Author: MCS Staff

Rockville

City of Rockville Looking to Move Forward With New Branding and Tagline

By MCS Staff

In June 2022, the Rockville Mayor and Council awarded the city branding initiative contract to the marketing firm Medium Giant to serve as a branding consultant to develop a new citywide brand. Since then, a team from the Public Information Office and from Medium Giant worked together to come up with two viable options for the city’s new brand. Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council approve one of the branding concept/systems presented by the marketing/branding consultant Medium Giant to be adopted as the city’s official brand. The process of developing the final two branding concepts was done in four phases:

Phase One: Discovery – The PIO Team met with Medium Giant to lay a foundation of expectations and understanding of what the city brand should be.

Go to City of Rockville Looking to Move Forward With New Branding and Tagline Read more
Bethesda

Guapo’s Bethesda Temporarily Closed for Renovations; Aiming to Reopen This Weekend

By MCS Staff

Popular local restaurant chain Guapo’s has temporarily closed its Bethesda location at 8130 Wisconsin Avenue for renovations. A representative from the restaurant let us know that they hope to reopen on Saturday, but to call ahead to make sure. Guapo’s has a second Montgomery County location in Gaithersburg at Rio Lakefront.

Late owner Hector Rincón, originally from Colombia, opened the original Guapo’s in Tenleytown in DC in the early 90s. Per Guapo’s, the Rincon family arrived in Virginia in the late 1970’s. All four children graduated from Fairfax County schools and universities and continued to invest in their community. They believed that their businesses should provide opportunity and pride to demonstrate the dedication to their hometown and the metropolitan area. Now their children continue the same aspirations as their grandparents did when they arrived over 30 years ago. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Go to Guapo’s Bethesda Temporarily Closed for Renovations; Aiming to Reopen This Weekend Read more
Beyond MoCo

La Casita to Open New Location in Laurel

By MCS Staff

La Casita, founded in Montgomery County when the Silver Spring location opened in 2002, has announced an upcoming location in nearby Laurel. La Casita Pupuseria currently has locations serving Germantown, Gaithersburg, Nationals Park & Union Market District.

Per La Casita on social media, “We have a very special announcement to make (and please pardon our dust 👷🏽‍♂️)…a brand new La Casita Pupuseria is coming to Laurel, MD! Yes, we are super excited to finally be able to reveal after a long project that hopefully by Fall 2023 we will be able to serve the greater Laurel area right on Baltimore Ave.”

Go to La Casita to Open New Location in Laurel Read more
Celebrities

MoCo Native Sofia Harrison Leads the Philippine Women’s Soccer Team At The 2023 Women’s World Cup

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Native Sofia Harrison will be playing in the 2023 Women’s World Cup for the Philippines in the country’s first World Cup Appearance (men or women), as they begin their quest for the Cup on Friday, July 21st against Switzerland.

The Philippine women’s football team last year booked a ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup by defeating Chinese Taipei in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinal round of the Women’s Asian Cup in India to make it to the semifinals and qualify for the World Cup. No Philippine football team, men or women, has ever qualified for the World Cup until now.

Go to MoCo Native Sofia Harrison Leads the Philippine Women’s Soccer Team At The 2023 Women’s World Cup Read more
Bethesda

Target Offering a 20% Off Deal For Teachers and College Students

By MCS Staff

Target is kicking off its back-to-school and back-to-college season, announcing deep savings events and season-long deals to make back-to-school shopping easy and affordable for its guests. New this year, Target is also expanding its popular Teacher Appreciation Event to give teachers a one-time 20% discount on an entire shopping trip and bringing back a one-time 20% discount on an entire shopping trip for verified college students through Target Circle, the retailer’s free-to-join loyalty program. With deals starting at under $1 and most under $15, Target is offering even more ways to save as students and teachers prepare to return to school.

“Our back-to-school and back-to-college assortment features a broad range of essentials that are priced right for all families. From on-trend Cat & Jack outfits and fun and functional Room Essentials dorm décor, to supplies of all kinds from Mondo Llama and top national brands, Target has everything to help students from pre-K to college start the school year in affordable style,” said Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target. “We’re also pleased to expand our 20% teacher discount across the entire store and on Target.com, to provide teachers with even greater value on the items they need for their classrooms. Both teachers and students can count on Target for all their school-year gear at great prices.”

Go to Target Offering a 20% Off Deal For Teachers and College Students Read more
Gaithersburg

Holiday Inn Reopens in Gaithersburg After Three-Year Closure

By MCS Staff

The Holiday Inn, which has been located at 2 Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg since it was built in 1972, has reopened after being closed for approximately three years. A representative from the hotel told us that it reopened in late June. The hotel initially closed in 2020 due to Covid restrictions.

