MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Rocket Lab’s first U.S. Launch of the Electron Rocket is Now Targeted for Tuesday, Jan. 24

Published January 23, 2023 at 10:49AM

Update Jan. 22, 2022 — Due to poor weather conditions in the Wallops area, Rocket Lab’s first U.S. launch of the Electron rocket is now targeted for Tuesday, Jan. 24. Weather for Tuesday is 90% favorable for the 6-8 p.m. EST launch window.

Previous information: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility will support the launch of Rocket Lab USA’s first Electron rocket from Virginia at 6 p.m. EST, Monday, Jan. 23. The 59-foot-tall Electron rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. The mission, named “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy radio frequency monitoring satellites for HawkEye 360.

Restaurants

Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles is Now Open in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Published January 23, 2023 at 9:56AM

Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles at 389 E. Gude Dr in Rockville, next to the former Branded 72/O’Brien’s restaurant space, is now open. Grandma’s is owned and operated by the same owners as “Grandma Kona’s” Kona Ice franchise in Gaithersburg/Germantown. Additional information, as well as a $1 coupon, below:

“Grandma Kona is happy to announce that Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles will be opening on Monday January 23, 2023! We will be opening for breakfast at 7am till 1030am then transitioning to a great lunch till 2pm. The ice cream and waffles dessert menu will be available until 9pm. Offering liege waffles sandwiches with a variety of options including Vegan! Grandma’s Ice Cream will be an experience like non other. Soft serve ice cream with unbelievable flavor (including dairy free options) with Grandma’s twist of injecting flavor into the ice cream and if wanted dipped in chocolate or caramel. Come use your imagination with all the different combinations you can make.”

Entertainment

‘99 Things You Never Knew About Watkins Mill’

By MCS Staff

Published January 23, 2023 at 9:05AM | Updated October 3, 2025 at 8:37AM

In addition to photos of old classmates and teachers, old yearbooks are always a great source of fun information about the time they were made. We had the chance to look through a 1999 edition of Watkins Mill High School’s yearbook, called “Grinder”, and came across a fun little article titled ‘99 Things You Never Knew About Watkins Mill.’ Some references will only be understood by students/staff that were at the school during that time, but most are fun facts about the Watkins Mill Wolverines that many can enjoy. Check them out below:

5. WM was featured in U.S. News and World Report, for being a school of the future.

Maryland

Maryland Listed as “9th Worst State to Retire In” According to Study

By MCS Staff

Published January 23, 2023 at 8:57AM

With 25% of all nonretired adults having no retirement savings, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best States to Retire, with Maryland coming in at #42– the 9th worst of all states.

“To help retirees find a safe, enjoyable and wallet-friendly place to call home, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 47 key metrics. Our analysis examines affordability, health-related factors and overall quality of life.”

Crime

Two Suspects Wanted After Report of Pulling Over to Commit Armed Robbery Sunday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published January 22, 2023 at 9:21PM

On January 22, at approximately 12:20 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 8600 block of Flower Avenue for the report of a strong arm robbery that had occurred earlier. According to Takoma Park Police, at approximately 10:15 am, the victim was walking southbound in the 8600 block of Flower Avenue when a green Nissan Pathfinder with North Carolina tags pulled up next to him. Two suspects exited the vehicle, a male and female; the male implying he was holding a knife. The suspects stole property from the victim and then fled the area in their vehicle, driving southbound on Flower Avenue and turning left on to eastbound Domer Avenue. The victim was not seriously physically injured.

The suspects are described as (1) white Hispanic male, 5’5, heavy-set, mid-40’s, black hair and (2) white Hispanic female, 5’8, slim build, mid-20’s, blonde hair. Investigation continues under case #230003558. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

Bethesda

Nike Store Coming to Bethesda

By MCS Staff

Published January 22, 2023 at 7:11PM

Just days after the Nike store in Georgetown closed its doors, a new Nike store has put up signage at 7117 Arlington Rd in Bethesda– the former home of Amazon Books. According to a Bethesda Beat report, the 6,063 SF space now displays “Nike by Bethesda” signage out front, with captions saying, “Coming Soon” and “Join Our Team.”

A Nike Unite store has been in the works since last June, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. After previously setting an opening date of November 3rd on its Google listing, the store pushed back the opening to “2023”, and then set an opening date of Thursday, February 2nd. The date has been pushed back again to Thursday, February 16th, according to its Google listing. An opening date for the Bethesda location is not currently available.

