Maryland

Per the State or Maryland: Governor Wes Moore this morning delivered remarks before hundreds of representatives of small, minority, and veteran businesses during the Maryland Business Opportunities and Entrepreneurial Training Summit. The governor was joined by University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry, and Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs Special Secretary Yolanda “Maria” Martinez in a show of support and solidarity for Maryland’s minority and disadvantaged business enterprise program participants.

“I want to thank the business leaders for being the risk takers and visionaries,” said Gov. Moore. “We must use all of the tools at our disposal to deliver the supports our minority, small and veteran owned businesses need to thrive. We don’t have to choose between an economy that is competitive and an economy that is equitable. We can, and we will, do both.”


MoCo Police

Per the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: “The Sheriff’s Office has been noticing an uptick in scam calls reported by residents of the County. Sheriff Uy would like to remind everyone that the Sheriff’s Office will NEVER ask for money or financial information over the phone. Also, it is important to remember that paying a “fine” will not clear up a warrant.

These scammers are giving the following fictitious story when they get an intended victim on the phone: “My name is (insert fake name) from the Sheriff’s Office (insert fake Section). You missed a court date/jury duty/failed to answer a summons, and the Judge has issued a warrant for your arrest. If you don’t pay a fine, my deputies will be coming to arrest you immediately.”


Crime

Montgomery County Police responded to an incident involving a man threatening people with a machete on Tuesday, September 26 in North Bethesda. According to MCPD, “The call for a man with a machete was received at approximately 8:55 p.m. Officers responded to the 4800 block of Boiling Brook Pkwy and located an adult male with a machete. He was quickly taken into custody without incident.  No victims were located and no injuries were reported.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

Safety reported Cordell Pugh reported the following on Twitter: “NORTH BETHESDA MACHETE MAN: ~9PM Thursday, shops off Boiling Brook Pkwy East of Parklawn Dr. Security called for Police assistance with a man threatening people with a machete. @MCPnews (@2DCommander) Officers rapidly located suspect & safely detained him without incident.”


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council enacted legislation today that will prohibit the sale and use of combustion engine-powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums in most areas of the County. The vote was 10 – 1, with Council President Evan Glass, Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Natali Fani-González, Will Jawando, Sidney Katz, Dawn Luedtke, Kristin Mink, Laurie-Anne Sayles and Kate Stewart voting for the bill.  

Bill 18-22, Noise Control – Leaf Removal Equipment – Amendments, was proposed by County Executive Marc Elrich and introduced by Council President Evan Glass. As enacted by the Council, the effective date of the ban on the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums will be July 1, 2024. The ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums will go into effect on July 1, 2025. 


Event

Beautiful venue; great art, gifts and hand-crafted items; refreshments; and meet the award-winning painters, photographers, mixed media artists, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more – some 40 artists in all. It’s an extraordinary array of framed wall works, 3-d media including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber pieces, and unframed prints.

Among them, you’ll see:


Maryland

Orioles legend Brooks Robinson passed away, his family and the team announced on Tuesday evening. Considered one of the greatest third basemen in the history of baseball, his career influenced many, but it was a personal story that solidified Robinson’s status as a true legend in every aspect of the word for ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt. Van Pelt shared his heartfelt story on social media Tuesday night:

Long Brooks Robinson story I believe I told on radio:


Boyds

Fall is here and the colors around us are about to change. Whether it’s the taste of a warm pumpkin-flavored latte, the cool breeze of a crisp fall morning, weekends full of football, or the yellow glow of the sun on a tall birch tree, autumn is often a contender for MoCo residents’ favorite season (however short it may be). Many locals are looking forward to combining all the best parts of fall and enjoying the foliage outdoors, so we’ve put together a small list of 11 where you can enjoy the foliage across the county:

Agricultural Reserve: A drive through the rural areas that the 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve encompasses, along with the larger rural communities of Damascus and Poolesville and small crossroad communities such as Beallsville, Sunshine and Dickerson, are sure to give you your fill of fall foliage.


