MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Rockville Chuck E. Cheese to Relocate

Published March 15, 2023 at 8:33PM

Chuck E. Cheese will be moving from its current Rockville location at 5270 Randolph Rd in Loehmann’s Plaza (10,500 SF) to a larger space (16,331 SF) in White Flint Plaza taking over the space that was previously home to Retro Fitness which closed in May 2020, according to a Biz Journals report. The new location is in what’s technically considered Kensington, just over a mile away from the current location in Loehmann’s Plaza. A Chuck E. Cheese Rockville employee let us know that the current location will not close for a “couple months, probably around the end of May.” The new location is expected to open this summer.

Chuck E. Cheese has an additional Montgomery County location at 1127 University Blvd E in Takoma Park. The children’s indoor entertainment arcade also had a location in Gaithersburg that closed in 2020 after being in business at Gaithersburg Square for over 30 years. Per the Biz Journals report, the new location will “feature a 17-foot digital wall and other technological advances over the older locations. There will still be some Chuck E. Cheese mainstays, including things like skee-ball, air hockey, and, of course, pizza.” The Rockville location has also matched pre-2019 numbers this year, hosting 289 birthday parties.

Education

MLK Students Win Grand Prize in C-SPAN Competition

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 7:47PM

Parim Shah and Nimay Sharma, sixth grade students at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Germantown, won the grand prize in this year’s C-SPAN 2023 StudentCam documentary competition. They will receive $5,000 for their documentary, “Where’s My Data? Data Privacy and its Real World Impact.” Students were asked to create a documentary on the theme, “If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?”

The annual competition was open to middle and high school students across the nation. Students from eight schools—Montgomery Blair, Winston Churchill, Poolesville, Richard Montgomery and Rockville high schools, and Eastern, Martin Luther King and Westland middle schools—placed in the competition. See the full list. The winning documentary will air on C-SPAN at 6:50 a.m. and throughout the day on Friday, April 21. You can also watch it here.

Education

Nominations Open For Contributions to Special Education

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 4:45PM

Staff, students and parents are encouraged to submit nominations to recognize individuals who have contributed to the success and acceptance of students with special needs. Nominations are open for special education teachers, support staff, paraprofessionals, community members and students.

The recognitions are given by the Special Education Committee of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA). Nominations are due Monday, March 20. Nominate here. Awards will be presented at the MCCPTA Celebration of Excellence event from 6–9 p.m. on Thursday, May 18.

Education

Statement from Karla Silvestre, President of the Board of Education on County Executive’s Recommended $6.8B FY 2024 Operating Budget

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 4:30PM

Statement: “Public schools continue to be the foundation of our democracy. They are doing more for our young people today than ever before. Like everything else today, it costs more and more to run them. Schools continue to prepare our future workforce, taxpayers, citizens, and leaders. They continue to offer a path out of poverty for many. They are places where community exists, gathering families of all backgrounds around the education and well-being of children.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is at a crossroads after the pandemic. Academic trends are stabilizing, students need support like never before, and our families are asking for our help. We support the County Executive’s proposed budget and his willingness to do whatever is necessary to fully fund the Board of Education’s Operating Budget.

Montgomery Parks

Traffic Data About Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project to be Presented on March 30

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 4:22PM

Montgomery Parks will present information, including traffic data and a recommendation, related to the Little Falls Parkway pilot project to the Montgomery Planning Board on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. After the briefing, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the project. Details on how to sign up to testify, provide advance testimony and the procedures for testifying are outlined on the Planning Board “Sign Up to Testify” webpage. The deadline to sign up to testify or submit written testimony is March 29, 2023, at 12 p.m.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project was initiated in June 2022 to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway for the Open Parkways Program, while retaining space for recreation on the parkway. Traffic counts were conducted on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue during May, July, September, and December of 2022 and showed the parkway functions well with two lanes of traffic and has added benefits consistent with Vision Zero goals.

Gaithersburg

Lum Thai Prepares to Open in Muddy Branch Square

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 2:50PM

In June 2021 we let you know that Lum Thai would be coming to Muddy Branch Square. The Thai restaurant is located in the space previously occupied by Roggenart and Canela Bakery at 806 Muddy Branch Road and is currently hiring for a few positions as it prepares to open very soon in Gaithersburg (exact date not yet available).

