Burtonsville man missing

Montgomery County police are searching for a Burtonsville man who hasn't been seen since Saturday, but sent a text to a family member yesterday afternoon. His family has since been unable to reach him again by text, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Samuel Geatchew Liben, 30, left his home on Halton Hall Lane on foot Saturday evening. He is described by police as an African-American male, 6′ 1″ tall and weighing 150 pounds.  He has brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Samuel Geatchew Liben is asked to call the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 (available 24 hours). Callers may remain anonymous.

Silver Spring construction update: Solaire 8250 Georgia Avenue (Photos)

Here's the progress at the site of the Solaire 8250 Georgia Avenue apartment tower in downtown Silver Spring. With a height of 20 stories, the Solaire 8250 will hold 338 apartments and 15000 SF of retail space, including outdoor seating for dining.

Parking will be located in a three-level underground garage. Amenities will include a resort-style rooftop swimming pool and deck, cyber cafe, private courtyard, fitness center, and a club room complete with kitchen, library, flatscreen TV, fireplace and game room. Apartments will be a mix of studios and 1-and-2 bedroom units, with quartz countertops and high-end finishes.

Washington Property Company is the developer, and Lendlease is the contractor for the project, Design Collective of Baltimore is the architecture firm, and leasing of the street-level retail and restaurant space will be handled by Streetsense. Delivery is expected in Spring 2019, and the project appears to be on-schedule.

Purple Line construction updates

Purple Line Transit Partners has issued some additional announcements regarding construction activities. There will again be blasting of rock in Long Branch for the Plymouth Street tunnel today, and again on Monday, October 8. Blasting will occur during daylight hours.

Heavy construction will occur this Saturday at the Lyttonsville Place Bridge between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Crews will arrive at 7:00 AM.

Purple Line blasting today in Long Branch

Purple Line Transit Partners says blasting of rock for the Plymouth Street tunnel is scheduled to occur today in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring. The blasting is necessary due to rock conditions encountered during recent work on the tunnel. Blasting will only occur during daylight hours.

Downtown Silver Spring Exxon could be replaced by retail or a fast food restaurant

Is the market for residential housing slowing in downtown Silver Spring? Real estate firm Streetsense is marketing the property of a current Exxon gas station at 8301 Fenton Street. But instead of the usual high-rise apartment building, they are envisioning a single-story inline retail strip mall or drive-thru fast food restaurant. I'm hoping for Taco Bell, or something we don't have here already like Hardee's or Jack-in-the-Box.

Photos:
Top: Google Street View
Bottom: Streetsense

Bill to ban smoking in all outdoor dining areas to be introduced today by Montgomery County Council

Smoking and vaping on outdoor patios at Montgomery County restaurants could soon be a thing of the past, if Montgomery County Council Bill 35-18 passes. Scheduled to be introduced by Councilmember Sidney Katz (D - District 3) today, the bill would ban smoking and vaping in all outdoor dining areas, including partially-enclosed spaces.

A public hearing on the bill is currently scheduled for October 23, 2018 at 1:30 PM. The Council will also have to sit as the Board of Health, and pass an accompanying regulation as that board, to legally enact the smoking ban.

The legislation is very similar to that passed by the Rockville Mayor & Council last year. Adam Zimmerman, an activist who spearheaded the Rockville effort, is also advocating for the County to pass Bill 35-18. He says the ban will improve health, while increasing business at venues non-smokers currently avoid.

Rockville's ban was opposed by some restaurant owners, such as Danny Trahan of Mellow Mushroom. Trahan closed his restaurant permanently last month - though the smoking ban wasn't the primary reason. He viewed the ban as the last straw in Montgomery County's costly and unwelcoming business climate. It will be interesting to see what restaurateurs have to say about the proposed County ban.

Residents who testified before the Mayor & Council last shared Zimmerman's view that business would improve, citing their reluctance to dine at two Rockville Town Square restaurants that allowed outdoor smoking before the ban. Because many restaurants now open their doors and windows, patrons have also complained that smoke now drifts inside from patios.

Double fatal shooting in Spencerville

Two people are dead in Spencerville, as the Montgomery County homicide total remains on course to match or exceed the 2017 total, which was already a 31% increase over the 2016 murder numbers. Montgomery County police are investigating the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide.

On Saturday around 8:00 PM, police and fire personnel responded to a home in the 15100 block of Peach Orchard Road. They discovered a 56-year-old male and a 53-year-old female, both deceased, inside the home.  The victims had apparent gunshot wounds to their bodies, and a gun was recovered at the scene.

Detectives have not said what drew them to the home Saturday night.