Events

Things To Do in Montgomery Parks January 13-15, 2023

By MCS Staff

Volunteering: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” Honor his memory during MLK Week of Service and volunteer with Montgomery Parks. Pick up litter at a park and stream cleanup or remove invasive, nonnative plants at a Weed Warrior event from Saturday, January 14, through Saturday, January 21. Go to Volunteer Services(opens in a new tab) on our website to sign up.

Gardening: Thomas Christopher, author of Nature into Art: The Gardens of Wave Hill, gives a virtual tour of Bronx’s Wave Hill Public Gardens and discusses sustainability and climate change during this online presentation on Saturday, January 14, 10 am, brought to you by Brookside Gardens’ staff. Register for this online event(opens in a new tab).

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Gaithersburg

Notice for Joint Public Hearing on Lakeforest Zoning Map Amendment Application (January 17)

By MCS Staff

The Mayor and City Council and the Planning Commission of the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, will conduct a joint public hearing on Zoning Map Amendment Application Z-9444-2022 (Lakeforest Mall redevelopment) on TUESDAY JANUARY 17, 2023 AT 7:30 P.M. or as soon thereafter as this matter can be heard in the Council Chambers at 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The applicant requests approval of Zoning Map Amendment Application Z-9444-2022 that proposes to rezone the Lakeforest Mall from the current C-2 (general commercial) to the MXD Zone (mixed-use). The application includes a sketch plan requesting up to approximately 1.2 million square feet of non-residential uses and up to 1,600 dwelling units on 102 acres of land in accordance with 24-160D.9(a) Application for the MXD Zone and sketch plan approval of the City Code. The subject properties are located at 701 Russell Ave Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

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Silver Spring

Crews Will Begin Work on the Purple Line’s Silver Spring Library Station Later in January

By MCS Staff

Per Purple Line MD: On or about January 23, 2023, crews will begin work on the Purple Line’s Silver Spring Library station located at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library. Access to the library and businesses surrounding the library including Bonifant Street will be maintained at all times. ADA-compliant pedestrian access will be maintained to and around the library via Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street. Pedestrian pathways will change intermittently around the work zone; please follow on- site signage. Fencing will be installed to delineate the work zone immediately followed by excavation, utility relocations, systems, and trackwork. Access to Bonifant Street will remain one-way, eastbound from Georgia Avenue. Construction may occur 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays and weekends, as needed through December 2023. Please note that weather and unforeseen conditions may impact work schedule.

Featured photo courtesy of MCDOT

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Uncategorized

Two Men Arrested After Pursuit in Stolen Vehicle Ends in Collision

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Two Montgomery County men are in custody following a brief pursuit in a stolen car.  On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, Montgomery County Department of Police 4th District patrol officers located a stolen 2016 Chevrolet Equinox parked on Glenallen Ave. 

At approximately 1:24 p.m., officers observed two men get into the Equinox. After the suspects drove off, 4D officers attempted a traffic stop and the driver of the stolen car struck a civilian vehicle while attempting to escape. A short pursuit was initiated, and the suspects struck a second civilian vehicle at Georgia Ave. and Norbeck Rd.

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Crime

Police Investigate Armed Carjacking That Occurred Wednesday Morning

By MCS Staff

On 01/11/2023 at approximately 11:52 am, Takoma Park Police units were dispatched to 6400 block of New Hampshire Avenue Takoma Park, for an armed robbery carjacking that just occurred at a gas station. Upon arrival, Officers met with victim, who advised he was robbed and carjacked by an unknown suspect, described as a black male about 6 “3” in height, wearing a black ski mask and all black clothing.

The victim exited his vehicle which he left running and locked at the time. He further advised that he observed a black Dodge charger with black tinted windows drive into the parking lot and park nearby. When the victim exited the store, and he observed the suspect attempting to open the driver’s side door to his BMW X6 vehicle. Once he reached the field/grass area the suspect then chased him and pointed a black handgun towards him demanding his car/fob keys and wallet.

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Restaurants

Way Beyond MoCo: In-N-Out Announces “Eastern Territory Office”; Future Locations in Tennessee

By MCS Staff

In-N-Out Burger, California’s first “drive-thru” hamburger stand founded by Harry and Esther Snyder in 1948, announced intentions to open future restaurants in Tennessee with an Eastern territory office to be built in the city of Franklin. While the Nashville area isn’t very close to Maryland, the existence of an “Eastern territory office” could be the first steps towards potentially opening restaurants on the east coast. This will be the first In-N-Out restaurant west of the state of Texas.

