Author: MCS Staff

Chevy Chase

Three Arrested With Over $15K in Stolen Property From MoCo Department Store

By MCS Staff

Per Fairfax County Police: Officers assigned to the Tysons Urban Team (TUT) successfully prevented an organized retail theft crew from carrying out their intended plan and made a swift arrest. On July 13, officers received a tip from Sak’s Fifth Ave Regional Loss Prevention team that the Saks Fifth Avenue store located in Chevy Chase, Maryland reported a retail theft crew left the store in a gold Chevrolet Impala with Pennsylvania tags.

With this information, TUT officers utilized LPR technology and learned that the vehicle had entered Virginia and was in the immediate vicinity. The vehicle was located and observed by TUT units heading in the direction of Saks Fifth Avenue in McLean. The vehicle’s occupants were observed by the TUT team entering the store. Once in the store, they selected multiple high-end handbags and other luxury merchandise and headed toward the exit without paying. When approached by the store’s Loss Prevention team, the two suspects ran. TUT units were already in the area and were able to take one suspect into custody. The other suspect was found in a nearby dumpster after a brief search of the area. The driver of the vehicle was soon located and taken into custody, as well.

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Clarksburg

Clarksburg Town Center Looking For Approval on Final Amendments That Would Put the Development “in a position to attract additional tenants”

By MCS Staff

In a proposal from earlier this summer, Clarksburg Town Center is looking for approval on limited amendments that would put the upcoming development in “a position to attract additional tenants and multifamily residents sufficient to support development of this final phase of Clarksburg Town Center.” The subject amendments to the Project Plan, Preliminary Plan and Site Plan propose construction of 179 multifamily units in three buildings along the east side of Clarksburg Square Road, and approximately 99,200 sq. ft. of retail/commercial space, including a grocery store of approximately 55,000 sq. ft.

At a Clarksburg community meeting on the future of the Clarksburg Town Center (CTC) last December, it was revealed in updated plans that the hope was for construction to begin in 2024 and be completed in “one fell swoop”. It was also announced that a grocery anchor, Weis, has signed a letter of intent to open up a new store at the CTC.

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MCFRS

MCFRS Responds to Early Morning House Fire in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call at approximately 3:15am Thursday morning for a fire at one-story single family home on the 14300 block of Marian Drive off of Glen Mill Rd in Rockville.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, there was heavy fire that was fully involved upon arrival that crews were able to extinguish. The house is considered a total loss, but there were no injuries as the house was vacant at the time of the fire. The cause and origin of the fire are still to be determined.

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Chevy Chase

Sale of Commanders to Group Led By MoCo Native Josh Harris Expected to Be Approved at Today’s NFL Owners Meeting

By MCS Staff

In May it was announced that the Washington Commanders and a partnership led by MoCo native Josh Harris (Chevy Chase) have entered into a purchase and sale agreement. Earlier this week, the NFL finance committee voted unofficially to recommend approval of the deal to buy the Commanders with various sources saying the NFL has reached an agreement with Daniel Snyder to resolve any remaining legal issues. Today, the approval is expected to become official at the NFL owners’ meeting in Minneapolis.

The sale to the group led by Philadelphia 76ers co-owner and Chevy Chase native Josh Harris, Potomac billionaire Mitchell Rales, and NBA legend Magic Johnson for just over $6 billion is expected to close on Friday. Snyder purchased what was then the Washington Redskins for $800 million in 1999 after the death of previous owner Jack Kent Cooke. 

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Beyond MoCo

“World’s Largest Rubber Duck” is Coming to Maryland in August

By MCS Staff

The “World’s Largest Rubber Duck”, also known as Mama Duck, is coming to Maryland when it arrives in Leonardtown, MD from August 4-6 followed by a trip to Crisfield, MD from August 11-13.

The duck is more than six stories high, 79 feet wide, 80 feet long and weighs over 30,000 pounds,  according to CBS Pittsburgh. Not to be confused with the #KindessDuck of Kindness Duck Project, the “World’s Largest Rubber Duck” was created by Craig Samborski. In an interview with WTOP, he said “I didn’t know what I was getting into when I built this. There are so many people in the world that love rubber ducks. That’s my biggest thing why I love doing this is because it makes people so happy.”

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Montgomery Parks

“Remarkable Montgomery: Untold Stories” Markers To Be Installed Across the County To Highlight Underrepresented Topics in Local History

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Planning’s Historic Preservation Office has initiated “Remarkable Montgomery: Untold Stories,” an ongoing project to install historic markers around the county that highlight underrepresented topics in local history. Both Montgomery Planning and Montgomery Parks will be installing “Remarkable Montgomery: Untold Stories” markers throughout the county in a shared effort to bring greater recognition to people, places, and events with significant histories that we have undervalued in the past. The markers, which offer more flexibility than a formal designation on Montgomery County’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation, tell stories of people and places that shaped our communities, even where physical evidence of those histories may no longer exist.

