Bethesda

Just days after the Nike store in Georgetown closed its doors,  a new Nike store has put up signage at 7117 Arlington Rd in Bethesda– the former home of Amazon Books. According to a Bethesda Beat report, the 6,063 SF space now displays “Nike by Bethesda” signage out front, with captions saying, “Coming Soon” and “Join Our Team.”

A Nike Unite store has been in the works since last June, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. After previously setting an opening date of November 3rd on its Google listing, the store pushed back the opening to “2023”, and then set an opening date of Thursday, February 2nd. The date has been pushed back again to Thursday, February 16th, according to its Google listing. An opening date for the Bethesda location is not currently available.


Clarksburg

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a vehicle fire in the garage of an ‘end of the row’ townhome on Clarksburg Square Rd shortly before 2pm on Sunday afternoon.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the fire started in the vehicle, which was located in the garage. The fire remained contained to the garage because the garage door and the door from the garage leading into the home remained closed. The occupants of the home called 911 after smelling smoke. There were no sprinklers in the garage and not enough smoke in the home to activate the detector. The cause was likely a mechanical vehicle malfunction after use. Damage is estimated at approximately $75K and there were no injuries and no displacement.


Rio

The restaurant is part of Jeffeary Miskiri’s Miskiri Hospitality Group, which describes itself as a unique collective of Black, family and woman-owned products and restaurants in the DC area. Miss Toya’s will serve southern-influenced dishes such as red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese and a southern fried chicken sandwich. It will be joining the recently announced Sportrock Climbing Centers, Charley Prime, Le Macaron, as well as the recently opened Donutchew, as locally-based businesses opening in Gaithersburg’s Rio. Below you’ll see a video of the recently opened full-service Miss Toya’s restaurant in Downtown Silver Spring:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChZ-tyJgUP_/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c53984a8-5e53-4a38-ac20-f4e873b9c6dc


MoCo Government

The Economic Development (ECON) Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. to receive a presentation from the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) on economic development strategies that have been determined to establish and maintain a business-friendly environment in the County. In addition, the committee will receive a briefing from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) on the County’s economic indicators. The members of the ECON Committee include Chair Natali Fani-González, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles.

The Education and Culture (EC) Committee will also meet at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Monthly Financial Reports and receive an update on the MCPS Requested FY24 Capital Budget and Amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink.


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Today, the Montgomery County Council issued the following statement condemning the drawings of swastikas found at three separate Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

“We are once again saddened and disgusted at the displays of hate targeting the Jewish community at three Montgomery County schools. 


MCFRS

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a report of a house fire at approximately 8:40pm  on the 700 block of Fletcher Ave in Rockville on Friday night, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dave Pazos.

Upon arrival, units began extinguishing a car fire in the car port with extension into the the first and second floor of the single family home. Additional units were dispatched to the scene as crews searched the home. Just after 9pm, Assistant Chief Pazos stated that MCFRS units confirmed all occupants of the home were out safely and uninjured. At that time, units continued to extinguish any of the remaining fire.


Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks will host a virtual community meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2023, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be presented in English and Spanish and provide an overview of design recommendations for Long Branch Local Park and Long Branch-Arliss Neighborhood Park. The recommendations are a result of community feedback received during the Long Branch Parks Initiative(opens in a new tab) that Montgomery Parks launched in April 2022. “Since launching this initiative, we have had meaningful conversations with residents of Long Branch about improvements to their parks,” said Christie Ciabotti, project landscape architect at Montgomery Parks. “As a next step, we are excited to share the concepts for these two parks with the community for their feedback so that we can continue progressing with the plans.”

Community members will have 30 days after the community meeting to provide their feedback on the parks department’s open town hall (opens in a new tab)online forum about the park concepts. Following the 30-day period parks’ staff will review the input to inform the next steps in the design process.


WMATA

The convenience of taking Metro just got easier for college students with a U-Pass SmarTrip card. As of January 19, eligible students at participating universities can add their U-Pass to Apple Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch to use on Metrorail or Metrobus. It’s quick and easy to do. Just add the U-Pass card to Apple Wallet, and there’s no more plastic to carry around.

After you add a U-Pass to your Apple Wallet, you can toss out the card or keep it as a souvenir. The physical card will no longer work when transferred because all the content is now available through your U-Pass in Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch.  Students at participating schools can use the mobile U-Pass just like a physical card at any of Metro’s 97 rail stations in DC, Maryland and Virginia and all Metrobus routes. Just hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the card reader on the faregate or farebox to pay with U-Pass. With Express Mode, there’s no need for Face ID, Touch ID or to unlock the device.


Downtown Silver Spring

Back in June we let you know that a Nike Unite store is coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. After previously setting an opening date of November 3rd on its Google listing, the store pushed back the opening to “2023”, and then set an opening date of Thursday, February 2nd. The date has been pushed back again to Thursday, February 16th, according to its Google listing. This was first reported by Source of the Spring.

An employee at a different Nike Unite store told us that the pricing and products offered at a Unite store are similar to that of a Nike Factory store (often found at outlets), with a slightly different layout and a specific return section for items purchased on Nike.com. Nike describes the Nike Unite concept as: “Existing to serve and celebrate the people in each local community, and each store is designed to be a reflection of their heart and spirit. Consumers are welcomed by an in-store community wall highlighting the store team and local partnerships, and design elements throughout the space also look to tell the story of the community. From local landmarks to hometown athletes, the design allows the local residents to feel represented in the space. The products in each Nike Unite door are also reflective of what the community is interested in: locally curated, every-day essentials at the best price, matched with the newness of select seasonal offerings. Additionally, Nike Unite doors reflect Nike’s commitment to hiring people who live in the local community.”


MCPS

These specific three instances are not the first this year in which the Jewish community in our county and our schools have experienced acts of antisemitic hate or bias. We must do more, and we will. In collaboration with advocates such as the Jewish Community Relations Council, we will continue our efforts to educate our students about antisemitism. Our schools have held and will continue to hold restorative conversations with students and staff, and schools have held community meetings to discuss incidents, but honest and forthright conversations must continue. As a community, we must speak loudly and together against antisemitism and all acts of hate and racism. We must be inclusive and welcoming of everyone in our diverse and vibrant community. Our differences make us stronger and better and make our community an exciting place to live; there is no room for hate.

To learn and to do so at high levels, all students must feel physically and, yes, emotionally safe. When they experience anxiety because of acts of hatred, they can’t be at their best in their classroom. We must embrace the work necessary to ensure our scholars are in safe and welcoming school environments.


Gaithersburg

WTOP Traffic reports that the right lane only gets by on northbound I-270 near the Montgomery Village Ave exit (11), with northbound lanes going slow starting at Shady Grove Road and rubbernecking delays expected on southbound I-270.

According to Battalion Chief Steve Mann with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS), crews are on the scene of a collision with rollover on the main lanes of northbound I-270, under the railroad bridge, near Montgomery Village. Two adults are being evaluated with non-life threatening injuries.