Arts

AFI Silver Theatre’s Ray Barry to Retire After 50 Years at AFI

By MCS Staff

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced that Ray Barry, Director of the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, will retire this month after nearly 50 years at AFI. Silver Theatre Director of Programming and Associate Director of the Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, Todd Hitchcock has been named as Barry’s replacement. Additional information below, per AFI’s press release:

Ray Barry has been a fixture at AFI for nearly 50 years, serving as the Director of the AFI Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center, and later spearheading AFI’s initiative to restore the historic Silver Theatre and transform it into the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center—a state-of-the-art center for the moving image. He was also instrumental in the launch of many of AFI’s national programs over the years, including AFI FEST in Los Angeles and the AFI/Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Film Festival, the annual AFI European Union Film Showcase and AFI Latin American Film Festival in Washington, DC, as well as having developed a wide variety of special exhibition projects for presentation both in the United States and overseas.

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Restaurants

Cuppa Tea, Offering Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea and Taiwanese Food, Now Open in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Cuppa Tea has opened a Rockville location at 1112 Taft Street. The shop offers Hong Kong-style milk tea and is a popular brand with over 800 locations worldwide. Cuppa Tea made its U.S. debut when it opened in late 2021 in New York’s Flushing and Queens and Prince George’s County’s College Park.

In addition to Hong Kong-style milk tea, Cuppa Tea offers Taiwanese food like bento boxes, egg waffles, curry balls, and more. To order at the Rockville location, you can download Cuppa Tea app where you are accumulate reward points (for free drinks and more) or visit the Cuppa Tea website, select the Rockville location, and place your order. You can also order on delivery plate forms such as Chowbus and Fantuan (UberEats and DoorDash will be available soon). Cuppa Tea is currently offering Buy 3 get 1 drink free on its app. Currently, the shop is only accepting online phone orders only (no walk-ins). Their phone number is 301-201-5777, and business hours are Mon – Sun 11am until 7pm (closed on Tuesday).

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Maryland

Governor Moore’s Statement Regarding the 13th Anniversary of the Signing of the Affordable Care Act

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland:  Governor Moore released the following statement regarding the 13th Anniversary of the Signing of the Affordable Care Act:

“On the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, I’m reminded how good government drastically affects the people that we represent. This legislation provided health care for millions of Americans—and its benefits to our country and to the state of Maryland are innumerable. I’m so thankful to President Obama and his administration for everything they did to create a country where we leave no one behind.

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Maryland

Governor Moore Denounces Rise in Jewish Hate Incidents in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Since 2018, hate incidents have risen exponentially in Maryland. According to the Anti-Defamation League report, there were only 39 reported incidents in 2018, and this past year there were over 109 incidents in the state. The Moore-Miller Administration strongly condemns these actions. In an effort to safeguard Marylanders, the governor has proposed historic public safety investments in the budget, including $5 million to protect Marylanders against hate crimes. We ask Marylanders to report any antisemitic, bias, or discriminatory incident to the Anti-Defamation League, in addition to reporting incidents to law enforcement.​

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Bethesda

Swastika Found Carved Into Wooden Stool at Walt Whitman High School

By MCS Staff

Earlier today, two Walt Whitman High School students found a swastika that had been carved into a wooden stool in the school’s science lab. Back in December, the words “Jews Not Welcome” were written on Walt Whitman’s sign and multiple Whitman staff members received antisemitic emails. Incidents of anti semitic graffiti have been found this year at several other MCPS schools, prompting the school system to release a community message asking parents for help with the ongoing problem. Whitman High School principal Robert Dodd wrote the following in a message to the Whitman community:

Yet again, I have to write and let our community know about another instance of behavior that is antisemitic. We have done so much as a school community to call out this type of activity and to educate our students while still addressing and healing from past incidents of antisemitism. Subsequently, having to write another letter is very distressing for me and profoundly upsetting for our Jewish community. While it feels like a gut punch to find another example of antisemitic hate, we remain undeterred and will forge ahead with our efforts. Unfortunately, the increase in incidents we’ve experienced at Whitman are on par with a disturbing trend in Maryland. An audit released today by ADL shows a 98% increase in antisemitic incidents in Maryland in 2022.

