MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

The Shops at Congressional Village Shopping Center Goes For $44 Million at Auction Wednesday Morning

Published October 12, 2022 at 12:01PM | Updated October 12, 2022 at 2:41PM

The multi-tenant retail shipping center known as The Shops At Congressional Village, a one/story commercial building and a leasehold interest on the first floor of 192 Halpine Rd in Rockville went for $44 million at an auction on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022 at 11:00AM.

The auction was won by the IVEA restaurant group (who owns local restaurants like Gyuzo BBQ, Gong Cha, The Spot, Kyoto Matcha, Lao Sze Chuan, and more) and Chicago-based Windfall Group LLC who we are told plans to add additional restaurants to the shopping center. The Shops at Congressional Village is currently home to 7-Eleven, ATI Physical Therapy, Heartland Dental, MyEyeDr., Verizon, and more.

Education

Antiracist Audit Presented to the Montgomery County Board of Education

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 11:32AM

Per MCPS: The Board of Education received a public presentation of the MCPS Antiracist Audit by independent auditors, Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc. on Tuesday, Oct. 11. In 2020, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, in her capacity as deputy superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), initiated a study of the district’s policies and practices to ensure MCPS had a clear understanding of how well the district was serving all students. With the Board’s support, Dr. McKnight sought a full understanding of the experiences of students, parents and educators in MCPS.

“I am pleased to have the affirmation of what we have known for years and what student performance data tells us—that students of color have a different experience in our school system,” said Superintendent McKnight. “If we are truly going to ensure that all students can succeed, then we must eliminate racism and bias in teaching and learning. As a result of this work, when we ask ourselves what will be different, the answer must be—we will be different.”

Celebrities

Former Rockville Resident Connie Britton Co-Stars in #1 Movie on Netflix, Luckiest Girl Alive

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 11:24AM

Connie Britton was born Constance Elaine Womack in Boston, Massachusetts, but moved to Rockville as a baby and spent the first seven years of her life there. Britton lived off of Norbeck Rd. and Bel Pre Rd. You might recognize her from one of her many popular roles in Friday Night Lights, American Horror Story, Nashville, 9-1-1, Dirty John, and a lot more. She is currently co-starring in the number 1 movie on Netflix, Luckiest Girl Alive.

Luckiest Girl Alive is a 2015 New York Times Bestselling mystery novel written by the American author Jessica Knoll. The novel follows a young woman, Ani Fanelli, who has sought to reinvent herself in her adult life, following a series of horrifying events during her teenage years. The star of the movie is played by Mila Kunis, who works as an editor at a glamorous New York City women’s magazine and has a loving fiancé from a good family. Yet Ani also hides a secret – as a teenager,she underwent a series of horrifying and emotionally crippling events, including a school shooting, that have continued to impact her well into her adult years.

Rockville

Rockville City Officials to Receive Presentation on Final Concept for Re-Imagining RedGate Park

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 10:52AM

City of Rockville Planning staff recommends that the Mayor and Council receive a presentation on the final concept for the Re-Imagining RedGate Park and adopt the attached Master Plan (a few photos below) at the upcoming October 17th Rockville mayor and city council meeting. If the Mayor and Council adopt the Plan, the Recreation and Parks Department staff will work with the City Manager to submit for FY 24 funding to begin implementing the identified priorities for RedGate Park. Once funding is approved by the Mayor and Council, staff would move forward with the necessary site plans for implementation. If the Mayor and Council request changes to the proposed Plan and choose not to adopt at this meeting, staff will revise the Plan and present at a future Mayor and Council meeting for adoption.

Background and Process Summary: In March 2020, the Mayor and Council voted to retain the entire 131-acre site, formerly RedGate Golf Course, as a public park. The Mayor and Council requested that park elements include both active and passive recreation, as well as natural open areas. The Mayor and Council also advocated for significant community engagement to help identify and prioritize the elements that would ultimately be included in the park plan. Following the Mayor and Council meeting, staff finalized the Scope of Work. A detailed Request for Proposals was then issued to secure a multi-disciplinary team to conduct a master plan process for the site. Mahan Rykiel Associates, Inc. was procured in January 2021 to join the project team as its consultant.

