Burtonsville

$3.5 Million in Funding Approved for the Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center

By Patrick Herron

Per the Office of Senator Craig Zucker: Today, the State Board of Public Works released $3.5 million in funding dedicated to the redevelopment of Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center. The District 14 Legislative Delegation, consisting of Senator Craig J. Zucker, Delegates Anne Kaiser, Bernice Mireku-North, and Pamela Queen, requested that the funding be secured after hearing the community’s visions for the future of the space. The team appreciates the Board of Public Works’ decision to release the funds, allowing renovations to begin.

“We are very pleased with today’s Board of Public Works vote to release the $3.5 million in funding for this project, said Senator Zucker and Delegates Kaiser, Mireku-North, and Queen. “East County is a diverse area, and this funding represents the beginning of a more significant commitment from the District 14 team, the State of Maryland, and Montgomery County, are going to put into this project. The people of Burtonsville and East County deserve a world-class shopping center, and we are glad we helped make this a reality.”

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Bethesda

ala Bethesda to Open This Fall

By Patrick Herron

The owners of ala in Dupont Circle have announced they will open ala Bethesda at 4948 Fairmont Ave, in the former Positano restaurant space.  According to ala, the menu will be similar to the Dupont location, “where the cuisine melds the flavors of Turkey, Syria, Israel, Lebanon and beyond (known as the Levant region), an area of the world that has both a long history and a colorful past.” The new restaurant will feature a patio and rooftop, and is expected to open this fall.

Per ala: ala is under the culinary direction of Executive Chef Ercan Sahn, an internationally trained chef who recently took over the kitchen.   The menu celebrates the flavor and history of the Levantine cooking it has become synonymous for, but with a fine dining touch.  A native of Turkey, Chef Sahn has worked all over the world over the past 20 years, including in Dubai, Turkey and Cyprus.   Most recently, Sahn worked closely with acclaimed DC Chef Fabio Trabocchi at Michelin starred Wharf restaurant Del Mar.  He will also oversee the menu at ala Bethesda. Owner Deniz Gulluoglu and her family live in the Cabin John area of Bethesda and are excited to bring the restaurant to Montgomery County.

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MDLottery

$100,000 Scratch-off Sold at MoCo Sunoco

By Patrick Herron

Her plans for her winnings include “maybe a little investing,” she said, and possibly a vacation to an as-yet undetermined destination. As for other folks who play Lottery games and are still hoping for a big win, she says, “Just be positive.” Sharing in her positivity is the Lottery retailer where she bought the ticket, the Sunshine Ethio store at 6907 New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park, which picks up a bonus of $1,000. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps. 

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Gaithersburg

City of Gaithersburg Seeks Resident Feedback on Parking Conditions in Neighborhoods

By Patrick Herron

Per the City of Gaithersburg: The City is in the process of developing new parking permit regulations and updates to the City Code. Feedback is sought from residents to learn about existing neighborhood parking conditions. A survey is available online here through October 1, 2023.

The Permit Parking Program will consolidate the variety of existing City Parking Permits, including Residential Permit Parking, Commercial Permit Parking, The Crossings Permit Program, Commuter Permit Parking, and Temporary Permit Parking, into one program.

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Silver Spring

Final Escalator Replacement Underway at Silver Spring Station

By MCS Staff

Update: Another escalator replacement was completed at Silver Spring Station earlier this week. The final escalator replacement at the station is now underway. 

History: On September 6, 2022, Metro began a major capital project replacing the five entrance escalators at Silver Spring Station. All five escalators will be replaced with brand-new ones that are more durable and reliable. Metro’s contractor KONE will install the escalators as part of an ongoing project to replace 130 escalators across the Metrorail system by 2028, helping to ensure the regional infrastructure remains in a state of good repair.

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Events

Montgomery Parks September Special Events and Programs

By MCS Staff

Per Montgomery Parks: It’s almost autumn and school’s back in session but there’s always fun to be had at Montgomery Parks. It’s the last chance to enjoy water amenities for the year. Take your favorite pup to Yappy Hour, come out to play at Never Grow Up, catch a concert or lecture. That’s just a sampling of the offerings this month.

September events in Montgomery Parks include: 

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Beyond MoCo

Metro: Tenleytown-AU Station east entrance to temporarily close

By MCS Staff

Metro is accelerating the escalator replacement work at Tenleytown-AU Station and will replace the two east entrance escalators with brand-new ones that are more durable and reliable.  Starting Monday, August 28, 2023, the entrance on the east side of Wisconsin Avenue, closest to 40th Street, will close for approximately four months. By closing the east entrance, construction crews can work on both escalators at the same time, increasing project efficiency and reducing the overall project duration by roughly two months.

During the entrance closure, construction crews will also continue to replace the final escalator that runs from the intermediate level to the mezzanine. Metro began construction to replace four entrance escalators and three internal escalators at this station in August 2021. To date, four escalators have been replaced at the station, including the two escalators at the west entrance. All escalator replacement work at Tenleytown-AU will be complete when the east entrance reopens in late December. Customer Impacts:

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Derwood

Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center Remains at Critical Occupancy, Adoption Fees Waived Through August, 24

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) in Derwood has reached a dangerous capacity for animals of all types. Despite the recent support in a campaign to have large dogs adopted, the over-population situation remains critical and has extended to all types of animals. To help inspire adoptions, the shelter is waiving adoption fees for the next 100 pets adopted by Thursday, Aug. 24.

The full capacity means the shelter will only be accepting animals who need immediate help. This policy is to help prevent euthanasia. Owners who must rehome a pet are encouraged to use rehoming websites. The shelter can list pets on the website for owners trying to rehome. Visit Surrender an Animal (montgomerycountymd.gov) for information on rehoming. Due to lack of space in the shelter, surrendering a pet now means it is at an increased risk for euthanasia.

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Gaithersburg

565 Vehicles Stopped and 4 Arrested During Recent Sobriety Checkpoint

By Patrick Herron

On Friday, August 18, 2023, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police and allied agencies conducted a sobriety checkpoint on northbound Frederick Road at Game Preserve Road in Gaithersburg. On Tuesday, MCPD announced that during the checkpoint, officers stopped approximately 565 vehicles and arrested 4 people for driving while impaired.

Last month, recreational marijuana use became legal in the state of Maryland and Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones issued the following reminder before the July 4th weekend, “We implore drivers to think of cannabis the same way they think of alcohol. Do not get behind the wheel of a car if you are impaired. Our officers will pull over and arrest anyone they suspect of driving while impaired. Alcohol, marijuana and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Our priority is keeping the roads safe for everyone.”

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Maryland

“It’s a new day for Maryland’s Bays”; MD Dept. of Natural Resources Secretary’s August Message

By MCS Staff

August message by Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz: Governor Wes Moore recently announced a new strategy for how Maryland will deploy state resources to improve water quality in our waterways by better aligning our ongoing Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays cleanup efforts with the latest science.

A major study released in May by leading Chesapeake Bay scientists continued to show watershed states struggling to reduce nonpoint sources of pollution – the runoff being washed from our farms, cities, and suburbs. This challenge continues to prevent residents and visitors in parts of our state from having access to clean water. In response, we’re shifting Maryland’s waterway cleanup efforts to more effectively tackle nonpoint source pollution. The associated work will also help build resiliency for communities facing threats from a changing climate. 

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