MCDOT

Free Fare for all Ride On Buses on September 22 in Support of Car-Free Day

By Patrick Herron

Per MCDOT: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) today announced a “fare-free day” in support of Car Free Day on Friday, Sept. 22. All Ride On buses will waive the one-dollar fare to encourage the use of public transportation. The announcement was made in coordination with the Maryland Transit Authority, which is offering free fare throughout the weekend on all MTA-operated transit. Regular fares will be required on Metrobus.

Residents can also take the regional pledge online to participate in Car-Free Day and be entered into a raffle for prizes such as gift cards, an annual Capital Bikeshare membership and a pre-funded SmartTrip card. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Participants can take the pledge at carfreemetrodc.org/pledge-page.

Go to Free Fare for all Ride On Buses on September 22 in Support of Car-Free Day Read more
Health

New COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Available Soon

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County (9.14.23) A new COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available. Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new vaccine and the advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control recommended that anyone age 6 months and older get vaccinated. The new vaccines are a much closer match to currently circulating variants. They are updated versions of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

There will be a limited number of County-sponsored clinics distributing the new vaccines, but they will be for residents who are uninsured. Information about those clinics will be available when vaccine is available.

Go to New COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Available Soon Read more
Beyond MoCo

Sugarloaf Mountain Remains Closed to The Public

By MCS Staff

Sugarloaf Mountain, a Stronghold property, has been closed since an attempted break-in at the Strong Mansion on August 19th. Stronghold Inc., the non-profit that owns and operates the property for the public’s “enjoyment and education in an appreciation of natural beauty”, has posted the following message:

The Stronghold property will be closed to the public until further notice.  Stronghold Incorporated will be focused on providing for and reassessing the security needs for the entirety of the Stronghold property.  On Saturday August 19, 2023 an unidentified individual attempted to make entry into the Strong Mansion between the hours of 8:30 am and 10:30 am.  Physical evidence was collected at the scene, including a DNA sample. Security camera footage is being reviewed.  If anyone happened to see anything suspicious or has any information pertaining to this situation please contact Deputy Wheeler with the Frederick County Sheriff’s office at (301) 639-4866, reference case number 2023-090125.  We appreciate any information as well as your understanding and patience at this time.

Go to Sugarloaf Mountain Remains Closed to The Public Read more
MCFRS

Kayaker Drowns in Potomac River Sunday Afternoon

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the Potomac River, in the area of Little Falls (near DC/MoCo border), for the report of a kayaker in distress on Sunday, September 17, around 3:15pm. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer on Twitter, “two dozen adults from an out-of-State College kayak group were boating, one adult female was caught/trapped/pinned under a rock (in hydraulics), passerby’s and others came to her aid prior to MCFRS arrival, unfortunately she did not survive.”  The incident is currently under investigation.

We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

Go to Kayaker Drowns in Potomac River Sunday Afternoon Read more
Event

We Love Teachers 5K

Event location

Wheaton Regional Park

2000 Shorefield Rd

Silver Spring, Maryland 20902

Add to Calendar

We ❤️ Teachers 5K celebrates educators through movement. On race day, runners and walkers across the country will participate in host city races, school celebrations, and virtual events — all in support of teachers and educator wellness. We'll be in beautiful Wheaton Regional Park, Join Us!

Walk it. Run it. Move for the teacher who moved you.

Go to We Love Teachers 5K Read more
Beyond MoCo

Maryland Man Wins $580K After Store Clerk Gave Him Ticket For Wrong Game

By MCS Staff

A loyal Maryland Lottery player knows his games as well as he knows his favorite Lottery retailers and their employees. So, when a new store clerk gave him a ticket for the wrong game and tried but couldn’t void the ticket, the Upper Marlboro resident accepted the employee’s profuse apologies and continued on his way home with one very lucky Multi-Match ticket in hand. Full story below, per MD Lottery:

Little did he know that the $10 quick-pick ticket in his possession would win a $580,000 jackpot in the Sept. 11 drawing. “This is the biggest prize of my life,” he said, sitting with his wife in the Winner’s Circle at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. The happy husband said he has read a lot of Lottery winner stories and just cannot believe it is his turn to tell the story of a win that his wife described as “divine intervention.”

Go to Maryland Man Wins $580K After Store Clerk Gave Him Ticket For Wrong Game Read more
Gaithersburg

Chopin Noodle House Now Open

By Patrick Herron

Chopin Noodle House is currently holding its soft opening at 12123 Darnestown Rd in the Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center, in the location that was home to Pho City for 15 years until the restaurant closed at the end of July.

