MoCo

Residents 18-and-older who are interested in electric scooter lessons will have the opportunity to attend free clinics on Saturdays, June 4 and 11, sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). Participants can take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws.

Participants must have a valid driver’s license. No registration is required to attend a clinic and walk ups are welcome. The clinics generally will last about two hours and e-scooters will be available at each site.


Events

The Taste of Wheaton will return after a two-year hiatus with a full day of food, music and activities for all ages from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, at Marian Fryer Plaza in Downtown Wheaton. Kids rides and activities are free, with food and drinks available for purchase from local Wheaton restaurants.

Marian Fryer Plaza is located at 2424 Reedie Plaza adjacent to the Wheaton Triangle Business District.


DMV

Meetings Being Held In-Person to Address Progress of Purple Line Construction, with Next Meeting on Tuesday, June 14, in Silver Spring

Progress of continuing work on the Purple Line, including introduction of the new contractor, are the focus of a series of in-person meetings being held by the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA).


MoCo Government

The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee will meet on Monday, June 13, at 9:30 a.m. The Committee will review Bill 5-22, Economic Development Corporation – Board of Directors – Membership, which would alter and expand the membership of Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors.

In addition, the Committee will review Executive Regulation 2-22, Montgomery College Germantown Campus Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise Zone (MC GC RISE Zone), which establishes the procedures to administer the MC GC RISE Zone.


Event

General admission is $25 per person, which includes chili tastings. Free Admission for kids under 18, Police Officers and their Family is provided by MCPF). All proceeds benefit the Foundation’s mission to strengthen community-police relationships, support officers wellness, and enhance public safety initiatives across Montgomery County.

In addition to delicious chili, attendees can enjoy local craft beer from Lone Oak Brewery, family activities, and opportunities to meet and interact with Montgomery County police officers in a fun, relaxed setting.


Germantown

The peace of the little village of Germantown was broken by the sound of gunshots on January 20, 1932. Robbers had entered Horace Waters’ store at around 7 p.m. They shot and killed Mr. Waters, a prominent citizen of Montgomery County, and wounded his clerk

Horace Waters was known to carry a large amount of cash, and often loaned money to local people in need, both white and black. He operated a general store in Germantown at the corner of Germantown Road and Clopper Road for more than 50 years. A grandson of one of the first settlers of the area, William Waters, Horace was a director of the Farmer’s Banking and Trust Company of Rockville and well respected in the community.


Arts

Where can you see the Orfeia vocal ensemble, Dong Xi duet, and artwork made from delicate fabric or battered musical instruments?

The performers and artwork were featured in the Takoma Park Arts cultural series, and they appear now on vinyl wraps that have been installed on glass panels at three new local bus shelters. The public art project is beautifying bus shelters and promoting the Takoma Park Arts series, which includes free City-funded art exhibitions, concerts, poetry readings, film screenings, theater, and other events at the Takoma Park Community Center at 7500 Maple Avenue.


Restaurants

Snow Bots, one of the first places to make snow cream relatively popular in Montgomery County, announced that it closed permanently via social media at the beginning of June.

Located at 1701 Rockville Pike, near Congressional Plaza, since 2014, the snow cream and bubble tea shop was one of the first to bring egg waffles to the area (called puffles). Snow Bots also introduced larger bubble tea cups that were more like soup containers.


Health

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced COVIDReady Maryland, the state’s long-term preparedness plan to maximize the tools and treatments available to keep people healthy and out of the hospital, and maintain a state of readiness to respond to emerging variants and potential waves. The plan, which emphasizes infrastructure, awareness, and adaptability, builds on the successful data-driven strategies that the state implemented throughout the pandemic.

“Our state public health response has now fully transitioned from an emergency into an ongoing operation of state government,” said Governor Hogan. “As the next phase of our nation-leading response and recovery, we are announcing our COVIDReady Maryland plan to maximize all of the available tools and treatments for preventing severe illness and keeping people from being hospitalized, and to maintain an ongoing state of readiness over the long term so that we are prepared to respond to any emerging variants and any potential waves or surges.”


MCPS

MCPS piloted the Out-of-School Time program to provide students and families with engaging options for students on days when school was not in session. These in-person and/or virtual activities supported academic skills, physical and emotional wellness, art and digital learning skills.

Please participate in a focus group for parents, guardians, and caregivers. This is an opportunity for your voice to be heard! As part of the Antiracist System Audit, MCPS is looking for parents and guardians from different racial and cultural backgrounds to share their experiences. These will be 60 to 90 minutes on Zoom. The conversations are completely confidential.


Gaithersburg

Work has begun on the interior of Charley Prime, the new restaurant from Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks (Little Coco’s, El Chucho, Bar Charley, Quarry House Tavern) that will be replacing Tara Thai on the Rio boardwalk at 9811 Washington Blvd in Gaithersburg. The restaurant is expected to open this fall.

According to a press release, the team envisions the restaurant as a mature version of their popular DC restaurant Bar Charley, with an expanded menu, but keeping its lively cocktail forward energy. The broader menu will remain steak focused, but will also feature house made pastas (a la Little Coco’s) as well as other items unique to just this location. The group has tapped Editlab@Streetsense to design the space.