MoCo Archives - Page 294 of 605

MoCo’s Katie Ledecky Now Owns All 15 Of The Top Times Recorded in Women’s 1500m

Published July 7, 2023 at 3:21PM

Montgomery County’s very own Katie Ledecky finished the 1500m with a time of 15:29.64 and now now owns all of the top 15 times ever recorded in the event. According to Olmypics.com, “her dominant performance found her with a two second lead over second place after just 150m. By 200m, she had separated herself by a full bodylength and at the halfway mark, Ledecky was nearly half a pool’s length ahead of her nearest competitor.”

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. “It’s amazing what a morning off can do,” said Ledecky to Scott Bregman of Olympics.com. “I just wanted to finish on a good note. I really don’t like finishing a meet with a bad swim, so I just really wanted to have a great one tonight. That’s – I think – the first time I’ve been under 15:30 since before the pandemic so I’m really happy with that.”

Montgomery County Office of Procurement Digitized Bidding System Wins National Association of Counties Award

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 11:03AM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of Procurement won a National Association of Counties (NACo) Award for the Digitization of County Contracting in the County Administration and Management category. NACo is an organization that represents county governments in the United States. It works to advance excellence in public service. Until recently, the County’s Office of Procurement utilized paper-based methods to manage procurement actions for more than 2,600 contracts, totaling goods and services valued at more than $1 billion annually. Due to the unforeseen urgency brought on by COVID-19, paper-based methods of submitting and receiving bids were no longer possible.

To improve the system, technical and operational staff fast-tracked the development and implementation of an e-bidding system to accept responses to solicitations online. These efforts were fully developed and maintained with existing staff at no cost and implemented within one year.

Farm Tour and Harvest Sale on Saturday-Sunday, July 22-23, Will Offer Access to Fresh Produce, Farm Animals and Craft Beverage Industry

By Patrick Herron

Published July 6, 2023 at 4:10PM

Per Montgomery County: The 2023 Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale on Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23, will be a unique opportunity for residents to explore 21 select farms in the County’s Agricultural Reserve, shop local, enjoy fresh food, see farm animals and learn about farming as a way of life. The Farm Tour will offer a chance to visit select farms, some of which are only open to the public during this special weekend event.

During the Farm Tour weekend, all 21 participating farms will be open on Saturday, July 22, and 17 farms will be open on Sunday, July 23. Tourgoers should check the 2023 Farm Tour website for each farm they plan to visit for any additional costs, details on hours and activities or to make any necessary reservations. No pets are allowed except service animals for persons with disabilities.

Parking Lots and Meters in Downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring No Longer Free Beginning This Saturday, July 8

By Patrick Herron

Published July 6, 2023 at 4:05PM

Courtesy MCDOT

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County-operated garages, parking lots and street meters in Downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring will begin charging for Saturday parking beginning on Saturday, July 8. The Saturday hours and rates will be the same as the existing weekday schedules. Sundays will remain free. Drivers will be able to purchase monthly parking passes valid for mornings, evenings and weekends.

Parking revenue will be used to implement new safety and security measures in Downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton parking facilities. This will include installing more lighting and cameras, in addition to maintenance. The Montgomery County Council approved the new parking schedule and a monthly pass with Resolution 20-167, “Setting Transportation Fees, Charges, and Fares,” as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget process. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will implement the changes in accordance with the resolution.

Montgomery County Officials to Give Project Update on July 20 About Behavioral Health Diversion Center Designed to Help Individuals in Crisis

By Patrick Herron

Published July 6, 2023 at 1:54PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County officials will host a project update on the Diversion Center planned in Rockville on Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Executive Office Building, located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. The meeting also will be accessible virtually via Microsoft TEAMS.

The County is opening the diversion center to help reduce the use of emergency rooms and jail. The center will be available to individuals in crisis who are dropped off by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or police, persons transferred from hospitals, persons who are released from the central processing unit at the detention center, and inmates released from jail and court programs. A team of multidisciplinary professionals will staff the center including nurses, licensed mental health and addiction professionals, peer specialists and resource navigators.

