,000-pound slab of concrete fell on him and another construction worker doing renovation work on the garage, which will include a luxury movie theater and new food court for the Democracy Boulevard mall.

Police are in charge of the investigation into the incident. The concrete collapse happened around 1:45 p.m. as Wills worked on the second floor of the garage. The underside of the third floor, which contained a steel I-beam, fell on Wills and another construction worker, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.

After nearly four hours, MCFRS personnel were able to extract the other construction worker, who was transported via helicopter to Baltimore Shock Trauma with severe injuries.

Manring pleaded guilty in January to two counts of production of child pornography for bringing films of himself performing sexual acts on students while teaching at a preschool in Japan from 1996 until 1999, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Manring, 54, lived in Fredericksburg, Va.

Between April 2010 and February 2011, prosecurtors say Manring also purchased approximately 46 “naturist” videos worth about $2,000 showing “graphic and simulated lascivious exhibition of the genitals and pubic areas of minor boys.”

It is unclear where Manring taught in Bethesda prior to his arrest on Nov. 13, 2012.

In January, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said he was told Manring taught at the NIH Child Care’s Bethesda Campus Preschool, but NIH spokesperson Brad Moss said there was no record of Manring “ever being employed by NIH or as a contractor at an NIH sponsored child care center.”

A February article in the Fredericksburg News Post said Manring’s Facebook page and court documents showed he worked at a NIH preschool from 1981 to 1985. He lived in Japan from 1985 to 1999.

Editor’s Note: This weekly column is sponsored by Georgetown Square Wine and Beer (10400 Old Georgetown Road).

With the unofficial start of summer fun upon us, it’s time to look at a few great craft beers to enjoy as we celebrate Memorial Day. Beverage mobility and permissibility are critical factors in choosing the right beverage to venerate the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. With that in mind, we are looking at the increasingly popular trend of canned craft beers.

So, why canned beer? Well, what better way is there than to celebrate the long weekend out at a neighborhood barbeque, beach, pool, or picnic? The problem is, most of the D.C. area forbid bottles in public spaces. That doesn’t mean your only choices are plastic-ringed six-packs of the standard swill. With a number of craft microbrewers now offering appealing, multifaceted, and delicious beers in a can, here are four that we selected to pack with you wherever your Memorial Day Weekend plans take you.

Schlafly Can Session IPA Missouri, U.S.A

This IPA is a smooth golden ale with just the lightest hint and aroma of American hops. It is full of aroma as the citrus hops really take over with subtle, sweet caramel-y sweetness. This beer is very well balanced with a wonderfully and slightly bitter hop finish that makes it great for enjoying by the poolside.

Pork Slap Pale Ale New York, U.S.A

This pale ale has an appetizing nose of citrus fruit and caramel. A slightly creamy texture and caramel base complement a light herbal aroma. In the finish, the hops become a bit more pronounced, but not overpowering. This is a light and very drinkable ale with plenty of flavor, but can be enjoyed all day in the sun, out on the beach without a heavy feeling.

Six Point Resin Brooklyn, U.S.A

Resin is a dark double IPA, deep red in color with a short, frothy head. After the initial punch of the hops, you are met with a strong grapefruit aroma. There is some serious bitterness, along with malty undertones and citrus notes that will follow you until the very last sip. It is a great accompaniment to grilled brats and burgers at the neighborhood barbeque.

Dale’s Pale Ale Colorado, U.S.A

In this pale ale, there is a healthy dose of caramel sweetness that is bolstered by a resinous, floral hop presence. The aggressive hops emerge, as well as a citrusy and sticky bitterness. For the most part, the tastes play well on the palate, but a mild, musty quality makes it perfect for an outdoor picnic on the Mall or your local park.

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BethesdaNow.com.

Community discussion guidelines: Our sponsored columns are written by members of the local business community. While we encourage a robust and open discussion, we ask that all reviews of the businesses — good or bad — be directed to another venue, like Yelp. The comments section is intended for a conversation about the topic of the article.

This 50-foot tree fell in the Edgemoor neighborhood this afternoon.

Though it didn’t cause much damage (other than a few gardens) you’ll want to avoid the area of 7200 Fairfax Rd. That block is closed between Hampden Lane and the Elm Street walk-through. The Elm Street path is still open. Police have cleared the area of any hazards.

