Takoma Park Police has provided an updated on road closures and reopening a stemming from this weekend’s storms. Additionally, road closures for the city’s National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 1st, can also be seen below:
• Takoma at Buffalo and Albany – road is open
Nick’s Diner at 11199 Veirs Mill Rd in Wheaton remains closed after a heavy storms knocked out power in the immediate area on Saturday afternoon. The restaurant posted the following update Monday morning: “Attention valued customers, We regret to inform you that Nick’s Diner is still closed due to the ongoing power outage. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. Updates on our reopening will be provided as soon as electricity is restored. Thank you for your patience and continued support. -Nick’s Diner”
Nick’s recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and serves diner classics like pancakes, French toast, omelets, hot & cold sandwiches, chili, souvlaki, and gyros. Featured photo courtesy of Nick’s Diner on Instagram.
All Set Restaurant & Bar, located at 8630 Fenton Street, Plaza 5 in Silver Spring, has announced it will be hosting its inaugural Oyster Eating Contest on Saturday, August 5th, from 2pm-4pm featuring, an oyster shucking demonstration from Owner & Head Chef, Edward Reavis. The contestant who eats the most oysters will be awarded one dozen oysters a day, every day, for one calendar year, All Set & Money Muscle merchandise, their photo posted on All Set social media, & ultimate bragging rights. All interested competitors must sign a waiver & pay a $25 registration fee. Additional details on the contest can be seen below:
Each ‘athlete’ will have 1 minute to eat as many oysters as possible. Contestants will receive a tray filled with 24 pre-shucked oysters on the half shell. If the competitor consumes all the oysters on the tray, they will be given supplemental dozens.
Per Montgomery County: A community mosaic mural that was created by families living in Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) apartments in Wheaton working with artists from the Wheaton Arts Parade organization was formally dedicated on Thursday, July 27. The mosaic panels were created in 2019, but installation was delayed due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The Wheaton Arts Parade “Community Mosaic” was supported in part by a grant from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
The mosaic mural is installed on the wall of the Pembridge Square Apartments at 2319 Blueridge Ave. and is visible from the side facing Elkin St. in Wheaton. Residents from nearby Amherst Gardens also participated in its creation. Among those at the dedication were Montgomery County Councilmember Natali Fani-González, MHP representatives and mosaic artists Edwin Salmeron and Ge’Vonna Keyes. Dan Thompson of Wheaton Arts Parade led the ceremonies.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call on the 12200 block of Charles Rd, off of Veirs Mill Rd (near the Korean Korner) at approximately 4:45pm on Saturday, for a tree that fell onto a house and trapped at least some of the occupants.
MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer provided an update stating that there were no injuries and that all 10 occupants are accounted for. The affected families, which include five adults and five children, have been displaced. The Red Cross is assisting. Severe damage was caused across the county due to Saturday’s storm.
Trader’s Joe’s has removed a broccoli cheddar soup and falafel from its shelves after learning that the products were possibly contaminated with foreign objects. The grocery store is telling its customers that they should return the items to any Trader Joe’s location for a full refund. The company issued the following two announcements:
Last week Trader Joe’s recalled its Almond Windmill and Dark Chocolate Chunk & Almond Cookies due to the possibility that the products were also contaminated with rocks. Trader Joe’s has MoCo locations Bethesda, Rockville, and Silver Spring.
Back in March we let you know that Outback Steakhouse will be opening its third Montgomery County location. The Australian-themed casual dining chain will open in the space that was previously home to Not Your Average Joe’s at 8661 Colesville Rd at Ellsworth Place in Downtown Silver Spring. Construction is currently ongoing and the restaurant has its hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services (ABS) for a New Class B, Beer, Wine & Liquor License, On-Sale Only, license at 11:30am on Thursday, August 3rd (reported first by Source of the Spring). An opening timeframe is not yet available, but it will be the chain’s third Montgomery County location, joining existing restaurants in Aspen Hill and Germantown.
While Outback Steakhouse is an international chain, one of the founders has strong local ties. Chris T. Sullivan, one of the founders of Outback Steakhouse, is a Blair High School alumnus. Sullivan attended the school, and Takoma Park Middle School before that, in the 60s before heading to the University of Kentucky to study business and economics.
Per Montgomery County: The Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District, which has teamed up with the iconic Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center for this year’s TGIF Summer Concert Series in Downtown Wheaton, has postponed a concert scheduled for TONIGHT, Friday, July 28, due to the heat. The group that was going to headline tonight’s concert was The Nighthawks.
The concert was scheduled to be held outside at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station. The Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District will try to reschedule The Nighthawks for a concert later this summer. For updated information on the concert series, go to https://www.wheatonmd.org/.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, on Thursday, July 7, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Teresa Chernosky, a jury has found defendant, Jose Mazara, 27, of unknown address, guilty of three counts of First-Degree Burglary and one count of Felon in Possession of a Regulated Firearm, as well as conspiracy counts for each and some related charges.
The defendant burglarized three homes in the Takoma Park area in November 2022, stealing multiple items of jewelry and watches (estimated total value of $30,000) and a handgun with ammunition. The victims were away from their homes at the time of the break-ins. In one case, the family was traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday. Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Kroepsch is prosecuting this case and stated in court that Mazara targeted homes where newspapers and/or mail sat outside of the front door, indicating the likelihood that the occupants were not present. The defendant entered the homes through unlocked doors and windows, in one case, using a ladder from the yard to access a second story window. Mazara is facing up to 75 years in prison and is scheduled for a sentencing hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2023.”
Last October we let you know that Peet’s Coffee would be closing its Silver Spring location with a Starbucks taking over the storefront at 1316 East-West Highway at The Blair’s Shopping Center in Silver Spring. The store has opened, and Instagram user @nerdysporks has shared some photos on their Instagram story (one photo seen below).
The Berkeley, California-born Peet’s coffee chain that closed, originally planned to open 23 locations in the DC area in 2014/2015, with the first debuting at 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. MoCo locations included the Silver Spring location and two Bethesda locations– one in Montgomery Mall that closed in 2017 and one at 7629 Old Georgetown Rd that closed in 2020 after 6 years. Featured photo courtesy of Instagram user @_zainyyy_
Per MCPD: 4th District officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police have arrested and charged a juvenile male as an adult with theft related charges and illegal possession of a privately manufactured firearm, also known as a “ghost gun.”
On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at approximately 12:57 p.m., officers responded to the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in the 11100 block of Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton for the report of a shoplifting. When officers arrived at the location, they observed the suspects leaving the store with the stolen merchandise. Officers followed the suspects who ran to the Safeway store in the 11200 block of Georgia Ave. Officers entered the Safeway and observed the suspects in possession of the stolen items from the previous store.