Bethesda Archives - Page 179 of 277

2022’s Top Stories: Amazon to Close All 68 Retail Stores, Including Amazon Books and Amazon 4 Star Stores

Published December 31, 2022 at 11:13AM

As 2022 ends, we’re sharing a few of our most-read stories of the year, from March: Amazon announced on Wednesday that it plans to close all 68 of its brick-and-mortar bookstores, pop-ups and shops carrying toys and home goods (including Amazon 4 Star) in the United States and United Kingdom, per Reuters. Amazon has an Amazon 4 Star location in Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and one that was planned for Germantown, with signage at that location recently going up. A call to the Bethesda Amazon 4 Star location led to a message stating the store was temporarily closed until tomorrow. The Germantown location is no longer going to open.

Amazon also has an Amazon Books location in Bethesda, which is closed on Wednesdays. Exact dates for closures will vary by location, and Amazon stated it would help affected employees find roles elsewhere in the company. We will have closing dates for all Montgomery County location as soon as they are available. The company also stated that it would continue its focus on Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market grocery chains. An Amazon Fresh grocery store recently opened in Chevy Chase and one is planned for Gaithersburg. It was recently announced that an Amazon grocery store is in the plans for White Oak Town Center as well.

Fire Causes ~$100K in Damage; Displaces Three in Potomac

By MCS Staff

Published December 31, 2022 at 9:46AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the 10400 block of Heathside Way in the Glen Club neighborhood of Potomac for a fire on the second floor of a townhouse at approximately 3pm on Friday.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the fire extended to the attic but the occupants of the home were able to get out of the home. A cat that was in the home was also able to escape. Per piringer, the fire started when a 2nd floor bathroom fan (vent) caught nearby combustibles on fire. There were no injuries, but approximately $100k in damage (~$75k structural and ~$25k contents). Three adults and the cat have been displaced and the Red Cross is assisting.

2022’s Top Stories: Montgomery and Wheaton Mall Owner Plans to Sell All U.S. Properties By The End of 2023

By MCS Staff

Published December 30, 2022 at 2:14PM

As 2022 ends, we’re sharing a few of our most-read stories of the year, from April 2022: In March of 2021, it was reported that Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) planned to sell all of it’s US holdings in 2022. This would include Montgomery Mall and Wheaton Mall (Westfield Montgomery and Westfield Wheaton), both located in Montgomery County. Chief Executive Jean-Marie Tritant told investors last week that Unibail wants to shed most of its U.S. properties by the end of 2023, according to a Wall Street Journal report, which pushes things back about a year.

Shopping malls, which were already hurting due to the rise of online shopping, were hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Per the report, “Unibail’s exit from the U.S. after only four years shows that executives have concluded that even high-quality, marquee American malls aren’t worth holding on to as the Paris-based company works to slash its debt and to refocus on its flagship properties in Europe.” With White Flint gone and Lakeforest on its last legs, Montgomery, Wheaton and Ellsworth Place malls are the last three remaining in Montgomery County.

MCFRS Respond to Apartment Fire in Bethesda Friday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published December 30, 2022 at 9:22AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call at 7170 Woodmont Ave, the Flats at Bethesda Ave apartment complex, for a fire on the fourth floor of the residential apartment building at approximately 7am on Friday morning.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, a small fire on the stove top of a fourth floor apartment activated the sprinkler system. The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler and the firefighters that arrived on the scene cleared smoke from the area. There was minor extension of the fire and some water damage on the floors below, but no injuries.

Porky The Litter Eater

By MCS Staff

Published December 29, 2022 at 1:59PM

If you’ve been to Cabin John Regional Park in the last half century or so you’ve probably seen a bizarre, miniature house-like structure that has a pig face with its mouth wide open on one side. That’s Porky. You can feed him paper and cardboard and soft drink cans, but you can’t feed him bottles or broken glass…glass gives him a tummy ache.

Porky has been there since 1966, making his debut one year after Billy the Litter Eater over at Wheaton Regional Park. “I still have nightmares of my arm getting sucked into this thing” commented Richard Schaffer as he shared a picture of the famous trash dispenser. Creepy Basement, a popular website that is comprised of creepy highlights from across the world, refers to Porky as an “eternally hungry demon pig that commands children to feed him with his creepy 1950s radio voice.”

MoCo’s Katie Ledecky Named AP Female Athlete of The Year For 2nd Time

By MCS Staff

Published December 29, 2022 at 9:14AM

A panel of 40 sports writers and editors from news outlets across the country voted MoCo-native Katie Ledecky the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the second time, edging out 400m hurdles world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in balloting. Ledecky previously won AP Female Athlete of the Year in 2017.

