Blog - Page 1721 of 3046

Published June 22, 2023 at 12:12PM

Rockville’s Independence Day Celebration is held annually at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in King Farm. This location offers wonderful spectator viewing, and ample and convenient parking for the 4th of July festivities. Enjoy live music by Under the Covers and a 20-minute fireworks display. The event will take place on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 between 7pm – 10 pm Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park, located at 1800 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. The schedule and additional information can be seen below (video of last year’s event also available):

Parking: Free parking is available in lots along Shady Grove and Gaither Roads, as well as on Piccard Drive. These lots are conveniently located near the event site. There is no parking available in the King Farm neighborhood. Please use main roads such as Route 355, Gude Drive, and Shady Grove Road to access these parking lots. There will be ample signage directing people to public parking. View Parking Map/ Accessible parking is available in the parking lot on the corner of Shady Grove Road and Gaither Road. Please display your Accessible Parking Pass when entering the event site.

MCPD

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 12-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published June 22, 2023 at 11:19AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Ayiana Johnson, a missing 12-year-old from Silver Spring.

Johnson was last seen on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at approximately 5 p.m., in the 3300 block of Teagarden Cir. Johnson is approximately 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs 115 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair. It is unknown what she was last seen wearing. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Olney

Hallmark to Return to Olney With New Store

By MCS Staff

Published June 22, 2023 at 11:09AM

It has been approximately six years since Pat’s Hallmark Shop closed its Olney location, leaving local residents to rely on grocery stores and CVS for its greeting cards, ornaments, gift wrap, home decor and gift ideas. Hallmark has decided to return to Olney, however, with a new store signed on to take over the space recently vacated by My Little Gym at 18217 Village Center Dr in the Olney Village Center.

While there’s no available opening timeframe, construction is expected to begin soon inside the 4,000 SF space. Hallmark was founded in 1910 by teenage entrepreneur J.C. Hall, and remaining a private company with family members on the board of directors today, Hallmark’s businesses employ more than 20,000 people worldwide. “While there are many ways to experience Hallmark, the experiences that matter most to the company are the ones our customers are able to share with their friends and loved ones. We strive each day to help those experiences – and those connections – come to life. In each of our businesses we aim to be good community partners, we believe embracing diversity and inclusion is the best way to understand and serve our employees and consumers, and we strive to be environmentally responsible. This all helps to fulfill our purpose of inspiring meaningful relationships and enhancing lives.” Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

A post from Montgomery County Counseling Center

The Mental Health Version of an Annual Physical Is Here

Published June 8, 2026 at 10:45AM

The Mental Health Version of an Annual Physical Is Here

By Montgomery County Counseling Center

You get the annual physical. You go to that 9am dentist appointment. You’re vigilant about your sleep and exercise. You treat your well-being as something you maintain, not just repair. Why is mental health different? Why aren’t we more proactive? Why do we only seek out support when something goes wrong? Mental health is so often treated like an afterthought when routine check-ups can make a world of difference. Montgomery County Counseling Center is working to change the way we view mental health with a new offering designed to put wellness and preventative care on the map for good.

For most people, mental health care follows a pretty predictable pattern. Something gets hard enough and it lasts long enough that it finally feels like a problem worth addressing. So then you find a therapist and you start working on it until you’re out of crisis, and then you stop. But that’s not the only path and for a lot of people, it’s not the best starting point either; the threshold for “is it bad enough to say something” ends up being way higher than it needs to be, and a lot gets ignored in the meantime.

Think about how you approach the rest of your health. You don’t wait for a heart attack to see a cardiologist. You don’t wait until you’re sick to get your flu shot. You plan ahead. You stay on top of it. You check in. You make decisions based on something more than a gut feeling or a bad stretch. The value of a routine checkup isn’t that it always finds something. It’s that you know either way, and make minor precautionary tweaks. Mental health doesn’t have to be any different.

And yet, for most people, it is. There hasn’t really been the equivalent of an annual physical for mental health. No annual touchpoint, like a birthday or a new year, where someone sits down with a professional and simply goes over how they’re doing. There’s certainly no outside party, like a school, a sports league, or a camp that insists you get checked. That’s why people fall through the slim cracks between doing great and being at risk. After all, the absence of a crisis is not the same thing as a clean bill of mental health. (more…)

Learn More

Colesville

Kat’s Kitchen and Company to Take over Dominic’s Italian Grille Location in Colesville

By MCS Staff

Published June 22, 2023 at 10:33AM

Kats Kitchen and Company signage is up in the window of 12854 New Hampshire Ave, previously the home of Dominic’s Italian Grille. Dominic’s closed permanently in January. In December 2022, we received confirmation that the owners of Dominic’s would no longer be opening the new concept, Bourbon, Wings and Beer at the previous home of Buffalo Wings and Beer in Cloverly.

Currently, not much is known about Kat’s Kitchen and Company, but a martini glass is adorns the sign that’s placed in the window of the restaurant, so a bar is likely to remain at the location. We’ll have additional information as soon as it’s available.

Event

Food Truck Friday Summer Series

July 24, 2026 12:00 pm -2:00 pm

Lafayette Federal Credit Union

3535 University Blvd. West

Kensington, Maryland 20895

Website Contact Social

Connect with neighbors, learn about Lafayette Federal, and grab fun giveaways! All while enjoying food from local Tacos Pretzel & Pizza Creations.

