Author: MCS Staff

Business

Emily Briton Announced as Sixth President of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

By MCS Staff

MedStar Health announced that Emily Briton will be the newest president of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and senior vice president, MedStar Health as of July 1, 2023. Briton previously held several leadership roles within the MedStar Health system, most recently serving as chief operating officer and senior vice president at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C.

“It is a tremendous honor to be joining MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in this exciting role,” said Briton, a longtime resident of Montgomery County. “We have important work ahead of us, bringing high-quality personalized care to our community and continuing our mission to be the trusted leader in caring for people and advancing health.” The announcement follows news of the appointment of President Thomas J. Senker, FACHE, as the next president of MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, also effective July 1, 2023.

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Celebrities

Who Am I? MoCo Edition

By MCS Staff

The Moco native played many sports growing up (baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling) while he was a student at Redland Middle School and Magruder High School. He was also a longtime counselor at Seneca Creek Day Camp before turning his attention to theater and participating in three productions per year.

In 2003, he starred as Luke in the first season of the Fox teen drama, The O.C. He has starred in many movies, television shows, and theatrical productions since then, including his role as Will Lexington in the ABC drama Nashville. He currently stars in Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Atticus Lincoln (Dr. Link)– a role he has played since 2018.

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg Planning Commission Set to Make Recommendation on Annexation of Walnut Hill Shopping Center

By MCS Staff

The City of Gaithersburg Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to make a recommendation on the proposed annexation of the Walnut Hill shopping center at its Wednesday, July 5, 2023 meeting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.  The Mayor and City Council have tentatively scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall (virtual participation will also be available).

As we previously reported, the Applicant, Granite Partners, has submitted Annexation Petition X-9510-2023, proposing to annex three parcels that currently abut the City boundary, along with a portion of the North Westland Drive right of way.  The Annexation Plan proposes several changes to the existing Walnut Hill Shopping Center, including constructing a new freestanding convenience store with accessory gasoline pumps (MoCo and Gaithersburg’s second Sheetz location), demolishing an existing small freestanding building on the south side of the property, renovating the exterior of the main shopping center building, and making improvements to the parking lot and landscaping. The shopping center will also be welcoming Aldi in the space that was previously home to Weis. No changes are proposed for the other two properties included in the Annexation Petition.

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Maryland

MD Attorney General Brown Releases Statement on One-Year Anniversary of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

By MCS Staff

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade:

“One year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a devastating blow to basic rights of Americans by overturning Roe v. Wade in an outrageous and harmful decision that stripped away the fundamental right of individuals to control their own healthcare decisions. This decision set us back 50 years as we continue to witness the erosion of reproductive rights in anti-choice states across the country. The decision increased risks to the health and well-being of people throughout the nation, and erected more barriers to pursuing socioeconomic opportunities, with a disproportionate impact on people of color and those in overburdened communities.

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Events

Takoma Park July 4th Celebration Features New Parade Route

By MCS Staff

The City of Takoma Park will be holding its Independence Day celebration starting with a parade at 10am on Tuesday, July 4th followed by an evening celebration in the form of an evening street party from 6pm to 9pm. Additional information, per the City of Takoma Park below:

Evening Celebration: EVENING STREET PARTY

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MCPS

Free Summer Meals For Children 18 and Below Available at Various Locations Across The County

By MCS Staff

The MCPS Summer Meals Program is designed to bridge the “nutrition gap” when school is out. Children 18 years old or younger can come to any of the open locations to receive a free nutritious meal during breakfast and lunch at no cost. Meals are served Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary, however, meals must be eaten at the location.

Summer food service meal sites available by clicking here: (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pM-VLHBPW5l43kIAHJsg0RCR42b6xO-DHS56zx7ihpk/edit#gid=540288845)

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Crime

Collision Leads to Strong Arm Robbery and Assault Monday Morning

By MCS Staff

On June 26 at approximately 11:11 am, Takoma Park Police responded to the 7300 block of Piney Branch Road for the report of a strong arm robbery and assault that had just occurred.

