Silver Spring Archives - Page 289 of 469

Working Draft of Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment to be Presented to MoCo Planning Board June 8th

Published May 30, 2023 at 7:38AM

Planning Board expected to set public hearing date for draft plan re-envisioning areas along Maple Avenue and Flower Avenue, including the Washington Adventist campus area. Per Montgomery Planning:

The Montgomery County Planning Department will present the Working Draft of the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment to the Montgomery County Planning Board at the June 8 weekly Planning Board meeting. Montgomery Planning staff will request the Board accept the Working Draft Plan as the Public Hearing Draft and set the date for a public hearing to receive community feedback. These are the first steps prior to the Planning Board conducting work sessions to review and revise the draft plan before submission to the County Council and County Executive for public review and final County Council approval.

Westfield Continues Deleveraging Process in U.S., Currently Owns Montgomery and Wheaton Malls in MoCo

By MCS Staff

Published May 29, 2023 at 9:35AM

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has maintained its deleveraging progress with US and European asset sales with the announcement of the sale of Westfield Brandon Shopping Center (located in Brandon, Florida) in the US for $220 million and “V” office building in France for €95 million, bringing total sale proceeds to €4.7 billion. It was reported in 2021 that Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) planned to sell all of it’s US holdings in 2022. Last year, then-Chief Executive Jean-Marie Tritant told investors that Unibail wants to shed most of its U.S. properties by the end of 2023, according to a Wall Street Journal report, which pushed things back about a year. Montgomery Mall and Wheaton Mall (Westfield Montgomery and Westfield Wheaton), both located in Montgomery County, are owned by URW.

URW operates over 75 shopping centers in 12 countries, including over 40 which carry the Westfield brand. These centers attract over 900 million visits annually. Fabrice Mouchel, Chief Financial Officer of URW, said: “URW continues to achieve deleveraging progress, even in a more challenging financing environment. With these two transactions, we have now generated €4.7 Bn in disposal proceeds since 2021 and consistently improving credit metrics. The Group’s robust operational performance and strong liquidity position will allow us to complete our deleveraging programme, including a radical reduction of our US financial exposure, in a timely and disciplined manner.”

(POSTPONED) Community Meeting for Future Disc Golf Course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 6:18PM | Updated June 5, 2023 at 4:32PM

Montgomery Parks is postponing the community meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, 2023, about plans to develop a disc golf course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park. The meeting is being postponed due to health reasons. A new meeting date will be announced soon. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause.

Montgomery Parks will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, from 7‒9 p.m. at the National Capital Trolley Museum to share information about a proposed disc golf course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park(Aspen Hill/Silver Spring). Parks staff will provide details about the project including how disc golf will activate this largely undeveloped park and complement the National Capital Trolley Museum.

Concern for Missing 16-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published May 26, 2023 at 12:41PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Anthony Amaya Ramos, a missing 16-year-old from Wheaton. Anthony was last seen on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at approximately 7:15 a.m., in the 2300 block of Blueridge Avenue. Anthony is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a long sleeve gray shirt, gray pants and black sneakers.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Anthony Amaya Ramos is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.

More Than 100 Compete in First Unified Field Day At Wheaton High School

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 4:12AM | Updated May 26, 2023 at 7:46AM

Per MCPS: Wheaton High School held its first Unified Field Day on May 23 in honor of Sarah Gilbert, a former Learning for Independence (LFI) student who unexpectedly passed away last summer. The event was named Gilbert Games in her honor. The event was planned and executed by Wheaton High School staff members in conjunction with Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Springbrook and Wheaton high schools. More than 100 students from all four schools attended (video below).

Leadership students coached students from the LFI program, which is designed for students with complex learning and cognitive needs, including mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, and the School Community-based (SCB) programs, which includes students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and/or multiple disabilities. Students from the extensions program, which is a program that includes students with the same disabilities in need of additional behavioral support, also participated.

Concern for Missing 13-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published May 25, 2023 at 10:08PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Norma Lisseth-Amaya, a missing 13-year-old from Silver Spring.

Norma was last seen on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in the 3000 block of Weller Road. Norma is approximately 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. She has auburn hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what clothing she was last seen wearing.

