Beyond MoCo Archives - Page 160 of 187

D.C. Ranked 8th in “2022’s Best & Worst Cities for Basketball Fans” List

Published May 11, 2022 at 8:03AM

Basketball has become the second most popular sport in the U.S., behind just football. While the industry, like all sports, was hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA’s revenue for the 2021-2022 season is expected to hit $10 billion, an increase from the around $8.3 billion for the season before the pandemic. WalletHub compared more than 290 of the largest cities based on 21 key metrics, ranging from the performance level of each city’s NBA and NCAA Division 1 basketball teams to ticket prices to stadium accessibility.

Washington D.C. came in 8th in the country in WalletHub’s “2022’s Best & Worst Cities for Basketball Fans” list. Nearby College Park, MD in Prince George’s County (the home of the University of Maryland), came in 7th on the “Small City” list.

Beyond MoCo: Sweet Rolled Tacos Opens NoVa Location

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2022 at 8:18PM

Sweet Rolled Tacos was founded in California in May 2017 by two brothers, Donovan and Kenny. Since then the dessert shop has expanded to over a dozen locations across the country, including one at 5967 Centreville Crest Ln in Centreville, VA that opened just last week.

The concept is a melting pot of taste, texture, and aesthetic into ice cream and drinks. Per the dessert shop’s website, “Sweet Rolled Tacos is all about the experience and catering to what customers want. We want you to enjoy every bite and every sip. Every ice cream taco is made with premium cream, handcrafted on a cold plate that is rolled into ice cream is fitted into a waffle taco cone.”

Governor Hogan Announces Donation of Medical Supplies and Body Armor to Ukraine

By Patrick Herron

Published May 10, 2022 at 2:52PM

The governor made the announcement at an MDH warehouse facility in Hanover, joined by Yaroslav Brisiuck, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of Ukraine; Karina Mandell, chair of the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee; Dr. William Chester of the Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation; and Maryna Baydyuk and Boris Levonenko of United Help Ukraine.

“The atrocities taking place in Ukraine have served as a reminder to all of us of exactly why strong ties and alliances are so critical, and why it is so important that we do whatever we can to support our allies in their time of need,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to thank our entire state government team for working around the clock over the past week to make this possible, along with the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee, which has been indispensable in helping us coordinate efforts on the ground.”

Beyond MoCo: Escalator Replacement Project Will Close L’Enfant Plaza North Entrance For Seven Months, Beginning May 9

By MCS Staff

Published May 8, 2022 at 7:48AM

Beginning Monday, May 9, Metro will close the north entrance at L’Enfant Plaza Station at Maryland Ave and Seventh St to replace the three entrance escalators. The entrance will remain closed for approximately seven months. The work is part of a seven-year, $179 million escalator replacement project to install 130 new escalators by 2028. The project will replace the current escalators with brand-new ones that are more durable and reliable. Construction will require Metro’s contractor, Kone, to close the entrance to remove all three escalators at once and install a new support beam.

During this time, people will still be able to access the station from the two remaining entrances and elevator located at:

Beyond MoCo: Ocean City Listed as One of the ’25 Best Beaches in the U.S.’ by Travel + Leisure Magazine

By MCS Staff

Published May 7, 2022 at 9:10AM

Travel + Leisure a travel magazine and website based in New York City with over 4.8 million readers, according to its corporate media kit, has released a list of the “25 Best Beaches in The U.S.” that includes nearby Ocean City, MD. The list also includes beaches from New York, Hawaii, California, Florida, and more. According to the article, “many different criteria define the perfect beach: the sand, the waves (or lack thereof), the level of seclusion, the public transportation and accessible parking, the boardwalk, the activities, and even the amount of shaded trees.”

Ocean City, MD: “Ten miles of white-sand beach plus a three-mile boardwalk packed with amusement park rides, bike rentals, shops, and delectable treats make Ocean City Beach a popular vacation spot. You’ll find a variety of hotels, restaurants, and even a brewery on the boardwalk. Jet skiing, surf fishing, and fishing charters are popular here as well.”

Tragic Loss of Animal Life at Smithsonian’s National Zoo

By MCS Staff

Published May 3, 2022 at 2:14PM

Staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are devastated and mourning the loss of 25 American flamingos and one Northern pintail duck killed by a wild fox yesterday in the Zoo’s outdoor flamingo habitat. Three additional flamingos were injured and are being treated at the Zoo’s veterinary hospital.

