MoCo Archives - Page 318 of 629

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

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.

Takoma Park Police: Montgomery County Reconstruction Unit Investigates Fatal Crash That Occurred Early Monday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published July 3, 2023 at 8:14AM

The Montgomery County Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal collision that occurred at approximately midnight this morning on New Hampshire Avenue at Glenside Drive.

According to Takoma Park Police, “the investigation is active and fluid but it appears as though a vehicle was traveling south on New Hampshire Avenue at Glenside Drive when it left the roadway. The vehicle destroyed a Metrobus stop before coming to a rest in the brush. Responding officers discovered an injured woman on the roadside who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin has not yet been notified.

Rockville Gym’s Acro Athletes Win Big at USA Gymnastics National Championships

By MCS Staff

Published July 3, 2023 at 7:49AM

Athletes from Xtreme Acro of Rockville, MD recently competed in the 2023 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships, held in Tulsa, OK from June 19-24. The athletes, led by Head Coach Cameron Jones, earned an impressive number of medals, including eight gold, seven silver, and seven bronze, and the gym’s thirteen Level 10 athletes brought home a gold medal Team Award for the highest cross-category cumulative score.

In addition to winning three silver medals, Xtreme’s Senior Elite women’s pair of Olivia Green and Allyson Stone were named to the Senior US National Team and will be competing at the Pan American Championships this fall. The Junior Elite women’s group, consisting of Roni Azerrad, Audrey Wang, and Isabella Collazo, won two gold medals and one bronze (including the national championship title for their division) and were named to the Junior US National Team. The two-time bronze medalist women’s group of Oriyan Weinman, Rebecca Greenberg, and Caylei Caldwell, and bronze medalist women’s pair of Olivia Irreno and Layla DeVaul, were named to the International Club Team.

Statement From Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on SCOTUS Decision Impacting LGBTQ+ Rights, Student Loan Debt

By Patrick Herron

Published July 2, 2023 at 10:28AM

It is difficult to estimate at this point the complete impact this ruling will have, including on some operations within County government. However, it is immediately clear that it will have a detrimental impact and reflects that we are currently living under the dictates of the most reactionary Supreme Court I have ever witnessed in my lifetime.

Justice Elena Kagan summarized it well in her dissenting opinion on another of today’s rulings by stating, “In every respect, the Court today exceeds its proper, limited role in our Nation’s governance.”

Montgomery County Issues Warning Against Impaired Driving Ahead of Independence Day Weekend; Information on Free Sober Rides July 4

By Patrick Herron

Published July 2, 2023 at 10:25AM

Per Montgomery County: As Independence Day weekend approaches, the Montgomery County Department of Police and the County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) are warning motorists: Impaired driving is drunk driving. County Police and allied local and State police departments will be on the road with enhanced patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the weekend.

Nationally, the holiday weekend, marked by celebrations and increased travel, often comes with a surge in traffic crashes caused by excessive speed, impairment and distracted driving. The National Safety Council estimates 619 people may die on U.S. roads this Independence Day holiday.