Author: MCS Staff

Business

Maryland’s First Cannabis Delivery App, Upling, Wins Award at DC Startup Week Competition

By MCS Staff

Colin Fraser, a pioneering cannabis entrepreneur from Silver Spring, has created the first cannabis delivery app in Maryland and the first Black-owned cannabis delivery app in the United States and Jamaica. Fraser, the founder of Upling, was declared the winner of the growth-stage round at DC Startup Week. The startup wants to make medical cannabis more accessible, especially for folks who have a hard time making it to a dispensary because of health issues. “We saw that it’s hard for those who are older or vets to get their medication,” Fraser said in a recent interview. “So when you talk about medical cannabis, it’s hard for them to go into the lines, stand up and get cannabis.” Funding amounts for both winners are typically announced immediately following the event, but the announcement for the growth stage was delayed due to a founder being unable to present during the main pitch event.

More on Colin Fraser and Upling: “With a passion for cannabis advocacy and a deep understanding of the plant’s medicinal properties, Fraser has played a vital role in shaping the legal cannabis landscape by testifying in Maryland for black and brown cannabis entrepreneurs to have equality in the legacy market, and holding the first cannabis round table with now governor Wes Moore. Recognizing the importance of giving back, Fraser actively supports initiatives aimed at social equity within the cannabis space. A cannabis entrepreneur who has overcome significant challenges as a returning citizen to make a lasting impact in the industry. With a steadfast determination and a passion for social justice.

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Education

Every New MCPS School That Has Opened Since 1985

By MCS Staff

We recently shared with you a list of 16 Montgomery County Public Schools that were closed by the school system at one point in time, but have since reopened (some with new names). In this article, we’ll be providing you with a list of every MCPS school that has opened (or reopened) since 1985. The information comes directly from MCPS and the full list an be seen below:

1985

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Beyond MoCo

Maryland Native to Wrestle Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship on Saturday

By MCS Staff

Before he was LA Knight, one of the hottest superstars in professional wrestling today, Shaun Ricker was a kid growing up in Hagerstown, Maryland. He graduated from North Hagerstown High School (class of 2000), where he was in the band and ran track, but always dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler. On Saturday, he has his biggest match ever– taking on WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.

Though he appears to be outspoken now, as his LA Knight persona has been compared to a modern-day version of Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Rock, Ricker remembers how different he was when he was growing up in Hagerstown. “I was a very shy kid, but I always wanted to be a performer. I was that kid that was so shy when I was at my grandma’s house, I would whisper in my mom or dad’s ear, ‘Could you ask her for a cookie?’ Those hand mixers, when I was a kid, I thought the metal mixer part looked like a microphone so I would take those, stand behind a door and I would sing and dance. I figured if I was behind a door, nobody would see me, nobody could hear me. It was like I was invisible.” he said in a since-archived interview with the Ottawa Citizen.

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I-270

Firefighters Secure Loose Dog Following Crash on I-270 Tuesday Night

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a crash on northbound I-270 between exit 6B W. Montgomery Avenue and exit 8 Shady Grove Rd at approximately 10:30pm on Tuesday night.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer the crash involving at least one vehicle blocked some lanes. A dog riding in the car escaped from the vehicle, but was safely secured firefighters. There were no other injuries. Featured photo by @youcancallmenate on Instagram.

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Crime

Man Arrested After Ringing Doorbell and Forcing His Way Inside A Rockville Home on Halloween Night

By MCS Staff

On October 31, 2023 at approximately 7:51 p.m. Rockville City Police Department (RCPD) responded to the unit block of Pebble Ridge Court for a robbery in progress.

According to Rockville Police, “the victims advised police a male rang the doorbell and forced entry into their home. After several minutes, the homeowner was able to force the suspect back outside, where a neighbor assisted in detaining the suspect until police arrived. The homeowners were unharmed. The 23-year-old suspect has been taken into custody and will be charged accordingly.”

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Beyond MoCo

Maryland Man Who Received Pig Heart Transplant Last Month Has Died

By MCS Staff

Lawrence Faucette, a 58-year-old Frederick, MD man with terminal heart disease became the second patient in the world to receive a successful transplant of a genetically-modified pig heart on September 20. In a sad turn of events, the University of Maryland Medical Center announced that Faucette passed away today, nearly six weeks after the transplant. David Bennett, the first person to receive world’s first genetically modified pig heart transplant died approximately two months later.

