WMATA

Metro today announced on Friday that lower-priced unlimited Metrorail and Metrobus monthly passes are now on sale for travel beginning July 1, providing more flexibility and value to customers who may no longer be commuting five days a week. And beginning Monday, June 27, all customers traveling on Metrorail after 9:30 p.m. on weekdays will benefit from a flat fare of $2 per one-way trip. 

“As gas prices remain high and people continue to increase travel and commute to work more often, lowering the price of unlimited passes makes Metrorail and Metrobus an even more attractive option for work and pleasure travel throughout the region,” said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “Metro is giving customers even more value with a flat Metrorail fare of $2 per one-way trip after 9:30 p.m. beginning Monday, June 27, providing a welcome savings to service workers and those using Metro to get to and from nightlife attractions across the region.”


North Bethesda

Progress continues to be made at 915 Meeting Street in Pike & Rose as above-grade work is in its early stages at the state-of-the-art, LEED Gold-targeted building featuring 9,600 square feet of ground floor retail, approximately 25,000-square-foot flexible floor plates and 700 dedicated parking spaces.

The building, designed by Gensler, will incorporate a vibrant architectural design that includes numerous amenities, such as a rooftop conference center with collaborative common areas, WiredScore-targeted connectivity, a fitness center, and resource-efficient sustainable and wellness features. Rendering available below.


Bethesda

Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced earlier this month that its Builder Fund invested $150,000 in AudioOne, Inc., a technology start-up based in Bethesda. TEDCO’s Builder Fund invests in and provides executive support to Maryland-based technology companies run by entrepreneurs who demonstrate economic disadvantage.

“We greatly appreciate TEDCO’s investment in our team and exciting new techology,” said Mark McMahon, CEO of AudioOne. “TEDCO’s funding support and resources will help AudioOne on our mission to bring personalized radio listening experiences to consumers in Maryland and across the country.”


Rockville

Work continues on Phase One of Twinbrook Quarter, the upcoming development located on the southwest corner of the property at Rockville Pike and Halpine Road. It includes residential, office and commercial space, and will include Montgomery County’s second Wegmans.

According to an update from Reimagine Twinbrook, below grade concrete pouring is 50% complete. “By the end of the summer, we expect to be finished pouring concrete for all of the below-grade levels of Phase One. Work is progressing in various stages around the excavated area, starting in the Southwest corner at Halpine Road and Rockville Pike (shown in the upper left corner of the photo) and progressing toward the Northeast corner. We’ve completed pouring all three underground levels in the Southwest corner and are at various levels of completion around the site.”


Bethesda

Jenni Kayne is now open at 4856 Bethesda Avenue in Bethesda, in the space formerly occupied by Indochino, next to the Apple store.

“Jenni Kayne has made its way to Maryland. Situated among a curated assortment of upscale and casual shopping and dining experiences in the bustling downtown district of Bethesda Row, our new Bethesda store is a warm and welcoming space you won’t be able to help but wander into. Outfitted with our home and apparel collections for the best in California-inspired living, it’s a must-stop for anyone seeking an effortless and elevated take on the everyday. Stop in for all your wardrobe, home, and gifting necessities.”


MoCo Pride

Pride in the Plaza will feature food, music, an LGBTQ+ focused resource and vendor fair, bilingual Drag Queen Story Hour, and the championship finale of Live in Your Truth Program’s Drag Duels series. The day will conclude with the second annual Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball, a free voguing competition with cash prizes, starting at 5 p.m., in partnership with Capitol Ballroom Council. Local businesses that want to support Pride in the Plaza can visit PrideInThePlaza.com/partners-in-pride.

Pride in the Plaza will showcase a diverse cross-section of local nonprofit organizations, LGBTQ+ owned businesses, artists, and networks tabling to share information about their services for Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ communities. HIV and other health screenings will be provided free of charge, in honor of National HIV Testing Day (June 27).


Burtonsville

The sign unveiled today is located on the north side of Route 198 and in the 15000 block of Old Columbia Pike, adjacent to the Burtonsville Town Square Shopping Center. The other sign is located on the south side of Route 198 and in the 3100 block of Spencerville Road, directly across from the Idara Jaferia Islamic Center.

“These new signs not only enhance the sense of community in Burtonsville, but also serve to brand the area and help establish Burtonsville as a desirable destination in the County,” said County Executive Elrich. “Additionally, they are a reminder of the truly transformative improvements made to the façades and sites of several properties located along Route 198 thanks to the County’s Façade Improvement Program. On July 1, we are launching our new Countywide Façade Improvement Program. The program makes available $3.5 million in funding through Fiscal Year 2028 to support commercial property and business owners in transforming their buildings—like those here in Burtonsville—with new, visually appealing exteriors.


Crime

Following a raid on a Germantown apartment that has been serving as a “haven for guns and drugs,” according to the State’s Attorney office, Montgomery County Police have taken seven suspects into custody. The suspects are:

• Devin Bullard (20)


MoCo Athletics

Trinity Franklin, the 2022 New Balance Shot Put Indoor National Champion, was named the 2022 All-Met Track & Field Athlete of the Year by the Washington Post.

After the past two spring seasons were canceled or abbreviated, the spotlight was back on high school sports in the D.C. area in 2022. These athletes in particular raised their games when it mattered most and helped lift their schools to great success. Some will go on to compete collegiately next year, and others will return and try to replicate their standout seasons.


MCPS

Churchill High School’s Eliot Dubick was named the 2022 All-Met Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year by the Washington Post. Dubick helped lead Churchill to the MoCo’s first State Championship in lacrosse (boys or girls) in county history.

The University of Maryland signee powered the Potomac public school to Montgomery County’s first state championship — for boys or girls — in one of the all-time best seasons for a player from the state. In Churchill’s 15-7 win over Broadneck for the 4A title, Dubick had four goals and six assists to tie the Maryland record for points in a championship game. In a semifinal the previous week, he scored or assisted on all of Churchill’s goals in its 10-8 win against Sherwood. Dubick finished with 73 goals and 94 assists, breaking Maryland’s single-season points record by 20.


MoCo

The Washington Post has endorsed David Blair for County Executive in Montgomery County. In an opinion piece published this morning by the newspaper’s editorial board, the Post said that “Mr. Blair is right that unless Montgomery steps up its economic development game, improves transportation alternatives and rebalances its affordable housing supply to meet demand, the county’s prospects are anemic,” and “His detailed, proactive plan is the right medicine to revitalize the county. And his smart approach to rising crime — he would both support and reform the police — would be an upgrade on Mr. Elrich, who bungled the hiring of a new police chief.”

While supporting Blair, the post also calls Hans Riemer a “far superior” option than Elrich, saying “We also admire Mr. Riemer, a principled public servant who has challenged many of Mr. Elrich’s wrong-headed and destructive positions, and courageously stood up to bullying by county employee unions whose lavish contracts he sought to moderate.”