Author: MCS Staff

Gaithersburg

Update on Solitaire Court Stream Restoration Project

By MCS Staff

The Department of Public Works has designed improvements to a tributary of Long Draught Branch that runs through Diamond Farm Park. The project’s goal is to stabilize the banks & decrease erosion along 2,200 linear feet of stream. The project extends from the playground & court area downstream to the tributary’s confluence with Long Draught Branch behind the Robertson Park Youth Center.

A structure and Year 1 landscape inspections took place in April 2023. The inspection consisted of assessing all installed in-stream structures, bank erosion, health of the existing installed landscape plan, and non-native invasive vegetation. Year 1 post-construction monitoring activities will continue through the remainder of 2023, implement a non-native invasive eradication plan, and reseed bare spots throughout the project area. The next landscape inspection will take place later this year in Fall 2023. The walking trail at Diamond Farms Park continues to be open and accessible to the community. The fencing around the three staging areas has been removed.

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North Potomac

Construction Begins at Dunkin’ in Traville Gateway

By MCS Staff

In December, we let you know that Dunkin’ is continuing its massive expansion across the country and in MoCo, with an upcoming location coming to the Traville Village Center in Rockville. We then learned that it will be taking over 1,500 SF in the back half of the building that was previously home to Capital One Bank building at 9761 Traville Gateway Drive (rendering available below). Construction recently began on the location that will also have a drive-thru.1,700 SF on the front side of the building is still available to lease.

Since Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins in late 2020 for $11.3 billion, the company has been opening in former bank locations that allow for easy installation of a drive-thru window. Dunkin has also aimed for non-traditional development that includes opening in airports and on college campuses, including the University of Maryland. Featured photo by Ted Pescado

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Restaurants

Poke Bowl to Open in May in Plaza Del Mercado

By MCS Staff

In December we let you know that Maryland-based Poke Bowl, a restaurant serving poke bowls, bubble tea, a variety of appetizers, and more, is coming to 2229 Bel Pre Road in Plaza Del Mercado– replacing Smoothie King, between Pizza Stop and Aldi. The restaurant will be opening on Saturday, May 13th.

Poke Bowl has five locations in Maryland, primarily in the Baltimore region with one location in Frederick. Signage has just been posted on the window informing shoppers of the restaurant’s impending arrival, but an opening date is now available. Smoothie King, which closed permanently last month after four years at Plaza Del Mercado, has additional Montgomery County locations in Bethesda and Rockville (Fallsgrove and Congressional Plaza), and an upcoming location in Olney.

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DC Sports

First Maryland/Virginia Football Game In A Decade Will Be Played On A Friday

By MCS Staff

The Maryland Terrapins will play the Virginia Cavaliers in a non-conference matchup for the first time since 2013. The Terms edged the Cavaliers 27-26 in that meeting and lead the series between the two neighboring state schools, 44-32-2. Their game for the upcoming season, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 16th, has now been moved to Friday, September 15th, both schools announced.

The University of Maryland will is coming off of its most successful season since joining the Big Ten in 2014. The football team went 8-5, winning at least 8 games for the first time since Ralph Friedgen helped guide the Terps to a 9-4 record in 2010. Virginia is coming off of a 3-7 record, the school’s first losing record in five years. Virginia’s biggest win last season came on the road against Georgia Tech, winning 16-9, while Maryland capped off its season with a 16-12 Mayo Bowl victory against North Carolina State. The Terps have won back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2002-2003. Season tickets for Maryland Football can be purchased for as low as $99 here.

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Kensington

The Second Oldest Active Train Station in the Country is in MoCo

By MCS Staff

Kensington Station, located at 10417 Howard Avenue, is the second-oldest active train station in the United States (the B&O Ellicott City Station is the oldest). Kensington station was built in 1891 and was originally called Knowles Station, named for George Knowles whose farm was subdivided to create much of the Town of Kensington today. The station was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) and the Kensington station is currently served by MARC Train’s Brunswick Line. There are fifteen weekday scheduled stops at Kensington station, as well as one flag stop scheduling on Fridays.

The station has a former B&O station master’s house and the building is open during the Kensington Farmers Market, which is held in the station parking lot. Inside there is an old stove, waiting area, and restrooms. Tickets can be purchased from a self-service machine. Per the Town of Kensington website, “For just 35 cents Washingtonians could ditch their horse and buggies and take an 11-mile trip out to Kensington from DC’s Union Station.”