Ledecky was raised in Bethesda, where she attended Little Flower School through eighth grade and attended high school at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, where she graduated in 2015. During her high-school swimming career at Stone ridge, Ledecky twice set the American and US Open record in the 500-yard freestyle, and she twice set the national high school record in the 200-yard freestyle. Ledecky finished her high school career as the holder of the Stone Ridge school record in every swimming event except the 100-meter breaststroke.

Restaurants Opening in MoCo in 2023

By Patrick Herron

Published December 28, 2022 at 2:58PM | Updated December 30, 2022 at 2:09PM

The restaurant tells us, “There’s lots of misconception when it comes to “EggMania”. In American culture eggs based dishes are primarily used during breakfast whereas in popular Indian street food culture, eggs based dishes are made for entrees and served during lunch / dinner and full menu items, not just breakfast. EggMania is not breakfast place. Hope to serve the community and bring this delicious food options for our MoCo residents and surrounding very soon…!!”

Laperaux, the Journemanchef’s Bistro- Germantown

Walter Johnson’s Makel Rasheed Taken 65th in This Year’s MLS Draft

By MCS Staff

Published December 28, 2022 at 11:22AM

Xavier men’s soccer player Makel Rasheed was drafted by Nashville SC in MLS SuperDraft 2023 presented by adidas on Wednesday night. He was taken as the seventh pick (65th overall) in the third round. The Rockville, Md. native, who is a 2019 graduate of Walter Johnson High School, was the second Musketeer taken in the draft as Cole Jensen went in the first round (pick No. 18) to Inter Miami CF. Xavier had two players taken in the same draft for the first time in program history.

The 2022 All-BIG EAST Second Team Selection helped the Musketeers match the program’s highest United Soccer Coaches Ranking this season (No. 9 on Oct. 18). The defender also helped the Musketeers match the program record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season (14 matches) and set the program record for fewest losses in a season (2).

Detectives Asking for Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing 82-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published December 27, 2022 at 10:46PM

Hwa Hyun Woo was last seen on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at approximately 7:38 p.m., in the 15500 block of Frederick Rd. in Rockville. Woo is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. He has black and white hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing dark clothing. He sometimes wears glasses. Woo is driving a silver 2001 Honda Accord with Maryland tags JBP398.

Petition Started to Remove Bike Lanes on Old Georgetown Road

By MCS Staff

Published December 27, 2022 at 6:09PM

A change.org petition has been started to remove the bike lanes that were recently added to Old Georgetown Road (MD187) in North Bethesda. MDOT converted one travel lane in each direction of the road, between south of I-495 and north of Nicholson Lane, to a buffered bicycle lane that include flex posts and green pavement. The remaining 11-foot travel lanes have also been narrowed to 10.5 and 10 feet.

According to the petition, “There are serious safety concerns regarding the new bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road (Maryland State Route 187) in Bethesda, MD. This heavily-trafficked 6-lane major highway has been reduced by 39% by removing 2 driving lanes and by reducing the width of the 4 remaining driving lanes. This ill-advised change was made in order to add 2 bike lanes with white plastic spikes separating the bike lanes from the driving lanes. This busy highway serves schools, the National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University, Suburban Hospital, and the Bethesda Fire Station. It is often used by emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, and police cars. Reduced by 39% in driving capacity, the road now is consistently congested, with back-to-back traffic even in the middle of the day in good weather. This non-stop traffic has resulted in cars trying to avoid the gridlock by cutting through quiet residential side streets where children play. Ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles, buses, and drivers in their personal cars can no longer quickly reach their destinations, potentially endangering many lives.”

Under Armour Names Marriott’s Stephanie Linnartz New President and CEO

By MCS Staff

Published December 23, 2022 at 1:06PM

Under Armour, founded by MoCo native Kevin Plank, announced that Marriott’s Stephanie Linnartz will join the company as President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of its Board of Directors, effective February 27, 2023. Her appointment follows a thorough and deliberate search led by a committee of independent members of Under Armour’s Board of Directors. Linnartz currently serves as the president of Bethesda-based Marriott International, Inc., the world’s largest hospitality company, with a portfolio of nearly 8,200 properties across 138 countries and territories and 30 brands, including The Ritz-Carlton^®, St. Regis^®, Marriott Hotels^®, W^® Hotels, and Westin^® as well as the industry’s most extensive customer-loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy^®, which has 173 million members.

Per the press release: “As a 25-year veteran of one of the world’s most respected global companies, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the brand,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour Executive Chair and Brand Chief. “She is a proven growth leader with a distinguished track record of brand strategy, omnichannel execution, talent acquisition and development, and passion for driving best-in-class consumer connectivity, experience, and brand loyalty.”