Maryland

Small Earthquake in Central Maryland Caused A Few Small Rumbles in MoCo Late Tuesday Night

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 8:41AM

A 2.0 magnitude earthquake occurred a couple miles ESE of Sykesville in Carroll County at 11:49pm on Tuesday night. Small rumbles from the earthquake could be felt as far out as Montgomery County, according to a map shared by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Per the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Maryland experienced an earthquake at 11:49 pm last night. The magnitude of the earthquake at its epicenter is calculated to be 2.0. The epicenter is calculated to be 2.9 miles East-Southeast of Sykesville, MD and 6.3 miles west of Randallstown, MD. The depth of the earthquake is 4 kilometers. The calculated magnitude of 2.0 is an earthquake that some people can feel; however, little to no damage is expected due to the earthquake. Homes around the epicenter may have experienced light shaking of pictures or dishes hung on the wall. The quake is mostly felt by people in higher floors of buildings and/or people at rest very close to the epicenter.

Bethesda

NB Wisconsin Avenue Shut Down Following Collision Involving Motorcycle

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 7:46AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) we’re called to the scene of a traumatic injury due to a collision involving a motorcycle a little after 7am Wednesday morning, according to MCFRS Chief Spokeperson Pete Piringer.

The collision occurred in the northbound lanes of Wisconsin Avenue and Chestnut Street in Chevy Chase. Northbound Wisconsin Ave has been shut down as emergency medical services continue to evaluate a traumatic injury. Montgomery County Police has issued the following traffic advisory: Northbound Wisconsin Ave at Chestnut is shut down following a traffic collision. Drivers should expect significant delays and seek alternate routes.

Gaithersburg

Muddy Branch Square Giant Temporarily Evacuated for Investigation of Fuel Odor

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 7:29AM | Updated October 12, 2022 at 7:49AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services are on the scene at Giant in Muddy Branch Square (Gaithersburg) investigating a fuel odor in the store., according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer. The store, located at 842 Muddy Branch Rd., has been temporarily evacuated during the investigation.

We’ll have an update once additional information is available.

Events

‘Winter Lights’ Tickets Go On Sale at 10am on October 12

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 7:20AM

The City of Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights Festival is getting ready to welcome visitors for another spectacular season. The wondrous display of lights at Seneca Creek State Park will be open nightly November 25 through December 31. The festival is closed on December 25 and last entry for December 24 & 31 is 8:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale on October 12th at 10am

The 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees that light up the night. The park is located at 11950 Clopper Road, conveniently accessible from I-270.

WMATA

‘Better Bus’ Events Will Take Place Across the DMV to Give Community a Chance to Shape the Future of Metrobus

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 7:17AM

Per WMATA: Metro is going on the road with ‘Better Bus’, a new initiative to rethink, redesign, and revitalize bus service. In a bold inaugural effort to redesign the current bus network, Metro is holding events across the region to hear from customers and the community. Together with Metro, customers will shape the future of bus service.

The bus network redesign is just the beginning of a reimagined Metro that better serves the needs of customers, including the transition to zero-emission buses, construction of all-electric bus garages, priority bus lanes and signals, bus stop and shelter improvements, and ensures equity of service across communities.

Maryland

Maryland Is 2022’s Most Politically Engaged State, According to Report

By MCS Staff

Published October 12, 2022 at 7:12AM

With Election Day coming up and only 66.8% of the voting age population having voted in the 2020 presidential election and 53.4% in the 2018 midterm, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Most & Least Politically Engaged States, with Maryland ranked as the “most politically engaged state.”

In order to determine where Americans are most involved in politics, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 10 key indicators of political engagement. They range from the percentage of registered voters in the 2020 presidential election to total political contributions per adult population.

Business

Rockville’s Emmes Acquires Fifth Company in Less Than Two Years

By MCS Staff

Published October 11, 2022 at 4:19PM

Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) that’s headquartered in Rockville and dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, announced that it has acquired Clinical Edge. Clinical Edge trains and certifies visual function examiners at investigator sites conducting Phase I to IV ophthalmic clinical trials. The combination of Optym, Emmes’ ophthalmology certification unit, and Clinical Edge will make the organization a leader in ophthalmic certification and training services. Emmes officially rolled out the new name – OptymEdge – and branding ahead of the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, which takes place in Chicago from September 30 to October 3. This is the fifth company that Rockville-based Emmes has acquire din the last five years.

Per the press release: Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan, said, “This acquisition makes us a powerhouse in the ophthalmology training and certification area, a critical part of determining the safety and efficacy of new treatments for eye disease. Our fifth acquisition in less than two years, this is another positive step in our growth and globalization effort. It also reflects our commitment to investing in public health and alleviating the high burden of disease areas like ophthalmology.” OptymEdge ensures the standardization of visual function requirements for ophthalmic clinical trials across all phases of clinical development. This includes certifying and training of clinical trial center staff and maintaining a database listing their current certification status. OptymEdge has a combined base of 36 ophthalmic certifiers, most of whom are doctors of optometry and medical doctors.