Big Greek Cafe Named “Best Gyro in Maryland” by Tasting Table

By MCS Staff

Published July 6, 2023 at 11:03AM | Updated July 6, 2023 at 1:20PM

Tasting Table, an online publication with over 18 million monthly visitors that offers “expert-backed dining advice, practical tips, must-try recipes, and the most relevant news influencing the food and restaurant world today”, has created a list of “The Best Gyro in Every State” and MoCo’s very own Big Greek Cafe earned the nod for Maryland.

Big Greek Cafe opened its first location in Downtown Silver Spring in 2009 and has quickly grown to become a favorite across the county. In addition to Downtown Silver Spring, there are currently locations in Bethesda, Hillandale, Kensington, Rockville, Urbana, and Laurel. Per the article,“According to the owners, the food here is served just as yia yia used to make. For those who don’t know, yia yia is the Greek word for grandma, and no one can cook better than a Greek grandmother. Follow up the famous gyro pita with rizogalo, a Greek rice pudding dessert not often found outside of Greece.”

Department of Permitting Services to Launch ‘Peer Review Program’ to Accelerate Timelines in Land Development

By Patrick Herron

Published July 6, 2023 at 9:47AM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has launched a “Peer Review Program” for developers and property owners who want to retain the services of a DPS-certified peer reviewer for sediment control, stormwater management and right-of-way projects that require permits from the DPS land development division. DPS is now accepting applications from those who request to be certified as peer reviewers.

Wheaton Urban District to Hold Conversation on Tuesday, July 11, on ‘Supporting Youth in Crisis’

By Patrick Herron

Published July 6, 2023 at 9:44AM

Per Montgomery County: The Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (WUDAC) will hold a meeting in Wheaton from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, on “Supporting Youth in Crisis.” The meeting will provide an opportunity for the community and businesses to share with local officials and professionals what they are seeing in their community as it relates to mental health, substance abuse and violence among youth.

The Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee consists of 11 members appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council to provide advice on matters affecting the Wheaton Urban District (downtown) area. Members represent businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, residents and the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board.

Cannabis Sales in Maryland Exceed $10 Million Over First Weekend of Recreational Sales

By Patrick Herron

Published July 5, 2023 at 6:29PM

Bethesda:

Burtonsville:

Last Chance to Own a Piece of Lakeforest Mall: Auction Ends Tomorrow, New Items Just Added

By Patrick Herron

Published July 5, 2023 at 10:48AM

Lakeforest Mall closed permanently to the public on March 31st, after almost 45 years. The mall first opened on September 12, 1978. At that time, the mall’s anchor stores were JCPenney, Sears, Woodward & Lothrop, and Hecht’s. The mall was one of the first in the United States to feature an indoor ice skating rink on the lower level, in the “H section”, along with being the biggest indoor shopping mall in the county at the time of grand opening. The ice skating rink was replaced by a NTI Theaters movie theater in 1984, later renamed Cineplex Odeon Lakeforest 5, then by a food court, which now occupies the space. The mall was built on top of Lake Walker, a park on the property prior. The mall opened with approximately 30-50 stores, with some of the first stores being relocated from the then nearby indoor Village Mall (now an outdoor strip mall called Montgomery Village Center since 1991) and absorbed onto the property.

New 6th District Police Station in Gaithersburg Will Be Montgomery County’s First Renewable Energy-Designed Public Building

By Patrick Herron

Published July 3, 2023 at 5:29PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Sidney Katz for the groundbreaking of a new 6th District County Police Station in Gaithersburg on June 29. The project represents County Executive Elrich’s commitment to renewable energy as it will be the first public NetZero, sustainably designed energy-efficient building in the County.

Serving the Upcounty, including the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village communities, the new 6th District station will be constructed at the northeast intersection of I-270 and Watkins Mill Road, near 222 Paramount Park Drive. Scheduled to open in spring 2025, the new 6th District Police Station will replace an outdated facility. It will have space to accommodate up to 178 department staff and volunteers and has been sized to meet the needs projected in the Police Chief’s Staffing Plan.