County officials dedicated the mid-Atlantic’s first “protected” intersection this morning at Spring and Second streets, marking the completion of a circuit of bike lanes around downtown Silver Spring. The “cycletrack” runs along Spring/Cedar streets, down Wayne Avenue and alongside Second Street, providing a direct connection to the Silver Spring Transit Center.
The Source of the Spring is marking its third anniversary with the launch of a membership program designed to help ensure its finances are stable and the site can continue to operate in the future. The Source launched on Oct. 26, 2016 with a party for friends and supporters on the rooftop of Kaldi’s Social House. Since then, the site has published more than 1,100 posts focused on local news and information.
It’s the last free show of the season with The Loose Ends Friday evening at Sligo Creek Golf Course. The same night, Bud Skeleton & Friends will be at the American Legion, and the Legion will host Garage Rock Night on Saturday. The YMCA will lead a walk along the Purple Line route Saturday morning. The annual Takoma Park Street Festival will be held on Sunday, and policy-minded folks can attend a Subdivision Staging Policy workshop on Monday evening.
Clothing retailer Forever 21 Red in Ellsworth Place is on a list of stores that could close following the Sunday bankruptcy filing of parent company Forever 21. The store opened in September 2016 as the first of that concept to operate in Maryland.
Small cell towers for next-generation wireless service would be allowed no closer than 30 feet from a residence or other habitable building under the terms of a proposed zoning text amendment. The ZTA will allow the deployment of new wireless infrastructure.
The Montgomery County police are asking for help to identify a suspect they believe is responsible for seven residential burglaries in two neighborhoods near downtown Silver Spring. The affected homes are located in the Chelsea Heights and Seven Oaks-Evanswood neighborhoods.
Roadwork is scheduled to begin this week on several streets in Takoma Park as crews prepare for street resurfacing, according to a city announcement. The work is expected to take about two weeks to complete.
It will be a busy weekend followed by a quiet week for local events. There’s live music Friday at the Sligo Creek Golf Course and the DC Blues Society 4th Friday Happy Hour at the America Legion, and a free concert Sunday at Montgomery College from the Washington Piano Society. Denizens will host a wild beer festival Saturday, while comedy returns to the Legion Saturday night. Also Saturday evening, Crossroads Market is hosting a special night market in Takoma Park.
The Montgomery Parks Foundation has reached a $300,000 civil settlement with a former employee accused of misappropriating foundation funds, according to a statement from John Robinson, the foundation’s president. Robinson discovered discrepancies in the foundation’s bank statements and other financial records in mid-January. The Maryland-National Capital Park Police and the county’s State’s Attorney Office investigated the case.
An eight-inch water main has broken in the Northwood Park neighborhood of Four Corners, disrupting water service and closing down two roads. The break occurred around 9 a.m. this morning, according to Luis Maya, senior public communications specialist for WSSC, around 100 Southwood Ave. near Eastwood Avenue.
The State Highway Administration has received federal approval to redesign the portion of Georgia Avenue from 16th Street to Forest Glen Road, officials announced. The work will include narrowing traffic lanes, adding a raised and landscaped median, sidewalks on both sides of the road and a two-way bike track on the west side of Georgia, along with a new traffic signal at Flora Lane.
Attendees can combine activities and advocacy at the second Montgomery Hills Street Fest scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 from 3–7 p.m. The festival will be held on Columbia Boulevard, between Seminary Road and 16th Street, and feature local artisans who specialize in pottery, painting, fused class, jewelry and clay pendants, along with food and entertainment.