Bethesda

This comedian (pictured above in the middle with his mother and siblings), born Anthony Reed in Greenville, Mississippi, was seen by millions weekly when he became an original cast member on Fox’s In Living Color. At just 18 months old, he was abandoned in the trash before being rescued by the woman who became his adoptive mother. His parents changed his name to what he’s known by now when they adopted him. His adoptive parents divorced when he was five years old, and his mother and the children moved to Washington, D.C. before later moving to Montgomery County where he lived in Wheaton, the neighborhood of Rosemary Hills in Silver Spring, and then Takoma Park. He attended Rosemary Hills Elementary School, Sligo Middle School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (with a short amount of time at Mark Twain in Rockville).

After graduating in 1981, he studied communications and interned at the radio station of the University of the District of Columbia for one semester. While in the area he held jobs across MoCo, including in the kitchen of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, cleaning at Roy Rogers, bussing tables at an IHOP in Wheaton, and working in Prince George’s County at the storeroom of Hechinger in Hyattsville.


Gaithersburg

Construction began this past winter on a 244 unit multi-family building with amenity space and internal courtyards at 333 Ellington Blvd in Downtown Crown (photos and renderings below). This will also include the expansion of the existing parking garage on Copley Place. The Planning Commission approved the Final Site Plan application back on June 16, 2021. The Property is comprised of 76,894 sq. ft. (approximately 1.765 acres), located in the City of Gaithersburg. We don’t expect completion until 2023. Additional information and renderings can be seen below, courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg:

The site is the last multi-family redevelopment site in Neighborhood 1 of Downtown Crown and, upon its construction, Neighborhood 1 will be largely built-out in its contribution to the overall vision established by the Sketch Plan and the Schematic Development Plan (defined and discussed in further detail below) for this community.


Gaithersburg

A power outage on Sunday, August 14th temporarily affected Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown, which led to some businesses closing for the day. The power came back later in the evening, and many businesses reopened, but a few remained closed until their regularly scheduled Monday morning opening.

One of the businesses that closed for the day was Starbucks, which notified customers with a sign on the door stating they were closed for the rest of the day due to the outage. A second sign, which was sent in to us by multiple readers, has caused a little confusion that was cleared up by a store representative Monday morning (photos of both signs available below). The sign states “OUR STORE WILL BE CLOSING Tuesday, August 16th, at 3:30pm” with an apology and a note that says “We are working to re-open our store as quickly as possible.” The representative made it clear that the store is only closing for the rest of Tuesday for a meeting that will take place at the store and that it will be reopening on Wednesday, August 17th.


MoCo

As we noted back in May, Montgomery County is providing 40,000 Chromebook computers to residents who do not have a computer. Eventbrite is being used to create appointment tickets to manage computer pick-ups.  If all appointments are taken, check back on the page in a few days for new events4 to 5 events will be hosted every week through October 2022. As more computers are received this summer and fall, we will offer more appointments into 2023. Every person receiving a computer:

There is a limit of one computer per person.  You do not need to be a U.S. Citizen to receive a computer but you must be a Montgomery County resident.  EVERY PERSON, INCLUDING CHILDREN, MUST HAVE THEIR OWN APPOINTMENT AND APPEAR ON THEIR APPOINTMENT DAY IN PERSON WITH ID TO RECEIVE A COMPUTER (For Example:  If a parent wants a computer for the parent and two computers for two children, the parent must make 3 appointments and bring the two children with ID to receive the computers.  If you make an appointment for June 21, you cannot show up on a different day.)


North Bethesda

One person has died following a two vehicle collision that occurred in the area of Josiah Henson Pkwy. and Randolph Rd. in North Bethesda on Sunday afternoon. Per MCPD:

On Sunday, August 14, 2022, at approximately 4:14 p.m., 1st District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for a traffic collision involving a Ford and an Audi.


Calverton

Earlier this month, Giant Food celebrated the grand opening of a new Maryland store located at 12028 Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring (Calverton). The doors officially opened at 6 a.m. on Friday, August 5th and the company touts 100 new jobs to the Silver Spring community and comes following a season of grand re-openings at three additional Giant Food stores across Maryland and Virginia. During the Grand Opening ribbon cutting ceremony, Giant Food president Ira Kress joined the Wizards and Capitals’ mascots, MoCo Councilmember Tom Hucker, WTOP sports anchor Dave Johnson in presenting $3,000 checks to  Manna Food Center and Impact Silver Spring. The new store replaces the Giant store located at 11701 Beltsville Drive in Beltsville.

According to a press release: With close to 65,000 square feet of shopping space, the Silver Spring community will enjoy amenities such as full meat and seafood service, an expanded gourmet cheese selection and extensive prepared food offerings like freshly made sushi and pizza. The new store will also be equipped with full-service deli and floral departments and a Starbucks café. Customers can enjoy convenient shopping with free Wi-Fi and Giant’s latest store configuration.“Giant Food has been serving the Silver Spring community since 1958 and we are pleased to bring this new store that will provide a fresh space for everyone to enjoy,” said Ira Kress, President of Giant Food. “The new store is designed to bring the best products and value to the community while continuing to offer top-notch service to new and existing customers.”


Wheaton

Five Below is coming to Westfield Wheaton Mall at 11160 Veirs Mill Rd in Wheaton. The new store will be located in the upper level center court, in the space that is currently occupied by Gussini Fashion & Shoes. Gussini is expected to relocate to the former Panera Bread location, which closed in 2020. We’re told construction on the new Five Below is scheduled to begin in a few months.

Five Below opened its most recent MoCo location at 516 N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg, the former location of Chuck E. Cheese, back in July.  Five Below has additional MoCo locations in Gaithersburg (Kentlands), Germantown, Rockville, and Silver Spring.


Takoma Park

“It’s very exciting,” added Gordon Nimmo-Smith, who oversees sound engineering and logistics. “All of us on the committees love producing an in-person festival and engaging with our audience.”

Music will begin with the DC Labor Chorus at 10 a.m. and run through 6:30 p.m. at Takoma Park Middle School. As always, the festival will be free, family-friendly, and filled with music, crafts, food vendors, and community information booths.


MDLottery

A  $25,000 winning Pick 5 ticket, purchased for 50-cents, was sold at the 7-Eleven at 13401 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. According to the Maryland Lottery, the winning numbers on August 9 were 77770 and delivered 20 winning tickets, each worth over $10,000 or more, including the ticket previously mentioned. Details below:

When the Maryland Lottery’s evening Pick 5 drawing came up 77770 on Aug. 9, the result was an unusual number of big winners. A total of five $1 straight tickets each won $50,000, and five 50-cent straight tickets each won $25,000. Meanwhile, there were 10 5-Way Box tickets with $1 wagers that each won $10,000.


Maryland

“We put out the call, and our MDOT team, our partners at MSDE and our customers all across Maryland responded to help the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland prepare students for success in the classroom,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. “Marylanders are eager to invest in the future of our young people. The result of this drive – filling 1,000 bags with school supplies – sends a tremendous message of support for students.”

During the drive, MDOT business units including the Transportation Secretary’s Office, MDOT Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), MDOT Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA), MDOT Maryland Aviation Administration (MDOT MAA), Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) and MDOT State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) collected supplies from employees and customers at more than 50 locations statewide.


MoCo Government

In Round 2, Solar United Neighbors (SUN) continues to work with more than a dozen local jurisdictions and organizations around the Capital Area in encouraging residents to put solar panels on their homes.

By joining the #CapitalAreaSolarCoop, residents will join neighbors in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. in the quest to lower energy costs, become energy independent and participate in the renewable revolution.