Author: MCS Staff

Bethesda

Montgomery Parks Seeking Public Input for Future Bethesda Park 

By MCS Staff

The public is encouraged to take a brief online survey to share their suggestions. Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is seeking ideas for a new park in downtown Bethesda and is encouraging the public to share suggestions by taking a brief online survey.  Comments from the survey will be used in developing concept plans for the park, which will be presented to the public in May. “This green space will be a gathering place for people across the county to recreate, relax, and gather in an urban setting,” said Linda Komes, project manager and landscape architect. “We are really interested to hear from the public about what they’d like to see here because there are so many opportunities to make it a unique destination.” 

 The Bethesda Market Park project will repurpose two parking lots adjacent to the historic Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market. When completed, the park and the adjacent Elm Street Urban Park will provide approximately four acres of urban park space in downtown Bethesda. The parks department hosted two in-person meetings on March 15 and 16 to present details about the project. A recording of the presentation is available on the project webpage. 

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Beyond MoCo

Shark Tank Alum Soupergirl to Close Retail Location Permanently Today in Takoma

By MCS Staff

Main Street Takoma has announced that Soupergirl will be closing its retail location at 314 Carroll Street NW in Takoma DC (just outside of Takoma Park). In 2018, the mother/daughter duo behind Soupergirl made it onto Shark Tank, where the two have joked they “got yelled at” and were unable to come away with a deal. The business pushed forward and is now available in various stores across the country. Last year, Soupergirl launched a new website, and will continue to remain available in Costco, Whole Foods, Kroger, Amazon Fresh, Harris Teeter as they move to a larger facility to focus on those sales. Soupergirl will have a $5 soup sale today, Tuesday, March 28th, from 10am-5pm. Full announcement, per Main Street Takoma, below:

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Maryland

Labcorp Agrees to Pay $2,100,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related to Overbillings on Department of Defense Contracts

By MCS Staff

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: Laboratory Corporation of America (“Labcorp”) has agreed to pay the United States $2,100,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by overbilling the Department of Defense (“DoD”) for genetic tests performed by GeneDx, LLC, a third-party reference laboratory used by Labcorp to perform genetic tests for military members. 

The civil settlement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Services, Mid-Atlantic Field Office, Christopher W. Dillard, and Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Major Procurement Fraud Field Office, L. Scott Moreland.

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East County

$600K in Damage, Five Displaced After Monday Night Fire

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a fire on Aventurine Way, off of Serpentine Way, in Fairland at approximately 9pm on Friday night.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, crews arrived to find a heavy fire with the occupants already out of the single family home. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined, but Piringer notes that it may have been due to an electrical failure in an exterior light fixture or smoking materials that ignited combustibles below the rear deck. There was approximately $600k in damage and five people were displaced. Two firefighters were injured with non-life threatening injuries.

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Crime

Rockville Police Investigates Two Separate Incidents of Gunshot Sounds on Sunday Night and Monday Afternoon

By MCS Staff

Rockville police is investigating two incidents of gunshot wounds that occurred on Sunday night night and Monday afternoon. On March 26, 2023, officers from the Rockville City Police Department responded to the 800 block of Monroe St in the vicinity of Dogwood Park around 9:15 p.m. for the sounds of gunshots. Officers located evidence that a firearm had been discharged, no property or person appears to be injured.

On March 27, 2023 at approximately 1:00 p.m. RCPD officers responded to the 13000 block of Midway Ave also for the sounds of gunshots. Officers located evidence that a firearm had been discharged striking a nearby residence, no injuries have been reported. Both incidents remain under active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rockville City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation’s Unit at 240-314-8938.

