MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Food Delivery Driver Robbed on Fallsgrove Drive in Rockville Saturday Afternoon

Published February 19, 2023 at 2:55PM

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Rockville City Police responded to the 700 block of Fallsgrove Drive for the report of an armed robbery.

According to Rockville Police, a food delivery driver was approached by two men in their late teens to early 20’s dressed in all black clothing. The suspects displayed a handgun, robbed the victim of cash and fled on foot. The victim was not injured. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Rockville City Police Criminal Investigations Unit at 240-314-8938, as always callers may choose to remain anonymous. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Entertainment

Gaithersburg Resident Owns One of the Most Valuable Hot Wheels Collections in the World

By MCS Staff

Published February 19, 2023 at 10:30AM

Mattel created Hot Wheels in 1968 to compete with Matchbox (which Mattel now owns). Although Hot Wheels were originally intended to be for children and young adults, they have become popular with adult collectors, and one of the most valuable collections in the world is owned by Bruce Pascal, who lives right here in Montgomery County (video below).

According to Fox 5, Pascal has more than 7,000 items in his collection. “To put it mildly, I’m obsessed with Hot Wheels,” Pascal told Fox 5. Though he got his first Hot Wherls car the year they were created, in 1968, it was until his mother gave him his old collection in 1999 that he rekindled his love for the model cars.

MCFRS

17 Injured, Several Critical Following Fire in Silver Spring on Saturday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 3:30PM

Below you will see notes from a media briefing by Fire Chief Scott Goldstein regarding this morning’s apartment fire in Silver Spring.

• Occupant on 8th floor called to let MCFRS know of smoke coming from the 7th floor this morning. Units arrived to find a fire on the 7th floor. Fire was contained to the 7th floor apartment with smoke on several floors above and below the unit.

MCPS

MCPS Kids’ Shoe Drive Underway

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 9:08AM

MCPS is hosting a shoe drive until Tuesday, Feb. 28 for students of all ages. New and gently used shoes for boys and girls in all sizes are needed. The donations will support students in the 26 community schools.

Donations can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday–Friday in the Carver Educational Services Center auditorium at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. For more information, email Amy Beal or call 240-551-6101.

Business

Gaithersburg’s Emergent BioSolutions Reports FDA Advisory Committees’ Unanimous Vote in Favor of NARCAN Nasal Spray for Over-The-Counter Use

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 8:58AM

If approved by the FDA, NARCAN Nasal Spray will be the first 4 mg naloxone nasal spray switched from prescription status to over-the-counter use

Gaithersburg-based Emergent BioSolutions announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committeehave unanimously voted in favor (a total of 19 votes) that the benefit-risk profile of NARCAN^®(naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray is supportive of its use as a nonprescription opioid overdose reversal agent. Emergent presented an overview of its over-the-counter (OTC) development program, the medical need, Human Factors study data and seven years of post-marketing safety data. The FDA is not bound by the committees’ guidance but will take its advice into consideration.

MCFRS

Third Alarm Fire Traps Numerous People on Balconies Saturday Morning; Six Transported to Hospital So Far

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 8:30AM | Updated February 18, 2023 at 9:17AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a a call for smoke reported on the seventh floor of an 18-story residential building, The Pointe, at 8750 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring on Saturday morning.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the building was being evacuated around 6am on Saturday morning with firefighters assisting people out. At 6:23am, Piringer tweeted that numerous people were trapped, mostly on balconies, and that several people were being treated for smoke inhalation. As of 7:20am, six people have been transported to the hospital and Georgia Avenue is closed in the area of Downtown Silver Spring (along with other roads). Initially a 2-alarm fire, Piringer later tweeted that it has become a third alarm fire.

MCDOT

Ride On Flash Buses Decorated For February

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 7:19AM

Montgomery County residents are feeling the love from their local transportation department. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has decorated some of its US 29 Flash buses with pink neon heart-shaped lights in honor of Valentine’s Day. The buses will remain decorated throughout February.

Fares on Ride On for most riders has been re-established at $1 per ride. Seniors (age 65 and older), persons with disabilities and youth under 19 ride free with specialized SmartTrip cards. The Flash buses are the first of a series of Bus Rapid Transit corridors planned for the County

Bethesda

‘A Wide Place in the Road—The Roots of Modern Bethesda’ Will Again Be Available from Montgomery History from Feb. 20-26

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 7:16AM

The evolution of Bethesda was the subject of a 2022 virtual presentation from Montgomery History that proved to be its most watched presentation of the year. Starting Monday, Feb. 20, and continuing for a one-week period through Sunday, Feb. 26, “A Wide Place in the Road—The Roots of Modern Bethesda” will again be available in a free virtual presentation from Montgomery County’s history organization.

Bethesda Historical Society Secretary and Tour Chair Hank Levine will take viewers through how, between 1750 and 1920, a fall line, a ridge line, a turnpike, a trolley line, rail lines, the coming of the automobile and Chevy Chase set the stage for the development of Bethesda. Mr. Levine will address how Bethesda went from being an affluent suburb and transformed into the urban center it is today.

MoCo Government

New Legislation Introduced Aimed at Having Certain Businesses Improve Late-Night Safety

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 7:14AM

The Late-Night Business Safety Plan bill was introduced on Feb. 14 to the Council, which will now consider it. “Last year, we met with business leaders and community members in Silver Spring to discuss the situation and concerns with late night establishments over crime and safety,” said County Executive Elrich. “Since then, we have added safety cameras and new license plate reading technology in areas where they are needed. We have used crime date to reconfigure our patrol strategies. When passed, this bill will be another tool to help keep the community safe by relying on our businesses that cater to a late-night crowd to be part of the solution.”

Changes already in place to improve safety in Silver Spring include the addition of three high-visibility morning posts for officers in the Downtown Silver Spring area, more bicycle officers on patrol and more officers involved in community engagement and crime prevention areas. Adopt-A-Neighborhood programs and support from Maryland State Police have helped the area see fewer incidents of crime since last summer. Adding the Late-Night Business Safety Plan is the next step in addressing safety concerns.

Maryland

Maryland Legislature to Look at Bill That Would No Longer Count Tips Towards Minimum Wage

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 7:11AM

Maryland legislature will be looking at a bill on March 2 that would abolish the “tip credit”. Employers in the state of Maryland (and most other states across the country) are permitted to count customer tips toward the minimum hourly wage they must pay to certain service employees. This is often referred to as a “tip credit.” A tip credit allows the employer to pay employees a wage that is less than the minimum wage by relying on tips the employee receives from customers to make up the difference. In November, DC voted to approve “Initiative 82”, which gradually eliminates the tip credit until its fully eliminated by 2027.

Synopsis of the bill, courtesy of the Maryland General Assembly: Specifying a certain tip credit amount that is in effect for certain time periods; prohibiting certain employers of tipped employees, beginning July 1, 2027, from including a tip credit amount as part of the employees’ wages; and requiring the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish the High Road Kitchen Program as a recognition program for restaurants that do not include the tip credit as part of certain employees’ wages.

Maryland

Shop Maryland Energy Weekend Begins Today

By MCS Staff

Published February 18, 2023 at 6:46AM

Marylanders either needing or just contemplating replacing appliances could be motivated to shop from Feb. 18-20 when they can save on paying State sales tax on eligible Energy Star-rated appliances during “Shop Maryland Energy Weekend.”

During Presidents’ Day weekend, appliances bearing the Energy Star label, whether purchased in-store or online, will be exempt from the State’s six percent sales tax. Eligible appliances could include air conditioners, washers, dryers, standard-size refrigerators, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers and programmable thermostats. Solar water heaters are tax-exempt year-round.