Beyond MoCo

A loyal Maryland Lottery player knows his games as well as he knows his favorite Lottery retailers and their employees. So, when a new store clerk gave him a ticket for the wrong game and tried but couldn’t void the ticket, the Upper Marlboro resident accepted the employee’s profuse apologies and continued on his way home with one very lucky Multi-Match ticket in hand. Full story below, per MD Lottery:

Little did he know that the $10 quick-pick ticket in his possession would win a $580,000 jackpot in the Sept. 11 drawing. “This is the biggest prize of my life,” he said, sitting with his wife in the Winner’s Circle at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. The happy husband said he has read a lot of Lottery winner stories and just cannot believe it is his turn to tell the story of a win that his wife described as “divine intervention.”


Gaithersburg

Chopin Noodle House is currently holding its soft opening at 12123 Darnestown Rd in the Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center, in the location that was home to Pho City for 15 years until the restaurant closed at the end of July.

Chopin Noodle House offers a variety of hand pulled noodle soups, including Lanzhou beef noodle soup, traditional beef noodle soup, crispy fish noodle soup, cold noodles, and many others. The menu will also offer appetizers such as cucumber salad, chili oil cabbage, mutton chops and more. A variety of milk teas and iced tea/lemonades are also available. The restaurant opened its first location in Catonsville earlier this year.


DMV

Per WMATA: Trying to figure out the various Metrobus routes can be a puzzle with a mix of letters, numbers, and street names, express or limited-stop service. This outdated naming convention dates to Metro’s takeover of the region’s private bus companies and street cars and is about to get a refresh. For the first time in its 50-year history, Metro is looking to revamp the bus system and simplify routes with its Better Bus, Better Names campaign.

Metro has opened a survey to ask the public how Metro can name bus routes to make it easier for customers to understand and use the Metrobus system. People are encouraged to take the Better Bus, Better Names online survey until Sept. 28, to weigh in and help Metro standardize and modernize the entire bus experience throughout the region.


Maryland

There are currently three FDA-approved semaglutide products. All three medications, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, are only available with a prescription, and there are no approved generic versions. Since their approval, many weight loss products have used the medications’ name, “Nature’s Ozempic”, etc. to fuel sales of their products.

Per the FDA: The FDA and Maryland Department of Health analyses have determined that certain weight loss products labeled as Nuez de la India, and potentially marketed as “botanical food,” “India Nuts for Weight Loss,” “slimming seeds,” “India seeds for weight loss,” or “diet seeds,” appear to be highly toxic yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America. Ingestion of yellow oleander can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac changes, dysrhythmia, and more.


Event

Historic Indigenous Recognition Event to Take Place in Montgomery County, Maryland

The Taino American Indigenous National Organization (T.A.I.N.O.) proudly announces its upcoming signature public event,


Beyond MoCo

Metro Transit Police in coordination with U.S. Capitol Police will conduct a full-scale law enforcement exercise on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Capitol South Station. The exercise will simulate a real-life security threat to test operational coordination, communications, and response between law enforcement agencies. 

During this time, the Capitol South Station will be closed from opening until approximately 2 p.m. Free shuttle buses will replace trains between Eastern Market and Federal Center SW. The exercise will simulate a real-world response to an active assailant in the Metrorail system. People in the area will see and hear a large emergency response and police activity in and around the station, including simulated ammunition (blanks). Please be assured this is only a drill.


Burtonsville

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision with entrapment on Sandy Spring Rd and Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville on Sunday, September 17, around 1am.  According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, one adult was transported to the hospital with trauma. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

Update – Sandy Spring Rd, collision w/ entrapment, @MCFRS_EMIHS transported 1 adult trauma, some lanes blocked pic.twitter.com/pkMkt3Q56N


Crime

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Explosive Investigators are seeking information on multiple fires that occurred early Sunday morning in Gaithersburg. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, at 2:30am approximately 75 firefighters responded to the Holbrook Center (across from Gaitherburg High School) at 400blk S. Frederick Ave. near Education Blvd, for the report of a fire. Investigators indicated there were at least three separate fires, all suspicious in nature.

Around 3:15am, MCFRS units then responded to LaFrontera Restaurant at 3 Russell Ave in Gaithersburg. Several vehicles were on fire, which then spread to the building.  There were also several other “outside” fires reported in the area. A person of interest has been taken into custody. Anyone with information is asked to call the arson topline at 240-777-2263. Additional images and video below courtesy of @mcfrsPIO on Twitter:


MoCo

National Cheeseburger Day falls on Monday, September 18, and restaurants across the country are offering big discounts for the “holiday.” Below you’ll find a list of participating restaurants, as well as information on some of Montgomery County’s most famous burgers. Note: This listing will be updated when we hear of additional restaurant promotions.

Back in June, the Washington Post released its “10 Best Burgers in the D.C. Area” list and Montgomery County’s very own Steeze Burger was ranked the #1 burger in the area. Laytonsville resident Hunter Karametos, owner of Steeze Burger, started the pop-up burger business in 2022 after spending the better part of a year consuming over 150 different burgers for research.  According the article, “Topped with steamed onions, pickles and American cheese, it’s a burger that sends your needle into the red zone on first bite. Your brain cannot begin to process the experience, so it just goes along for the ride — delirious over this buttery and rewarding burger, the best around these parts.” Burgers from Soko Butcher (Takoma Park) and Quarry House Tavern (Silver Spring) were also listed in the article as “honorable mentions.” You can read the full top ten at www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/best-burgers-washington-dc. Follow @SteezeBurger on Instagram to find out where he’ll be popping up next.


Education

In a joint statement from the Maryland State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Schools, Mohammed Choudhury, it was announced that he will not be seeking a second term. The full statement can be seen below:

”Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury informed the State Board that he is withdrawing his request for a second term to pursue other opportunities.


MCFRS

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a two-car collision on Saturday, September 16, in Montgomery Village. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the collision occurred on East Bound (EB) Montgomery Village Ave at Tall Oaks Road.  One person was evaluated for non-life threatening injuries. Expect residual delays.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “East Bound (EB) Montgomery Village Ave at Tall Oaks Road. 2 car collision, @MCFRS_EMIHS evaluating one (1) person with NLTI. @mcfrs A708B, PE708 on scene, some lanes CLOSED”


MoCo Government

A full list of upcoming public hearings is available on the Council Calendar. Review the public hearing frequently asked questions for additional information.