Author: MCS Staff

Beyond MoCo

National Zoo Announces Giant Pandas Will Leave For China in Mid-November

By MCS Staff

The National Zoo announced on Wednesday that Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji will leave for China by mid-November. “Make sure to plan your visit or tune in online to the Giant Panda Cam for your panda fix.” Entry passes are required for all Zoo guests, however they are free.

As part of the terms of the Zoo’s current Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all three giant pandas will return to China by Dec. 7 when the agreement ends. The Zoo entered into this agreement in Dec. 2000 when Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived at the Zoo. More information below:

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

By MCS Staff

The City of Gaithersburg celebrates and honors Native American Heritage Month in November with an educational presentation and proclamation highlighting the culture, heritage, and achievements of our Native American neighbors.

Per the City of Gaithersburg: Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich cultural traditions and proud ancestry of Native Americans & recognize the vital contributions they have made and continue to make to the art, history, traditions & diversity of our society.

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Events

Annual Veterans Day Observance Takes Place in Gaithersburg on Nov. 11

By MCS Staff

The entire community is invited to join the City of Gaithersburg for its annual Veterans Day Observance on Saturday, November 11, 2023, honoring & recognizing all U.S. military personnel who play an important role in safeguarding our nation & our future. The observance takes place at 11 a.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion.

Per the City of Gaithersburg: The patriotic ceremony will include words and music to commemorate the occasion, followed by a solemn wreath-laying ceremony. City officials and members of local veterans groups will be on hand to honor those who have served in all branches of the military.

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Restaurants

Tacos Way is Now Open

By MCS Staff

Tacos Way is now open at 8777B 1st Ave in Silver Spring. A couple weeks back Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services (ABS) announced that the restaurant recently received its alcohol license and exterior signage has recently was installed. The restaurant posted on its website and on social media that it is now open. Menu items include tacos, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, salads, and chimichangas.

According to its website, “All of our taco flavors are inspired by delicious Mexican flavors.” Tacos Way has an additional location at 10540 York Rd in Cockeysville, MD. We will provide an update when additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Tacos Way on Facebook. The news of the opening was first reported by Source of the Spring.

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Montgomery Planning

Jason K. Sartori Appointed as Montgomery Planning Director

By MCS Staff

Planning Board selects Sartori after a six-month-long nationwide search for the leader of the nationally renowned 150-staff member Montgomery Planning Department

At its weekly meeting today, the Montgomery County Planning Board announced its appointment of Jason Sartori as Planning Director of the Montgomery County Planning Department, also part of The M-NCPPC. Sartori has been with the department for nearly eight years and has served as Chief of the Countywide Planning and Policy Division since January 2019.

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Calverton

Ledo Pizza Opens Second Montgomery County Corner Shoppe (Inside of Giant)

By MCS Staff

Ledo Pizza Corner Shoppe has opened its second Montgomery County location at Giant Food at the Orchard Center, 12028 Cherry Hill Rd, in Calverton (Serviced by Ledo Pizza Colesville). Ledo opened its first Montgomery County Corner Shoppe location in Olney earlier this month.

Previously, Ledo Pizza opened its first “Ledo Pizza Corner Shoppe” inside of a Giant Food store at 1649 Crofton Center in Crofton, MD (Anne Arundel County) this past summer. The “Corner Shoppe” offers take and bake pizza that allows customers to take home a frozen pizza to bake themselves at a later time. The store will also offer hot pizzas from the oven as well.

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MoCo History

Ghost Story: Maryland Mines

By MCS Staff

In 1906, a crew of miners at the present-day intersection of Falls Road and MacArthur Boulevard (Potomac) were preparing to set off an explosion in a mine’s tunnel in a search for gold. Gold was previously discovered in a nearby stream in the 1860’s and local businessmen were looking to strike it rich. As the story goes, one of the miners tossed their helmet, which was outfitted with a lit candle, during a break. It landed near dynamite and caused a massive explosion that collapsed a building and killed a hoist operator named Charles Eglin. Then, strange things started to happen…

According to Visit Montgomery, “horses would be afraid to go near the mine. Tools and food would go missing, and someone knocking on the walls would reverberate through the tunnels. One of the most chilling incidents happened to a night watchman who said he came across a demon with fiery eyes and 10-foot-long tail. The mine closed soon after and today most of it is now on restricted and private property.”

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DMV

Tucker Barnes Named FOX 5’s Chief Meteorologist; Position Previously Held by the Retired Sue Palka

By MCS Staff

Earlier this week Tucker Barnes, the Emmy award-winning meteorologist on FOX 5, was named the station’s chief meteorologist. He takes over for Sue Palka, the longtime FOX 5 chief meteorologist and local legend who retired from her weather duties after 36.5 years back in 2022. The announcement was made just before Barnes introduced FOX 5’s 2023-2024 Winter Outlook.

According to FOX 5, Barnes grew up watching the network and joined them in 2003 as an intern. His passion for the weather began at the age of 5, when he began issuing forecasts to his kindergarten class. By his teenage years, he was immersed in hisfavorite subject, offering often highly-inaccurate, long-range forecasts to his own high school class.

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Montgomery Planning

Montgomery County Planning Board/Planning Department Announce Nov. 2023 Calendar of Events

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Planning Board and Montgomery County Planning Department have announced their November 2023 calendar of events and meetings. The public can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, or by sending in written comments to the Planning Board. Information about submitting written testimony and testifying live at Planning Board meetings can be found below. Contact us for accessibility accommodations.

The public may attend Planning Board meetings in-person, watch them live or on-demand, or listen over the phone. View individual agendas, which are usually made public 10 days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Development Review Committee (DRC) and Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) websites for their agenda information. For more details, review the list of events below and visit www.montgomeryplanning.org. These events are subject to change. The Montgomery County Planning Department and Planning Board offices will be closed on November 10 in observance of Veterans Day and on November 23 and 24 for Thanksgiving. There is no Planning Board meeting on November 23. November Calendar of Events:

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