According to police, “An unknown suspect struck the victim’s vehicle’s bumper with his vehicle.  When the victim got out of her vehicle and attempted to call 911 on her cell phone, the suspect got out of his vehicle, forcefully removed the cell phone from the victim’s hands and fled in his vehicle, striking the victim with his vehicle. The victim was not seriously physically injured.”

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Clarksburg

Planning Board Approves Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan Focused on Areas Between I-270 and 355

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan Scope of Work at its June 22 weekly meeting. The Scope of Work lays out the Montgomery County Planning Department’s approach to developing land use recommendations for a section of the Clarksburg area on the east side of Interstate 270 and west of MD 355. The approval of the Scope of Work is the first step in the master planning process and outlines the purpose of the plan, elements to explore, boundary areas, public engagement strategy and the plan timeline. Montgomery Planning staff will begin community engagement and visioning, and study the existing conditions of the area, all leading up to developing recommendations for land use, zoning, urban design, transportation, environmental resilience, housing, historic preservation, and community facilities and infrastructure in the plan area.

Montgomery Planning invites the community to attend an open house on the plan on Wednesday, July 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the community building at the Clarksburg Neighborhood Park (22501 Wims Road at Route 355, Clarksburg, MD 20871). The open house will provide the public an opportunity to interact with the Montgomery Planning team about the plan, give their input, and discuss their neighborhood and community aspirations related to transportation, jobs, housing, land use, parks and open spaces, public amenities, and more. Planning staff will offer many more opportunities for community input throughout the plan process.

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Gaithersburg

Sketch Plan Approved For 380 Multifamily Residential Units at Former Nike Missile Site in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

A Joint Public Hearing on the sketch plan application was held on Monday, March 20, 2023.  The Planning Commission record closed at 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2023 and they recommended approval of the sketch plan to the Mayor and City Council at their May 3, 2023 meeting. The Mayor and City Council record closed at 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2023 and they conducted their policy discussion at their June 20, 2023 meeting, during which the Council adopted Resolution R-32-53 and approved the sketch plan.

The Applicant, Muddy Branch Investments, LLC, has submitted Sketch Plan application SK-9497-2023, proposing to construct 380 multifamily residential units in four buildings up to five stories in height, all located on approximately 14 acres.  The sketch plan includes surface parking, open space, pedestrian connections, and amenities for the multifamily units.  The sole vehicular access to the proposed development will be along a private street coming off Muddy Branch Road. The subject property is located at 770 Muddy Branch Road, and is west of Muddy Branch Road, north of the Lakelands Ridge community and the Muddy Branch Square shopping center, east of the Lakelands Ridge community and Great Seneca Highway, and south of the Timberbrook community, Lakelands Ridge conservation area, and City-owned land.

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Gaithersburg

Major Washington Gas Project May Affect Customers in Part of Gaithersburg (Meem’s Addition)

By MCS Staff

Per the City of Gaithersburg: Major Washington Gas projects taking place either within the City, or that will affect City residents. Impact to gas service will be minimal, but some disruption may occur. Washington Gas will provide a community letter to impacted residents. In the event of a gas emergency please contact the Washington Gas Emergency Call line at 844-927-4427. Temporary parking restrictions may be needed and Washington Gas will provide 48 hour advance notice of any such restrictions or changes in work hours. Washington Gas will restore sidewalks, roadways and landscaping back to their original condition.

A project is currently taking place on: Chestnut Street, Meem Ave and Floral Drive

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WMATA

Metro Awarded $104M Federal Grant

By MCS Staff

Metro’s Cinder Bed Road Bus Division is transitioning to support an electric fleet, with the $104 million grant award from the Federal Transit Administration announced today. The funding will help Metro achieve its accelerated timeline to transition all nine bus garages and nearly 1600 buses to zero-emission by 2042.

“We appreciate the Federal Transit Administration’s leadership in the transition to zero-emission bus technology that will help reduce air pollution and improve quality of life across the region,” said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “We also appreciate the support of Senators Kaine and Warner, Congressman Connolly and Congresswoman Holmes Norton, Mayor Bowser, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and other state and local leaders in securing this critical funding.”

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