Brookeville

Scott Van Pelt has been named the new host of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown, according to Adam Schefter. MyMCMedia noted that Van Pelt will be taking over for Suzy Kolber, who was let go by the network during their recent round of layoffs.

Van Pelt will join former Commanders players Ryan Clark, Robert Griffin III, and Alex Smith, as well as Schefter, Marcus Spears, Michelle Beisner-Buck, and Larry Fitzgerald who are all part of the show’s cast. The week 1 show will take place at 6pm in anticipation of the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets game later in the night.


DMV

Per the Maryland Department of Transportation: “Governor Wes Moore today announced a path forward in addressing mobility and access challenges along the American Legion Bridge, I-495 and I-270, with the submission of a formal federal grant application for improvements to those corridors. This application advances a critical piece of the Moore-Miller program for multimodal enhancements in the Washington region along the I-495 and I-270 corridors.

“Transportation is not just about physical mobility; it’s about quality of life, access and opportunity,” said Governor Moore. “The transportation network throughout Maryland and the National Capital Region must be able to get people where they need to go in a timely and reliable manner. Providing long-desired, equitable transportation solutions in the American Legion Bridge and I-270 corridors is critical to eliminating employment barriers, linking more people to high-demand jobs and stimulating local economies.”


Beyond MoCo

The Original Steaks and Hoagies will open its first Maryland location this weekend at 10450 Owings Mills Blvd in Owings Mills. The Ohio-based franchise offers specialty cheesesteaks like “The Hangover,” with hot sauce, fried egg, bacon, onions, hot peppers, and cheese whiz, and the “Black And Blue,” with Cajun seasoning, mushrooms, and blue cheese cream.  In addition to to hoagies/cheesesteaks, menu items include wings, salads, fried pickles, and pretzels. According to a report by Baltimore’s ABC2, the chain plans on opening five restaurants in Maryland, with Columbia and College Park mentioned as possible locations.

About Original Steaks and Hoagies: “In August 2010, Bill Fromholzer Jr. (a.k.a. Billy from Philly) opened The Original Steaks & Hoagies in Twinsburg, Ohio–and introduced authentic Philly Cheesesteaks and Hoagies to Northeast Ohio. In the 1980s, Bill’s family owned and operated three Laspada’s Original Steaks & Hoagies Cheesesteak shops in the Philly area. These locations continue to be award-winning steak and hoagie shops today.


Education

At MCPS, our primary goal is to equip students with the necessary tools, skills and knowledge to thrive in their future college, career and community endeavors. We are excited for the opportunities this new school year presents for all students. As a system, we have identified priorities and key investments to fully support our educators, our schools and most importantly, our students. Our focus on student academic achievement and social-emotional and physical safety supports are foundational to an inspiring learning environment.

Supporting each student’s educational journey is the focus of our MCPS staff, no matter their role in this great district.


Maryland

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown co-led a coalition of 15 Attorneys General supporting EPA’s proposed rules for “advanced recycling” facilities, but also urging the agency to go further in its proposed Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) for producing 18 substances used to make transportation fuels and refinery feedstocks – raw material for processing or manufacturing another product – from plastic waste. Under the new rules, the “advanced recycling” – a misleading term that primarily refers to two processes, pyrolysis and gasification, that break plastics down into their constituent molecules – of plastic waste containing certain chemicals and impurities known to be hazardous to human health and the environment would require EPA’s pre-approval.

Pyrolysis and gasification are processes that use significant energy, extreme heat, and a low-orno oxygen environment to break down plastic products. Those molecules can then, in theory, be used to build new plastic products, but the great majority of substances produced through these processes is, instead, burned or added to transportation fuels. The plastic waste used in these processes often contains chemical additives and impurities that are known to be harmful to human health and the environment. Studies indicate that those additives and impurities may wind up in consumer goods or otherwise become part of a facility’s air, water, or solid waste emissions, posing significant environmental justice concerns as petrochemical facilities are disproportionately located in minority and low-income areas across the country.


Bethesda

According to Regal, “The first edition of National Cinema Day recorded over 8.1 million visitors to movie theatres across the country, setting the single day attendance record for 2022,” said Eduardo Acuna, CEO at Cineworld Group, parent company of Regal. “This year with $4 movies and a $4 concession combo, Regal hopes to welcome even more guests on National Cinema Day to see why we are ‘The Best Place to Watch a Movie!'”


Beyond MoCo

In Celebration of it’s 65th anniversary, Ben’s Chili Bowl at 1213 U ST in NW, Washington DC, will be giving away free meals (Half Smoke, Beef Dog, Turkey Dog or Veggie Dog) with a bag of chips and a soda starting at 1:30PM on August 22nd. The offer is only valid at the original U Street location and will be available while supplies last. Additional information and a history of Ben’s Chili Bowl below:

“Ben’s Chili Bowl began as a dream of Ben & Virginia Ali, and with their $5,000 life savings, the young couple first opened the doors of their now iconic restaurant on August 22, 1958.  For over 65 years, Ben’s has been a staple in Washington, DC serving locals, celebrities, presidents, and tourists from around the world.


Burtonsville

The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating, Jozlynn Sanderson, a missing 16-year-old from Burtonsville. Sanderson was last seen on Saturday, August 21, 2023 at approximately 3:30 p.m., in the area of Scarlet Sage Court in Burtonsville/Silver Spring. She is 5’2″, 130 lbs., with black hair styled in two pony tails, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black ribbed turtleneck sweatshirt, black Nike shorts, and white Air Force 1 sneakers with white socks.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jozlynn Sanderson is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).


Crime

Per MCPD: 3rd District officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police have arrested 38-year-old Larry Goisse of Silver Spring for installing hidden cameras inside of an Airbnb bedroom that was rented by two guests on Friday, August 5, 2022. Detectives are urging anyone who may be a victim of this crime to come forward.

The investigation has revealed that a couple from Texas rented an Airbnb bedroom inside a residence in the 1100 block of Dale Drive in Silver Spring. After arriving at the location, the couple located hidden cameras inside smoke detectors in the bedroom and bathroom. The couple left the house and drove to the Target store on Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring, where they reported the incident to the police.


DMV

Maryland Public Television (MPT) will premiere its original special Jewish Delis: Something to Kvell About! at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 on the statewide public TV network’s main channel, MPT-HD, and the MPT live stream. A preview is available to view on the network’s YouTube channel. Featured will be popular Baltimore deli Attman’s, which has a location in Park Potomac, MoCo’s Corned Beef King, and Call Your Mother, which has MoCo locations in Pike & Rose and Bethesda.

Per the press release: “Beginning as places for Jews from Central and Eastern Europe to eat and meet, delis expanded across the American landscape and eventually attracted as many gentiles as Jews. A stretch of Baltimore’s East Lombard Street even earned the moniker “Corned Beef Row” for the number of delis that once lined the roadway near Horseradish Lane. Today, the number of Jewish delis has shrunk dramatically and many of the survivors have adapted to changing times, sometimes in ways their forebearers might not recognize.


Bethesda

On August 21, 2023, Montgomery Parks will begin renovating the lighting in the Capital Crescent Trail, Dalecarlia Tunnel, with six ceiling-mounted lights to make the tunnel brighter, safer, and more reliable for commuters, recreational cyclists, and pedestrians.

This work will require narrowing the tunnel down to one lane during the construction day so users should expect slowdowns and stoppages during the work period. Equipment will be removed from the tunnel at the end of the day. Signage will be posted during project workdays. Park Police will be present to assist commuters at both ends of the tunnel during work times.