Author: MCS Staff

Bethesda

Bethesda’s Hull Street Energy to Acquire California Natural Gas-Fired Plant

By MCS Staff

Bethesda’s Hull Street Energy, a private equity firm that specializes in deploying capital into the power sector as it decarbonizes, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% interest in Sunrise Power Holdings, LLC from an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC, Generation Bridge Acquisition, LLC (“Generation Bridge”). Hull Street Energy is headquartered at 4747 Bethesda Ave in Bethesda. Sunrise Power Holdings is located in Fellows, California, where the facility provides 586 megawatts of critical generation and reliability services to California’s Central Valley.

Per the press release: The Sunrise plant and its experienced employees will be a high-quality addition to Hull Street Energy’s critical power infrastructure business unit, Milepost Power, which was formed to enable the next wave of growth in the electricity industry. With this acquisition, the firm will continue to support grid reliability, allowing for the integration of new variable renewable energy resources as California works to achieve its climate goals.

Go to Bethesda’s Hull Street Energy to Acquire California Natural Gas-Fired Plant Read more
Restaurants

Hinode to Close Permanently in May After 31 Years

By MCS Staff

Hinode Japanese Restaurant (134 Congressional Ln in Rockville), a local family-owned restaurant that has been serving traditional Japanese cuisine in Montgomery County since 1992, is closing permanently next month.

The restaurant, well known for its sushi buffet, posted a notice stating the following on its website earlier this week, “We do not serve alcoholic beverage effective on May 1st, 2023. Restaurant is planning to close permanently as of May 15, 2023. We really appreciate your patronage for last 25 years. Thank you.” The notice has since been removed from the website, but a call to the restaurant this morning confirmed the closure, with a representative stating that Hinode would close after Mother’s Day.

Go to Hinode to Close Permanently in May After 31 Years Read more
Business

Tastee Diner Silver Spring Sold For $3.1 Million

By MCS Staff

Tastee Diner at 8601 Cameron St. in Silver Spring permanently closed on March 22, at 2pm. The diner was sold on March 21 to D.C. based Roadside Development for $3.1 million according to Maryland Land Records. Roadside Development, which purchased the adjacent Capital One bank lot back in August, plans on creating a “multifamily mixed-use” redevelopment at the two sites. According to a press release, the original dining car from the diner will be incorporated into the future project.

“As a Silver Spring native myself, I have a deep appreciation for the history and culture of this vibrant community. It is a true privilege to be able to showcase Roadside’s passion for the community by incorporating Tastee Diner’s original dining car into the project,” said Jeff Edelstein, Partner at Roadside Development. “It has been a pleasure to get to know Gene over the last year. He has entrusted us with this opportunity and Roadside is honored to be able to breathe new life into the block and continue to grow this dynamic part of Silver Spring’s ever-evolving downtown.”

Go to Tastee Diner Silver Spring Sold For $3.1 Million Read more
Business

Hughes to Begin $14 Million Interior Work on Germantown Building

By MCS Staff

Last August we let you know of a joint-venture between Minkoff Development and South Duvall signing a lease with Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) to build a 140,000 square foot build-to-suit project on Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus. According to a MarylandNewsletters report, Arium AE has pulled a building permit valued at $14 million to work on the interior of the building. Minkoff Development and South Duvall delivered the 140,000 square foot build-to-suit at 19710 Observation Drive, and in October The Hughes Network Systems Sattelite Production Facility broke ground on Monday and will be bringing approximately 300 jobs to Germantown, according to Montgomery County Councilmember and former Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce CEO, Marilyn Balcombe.

The campus currently is home to the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC) with Holy Cross Germantown Hospital as its anchor tenant. Located at 19710 Observation Drive in Germantown, Maryland, adjacent to the Hughes headquarters complex (11717 Exploration Lane), the new high-tech manufacturing building will house production of Hughes satellite broadband and networking equipment. “This new facility reflects our long-standing commitment to Montgomery County, as a local employer and business leader for more than 50 years and will help Hughes advance our mission of connecting the unconnected around the world with innovative satellite and networking solutions,” said Jim Muir, III, vice president, corporate real estate at Hughes. “We look forward to inviting students from PIC MC to learn and grow with us and continuing to engage with the community where so many of our employees live and work.

Go to Hughes to Begin $14 Million Interior Work on Germantown Building Read more
DMV

Metro Unveils ‘Earth Day’ Metrobuses Featuring Artwork Created by Elementary School Artists

By MCS Staff

Per WMATA: On Tuesday, April 25, Metro’s Art in Transit program will reveal three Earth Day designed buses that are wrapped in original artwork created by local budding artists in kindergarten to sixth grade. The unveiling will take place at Metro Headquarters, 300 7th Street SW, Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m. and each bus will be placed in service showcasing the artists work. Customers can use Metro’s special tracker to locate each bus once it goes into service. A globe will identify each Earth Day Metrobus throughout the system. “I’m truly impressed by the creativity and ingenuity of these young artists who used their talents to celebrate the role public transportation plays in creating a more sustainable, healthier and cleaner environment,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke.

