MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Bath & Body Works Now Open in Downtown Crown

Published February 25, 2023 at 6:48PM | Updated February 25, 2023 at 9:24PM

Bath & Body Works, a store usually found inside shopping malls, has opened its newest location in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown. The new store is located at 130 Crown Park Ave, in the location that was formerly home to Hair Cuttery, in between ZAGG and Warby Parker.

The new store is the relocated Lakeforest Mall location, which closed in early 2023. The store offers its own brand of fragrances for the body and home. The brand is a consumer favorite for top-selling body products, including lotion, cream, wash, hand soap and hand sanitizer. The retailer is also known for its fragrance diffusers, fine fragrance mist and candles. Photos courtesy of Brenda Barahona.

Restaurants

Citizens & Culture Coming This Spring to Silver Spring

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 6:05PM

This Spring 2023, Kaldi’s Social House founder Tsega Haile will open Citizens & Culture – a 15,000 square feet, multi-level fine dining and live DJ and band performance venue located on the border of downtown Silver Spring and Washington, DC. The Georgia Avenue restaurant and music venue brings a unique concept to the DC-area featuring a ground-floor front patio for outdoor seating leading into an expansive, vaulted ceiling main dining room with full length bar and an exclusive new menu by Executive Chef Ryan Hackney (DC-based chef known for appearances on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and Bite Club) and Chief Chef Consultant and Director for Kaldi’s Social House Jessica Shields.

Per the press release: “As a native Washingtonian I’m excited about the opportunity to debut a menu that will reflect the diversity of the DMV’s food culture while staying true to the elevated tasting experience that now defines our regional dining scene,” says Executive Chef Ryan Hackney. The upper level is accessed by a separate ground-floor entrance leading to the top floor restaurant-lounge with lofted DJ booth and a retractable, glass roof providing an open-air concept for sunny days. The lounge also features a retractable glass door wall leading onto an outdoor terrace with sweeping views of downtown Silver Spring. “My goal has always been to provide community spaces that feature unique, high-concept food and beverage in a special environment for my patrons,” says founder Tsega Haile. “With Citizens & Culture I want to share my love for our local culture and continue to spotlight downtown Silver Spring as an entertainment destination in the DMV and beyond.”

WMATA

Late-night Metrorail service will be reduced weeknights for three weeks of maintenance, affecting four lines beginning Feb. 27

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 1:51PM

Metro will perform critical work, to maintain the tracks during the late-night and overnight hours weeknights, Monday through Thursday, Feb. 27 – Mar. 2, Mar. 6 – 9, and Mar. 13-16. Work will begin at 10 p.m. prior to the system closing, with trains single tracking between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery on the Blue and Blue+ lines, and between Foggy Bottom and Ballston on the Orange and Silver lines.

The single-track area is three miles long and coupled with the Yellow Line Bridge closure requires train service to be reduced to every 26 minutes on the four lines. Trains will gradually transition from the end of the lines starting at 9 p.m. until all trains are operating every 26 minutes by 10 p.m. as follows:

Wheaton

Metro and Montgomery County emergency responders hold full-scale emergency exercise at Wheaton Station on Sunday, Feb. 26

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 1:49PM

Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) and Montgomery County emergency responders will conduct a full-scale emergency response exercise at Wheaton Station on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 from opening until approximately 2 p.m. Members of the public may notice a large number of emergency vehicles on site. Please be assured that this is only an exercise.

The exercise will take place inside the tunnel between Wheaton and Forest Glen and will simulate real-world conditions to test the operational and evacuation coordination, and interagency communication between MTPD, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Montgomery County Police, Metrorail and Metrobus operations staff, on-scene responders and support personnel.

Crime

Olney Teenager Arrested for Stolen Auto; Other Offenses

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 1:39PM

On February 23, at approximately 5:00 pm, Takoma Park Police attempted to make a traffic stop in the area of New Hampshire Avenue and Holton Lane. The driver of the vehicle accelerated to an unreasonable amount of speed and lost control of the vehicle on Wildwood Drive, colliding with another vehicle. There were no injuries.

Per Takoma Park Police: Four subjects fled the vehicle on foot but were apprehended shortly after. The passengers were identified and released to the custody of a parent(s). The driver of the vehicle, a 15-year-old male from Olney, Maryland, was charged with Auto Theft, Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle, Theft over $10,000 and various other traffic offenses. The charged juvenile was released to the custody of a parent(s). Investigation continues. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230009152.

MoCo History

Planning Board Votes Not to Recommend Historic Designation for Former Weller’s Dry Cleaning Site

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 10:31AM

The Montgomery County Planning Board voted to not recommend historic designation for the former Weller’s Dry Cleaning site in Silver Spring at a public hearing on Thursday, February 23. The County Council makes final decisions on historic designations of properties in the county. The site was part of a proposed amendment to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation. Read the amendment. Watch the video from the February 23 Planning Board public hearing.

About the former Weller’s Dry Cleaning site: The former Weller’s Dry Cleaning site (8237 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD) was originally identified for evaluation as an historic resource over twenty years ago in the 2002 Historic Sites Survey Report: Silver Spring Central Business District. The 2022 Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan directed Montgomery Planning to evaluate the Weller’s Dry Cleaning site designation as a Master Plan Historic Site. This site consists of a Googie-styled commercial store and sign constructed in 1961 within the Thayer Avenue commercial area in Downtown Silver Spring. The Googie style is a popular, but relatively rare, mid-20th century roadside commercial architecture that is a subset of the Modern Movement of architecture. Architects popularized the style in California where the intention was to attract motorists traveling at 35 miles per hour or more to stop and patronize roadside businesses. The design of the former Weller’s Dry Cleaning building and sign engaged the everyday consumer with modern and popular architecture in lieu of the high-style austerity of the International, Brutalist, and Expressionist styles. Very few examples of this architectural style remain intact in the county or region. View the December 2022 Weller’s Dry Cleaning Master Plan for Historic Preservation Designation Form.

