Ceylon House (4009 Sandy Spring Rd, Burtonsville), a first-of-its-kind cannabis lounge in Maryland, will hold its grand opening this Saturday, March 4.  Ceylon House describes itself as an inclusive space for cannabis enthusiasts that is inspired by the tea houses in Sri Lanka. The entry fee for two hours of lounge use is $25. Ceylon House does not serve food or beverages, but vending machines are accesible and the Little Miner Taco food truck is scheduled to be there on opening day. Tickets for the event are available at www.ceylon-house.com.

According to its website, “Only Registered Maryland Medical Patients that are older than 21 are allowed to enter for open lounge consumption and public events. Please bring with you your Patient ID number, Government-issued photo ID, and medical cannabis in its original packaging with your patient label still attached.”  Ceylon House does not sell cannabis, but there is a dispensary located directly across from the lounge. Alcohol and tobacco consumption is prohibited.


At approximately 5:44 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of an armed carjacking that just occurred. The investigation by detectives has determined that an adult male victim was removing an item from his white 2021 Nissan Rogue when the three suspects arrived in a blue four-door sedan. Two of the suspects exited the sedan and approached the victim. One the suspects implied that he had a handgun and demanded the key to the Nissan. The victim complied and handed over the key to the Nissan. One of the suspects left the scene in the Nissan and the other two left the scene in the sedan.


The construction worker is married with two children. He plans to put most of the prize in the bank but might take a trip to El Salvador, his native country, to visit family members. Hillandale Beer & Wine in Silver Spring was the home of the winning scratch-off. For selling a $100,000 top-prize winning instant ticket, the Montgomery County retailer located at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery. The bonus equals 1% of the prize. The $100,000 Extreme Cash game is one of five $30 scratch-offs and went on sale in September 2020. Five $100,000 top prizes still remain unclaimed along with two $5,000 prizes and 29,600 others ranging from $30 to $500.”


Public testimony for the Superintendent’s Recommendation to Relocate Burtonsville Elementary School to the Northeast Consortium Elementary School #17 Site and the Superintendent’s Recommendation for the Boundary Study Scope for the Reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School.

The Montgomery County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on March 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., to hear testimony regarding the Superintendent’s Recommendation to Relocate Burtonsville Elementary School to the Northeast Consortium Elementary School #17 Site and the Superintendent’s Recommendation for the Boundary Study Scope for the Reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School.  Video, audio and in-person testimony will be accepted and will be made available to the public on BoardDocs. Individuals who wish to provide public comments will register using the online registration form.


A $100,000 winning $100,000 Extreme Cash scratch-off sold at Hillandale Beer ‘N’ Wine (10117 New Hampshire Blvd) was the top lottery prize claimed in Montgomery County for the week of February 20 – 26. Other local winners this past week included a $10,000 winning scratch-off sold at Safeway (9807 Main Street) in Damascus and a $14,204 winning Racetrax ticket sold at Beer on Tapz (19520 Walters Road) in Germantown.  Additional information on winners across the state of Maryland, including a $2 million winner in Millersville, below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Claims Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.


White Oak Bowling Lanes at 11207 New Hampshire Ave, which opened in 1959, has announced plans to reopen after the business closed due to flooding and a subsequent dispute with the building’s landlord back in September 2021. The bowling alley is hoping to be opened by September 1, 2023 and will have new lanes, approaches, and pin decks. White Oak Bowling Lanes released the following message on February 27:


After a little bit of a wait for eager diners, Naz’s Halal has let us know that they hope to open next month at 11209 New Hampshire Ave in White Oak, the former location of White Oak Dry Cleaners. The restaurant could open as early as the first week of March, but has a couple things left to do before that can happen. Naz’s Halal offers rice platters, sandwiches, gyros, wings, salads, and more.

The first location outside of New York was also in MoCo, at the Burtonsville Town Center, next to Tropical Smoothie Cafe. That location opened in August 2020 and has become a local favorite with late night hours. The restaurant has since opened locations in Rockville and Germantown with an additional MoCo location planned for Takoma Park (7653 New Hampshire Ave).


Ceylon House (4009 Sandy Spring Rd, Burtonsville), a first-of-its-kind cannabis lounge in Maryland, will hold its grand opening next Saturday, March 4.  Ceylon House describes itself as an inclusive space for cannabis enthusiasts that is inspired by the tea houses in Sri Lanka. According to its website, “Only Registered Maryland Medical Patients that are older than 21 are allowed to enter for open lounge consumption and public events. Please bring with you your Patient ID number, Government-issued photo ID, and medical cannabis in its original packaging with your patient label still attached.”  Ceylon House does not sell cannabis, but there is a dispensary located directly across from the lounge.

The entry fee for two hours of lounge use is $25. Ceylon House does not serve food or beverages, but vending machines are accesible and customers are able to bring their own food into the lounge. Alcohol and tobacco consumption is prohibited.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a commercial robbery of the Dollar City Plus store in the 10110 block of New Hampshire Ave. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the two male suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them.  On Thursday, February 16, 2023, 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of a commercial robbery that just occurred.

The investigation by detectives has determined that at approximately 3:40 p.m., the two male suspects entered the store and approached an employee who was working behind the counter. The suspects then implied that they had a weapon and demanded money. One of the suspects went behind the counter and removed an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register. Both suspects then left the scene.  Detectives reviewed the surveillance cameras of the store and obtained a physical description of the suspects.


The suspect is described as a Black male, thin build, approximately 18 to 20-years-old, 5-feet, 10-inches to six-feet tall, with short black hair. He was carrying a white backpack with black trim and wearing a black ski mask, black coat with fur around the hood black jeans and black shoes.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old from the Fairland area of Silver Spring.  Belinda Garcia-Bonilla was last seen on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at approximately 10 p.m., in the 14300 block of Fairdale Rd.

Garcia-Bonilla is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. She has brown eyes and shoulder length hair that is dyed blonde. It is unknown what she was last seen wearing. She was also carrying a red and blue backpack and a separate pink backpack.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


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