Update on Taste of Wheaton’s Cancellation

By Patrick Herron

Published May 25, 2023 at 9:02AM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 9:27AM

On Tuesday, we reported that this year’s Taste of Wheaton event scheduled for June 4 at Marian Fryer Plaza (2424 Reedie Plaza) in Downtown Wheaton had been cancelled. Taste of Wheaton is an annual event that takes place in early June that features food, music and dance, rides, and children’s activities. According to the Sidney Cooper of the Wheaton Urban District, the event “encountered contracting hurdles we could not overcome in time for the event to be the success the community expects and deserves” and “we look forward to bringing it back bigger and better in 2024.”

When asked on Twitter if restaurant recruitment played a factor in the cancellation, County Councilmember for District 6 Natali Fani-González replied, “The County Exec team notified me a couple of days ago about the unfortunate cancellation. Restaurant recruitment has to do with the decision. More will be discussed at the June WUDAC meeting.” Last year’s participating restaurants included Frank’s Burger Place, Green Plate Catering, Hollywood East Café, IHOP, Los Cobanos, Methi Indian Restaurant, Nando’s Peri Peri, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nut House Pizza and Terra Mare Restaurant.

Celebration of House Built and Designed By MCPS Students

By MCS Staff

Published May 25, 2023 at 7:03AM

Students and members of the Construction Trades Foundation (CTF) celebrated the completion of the 43rd student-build house with a cornerstone ceremony on May 23. Construction and interior design students built the house over the past two years (video below).

Located at 14105 Alderton Road in Silver Spring, the 3,100-square-foot home has four bedrooms and three upstairs bathrooms with a half-bath on the main level. It includes beautiful, large windows with an open floor plan and a two-car garage with a remote door entry. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances, silestone countertops, a kitchen island, window above the kitchen sink and contemporary lighting. The house also includes HVAC units in the basement and attic, a wraparound porch, screened patio and oak hardwood flooring.

16-Year-Old Suspect Arrested for Wheaton Metro Homicide; 14-Year-Old Also Arrested

By Patrick Herron

Published May 24, 2023 at 8:25PM

Per MCPD: Gaithersburg teen has been arrested and charged with murder, in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old inside of the Wheaton Metro station on Thursday, May 18, 2023. 16-year-old Emmanuel Leonard Simmonds is accused of shooting and killing Tenneson Vaughn Leslie, Jr., of Greenbelt, on the Metro train platform following an altercation. Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes detectives learned that Simmonds and other juvenile males were on the escalator, along with Leslie, Jr., and a group of friends, when a physical altercation between the two groups occurred.

The altercation escalated and Simmonds allegedly shot Leslie, Jr. before boarding a train and leaving the scene. Detectives were able to identify Simmonds as the shooter, and a warrant for his arrest was requested. Simmonds is charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is also charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a loaded handgun. Simmonds has been charged as an adult in this murder.

The Town of Poolesville and UMCVFD Will Hold Its Annual Independence Day Celebration on July 4th

By MCS Staff

Published May 24, 2023 at 4:20PM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 5:50AM

The Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department and Town of Poolesville will also hold its annual Independence Day celebration with fireworks on Tuesday, July 4th. “Join our community in celebrating our national patriotism at the Soccer Fields off of Hughes Road! There will be music, food, fireworks and fun! Gates open at 5 pm.”

So far, other Montgomery County Independence Day celebrations have been announced in Germantown, Gaithersburg, Kensington/Wheaton, and Rockville:

‘Germantown Glory’ Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks to Take Place on Tuesday, July 4th

By MCS Staff

Published May 24, 2023 at 4:09PM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 5:51AM

‘Germantown Glory’ will take place on Tuesday, July 4th. It will feature live music beginning at 7 pm and fireworks beginning at 9:15 pm. No alcohol or pets are permitted. Time is approximate and may change due to weather. Additional information will be available closer to the event date. This event will be held at South Germantown Recreational Park (18041 Central Park Circle Boyds, Maryland 20841).

So far, other Montgomery County Independence Day celebrations have been announced in Gaithersburg, Kensington/Wheaton, Poolesville, and Rockville: