8:45am Update: The fire has been extinguished and is under control. MCFRS remains on the scene with hotspots and smoldering debris. The cause of the fire is under investigation (likely accidental), and there is significant structural damage). Additional photos below.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a second alarm fire at a strip mall on Lofstrand Ln, between Taft St. and Southlawn Ln. in Rockville on Thursday morning.
Per Montgomery County: “The $47 million MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) Relocation Project, which includes a new nearly one-mile, two-lane highway with bicycle-compatible shoulders between north of Goldmine Road and south of Holiday Drive that bypasses Brookeville, was formally dedicated recently. The new stretch of road opened in May.
MD 97 functions as a major north-south commuter route between Montgomery and Howard counties. The bypass project included construction of two bridges: one at Meadow Branch stream and another at Reddy Branch stream. It also included two single-lane roundabouts. Construction began in 2018.
Rebecka Peterson, the 2023 National Teacher of the Year, will speak to MCPS staff from 3–4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. This address is free and open to any MCPS staff member who wishes to attend. Ample parking is available in the Walter Johnson lot.
Her talk will focus on the power one teacher can have. Peterson will share about the teachers who shaped her own life, the stories of her students and how cultivating joy can sustain us in the difficult and beautiful vocation of teaching.
There is no better place to relax and unwind than the Lakehouse at Copper Canyon Grill in Gaithersburg.
Overlooking the water, the Lakehouse offers a refreshing outdoor dining experience perfect for lunch, dinner, or drinks with friends. Guests can enjoy chef-prepared favorites, handcrafted cocktails, and a welcoming atmosphere designed for gathering and conversation.
Whether you are planning a casual afternoon, a sunset dinner, or a weekend outing, the Lakehouse provides the ideal setting to take in the season.
Join us and experience outdoor dining by the water at Copper Canyon Grill Gaithersburg.
Per Montgomery County: “
Montgomery County’s Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation will hold a marker dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, in Rockville, to honor the memories of two of the three men who are known to be victims of racial terror lynchings in the County between 1880 and 1896. These markers will serve as a testament to acknowledging the past and building a more just future.
Connect with neighbors, learn about Lafayette Federal, and grab fun giveaways! All while enjoying food from local Tacos Pretzel & Pizza Creations.
First 75 registrants can receive free food.*
Germantown-based Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), today announced that Delta Air Lines has selected the Hughes In-Flight connectivity solution to power passenger Wi-Fi service on more than 400 Boeing 717 and regional jets serving North America. Designed for commercial aircraft, the weight-optimized, high-performance aeronautical solution combines the advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning powered Hughes In-Flight management system with a multi-orbit antenna and Hughes JUPITER Ka-band satellite capacity to deliver reliable in-flight connectivity (IFC) even over busy airport hubs. This solution enables a consistent passenger IFC experience at scale across the entire itinerary.
Per the press release: “Hughes welcomes Delta and appreciates their collaborative approach to enabling an enhanced connectivity experience for their regional passengers,” said Reza Rasoulian, vice president, Hughes. “Travelers expect a reliable Wi-Fi experience wherever they go, including in the air; the Hughes In-Flight connectivity solution enables Delta to meet that expectation with fast gate-to-gate connectivity.”
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted a Student Environment Volunteer Day on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Gaithersburg High School. Students learned about sustainability and helped beautify the community. They also worked to enhance the health of the environment by planting native plants and trees in the stormwater management gardens around the school.
The student environment volunteer day is part of the Out-of-School Time (OST) program offered by Montgomery County Recreation, in partnership with MCPS. The OST days are designed with free out-of-school programming for students throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
Schools across Montgomery County kicked off Mental Health Awareness Week, Oct. 30–Nov. 4 with a variety of activities for students, staff, and the community (video available below).
MCPS and the Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association (MCSPA) is hosting free events during the week to give youth and families the opportunity to hear from mental health experts on a variety of issues. The week of events, which will be held in-person and virtually, will include speakers and workshops, culminating in a virtual resource fair and expert panel on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Per MCPD: “Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Silver Spring Investigative Section are investigating a robbery that occurred at the Dave & Buster’s in the 8600 block of Colesville Road. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them.
The investigation by detectives has revealed that on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at approximately 8 p.m., the victims were in the restroom at Dave & Buster’s when they were approached by three male suspects who demanded the victim’s property. When the victims failed to comply with the suspects’ demands, the suspects began to physically assault them, stole their property and then ran out of the restroom. The suspects were observed on video surveillance leaving the business with a female.
Robert Wiedmaier’s Mussel Bar & Grille closed its 7262 Woodmont Ave Bethesda location permanently in April 2022, but the Robert Wiedmaier restaurant group plans to bring the restaurant back to a new location in Bethesda in 2024, according to the group’s website. The restaurant initially opened in Bethesda in July of 2010. A second location opened in Atlantic City, N.J, and a third opened in Ballston. The Atlantic City location has also since closed and the Ballston location remains open. The location of the restaurant will be announced soon.
Per its website, “inspiration for Mussel Bar is an old-world Belgian roadhouse serving Bière, Moules & Frites, the kind of place where Chef in his youth would head late night to unwind with kitchen colleagues, eat simple food and listen to good music. He’s one of the first to ‘muscle’ the craze and honor his Belgian roots in the DC area with bringing the savory mollusks to the forefront of his own gastro-pubs with the original location in Bethesda, MD that opened in July, 2010.” Featured photo courtesy of Taste MoCo.
Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, co-led a coalition of 19 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief supporting a Maryland local board of education’s efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for LGTBQ+ children and all students. The Montgomery County Board of Education (MCBE) is facing a challenge to its policy that incorporates LGBTQ+-inclusive books into its language arts curriculum without allowing students to opt out. In the amicus brief, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Attorneys General reiterate the importance of providing safe and inclusive school environments for all children, and explain that policies such as MCBE’s do not raise constitutional or other concerns.
“Our schools play a fundamental role in shaping the minds and hearts of the next generation, and it’s our duty to ensure that every child feels safe, supported, and valued,” said Attorney General Brown. “Educational policies that promote respect for LGBTQ+ people will help build a more equitable future for all children.”
Raising Cane’s started its expansion into the D.C. metropolitan region when its first area restaurant opened last December in Sterling, VA (45545 Dulles Eastern Plaza). The first Maryland location opened in Towson in January 2023 and both stores featured lines out the door for months on several days of the week. A Waldorf Location opened in May, a Westminster location opened in July, and a Gambrills locations opened in September to make four for the state. Now, the fifth and closest location to Montgomery County will open at 9071 Snowden River Pkwy in Columbia on Tuesday, November 7th.
We previously reported that Raising Cane’s aims to open 14 stores in the next year, stretching from suburban Baltimore to the Richmond area, and now the chain has announced 15+ locations for Maryland alone. A Forestville restaurant, at 3270 Donnell Drive (Prince George’s County) is set to open on December 5th, which will be a closer location for many. None of the other Maryland locations have been announced yet, and we are awaiting word on if Montgomery County will be included in the openings.