See our real estate section for a full listing of open houses. Here are a few highlights:

4801 Fairmont Avenue
2 BD | 1 BA condominium
David Maplesden, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $399,900
Open: Saturday, May 25 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

5912 Ryland Drive
3 BD | 2 Full BA, 1 Half BA single family detached
Greta Nicoletti, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $599,900
Open: Sunday, May 26 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

6310 Herkos Court
4 BD | 2 Full BA, 1 Half BA single family detached
Kathryn Beane, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $865,000
Open: Sunday, May 26 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

8805 Ridge Road
4 BD | 4 Full BA, 1 Half BA single family detached
Wendy Banner, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $1,300,000
Open: Sunday, May 26 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

As part of its annual Recycling Awareness Week activities, Montgomery County on Wednesday honored a number of area residents and businesses for pushing more recycling in their communities and organizations.

The Park Avenue Condominium Association in Chevy Chase recycled more than 70 percent of its waste stream in 2012. The Grosvenor Park II Condominium near Strathmore, Highland House Apartments and Highland House West Apartments in Chevy Chase, The Riviera of Chevy Chase, The Sterling Home Owner’s Association in North Bethesda, The Whitney at Bethesda Theatre and The Wisconsin Condominium in North Bethesda all received recognition for outstanding efforts in recycling.

The Whitney increased its recycling percentage from 35 percent in 2011 to 56 percent last year by recycling rechargeable batteries and carpeting and donating books and clothing.

Austin Creel, from Maplewood Park Place in Bethesda, was recognized individually for efforts to get others in the community to recycle.

Crawford Tire (7015 Arlington Rd.), The German School Washington DC (8617 Cheateau Dr., Potomac), Lockheed Martin Center for Leadership Excellence (6777 Rockledge Dr.) and Ridgewells Catering (5525 Dorsey Lane) all received the Excellence in Recycling award for business, meaning the companies recycled at least 70 percent of their waste stream last year.

Crawford Tire included mandatory and voluntary recycling of batteries, antifreeze and motor oil in its program to recycle 84 percent of its waste stream. Lockheed Martin included food waste composting and pallet recycling to hit 96 percent, the county said.

Bethesda Green, Brookfield Office Properties, the Landow Building Limited Partnership, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and School, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and Potomac Place Shopping Center all received recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Recycling.

Montgomery County has the highest recycling rate in Maryland, at 57 percent, according to 2011 numbers from the state.

Flickr photo by Carla Bob Nora Russell

Montgomery County Police say the speed camera program the county started in 2009 has made roads safer and reduced speeding in a way no other tool could.

“What we’ve seen is something that’s changed driver behavior like nothing else has in the history of law enforcement,” Capt. Paul Starks, a police spokesperson, told County Cable Montgomery.

Starks said the number of citations from speed cameras is on a steady decline, proof that the program is working and not merely a revenue strategy.

“Our goal from the start has been to change driver behavior, particularly in areas where we have pedestrians and a history of collisions,” County Councilmember Phil Andrews (D) said. Andrews chairs the Council’s Public Safety Committee. “Our police department has done an excellent job of placing cameras where the history shows there’s been a large number of collisions or where there ar many pedestrians, especially children, present in school areas or areas near bus stops, playgrounds and areas where speeding has been a long concern and there’s been a connection to collisions.”

In 2009, the first year of the program, the county issued 526,399 combined speed camera and red light camera citations for $25 million worth of revenue. Speed camera tickets are $40.

Those numbers have gradually declined since.

Video via County Cable Montgomery

A snatch & grab incident occurred in the 11300 block of Rockville Pike, Kensington on Friday, 5/10 at 10:00 p.m.  The suspect forcefully removed property from the victim.

Suspect: B/M, 6’, thin, short hair.

And police are also looking into a commercial burglary on East-West Highway:

A commercial burglary occurred at 4302 East West Highway, Bethesda sometime over the weekend from Friday, 5/10 to Sunday, 5/12.  Forced entry; nothing taken.

The rest of the most recent 2nd District crime summary includes five residential burglaries:

A residential burglary occurred in the 4200 block of East West Highway, Bethesda on Monday, 5/13 at approximately 5:15 p.m.  No further details available at this time.

