Author: MCS Staff

Bethesda

Two Areas in Montgomery County Make “Safest Suburbs in the U.S.” List, Per Report

By MCS Staff

According to Smart Asset, described as a financial technology company that publishes articles to help people make smart financial decisions”, “People often opt to move to the suburbs for myriad reasons – space, affordability, schools, employment and sometimes to seek safety. Violent and nonviolent crime rates, roadway safety, and drug and alcohol abuse within a community can affect the quality of life for an individual and family alike.”

SmartAsset analyzed safety data for 370 suburbs of the 100 largest cities – and also compared the affordability of the safest areas. Two areas in Montgomery County were in the Top 12, with nearby Great Falls, VA listed as #1. Below are the MoCo suburbs that have made the list:

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WMATA

Red Line Service Improvements Begin Monday

By MCS Staff

Red Line customers will enjoy more frequent weekday service beginning Monday, June 12, and that’s just the start of improvements rolling out for rail and bus customers throughout the month of June.  Beginning Monday, Red Line trains will operate every 6 minutes until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, an improvement from every 8 minutes during off-peak daytime hours. On weekends, Red Line trains will continue operating every 8 minutes all day, and every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m. seven days a week.

“Ridership is bouncing back, and Your Metro continues to deliver service improvements to meet the travel demands of the region,” said Metro General Manger and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. “Ridership continues to set records on rail and bus, and we’re excited to deliver service improvements that will save our customers time and money at all times, every day of the week.”

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Bethesda

Bowlero Reaches Agreement to Acquire Lucky Strike

By MCS Staff

Bowlero Corp. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Lucky Strike Entertainment, LLC, the upscale bowling company with 14 locations across nine states. Bowlero owns Bowl America on Clopper Road in Gaithersburg and Bowlero Rockville on Shady Grove Rd in Gaithersburg. The acquisition adds the Lucky Strike brand, which has a Montgomery County location in Bethesda’s Montgomery Mall, and all other locations to Bowlero Corp.’s portfolio of bowling centers in North America, furthering its position as a leader in bowling entertainment. Bowlero will acquire the Lucky Strike business in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $90 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of Bowlero’s Fiscal Year 2024, and is subject to customary closing conditions. Additional information below, courtesy of the press release:

Thomas Shannon, Founder and CEO of Bowlero Corp., said, “Lucky Strike is a premier experiential entertainment brand, and we could not be more excited to add its world-class portfolio to ours. Lucky Strike’s impressive family of locations in flagship cities across the country naturally complements our national footprint, immediately launching our presence in major cities like Boston, Chicago and Denver.”

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Beyond MoCo

Steel Products, Inc., A Woman-Owned Specialty Contracting Firm Founded in 1954, Leaves Rockville for Frederick

By MCS Staff

20-person company founded in 1954, signs lease with St. John Properties, Inc. for 15,000 square feet of space at 4724 Arcadia Drive in Arcadia Business Park

Steel Products, Inc., a woman-owned specialty contracting firm founded in 1954, has signed a lease with St. John Properties, Inc. for 15,000 square feet of flex/R&D space at Arcadia Business Park. Earlier this year, the company relocated its corporate offices from Rockville to Frederick, Maryland. Approximately 20 employees moved to 4724 Arcadia Drive, a single-story building containing 48,120 square feet of flex/R&D space.

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Montgomery Parks

Pyramids on Display at Brookside Gardens This Summer

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks partners with Wheaton Arts Parade to showcase unique pyramid sculptures at Brookside Gardens this summer.Visitors can enjoy a self-guided pyramid art walk or attend a special guided tour on August 12, 2023, from 9:00 –10:00 a.m.  

WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks is joining forces with the Wheaton Arts Parade to place eleven pyramid sculptures throughout Brookside Gardens. The pyramids are part of an art walk and will be on display through August 27, 2023.

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WMATA

Metro: New Income-Qualified Reduced Fare Program

By MCS Staff

 

For the first time, Metro will begin offering reduced fares to assist low-income customers. The new income-qualified reduced fare program, ‘Metro Lift’ launches Tuesday, June 20. Customers in DC, Maryland and Virginia who qualify for the US Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) are eligible to enroll.

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Crime

Loaded Handgun and 18 Vacuum-Sealed Bags of Marijuana Found During Traffic Stop in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Per Gaithersburg Police: On June 06, 2023 at 10:30 p.m., an officer assigned to the Gaithersburg Police Department – Community Action Team was conducting focused enforcement in the area of the 200 block of Professional Drive. At that time, the officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation, and initiated a traffic stop.

During the course of the traffic stop, a narcotics detecting K9 responded to conduct a drug scan of the vehicle. After receiving a positive indication from the K9 for the presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, a search of the vehicle was conducted resulting in the discovery of a loaded handgun under the driver seat and 18 vacuum sealed bags of marijuana in a mini backpack from the rear passenger seat. The driver, 44-years-old, male from Montgomery Village, MD was arrested and transported to the Central Processing Unit for processing and formal charging. The passenger, 37-years-old, female from Rockville, MD was also arrested on outstanding warrants from another county.

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MCPS

Legendary Churchill Lacrosse Coach, Jeff Fritz, Steps Down After 30 Years

By MCS Staff

Last year, Winston Churchill High School in Potomac celebrated Jeff Fritz’s 300th victory as head boys lacrosse coach at the school and became the first Montgomery County lacrosse team (boys or girls) to ever win a State Championship. Following another successful season in 2023, Coach Fritz has announced that he’ll be stepping down as coach.

Churchill boys lacrosse won the 2022 Maryland 4A State Championship, after defeating Anne Arundel County powerhouse Broadneck 15-7 in the championship. This stories season was memorable for many reasons, as coach Fritz was celebrated for winning his 300th game. Churchill welcomed Montgomery County Councilmember and alumnus Andrew Friedson to the school’s game against Sherwood High School. At halftime Councilmember Friedson presented his old lacrosse coach with a Proclamation from Montgomery County for Coach Fritz’s 300th career win. Churchill boys lacrosse finished 13-0 in 2022.

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Poolesville

Town of Poolesville Issues Voluntary Water Conservation Notice

By MCS Staff

Per the Town of Poolesville: As summer approaches and dry conditions persist, many homeowners turn to watering lawns. Water department staff have reported significant lawn watering and increased usage, which can place a strain on Poolesville’s well system. Currently, we have two wells out of service testing for PFAS removal and are working on adding filtration units. Typical water usage is around 550,000 gallons per day, which our system can easily handle. Recently, water usage has increased to about 700,000 gallons per day.

Poolesville water system customers should “limit non-essential” water usage. The Town is anticipating increased water demand as a result of increased temperatures and forecasted dry conditions. We ask that residents minimize outdoor watering throughout the summer months and until the two out of service wells can be reinstated. Water Conservation Tips.

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Maryland

Second of Three License-Free Fishing Days on Saturday, June 10th

By MCS Staff

Per the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Graduations and school dismissals anglers are setting our younger anglers free to spend more time outdoors. Be sure to carve out time for some fishing adventures in Maryland’s varied waters.

Maryland will host the second of three license-free fishing days June 10. During a free fishing day, a person may catch and possess finfish in the tidal and nontidal waters of Maryland for recreational purposes without an angler’s license, Chesapeake Bay sportfishing license, or any fishing stamp normally required by the Department of Natural Resources. All other fishing laws and regulations will apply on those days. Maryland’s free fishing days are the first two Saturdays in June and the Fourth of July. Ask a neighbor or friend who doesn’t fish to join you and pick up this great pastime.

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