Guavaberry Dominican Restaurant opened in March 2022 and its menu featured fish, stews, and mofongo, a dish made with mashed fried green plantains. The Greek Place closed at the end of 2021 and its menu featured menu featured gyros, spanakopita, chicken souvlaki, and falafel.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old from Wheaton. Rashell Meza was last seen on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at approximately 7 a.m., in the 2000 block of Georgian Woods Pl. Meza is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair that is currently dyed red. She was last seen wearing a yellow sweatshirt and sweatpants. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Rashell Meza 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.
The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023. During the meeting, the Board adopted an option for virtual learning on inclement weather days for school year 2022–2023; discussed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future initial implementation plan; issued an Open Meetings Act (OMA) statement; and made three administrative appointments. The agenda for the meeting, with related links, can be viewed on the Board website. Watch the meeting recording.
Virtual Instruction on Inclement Weather Days: The Board voted to approve an option for virtual learning on inclement weather days for school year 2022–2023 that allows for the transition to virtual learning when school buildings are closed due to inclement weather, or other days that may interrupt regular in-person operations. The plan must now be approved by the Maryland State Department of Education prior to being implemented. Read the memorandum to the Board. View the PowerPoint Presentation
In April 2022, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) began a joint investigation into the members and associates of a drugtrafficking organization known as “Wick Squad,” which operated in and around the 2500 block of Edmondson Avenue in West Baltimore. The investigation utilized a variety of investigative methods, including the use of undercover BPD detectives to make controlled purchases of narcotics, including Fentanyl. The investigation culminated in search warrants and arrests in October 2022. The most recent arrest took place in January 2023. In total, the investigation led to the seizure of 11 firearms and large amounts of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), ammunition, and packaging material.
On December 6, 2022, Arthur Beard, 29, of Baltimore, pled guilty before the Honorable Kendra Y. Ausby of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City to loaded handgun on person and possession of CDS. Beard was sentenced to four years of incarceration, suspending all but three years. Upon his release from incarceration, he will be on two years of supervised probation.
Join naturalist Kerry Wixted on January 30, 2023, at 11 a.m. to learn about Maryland’s rare, threatened and endangered species.
Montgomery Parks invites the public to the January 2023 virtual session of its Parks Speaker Series on the topic of rare, threatened and endangered species in Maryland. The free session will take place online on January 30, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. During this presentation, Kerry Wixted will discuss the over 1,200 species that have been listed as rare, threatened, or endangered in Maryland and how the Maryland Natural Heritage Program ranks and manages rare species across the state. She will also cover a few ways to help with the conservation of rare species and their habitats.
In December, we let you know that Dunkin’ is continuing its massive expansion across the country and in MoCo, with an upcoming location coming to the Traville Village Center in Rockville. We have since learned that it will be taking over 1,500 SF in the back half of the building that was previously home to Capital One Bank building at 9761 Traville Gateway Drive (rendering available below). The location will also have a drive-thru. 1,700 SF on the front side of the building is still available to lease.
Since Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins in late 2020 for $11.3 billion, the company has been opening in former bank locations that allow for easy installation of a drive-thru window. Dunkin has also aimed for non-traditional development that includes opening in airports and on college campuses, including the University of Maryland.
The Police Department and Ward 3 City Councilmember Randy Gibson will be holding a community meeting to discuss public safety issues in Ward 3. Police Department staff will be providing an update on recent incidents in Ward 3 and provide an overall overview of crime stats/trends and security measures put in place to address these trends.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 7pm-9pm at the Takoma Park City Building, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland, 2nd Floor Azalea Room. The meeting will be in-person and a Zoom Webinar will also be available to join and ask questions. To register for the meeting, the link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g5qFKHc2SR2YBB_9nnmPqQ
Montgomery County natives Brandy Louis Simms and George Johnson will start broadcasting their new radio show, ‘Sports Rap’, on Sunday, February 5th on Radio Arlington (WERA 96.7fm). Simms graduated from Newport Prep in Kensington Johnson is a graduate of Walter Johnson HS in Bethesda. Johnson has previously worked at Home Team Sports/Comcast SportsNet, while Simms is the manager former Sports Director at Montgomery Community Media’s “Cable News 21”.
The weekly show, ‘Sports Rap’, will air every Sunday at noon (12pm) and will primarily discuss local high school, college and professional sports along with other issues within the world of sports. Not a fan of sports? No worries, Simms tells us they’ll also talk about pop culture and comedy, music, movies, television, and more.
Planners release report on current conditions, community input for master plan focused on communities along I-270 Corridor
The Montgomery County Planning Department presented the Great Seneca Plan: Connecting Life and ScienceExisting Conditions Report to the Planning Board Thursday, January 19. The Great Seneca Plan is a comprehensive update to the 2010 master plan for communities in the heart of the I-270 Corridor that border the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville, and includes the Universities at Shady Grove, Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove, and surrounding areas. The Existing Conditions Report evaluates the status of the plan area and provides critical community input and data that inform the Great Seneca Plan going forward. The final plan will make recommendations for land use, zoning, urban design, transportation, environment, and community facilities, as well as incorporate countywide initiatives and policies.
My name is Alex Tsironis, also known as “Mr. MoCo”, founder of The MoCoShow. In the early days of the show, I loved to discuss my favorite foods in the area and one of my favorite things to eat has to be steak and cheese subs. I love cheesesteaks in Philly, but I grew up here eating steak and cheese from Jerry’s with tomatoes…so I usually prefer that and mayonnaise on my steak and cheese subs. Everyone’s an expert on what they like, regardless of where they’re from, etc. and that’s why I like to make it clear that this is just my top 5. I really like a lot of steak and cheese subs that aren’t in my top 5 and I’m well aware that someone else’s list would likely look pretty different, but I love the discussion that comes with sharing…so check it out below:
Just missed: Bulgogi Cheesesteak from Cheesesteak Mike’s in Hillandale: Marinated rib-eye, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo, provolone cheese. If you’re fan of bulgogi, you would probably like this sub. I like the way the grilled onions work on this one.
WETA’s house-hunting series, If You Lived Here, spotlights a wide array of neighborhoods and properties throughout the national capital area while celebrating each area’s history, culture, notable places and flavor. On Monday, January 30th, the show will explore Olney/Sandy Spring. The area is described as a “neighborhood in Maryland that lies between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.” Guided by realtor Karen Rollings, they tour three homes: first, a starter home built in 1973 located in the Olney Mill neighborhood; next, a modern twist on the exact same starter home to show possibilities through renovation; and lastly, a family home that is situated next to farmland.
In the episode you’ll be able to hear from local historians who discuss the area’s fascinating roots — from the first European and Quaker settlers and their roles in manumission to the stories of the former enslaved at the Slave Museum and the descendants who continue to live in the area today. Along the way, they will explore Sandy Spring Adventure Park, the country’s largest outdoor climbing park located on Sandy Spring Friends School’s campus. You can watch If You Lived Here featuring Sandy Spring/Olney, MD on Monday, Jan. 30 at 9pm on WETA PBS (Channel 26 in the DMV) and 8pm on WETA Metro, or stream with the free PBS app.