According to its website, the restaurant will be open daily from 11am until 9pm. The menu will offer a various appetizers (all priced below $10), soups, salads, entrees/curries/noodles (all priced at $13.95), chef specialities (going as high as $20), and desserts.

Education

Free SAT, MCAP Prep Available for High School Students

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 2:20PM

FEV Tutor is offering free virtual tutoring sessions to students to prepare for the June 3 SAT exam. The sessions are personalized to students’ needs, and are available for English language arts, math or both. High school students can sign up for a 10-week course between now and May. Registration is open and will close on Friday, March 17.The prep courses will begin the week of March 20. Register here.

Sessions are available Mondays-Fridays from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. FEV Tutor is also offering 10-week prep sessions for the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) tests. Sign up here by March 17. Email FEV Tutor or call 855-763-2607 with questions.FEV Tutor, SAT Prep, June 3, 2023. FEV Tutor, MCAP Prep.

Gaithersburg

Charley Prime, Steak Focused Restaurant, Planning April Opening in Rio

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 7:42AM

Charley Prime Foods, the new restaurant from Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks (Little Coco’s, El Chucho, Bar Charley, Quarry House Tavern) that will be replacing Tara Thai on the Rio Lakefront boardwalk at 9811 Washington Blvd in Gaithersburg, has announced it plans to open in April.

According to a press release, the Charley Prime team envisions the restaurant as a mature version of their popular DC restaurant Bar Charley, with an expanded menu, but keeping its lively cocktail forward energy. The broader menu will remain steak focused, but will also feature house made pastas (a la Little Coco’s) as well as other items unique to just this location. The group has tapped Editlab@Streetsense to design the space. Explains Greenbaum, “We can’t wait to do our first suburban project and think the timing is perfect. We’ve always done restaurants that are near and dear to our hearts and that we feel are right or needed in the particular neighborhood. My partners both have young families and Rio has been a frequent destination for them for years, as it is for tons of people in north Montgomery county. This is especially true for our chef and partner in this project, Adam Harvey, who lives nearby. We’re really thrilled to bring something unique to the mix out there.” Featured photo shows a photo of food from Bar Charley.

MoCo

Healthy Drink Option for Kids Now Required in Montgomery County Restaurants

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 7:35AM

Last March, Healthy Meals for Children, which requires restaurants in Montgomery County that offer a children’s meal to provide a healthy option (meal and drink) for their youngest customers, was passed. The requirements are phased in with a default healthy beverage being the first (now in effect) followed by a healthy meal option six months later.

Councilmember Craig Rice spearheaded the legislation, and Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Will Jawando, Nancy Navarro and Tom Hucker are cosponsors. The bill was enacted by a vote of 8-1, with Councilmember Friedson voting against the legislation. “Childhood obesity remains a longstanding problem in our nation and the rate continues to climb impacting our children’s health and quality of life. Especially in a time when our busy lifestyles have more families eating out, it is imperative that as a County we encourage healthy options in our children’s meals,” said Councilmember Rice, who serves as chair of the Council’s Education Committee and as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. “I applaud the many restaurants, large and small, in our community that are already providing healthier selections. This bill lays out a minimum threshold over an extended period to ensure that our children have a healthier beverage and meal option available to them, all in order to promote more healthful eating habits throughout their lives.”

Downtown Silver Spring

Outback Steakhouse to Open Third Montgomery County Location

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 7:18AM

Outback Steakhouse will be opening its third Montgomery County location, according to a report by Source of the Spring. The Australian-themed casual dining chain will open in the space that was previously home to Not Your Average Joe’s at 8661 Colesville Rd at Ellsworth Place in Downtown Silver Spring. It will be the chain’s third Montgomery County location, joining existing restaurants in Aspen Hill and Germantown.

While Outback Steakhouse is an international chain, one of the founders has strong local ties. Chris T. Sullivan, one of the founders of Outback Steakhouse, is a Blair High School alumnus. Sullivan attended the school, and Takoma Park Middle School before that, in the 60s before heading to the University of Kentucky to study business and economics.

Crime

Montgomery County MS-13 Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murder

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 7:10AM

Per the U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Maryland: Hernan Yanes-Rivera, a/k/a “Recio,” age 22, of Adelphi, Maryland, and Agustin Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Terrible,” age 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to their participation in a racketeering conspiracy, including murder, related to their activities as part of the MS-13 gang.

According to court documents, La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as “MS-13,” is an international criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Frederick County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere, MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang and against rival gangs. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increases the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position.