Business

Last November we let you know that Sodexo committed its U.S. headquarters to 915 Meeting Street, a new 276,000-square-foot trophy office building currently under construction at the award-winning mixed-use development of Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland. Sodexo’s headquarters are currently located at 9801 Washingtonian Blvd in Gaithersburg (next to Rio Lakefront). According to a recent Maryland Newsletters report, the firm pulled a permit toward a $5.59 million fitout of 51,907 square feet at the North Bethesda building.

Sodexo will be taking 52,000 square feet, along with Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), which signed a long-term lease to occupy 105,000 square feet. Sodexo is a leading global provider of catering, facilities management, employee benefits and personal home services to 100 million daily consumers in 56 countries. It will be moving from its current location in Gaithersburg to Pike & Rose in Spring 2024 (renderings are available below courtesy of Federal Realty).


Business

Peterson Cos. has acquired the 402-unit Huntington at King Farm: Phase II apartment complex in Rockville for $135.5 million, according to a recent BizJournals report. This is the first residential holding for Peterson Cos. in Montgomery County. On the retail side, Peterson Cos. owns Downtown Silver Spring, Milestone Center in Germantown, and Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. Peterson Cos purchased the property on September 21st.

“Located at 801 Elmcroft Boulevard in Rockville, Huntington at King Farm: Phase II is a unique multifamily property in the prestigious King Farm neighborhood. The community has a total of 402 rental units, 165 of which are townhomes with private parking garages. Originally built in 2000 with generously sized floor plans of nearly 1,200 square feet on average, the community has benefitted from by long-term institutional ownership that maintained the property to a high level. Since 2011, approximately 342 units have been renovated.


DC Sports

Orioles legend Brooks Robinson has passed. Considered one of the greatest third basemen in the history of baseball, Brooks Robinson traces his love of the sport to the Little Rock Boys & Girls Club. There he played Little League ball, honing the skills that would earn him 16 consecutive Golden Gloves, the 1964 American League MVP, the 1970 World Series MVP and a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Playing 23 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, Robinson set major league career records for games, putouts, assists, chances, double plays and fielding percentage. Also a clutch hitter, he hit 268 career home runs, at the time an American League record for third basemen. A Statement from the Robinson Family and the Orioles:

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Brooks Robinson. An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball.”


Entertainment

Dust off your dirndl, grab your lederhosen and get ready to Prost! The City presents the 30th annual celebration of Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from noon to 5 p.m. The festival takes place in and around the Arts Barn, Kentlands Mansion, Kentlands Village Green and along Main Street & Inspiration Lane. Admission and parking are free. Free wheelchair accessible shuttle service will run regularly during festival hours to and from satellite parking at 101 Orchard Ridge Drive, just off of Quince Orchard Road.

Experience a taste of Germany right in your own backyard with performances by the ever-popular Alte Kameraden German Band and Alt-Washingtonia Bavarian Dancers. Savor traditional festival food while enjoying selections from local breweries, including Festival partners Dogfish Head Alehouse and Saints Row Brewing, as well as Clear Skies Meadery, Landmade Farm Brewery, Two Story Chimney Ciderworks, and Silly Yak Beer. Also available this year is non-alcoholic beer for sale by Sobar.


Derwood

Dunkin’ has submitted a site plan proposing to turn an existing building at 17700 Muncaster Rd. (off of Muncaster Mill Rd.) into a new Dunkin’ location in Derwood, Luis Group confirmed today. The proposed restaurant would be 2,500SF and there is no word yet on if it will include a drive-thru.

Dunkin’ has recently opened various stores across the county with two Chevy Chase locations in the works as well as a Rockville/N. Potomac location coming soon. A new location recently opened in the Layhill Center (14328 Layhill Rd) in Silver Spring. Dunkin’ also recently opened in the Goshen Crossing Shopping Center in Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village, where it has taken over the former Capital One Bank building at 20000 Goshen Rd.