Car jumps curb in Bethesda Row collision (Photos)

UPDATE - 3:24 PM: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation now also has a crew at the scene to replace the damaged pole and crossing signals. They are coordinating with Pepco.

An SUV left the road in a collision around noon today at the intersection of Bethesda Avenue and Woodmont Avenue in the Bethesda Row area. It crashed into a utility pole, causing damage to Pepco equipment. A bike crossing signal was toppled, and the Bethesda Urban Partnership information kiosk was sent flying, scattering visitor brochures over the sidewalk and Purple Line construction entrance.

Pepco is on-scene to make repairs to their equipment. Airbags deployed on the SUV, but Montgomery County police say there are no injuries to report from the crash at this time. Police advise avoiding the intersection for now, as Bethesda Avenue is closed between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenue for cleanup and accident investigation.

Bike crossing signal toppled

Brochures scattered around the damaged
Bethesda Urban Partnership kiosk

Brick wall destroyed again at 7-Eleven in Bethesda (Photos)

Oh, no, not again! Someone accidentally or intentionally smashed into the brick wall along the property line separating 7-Eleven at 7820 Wisconsin Avenue from the vacant EagleBank property behind it in downtown Bethesda. The same thing happened last May, but the damage from yesterday's crash is even worse than last year's. About half of the wall is completely destroyed, just 13 months after it had been rebuilt. It looks like a guardrail or bollards are needed to prevent this recent surge in poor or malicious driving.

Self-storage unit broken into in North Bethesda

Montgomery County police are investigating a burglary incident at Extra Space Storage at 11850 Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda. Police are not sure when the burglary occurred, but the crime was discovered at noon on July 14, 2024. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry to one of the storage units at the facility. Unspecified property was stolen from inside the unit.

If you have any information about this incident, or can identify any suspects involved, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Montgomery County Council cuts Elrich out of picture on life science project launch

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich joined WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke and elected officials at the North Bethesda Metro station yesterday to formally launch the search for a developer to build a Life Science Center at the transit stop. But you wouldn't know this from watching the Montgomery County Council's video on the press conference. Elrich's speech was completely omitted from the Council report, which included excerpts from comments by Clarke, Council President Andrew Friedson, and even U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. The snub was particularly notable, as Elrich has been the main driver of the Life Science Center from its inception.

If it were up to the Council alone, the site adjacent to the Metro station would have been yet another residential housing development. Elrich was the rare County elected official to acknowledge that MoCo needs more high-wage jobs as much as it does new housing, when he proposed the biotech use for this site several years ago. Yet the Council attempted to take all the credit for itself in its Monday video, similar to Congresspeople who vote against infrastructure projects in their districts, only to later claim credit for them once they come to fruition.

The attempt to cut Elrich out of the launch announcement was only the latest cheap shot by the Council at the Executive. Some on the Council resorted to subterfuge and outright deception in their successful effort to deep-six Elrich's proposal to restore funding for the Office of the People's Counsel. Councilmembers are still pondering whether to create a competing ballot question for the one that will give voters the option to oust Elrich with a two-term limit in the November election. Perhaps they are weighing the possibility of opening the executive seat to one of the ambitious Councilmembers, versus reducing their own future executive terms by one. 

Virginia continues to crush Maryland in job creation

The economic development outlook remains bleak on this side of the Potomac River, as Virginia absolutely crushed Maryland in job creation last month. Just eight days after CNBC declared Virginia "America's Top State for Business," the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the state added 15,000 new jobs in June. That gave Virginia the third-highest job creation number out of all fifty states last month. By comparison, Maryland barely surpassed a third of that total, generating only 5,600 new jobs in June.

Maryland's unemployment rate rose to 2.8% in June, while Virginia's dropped to 2.7%. The biggest area of job growth in Maryland was in the government sector. In contrast, Virginia's largest job growth was in the private sector, in Professional and Business Services. While Maryland has only added 27,800 jobs total since January 1, Virginia was able to add more than half of that in the last month alone.

