Thursday, February 28, 2013

POLICE RELEASE VEHICLE DESCRIPTION IN SEARCH FOR CONNECTICUT AVENUE HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER

Montgomery County Police have just released the first description of the hit-and-run driver's vehicle from Tuesday night's fatal accident on Connecticut Avenue near Randolph Road.

The suspect's vehicle is described as a late 1990s/early 2000s Toyota Corolla of unknown color. Damage should be to the right front corner of the vehicle, and involves the headlight assembly.

If you witnessed the collision, or have any information about the this vehicle (location, repairs made, etc.) please call police at 301-279-8000.

MoCo COUNCIL PRESIDENT NANCY NAVARRO BOOSTS EFFORT TO BRING TRADER JOE'S TO PLAZA DEL MERCADO

Plaza del Mercado is a classic shopping center in the Bel Pre area of Silver Spring. Having lost its Giant grocery store, it could use a new tenant.

One resident has started a petition that has garnered tremendous  support from the community, and now from the second-highest elected official in Montgomery County - County Council President Nancy Navarro.

The petition is asking Trader Joe's to open a store at Plaza del Mercado.

As of this morning, the petition has over 1600 signatures. Navarro has contacted the center's landlord, Federal Realty, to add some political support to the quest.

I commend Council President Navarro for this effort, and I wish other councilmembers would start taking this approach. This is exactly how we should handle "redevelopment" issues in our already-developed areas: asking what citizens want in their neighborhoods, rather than massive, top-down, developer-friendly sector plans such as in Wheaton and Glenmont.

Any redevelopment in our county should benefit those who live here now, rather than some theoretical rich people who we think will move here in the future. And in this case, Trader Joe's would give residents a neighborhood amenity they want, and attract more shoppers who will patronize other businesses while they are there.

And in doing that, no residents are being evicted from affordable housing, nor is any small business going to be run out of business.

Contrast this sensible, winning approach with Wheaton, where the just-approved plan carves up the downtown on a silver platter for developers.  The vast number of affordable housing units at the northern end of town are now all rezoned attractively for development.  Where exactly will the residents of those buildings go when they are demolished to make way for wealthy, "hip" newcomers? 

In contrast to claims that Wheaton is a "long-term" plan, we've already heard that the Ambassador apartments (formerly Best Western) are going to be "redeveloped." Predictably, we've heard little about where current residents will live when this happens.  What we have been told, is that the new building will be mixed-income. Which makes it mathematically impossible for all current residents to return.  Expect more of the same in the rest of Wheaton.

Meanwhile, the loss of convenient Triangle parking, along with the little-spoken-of sector plan provision that allows a new road to punch through one of the current Wheaton Triangle shopping centers, would seal the sad fate of small business owners there if fully implemented.

All of the taxpayer money going to developers in these plans would be better spent helping landlords maintain and refurbish existing commercial centers and apartments.

I don't believe Irene's should be replaced by Chipotle.

But I suspect most would agree that Trader Joe's replacing a vacant anchor space would only help the community.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

SILVER SPRING CRIME REPORT

Several sexual assaults, 2 stolen cars and a theft at the Thayer Avenue Safeway are among crimes reported across Silver Spring between February 21-24.

Thursday, February 21:

Assault/"other sexual offense." Days Inn, 8040 13th Street.

Theft. 8600 block Cameron Street.

Stolen car. 1200 block Myrtle Avenue.

Assault. 100 block University Boulevard.

Sexual assault. 300 block University Boulevard E.

Assault. 800 block Lowander Lane.

Robbery. 8900 block Sudbury Road.

Assault. 7900 block Kennewick Avenue.

Theft. 7000 block Carroll Avenue.

Theft. 7600 block Piney Branch Road.

Friday, February 22:

Theft. 1700 block Noyes Lane.

Theft. Safeway. Thayer Avenue.

Sexual assault. 9800 block Georgia Avenue.

Burglary. 1900 block Rosemary Hills Drive.

Theft from vehicle. 800 block Pershing Drive.

Saturday, February 23:

Assault. 10700 block of Columbia Pike.

Assault. 8800 block Piney Branch Road.

Burglary. 7700 block Poplar Avenue.

Sunday, February 24:

Robbery. 8400 block 16th Street

Assault. 2500 block Ross Road.

Stolen car. 900 Browning Avenue.

Assault. 600 Sligo Avenue.

FATAL HIT-AND-RUN IN SILVER SPRING LAST NIGHT

Montgomery County Police are seeking witnesses to a deadly hit-and-run in Silver Spring last night.

