The county’s Department of Transportation launched a new bus rapid transit service yesterday with a media-only event that included County Executive Marc Elrich, Casey Anderson, chair of the Planning Board, and Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5). The BRT, known as Flash, will run in a 14-mile segment of U.S Route 29 from Burtonsville to the Silver Spring Transit Center, offering limited-stop service seven days a week.
Hoover-Fisher Florist, a Four Corners mainstay since the 1960s, will move to a new location in Kensington in January, 2021, according to an email to customers. The family-owned retailer was founded in 1954 and later moved into a two-story addition to the Woodmoor Shopping Center at the intersection of Colesville Road and University Boulevard.
County police are investigating a Silver Spring assault and carjacking gone awry when none of the three suspects could drive a stick shift.
FVCBank has permanently closed its branch at 7901 Eastern Ave. in Silver Spring, according to bank president Trish Ferrick. The community bank, based in Fairfax, had closed all of its branches due the pandemic, she said, while accepting night deposits and electronic banking.
The County Council yesterday approved a bill that would exempt 100% of the property tax for a project built on property leased from WMATA at a Metro station in the county. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would apply to construction of new high-rise development that includes at least 50% rental housing and be in effect for 15 years.
Takoma Beverage Company in Takoma Park is participating in a pilot program designed to ensure that waste from used food service containers is managed and recycled. The project, Paradigm One, is a local start-up concept of The Paradigm Project, according to John Hansen, the founder and CEO.
Society Restaurant and Lounge at 8229 Georgia Ave. was declared an “unsafe facility” and a closure order issued on Sept. 29 by Dr. Travis Gayles, the county’s health officer. The restaurant will remain closed for 30 days “or until notified by the County Health Officer that the Unsafe Facility is allowed to continue operations under modified conditions.”
The County Council yesterday unanimously passed a special appropriation of $7,687,000 to assist both childcare providers and families who need full-day care for school-age children. The funding includes $1.8 million to help providers that have incurred increased COVID-19-related expenses and lost revenues from both lower classroom capacity and being unable to open in school spaces since March.
Koiner Farm in Silver Spring will be adding equipment this fall that will allow it to extend the growing season for certain crops, according to Kate Medina, founder and executive director of the Charles Koiner Conservancy for Urban Farming.