Montgomery County used to be a major engine of economic growth not only in Maryland, but in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. It has now ceded that role to Northern Virginia, as MoCo increasingly becomes the bedroom community for workers who are employed elsewhere in the region. In fact, a new Bethesda-to-Tysons express bus has just been proposed to serve those workers commuting to Virginia in the morning. Tysons - and Northern Virginia as a whole - continue to add major corporate headquarters, while Montgomery County hasn't added a single one in over a quarter century.

It's that high-wage job growth that allowed Virginia’s general fund revenues to end fiscal year 2024 $1.2 billion over the official revenue forecast. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin cited "robust job growth" as the driver of that better-than-expected revenue.

In contrast, Montgomery County remains focused on the revenue-sapping activity of adding bedrooms, instead of boardrooms. Aside from presiding over a strong biotech sector that was created by wiser leaders years before they ever took office, MoCo's elected officials continue to put all of their economic development eggs into the residential housing construction basket.

Instead of building a new Potomac River crossing to Dulles International Airport, completing our master plan highway system, creating shovel-ready job sites, and focusing on attracting Fortune 500 companies and aerospace and defense firms to vacant office parks from Clarksburg to Bethesda to White Oak, our County Council is focused on building more luxury apartments and townhomes.

Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson told an audience of real estate developers hosted by Bisnow on July 18 that “[i]n Montgomery County, we’re really trying to change the narrative. We have to view housing as the economic infrastructure that we have to build communities.” That's definitely not the narrative guiding Northern Virginia, Texas, or California. We're in real trouble, folks.

Oceans exhibit at Triangle Art Studios in Bethesda

The work of Stephen Estrada, one of the resident artists at the Triangle Art Studios at 7111-A Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda, is very much in season. A number of paintings are now on display in an exhibit entitled, "Oceans." Silver Spring resident Estrada specializes in images from the natural world. Oceans are a favorite subject, drawing on his own travels around the world. 

"My work approaches the subject head on, eschewing linear perspective, as if stepping into the moving ocean from solid land," says on his website. Look for Triangle Art Studios in the alleyway behind the Cheval Bethesda condominium tower at the corner of Old Georgetown and Fairmont Avenue.

Assault in Friendship Heights

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in Friendship Heights Friday night, July 26, 2024. The assault was reported along the street in the 4400 block of Willard Avenue at 7:20 PM Friday. Police were called for a shoplifting incident seven minutes earlier at the nearby Amazon Fresh store, across the street at 5463 Wisconsin Avenue. It has not been confirmed at this time if the two incidents are related.

Deadpool & Wolverine special items at AMC Theatres Montgomery 16 in Bethesda (Photos)

AMC Theatres has arguably been the top movie theater chain in recent years when it comes to special promotional items for blockbuster movies. There are almost as many limited-edition collectible and consumable products for Deadpool & Wolverine this weekend at AMC Theatres as there are cameos in the film. True believers will find all of these snacks, beverages, collectibles, and merchandise in the lobby. Here's a look at what's available for this superhero slugfest at AMC Theatres Montgomery 16 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda:

The Coca-Cola Freestyle machine is loaded with two soft drinks based on the film, Chimichanga Chaser and Piña-Claw-Da, and both are only available at AMC Theatres. For those seeking an adult beverage, the bar in the lobby is mixing up the sweet strawberry Do-Over in Deadpool colors, and the tart orange Crossover in Wolverine yellow with green and blue accents. 

Two theater-goers can share the Deadpool & Wolverine Double Take Combo, which also plays off of the costume color schemes. Deadpool-red Nashville Hot Gourmet popcorn joins Wolverine butter-yellow traditional popcorn, along with large Chimichanga Chaser and Piña-Claw-Da sodas, and red strawberry Twizzlers and yellow Peanut M&Ms.

Choose your choice of hero in the form of Mystery Cups with figurine toppers, or in collectible popcorn vessels. Each popcorn holder includes a large popcorn from the snack bar. While supplies last. Excelsior!

