Metro has filed formal petitions for reconsideration of Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) directives that remove certified operators from service and stalls the previously agreed upon 7000-series Return to Service plan.
Train service on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines will be reduced for customers, from every 15 minutes to every 25 minutes, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17, through most of the week. The move is required to comply with directives received at 4:30 p.m., Friday evening of the holiday weekend from the WMSC. No Red and Green line service impacts are expected. “Safety is an absolute core value of Metro; however, we are exasperated with directives that are not based on risk analysis or facts,” said Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “The Board has tremendous confidence in the job our General Manager and his team of operations and safety professionals are doing, as evidenced by significant improvements we have seen in safe and reliable rail service.”
Per the Wheaton Arts Parade: Thanks to a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council’s “Public Art Across Maryland” program, Wheaton Arts Parade (WAP) has started planning Wheaton’s next mural. The site for the mural is the west wall of Elbe’s Beer & Wine store on University Blvd near the intersection with Grandview Ave.
Elbe’s has been family owned since 1951 when it was established as a neighborhood grocery by Willie and Miriam Bobrow. The beer and wine store is now managed by their sons Andy and Jeff. WAP will convene a public meeting on Tuesday, January 17 at 4pm to present the project to the community and solicit ideas for possible themes for the mural.
On January 20 ‘Give a Hoot’ comedy club, the first ever full-time comedy club in Montgomery County, will launch at La Mexicana in Gaithersburg with a twofold mission: to show patrons a great time, and to give back to the local community. According to the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, ‘Give a Hoot’ will give 50% of its proceeds to local charities. In addition to comedy shows, the club will also feature murder mystery and hypnotist acts.
Per the press release: The brainchild of co-founders Irwin Weinstein and Ken Watter, local comics who have collectively produced and performed in over 1,000 shows, Give A Hoot comedy clubaims to fill an entertainment niche in the region – offering access to some of the East Coast’s most beloved comics on a predictable and accessible basis.
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!
With traffic congestion costing U.S. drivers an average of 51 hours and $869 during 2022, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best & Worst States to Drive in. Maryland ranked as the 5th worst state to drive in.
To determine the most driver-friendly states in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states across 31 key metrics. The data set ranges from average gas prices to rush-hour traffic congestion to road quality.
Join Kaiser Permanente for Healthy at the Harbor, a free community health and wellness event taking place Saturday, June 6, from 11 am to 4 pm at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bring your family and friends for free full day of fun, fitness, and preventive care along the waterfront.
Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. A lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.
Evidence of a shooting was found at a crash scene on Shakespeare Blvd, north of Germantown Rd, behind Neelsville Middle School in Germantown on Sunday evening. According to MCPD, “The preliminarily on scene investigation has revealed that at approximately 6:41 p.m., MCP officers responded to the intersection of Neelsville Church Rd. and Shakespeare Blvd. and located a vehicle with what appeared to be bullet holes and a firearm. Officers have not located any victim(s) or suspect(s).”
GERMANTOWN SHOOTING: ~6:30PM Sunday, Shakespeare Blvd North of Germantown Rd, behind Neelsville Middle School. (Germantown/Montgomery County, MD). Evidence of shooting found at crash scene & handgun recovered from the area. PGPD 🚁 assisting overhead.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 12-year-old from Silver Spring. Elmer Alexis Guzman Osorio was last seen on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at approximately 9 a.m., in the 1000 block of Quebec Ter.
Elmer is approximately 5-feet tall and weighs 100 pounds. He has short brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue winter jacket, a white shirt and gray sweatpants. Police and family are concerned for his welfare.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Mason Chedester is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.
Nalley Fresh has closed its Kentlands restaurant in Gaithersburg after just over 7 years in business at the location (261 Kentlands Blvd). Signage was taken down today, as seen in the featured photo by Michaela Belkin, and some contents of the restaurant were being cleared. We were told by those clearing the restaurant that this location has closed permanently. Nalley Fresh has nine additional locations across Maryland, but no others in Montgomery County.
About Nalley Fresh: After 20 years in the culinary business, Greg Nalley has finally become what he calls an overnight success. Although his path has been anything but direct, Nalley currently oversees an expanding empire in the Baltimore area. His eighth Nalley Fresh restaurant just opened its doors in Columbia and strong demand for the unique salads, bowls and wraps that the burgeoning chain offers has inspired plans for further expansion. But it is unlikely that any of it would have happened if the life-changing news Nalley received in 2001 had not inspired him to take the leap and pursue his longtime dream of running his own restaurant. “When I got that big dose of cancer, it brought a lot of things to light, a lot of things I was scared to do, like open my own place. I was fearful of that,” Nalley said.
Per MCPD: On Sunday, January 15, 2023, at approximately 7:23 a.m., officers responded to the area of Muncaster Mill Road and Sycamore Lane for the report of a collision between two vehicles. The preliminary investigation has revealed that the driver of a black Honda Civic was traveling westbound on Muncaster Mill Road when he crossed the center line and struck a silver Ford Escape that was traveling eastbound on Muncaster Mill Road.
The adult male driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the decedent will be released following proper notification of next of kin. The driver and the front passenger of the Ford were transported to an area hospital with injuries believed to be non-life threatening.
Update: Kimora Saunders has been found safe and unharmed.
Takoma Park Police is seeking the public’s assistance in location a missing 17-year-old, Kimora Saunders, who has been missing since Sunday, January 8th, 2023. She was last seen at 2pm on the 7600 block of Maple Avenue in Takoma Park. She is 5’4, 160lbs, with red braids, and was last seen wearing white with gray Nike shoes. If you have any information that can help locate this person, please call 301-270-1100 or text tip411 and reference case #230002260
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports that 4,896 people hiked 9,780 miles during First Day Hikes in 41 state parks on New Year’s weekend. Between Dec. 31, 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023, there were 37 scheduled ranger-led programs with an additional 23 self-guided opportunities available on state public lands across Maryland. Despite some rain, most of Maryland enjoyed spring-like weather during the New Year’s weekend, helping encourage people to get outside. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford joined Maryland DNR Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio at North Point State Park for their final First Day Hike in office.
“It’s great to start off the year with a hike through one of our 76 state parks,” said Lt. Governor Rutherford. “The First Day Hikes are a great opportunity for all Marylanders to come together, lace up their hiking boots, and explore the natural beauty of Maryland.” Secretary Riccio kicked off the hike with appreciation for the DNR teams that host the events every year. “I want to thank our Maryland Park Service staff and volunteers and Natural Resources Police for what they do every day and for allowing us to enjoy these incredible opportunities,” Secretary Riccio said.
