Downtown Silver Spring

Soft Opening is Happening Now at Black Diamond Restaurant & Lounge

By MCS Staff

Back in November we let you know that Black Diamond Restaurant & Lounge will be taking over the space that was formerly home to TTT and Buena Vida at 8407 Ramsey Ave in Silver Spring. The restaurant announced, via social media, a soft opening that begins today (Thursday, January 26). It is described as an “Afro fusion restaurant and lounge.”

The soft opening phase is focusing on late-night entertainment, with Black Diamond open from 9pm until 2am on Thursdays and Sundays, and 9pm until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays (closed Monday through Wednesday). Grand opening information is being offered via the restaurant’s email list that can be found on its website, Black Diamond Restaurant & Lounge.

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Downtown Silver Spring

Black Lion Café is Now Open in Silver Spring

By MCS Staff

Over a year ago we let you know that Black Lion Café, which has a location in Rockville, will be opening a new location in the Fenton Silver Spring apartments at 8240 Fenton St in Silver Spring. After previously planned openings that were pushed back, the cafe officially opened on Wednesday. It will be open from 7am until 8pm, seven days a week (see announcement in their Instagram post below).

The cafe opened its first location at the Traville Gateway shopping center in late 2016. Black Lion Café sources its coffee from three regions of Ethiopia known for producing some of the best tasting coffee beans in the world. Keffa, the region of Ethiopia that gave the name ‘coffee’ to the bean, Yergacheffe, and Harrar. The news of Black Lion Cafe’s was previously reported by Source of the Spring.

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Education

Students at Four MCPS Middle Schools Win Awards at ‘Invent the Future’ Challenge

By MCS Staff

Students at Shady Grove (Gaithersburg), William H. Farquhar (Olney), Parkland (Rockville) and Briggs Chaney (Silver Spring) middle schools were named winners in this year’s Invent the Future Challenge celebration at KID Museum on Jan. 21.

Through designing their own inventions and innovative problem solving, students answered the question: What will you make to improve life on this planet? See all of the winners and a description of their projects at this link: Invent the Future Award Winners, January 2023. Courtesy of MCPS.

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Derwood

Antisemitic Graffiti Found at Magruder High School

By Patrick Herron

Antisemitic graffiti was found on a desk today at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School at 5939 Muncaster Mill Rd in Derwood. This is the fourth time in the past week that antisemitic graffiti was found at a Montgomery County Public School, as over the weekend, MCPS sent out a message alerting the community that drawings of swastikas were recently found on desks at at three separate MCPS schools. Magruder Principal Dr. Leroy C. Evans sent the following message to Magruder students and families:

Given the seriousness of this incident and heightened concerns around racial insensitivity and anti-Semitism, we seek parent support and involvement in speaking with your children in our efforts to eliminate this hateful and harmful behavior.

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MCDOT

Federal Increase in Pre-Tax Benefits Allotted for Employer Transit Expenses as Part of Montgomery County’s ‘Fareshare’ Program

By Patrick Herron

Per MCDOT: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) “FareShare” Program announces that employees have more reason than ever to use public transportation to get to work. The Internal Revenue Service has increased the pre-tax limit for employer-provided commuting benefits to $300 per month, from $280 last year, including transit passes and vanpool fares for 2023.

With the recent increase in the Internal Revenue Service’s tax-free limit, commuters working in Montgomery County can receive the reimbursement by asking their employers to set up a commuting benefits program. MCDOT’s “FareShare” program will reimburse employers for all but $25 per month of their employees’ costs for commuting, up to $300 per month. The money is tax-free to both the employee and the employer.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Decreased by 30 Percent Between 2005 and 2020, According to Council of Governments

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased by 30 percent between 2005 and 2020, despite a 13 percent growth in population, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) GHG emission inventories. COG has 24 member jurisdictions in the Washington Region, including Montgomery County. Montgomery County’s inventory covers GHG-emitting activities from the entire community, including the County government, businesses, industry, residents and visitors.

“This inventory demonstrates that in every sector of our County—from our businesses to our residents and local governments—we are successfully working together to bring down greenhouse gas emissions,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our Countywide efforts, including moving toward electrification and away from fossil fuels, encouraging electric vehicle adoption, planting more trees and making it easier and safer for people to bike and walk, are all contributing to our goals to cut GHG emissions 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035.”

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MCDOT

Ride On Bus Will Be Increasing Frequency on 31 Routes Starting This Sunday, January 29

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will increase service on 31 Ride On bus routes starting Sunday, Jan. 29. The increases are part of the adjustments to 44 routes overall to improve efficiency based on ridership. Throughout the year, ridership data and on-time performance are monitored regularly to identify routes that could achieve increased efficiency with schedule updates.

“Public transit that is reliable and on time is critical to the people who count on it,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It is a best practice to regularly evaluate and adjust bus service to ensure needs are being met. Dependable and reliable bus service leads to increased ridership which supports our sustainability efforts, reduces congestion and increases the quality of life for our residents.”

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MoCo Libraries

Energy Assistance Programs and Energy Savings Information Tables Will Be Available at Montgomery County Public Libraries Through April

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Libraries will offer staffed information tables to learn about energy assistance programs and energy saving resources on seven select Mondays through April. The resource tables will be staffed by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and Pepco.

For more information about the energy savings display tables, contact Clotilde Puértolas at [email protected].

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Bethesda

Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle in Bethesda; Driver Did Not Remain on Scene

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services and Montgomery County Police responded to a collision in Bethesda on Wednesday afternoon around 3:15pm. According to MCPD, “a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian has Hampden Lane and Woodmont Avenue shut down towards Waverly Lane.”  The victim has been transported to an area hospital and their condition is unknown at this time. The striking vehicle did not remain on scene.  Drivers are advised to an seek alternate route and to expect significant delays. We will post an update when additional information is available. 

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A vehicle collision involving a pedestrian has Hampden Lane and Woodmont Avenue shut down towards Waverly Lane. Drivers are advised to an seek alternate route. Expect significant delays. #mcpd #mcp #traffic #trafficadvisory pic.twitter.com/qR4vDF3FQk

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MoCo Government

16 Multiple Electric Vehicle Charging Ports Added in County Parking Facilities, Bringing Total to 56 in County Garages and Parking Lots

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has added 16 electric vehicle charging ports in County garages over the last four months, increasing the total of electric vehicle (EV) charging ports to 56 for public use in County parking garages and parking lots. Eight ports were added in the NOAA Garage (G58) in Silver Spring this month, four ports were added in the Cordell-St. Elmo Garage (G40) in Bethesda in December and four ports were installed in the Wheaton Market Place Garage (G13) in October. MCDOT has eight more charging ports planned. Four will be installed in the Bethesda-Elm Garage (G57) later this winter and four ports have been ordered for the Cameron Street Garage (G7) in Silver Spring.

EV charging ports are now available in the following County parking facilities within each of the three County maintained Parking Lot Districts (PLD):

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Gaithersburg

Crash Backs Traffic Up On NB I-270

By MCS Staff

At least one lane is blocked coming off of the ramp at Montgomery Village Ave (exit 11) with traffic backed up onto northbound I-270, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

Piringer warns that driving conditions are less than desirable after MCFRS has responded to numerous crashes today, including the one pictured on the Montgomery Village Ave off ramp. One adult is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

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