Author: MCS Staff

Kensington

China Gourmet, a Kensington Staple, to Close After 35 Years; Replacement Announced

By MCS Staff

China Gourmet, located at 3739 University Blvd for the last 35 years, has announced earlier this month that the restaurant will be closing permanently at the end of December. The restaurant cites the retirement of “key personnel” as the main reason, stating that it “just would not be China Gourmet” without them. What’s next for the space? The owners also announced that they’ll be remodeling and reopening as an “American sports-themed restaurant” in the future. Full message by China Gourmet below:

“To Our Loyal Patrons and Friends,

Go to China Gourmet, a Kensington Staple, to Close After 35 Years; Replacement Announced Read more
Business

FDA Awards Rockville’s Westat Contracts to Test Labeling and Messaging to Consumers

By MCS Staff

Per Westat: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded Rockville’s Westat (1600 Research Blvd) over a dozen tasks in 2022, including literature reviews, focus groups, cognitive interviews, pretesting, and experimental studies. This work is aimed at providing insight on consumer and health care professionals’ perceptions of, motivations toward, and attitudes about products under FDA’s oversight, and will help FDA move forward with more accurate and informative messaging.

“Westat is a natural fit for this work. We have strong, established expertise in message testing and a team that specializes in qualitative analysis and reporting,” notes Kerry Levin, PhD, a Vice President of Public Health and Epidemiology. “Our goal on these important tasks is to maintain a collaborative, collegial, client-centered relationship and to successfully execute each project to meet the needs of FDA.”

Go to FDA Awards Rockville’s Westat Contracts to Test Labeling and Messaging to Consumers Read more
Beyond MoCo

Sears to Close Its Last Remaining Maryland Department Store

By MCS Staff

Many of us likely grew up with a Sears department store somewhere nearby, but lately you may have noticed that you haven’t seen much from the brand that has been a household name for decades. Sears has been rapidly closing locations since 2018, when it filed for bankruptcy in October of that year. According to a report from the Frederick News Post, the Sears department store at Frederick’s Francis Scott Key Mall is set to close on January 15th. Note: There is still a Sears Hometown Store listed as open in Chestertown, MD, but it is not a traditional Sears department store and focuses on selling appliances, tools, hardware and lawn and garden equipment.

“Sears at Frederick’s Francis Scott Key Mall — one of the final remnants of a once great department store empire — is going out of business.The last day customers can shop at the store will be Jan. 15, a manager, who declined to provide her name, told a Frederick News-Post reporter on Tuesday afternoon. Bright yellow signs advertising the store’s impending closure in red block letters are plastered on the store’s windows. More hang around the building’s interior.”

Go to Sears to Close Its Last Remaining Maryland Department Store Read more
Beyond MoCo

Raising Cane’s First D.C. Metro Area Location is Now Open

By MCS Staff

At the beginning of the year we let you know of Raising Cane’s planned expansion into the D.C. metropolitan region, with the first restaurant planned for Sterling, VA at 45545 Dulles Eastern Plaza. Raising Cane’s officially opened its first Metro area restaurant on Tuesday, December 13th. Raising Cane’s aims to open 14 stores in the next year, stretching from suburban Baltimore to the Richmond area, with more to on tap for 2023 including Bowie, Dumfries, Manassas and Springfield. No Montgomery County locations have been announced yet.

Founded by Todd Graves in 1996 in Baton Rouge, La., Raising Cane’s has more than 460 restaurants in 27 states, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with multiple new restaurants under construction. The international expansion began in 2015. The menu is simple and focuses on chicken finger combos , chicken finger sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, sweet/iced tea, and Cane’s sauce. The menu can be seen below:

Go to Raising Cane’s First D.C. Metro Area Location is Now Open Read more
Education

Board of Education Elects New Officers; Adopts 2023-2024 School Year Calendar; and Discusses Overview of Superintendent’s Recommended Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. During the meeting, the Board elected new officers, adopted the 2023-2024 school year calendar, and discussed an overview of the superintendent’s recommended fiscal year 2024 operating budget. The agenda for the meeting, with related links, can be viewed on the Board website. Watch the meeting recording.

Election of Board Officers: Karla Silvestre was selected by her colleagues to serve as president of the Board. Shebra L. Evans was selected vice president. Both officers will serve a one-year term.