Focused on Equity: The Historic Preservation Office is committed to enacting Montgomery Planning’s Equity Agenda for Planning. In part, this includes acknowledging that the practice of historic preservation has long overlooked histories and historic sites related to non-dominant groups. To begin to address this imbalance, the marker program will bring forward histories tied to county residents’ struggles for racial and social justice and the stories of people who broke the boundaries of their times. Markers Currently in Production:

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Boyds

Edward U. Taylor School Site in Boyds Added to County’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted July 11 to add the former Edward U. Taylor Elementary School property to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The County Council’s vote designating the Taylor School a historic site aligns with the recommendations of the Montgomery County Planning Department and the Montgomery County Planning Board. The Taylor School was built in 1952 as an elementary school for Black students at a time when Montgomery County used legally sanctioned racial segregation to prohibit Black children from attending white schools. The facility was built to modern school design standards and represents the movement by the county’s Black community to have better facilities and opportunities after decades of public underinvestment in educational facilities for Black children. One of the last schools to be desegregated in 1961, the Taylor School was the only segregated Black elementary or high school that retained its original use as a school building when it integrated.

“Montgomery Planning commends the County Council for designating the Edward U. Taylor Elementary School site historic,” said Acting Planning Director Tanya Stern. “The Taylor School is a significant landmark in the fight against racial segregation in Montgomery County and the nation and educates current and future generations about the struggle to integrate schools. Adding it to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation ensures the inspiring efforts of individuals like Edward U. Taylor and Black organizations, parents, and teachers to obtain quality educational facilities for Black children in the mid-20th century will never be forgotten.” The draft amendment to add the Taylor School to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation also proposed adding the former Weller’s Dry Cleaning site in Silver Spring to the master plan. The County Council followed the Planning Board’s recommendation and voted to not designate the Weller’s property historic. Historic designation criteria are established in Chapter 24A in the Montgomery County Code. The Council evaluated the sites against the criteria and found that the Edward U. Taylor School met the following criteria:

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Maryland

WSSC Issues Warning For Anyone Who May Have Come in Contact With Triadelphia Reservoir Water

By MCS Staff

WSSC Water has detected high concentrations of blue-green algae, known as Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), in the Triadelphia Reservoir. These HABS can cause adverse health effects. The reservoir, located along the Patuxent River in Montgomery and Howard counties, serves as a drinking water source for WSSC Water and a recreational area for hiking, fishing and boating. The health advisory does not affect the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir. WSSC Water’s drinking water is not affected and continues to meet all Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

As a precaution, WSSC Water is closely monitoring water quality conditions at its Patuxent Water Filtration Plant. Visitors to WSSC Water’s Triadelphia Reservoir should do the following:

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Montgomery Parks

Attention Skaters: You Can Now Provide Input On Future Skate Parks Coming to MoCo

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks is seeking ideas and suggestions on features that will make new skate parks attractive to skateboarders and other users of all ages and abilities. Long-term plans call for the construction of five new skate parks, in addition to the three already in operation. Take the “Build Your Dream Skate Park!” survey in the link.

“We want to make Montgomery Parks a skateboarding destination in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region while providing quality neighborhood amenities for local skaters,” said Christie Ciabotti, project manager for the skate park study. “Input from skate park users–including survey data–will help us build the best skate parks possible.”

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Maryland

Potbelly Signs Multi-Unit Development Agreement That Includes 27 Maryland Locations

By MCS Staff

Per Franchising.com, “the iconic neighborhood sandwich shop, today announced that it has finalized a 27-shop agreement in Maryland with the company’s founder Bryant Keil and his son Hampden.” The agreement grants Mr. Keil exclusive territory rights in seven Maryland counties – Washington, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s – to develop 15 new Potbelly shops in the next eight years. Additionally, Potbelly will refranchise 12 existing restaurant locations as part of the transaction.

“The Potbelly brand we know and love was shaped by Bryant’s leadership. He has a keen understanding of the Potbelly vision and deep appreciation for the brand and what sets us apart,” said Bob Wright, President and CEO of Potbelly. “He oversaw years of incredible expansion for our brand, and we look forward to him accelerating our growth momentum in Maryland as we continue to execute our strategic franchise and growth strategy across the U.S. Along with refranchising several of our existing shops, this agreement will extend Potbelly’s presence in central and southern regions of the state over the next decade, giving residents and visitors more access to our delicious food.”

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Maryland

Special Olympics Maryland and Lone Oak Farm Brewing Co. Team Up to Raise Over $32K

By MCS Staff

Olney’s Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company teamed up with Special Olympics Maryland to host the Pint Size Polar Bear Plunge this past Saturday, July 15th from 12:00 to 5:00 pm as a 6-month kickoff to the 2024 MSP Polar Bear Plunge. The family-friendly event raised $32,530 by raffling prizes like Caps Tickets, $500 Cash, an Ocean City Trip, a Deep Creek Dunk Trip, or a TopGolf Package through the “Pint Size Polar Bear Plunge” that allowed supporters to purchase bears for $5 that were randomly plucked from the water on the Lone Oak property to select winners. A video of the event can be seen below:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cu4amT8gcRC/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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