Marlyn Eres Ali, 53, of the 3800 block of Elby Street was struck by an unidentified vehicle while crossing Connecticut Avenue at Everton Street around 8:00 PM. She died later at Suburban Hospital.

Investigators are asking the public for any information regarding the driver who fled the scene, and the make and model of the vehicle. Police believe the car has front-end damage.

The victim was struck in the southbound lanes of Connecticut Avenue.

If you can help police with this case, please call detectives at 240.773.6620.  You do not have to identify yourself to share information.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

LAY'S CHEESY GARLIC BREAD POTATO CHIPS REVIEW (VIDEO)

Now I've tried all three Flavor Finalists in the Lay's Do Us a Flavor contest, and I'm declaring a winner!

But first, I have to review #3, Lay's Cheesy Garlic Bread potato chips.

Monday, February 25, 2013

WHICH TWILIGHT BREAKING DAWN PART 2 DVD BLU-RAY PACKAGE IS THE BEST? ANSWERS WITHIN! (PHOTOS)

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 will be released on Blu-ray and DVD this Saturday, March 2.  Which store has the best Twilight package? And which stores are opening at midnight?

Amazon.com

No bonus material or collectibles.

Best Buy

Exclusive Blu-ray combo with collectible locket key chain (see photos below).  Includes "hours of bonus features."

Exclusive $44.99 Twilight Saga collection, featuring all 5 films, including the new Breaking Dawn Part I Extended Edition.

No midnight openings listed.

Target

Target seems to offer the best packages, and midnight opening parties at the following stores in the region: Alexandria, Woodbridge, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Columbia and Annapolis. (If you're reading this and live in another state, click on the link in the first paragraph above to find the store closest to you).

Take note: early birds can pick up a voucher starting at 8:00 AM, Friday, March 1. Then bring your voucher back to the store at midnight to get your Twilight package.

What Target has is a $22.99 DVD/$26.99 Blu-ray Limited Edition version of Breaking Dawn Part 2, with 50 minutes of exclusive video content, including "black carpet" footage, and "hours of additional bonus content."

But wait, there's more.

A $14.99 Target-exclusive Limited Edition of Breaking Dawn Part 1, in a 2-DVD gift set that includes an actual prop flower from the film's wedding scene (see photo below) The prop includes a Certificate of Authenticity to verify it was actually in the movie.

Walmart

Walmart has an exclusive Breaking Dawn Part 1 & 2 two-movie package, that includes the extended version of Part 1.

Walmart's other exclusive is a free set of 5 mini-posters (see photos below) that you receive with purchase of Breaking Dawn Part 2. But hurry - while supplies last.

Walmart stores opening at midnight in our region are Nottingham and Hampstead, both of which are in Maryland.

Bottom line

If you're an obsessed fan, you'll have to hit Best Buy for the locket key chain and 5-movie collection, Target for the Part 1 movie prop and 50 minutes of bonus video, and Walmart for the mini posters.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

SWEETGREEN TO OPEN IN DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING

Local salad chain Sweetgreen will open a new location in downtown Silver Spring this year.  The shop will be located at 8517 Georgia Avenue, in the former Living Ruff space.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

STEVE MORRIS, FERGUS KENNEDY - LIVE IRISH MUSIC AT THE LIMERICK PUB IN WHEATON TONIGHT

Stop by the Limerick Pub in my old stomping grounds of downtown Wheaton tonight.

Steve Morris and Fergus Kennedy are appearing live at the pub tonight at 8:00 PM, for an evening of Irish music.

They've also got a couple of great entrees this weekend:

Leg of Lamb Sandwich is a hand carved leg of lamb in rosemary au jus, placed on a toasted Kaiser roll. With your choice of potato, it is $14.50.

Their Seafood Platter features lightly-fried, fresh beer-battered cod, and panko-breaded jumbo shrimp, oysters and jumbo lump crab balls. With your choice of potato and veggie or salad, it's a deal at $17.50.

Limerick Pub is highly-rated on Yelp and Trip Advisor, and is located at 11301 Elkin Street in downtown Wheaton.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO BUY $1.1M HOME, TURN IT INTO PARKLAND IN NORTHWEST BRANCH STREAM VALLEY PARK

Montgomery County plans to acquire 24 Crest Park Court, near Francis Scott Key MS, for $1,121,000 and make the property part of the adjoining Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park.

But the deal is also subject to an undisclosed "Life Estate Benefit" for the property's owner, Dr. Leonard Deitz.  That transaction was arranged at a closed meeting of the county Planning Board not open to the public.

The 5.5 acre estate is being acquired with county bonds, under the Legacy Open Space program.

Crest Park Court is a tree-lined residential street that dead-ends at Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park.