Clarksburg

Clarksburg: Vehicle Fire in Garage Causes ~$75K in Damage

By MCS Staff

Published January 22, 2023 at 5:44PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a vehicle fire in the garage of an ‘end of the row’ townhome on Clarksburg Square Rd shortly before 2pm on Sunday afternoon.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the fire started in the vehicle, which was located in the garage. The fire remained contained to the garage because the garage door and the door from the garage leading into the home remained closed. The occupants of the home called 911 after smelling smoke. There were no sprinklers in the garage and not enough smoke in the home to activate the detector. The cause was likely a mechanical vehicle malfunction after use. Damage is estimated at approximately $75K and there were no injuries and no displacement.

MCFRS

Update: Fire Causes ~$375K in Damage in Rockville Friday Night

By MCS Staff

Published January 22, 2023 at 12:34PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a report of a house fire at approximately 8:40pm on the 700 block of Fletcher Ave in Rockville on Friday night, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dave Pazos.

Upon arrival, units began extinguishing a car fire in the car port with extension into the the first and second floor of the single family home. Additional units were dispatched to the scene as crews searched the home. Just after 9pm, Assistant Chief Pazos stated that MCFRS units confirmed all occupants of the home were out safely and uninjured. At that time, units continued to extinguish any of the remaining fire.

Montgomery Parks

Virtual Community Meeting on the Latest Updates for Long Branch Parks Initiative

By MCS Staff

Published January 22, 2023 at 10:26AM

Montgomery Parks will host a virtual community meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2023, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be presented in English and Spanish and provide an overview of design recommendations for Long Branch Local Park and Long Branch-Arliss Neighborhood Park. The recommendations are a result of community feedback received during the Long Branch Parks Initiative(opens in a new tab) that Montgomery Parks launched in April 2022. “Since launching this initiative, we have had meaningful conversations with residents of Long Branch about improvements to their parks,” said Christie Ciabotti, project landscape architect at Montgomery Parks. “As a next step, we are excited to share the concepts for these two parks with the community for their feedback so that we can continue progressing with the plans.”

Community members will have 30 days after the community meeting to provide their feedback on the parks department’s open town hall (opens in a new tab)online forum about the park concepts. Following the 30-day period parks’ staff will review the input to inform the next steps in the design process.

WMATA

WMATA: Mobile U-Pass Now Available on iPhone and Apple Watch

By MCS Staff

Published January 22, 2023 at 9:52AM

The convenience of taking Metro just got easier for college students with a U-Pass SmarTrip card. As of January 19, eligible students at participating universities can add their U-Pass to Apple Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch to use on Metrorail or Metrobus. It’s quick and easy to do. Just add the U-Pass card to Apple Wallet, and there’s no more plastic to carry around.

After you add a U-Pass to your Apple Wallet, you can toss out the card or keep it as a souvenir. The physical card will no longer work when transferred because all the content is now available through your U-Pass in Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch. Students at participating schools can use the mobile U-Pass just like a physical card at any of Metro’s 97 rail stations in DC, Maryland and Virginia and all Metrobus routes. Just hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the card reader on the faregate or farebox to pay with U-Pass. With Express Mode, there’s no need for Face ID, Touch ID or to unlock the device.

Downtown Silver Spring

Nike Unite Sets New Opening Date for Upcoming Downtown Silver Spring Store

By MCS Staff

Published January 22, 2023 at 8:45AM

Back in June we let you know that a Nike Unite store is coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. After previously setting an opening date of November 3rd on its Google listing, the store pushed back the opening to “2023”, and then set an opening date of Thursday, February 2nd. The date has been pushed back again to Thursday, February 16th, according to its Google listing. This was first reported by Source of the Spring.

An employee at a different Nike Unite store told us that the pricing and products offered at a Unite store are similar to that of a Nike Factory store (often found at outlets), with a slightly different layout and a specific return section for items purchased on Nike.com. Nike describes the Nike Unite concept as: “Existing to serve and celebrate the people in each local community, and each store is designed to be a reflection of their heart and spirit. Consumers are welcomed by an in-store community wall highlighting the store team and local partnerships, and design elements throughout the space also look to tell the story of the community. From local landmarks to hometown athletes, the design allows the local residents to feel represented in the space. The products in each Nike Unite door are also reflective of what the community is interested in: locally curated, every-day essentials at the best price, matched with the newness of select seasonal offerings. Additionally, Nike Unite doors reflect Nike’s commitment to hiring people who live in the local community.”