A collision involving a Metro bus has Veirs Mill Rd shut down between Reedie Dr and University Blvd, according to Montgomery County Police. Drivers should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes. The incident occurred at the Jewelry Buyers at 2575 Ennalls Ave in Wheaton around 9:30am on Thursday, March 2. Per Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services: “Montgomery County Fire Rescue is currently active at an incident located on the corner of Veirs Mill Road and Ennalls Avenue. Bus versus car with the bus into a building. 3 people transported with non-life threatening injuries.” We will post an update when additional information is available. Feature photo courtesy of Alex Chapelle. jewelry

 


New York Times bestselling author Sheree Renee Thomas spoke to Northwood High School students during a visit to Maryland last month. Thomas wrote Marvel’s Black Panther: Panther’s Rage novel, adapted from the legendary comics. She is the editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, founded in 1949, and Obsidian, founded in 1975. Last year, she co-curated Carnegie Hall’s historic, citywide Afrofuturism Festival. She also spoke at the Rockville Library on afrofuturism and diversity in sci-fi.

The featured photo, courtesy of MCPS, shows Sheree Renee Thomas speaking to students at Northwood High School.


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.”


Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Libraries is partnering with the Jewish Council for the Aging Heyman Interages Center (JCA), or Interages, to celebrate “Read Across America Week” by providing a reading program at selected branches. The special week is March 2-6. The one-on-one program will pair JCA volunteers with children between kindergarten and third grade. The volunteers have been recruited, vetted and trained by JCA in communication and intergenerational interaction. Reading sessions will be at the Gaithersburg and Wheaton libraries.

“Getting our young people inspired to read is one of the most important things we can do in providing great educations for our upcoming generations,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Having a reading partner often is the key to making reading fun and interesting. The Read Across America program in which Montgomery County Public Libraries partners with the Jewish Council for the Aging is a model program we should duplicate wherever possible—including right at home.”


Per Montgomery County: Artist proposals are now being accepted to create a permanent art installation at Gene Lynch Urban Park in Downtown Silver Spring. The park, which will open in spring, sits on a quarter acre at the intersection of Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue, immediately adjacent to the former Discovery Channel Headquarters building and across the street from the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center and Silver Spring Metro Station. The winning proposal could earn up to $100,000 for its artist. The deadline to submit qualifications to be considered is March 10. The public will select the winning artist from the group of finalists through an online voting process.

There will be a two-step selection process. Applicants should submit their professional qualifications and examples of a broad range of their exterior public work, as outlined in the application requirements. Incomplete applications will not be considered. An artist selection panel will review initially submitted materials to develop a short list of finalists based on qualifications and artistic excellence as demonstrated by past work, other professional accomplishments and the likelihood of successfully completing the project within the expected timeframe.


In a free Takoma Park Arts event on Thursday, March 9 at 7:30pm at the Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Ave), four bilingual poets will share their poetry in English and Spanish which transcends borders and unites diverse cultures across political and geographical divides. The featured poets include Rosie Prohías Driscoll, david alberto fernández, David Lott, and Jorge Fernando Sodero.

Per the City of Takoma Park: Rosie Prohías Driscoll is a Cuban-American educator and poet. The daughter of Cuban exiles, she writes about identity and exile, loss and renewal, grief and grace. Her poems have appeared in many journals, and her debut full-length collection Poised for Flight was published last year. She lives in Alexandria and teaches English at Bishop Ireton High School.


Bridget is 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has long black hair and brown eyes. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Bridget Coca is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301)279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.


Burglary Prevention Tips by Takoma Park Police: Burglary is an opportunist crime. A burglar will select his target because it offers him the best opportunity to carry out his crime undetected and with the fewest number of obstacles in his way. A home that presents itself as insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secured.  Please review the following in order to protect your home and your valuables:

1. The MOST important thing YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes!  Report burglaries immediately!  Get to know your neighbors!


Effective Friday, February 24, the USPS Blue Mailbox at the back of the Community Center at 7500 Maple Avenue in Takoma Park will be removed. The Blue Mailbox will be removed for the duration of the Community Center construction. Listed below are other USPS Blue Mailbox locations in the area (see the link to find your specific address):


Newly launched plan focuses on improvements surrounding a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard/MD 193 between Wheaton and the Capital Beltway

The Montgomery County Planning Department will host two community meetings in March to provide updates and receive additional feedback on the University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan. The UBC Plan effort launched in November 2022. At the meetings, to be held in-person at Northwood High School on Wednesday, March 8, and on Zoom on Tuesday, March 14, Montgomery Planning will report back on the feedback it received during the UBC Plan’s first community meetings held last fall and provide additional information on transportation-related elements of the plan.


This Spring 2023, Kaldi’s Social House founder Tsega Haile will open Citizens & Culture – a 15,000 square feet, multi-level fine dining and live DJ and band performance venue located on the border of downtown Silver Spring and Washington, DC. The Georgia Avenue restaurant and music venue brings a unique concept to the DC-area featuring a ground-floor front patio for outdoor seating leading into an expansive, vaulted ceiling main dining room with full length bar and an exclusive new menu by Executive Chef Ryan Hackney (DC-based chef known for appearances on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and Bite Club) and Chief Chef Consultant and Director for Kaldi’s Social House Jessica Shields.

Per the press release: “As a native Washingtonian I’m excited about the opportunity to debut a menu that will reflect the diversity of the DMV’s food culture while staying true to the elevated tasting experience that now defines our regional dining scene,” says Executive Chef Ryan Hackney. The upper level is accessed by a separate ground-floor entrance leading to the top floor restaurant-lounge with lofted DJ booth and a retractable, glass roof providing an open-air concept for sunny days. The lounge also features a retractable glass door wall leading onto an outdoor terrace with sweeping views of downtown Silver Spring. “My goal has always been to provide community spaces that feature unique, high-concept food and beverage in a special environment for my patrons,” says founder Tsega Haile. “With Citizens & Culture I want to share my love for our local culture and continue to spotlight downtown Silver Spring as an entertainment destination in the DMV and beyond.”


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