Per the press release: In the early morning of May 2, Bird House staff arrived to discover the deceased flamingos and sighted a fox in the Zoo’s outdoor flamingo yards. The fox escaped the yard. The flock originally had 74 flamingos. The remaining flamingos were moved indoors to their barn and the ducks to a covered, secure outdoor space.

Small Plane Bound for Gaithersburg Lands in New Jersey After Smoke Reported in Cockpit

By Patrick Herron

Published May 2, 2022 at 5:21PM

A small single-engine Piper PA-32 plane that was headed to the Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg was forced to make an emergency landing in New Jersey on Sunday morning after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit, according to a report by FOX 5. The plane, which had initially departed from Norwood Regional Airport in Norwood, MA landed safely at Teterboro Airport in Bergen County, NJ around 11am. It is not know how many people were aboard the plane at the time of the incident. Per Wikipedia, the Piper PA-32 is a single-engine, light aircraft manufactured in the United States by Piper Aircraft and is used around the world for private transportation, air taxi services, bush support, and medevac flights.

According to US News & World Report, the FAA is investigating the incident and that “The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns and manages the airport, did not immediately respond to questions about the incident, and local police also did not respond.”

Beyond MoCo: Black Bears Emerging from Winter Dens (Black Bears Will Occassionally be Spotted in Montgomery County)

By MCS Staff

Published April 28, 2022 at 6:26PM

Maryland’s black bears are leaving their winter dens and as they emerge, they are hungry. Bears will be searching for natural food sources such as acorns, plants, berries, and insects. With natural food sources in short supply until later in the spring, bears can be attracted to anything that smells like food. Homeowners who leave human-generated food sources out in the open may unintentionally draw bears to residential areas. Residents of Maryland’s bear country (Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick Counties in Maryland are all home to black bears, and black bears have occasionally been spotted in Montgomery County) are urged to be proactive and exercise good judgment to avoid creating man-made attractions for bears.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources advises:

Astronaut Jessica Watkins, the First Black Woman to Serve Aboard the International Space Station, is From Gaithersburg

By Patrick Herron

Published April 28, 2022 at 9:24AM

Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman astronaut to be a part of a crew aboard the International Space Station when SpaceX’s Crew-4 mission launched on Wednesday morning. Watkins and her three other crew members will be on the station for around six months. Born in Gaithersburg in 1988, her family later moved to Layfette, Colorado where she graduated high school. She then went on to play rugby at Stanford University in California, where she received her bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences. She later earned a Ph.D. in geology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I think it’s important to recognize this as a milestone for our agency and for our country, as well, to know that we are building on the foundation that was laid by the Black woman astronauts who’ve come before me,” Watkins told NPR

Honeymoon Chicken Receives Michelin “Bib Gourmand” Award

By Patrick Herron

Published April 26, 2022 at 7:24PM | Updated April 27, 2022 at 4:06PM

Honeymoon Chicken (4201 Georgia Ave NW, DC) has received a “Bib Gourmand” award from the Michelin Guide. Started in 1997, the Bib Gourmand award has been given to restaurants that have “good quality and good value”. Honeymoon Chicken opened it’s standalone location in DC this past January, but is also available in Montgomery County from Ensemble in Bethesda. Ensemble is a digital food hall from Salis Holdings (Ted’s Bulletin, Sidekick Bakery, Federalist Pig), located 4856 Cordell Ave. Food from Ensemble is only available for pickup or delivery and you must order through their mobile app. The menu features items from four the different Salis Holdings restaurants that can be mixed and matched. You can get a brisket sandwich from Federalist Pig, side of French toast from Ted’s Bulletin, fried chicken from Honeymoon Chicken, and dessert from Sidekick Bakery all at the same spot.

Current MCPS Associate Superintendent Appointed Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools

By MCS Staff

Published April 26, 2022 at 3:22PM

The Board of Education of Frederick County (the Board) appointed Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson to serve as the next superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools.Dr. Dyson will assume the role on July 1, 2022, contingent upon approval by the State Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Dyson’s contract was approved and signed at today’s Board of Education meeting and is posted at fcps.org.

Per FCPS: