MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) Wins Big at ESTA

Published April 21, 2023 at 11:10AM

Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) has announced that their production of “Pride@Prejudice” by Daniel Elihu Kramer was selected Outstanding Production at ESTA (Eastern States Theatre Association) on Sat., April 15 at the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware. Participating states included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland). “Pride@Prejudice” received several other accolades as well:

– Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Acting – Niranjali Amerasinghe, Lena Winter, Meghan Williams Elkins, Ian Swank and Joseph Coracle

Takoma Park

Takoma Park Police Weighs in on Twitter’s Removal of Verification Checkmarks

By MCS Staff

Published April 21, 2023 at 9:43AM

Many celebrities, journalists, and other notable people or businesses have recently found themselves without the “blue checkmark” that previously signified verified accounts on Twitter. New owner Elon Musk has now made the check mark verification system a paid add-on ($8-$11) for social networking site that is otherwise free. While many notable people have made public comments, Takoma Park Police is one of the first local organizations to comment publicly:

“Blue check marks: @elonmusk You should provide the blue checkmark to police departments for free so we can distinguish ourselves as legitimate & giving out correct information to our communities. It would be the appropriate thing to do to support law enforcement. Thank you.”

Poolesville

Poolesville Takes Action Against Climate Change

By MCS Staff

Published April 21, 2023 at 7:47AM

On Monday, April 17, 2023, The Commissioners of Poolesville adopted Resolution 001-23, which establishes a One Hundred Percent (100%) renewable energy goal for municipal electricity use by 2030 including at least 80% renewable energy by 2027.

Over the past several years, the Town has actively pursued opportunities to respond to the climate change emergency and demonstrated how even a small town like Poolesville can tackle climate change head on. Through the 1.1 mega-watt solar array and LED streetlight program, we are already exceeding the 80% renewable energy goal.

Montgomery Planning

Incentive Zoning Update Presented by Montgomery Planning

By MCS Staff

Published April 21, 2023 at 7:23AM

Comprehensive update to the Public Benefits Point System for Commercial-Residential and Employment Zones will determine what amenities should be provided by new development

The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, presented the scope of work for the Incentive Zoning Update project to the Montgomery County Planning Board at its meeting on April 20, 2023. The project will examine the current Public Benefits Point System for Commercial-Residential and Employment Zones which ensures that in order to maximize the allowable density in these zones, new developments provide community amenities like affordable housing, environmental features, and public infrastructure facilities.

Crime

Maryland MS-13 Gang Leader Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murder

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 11:05PM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: Brayan Alexander Torres, a/k/a “Spooky,” age 29, of Adelphi, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday, to a racketeering conspiracy, including murder, related to his participation in the Weedams Locos Salvatrucha clique of the MS-13 gang. Torres admitted that he was the clique’s “First Word” or leader.

On March 24, 2023, co-defendants and MS-13 members and associates Brian Samir Zelaya Mejia, a/k/a “Chispa,” age 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland and Jorge Isaac Argueta Chica, a/k/a “Timido,” age 22, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, also pleaded guilty to their participation in the racketeering conspiracy, including extortion and accessory after the fact of first degree murder.

Boyds

Boyds Man Sentenced to Over Three Years in Federal Prison for Purchasing and Distributing Drugs Through the Darkweb

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 11:02PM

The Defendant Laundered the Drug Proceeds by Converting Bitcoin into Cash, and Through a Series of Transactions, Transferring the Money into Bank Accounts He Controlled

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Vishesh Aragam Guruprasad, age 31, of Boyds, Maryland yesterday to 42 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for a drug distribution conspiracy involving the purchase and sale of drugs through darkweb marketplaces, and money laundering.

North Bethesda

RASA Announces Opening Date For Rockville Location

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 8:29PM

In November we let you know that RASA, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with four locations in DC and Virginia, would be taking over the recently-closed Slapfish location at 12033 Rockville Pike in the Montrose Crossing shopping center. Earlier today, RASA announced that it will be opening its Rockville location on Thursday, April 27th at 10:30am.

The restaurant, founded by Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman (combined to create the name, RASA), opened its first location in Navy Yard in 2017 before opening a location in Mt. Vernon Triangle in 2020, Crystal City in 2021, and Fairfax this past summer. The menu offers seven chef-curated bowls under the “We Got You” portion of the menu, that includes their signature bowls like the “Tikka Chance on Me”, “Open Sesame”, “Eat Your Veggies”, “Home Cooking”, “Goa Your Own Way”, “Aloo Need is Love”, and “Caul on Me” or the “You Got It” portion of their menu that allows customers to “DIY” and design their own bowl using the assembly line format of a base, main, sauce, veggies, toppings, and chutneys/dressings. The full menu can be seen here.

Gaithersburg

Amazon Fresh No Longer Opening on Shady Grove Road

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 6:25PM | Updated July 22, 2024 at 9:52AM

Update: Amazon Fresh is once again coming soon.

Signage has been removed and it appears that the planned Amazon Fresh location at 15790 Shady Grove Road (former Office Depot location) in Gaithersburg will no longer be opening in the 270 Center. Construction on the location had been completed for months (shelving and signage inside the store, freezers/refrigeration up and running) and charging stations for electric vehicles had been installed in the parking lot. Like other Amazon Fresh stores, the Gaithersburg location was scheduled to be outfitted with Amazon’s cashierless “Just Walk Out” technology. The 270 Center is on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville and is home to Best Buy, Home Depot, and Nordstrom Rack.

Education

Four New Elementary School Principals Appointed by the Board of Education

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 4:26PM

The Board of Education has approved the following administrative appointments:

• April Lealia Key as Chief of Human Resources and Development

Montgomery Planning

Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment Preliminary Recommendations Presented to Planning Board, Takoma Park City Council, and the Public

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 4:16PM

Plan re-envisions areas along Maple and Lee avenues and the Washington Adventist campus area

Montgomery Planning, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), presented the preliminary recommendations of the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment to the Montgomery County Planning Board at today’s weekly meeting. The Planning Board provided suggestions and feedback for the upcoming Working Draft of the plan that is expected to go through the public review and approval process in the coming months.

Events

Montgomery Parks Observes Mental Health Month “With Parks in Mind”

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 4:11PM

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month “With Parks in Mind,” a free, kick-off event on Saturday, May 6, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Germantown Town Center Urban Park. This event launches the month-long campaign, “Every Mile for Every Mind” a series of walks to encourage people to spend time outdoors hiking a Montgomery Parks trail. These events are coordinated in partnership with local mental health organization, EveryMind.

What: With Parks in Mind: Mental Health Awareness