Lisa Ann Walter is an actress, comedian and television producer, perhaps best known for her roles as Chessy in the romantic comedy film The Parent Trap and her current role as Melissa Schemmenti on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary. She’s also a native of Montgomery County.

Walter was born in Silver Spring on August 3, 1963. She grew up in the area and was a 1979 graduate of Blair High School. She later graduated with a theater degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, in 1983. Below you’ll see yearbook photos of Walter, sent in by her former teacher, Carole Chansky Goodman (who is also Blake High School’s first ever principal).


Gonzalez is approximately 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has brown eyes and curly dark red hair. She was last seen wearing an orange hoodie, blue jeans and black tennis shoes and was carrying a grey and green backpack. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Leilani Gonzalez 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.


Many of us have been in a position where we have to find a restaurant to accommodate a larger group of people for dinner, and as fun as they can be, the task isn’t always easy. Eater DC put together a list of “18 DC Area Restaurants That Are Great For Big Groups” and two MoCo establishments made it on the list. “Large group dinners are fun, but they also require a bit more planning and preparation. When everyone RSVPs “yes” to the invite and suddenly the party has gone into 10-12 person territory, not every restaurant is equipped to meet the demand.”

Summer House Santa Monica in Pike & Rose (11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852): “With a sprawling, light-filled interior, this Bethesda spot is beloved for its brunch and dinner offerings alike. Whether you have a big party or an intimate gathering to plan, the full restaurant can be booked for larger groups; a banquette table in the main dining room is available for smaller parties. Summer House also offers full-service catering for off-site events, with menu choices like taco bars and sushi platters.”


United Therapeutics (UT) recently purchased a building at 8905 Fairview Road for $11.85 million, according to the Washington Business Journal via Montgomery County property records. The transaction, which closed earlier this month on Oct. 5, also includes a parking lot across the street. Seeking Employment, Equality and Community for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (SEEC) previously owned the building, purchasing it in 2001 for $2.85 Million. Prior to the sale, this past spring, SEEC signed a lease that will take it just a few blocks away to 23,000SF building at 1300 Spring Street. The company confirmed the purchase in an email to the Washington Business Journal and said it has “no specific plans” for the site at this point.

The 33,930 SF building is very close to United Therapeutics’ 415,000 SF headquarters, which is located at 1040 Spring St. The Eye Surgery Center LLC is a current tenant in the building. UT has also recently made other purchases in the area, including 8808 Cameron Street ($2.6 Million) and the former dual hotel building at 8728 Colesville Road ($50.9 Million). Per its SEC filings, UT reported $928.8 million in revenue for first half of this year ($466.9 million in the second quarter) and $355.9 million in net income in the first half of 2022, an increase from the $200.9 million net income in the first half of 2021.


Phase 2: From Monday, Nov. 7 to Mid-January 2023, Bus Bays C and D will be closed

Fare collection resumed on all Montgomery County buses on August 1. The one-way pre-pandemic fare, which was $2 per ride, is now $1. Monthly passes, which were $45 per rider, are now $22.50 Riders can plan trips online with Ride On Real Time.


On October 31, Takoma Park Police responded for the report of a theft from auto in the 700 block of Chaney Drive.  Sometime between October 26 at 4:00 pm and October 28 at 10:00 am, unknown suspect(s) stole the victim’s catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius.

Per Takoma Park Police: In an effort to deter would-be thieves and to track stolen catalytic converters, the Takoma Park Police Department has teamed up with RS Automotive on Carroll Avenue and Lowe’s. People who want their catalytic converters etched and painted can visit RS Automotive, 7224 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland, to have their license plate number etched onto their catalytic converter, free of charge.  An appointment is needed – 301-270-4418.


Two male suspects were taken into custody right away and Montgomery County Fire Rescue extricated a third male suspect from the crashed vehicle. A loaded 9mm privately made firearm (ghost gun) with a Glock slide and a 9mm replica airsoft gun were recovered during the arrests.

All three suspects, 18-year-old Natnael Akalu of Silver Spring; 18-year-old Wesley Jose Nunez of Washington, DC and 19-year-old Lorezo Antonio Madrid of Washington, DC, were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Each has been charged with armed robbery, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony violent crime, possession of a handgun and other related charges. No officers were injured during this incident and no serious injuries of passengers on the Metro Bus have been reported.  All three suspects are still hospitalized. No mugshots are available.


Back in June we let you know that a Nike Unite store is coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. The store has now pushed back its opening to “2023” after previously setting an opening date of November 3rd on its Google listing, which has since been scrubbed, according to a report by Source of the Spring.

An employee at the Nike Unite store told us that the pricing and products offered at a Unite store are similar to that of a Nike Factory store (often found at outlets), with a slightly different layout and a specific return section for items purchased on Nike.com. Nike describes the Nike Unite concept as:


A police pursuit ended on Monday after a Montgomery County Police vehicle collided with a suspect’s vehicle that had just crashed into a Metrobus on Georgia Ave near Downtown Silver Spring. Northbound Georgia Ave is closed at Burlington Avenue and 13th Street as a result of the collision.  According to MCPD, “At approximately 2:41 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the 9300 block of Piney Branch Rd. for an armed robbery. Officers located the suspects at the White Oak Shopping Center. The suspects drove off and officers pursued the suspect vehicle, until it crashed into the rear end of a Metro bus. A Montgomery County Police cruiser subsequently crashed into the rear of the suspect vehicle.

 


“Do you have coats, gloves or scarves that you don’t need anymore…donate them!” The Takoma Park Police Department, in partnership with Adventist Church, the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department, and others, is collecting clean, gently used warm coats in any size from infant to adult.

The coats will be donated to people in need.  This coat drive can make a difference in the lives of others by simply donating coats and jackets that are no longer needed.  We will also accept clean, gently used gloves/mittens and scarves.


John “Ned” Kenneth Toms, 90, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at his home in Durham. Mr. Toms was born in Point of Rocks, Maryland and worked at Crisfield Seafood in Silver Spring, MD for close to 50 years. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter and served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Steve Chapman shared the following regarding Tom’s, “Sad news for long time lovers of Crisfield’s restaurant in Silver Spring. Ned Toms, who worked behind the front circular counter for nearly 50 years, died this week at 90. Whether shucking oysters and clams, uncapping a beer, offering up some local lore, or telling an abusive customer to watch their tongue, Ned was the soul of Crisfields. They even created a hot sauce for him with his own profile on the label!”


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