MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Montgomery Parks Re-opens Two Lanes of Little Falls Parkway to Pedestrians and Bicyclists Seven Days a Week

Published October 31, 2022 at 4:42PM

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has opened two of the four lanes of Little Falls Parkway for recreational use between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue seven days a week. The space was created by reconfiguring the lanes on Little Falls Parkway so that two of the four lanes—on the east side of the median—are used for traffic with the two lanes west of the median being used for recreation. “Our goal is to repurpose a portion of this roadway for people to exercise and enjoy the outdoors,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “In the spring, when it warms up, we will make it even better by creating a pilot linear park and adding activities and events.”

The linear park coming in the spring is part of a pilot project being developed in phases. During phase one, Montgomery Parks implemented a road diet from May through October 2022 and shut two of the four lanes of the parkway to vehicles to conduct traffic studies. The studies concluded that Little Falls Parkway functions well with just two lanes for vehicles. During October 2022, phase two of the project eliminated vehicles on the west side of the median and routed all traffic to the two lanes on the east side of the median.

Beyond MoCo

Montgomery County Man Arrested For First Degree Sexual Abuse Offense

By MCS Staff

Published October 31, 2022 at 1:39PM | Updated October 31, 2022 at 5:01PM

Per MPD: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit announce an arrest has been made in a First Degree Sexual Abuse offense that occurred on Thursday, October 27, 2022, in the 2100 block of P Street, Northwest.

At approximately 3:20 am, the suspect approached the victim at the listed location. The suspect assaulted the victim and engaged in a forced sex act with the victim. The suspect was arrested by responding officers.

Takoma Park

Takoma Park Coat Drive Starts Today

By MCS Staff

Published October 31, 2022 at 9:30AM

“Do you have coats, gloves or scarves that you don’t need anymore…donate them!” The Takoma Park Police Department, in partnership with Adventist Church, the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department, and others, is collecting clean, gently used warm coats in any size from infant to adult.

The coats will be donated to people in need. This coat drive can make a difference in the lives of others by simply donating coats and jackets that are no longer needed. We will also accept clean, gently used gloves/mittens and scarves.

Maryland

Fuel Company Issues Diesel Shortage Alert That Includes Maryland

By MCS Staff

Published October 31, 2022 at 7:25AM

A major company that tracks the availability of fuel issued an alert on Friday for a diesel fuel shortage in many Southeastern United States, including Maryland. The alert from Mansfield Energy on Friday also includes Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. The fuel supply and logistics company noted “extremely high prices in the Northeast along with supply outages along the Southeast.” Below is the full alert:

“East Coast fuel markets are facing diesel supply constraints due to market economics and tight inventories. Poor pipeline shipping economics and historically low diesel inventories are combining to cause shortages in various markets throughout the Southeast. These have been occurring sporadically, with areas like Tennessee seeing particularly acute challenges.

Maryland

Marijuana Legalization Will Be Voted on in Maryland This November; WaPo/UMD Poll Shows Support From Voters

By MCS Staff

Published October 31, 2022 at 7:17AM | Updated November 5, 2022 at 5:09PM

Marijuana legalization is up for a vote on Tuesday, November 8. Residents will have the option to vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” Question 4 to legalize cannabis use for adults 21+ starting July 2023. The question will be “Do you favor the legalization of the use of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the State of Maryland?”

According to a recent Washington Post-University of Maryland poll, a large majority of registered voters in Maryland say they support legalizing recreational marijuana use. Just under 3 in 4, or 73 percent, of Maryland voters favor legalizing “the use of cannabis” for people 21 and older by next July, matching language on November’s ballot.

Restaurants

Ned Toms, Employee of Crisfield Seafood in Silver Spring For Nearly 50 Years, Has Passed Away

By MCS Staff

Published October 31, 2022 at 7:05AM

John “Ned” Kenneth Toms, 90, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at his home in Durham. Mr. Toms was born in Point of Rocks, Maryland and worked at Crisfield Seafood in Silver Spring, MD for close to 50 years. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter and served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Steve Chapman shared the following regarding Tom’s, “Sad news for long time lovers of Crisfield’s restaurant in Silver Spring. Ned Toms, who worked behind the front circular counter for nearly 50 years, died this week at 90. Whether shucking oysters and clams, uncapping a beer, offering up some local lore, or telling an abusive customer to watch their tongue, Ned was the soul of Crisfields. They even created a hot sauce for him with his own profile on the label!”