Two residential burglaries occurred on Tuesday, 5/14 in the 10800 block of Hobson Street, Kensington:

Between 7:40 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Forced entry; property taken.

Between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Attempted forced entry; nothing taken.

A residential burglary occurred in the 5100 block of Cape Cod Court, Bethesda on Monday, 5/13 at 2:45 p.m.  Forced entry; unknown what was taken.

A residential burglary occurred in the 5100 block of Brookview Drive, Bethesda sometime between Monday, 5/6 and Thursday, 5/9.  No forced entry; property taken.

In a letter to MTA administrator Ralign Wells, Leggett said a 45 percent increase in personel at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center means the county and state must work to encourage greater use of mass transit in the area, not diminish it. He pointed to a traffic mitigation plan developed by the Montgomery County and Maryland Departments of Transportation that touted greater access to transit as one of its key elements.

In June, the MTA will hold public hearings on the proposed closure of ICC Commuter Bus No. 203, which an MTA spokesperson told us earlier this week is averaging fewer than 15 riders per trip. MTA had projected an average of about 20 riders per trip with that number growing to 30 riders per trip over a 24-month period.

Leggett asks the MTA to look at targeted outreach efforts or a redesign of services as a way to redeploy resources the agency says can be better used elsewhere:

Bethesda is one of the most significant employment hubs in Maryland, with traffic congestion that demands greater use of rapid transit alternatives rather than a reduction in service. With the passage of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law in 2005 that established the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, 3,600 personnel have relocated from the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. It is important to note that this 45 percent increase in personnel at Walter Reed-Bethesda took place directly across Rockville Pike from the National Institutes of Health which has approximately 18,000 personnel.

Collaborating with the Navy, NIH and the local community, the Maryland and Montgomery County Departments of Transportation worked together to devise a comprehensive traffic mitigation strategy that had three key elements to improve mobility and pedestrian safety near WRNMMC. Those elements included: projects to provide short-term operational improvements to nearby major intersections; long-term improvements to provide greater access to and promote greater use of transit; and improvements to pedestrian and bicycle facilities for safe, walkable communities near the medical center. The biggest project which is just about to get under way is the Multimodal Crossing Project at the Medical Center Metro Station, a project that will encourage greater use of bus and rail transit by creating new and safer entrances…

…I understand and appreciate MTA’s need to make better use of available resources. The County continues to need additional transit opportunities for its residents and to encourage more drivers to get out of their cars. There may be opportunities to attract more riders through schedule modification, targeted outreach efforts or a redesign of services. I encourage you to consider redeploying these resources, and I ask that you review and consider putting additional transit resources to the Bethesda BRAC and Shady Grove Life Sciences areas.

Montgomery County BRAC Implementation coordinator Phil Alperson said he will give the county’s view at a public hearing on June 6 in Gaithersburg. Ilaya Hopkins, a Bethesda civic activist and member of the Walter Reed BRAC Integration Committee, is expected to join him.

MTA is proposing to cut two other ICC Commuter bus routes.

Arlington County transportation planner and blogger Dan Malouff called the move a “classic bait and switch from highway builders,” who promise a multimodal road to build political support for a project before cutting those other modes later.

Flickr photo by thisisbossi

Investigation Into Westfield Montgomery Mall Garage Collapse Begins — The garage is under construction as part of the mall’s new food court and luxury movie theater project, with the theater slated to go on top of the four-level garage structure. Montgomery County Police will investigate what caused a 50,000 concrete slab to fall, killing one construction worker and leaving another with severe injuries. Baltimore County-based construction company Whiting-Turner is the contractor on the project. [Washington Post]

Memorial Day Observance In Bethesda — Join Montgomery County for a Memorial Day observance at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at Veterans Park. at the corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues. [Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center]

Ex-Swim Coach Curl Gets 7 Years In Prison — Ex-swim coach Rick Curl, who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenage swimmer in Montgomery County in the 80′s, was sentenced to seven years on Thursday for child abuse. Kelly Currin, who came out last year with the allegations, said other coaches in USA Swimming knew of Curl’s abuse and her lawyer said there is a coach in Maryland now who has abused kids. Her lawyer wouldn’t name the coach. [NBC4]

Flickr pool photo by Diarmaid20814