Marc Elrich has released a statement on the news of the Purple Line opening at least seven months later than the previous estimate and costing $148 million more. His full statement can be seen below:
From the beginning of this process, I have been clear about the perils of engaging in a poorly conceived and constructed public private partnership. Taxpayers and transit riders will continue to pay for the mismanagement of the Hogan Administration. We deserved better.
Japong Bakery, which opened at 785 Rockville Pike in the Ritchie Center nearly five years ago in October 2018, closed temporarily on April 17th with a plan to reopen approximately three weeks later at its new location at 765 A Rockville Pike within the same shopping center. After a bit of a delay, the bakery has announced it will hold its soft opening on Sunday, July 16th from 9am-8pm.
The message on social media read, “We are extremely happy and proud to announce that we will be opening our doors again to our amazing customers. we are excited to share our new shop with you, so please come to visit us soon! The soft re-opening is: Sunday, July 16, 9:00am – 8:00pm. Let’s Japong!”
Board provided feedback on approach of study to focus on open spaces, pedestrian and transit networks, activity centers and public life in Friendship Heights today
The Montgomery County Planning Board was briefed on the Friendship Heights Urban Design StudyScope of Work at its July 13 weekly meeting. The Scope of Work lays out the Montgomery County Planning Department’s approach to studying how residents, business owners, and visitors experience the open spaces, pedestrian and transit networks, activity centers and public life in Friendship Heights today.
Summer fun starts at Good Counsel! Our Summer Camps are packed with exciting activities, sports, creativity, adventure, and unforgettable memories for campers of all ages. From the field to the classroom and everywhere in between, there’s something for everyone at Good Counsel’s Summer Camps!
Spend your summer learning, laughing, and making new friends with the Good Counsel community. Spots are filling fast so be sure to register today!
Register at: www.olgchs.org/camps
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council have announced that $5.75 million in Community Grants funding is available to assist County community nonprofits. The money is to be dispersed to nonprofits with unique and innovative programs focusing on youth, seniors, residents with disabilities and underserved populations to cover special community needs that are not otherwise being addressed by County funding or efforts.
Applications can now be submitted by eligible nonprofits. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13. Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, outgoing grants program manager at the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing [email protected].
Looking to clean out all of those old documents that have been taking up valuable space in your home or office? Join us at our Kensington Branch and we’ll help you shred your documents safely, securely, and for FREE!
After shredding, stick around to enjoy:
Stella Point Grille has announced it will hold its grand opening this coming Monday, July 17th at 3739 University Blvd in Kensington– the former home of China Gourmet. They’ll be open from 11am until 2am, the restaurant’s regular weekday hours. Graham Gursky, joined in ownership with Stephen Lee, the principal owner of China Gourmet, have rebranded as Stella Point Grille and will offer what they call “elevated American bar fare.”
Gursky let us know the food will be competitively priced, “We won’t be selling $20 chicken wings or $10 Miller Lites.” he said. Gursky also praised local Kensington restaurants Knowles Station and Talia’s Cuzina, telling us that there are great restaurants in Kensington but that he hopes to fill the void of something lacking in the area. Stella Point Grille will be a restaurant where you can enjoy a nice meal and is also a sports bar with 17 televisions ranging 55 to 85 inches. They’ll offer event nights like karaoke, trivia, etc. along with signature food specials created by Chef Leonel Merlos throughout most of the week.
Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon combination restaurant opened last week at 220 Boardwalk Place in Rio, taking over the location that was recently home to Lilly Magilly’s– as the cupcakery is still preparing for a move to a new location. We have received an update that only Cinnabon is available for now with Auntie Anne’s items coming soon.
The two brands, popular for their presence in malls, are co-branding to open locations across the country. In recent years, Cinnabon left then returned to Montgomery Mall. There’s also an existing Cinnabon location in Wheaton Mall. Auntie Anne’s has locations at the outlets in Clarksburg, Ellsworth Place Mall, Montgomery Mall, and Wheaton Mall in MoCo.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Kevin Hessler sentenced defendant, Jean J. Pierre, 50, of Montgomery Village, to 40 years in prison. This is the maximum penalty for second-degree murder, the charge on which the defendant was convicted by a jury.
The jury deliberated for just two hours after a five-day trial in May 2023, prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Ryan Wechsler and Assistant State’s Attorney Gabe Carrera.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section are investing the shooting death of a 17-year-old in White Oak. On Thursday, July 13, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., the Montgomery County Police Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call for a vehicle collision that occurred in the Birches Apartments parking lot in the 1500 block of Heather Hollow Circle.
Upon arrival, 3rd District officers located Tyrone Howard Brown inside of a car with an apparent gunshot wound. Before coming to a stop, the victim crashed the car into several parked vehicles in the apartment complex’s parking lot.
The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old.
Benito Mabilo, 16, was last seen on Sunday, June 11, 2023, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., leaving his residence on Lea Pond Place in Montgomery Village He 5’8″, 130 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a black jacket and grey sweatpants.
Per the Maryland Lottery: Mega Millions fever is in the air as the jackpot continues to grow. No one won the Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday, which rolls to an estimated $560 million for the Friday, July 14 drawing with an estimated cash option of $281.1 million. The jackpot is the seventh largest in the game’s history.
Check your tickets as there were some local winners in Maryland. Third-tier prizes were sold in Jessup, Columbia and Rockville.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a commercial robbery that occurred on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the Pearl Vision Store in the 8000 block of Gramercy Blvd. in Derwood. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the three suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them. At approximately 3:27 p.m., 1st District officers responded to the location for the report of a commercial robbery.
The investigation by detectives has revealed that the three suspects entered the store and two of the suspects removed merchandise from shelves and placed them in their totes. The three suspects were stopped by an employee as they were leaving the store. The male suspect then assaulted the employee and left the scene with the other two suspects. Detectives reviewed the surveillance footage of the store and obtained a description of the suspects.