Chevy Chase

On Thursday, December 18, 2008, ELLIOTT G. FALK. Beloved husband of Esther (Kristman) Falk. Loving father of David A. (Michele) Falk of East Brunswick, NJ and Joshua M. Falk of Pittsburgh. Brother of Birdie (Sylvan) Hack of Baltimore, MD, Hannah (Rolf) Burke of Chevy Chase, MD, Felix (Pearl) Falk of Jerusalem, Israel and the late Miriam Biderman. Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

Capital One Financial Corp. said yesterday that it will acquire Bethesda-based Chevy Chase Bank for $520 million in cash and stock, expanding its presence in its own backyard. Privately held Chevy Chase Bank has a sizable presence in the Baltimore area, where it is the 14th-largest bank, according to the most recent figures from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The bank has about $11 billion in deposits, with nearly 300 branches in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

Around Maryland, dealers who sell domestic automobiles are wondering what the future holds as they watch the big three automakers lobby Washington for financial aid to stave off bankruptcy. With auto sales at their weakest levels in decades, many dealers fear the U.S. auto industry will collapse without quick approval of $25 billion in federal loans. They say that could lead to widespread business failures and job losses in a sector that employs 26,000 people statewide. "I don't think anybody can tell dealers what would happen if the unsinkable went out" of business, said Sam Weaver, owner and vice president of Chevy Chase Chevrolet and Chevy Chase Acura in Bethesda.

Fallston and Bethesda-Chevy Chase went into last night's state field hockey semifinal with 23 titles between them, but only Fallston will have a chance to add to its coffers. Krissy Fusco and Caitlin Dempsey scored on penalty corners as the No. 2 Cougars dominated the Barons en route to a 2-0 victory in a Class 3A semifinal at Broadneck. The Cougars (18-1) go for their 11th state title and their second straight when they meet Atholton at 4 p.m. Saturday at Washington College in Chestertown.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. said yesterday that it will take over the banking services from Chevy Chase Bank at Giant Food stores in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington. Financial terms of the 10-year agreement with Landover-based Giant were not released. Giant had been seeking a new operator for its 54 in-store branches after its contract with Chevy Chase expired this summer. PNC said the bank expects to hire 225 employees to staff 41 in-store branches - 21 in Maryland, 17 in Virginia and three in Delaware - in the first phase of the expansion.

Provident Bankshares Corp. is increasing its market share in Maryland by acquiring deposits worth $42 million from seven Chevy Chase Bank branches that are to close in January at Giant Food stores, the parent company of Provident Bank said yesterday. Provident purchased the deposits of more than 8,000 individuals and commercial customers at those seven branches in the Baltimore region. The agreement does not include the sale of loans, leases and other assets. A Giant Food spokesman said yesterday that the grocery chain is seeking a new banking partner for its 54 in-store branches after its contract with Chevy Chase expired.

When Enrique Carrillo and his wife moved to the area two years ago from Detroit, they had one non-negotiable requirement: Their new house had to have a backyard large enough to host the couple's Pachanga Cubana. And so yesterday, for the second year in a row, a bit of Cuba found its place deep in the Ellicott City woods. Politicians mixed with bankers and business executives to drink mojitos and discuss how they could be of better service to the region's growing Hispanic community. The word pachanga means "party" in Spanish, and the atmosphere was certainly festive, with guests gathered under tents on the Carrillos' verdant lawn and the smell of mint from the mojitos pervading the air. But for the Carrillos, there was another reason to invite people over on a Sunday afternoon for Cuban sandwiches and croquettes: the opportunity to make inroads in a community that is becoming economically powerful in the region.

CapitalSource Inc. Shares rose $1.44 to $11.92. The commercial lender, based in Chevy Chase, is buying the retail banking operations of Fremont General to shore up and diversify its portfolio as credit markets tighten.

Fallston's field hockey team has a drill named for sophomore forward Caitlin Dempsey. At the end of every practice, the No. 5 Cougars hit drives off the post and try to make a Dempsey-style shot, a fearless, do-whatever-it-takes effort to get the ball in the cage. Last night, Dempsey showed no fear when she lunged after JoEllen Sumego's drive into the circle and scored the game-winner in a 1-0 double-overtime thriller against Bethesda-Chevy Chase for the state Class 3A championship at Broadneck.

Why are so many women afraid of color? The fear is hard to understand, especially after you've seen Amanda Brennan in a radiant rainbow of hues that looks absolutely smashing. She's combined purple, green, turquoise, brown, black, white and gunmetal gray -- and nothing looks out of place. In fact, everything looks perfectly polished, as if they were made to go together. The ready embrace of a range of colors is a sign of the style-savvy. Brennan, in her mix-and-match look -- is one of the savviest we've seen.