First signage installed at future Bethesda Lidl

The first piece of signage has been installed at the future Lidl grocery store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road at Bethesda Place. It appears to be a sign that will eventually list the store's operating hours. As the "DANGER: HARD HAT AREA" sign next to it suggests, construction continues on the interior fit-out of the grocery store. 

More shelving is now in place, as well as wood paneling around what looks like the future Bakery department. Lidl will replace the long-departed Safeway store as the anchor retail tenant at this development.

Mind Games opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Mind Games has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Toronto-based toy store chain sells books, educational toys, and games alongside the conventional popular toys. It also has its own house-brand products. Familiar toy brands stocked include Lego, Funko, Mattel, and Maisto.

Give whoever set up the Funko display at the front of the store extra points for putting Inspector Gadget and Ultraman in that prominent location. Let the mind games begin on Level 1 of the mall, next to Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Claire's opening new location at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Claire's is coming back to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda in a new location. The ubiquitous mall piercing studio and gift shop has "improved our safety and sanitation procedures to give you a safe, clean, and happy piercing," the Illinois-based company says. Claire's will again go head-to-head with arch-rival Banter by Piercing Pagoda at the mall, giving potential customers - and in some cases, their nervous parents - a chance to comparison shop. When it opens, look for Claire's on Level 1 outside of Macy's.

Sophia apartment tower begins pre-leasing in Bethesda

The Sophia apartment tower at 4924 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda has begun pre-leasing, developer Duball, LLC announced yesterday. This is Duball's fourth development in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood, and is expected to welcome its first residents in early fall 2024. “We’re extremely excited about bringing Sophia to Bethesda,” John Segreti, Principal and Executive Vice President at Duball, said in a statement Wednesday. “We have taken some of the best practices learned from three condos in Bethesda—Cheval, Lionsgate and Stonehall—completed by our development affiliates and applied them to Sophia. We’ve created an eye-catching building with classic architecture that is gracious and inviting, right in the heart of Bethesda.”

Sophia's art deco design has become visible to all, as the building rounded into final shape in the first half of 2024. Yesterday's announcement included some new details on amenities not seen from street level. The 23rd floor rooftop includes a skyline pool, a spa with a water feature, outdoor grills, and a sky lounge with a fireplace, billiards, a gaming area, and a bar. Inside the fitness center, residents will find a strength training room, and a yoga studio with space for high-intensity interval training (HIIT). 

Those fortunate to live in the penthouses will enjoy larger floorplans, 10' ceilings, built-in wine fridges, superior appliances, and an indoor-outdoor lifestyle with balconies, patios, and terraces. All residents will enjoy the Paris Baguette cafe in the building's ground floor. For more information or to schedule a tour, visit sophiabethesda.com or call 240-483-0500. You can see in the animation on the website's home page that Sophia is notably taller than next-door neighbor Bainbridge Bethesda, with whom Sophia will share a pedestrian paseo that stretches from St. Elmo to Fairmont Avenue.

Montgomery County Council won't put property tax hike question on ballot this fall

Robin Ficker

The Montgomery County Council voted 6-5 on Tuesday to reject a Charter Review Commission proposal that would have made it easier to raise property taxes above the current County Charter limit. This means the proposal will not be put before the voters as a ballot question in November 2024. Currently, under the successful Robin Ficker ballot initiative approved by voters in the past, the Council must vote unanimously to raise property taxes above the charter limit. The CRC proposal, the latest attempt to do an end run around the popular "Ficker Amendment," would have dropped the unanimous vote requirement.

Councilmembers who voted against the CRC proposal were Marilyn Balcombe, Andrew Friedson, Natalie Fani-Gonzalez, Evan Glass, Sidney Katz, and Dawn Luedtke. The Councilmembers who voted for the proposal to remove the unanimous vote requirement were Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando, Kristin Mink, Laurie-Ann Sayles, and Kate Stewart.