Boyds

Planning Board Unanimously Recommends Historic Designation for Edward U. Taylor School in Boyds; County Council Will Make the Final Decision

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 10:07AM

The Montgomery County Planning Board recommended the Montgomery County Council designate the Edward U. Taylor School in Boyds as historic by adding it to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation at a public hearing on Thursday, February 23. The County Council makes final decisions on historic designations of properties in the county. “We commend the Planning Board’s recommendation that the County Council designate the Edward U. Taylor Elementary School as a historic site,” said Acting Planning Director Tanya Stern. “This school is a landmark in the history of the Black community in Boyds and served as a community anchor. The Taylor School represented the efforts of individuals like Edward U. Taylor and Black organizations, parents, and teachers to obtain quality educational facilities for Black children in Montgomery County in the mid-20^thcentury.” Historic designation criteria are established in Chapter 24A in the Montgomery County Code. The Planning Board evaluated the sites against the criteria and found that the Edward U. Taylor School met the following criteria:

About the Edward U. Taylor School site: The former Edward U. Taylor School (19501 White Ground Road, Boyds, MD) was built as an elementary school for Black students at a time when Montgomery County used legally sanctioned racial segregation to prohibit Black children from attending white schools. The Modern Movement-influenced building was completed in 1952, and features several additions built between 1954 and 1969. The facility was built to modern school design standards and represents the cumulative efforts of the county’s Black community to obtain better facilities and opportunities after decades of public underinvestment in educational facilities for Black children. The building currently serves as the Taylor Science Center for the processing and storage of science kits for Montgomery County Public Schools. The recommendation to study the school was brought forward in the MARC Rail Communities Plan, which was approved by the County Council in April 2019. View a short video on the Legacy of the Edward U. Taylor School. View the September 2022 Edward U. Taylor Elementary School Master Plan for Historic Preservation Designation Form.

Events

Details on This Year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Rio in Gaithersburg (March 11)

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 8:57AM

The City of Gaithersburg, in partnership with The Peterson Companies & Rio, will host the 21^st St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Rio (Rio Boulevard & Grand Corner Avenue) on Saturday, March 11 at 10am. Free parking is available in three garages along Washingtonian Boulevard.

Dozens of units will march in the parade, including Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, school groups, fire trucks, equestrian units, service organizations, characters, & more. Sally & Tom Marchessault, longtime City volunteers & 2020 Distinguished Residents, will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal. The parade will be emceed by Carolyn Muller, Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture.

MoCoSnow

Snow Possible Today; Grass and Cars May See Coating

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 7:56AM

Two days after 80° weather, it’s likely we will see some snow today. Temperatures are in the upper 20/lower 30s at 7am across the county and are expected to reach the mid to upper 30s later today. Snow/wintry precipitation is expected to move into the area later this morning and lasting into the afternoon hours. Not much is expected, but it could be enough to coat the grass and cars.

We don’t expect any major traffic issues due to this potential Saturday snowfall, but it’s always a good idea to use a little extra caution while driving if the snow rates pick up for a short amount of time. Temperatures are expected to push 60° again on Sunday, which has been a common theme for this February. Below you’ll see Fox 5’s “Futurecast” run of today’s very minor snow event. Our featured photo comes from this run.

Bethesda

Rockville Man Accused of Killing Former Boss at Bethesda Home Pleads Guilty to All Counts

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 6:18PM

Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Judge Karla Smith, defendant, Billy Phillips, 38, of Rockville, pleaded guilty to counts of First-Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, and Use of a Firearm in Commission of Felony for the death of his former manager, Geoffrey Biddle, 66, of Bethesda, on June 23, 2021.

Phillips faces the potential of life in prison plus an additional 65 years when he is sentenced on March 10^th at 10:30 a.m. The State will be seeking the maximum penalty. According to witnesses, Phillips had recently been in financial despair and was fired from his job in April 2021 for fraud. When he was arrested, the victim’s bank card and checkbook were in the defendant’s car. Featured photo shows home where murder occurred, courtesy of Google Maps. Photo below shows Billy Phillips

Athletes

MoCo Native Kiyomi McMiller Becomes First High School Athlete to Sign NIL Deal with Jordan Brand

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 5:37PM | Updated February 25, 2023 at 11:13AM

Kiyomi McMiller, a 5’8” point guard from the class of 2024, has signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) sponsorship with the Jordan Brand. This marks the Jordan Brand’s first high school NIL deal.The Silver Spring, MD–born guard is one of the top-ranked players in her recruiting class. Known for her skilled ball handling and scoring ability. McMiller joins the Jordan Brand as its first high school NIL athlete as she paves the way for the next generation of athletes. She is the Jordan brand’s second NIL athlete joining fellow MoCo native Kiki Rice, who was named the brand’s first NIL athlete in 2022.

McMiller currently plays point guard at Life Center Academy (LCA). The 5’8 junior is only in her first season at the school, where her father is a coach, having previously played at Trinity Collegiate School in Darlington, South Carolina, last season, where she averaged 27.1 points per game as a sophomore. Prior to high school she attended Benjamin Banneker Middle School in Burtonsville. “I’m inspired by both of my parents. I get my creativity from my dad and my grandmother, which carries over to my dribbling,” says McMiller. “I’m always in the gym with my mom and dad working on my game. It’s a dream come true being with the brand that stands for the same passion that I have for the game. I look forward to encouraging basketball players to use their creativity and platform to define their purpose.”