Per the University of Maryland Medical Center: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lawrence Faucette, the 58-year-old patient with terminal heart disease who received the world’s second genetically-modified pig heart transplant. Mr. Faucette received the transplant on September 20 and lived for nearly six weeks following the surgery.

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North Bethesda

New 16-Story Building Opens at Pike & Rose

By MCS Staff

The 16-story, state-of-the-art building at 915 Meeting Street in Pike & Rose has officially opened. It features 9,600 square feet of ground floor retail, approximately 25,000-square-feet of flexible floor plates and 700 dedicated parking spaces.

Designed by Gensler, the building incorporates a vibrant architectural design that includes numerous amenities, such as a rooftop conference center with collaborative common areas, WiredScore-targeted connectivity, a fitness center, and resource-efficient, sustainable wellness features. Choice Hotels International, Inc., along with Sodexo, will be relocating their headquarters to 915 Meeting Street. A new steakhouse by the founders of CAVA, Bouboulina, will also be opening in the building.

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Potomac

Lock 72 Kitchen and Bar Has Closed Permanently

By MCS Staff

Lock 72 has closed permanently after 7 years at 10128 River Rd in Potomac’s Potomac Village shopping center. The restaurant is listed as permanently closed on Google, no longer listed on the RW Restaurant Group website, the phone number is no longer operational, and all of the social media accounts have been deactivated. The restaurant also had a scheduled auction for its contents, which has since been postponed.

The restaurant was purchased by the Robert Wiedmaier group in 2016 when the name changed from The Tavern at River Falls to Lock 72, Kitchen & Bar in 2916. The name Lock72 comes from one of the locks on the C&O Canal, which are numbered 1 through 75. The locks were used to help barges make their way along the canal, which runs from Georgetown in DC to Cumberland, Maryland. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

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Celebrities

DMV Native Actor Sean Whalen Shares Story of the Milk Commercial That Changed His Life

By MCS Staff

Actor Sean Whalen who credits his 1993 “Got Milk?” Commercial for changing the course of his life, shared the story behind it on its 30 year anniversary. The actor, who is a Montgomery County, Maryland native and 1982 graduate of Sherwood High School also starred in various television shows including Shannon’s Deal and Grace Under Fire, as well as movies, including The People Under the Stairs and Twister.  The story he shared regarding the milk commercial (as well as the commercial itself) can be seen below:

“30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY: On this day in 1993 a regional milk commercial came out that changed the course of my life. I went into an audition just a few weeks before where they gave me peanut butter and told me to try to answer the question of “Who shot Alexander Hamilton?” With my mouth full. Then they told me to improvise an ending. They said I got the job because everyone else screamed, yelled, got angry, and threw the phone! I was the only one who looked at the phone and essentially said, “My whole life led to this moment, and I failed… “ When I got to the set, they just said… “Do what you did in the audition” and Michael Bay shot it over and over for 12 hours. This job killed my commercial career, branded me as “the milk guy” for years, but was loved by Spielberg which got me the gig in Twister, which gave my theatrical career a huge boost. Less and less people know what I’m talking about when I mentioned it so it is fading out of the zeitgeist. But that’s OK. I really haven’t been able to eat peanut butter since but it was a good trade off.”

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North Bethesda

Upper Muse, a 5,000 SF Courtyard, is Coming to Pike & Rose

By MCS Staff

With the official opening of the 915 Meeting Street office building and the recent news that a new steakhouse by the owners of CAVA, Bouboulina,  will open on the building’s street level in summer 2024, Federal Realty announces Upper Muse, its newest neighborhood enhancement at North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose. Construction will begin in January 2024 and will be complete in May 2024.

Per the press release: Upper Muse, an approximately 5,000-square-foot courtyard will be located on Meeting Street, in front of the entrance of 915 Meeting, and will be a place to gather and work. It will feature seating with tables and chairs to dine and/or work, and will be surrounded by lush, native landscaping, as well as lighting. The courtyard will connect patrons through an archway from 915 Meeting to the Owen’s Ordinary and Kusshi Sushi patio located across Trade Street.

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MoCo

Open Parkways Time Changes for Fall/Winter

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks Open Parkways schedule will adjust starting on November 3, 2023, to reflect changes due to the start of standard time and the end of daylight saving time on November 5, resulting in fewer hours of daylight. Open Parkways Fall/Winter Schedule – beginning November 3, 2023:

Extended Open Parkways hours for November holidays:

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