MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

(Located) Detectives Seek Assistance Locating Missing 14-Year-Old Last Seen Driving a 2011 Silver Chevy Malibu

Published March 19, 2023 at 8:20AM | Updated March 21, 2023 at 7:09PM

Update: Dakota Lilian Nicole Smith has been located safe and unharmed

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Dakota Lilian Nicole Smith, a missing 14-year-old. Smith was last seen on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at approximately 1:20 a.m., in the 20100 block of Loading Rock Place of Montgomery Village. Smith is believed to be in the Germantown area, driving a silver 2011 Chevy Malibu bearing MD tag 5BA4544.

WMATA

Metrorail Gets a Service Boost Systemwide Amid Ridership Surge

By MCS Staff

Published March 19, 2023 at 7:04AM

Starting Monday, March 20, Metro will begin increasing train service across the rail system just in time for peak cherry blossom season. Weekday service will see an infusion of trains, as well as weekends. Additional trains will also run as needed during the Cherry Blossom Festival as crowding is monitored during peak bloom.

Per WMATA: The improvements correspond to growing ridership, with new post-pandemic records being set almost daily. This week, Metrorail saw its highest ridership since the pandemic, with more than 337,000 paid trips on Wednesday, followed by the second highest day on Thursday with more than 335,000 trips. Cherry blossom season, tourism, sporting events, entertainment, and increased commuters are driving the trend.

Burtonsville

Construction Update at Burtonsville Crossing

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 6:39PM

Construction has begun on the redevelopment of the Burtonsville Shopping Center. 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 the current state of construction is available below, by Larry Jones of the Burtonsville, MD Facebook group. Pepino’s and Burger King remain open during construction.

In June it was announced that a lease has been signed by the Phoenix-based company Sprouts Farmers Market in what is seen as the first critical step to kick start the revitalization of a once thriving retail area. It will also be the grocery chain’s first store in Montgomery County. “We are excited to partner with Sprouts on bringing a unique grocery experience to Burtonsville,” said David Germakian, Managing Director, EDENS. Additional information below, courtesy of Montgomery Planning:

Briggs Chaney

(Located) Detectives Ask For Assistance in Locating Missing 11 Year Old

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 3:36PM | Updated March 19, 2023 at 8:29AM

Neal is approximately 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has brown eyes and long brown hair with a blond streak that she is currently wearing in a bun. Neal was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with an image of a goaltender mask on it from the movie, “Friday the 13^th,” black Adidas sweatpants and pink Crocs. She has her ears and nose pierced. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Kimora Neal is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.

DMV

MoCo Resident Amelia Draper Celebrates 10 Years as a Meteorologist at NBC 4

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 3:22PM | Updated March 18, 2023 at 4:41PM

Amelia Draper is celebrating her 10th year as a Meteorologist with StormTeam 4 (NBC Washington). Her forecasts can be seen during the evening editions of News4, on NBCWashington.com and on 103.5 WTOP Radio. She joined the DC area’s NBC affiliate in March 2013. Draper lives in Montgomery County with her husband and son.

Per NBC 4: A native of Frederick, Md., Draper has wanted to forecast the weather in Washington, D.C. since she started studying meteorology at Penn State University. In fact, she graduated from college early so she could start working. Draper’s first job was with CNET in State College, Pa. While forecasting weather there, she became very familiar with weather phenomena such as lake effect snow, which helped her land her next job as weekend meteorologist for WJET/WFXP in Erie, Pa. Erie recorded its second snowiest winter on record during Draper’s first year there. From there, she joined the morning shift at WIVB-WNLO in Buffalo.

Montgomery Village

Moe’s Closes in Wheaton Mall; One Montgomery County Location Remains (Montgomery Village)

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 1:02PM | Updated March 18, 2023 at 1:51PM

Updated to reflect that the Montgomery Village location is the only Moe’s left in the county, rather than state.

Moe’s Southwest Grill made its triumphant return to MoCo when the fast-casual Mexican restaurant opened in the Wheaton Mall food court in late 2019. That restaurant has now closed permanently, a representative from the Montgomery Village location confirmed for us on Saturday morning.

