Silver Spring

To select the Best Places to Live for Families in each state, Fortune evaluated nearly 1,900 cities, towns, suburbs, exurbs, villages, and townships that had approximately 20,000 residents across all 50 states in the U.S. This range provided a broad universe of places that offered high-quality amenities in communities with a hometown feel. Silver Spring was ranked 3rd on the list.

“Located just six miles north of Washington, D.C., Silver Spring residents can enjoy proximity to the nation’s capital without sacrificing the charm of smaller-town life. While locals can easily commute to D.C. for work or pleasure via public transit options like the Washington Metro or MARC Train, Silver Spring offers plenty to do within its bounds. The suburb prides itself as the site of a state-designated arts and entertainment district, and has worked to woo artists, arts organizations, and other creative companies. It’s home to more than 50 arts and humanities associations, art venues, and entertainment firms.


Maryland

Per the Maryland State Police: Four new K-9 teams specifically trained in drug detection will join the ranks of Maryland’s finest. The Maryland State Police Special Operations Division will graduate four canines and their Maryland State Police handlers. The K-9 teams have undergone 14 weeks of intense training, developing their ability to detect controlled dangerous substances including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ecstasy.

They will work at various locations and special assignments throughout the state to fully support the department’s mission, which is to ensure that Maryland is a safe place to live, work and visit. The following teams will receive their graduation certificates and will be ready to be placed into service:


Burtonsville

Alston was last seen on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m. in the 14000 block of Perrywood Drive in Burtonsville.  Alston is approximately 5-feet, 1-inch tall and weighs 110 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair that she is currently wearing in braids.  She was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, black ripped jeans and blue and black Jordans. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Mo’naye Alston is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.


Gaithersburg

Sheetz is holding a hiring event today, June 14, at the Holiday Inn Express in Germantown in preparation of the opening of its upcoming store at 751 Progress Way in Gaithersburg. The location, which will be the first Sheetz in Montgomery County, is targeting an August 10th opening date. Last month we reported that Sheetz will also be opening a location in the Walnut Hill shopping center in Gaithersburg in 2024.

Sheetz is a gas station/convenience store that offers made to order food and has over 650 locations throughout Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. According to the company, Sheetz provides “kicked-up convenience while being more than just a convenience store. Sheetz is a mecca for people on the go. If you need to refuel your car or refresh your body, we have what you need to keep you moving on to whatever comes next.”


MoCo Athletics

The OBGC 13U Blackhawks have won back-to-back championships after consecutive undefeated seasons. “I almost feel more of a relief than excitement. The expectations on this team were such that anything less than a championship would have been a disappointment for several of the players. The players were able to rise to the moment and they will remember today long after they eventually hang up their cleats.” said Coach Ron Berry. “This team is special, with or without the win today. This was the just the cherry on top.”

This band of young ladies has gone 33-2-1 over the last three seasons (2023 Spring Record – 12-0-1. 2022 Fall Record – 10-0. 2022. Spring Record – 11-2). The league they compete in is the OBGC House Softball league for 13u girls, which is made of a consortium of teams from Poolesville, Clarksville, Burtonsville, Damascus and Rockville. After losing to Damascus Team Remsnyder in the playoffs last spring, the team came back very hungry. They went undefeated in the Fall season (no playoff due to shortened daylight time and harsher weather with fall and winter approaching). The majority of the team came back for this year‘a spring season and picked up right where they left off.


Gaithersburg

Most City of Gaithersburg facilities & offices are closed on June 19, 2023, in observance of Juneteenth, with the exception of the following:

The collection of recycled materials will take place as scheduled. Bulk pick up is unavailable. Regular trash & garbage collection for City residents is handled by private contractors. Please contact your HOA or your private contractor regarding the holiday collection schedule for these materials.


Bethesda

A briefing on the MD 355 BRT was provided to the Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council on Tuesday night. Per the presentation, available below, the MD 355 BRT will provide a new transit service with greater travel speed and frequency along the MD 355 corridor that will help:

The MD 355 BRT has completed the Preliminary Engineering phase between Grosvenor and Montgomery
 College – Germantown. Preliminary Engineering is continuing for the Bethesda and Clarksburg segments (Fall 2023 completion), NEPA documentation is underway, there is ongoing coordination with FTA, and they are currently preparing procurement for Progressive Design-Build. Full presentation below:


Gaithersburg

Kentlands Baby Bar has announced it has pushed back its Grand Opening Celebration to 10am-1pm on Saturday, June 24th (with the soft opening on Saturday, June 17th). “Please join us for a fun day of face painting, balloon animal making, and t shirt decorating while checking out the newest baby friendly spot in Kentlands!” It will open at 375 Main St. in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood.

Carolynne Nowrouzi, founder/owner of Baby Bar, was raised in MoCo. She wanted to provide a space where parents can go with their young children to enjoy a space where they can each grab a bite and just play. The space will offer “food, fun, and socializing” where “you enjoy a coffee and a bite, while your little ones get yummy food and a baby-friendly place to play!” Baby Bar Kentlands will offer fresh fruits and veggies and will have options for babies (puréed or chopped), food for kids like grilled cheese, egg bites, croissants, and more, and food for adults like bagels, muffins, fruit bowls, and more. Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat, 09:30 am – 02:30 pm. Sundays closed.


Beyond MoCo

Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, MD, officially opens at 10am today, Wednesday, June 14th. Great Wolf Lodge Maryland will be the company’s 20th resort in North America, and their largest. It will offer 700 family-friendly suites, a 126,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 57,000 square-foot entertainment center, and 12,000 square-feet of conference space. Perryville is about 70 miles and a little less than an hour and a half away from most parts of MoCo.

Per Great Wolf Lodge: Careening down slides, jumping over waves, floating down a lazy river, and getting drenched by a thousand gallons of water cascading from a giant tipping bucket are a few of the water-filled adventures families will discover at the all-new Great Wolf Lodge Maryland. The indoor water park is the marquee attraction at Great Wolf Lodge, and the water park planned for the company’s Maryland resort will be the largest Great Wolf Lodge has ever built. The water park at Great Wolf Lodge Maryland will offer more than 128,000 square feet of enclosed fun with slides, pools and water play for all ages, and a cozy 84-degree temperature year-round.


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) will open its new Gaithersburg Square store under its upgraded retail concept, “Oak Barrel & Vine,” at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 15. Elected officials and alcohol industry representatives plan to attend the opening. Walt “The Wizard” Williams, a former basketball star at the University of Maryland who went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, will be present to sign bottles of his Clutch vodka.

The celebration and ribbon cutting will occur in front of the store, located in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center at 512 N. Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg. Throughout the weekend of Thursday-Sunday, June 15-18, the store will offer special tastings including those of Maryland-made products, high-end spirits and Juneteenth specials.