East County

A replacement for Pho Hung & Grill at 11225 New Hampshire Ave. has signed on at the White Oak Shipping Center. Pho Hung & Grill closed over a year ago at the shopping center after a run of approximately 15 years (it opened in 2007). Danny Rubin of WashUrban tells us that they have signed Valle De Sula, a Honduran restaurant specializing in Central American cuisine, to the shopping center.

Some of the dishes that will be available at Valle De Sula include, baleadas, carne asada, sopa de mariscos, desayunos, flautas, pupusas, enchiladas, tacos dorados, chuleta con tajadas, sopa modongo, yuca con chicharron, pastelitos, sopa de res, pescado con tajadas, and more. The restaurant is currently building out and hopes to open in the coming weeks.


Rockville

Per the City of Rockville: The City of Rockville will mark the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and remember county residents who lost their lives with a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11 at Courthouse Square Park, at the corner of East Jefferson Street and Maryland Avenue in Rockville’s downtown. The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will include a presentation of colors and remarks by Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton.

The 9/11 memorial at Courthouse Square Park remembers the 11 Montgomery County residents who lost their lives on Sept. 11: William Edward Caswell, Dr. Gerald Paul Fisher, Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred, Michele M. Heidenberger, Angela Marie Houtz, Teddington Hamm Moy, Lt. Darin H. Pontell, Scott A. Powell, Todd Hayes Reuben, Patricia J. Statz and Ernest M. Willcher.


DMV

At approximately 9:25, many in the Mid-Atlantic region witnessed a shooting star streak through the sky. The Capital Weather Gang’s Jason Samenow described it as a “vibrant fireball” streaking across the Mid-Atlantic sky. “It is probable that the meteor — or rock from space that entered Earth’s atmosphere — was a fireball, or particularly bright meteor.”

Many in Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York captured the bright shooting star on camera, including Instagram user @OfficiallyKingPhilly from right here in Montgomery County, MD (explicit language warning). His video and a collection of videos from meteorologist Justin Berk  can be seen below:


Entertainment

Current and retired MCPS employees (and one guest) are admitted free into regular season contests hosted by MCPS schools, contingent upon proper identification and the availability of space. MCPS employees include teachers, administrators, coaches and support staff. Acceptable identification includes the following:

The season opens on Friday, Sept. 1. County Sports Zone is the official website for MCPS high school schedules. Opening day for middle schools is Sept. 26, and middle schools schedules are available here.


Maryland

Montgomery County has issued a Heat Emergency Alert from 12 – 6 pm on Monday, September 4.  Residents should prepare for heat index values to reach 95+ degrees during the afternoon hours.  These dangerously hot temperatures and heat index values could cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.  Try to stay in an air-conditioned location.  Stay hydrated.  When possible, take frequent breaks in a cool, shaded area.

Don’t forget your pets!  If you see an animal outside who appears to be in danger, call the Animal Services Division at 301-279-8000. The following precautions will help residents remain safe and more comfortable during excessive heat days:


DMV

Per WMATA: On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4, Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight, providing normal Sunday service on all lines at all 98 stations, including the Green Line where four stations closed for summer construction will reopen ahead of schedule tomorrow. Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule. MetroAccess customers may make a reservation to travel on the holiday; however, subscription trips will be canceled.  

Whether heading to a movie, barbeque, or one of many local events, Metro is your convenient and affordable way to get around the region this holiday weekend. If you’re heading out of town, avoid the traffic by taking Metro to Washington Dulles International or Reagan National airports. Metro this week announced that Green Lines stations Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, Hyattsville Crossing, and West Hyattsville stations, closed since July 22, will reopen for rail service on Saturday, Sept. 2, three days ahead of schedule.


Clarksburg

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a townhouse fire in the 23300 blk of Brewers Tavern Way in Clarksburg on Sunday afternoon. According to MCFRS Assistant Chief David Pazos, “units reported heavy fire to the rear with extension to both exposures. Fire is reported out, and there are no injuries at this time.”

Two adults and one child have been displaced. Reports of an explosion were from a grill that was located near the fire. Approximately 68 MCFRS personnel responded to the scene. A 2nd alarm was declared due to the heat. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.


MoCo History

Per the City of Rockville: The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority has awarded the City of Rockville grant funding to study the Avery Road Colored Cemetery and Benjamin Franklin Smith Family Homestead, located within the footprint of today’s Croydon Creek Nature Center and John G. Hayes Forest Preserve. The city was awarded $16,941 to hire a consultant to perform historical background research and use ground-penetrating radar to document what remains below ground connected to Benjamin Franklin Smith, his family and the sites’ development.

This nondestructive approach will seek to discover what lies beneath the areas, including burial sites, funerary objects, architectural relics, and stone tools, arrowheads or other artifacts. Survey findings will assist with a second phase of the project to provide overall site interpretation of the Smith homestead and cemetery sites.


Events

The Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show, a city tradition for six decades, rolls into Rockville Civic Center Park on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The show’s 60th edition will be held 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the picturesque park at 603 Edmonston Drive. Home to the historic Glenview Mansion, the hills of Rockville Civic Center Park offer a fall backdrop for collectors and enthusiasts to share memories as they stroll through vehicles from 32 car clubs, from Packard and Plymouth to Fiat and Ferrari. This year’s special display will celebrate 75 years of Lotus.