Chopin Noodle House offers a variety of hand pulled noodle soups, including Lanzhou beef noodle soup, traditional beef noodle soup, crispy fish noodle soup, cold noodles, and many others. The menu will also offer appetizers such as cucumber salad, chili oil cabbage, mutton chops and more. A variety of milk teas and iced tea/lemonades are also available. The restaurant opened its first location in Catonsville earlier this year.

Go to Chopin Noodle House Now Open Read more
DMV

Name that route– Metro wants to create Better Names for a Better Bus network

By MCS Staff

Per WMATA: Trying to figure out the various Metrobus routes can be a puzzle with a mix of letters, numbers, and street names, express or limited-stop service. This outdated naming convention dates to Metro’s takeover of the region’s private bus companies and street cars and is about to get a refresh. For the first time in its 50-year history, Metro is looking to revamp the bus system and simplify routes with its Better Bus, Better Names campaign.

Metro has opened a survey to ask the public how Metro can name bus routes to make it easier for customers to understand and use the Metrobus system. People are encouraged to take the Better Bus, Better Names online survey until Sept. 28, to weigh in and help Metro standardize and modernize the entire bus experience throughout the region.

Go to Name that route– Metro wants to create Better Names for a Better Bus network Read more
Maryland

FDA Expands Warning to Consumers About Product That Has Been Referred to as “Nature’s Ozempic”

By MCS Staff

There are currently three FDA-approved semaglutide products. All three medications, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, are only available with a prescription, and there are no approved generic versions. Since their approval, many weight loss products have used the medications’ name, “Nature’s Ozempic”, etc. to fuel sales of their products.

Per the FDA: The FDA and Maryland Department of Health analyses have determined that certain weight loss products labeled as Nuez de la India, and potentially marketed as “botanical food,” “India Nuts for Weight Loss,” “slimming seeds,” “India seeds for weight loss,” or “diet seeds,” appear to be highly toxic yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America. Ingestion of yellow oleander can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac changes, dysrhythmia, and more.

Go to FDA Expands Warning to Consumers About Product That Has Been Referred to as “Nature’s Ozempic” Read more
Beyond MoCo

Metro plans full-scale security exercise at Capitol South Station Today (Sunday, Sept. 17)

By MCS Staff

Metro Transit Police in coordination with U.S. Capitol Police will conduct a full-scale law enforcement exercise on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Capitol South Station. The exercise will simulate a real-life security threat to test operational coordination, communications, and response between law enforcement agencies. 

During this time, the Capitol South Station will be closed from opening until approximately 2 p.m. Free shuttle buses will replace trains between Eastern Market and Federal Center SW. The exercise will simulate a real-world response to an active assailant in the Metrorail system. People in the area will see and hear a large emergency response and police activity in and around the station, including simulated ammunition (blanks). Please be assured this is only a drill.

Go to Metro plans full-scale security exercise at Capitol South Station Today (Sunday, Sept. 17) Read more
Burtonsville

MCFRS Respond to Collision With Entrapment Early Sunday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision with entrapment on Sandy Spring Rd and Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville on Sunday, September 17, around 1am.  According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, one adult was transported to the hospital with trauma. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

Update – Sandy Spring Rd, collision w/ entrapment, @MCFRS_EMIHS transported 1 adult trauma, some lanes blocked pic.twitter.com/pkMkt3Q56N

Go to MCFRS Respond to Collision With Entrapment Early Sunday Morning Read more
Crime

Multiple Businesses and Vehicles Set on Fire in Gaithersburg; Incidents Being Investigated as Arson

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Explosive Investigators are seeking information on multiple fires that occurred early Sunday morning in Gaithersburg. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, at 2:30am approximately 75 firefighters responded to the Holbrook Center (across from Gaitherburg High School) at 400blk S. Frederick Ave. near Education Blvd, for the report of a fire. Investigators indicated there were at least three separate fires, all suspicious in nature.

Around 3:15am, MCFRS units then responded to LaFrontera Restaurant at 3 Russell Ave in Gaithersburg. Several vehicles were on fire, which then spread to the building.  There were also several other “outside” fires reported in the area. A person of interest has been taken into custody. Anyone with information is asked to call the arson topline at 240-777-2263. Additional images and video below courtesy of @mcfrsPIO on Twitter:

Go to Multiple Businesses and Vehicles Set on Fire in Gaithersburg; Incidents Being Investigated as Arson Read more
View More Stories