MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Metro Releases New Strategic Plan, “#YourMetro, The Way Forward“

Published December 7, 2022 at 7:16AM

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Per WMATA: As Metro prepares to introduce its Fiscal Year 2024 proposed budget this week, Metro today released an update for customers and stakeholders on the development of a new strategic plan, #YourMetro, The Way Forward. The plan will provide a long-term strategy and direct Metro’s day-to-day decision making over the next five plus years.

Metro has been gathering information and feedback from customers on rail, bus, and paratransit, local elected officials, employees, stakeholders, and Board Members to understand the region’s priorities for the future of Metro. The update released today outlines draft goals focused on service excellence, regional opportunity and partnership, sustainability, and talented teams.

Education

MCPS Board of Education Welcomes News Members and Appoints New Officers

By MCS Staff

Published December 7, 2022 at 6:55AM

Per the Montgomery County Board of Education: Karla Silvestre (At-Large) and Shebra Evans (District 4) will now lead the Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education as President and Vice President. Evans and Silvestre were formally appointed during the Board’s business meeting on Tuesday, December 6. MCPS Board of Education new officers. Board president Karla Silvestre and vice-president Shebra Evans during the first board meeting in their new roles.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with each of you and to being an effective and productive board so that we can do our important job of providing leadership and oversight of Montgomery County Public Schools for the benefit of our students,” said Silvestre during her remarks.

Bethesda

La Catrina Bar & Lounge Announces Updated Opening Date

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 8:21PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 8:01AM

Back in August we let you know that La Catrina Bar & Lounge is coming to 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, taking over the location that was formerly home to George’s Chophouse, 4935 Bar & Kitchen, The Loft at 4935, Tragara’s, and others. The has pushed back the opening date a couple times, but has now announced that it will be opening on Friday, December 9th. The dining room will be open at 5pm and the dance floor will open at 10pm, according to the latest social media post by La Catrina (available below).

La Catrina boasts “the true Mexican experience” and “tacos, tequila, and party”, as the space consists of two levels that can be used for dining, dancing, and more, which allows for a different experience from the other recently opened restaurants in Bethesda that offer Mexican cuisine (Chaia, Mexicue, Tacombi). Below is the social media post announcing the opening date:

Crime

Shooting Injures One in Gaithersburg Tuesday Evening

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 7:14PM

A shooting occurred on Whetstone Dr. off of N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg at approximately 5pm on Tuesday evening, according to our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh. There is another Whetstone Drive a few miles away in Montgomery Village, but this incident took place near the Whetstone apartments located across from 99 Ranch Market (formerly Sports Authority) in Gaithersburg. An altercation resulted in shots being fired with one victim injured and transported to an area hospital. One firearm was recovered on the scene. We will have additional information as soon as it’s available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

GAITHERSBURG SHOOTING: ~5PM Tuesday on Whetstone Drive, off of North Frederick Avenue, near the Whetstone Apartments (Gaithersburg, MD). Altercation resulted in shots being fired; 1 victim injured. 1 firearm recovered on scene; Victim being transported to an area Trauma Center.

Arts

Make Art or Take Art at the Free Little Art Gallery (Two in MoCo)

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 5:51PM

Per the Takoma Park Newsletter: You can share your artistic talents or find tiny art to take home at Takoma Park’s first Free Little Art Gallery. In a concept similar to little free libraries, the Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG for short), is a large box located next to the bus stop at 7667 Maple Avenue where anyone can donate small pieces of art or take art that they like. The box, which is stocked with art supplies, has two small galleries for displaying artwork, complete with easels and small figures admiring the art. There is also one in Potomac. PotomacFLAG Potomac Can be found on 11819 Smoketree Road, Potomac MD 20854 and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/flag_potomac

The interactive public art project is co-sponsored by the City of Takoma Park’s Arts and Humanities Division and the Operation ARTS Foundation. “We’re very excited about our first Free Little Art Gallery,” said Brendan Smith, the City’s arts and humanities coordinator. “It provides motivation for people of all ages to create artwork and a public space where they can share it. The design of the little art gallery also celebrates our local Ethiopian community.” The little art gallery features paintings of traditional Ethiopian woven reed bowls, burlap sections to highlight Ethiopia’s centuries-old connections to coffee, and a font inspired by the Amharic language.

Gaithersburg

Dunkin’ is Coming to the Goshen Crossing Shopping Center

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 1:26PM

Dunkin’ is continuing its massive expansion across the country and in MoCo, with an upcoming location coming to the Goshen Crossing Shopping Center in Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village. It will be taking over the former Capital One Bank building at 20000 Goshen Rd.

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.

North Potomac

Dunkin’ is Coming to Traville Village Center

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 1:20PM

Dunkin’ is continuing its massive expansion across the country and in MoCo, with an upcoming location coming to the Traville Village Center in Rockville. It will be taking over the former Capital One Bank building at 9761 Traville Gateway Dr. We expect more news coming out of the shopping center regarding the former Nantucket’s Reef location very soon.

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.

Aspen Hill

Dunkin’ is Coming to the Layhill Center

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 1:12PM

One of the latest upcoming Dunkin’ locations is currently under construction at the Layhill Center (14328 Layhill Rd) in Silver Spring. The new location, which will have a drive-thru, will be located next to Sole D’Italia, in the space that was formerly home to Truist and BB&T Bank.

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.

MCPS

Coaches All-County MCPS Girls Volleyball Team

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 11:33AM

On Wednesday evening, the Montgomery County Varsity Volleyball Coaches met and selected their annual All-County teams featuring 33 of the top female student-athletes in Montgomery County. There is a Player […]

Bethesda

Squishable, Selling Squishy Stuffed Animals, is Now Open at Montgomery Mall

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 11:11AM

Squishable, a pop-up shop that sells hundreds of varieties of stuffed animals that are “cute giant balls of love that are soft, huggable, cuddly, and all-around awesome,” is now open at Montgomery Mall. It is located in the lower level of the mall near Bath & Body Works. Squishables (photos below) has been creating cuddles for 15 years now, growing from a tiny mom-and-pop shop run out of a living room into the (still pretty tiny) 33-person company it is today. Many of its designs are also crowdsourced from the company’s million-strong group of fans who create and vote on hundreds of new potential Squishables each year. “The world can be a hard place. Hug something soft.”

According to its website, “Squishable was started in 2007 by co-founders Aaron and Zoe. They didn’t know anything about toys, but they figured it out. Over the last decade and a half, we have released millions of Squishables to their new homes in the wild. Here at Squishy HQ in Soho, New York City, we’re creating things that help make the world a cuter place.”

Crime

Eleven Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme with More Than $1.6 Million in Losses

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 9:55AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment adding two new defendants to the nine defendants previously charged in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme. The superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and stealing a post office key. The superseding indictment was returned on November 30, 2022. Charged in the superseding indictment are:

The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division (USPIS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); and Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP); and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.