Restaurants

Old Miller’s Ale House Space Will be Home to Umi Sushi and Seafood Buffet

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 12:05PM

Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet is taking over the space that was recently home to Miller’s Ale House and previously home to Hooters and Shakey’s at 1471 Rockville Pike in Rockville. Miller’s Ale House closed last September after a decade in Rockville. Photos of Umi are available below.

As of now things look the same inside the restaurant with Miller’s Ale House logos still visible in exterior and interior doors. Umi shares the name and description of a restaurant that has multiple locations in New York, New Jersey and Florida. It describes itself as “the largest and most elegant Chinese, Japanese, and American cuisine restaurant.” Its other restaurants offer a lunch and dinner buffet, along with Saturday/Sunday all-day dinner, and a to-go buffet option. Lunch buffet options go for up to $16.99 per person and the dinner buffet for up to $27.99 per person, according to that menu.

MCFRS

MCFRS Extinguish Car Fire in Rockville Saturday Morning (Video)

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 8:26AM | Updated March 18, 2023 at 9:27AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a vehicle fire near Highwood Road, in Rockville, at approximately 6:15 on Saturday morning.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the vehicle fire was extinguished shortly after the MCFRS units arrived and there were no injuries. Video below, courtesy of MCFRS:

Briggs Chaney

Montgomery Planning to present first draft of Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan to Planning Board March 23

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 7:29AM

Plan seeks to improve transit access, housing and shopping options, and pedestrian connections along U.S. 29/Columbia Pike; community invited to continue to participate during Planning Board public process

The Montgomery County Planning Department will present the Working Draft of the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan to the Montgomery County Planning Board during its weekly meeting on Thursday, March 23. During this meeting, the Planning Board will have the opportunity to provide initial feedback, accept the Working Draft Plan as the Public Hearing Draft, and set the date for a public hearing to receive additional community feedback. This is the first step prior to the Planning Board conducting work sessions to review and revise the draft plan and then submitting the draft plan to the County Council for its public review and final approval.

MCDOT

MCDOT to Hold a Virtual Community Meeting on the University Boulevard Dedicated Bus Lane Pilot Project on Thursday, March 30

By MCS Staff

Published March 17, 2023 at 7:04PM

Per Montgomery County Department of Transportation: On Thursday, March 30 starting at 6 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold an online public meeting to discuss a new dedicated bus lane pilot project along the University Boulevard (MD 193) corridor between Amherst and Dennis Avenues in Silver Spring. If supported, the bus lane will launch this summer/fall. This dedicated bus lane, shared with bikes and emergency vehicles, will reduce traffic congestion for buses on the route and provide faster and more reliable service for riders. The meeting will share information, answer questions and allow for MCDOT to receive community feedback.

The bus lane will be clearly identified with signs and pavement markings, and there will be no changes to existing parking or loading. MCDOT provides for the planning, design and construction of improvements to bus service. The Bus Priority Project includes multiple projects that improve local bus timing, ease of access and safety such as marked dedicated bus lanes; queue jumps; passenger boarding and alighting improvements; implementation of transit signal priority; enhanced bus stops; and other similar improvements that will increase reliability and result in faster buses throughout Montgomery County.

MoCo

32 ‘Women Making History Award’ Winners Honored by Montgomery Commission for Women and Montgomery Women

By MCS Staff

Published March 17, 2023 at 6:50PM

The Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women this week honored 32 women who were selected for the 2023 “Women Making History Awards.” The winners were recognized at ceremonies at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The awards are given in recognition of outstanding women in Montgomery County who are making significant contributions to their vocations and to the community. Recipients and their accomplishments will be featured each day in March on the social media platforms of the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women. This year’s recipients:

Nominations were submitted by peers based on criteria such as unselfish leadership, hard work in their field, exceptional leadership in civic activities, developing or supporting programs resulting in positive social action and inspiring others. Nominees had to either reside or work in Montgomery County. For more information about the sponsoring organizations, visit the Montgomery County Commission for Women website at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw/ or the Montgomery Women website at http://www.montgomerywomen.org/.