Lost White Oak toddler reunited with parents

Montgomery County police successfully reunited a lost toddler with his parents this past weekend in White Oak. The boy, who police estimated to be two or three years old, was found wandering by himself on the 18th floor of the landmark Enclave apartment tower in White Oak on Sunday morning.

Officers responded to the scene after Enclave security personnel alerted them to the lost child. Police took the boy to the 3rd District Montgomery County police station, and alerted the public to the search for his parents, as the child could not verbally tell officers who his parents were. Four-and-a-half hours later, police were successfully able to reunite the family.

Arrest in Takoma Park carjacking & armed robbery

Montgomery County police have arrested and charged a suspect in connection with the February 16 armed robbery and carjacking in Takoma Park. Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division took Ever R. Torres-Enriquez, 23, of the 900 block of Northampton Drive in Silver Spring into custody, and charged him with armed robbery and armed carjacking related to the armed robbery of a jewelry store in Takoma Park.

Two suspects carried out the alleged robbery that day at the Silver Spring Jewelry store, located at 1137 University Boulevard East. After taking jewelry and cash from the store, they threatened two adult males who were sitting in a Toyota Camry outside the store at gunpoint. Forcing the men out of the car, the suspects drove off in the Camry.

Torres-Enriquez was caught after a car in which he was a passenger was pulled over on New Hampshire Avenue near the Capital Beltway interchange on June 14. Detectives say they continue to investigate the case, and to search for the second suspect, who remains at large.

Extended hours at 4 East MoCo recreation centers starting July 5

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced yesterday that the hours at four County recreation centers in eastern Montgomery County will have extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays beginning on July 5. When the Wheaton Recreation Center is completed, it, too, will have extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays, Elrich said.

The following centers will have the extended hours:

• East County (Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.) 
  3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring
• Good Hope (Friday and Saturday, noon - 11 p.m.) 
  14715 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring        
• Long Branch (Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.)               
  8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring       
• White Oak (Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.)                    
  1700 April Lane, Silver Spring

Takoma Park changes name of arts series after anti-Israel movie controversy

A week after abruptly postponing the screening of the documentary Occupation of the American Mind, a film highly-critical of Israel, the City of Takoma Park announced Tuesday that it would be changing the name of the arts and culture series the movie was being shown under the auspices of. After "We Are Takoma" made national and international news following criticism of the taxpayer-funded movie screening by residents and Jewish organizations and publications, the name is being scrapped.

The arts and culture series will now be called, "Takoma Park Arts." In a statement released by the city, Takoma Park officials said the new name was chosen to "reflect our focus." City officials have not yet announced plans to reschedule the controversial film screening.

Wheaton Lot 13 project to top out by end of June

Night work ahead

for Verizon

The Montgomery County Government office building under construction at Lot 13 in the Wheaton Triangle is currently on-target to top-out around June 26, County officials report. A final concrete pour for the penthouse of the building is set for today, June 18, and construction of the penthouse will commence by the end of this week.

Verizon is scheduled to begin some overnight work at the site starting Thursday night, June 20. They will be installing underground conduits for Verizon communication lines between Lot 13 and Reedie Drive. County officials say Verizon has promised the Triangle will be fully open to traffic by 5:00 AM each morning during the project.

Silver Spring construction update: 900 Thayer Avenue (Photos)

Has construction stalled out here? 900 Thayer Avenue has turned blue since my last update in April, but that's about it. Some more of the missing window panes have been installed, and a significant amount of progress has been made on the ground floor. But it doesn't appear to be moving as fast as other projects in town.

Hakuna Matata Grill construction update in Wheaton (Photos)

Hakuna Matata Grill's interior buildout continues at 2405 Price Avenue in Wheaton. The restaurant describes its cuisine as East African, featuring dishes from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan and Congo. It sounds like it will definitely fill a dining vacuum in Montgomery County. Their liquor license hearing is scheduled for June 20.