Montgomery Parks will host a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. to present data from traffic studies conducted on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. The meeting will take place on Zoom. (Click the link to join.) Participants have the option to register online for the meeting to receive project updates. The traffic counts were conducted during May, July, September, and December of 2022 as part of the Little Falls Parkway pilot project, The pilot project was initiated to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway while retaining space for recreation on the parkway. “We initiated the Little Falls Parkway pilot project to study whether two lanes between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road could adequately accommodate vehicle traffic and potentially create more space for park users,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “Now that the analysis is complete, we want to share this information with the public.”

After the public meeting, Montgomery Parks will present the findings of the traffic studies to the Montgomery Planning Board in a hearing during which members of the public will have the opportunity to testify. The Planning Board will then review the Parks Department’s recommendations and the public testimony and determine whether to proceed with the pilot project in a subsequent meeting. The Planning Board public hearing and meeting dates are yet to be determined but will likely be held in late March and early April. Once the dates are set, they will be publicly announced and posted on the Parks Department’s website on the project page. 


Rock Creek Forest Elementary School welcomed about 50 members of the University of Maryland track and field team for its Reading Rocks event earlier this month. They visited classrooms and read to students. They also talked about the importance of studying hard, reading and writing, telling students, “You’ll have to write many papers in college!” They brought enormous enthusiasm to the day.

Reading Rocks was the brainchild of former Rock Creek Forest reading specialist Clara Register. It began about 10 years ago. Register discovered that fifth grade teacher Meredith Valmon was married to Andrew Valmon, Olympic Gold medalist and Maryland head coach for cross country and track and field. She suggested he bring the team to the school to read to students and speak with them about setting goals and looking ahead to college. Andrew Valmon saw a great opportunity for his student-athletes to be role models and invest in their Maryland community.


Winter Restaurant Week runs from January 16 to January 22, with ten Montgomery County restaurants participating. Founding Farmers, J. Hollinger’s, Lia’s, all three Matchbox locations, Morton’s, Spanish Diner, The Daily Dish, and Dish & Dram will be the participating MoCo restaurants. Per the Metropolitan Restaurant Week website:

“With some of the nation’s best know chefs, restaurateurs and rising culinary stars helming eateries in our region, Metropolitan DC is known for its restaurants. One of the most highly anticipated food-related programs in the region, Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week is a week-long celebration of area restaurants and the diversity of world-class cuisine. For local diners, Restaurant Week is an opportunity to experience new flavors, explore restaurants in different neighborhoods or visit old favorites. For visitors to the area, it’s an opportunity to experience many of the best of our regional restaurants without breaking the bank.”


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Police – 2nd District Investigative Section are investigating a theft from a delivery vehicle that occurred on Thursday, October 13, 2022, in Bethesda. Detectives are releasing surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him. At approximately 12:08 p.m., 2nd District officers responded to the 7500 block of Old Georgetown Road for the report of a theft from a delivery truck.

The initial investigation has determined that an unknown suspect entered the delivery truck, stole property and left the scene. A citizen witnessed the crime and followed the suspect into the Bethesda Metro Station. When the suspect noticed he was being followed he demanded that the citizen stop and pulled up his sweatshirt, revealing a handgun in his waistband. The suspect then entered a white Lexus and left the scene. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 6-feet, 1-inch and weighs 200 pounds. He was wearing a baseball hat, white face mask, a hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants and gloves.


Police are investigating an automobile theft that occurred Monday afternoon in Bethesda. According to MCPD, “On Monday, January 16, 2023, at approximately 2:03 p.m., MCP officers responded to the CVS Pharmacy in the 6900 block of Arlington Rd. in Bethesda for the report of a stolen vehicle.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that an adult male parked his black 2016 Mercedes sedan in the parking lot of the CVS and left the engine running while he was purchasing items inside the pharmacy.  Moments later, he came out of the pharmacy and observed that his Mercedes had been stolen.”


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a 2-alarm fire on Westlake Drive near Montgomery Mall on Friday afternoon.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, crews arrived to find heavy smoke on the second floor of the apartment complex. As of 4:45pm most of the fire had been knocked down with several crews on the scene. Firefighters rescued and assisted several occupants and additional EMS units were called to the scene.


Drummer, composer, and educator Allison Miller created Rivers in Our Veins as an exploration of the cultural and ecological life of rivers. She combines original jazz music with tap dance by Claudia Rahardjanoto and Luke Hickley, modern dance by Maleek Washington and improvisational video projections by Todd Winkler inspired by the sights, sounds, and movements of five U.S. rivers, including the Potomac and James.

Between the rhythmic elements inherent in tap and her dynamic movements, Rahardjanoto serves as a bridge between the aural and visual impacts of the piece. Rahardjanoto is both a dancer and a musician, blending into the performance as an additional member of the band. At the same time, Winkler improvises with imagery as his instrument. His projected natural sets shift in reaction to the band’s improvisational interplay and Claudia’s rhythmic vibrations, captured live via a feed connecting Rahardjanoto’s tap floor with his video equipment. What results is a balanced, multimedia experience that unifies the senses and fully immerses the audience into the wonders of these great American waterways.


A suspect is in custody after an employee at the CVS located at 7809 Wisconsin Ave in Bethesda was stabbed in the shoulder during an attempted robbery on Thursday evening. According to MCPD, “On Thursday, January 12, 2023, at approximately 3:51 p.m., MCP officers responded to the CVS store in the 7800 block of Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda. 

The preliminarily investigation has determined that the suspect entered the store, grabbed merchandise, and left the store without paying for the items. When confronted by an employee outside of the store, the suspect stabbed the employee with a knife and left the scene.  


Educators can now book free school visits to Glenstone Museum through June. Glenstone offers bus transportation and substitute teacher reimbursement for MCPS guided school visits. The Potomac museum provides opportunities for middle and high school students to learn in an environment that encourages direct connection with art, architecture and nature. Learn more about the options for student visits to Glenstone, including guided, self-guided and virtual engagements. Schedule a school visit here. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect at the museum.

Educators can also now visit without scheduling in advance; walk up to the arrival hall and present a valid ID card during operating hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. They can bring one additional guest. Glenstone is located at 12100 Glen Road in Potomac. For questions, email Francisca Moraga Lopez, community engagement coordinator.


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