“We are very excited to provide Tennesseans with our quality burgers, fries and shakes,” said Lynsi Snyder, In-N-Out owner, president and sole granddaughter of Harry and Esther. “In every decision I make, I always consider what my family would want. I have no doubt that my grandparents, dad and uncle would be proud of this decision to grow our Associate family and serve even more amazing Customers beginning in Nashville and the surrounding areas.”

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Maryland

MD Attorney General: Supreme Court Brief Supports Federal Student Loan Debt Cancellation Plan that Protects Student Borrowers

By MCS Staff

Per the Office of the Attorney General: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today upheld his commitment to assist families and student loan borrowers avoid financial ruin caused by inability to repay certain loan debt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney General Brown joined a coalition of 22 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief in support of the federal government in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. The cases concern the Biden Administration’s targeted cancellation of student loan debt to address the continuing effects of the pandemic.

The brief, filed today in the cases Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown, argues that U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has the authority, under the HEROES Act, to provide limited debt cancellation to prevent student loan borrowers from experiencing grave financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the Secretary announced plans to grant $10,000 in debt relief for borrowers under certain income thresholds, and $20,000 in debt relief to borrowers who met those income thresholds and received a Pell Grant. This debt relief seeks to ensure that borrowers affected by the pandemic don’t face catastrophic defaults at the conclusion of a nearly three-year pause in loan repayment obligations.

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Montgomery Village

Multiple Vehicles Broken-Into Overnight in Montgomery Village

By Patrick Herron

Multiple vehicles were broken into overnight in the Cider Mill apartment complex in the 18000 block of Lost Knife Cir. in Montgomery Village. According to Montgomery County Police, “We responded to multiple calls of theft from auto. An adult male victim reported that between 01/10/223 6 p.m. and 1/11/23 5:30 a.m., an unknown suspect broke a window of his Honda Accord and stole an airbag.” Information regarding the other vehicles that were broken into is not available at this time.  We will post an update when additional information is released.

Tips to prevent theft from automobiles, courtesy of DC Police:

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Events

MLK Celebration, Day of Service Set for Jan. 16

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County is hosting its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute and celebration from 4–5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16 at The Music Center at Strathmore. This free event, “We Are Martin,” will feature special guests, performing artists and a 200-student chorus from Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary School. The Montgomery County Volunteer Center is also hosting the main event for the annual MLK Day of Service from noon–3 p.m. on Jan. 16, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at 5701 Marinelli Road in North Bethesda. There are also three partner sites hosting events on Jan. 16:

A full listing of local and remote opportunities to join an MLK Day of Service event is available here. Students can earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for attending and participating. Service will continue throughout the week with virtual, home-based and other on-site projects hosted by a variety of organizations.

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Business

MCPS Director, Elaine Chang, Graduates from Leadership Maryland 2022

By MCS Staff

Elaine L. Chang, director of the Department of Partnerships, graduated from Leadership Maryland as part of the Class of 2022. She was one of 49 people to complete the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders. Each member of this year’s class was chosen by a committee to complete Leadership Maryland’s eight-month hands-on learning program. The class participated in five, two-day sessions focused on issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment and multi-culturalism/diversity across the state. Leadership Maryland honored the Class of 2022 at a graduation ceremony on December 6th. Other Leadership Maryland Class of 2022 graduates:

Emily E. Arneson
Director of Government Relations
Kennedy Krieger Institute

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MDLottery

$100,000 Winning Powerball Ticket Sold at Harris Teeter in Gaithersburg Has Been Claimed

By Patrick Herron

The $100,000 winning Powerball ticket that was sold on September 5 at the Harris Teeter located at 323 Copley Place in Gaithersburg has been claimed by a woman from Virginia.  Full story courtesy of the Maryland Lottery: “Spending the day shopping with two Maryland friends gave a Fairfax, Va., resident a $100,000 memory she won’t soon forget. The Powerball jackpot had rolled to $159 million for the Sept. 5, 2022 drawing and all three of them wanted to buy tickets. They wound up at Harris Teeter #384 located at 323 Copley Place in Gaithersburg, where they joined others buying tickets.

The Virginia resident bought five lines of quick-pick numbers and added the Power Play multiplier for a total of $15, then joined her friends for dinner.The information technology specialist returned home that night and didn’t check her ticket after the drawing. “I kind of forgot about it,” she said. Meanwhile, her Maryland friends had great news to share with her. “They called me and said the Harris Teeter has a sign up saying someone won!”The mother of one then checked her ticket against the winning numbers and realized she won a $50,000 third-tier prize. Even better was her discovery that the Power Play multiplier for the drawing doubled her prize to $100,000! She signed her ticket and put it in a secure location until she could claim her prize this week at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.

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