Photos released of Wheaton bank robbery suspect

Montgomery County Police are seeking the public's help in finding the suspect in Tuesday morning's robbery of a bank in the Kemp Mill area of Wheaton. Around 9:34 AM on September 6, police responded to the report of a robbery at the SunTrust Bank at 1371 Lamberton Drive.

The suspect pictured here allegedly entered the bank, and handed a teller a note that demanded money. He was given an unspecified amount of cash by the teller, and then fled the scene. All I can say is, you've got to be supremely confident to rob a bank without a mask, and believe you won't get caught.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the bank robbery is asked to contact the Montgomery County Police Department – Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.  To be eligible for a reward, tipsters may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).  Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of this suspect.  Tipsters will remain anonymous.

Silver Spring-Takoma Park restaurant week 2016 is underway

Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker launched the 2nd annual Silver Spring-Takoma Park Restaurant Week last night at the newly-opened Not Your Average Joe's in downtown Silver Spring. Hucker was the driving force in founding the 6-day event last year, and is once again hosting it this year.

Participating restaurants include All Set Restaurant and Bar, Cubano's, El Gavilan, El Golfo, Not Your Average Joe's, and Republic. For a full list, visit the official website. All 32 participating restaurants will offer at least one of the following deals through September 11, 2016:

$12 two-course lunch menu

$17 three-course lunch menu

$17 two-course dinner menu

$27 three course dinner menu

Taxes, tip, and in most cases, drinks, are not included in the fixed price.

If you live in the immediate area, this is the time to save money on the restaurants you know and love. And if you live outside of Silver Spring and Takoma Park, now is the ideal time to get acquainted discover the many outstanding dining options available in these two communities.

Silver Spring construction update: Central (Photos)

Central, the mixed-use project from Grosvenor Americas at 8455 Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring, was only one story above street level in my last report. Work is now underway on the fourth floor of the building as of today.

The project includes 243 residential units, and 17,000 SF of retail/restaurant space. Located in a prime spot near the Silver Spring Library and future Purple Line station, Central is expected to deliver about a year from now.

Wheaton construction update: AVA Wheaton apartments (Photos)

There has been a fair amount of progress at the construction site of Avalon Bay's AVA Wheaton apartment building, at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Blueridge Avenue. What looks like mostly the parking garage facility for the project is towering several stories above ground level.

Sign installed at AMC Wheaton 9 cineplex (Photos)

The AMC sign has been installed on the facade of the future AMC Wheaton 9 cineplex at Wheaton Plaza. No marquee yet, though. Giant popcorn bags are popping up around Wheaton Plaza to promote the new theater, and they make a clever reference to the fact the auditoriums will feature reclining seats.

F21 Red opening Saturday at Ellsworth Place in Silver Spring

The first-ever Forever 21 Red in Maryland will open tomorrow, Saturday, September 3, at Ellsworth Place mall in downtown Silver Spring. F21 Red will occupy 13,224 SF on Level 3 of the completely-renovated mall.

Mall owner Petrie Richardson Ventures lauded the opening in a statement yesterday.

“With their diverse and trendy options at affordable prices, F21 Red is another dynamic retail option in our line-up of quality offerings for the spectrum of buyers and, as such, is a perfect fit for the renovated Ellsworth Place,” said Terry Richardson, president and COO of PRV. “We’re excited to have F21 Red in the thriving downtown Silver Spring community where we’ve seen pent up consumer demand for exactly what they offer.”

Residents to hold meeting Sept. 8 to fight bus depot plans at Blair Ewing Center

With the Blair Ewing Center and Mark Twain Park on Avery Road back in the crosshairs of a Montgomery County desperate to find a new school bus depot site, local residents are planning to meet on Thursday, September 8, at the Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center at 14625 Bauer Drive in Rockville. Blair Ewing, and the Oaks Landfill at 6001 Olney-Laytonsville Road in Olney, are the two known finalists on the County Council's list.

A couple of things are clear right now. First, there is no other "perfect" or even serviceable site that can hold the number of buses proposed anywhere in the County beyond the handful already fought over, and the two alternatives now on the table. If there were, the County would have acquired it in 2015.

Second, County politicians are now engaged in a cynical game. Rather than face the legal consequences of admitting they blew it, and that their "smart growth initiative" was simply a scheme to benefit developers, the County Executive and Council are now going poke the hornets' nests in Aspen Hill and Olney, and see if they can figure out which one will emit the fewest angry bees.

Conversely, they may also tally up the number of votes they believe will be lost in a particular community. During the Westbard controversy in Bethesda, it accidentally slipped out that some on the County Council were literally having their staff tally the number of votes they might lose, if they enraged the voters in the Westbard area. Ultimately, their math told them they could take the hit and survive.

Counting votes probably won't help here, though. Aspen Hill has vigorously fought the previous bus depot plan, and Walmart, and won both times. Olney, with its strong civic association, likewise was the only community in the County that was able to kill a planned Bus Rapid Transit route.

Unless they've come up with a magical third option, or go back to Westmore and Carver, it looks like the Council will have to pick its political poison.