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Gaithersburg

Quince Orchard High School To Begin Enforcing New Lunch Policy For Students on Friday, March 24

By MCS Staff

Quince Orchard High School principal Beth Thomas tweeted the following regarding the lunch policy at the school,“In light of the continued safety concerns & disruptive behaviors that have taken place off school property, QOHS will actively enforce our lunch policy beginning tmrw Fri 3/24 for the remainder of the year. We will not waver from implementation of this policy.” The full policy can be seen below:

“Quince Orchard High School has a Closed Lunch Policy for all students in Grades 9 and 10. Students in Grades 11 and 12 may leave QO property for lunch. They must have a student ID card that reflects their lIth and 12′ grade status. If an Ilth or 12th grader wants to leave campus during lunch, they MUST show their current year school ID card to school statt. No exceptions.

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Wheaton Mall

Five Below Now Open in Wheaton Mall

By Patrick Herron

Five Below is now open on the top level of Westfield Wheaton Mall at 11160 Veirs Mill Rd.  The discount chain plans to add  to open 200 new stores in 2023, bringing its total to over 1,500, according to Bisnow. Five Below has additional MoCo locations in Gaithersburg (Gaithersburg Square and Kentlands), Germantown, Rockville, and Silver Spring.

In other Wheaton Mall news, last week we reported that Moe’s Southwest Grill had closed its location in the food court. The restaurant opened in 2019.

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MCPS

Watkins Mill High School Placed on Brief Shelter in Place Thursday

By Patrick Herron

Watkins Mill High School at 10301 Apple Ridge Rd in Montgomery Village was placed on a brief shelter in place on Thursday afternoon after an incident involving a juvenile driver near the school. According to MCPD, “At approximately 12:06 p.m., an off-duty federal officer was picking up his child at a bus stop near Watkins Mill HS when he observed a car driving erratically and at a high rate of speed. The off-duty officer stopped the driver, a juvenile male.

Following the stop, several students in the area converged on the officer. He called for assistance and MCPD officers responded. The car was towed. Watkins Mill HS was placed on a brief shelter in place. The driver was cited for driving without a license.”

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Gaithersburg

New Patio is Ready at Silver Diner Rio

By MCS Staff

Last November we reported on the deconstruction of Silver Diner’s outdoor patio in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront. At that time we were told the diner was planning on constructing a new outdoor patio that can remain open in any weather. You may have recently noticed that the outdoor patio is back with a nearly identical look to last year’s version. An employee told us that due to the patio being situated above water and the supports having to go beneath the water, the project proved to be too much so the original patio was brought back in time for diners to enjoy Spring and Summer dining outdoors.

Rockville-based Silver Diner, which opened its first restaurant in Montgomery County back in 1989, recently opened its first DC location at 1250 Half Street, SE (Ball Park/Navy Yard) on October 5th. Silver Diner co-founder/CEO Robert Giaimo and partner/executive chef Ype Von Hengst opened the first Silver Diner in Rockville in 1989. The duo visited over 500 diners across the country to prepare for the opening of Silver Diner, which was located in Mid-Pike Plaza, where Pike & Rose stands today. The Rockville location later moved to Federal Plaza, in the location that was previously home to Bennigan’s, where it remains today. The Rio location opened in August of 2019, taking over the space that was previously home to Cafe Deluxe and Hamburger Hamlet.

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Crime

Juvenile Arrested For Theft/Destruction of Property After Breaking Food Truck Window

By MCS Staff

Per Takoma Park Police: On March 23, at approximately 1:52 am, Takoma Park Police responded to the 1000 block of University Blvd., Takoma Park, Maryland, for a theft from auto in progress.  The caller advised an individual had broken out a window to a food truck.  When officers arrived, the individual tried to flee on foot but was apprehended.  The victim, owner of the food truck, arrived on scene and advised that two surveillance cameras in the vehicle were destroyed.

The individual, a 16-year-old male from Hyattsville, Maryland, was charged with theft from auto and destruction of property. The charged juvenile was released to the custody of a parent(s). Investigation continues. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230013995 Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

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