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Events

Easter Egg Hunt Returns to Takoma Park

By MCS Staff

Per the City of Takoma Park: After a few years of a modified egg hunt the traditional egg hunt returns to Takoma Park. Each Spring the Takoma Park Recreation Department hosts an egg hunt at Ed Wilhelm Field (behind Piney Branch Elementary School). This FREE event is always an egg-citing time! Egg Hunt age categories include:

Don’t forget to bring your basket to collect all the eggs! Each age group will have one metallic golden egg hidden among the eggs. If you are the lucky one to find that egg be sure to go to the Information Booth to claim your prize. There will be games, crafts and fun and a special visit from Mr. Bunny. The majority of the eggs are made from recycled baby bottles. Continue the recycling by turning in your eggs before you leave, you will get a ticket to win a raffle prize. For more information visit https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/egg-hunt/

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MCPS

Media Access to Regular Season Athletic Events To Require MCPS Credentials

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to administering spirited and safe athletic competitions consistent with the R.A.I.S.E. core values for MCPS Athletics. District athletics events are extremely popular and well-attended, requiring meticulous logistical preparation. Media credentialing ensures a safe environment for members of the press covering MCPS athletic events and are essential for easy identification and knowing who may be in our athletic facilities. As such, new protocols governing media coverage of MCPS athletic events will go into effect on April 1, 2023; including:

When: The application for athletic event credentials is open. Media representatives must have the official MCPS Athletic Event Credentials in order to attend and cover any regular season event.

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Poolesville

White’s Ferry Update: Rockland Farm Rejects $1.1M Offer, Kuhn Looks to Sell Ferry to Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

The owners of White’s Ferry have announced that Rockland Farm, the Virginia landing site for the ferry, have rejected a $1.1 million dollar offer to purchase the site. According to a press release, the offer included funds from White’s Ferry’s owners, both Montgomery and Loudoun Counties, and additional funds from Herb Brown, the original ferry owner. White’s Ferry ceased operations back in December 2020 over a legal dispute with Rockland Farms. 

Chuck and Stacy Kuhn, owners of JK Moving Services, purchased the Ferry in February 2021. “We have run out of options and will now seek to sell the ferry land and operations to Montgomery County so it can work to invoke eminent domain and acquire the Virginia landing site,” Chuck Kuhn said. Full statement below:

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MCFRS

North Carolina Fire is Likely Cause of Smokey Smell Across Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Lt. Franco Martinez of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) has addressed multiple calls regarding smoke or a smokey smell in various parts of the county. Per Lt. Martinez, “Is there something in the air in Montgomery County? Apparently there is. Our department is getting multiple calls for smoke in the area. It just might be from a very large fire in North Carolina. Fire departments in the DMV getting the same reports.”

Per an OuterBanksVoice tweet, “Tyrrell County Wildfire now 34% contained. March 26 update from the North Carolina Forest Service. The Last Resort Fire in Tyrrell County is 34% contained as of 4 p.m., March 26. Due to more accurate mapping, the fire is 5,200 acres in size.”

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Gaithersburg

Late April Opening Anticipated for Shake Shack Kentlands

By MCS Staff

Permanent signage has been up for a few months at the upcoming Shake Shake location in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood. A representative from the Potomac location let us know that the Kentlands location is currently scheduled to open at the end of April. Shake Shack has additional MoCo locations at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and Cabin John Village in Potomac.

Background: On July 8, 2021, Shake Shack was granted approval for the construction of a 4,700 square foot building with outdoor seating as the second of three commercial infill sites totaling 16,000 square feet along Kentlands Square Place. The burger chain was granted its license to sell beer and wine on the premises during its Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) hearing on January 6th of 2022, and prepared to break ground in February. Construction began in March, but stalled after flooding that occurred over the summer. The approval was for the first of three infill sites was granted for the construction of a 2,100 square foot Starbucks building with drive through and outdoor seating. Starbucks opened in January of 2021, a little over two years ago.

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Restaurants

Willie T’s Seafood Shack is Now Open

By MCS Staff

In November 2021 we let you know that Willie T’s Seafood Shack and BRB (be right burger) would be moving in to 9326 Georgia Avenue (joint restaurant), between Islands Tropical Ice Cream and Goldberg’s New York Bagels, in the location that was formerly home to Andy’s Restaurant. Willie T’s is now open, according to an Instagram post by the restaurant (seen below). Willie T’s will be open at 11am until 10pm, seven days per week, according to its Google listing.

Willie T’s, a seafood concept from Thompson Hospitality, has recently opened as a pop-up inside of Austin Grill in Springfield, VA and a ghost kitchen out of Homewood Suites in Reston. The restaurant serves A variety of seafood dishes, including hand-breaded fried fish sandwiches and baskets, crab cakes, lobster tails, salads, grilled fish, po boys, and more. The full menu can be seen here.

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