Author: Cordell Pugh

Entertainment

Kensington VFD resumes Summer Movie Nights This Saturday

By Cordell Pugh

This Saturday, July 22, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington are resuming their Summer Movie Night. This weekend, Wreck-It Ralph will be shown at dusk in St. Paul Park on the big screen.

Starting at 7PM, activities and games will be available in the Park, including a water balloon toss and the Fire Department’s Safety House. The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department encourages moviegoers to bring blankets, picnics, friends and family. Pizza, Popcorn, and other refreshments will be available for purchase. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=298801665876692

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Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Urbana VFD Carnival This Week

By Cordell Pugh

The Urbana Volunteer Fire Department’s 49th Community Carnival is open nightly this week through Sunday, July 23.

The event is tailored towards fun for the whole family. Admission and parking are free, and the doors open every evening this week at 5:30, with rides opening at 6:00. There are a variety of carnival games throughout the midway. This year, there will be free nightly live music and fireworks at 10:00 PM Thursday night. A Blackstone 36″ Griddle is being raffled off, with the raffle drawing Sunday night. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, unlimited ride tickets are available for $20.

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Bethesda

M&T Announces September Closure of Friendship Heights Branch

By Cordell Pugh

M&T Bank has announced that their Friendship Heights location & ATM, at the corner of Willard and Wisconsin Avenues, will be permanently closing on Friday, September 22, 2023. M&T Bank has posted signage about the closure at its Friendship Heights branch and mailed letters to customers informing them of the upcoming closure.

According to M&T, “As our customers’ needs and banking habits evolve, we regularly review the locations of our branches, particularly when they are close to one another, to ensure that we are providing the best service possible. At this time, we have decided to close our Friendship Heights Branch at 5416 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase on Friday, September 22, 2023 at noon.”

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Bethesda

Crews Resurfacing Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda

By Cordell Pugh

This week (May 8th), Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) contractors began resurfacing Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda. Crews will be working on weekdays from 9AM to 4PM, resurfacing all lanes of Parklawn Drive between Randolph Road and the CSX Rail bridge (just East of Nebel Street).

Montgomery County-based M. Luis Construction Co., Inc. is performing the work. Crews will be removing the top layer of asphalt and paving a new asphalt surface on top of the existing base course. Work is expected to wrap up in June, as long as the weather cooperates, according to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

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Bethesda

Westbard Avenue Closure Expanded; Shopping Center Remains Open

By Cordell Pugh

This week, the Westbard Square project team expanded their closure of Westbard Avenue near the current Westwood Center and future Westbard Square, which is currently under construction.

Westbard Avenue is now closed between Ridgefield Road and the entrance to the existing shopping center. All vehicular traffic must access the Westbard Shops from Massachusetts Avenue, and all Northbound traffic on Westbard Avenue is now diverted into the shopping center. The sidewalk alongside the newly-closed segment of Westbard remains open.

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MCFRS

Rockville Volunteers Dedicate New Fire Engine

By Cordell Pugh

Saturday morning, the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department celebrated the housing of their new fire engine, known as Engine 703, and dedicated it in memory of their Past Fire Chief, Scott Eric Emmons.

Past Fire Chief Scott Eric Emmons, who died in 2021, volunteered with the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years, in every operational rank from Firefighter to Fire Chief. Chief Emmons also was a DC Metropolitan Police Detective, where he served on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Chief Emmons’ daughter is now a Rockville Volunteer Firefighter as well.

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Beyond MoCo

Bridge Project Brings Speed Cameras Back to Beltway

By Cordell Pugh

A Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) bridge rehabilitation project is bringing Safe Zones Automated Speed Enforcement (“speed cameras”) back to the Beltway. This project involves the rehabilitation of the bridge carrying I-95 above the Outer Loop of the Beltway (I-495 West) within the I-495/I-95 interchange in College Park. Contractor crews will be repairing the bridge’s deck joints as well as its concrete piers and columns.

The Automated Speed Enforcement is focused on traffic on the Outer Loop of the Beltway, just past the split with I-95 North, headed towards New Hampshire Avenue and into Montgomery County. In a written statement, the State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) highlighted the different phases of this Automated Speed Enforcement effort:

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Bethesda

Water Main Replacement Brings Nighttime Lane Closures to Chevy Chase

By Cordell Pugh

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) will soon begin the next phase of a water main replacement project in Chevy Chase. Crews have already replaced water mains under portions of Brookeville Road (MD-186) and several residental streets in Chevy Chase Section Three and The Village of Chevy Chase Section 5.

Crews will be working along Connecticut Avenue throughout the rest of December and January. Approximately 800 feet of water main will be replace, underneath Connecticut Avenue between Rosemary and Thornapple Streets (North of Bradley Lane and South of East–West Highway). According to an Upcoming Project Activity Notice published by WSSC, crews will be working overnight, between 9PM and 5AM, to complete the water main replacement underneath Connecticut Avenue.

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Entertainment

This Saturday: Kensington VFD hosting Halloween Movie Night

By Cordell Pugh

This Saturday, October 29, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington are once again hosting their annual Halloween Movie Night. “Hotel Transylvania” will be shown at dusk in St. Paul Park on the big screen. Costumes are encouraged for all attendees.

The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington will have refreshments available for purchase in the Park, including pizza, popcorn, and candy.

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Cabin John

Remembering Journalist and Radio Host Mike Causey

By Cordell Pugh

Esteemed Federal Government columnist and radio host Norman “Mike” Causey passed away late last month at the age of 82.

At the Federal News Network and WTOP Radio studios in Friendship Heights, Causey had wrapped up recording a radio segment when he was found unresponsive in his office by a colleague. Valiant bystander CPR, as well as attempts from Montgomery County Fire & Rescue, proved unsuccessful.

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Brookeville

Brookeville Road Closure Extended Into November

By Cordell Pugh

On September 19, the Maryland State Highway Administration announced that the current closure of Brookeville Road, between Georgia Avenue (MD-97) ,and Grayheaven Manor Road, has been extended through late November. According to the State Highway Administration, the newly–extended duration of the Brookeville Road closure will allow contractors to efficiently complete Brookeville Bypass construction tasks.

MD 97 has a 90-degree curve at Market Street, which is accompanied by a steep hill.

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