MoCo Government

Montgomery County is providing 40,000 Chromebook computers to residents who do not have a computer. Eventbrite is being used to create appointment tickets to manage computer pick-ups.  Every person receiving a computer:

There is a limit of one computer per person.  You do not need to be a U.S. Citizen to receive a computer but you must be a Montgomery County resident.  EVERY PERSON, INCLUDING CHILDREN, MUST HAVE THEIR OWN APPOINTMENT AND APPEAR ON THEIR APPOINTMENT DAY IN PERSON WITH ID TO RECEIVE A COMPUTER (For Example:  If a parent wants a computer for the parent and two computers for two children, the parent must make 3 appointments and bring the two children with ID to receive the computers.  If you make an appointment for June 21, you cannot show up on a different day.)


Montgomery Planning

Most pressing challenge in Montgomery County is poverty concentration and not displacement

WHEATON, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) presented an analysis of neighborhood change to the Montgomery County Planning Board at their meeting on Thursday, May 19. Montgomery Planning staff briefed Planning Board members on the research project which looks at changes in the economic and racial composition of Census tracts across the region with a focus on Montgomery County. The two most notable findings are 1) the neighborhood change trend in most urgent need of addressing in Montgomery County is poverty concentration – and not displacement, and 2) new housing construction is associated with diverse, inclusive neighborhood economic growth.  The work is based on the methodology developed by the University of Minnesota and has been updated and advanced by Montgomery Planning’s Research and Strategic Projects Division.


Montgomery Planning

Montgomery Planning will provide background on the study, and initial strategies to advance the vision of the 2012 Wheaton CBD and Vicinity Sector Plan

WHEATON, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will hold a community open house for the Wheaton Downtown Study on June 14, 2022 (4 – 7:00 p.m.) at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters Auditorium (2425 Reedie Drive, Floor 2, Wheaton, MD 20902). At the open house, Montgomery Planning staff will provide an overview of the purpose of the study, discuss strengths, opportunities and challenges within the Wheaton Central Business District, and present initial strategies to further the implementation of the 2012 Wheaton CBD and Vicinity Sector Plan. The open house is in-person only and the presentation will be made available on demand.


Crime

Shawndel Arnez Weems, age 24, of Monarch Mills Way in Columbia, was found guilty today by a Howard County jury of second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Simeon Mukuna.

On February 6, 2021, officers from Howard County Police Department arrived at the 7500 block of Monarch Mills Way for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival officers located the victim, Simeon Mukuna, lying on the ground suffering from gunshot wounds. Medics responded and immediately began rendering aid. Mukuna died on the scene.


MoCo Government

“I want to congratulate all of our NACo Achievement Award recipients,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our government is committed to being innovative, equitable, transparent and responsive to our residents, businesses and visitors. These awards are a national recognition for the incredible work that is being achieved by our departments and employees. I want to thank all of our employees for their hard work to earn their Achievement Awards.”

“The Montgomery County government strives to have the best services of any local government in the nation,” said Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno. “I am very appreciative of the ingenuity and persistence to consistently improve our services. Congratulations to all the employees and departments for this notable recognition.”


Gaithersburg

Saints Row Brewing is now open at 15 Fulks Corner Ave, Suite 101, the former site of Brawling Bear Brewery. Saints Row was previously located on Taft St. in Rockville.  The new location gives Saints Row twice the brewing capacity than at their previous location, as well as a “more robust customer experience with enhanced and improved taproom functionality.” The breweries expansion will include wholesale distribution throughout Montgomery County.  Like their previous location, they will have a rotating schedule of food trucks and special events. As part of the grand opening there will be a Hops and Shop” Makers Market event this Saturday, May 21, from 12-5pm in the breweries parking lot.

Photos of the new location below:


Damascus

On Wednesday, April 21 at approximately 9:30 p.m., a suspect was observed driving onto a storage yard area of a farm located on Long Corner Road. The suspect climbed to the top of a tanker truck used to fertilize fields. The next day, the owner of the farm discovered that the liquid fertilizer in the tanker truck had been contaminated with an herbicide, but not before the truck was used to apply fertilizer to approximately 1000 acres of corn.  One week later, employees on the farm discovered additional contamination of fertilizer in another piece of farm equipment.

Anyone with information regarding the person(s) responsible for this vandalism and is interested in the reward, should call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477). To speak to investigating detectives directly, please call the 5th District Investigative Section at 240-773-6273.


North Bethesda

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection has explained the vibrant green color of a creek located behind Commonwealth Drive in North Bethesda (in the area of Old Georgetown Rd and Nicholson Ln). Photos below by Instagram user @rachelwulfe.

It appears that dye testing was performed yesterday, which is what turned the creek green. The dye used is a non-toxic marking agent that turns water a vibrant green color. The color can be visually alarming, and folks often report this as antifreeze dumped into the water. This is the same stuff the use to dye rivers green for St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago and other cities. Most antifreeze these days is orange.”


Restaurants

BoBaPop Tea Bar has opened up inside the Kyoto Matcha location at 33 Maryland Ave Unit A in Rockville Town Center.  According to a post on Kyoto’s Instagram page, “We’re so excited to announce that we have Bobapop-Teabar joining our Rockville location! Come and try our refreshing drinks and pair it with a delicious dessert from Kyo Matcha.” BoBaPoP opened its location at 312 Main Street in the Kentlands in 2018 and was the first of the Vietnamese based company’s stores to open in the United States. BoBaPop opened their second MoCo location at 19847 Century Blvd, Unit J in Germantown, the former site of August 32, back in November.  The company has over 150 stores worldwide.

Kyoto Matcha opened its Rockville location in 2019. Their menu features ice cream, cakes, soba, mochi, and more flavored with matcha, purple sweet potato (ube), rose, maple, and other Japanese delicacies.  According to their website, Kyoto Matcha, is an international chain of Matcha desserts that is “dedicated to creating top-quality raw materials. Due to the influence of the Japanese-style matcha culture, the Kyoto Matcha is based on the brand mission of “Let the Tea Return to the Forest”, rooted in the traditional Japanese tea culture and dedicated to the promotion of Matcha culture.”  Kyoto has an additional MoCo location at 967 Rose Ave in North Bethesda.


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