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Takoma Park

Takoma Park to Hold “SweeperStakes” Naming Contest

By MCS Staff
Conceptual symbol of multiracial human hands making a circle on white background with a copy space in the middle

The City of Takoma Park is hosting an EV Sweeper Open House this Thursday, April 27, at 10:00 am at the Community Center at 7500 Maple Avenue to launch the naming contest “SweeperStakes.” Per the event: Come mingle with Mayor Searcy, Councilmembers, and the former Mayor Kate Stewart and former Councilmembers. The EV Sweeper was purchased through Atlantic Machinery, and Sales Rep. Trevor Gardner will be on hand to answer questions.

The City has recently purchased a RAVO 5 Series electric sweeper and wants to give residents a chance to name the sweeper. The winner of the contest will have the opportunity:

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Burtonsville

Burtonsville Crossing Groundbreaking Celebration to Take Place on Friday, April 28

By MCS Staff

EDENS will hold a community plaza groundbreaking on Friday, April 28 at noon. “Please join EDENS and special guests in celebration of our groundbreaking for the new community plaza area at Burtonsville Crossing, plus announcements and updates on our progress.” – EDENS. A new tenant has also signed on at the shopping center– Domain Fitness Center (additional information in the post below).

Construction began on the redevelopment of the Burtonsville Shopping Center a couple months back. Approximately 7,600 square feet of existing retail is in the process of being demolished with that retail square footage being turned into two new pad sites with drive- thrus. There will also be improvements to open space, landscaping, lighting, and pedestrian circulation. Video of recent construction is available below, by Larry Jones of the Burtonsville, MD Facebook group.

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Laytonsville

Swastika and “Hitler” Graffiti Discovered Outside of Laytonsville Elementary School

By MCS Staff

Laytonsville Elementary School principal Maria Watson sent a letter to the Laytonsville community on Monday informing them of vandalism discovered on a bench outside of the school. According to the letter, the vandalism included a “drawing of a swastika with the name Hitler” drawn on a bench outside of the school. The full letter, with additional information, can be seen below:

“Dear Laytonsville Elementary School Community,

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Education

Cohort Inspire Teaches Leadership for High-Impact Schools in MCPS

By MCS Staff

Throughout the school year, MCPS has offered Cohort Inspire, an MCPS professional development opportunity for current and aspiring leaders trying to better understand the roles and responsibilities of a high-impact school principal and develop their leadership knowledge, attitudes and skills to work in a high-impact school.

Recently, 29 participants completed the program, which focused on five key areas for effective principal leadership: leading with equity, instructional focus, school climate, building collaborative professional learning communities, and strategic personnel and resource management. “I valued the cohort discussion as it was vulnerable, rich, purpose-driven and passionate,” one participant shared. Another commented that the experience provided “access to conversations that promote and support much-needed changes, as well as a reminder of what needs to be done in a high-impact school.”

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Germantown

Watkins Mill Alumna Josepha Mbouma Awarded Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE)

By MCS Staff

Baylor University’s  George W. Truett Theological Seminary is has announced that first-year Truett student Josepha Mbouma is among two students to have been awarded Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE). Mbouma, a native of Cameroon, grew up in Montgomery County, attending Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown and Watkins Mill High School in Montgomery Village where she excelled in the classroom and on the basketball court.

The FASPE is awarded to students pursuing professional degrees in business, journalism, law, medicine, theology, and technology as well as to early-career professionals. Through the program, fellows spend two weeks in Germany and Poland visiting Auschwitz and other key historical sites and participating in seminars led by experts in their respective fields of study. Award recipients are able to examine the roles their counterparts played in Germany and elsewhere from 1933-1945. They then draw on historical, cultural, philosophical, literary, and discipline-specific sources to explore the ethical issues facing their respective fields today.

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Crime

Defendant Faces Potential of Life in Prison for Rape of 9-Year-Old Girl

By MCS Staff

Per the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Jusge Michael McAuliffe, a jury has convicted defendant, Joshua Grice, 30, of Washington D.C., on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary-home invasion for breaking into a Takoma Park home and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl who was asleep in her bedroom.

Grice faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and the potential of a life sentence. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. The verdict came back late yesterday afternoon after a six-day trial prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney’s Frank Lazzaro and Daniela Chavez.

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