First 75 registrants can receive free food.*

Germantown

MCFRS Respond to Fire in Trash Enclosure Early Thursday Morning in Germantown

By MCS Staff

Published June 22, 2023 at 9:52AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a fire at the Farmingdale Condos on Chalet Dr, off of Great Seneca Highway, Farmingdale Condos, in Germantown […]

MoCo Government

WSSC Water and Montgomery County Partner to “Turn Poop to Power”

By Patrick Herron

Published June 22, 2023 at 9:46AM

Per WSSC: WSSC Water and Montgomery County recently entered into a five-year agreement that will literally turn poop into power. Thanks to the construction of the innovative Piscataway Bioenergy Facility, methane gas captured during the wastewater treatment process will be upgraded to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and sold to the county to power their Ride On buses. During today’s monthly meeting, WSSC Water Commissioners were briefed on the agreement to generate an estimated $700,000 per year in revenue for WSSC Water while reducing the utility’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Montgomery County government is always seeking innovative and sustainable practices in order to reduce carbon emissions,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This agreement to turn methane gas into fuel for our buses is a win-win-win for our constituents, commuters and, most importantly, our environment. I appreciate the efforts of WSSC Water to work with us to create this agreement. Increasing the efficiency and reliability of our Ride-On bus system is critical toward the County’s goal of a 100% carbon emission reduction by 2035. This agreement, along with our new electric buses and microgrids are important improvements within our fleet of Ride-On vehicles.”

MCFRS

MCFRS Respond to Fire at Apartment Complex Thursday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Published June 22, 2023 at 8:33AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire in the 11500 block of February Circle, near January Drive in White Oak on Thursday, June 22. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was located in a bedroom on the 2nd floor of the four-story garden apartment and was caused by a space heater that was too close to combustibles.

Two adults have been displaced. Damage is estimated to be ~$25K and there were no injuries reported. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Chevy Chase

17-Year-Old Fights Off Attacker While Jogging in Chevy Chase

By Patrick Herron

Published June 22, 2023 at 8:18AM | Updated June 22, 2023 at 8:36AM

Per the Maryland-National Capital Park Police-Montgomery County Division: The Maryland-National Capital Park Police are investigating the report of an attempted sexual assault that occurred today (Wednesday, June 21) at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the area of Beach Drive and Leland Road in Rock Creek Stream Valley Unit 1.

The victim, 17-year-old female, was jogging on Beach Drive at the intersection of Leland Road when a white vehicle approached her. An unknown male asked her if she wanted a ride. When she said no, the subject exited the vehicle and grabbed her and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim was able to fight off the subject who ran back to his car and fled the scene in his vehicle towards East-West Highway. The victim was examined at a local hospital to ensure she was not injured. Park Police along with Montgomery County Police secured the crime scene and canvassed the area for the suspect with negative results. The Park Police will be providing additional marked and unmarked patrol units in the area.

MoCo

Ben’s Chili Bowl’s Chili and Half Smokes Will Soon Be Available at Giant

By Patrick Herron

Published June 22, 2023 at 8:09AM

Giant Food has announced that Ben’s Chili Bowl’s world-famous Chili and Half Smokes will be available in the prepared food sections and hot bars in Giant stores throughout the area beginning this Friday, June 23. According to a press release, Giant will offer Ben’s Chili Bowl Original and Spicy Half Smokes, Chili Con Carne, Turkey Chili and “secret” Chili Sauce.

“Ben’s Chili Bowl has remained a respected business within our community since 1958 and the opportunity to partner with the brand and expand the Ali family’s legacy was a no-brainer,” said Ira Kress, President at Giant Food. “We are proud to introduce Ben’s Chili Bowl’s fan-favorite recipes and menu items into our stores, and we are sure they will be a welcomed addition for our customers.”

WMATA

Metro to Reopen two Orange and Silver Line Stations, Second Phase of Orange Line Work Continues Through July 16

By MCS Staff

Published June 22, 2023 at 7:57AM

Per WMATA: Metro crews are nearing the finish line to reopen two stations and restore normal Silver Line service following construction to lay down miles of new rail and fiber-optic cables. Beginning Monday, June 26, trains will resume service to the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations.

This is the first of a two-phase rail replacement project on the Orange and Silver lines. The second phase continues on the Orange Line only through July 16, with the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations remaining closed.

Chevy Chase

First Look at Baltimore-Based Ice Cream Shop ‘The Charmery’

By MCS Staff

Published June 21, 2023 at 8:51PM

Baltimore-Based ice cream shop The Charmery will open its newest location at 8551 Connecticut Ave, Suite 202, in Chevy Chase on Friday, June 23rd– it’s first in Montgomery County. The Charmery held its first soft opening event today from 6pm-9pm and will hold its second soft opening event on Thursday from 6pm-9pm (video below).

As part of the grand opening the store will unveil a special flavor as an homage to F. Scott Fitzegerald, who lived in Baltimore, but is known to have spent time in Montgomery County and is buried at a Rockville cemetery. The flavor is called Fitzgerald’s Rickey and is comprised of gin and lime flavored ice cream.