Go to Board of Education Elects New Officers; Adopts 2023-2024 School Year Calendar; and Discusses Overview of Superintendent’s Recommended Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget Read more
Gaithersburg

City of Gaithersburg: Christmas & New Year’s Holiday Closure & Recycling Notices

By MCS Staff

Recycling will take place as scheduled on December 26, 2022 & January 2, 2023. Loose leaf collectionconcludes on December 30. Recycling includes newspaper, mixed paper, corrugated cardboard & commingled materials (which should be separated from brush, branches, grass clippings, leaves & other yard trimmings) picked up by the City’s contractor.

On-demand bulk pick up for residents whose regular recycling days are December 26 & January 2 will be unavailable. Appointments can be made for the following week using the online form, by e-mailing [email protected], or by calling 301-258-6370.

Go to City of Gaithersburg: Christmas & New Year’s Holiday Closure & Recycling Notices Read more
MoCoSnow

Winter Weather Advisory In Effect Starting 10pm Wednesday Night

By MCS Staff

In the images below, courtesy of Fox 5 and NBC 4, you’ll see that icing in in the central and northern part of the county  (Gaithersburg is specifically marked both maps) is more significant than the lower part of the county. This means that the morning commute could wait her be pretty bad or not so bad, depending on your location. Last night’s pencil prediction can be seen here, with an updated pencil prediction and more details on timing and what to expect coming tonight.

Go to Winter Weather Advisory In Effect Starting 10pm Wednesday Night Read more
MCFRS

Worker Injured at Pepco Facility in White Oak; Power Reported Out in Some Surrounding Areas

By MCS Staff

At approximately 6:10PM on Tuesday, a worker suffered significant burns at the Pepco facility off of New Hampshire Avenue near Lockwood Drive in White Oak, according to our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh. The worker is being transported with significant burns after some sort of electric malfunction. Paramedics are transporting the patient to The Burn Center.

A loss of power was also reported at Planet Fitness in White Oak, as well as in areas surrounding it. At this moment, it’s unclear if the two situations are related. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Go to Worker Injured at Pepco Facility in White Oak; Power Reported Out in Some Surrounding Areas Read more
MoCoSnow

National Weather Service Increases Projected Ice Totals For Potential Thursday Morning Winter Weather; First Pencil Prediction

By MCS Staff

The National Weather Service has upped its projected ice totals for Thursday morning in the map it released earlier this afternoon (seen above in the featured photo). A little more than 1/3 of MoCo is now projected to get .1-.25” of ice with the other 2/3 or so at .01-.1”

In the “FutureCast” seen below, courtesy of Fox 5’s Mike Thomas, the freezing rain enters our area around 1am and continues to fall until turning to rain at approximately 8/8:30am in parts of the county and for almost all of the county by 9am. This is one of those situations where areas like Bethesda and Silver Spring see mostly wet roads, while areas further north like Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, and Damascus see more significant issues involving ice.

Go to National Weather Service Increases Projected Ice Totals For Potential Thursday Morning Winter Weather; First Pencil Prediction Read more
Brookeville

Police Investigating Death of Man Found Unresponsive in Yard of Residence in Olney

By MCS Staff

Per our public safety reporter, Cordell Pugh, At approximately 3:10PM on Tuesday on Heritage Hills Drive, just West of Georgia Avenue (Montgomery County, MD), a male was found unresponsive in the yard of a residence and was pronounced dead on scene. Montgomery County Police working to determine circumstances of death.

We’ll update with additional information as soon as it’s available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

Go to Police Investigating Death of Man Found Unresponsive in Yard of Residence in Olney Read more
Kensington

Two Dogs Rescued and Resuscitated After Postal Worker Calls 9-1-1 Tuesday Morning

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a fire in Kensington when a postal worker called 9-1-1 after smelling smoke and hearing fire alarms going off in a home on Dewey Rd Tuesday morning, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

Per Piringer, there were no humans home at the time of the fire, but crews found two unconscious dogs that they were able to resuscitate and take to a nearby vet. Unfortunately, three cats did not survive the fire. There was approximately $75K in damages to the home.

Go to Two Dogs Rescued and Resuscitated After Postal Worker Calls 9-1-1 Tuesday Morning Read more
View More Stories