After its closure in 2020, B.F. Saul Company worked with Montgomery County’s Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) on a plan to convert the Holiday Inn into affordable senior living. In February 2021, the Gaithersburg City Council approved an amendment that stated properties zoned for commercial, employment and industrial uses could not have residential uses in those zones, which thwarted plans for the planned conversion. “We’re clarifying that when we have a commercial zone, we mean commercial and not residential” Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman stated at the meeting.

Go to Holiday Inn Reopens in Gaithersburg After Three-Year Closure Read more
DMV

Metro Releases Commemorative SmarTrip Card for MLS All-Star Game

By MCS Staff

Metro is inviting fans from around the world to ride Metro to see the Major League Soccer All-Star Game. To commemorate the occasion, Metro is releasing a limited-edition MLS All-Star SmarTrip® card, ahead of the big game.

Per Metro: “We’re really excited to welcome MLS Soccer, its players, and fans for the All-Star Game,” said Clarke. “Come on out to root for the All-Star festivities and cheer on the best of MLS against as they take on the Premier League’s Arsenal FC and take in the All-Star festivities. It’s a quick and easy ride away on Metro without all the hassle of traffic and parking.”

Go to Metro Releases Commemorative SmarTrip Card for MLS All-Star Game Read more
Crime

Five Hospitalized After Shooting Outside of Montgomery County Restaurant, According to Police

By MCS Staff

Per Montgomery County Police: Fourth District officers responded to multiple reports of shots fired at approximately 12:15 a.m., followed by multiple reports of people shot to the rear of the Sole D’Italia Restaurant in the Norbeck-Layhill community.

Officers arrived on scene and found four victims with gunshot wounds. Two of the gunshot victims sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries; and the third and fourth victims sustained minor injuries. A fifth gunshot victim was transported by private automobile to an area hospital and was treated for a minor injury.  Officers applied a tourniquet to one of the victims.

Go to Five Hospitalized After Shooting Outside of Montgomery County Restaurant, According to Police Read more
Gaithersburg

John Howie, Jr. to Perform at the Arts Barn on July 29 (sponsored)

By MCS Staff

John’s 30 years of writing and performing alt-country, honky-tonk punk rock has produced. He’s been part of the North Carolina Triangle music scene with Two Dollar Pistols, Rosewood Bluff, and Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. His 2018 solo album, Not Tonight has been called “a country breakup album of unusual clarity and emotional resonance.” Just prior to our interview, John had been in the studio making fresh recordings for the Fall 2023 re-release of material from dormant album, On Down the Track.

The 7:30 p.m. concert will feature music spanning his long career – Two Dollar Pistols era, the Rosewood Bluff band, selections from Not Tonight and his new work. For this show, he will be joined on stage by classically trained violinist/cellist Sarah Glasco.

Go to John Howie, Jr. to Perform at the Arts Barn on July 29 (sponsored) Read more
MCFRS

MCFRS On The Scene For HazMat Investigation in Olney; No Danger to Community At This Time

By MCS Staff

There is an active HazMat incident that is being investigated by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Seevices (MCFRS) and other agencies in the area of Longview Lane and Macduff Avenue in Olney. The investigation has been ongoing since the early afternoon and will continue into tonight and possibly tomorrow.

According to Assistant Chief Ogren of MCFRS, the new owners of a home, that has been unoccupied for an extended period of time, attempted to take items to the county transfer station and set off some sensors while there. They were told to go home, where they called 911. MCFRS crews arrived to conduct testing and a visual inspection showed chemicals and boxes with unknown contents including older military ammo containers (no ammo in them). Contrary to rumors, no nuclear materials were found. Some items have not yet been positively identified, but have not tested as a threat. MCFRS does not believe this is a danger to the community and have allowed occupants of surrounding homes back inside, though access issues remain due to the investigation.

Go to MCFRS On The Scene For HazMat Investigation in Olney; No Danger to Community At This Time Read more
Crime

Arrest Made for Strong Arm Robbery, Assault That Occurred Monday Evening

By MCS Staff

Chief Antonio DeVaul from the Takoma Park Police Department has announced the arrest of Emilio Lemus, 27, of no fixed address, for Strong Arm Robbery and Assault.

Per Takoma Park Police: On July 10 at approximately 5:11 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 1300 block of University Blvd. (Walgreens) for a larceny in progress.  Lemus entered the establishment and began stealing items. When approached by an employee, Lemus attempted to assault them.  Lemus left the establishment with the stolen merchandise where he was met by police officers.  After a brief struggle, Lemus was taken into custody.  A search incident to arrest yielded items of evidentiary value, as well as possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Crack Cocaine.

Go to Arrest Made for Strong Arm Robbery, Assault That Occurred Monday Evening Read more
View More Stories