In honor of Earth Day, a total of 240 submissions were received from young artists throughout the region. Of the numerous submissions, 15 drawings, paintings and digital artworks were selected, capturing their interpretation on the role public transportation plays in protecting our environment, combatting climate change, supporting sustainable and livable communities. This year’s Earth Day Metrobuses will feature artwork by the following young artists:

Go to Metro Unveils ‘Earth Day’ Metrobuses Featuring Artwork Created by Elementary School Artists Read more
Education

Deadline for ADK $1,500 Scholarships For Educators is May 1

By MCS Staff

Per MCPS: The Maryland Beta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators, is offering a $1,500 scholarship for educators in MCPS or employees who wish to become educators. The scholarship is available to an MCPS employee studying to become a teacher, counselor or other educational specialist. It may also be used for professional development at a college or university to enhance the education of an MCPS teacher, counselor or other educational specialist. The scholarship must be used within one year from the date of notification of selection to receive the scholarship.

Those interested should email Janet Burton for an application. The deadline is Monday, May 1.

Go to Deadline for ADK $1,500 Scholarships For Educators is May 1 Read more
Education

Nominations Now Open for Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award

By MCS Staff

Nominations are open for the Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes MCAAP/MCBOA members who have effectively provided distinguished service and made exemplary contributions to the association. This award was established by MCAAP’s board of directors and funded by the association’s former executive director, Edye Miller, after her retirement in 2017. The recipient receives a $2,000 cash award.

MCPS administrators and supervisors can be considered for this award if they are a current voting member of MCAAP/MCBOA; have five years of continuous and recent voting membership; and have not won the award before. Nominees should have made an impact on the association through:

Go to Nominations Now Open for Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award Read more
Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg/Takoma Park Police Departments Each Collect Over 120 Pounds of Prescription Drugs

By MCS Staff

The Gaithersburg and Takoma Park Police Departments have each announced a successful “Prescription Drug Take Back Day’ that took place on Saturday, April 22nd. Residents had the opportunity to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs by bringing unused medications to the police station for disposal.

Though all police departments in Montgomery County participated in taking back prescription drugs, Gaithersburg Police and Takoma Park Police announced that they collected 135lb and 123lb of prescription drugs, respectively. Both police departments, along with Rockville Police, collect prescription drugs year-round. Additional year-round disposal sites can be seen below:

Go to Gaithersburg/Takoma Park Police Departments Each Collect Over 120 Pounds of Prescription Drugs Read more
Education

Clarksburg High School Educator, Shannon McKenzie, Named MCPS Teacher of the Year

By MCS Staff

Shannon McKenzie, child development teacher at Clarksburg High School, was named the 2023–2024 MCPS Teacher of the Year during a celebration at BlackRock Center for the Arts on April 24. She will now go on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year.

An educator for 23 years, she has been teaching in MCPS for seven. She previously owned and operated a private preschool for 16 years, and worked in the Preschool Education Program (PEP) program at Germantown Elementary School. In only her second year at Clarksburg, she has rapidly grown the Child Development program, more than doubling enrollment in the second year. Forty-one students were enrolled in Child Development courses the first year; by the next year, 95 students enrolled. The Clarksburg program—the Coyote Pups Preschool Program—serves 12 families.

Go to Clarksburg High School Educator, Shannon McKenzie, Named MCPS Teacher of the Year Read more
Gaithersburg

So What Else?, A Non-Profit That Serves 150,000 Meals Per Week to Those in Need, Finds New Home After Being Forced to Leave Lakeforest

By MCS Staff

In January, So What Else received the devastating news that its lease at Lakeforest Mall was being terminated due to the recent purchase of the space for redevelopment. The Rockville-based non-profit operated its food pantry out of Lakeforest, but was required to vacate by March 31st. They’ve now moved their pantry headquarters to a new location at 4924 Wyaconda Rd in North Bethesda to continue serving 150,000 meals a week without disruption. So What Else?  mentions that this move comes with a 1300% rent increase and will be holding a “Forced to Move Fundraiser”’in May.

So What Else’s mission is “to improve the lives of children and families living in underserved communities in the Baltimore-Washington Metro Area by providing food security, access to basic necessities, and high-quality out-of-school time programs in literacy, athletics, and the visual and performing arts while inspiring young people to give back to the community by creating volunteer opportunities for individuals of all ages.” So What Else’s new distribution schedule, starting May 1st, can be seen below.

Go to So What Else?, A Non-Profit That Serves 150,000 Meals Per Week to Those in Need, Finds New Home After Being Forced to Leave Lakeforest Read more
Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg’s Housing Element Public Forums Scheduled for May 4

By MCS Staff

The City of Gaithersburg will host two virtual public forums on May 4, 2023, where staff will present the draft Housing Element of the City’s Master Plan. These forums will take place from noon to 1 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m., and will include Spanish and English real-time closed captioning options. During these events, staff will discuss the contents and recommendations of the Housing Element and answer questions from participants. The day and evening forums include the same information. No registration is required; simply use the following links to join:

The Housing Element is required, at a minimum, to address the need for affordable housing. The City’s draft Housing Element also discusses other facets of housing and includes goals and recommendations meant to address future housing needs in the City. The Joint Public Hearing on the draft Housing Element is on June 5, 2023. Further information is available on the Housing Element project page.

Go to Gaithersburg’s Housing Element Public Forums Scheduled for May 4 Read more
View More Stories