Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks to Present Draft Recommendations for the Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan Update to the Montgomery County Planning Board on May 5, 2022

By MCS Staff

The public may testify at the May 19th Montgomery Planning Board public hearing on the plan.

Montgomery Parks will present draft recommendations for the Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan update to the Montgomery Planning Board on May 5, 2022. (The time of the presentation will be posted on the Planning Board agenda closer to the date of the meeting.) Wheaton Regional Park is 536 acres and is the largest park in the southern region of Montgomery County. The park’s initial master plan was created in 1987 and is now being updated to better reflect the current interests of adjacent communities and residents throughout the county.

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Germantown

“Rally to Protect our Neighborhoods” This Saturday in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

The “Rally to Protect our Neighborhoods” will take place Saturday, April 30 from 12-2pm at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The event will be hosted by Councilmember Craig Rice (District 2), Councilmember Sidney Katz (District 3) and Greg Wims of the Upcounty Regional Services Center.

The event is being run in conjunction with the ‘Justice for Jai’lyn Rally’, in honor of 17-year-old Jai’lyn Jones, who was murdered in Germantown back in January. Jai’lyn was a Germantown resident and a senior at Northwest High School.  His body was found brutally stabbed and mutilated.  As of today, no arrests have been made and the case remains active.

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Traffic

ICC/MD200 Will Have Periodic Closures The Next Two Weekends

By MCS Staff

ICC/MD 200 will have periodic double lane closures this weekend between Saturday April 30th at 7am to 5am Monday for paving operations. Work will begin on the westbound  lanes before moving to eastbound lanes and is anticipated to extend into the following weekend of May 7th, May 8th, and May 9th.

ICC History: Maryland Route 200 (MD 200), also known as the Intercounty Connector or ICC, is an 18.8-mile-long (30.3 km), six-lane toll road in the U.S. state of Maryland. A controlled-access highway, it connects Gaithersburg in Montgomery County and Laurel in Prince George’s County, both of which are suburbs of Washington, D.C. The ICC was one of the most controversial Maryland road projects; opposition to the highway stalled the project for decades, and construction did not begin until 60 years after the highway’s initial approval in 1950.

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Bethesda

Update: Ridgefield Road Closure Extended Until Fall 2023

By Cordell Pugh

Beginning the first week of June, Ridgefield Road will be closed between River Road (MD-190) and Westbard Avenue. An updated announcement states that Ridgefield Road will remain closed for approximately 16 months, meaning Ridgefield likely won’t reopen until at least October 2023.

Two separate posted detours will direct some traffic to Goldsboro Road, and others to Little Falls Parkway. Ride On Route 23 (Friendship Heights-Sibley Memorial Hospital) will also be detoured during the closure. One of the two sidewalks along Ridgefield is slated to remain open during the closure.

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Health

Montgomery County Releases Population Health Report; Includes Details on MoCo’s Demographic Changes, Leading Causes of Death, and Adolescents Births

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services has released an updated population health report, “Health in Montgomery County 2010-2019”, which includes “data and statistics on major health topics such as demographics and social determinants of health; vital statistics; maternal and infant health; chronic diseases; infectious diseases; behavioral health; injuries; and environmental health” in Montgomery County and how it compares to State and national health outcomes. According to the report, health outcomes in Montgomery County have performed better than state and national averages, but there are “several health conditions with increasing trends and disparities by race/ethnicity, age, sex, and geographic areas that warrant special attention.”

Findings of the report, per Montgomery County: 

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I-270

Update: Two Maryland State Troopers Struck By Suspected Impaired Driver on I-270

By Patrick Herron

On Thursday, a collision involving a Maryland State Police vehicle closed three lanes on southbound 270 from Exit 4 (Montrose Rd) to Exit 1 (Democracy Blvd) and resulted in  two Maryland State troopers being transported by EMS with non-life-threatening injuries. On Friday, the Maryland State Police announced that chargers are pending against the driver who struck the troopers, who is believed to have been impaired at the time of the collision.

(ROCKVILLE, MD) – Charges are pending against a suspected impaired driver who struck two Maryland state troopers in their patrol vehicles on I-270 yesterday.

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Bethesda

New Toy Store Now Open in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Alex Baby and Toys, a new concept from FYE, is now open in Montgomery Mall. The store is located downstairs next to Old Navy.  According to Westfield Montgomery, “from legos and baby essentials to LOL’s and STEM, they are your one-stop-shop for all things play.” We’re told the store offers toys for all ages, not just toddlers and young children.

According to Billboard, FYE was purchased by Sunrise Records in 2020. Sunrise paid $10 million to take over ownership of the 200-store chain. The purchase included assuming some of the chain’s liabilities including, accounts payable, store leases, and the chain’s frequent buyer membership program while also gaining a target inventory of $40 million. It also took on all FYE employees. FYE closed its Wheaton Mall location in January 2019 and its Lakeforest Mall location one year later in January of 2020. There is another Alex Baby and Toys listed as being in Holyoke Mall at Ingleside in Massachusetts, but the phone number is not currently active, so it may also be opening soon.

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Events

Skywatching Program at Observatory Park in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Turn your eyes skyward and enjoy the amazing sites from Observatory Park, home to the historic Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory.

Observatory Park will be dark, but please do not bring a bright flashlight; bring a red light as it will be less intrusive to other watchers. Red cellophane will be available to cover any white light flashlights. Also adjust the brightness of electronic devices. These events are free, but require registration.

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Chevy Chase

Fire Caused by Recalled Surge Protector Thursday Evening

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Units were called to the 5100 block of Fairglen Lane, off of Fairfax Rd, in Chevy Chase for small fire at a single family home on Thursday evening.

The fire involved an electrical box that was attached to the outside of the home and was quickly put out by firefighters upon arrival. Connected to the electrical box that caught fire was a Supco surge protector that was previously recalled for its potential to cause fires. There was no extension to the fire,  no additional smoke, and no injuries.

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