Bethesda

Josephine Gluten Free Bakery is Now Open

By MCS Staff

Published October 31, 2022 at 6:56AM

Josephine Gluten Free Bakery officially opened on October 22 at 4927A Saint Elmo Ave in Bethesda. The bakery specialize in gluten-free, savory, and sweet waffles and pastries. Josephine also offers a wide range of gluten-free dishes, snacks, drinks, and coffee.

The treats at Josephine are made with exclusive gluten-free recipes, using ancient grains and flours, organic ingredients, and robust flavors and textures, according to its website. The product mix is strictly made in a 100% gluten-and allergen-free facilities for the safety of our customer highly sensitive customers.

Gaithersburg

Sunday Night Collision Injures Three in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Published October 31, 2022 at 6:41AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision late Sunday night in front of Fire Station 708 in Gaithersburg on Montgomery Village Ave and Russell Ave, according to Battalion Fire Chief James Carpenter.

The collision occurred at approximately 10:15pm and led to three patients being evaluated with non-life threatening injuries. One person was transported to the hospital following the collision. Additional photos below, per acting PIO James Carpenter.

Crime

Police Respond to Multiple Calls For Shots Fired Late Saturday Night; One Shot Goes Through House

By MCS Staff

Published October 30, 2022 at 5:52PM

Per Takoma Park Police: On October 29 at approximately 11:52 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the area of 4th Avenue for multiple calls about hearing what sounded like several shots being fired. Officers canvassed the area on foot for suspects, potential victims and casings with negative results. On October 30, during daylight, officers returned to the area and found several shell casings indicative of a weapons discharge. Those shell casings were impounded. In addition, a resident reported that one of the shots fired went through their house; fortunately, no one was physically hurt. That bullet fragment was also impounded.

There were similar incidents of residents calling in for shots heard fired occurring in the 6400 block of 4th Avenue between Eastern and Westmoreland on October 15. At approximately 5:00 pm on October 15, officers responded to the area and found several spent shell casings around a vacant home, which were impounded.

Education

Washington Business Journal Releases ‘Top 50 Middle Schools in DC Region’ List; 19 MCPS Schools Listed

By MCS Staff

Published October 30, 2022 at 9:32AM

The Washington Business Journal has released its list of ‘Top 50 Middle Schools in the D.C. Region’ based on rankings released annually by Niche. 19 MCPS schools, which can be seen below, have made the list.

Per WBJ, “The group weighs such factors as graduation rates, state test scores, enrollment figures, student-teacher ratios, finance information, diversity measures, disciplinary actions and parent and student surveys, among other metrics, with the largest amount of attention given to academic data from the U.S. Department of Education and National Center for Education Statistics.”

Maryland

It’s Almost Time to “Fall Back” And It May Be For the Last Time (Daylight Saving Time)

By MCS Staff

Published October 29, 2022 at 5:00PM

On Sunday, November 6, 2022, at 2:00am we “Fall Back” as Daylight Saving Time ends. While many of us enjoy the extra hour of sleep and lament the loss of longer days, this may be the last time if the “Sunshine Protection Act” passes through the house and moves on to President Biden. The bill would make Daylight Saving permanent and put an end to having to change your clocks twice a year. According to the H.R.69 – Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, this bill makes daylight savings time the new, permanent standard time. States with areas exempt from daylight savings time may choose the standard time for those areas.

As mentioned above, the bill still has to be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by President Joe Biden, and that process has appeared to hit a “brick wall,” according to a July article by the The Hill. The article states that there are fundamental disagreements with the language of the bill, such as whether daylight saving or standard should be the permanent time, and the House having other priorities are the main reasons why the Sunshine Protection Act seems to have hit a snag.