Montgomery County's high property taxes are one of several highly-regressive tax burdens on working families and residents who are on fixed incomes. Along with high property assessments, the annual payments have essentially become a second mortgage for many cash-strapped residents. The Ficker Amendment has provided relief from even-more-nightmarish tax bills since it was passed. That's because, as it is, the Council has raised property taxes on residents every year except for FY-2015.

Chevy Chase Lake traffic incident results in gun charges

Investigation of a traffic incident by Montgomery County police in the Chevy Chase Lake area on July 8, 2024 led to several gun charges. The vehicle was stopped near the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Chevy Chase Lake Drive at 4:24 PM that afternoon. Discovery of a loaded handgun led to the arrest of Tanika Beaner, 30, of Capitol Heights. 

Beaner has been charged with possession of a firearm without a serial number, handgun in vehicle, handgun on person, loaded handgun in vehicle, and loaded handgun on person, all misdemeanors. Bail status for the defendant is still pending a second review as of this morning, according to court records. A trial has been scheduled for August in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

Judge orders Bethesda restaurant owners to pay back rent, stay off premises

A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge sided with the property owner of 4866 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda yesterday, entering a monetary judgement against the owners of Zuma by Chef Ninja for unpaid rent, and issuing several orders in the case. Judge Debra Lynn Dwyer entered a judgement in the amount of $146,166.39 for unpaid rent. That amount covers rent that was not paid between September 2023 and July 18, 2024. The judge also issued orders that allow landlord Greendell, LLC to change the locks on the building and secure the premises.

Notices warning locksmiths that they can only open or change locks for authorized representatives of Greenhill Realty Company, and that the building is a no-trespass zone, have been posted on-site. The building is now being guarded by uniformed security.

Judge Dwyer's July 22 orders allow Greendell, LLC to remove or dispose of any property inside the building that belongs to the owners of Zuma, which closed in January 2024. The owners of the former restaurant may not interfere with Greendell's access to the premises in any way. If the defendants fail to comply with the orders issued yesterday, they will be held in contempt of court, the court-issued document concludes. With the process of Zuma exiting winding up, the property owner is now closer to welcoming a new restaurant or business in this space in the near future.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore endorses Kamala Harris

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Moore lauded President Joe Biden's decision to not pursue reelection on Sunday, but did not immediately join the many other prominent Democrats who quickly endorsed Harris shortly after Biden gave her his support. "I am proud to voice my full support and offer my full endorsement to Vice-President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Nominee for President," Moore tweeted this morning.

Moore said that he had spoken to both Biden and Harris yesterday. He noted that Harris was one of the first officials to call him after the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this year. In his statement, Moore said Harris could attract a "unique coalition" of support, and urged Democrats to quickly "rally around her" for the nomination. 

Former president Barack Obama, to whom Moore is often compared when future Democratic presidential nominees are discussed, also declined to immediately back Harris yesterday. Moore has been one of the leaders to appear on the short list of possible candidates to replace Biden in a "mini-primary" ahead of next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. His name has been less-often mentioned as a potential running mate for Harris since Biden dropped out yesterday. Leading candidates to be Harris' running mate are Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Moore, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Moore and the many other Democrats who had been expected to run for the White House in 2028 will have to weigh their options in deciding whether to accept a VP slot in 2024, or to wait another four years. Endorsing Harris would allow Moore to leave all options open aside from running as Biden's replacement this year. The Democratic National Committee is expected to announce more details on its plan for the nomination process in the coming days.

Banana Republic closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Banana Republic has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Its space next to the Apple Store has been cleared out of merchandise. A sign on the door provides a number to call for deliveries, so it appears they haven't fully vacated the premises yet. However, the logo signage outside the store is gone. 

It's a shock to see a mall stalwart like Banana Republic vanish, even if smart shoppers knew you could always find similar items far cheaper at sister stores Gap and Old Navy, without leaving the premises. Operating a mall without a Banana Republic, Hot Topic, Cinnabon, and Auntie Anne's should probably be illegal, if it isn't already. Parent company Gap, Inc. said in 2020 that it planned to close 350 Gap and Banana Republic stores by the end of 2023. This location survived that cut, but I see that Banana Republics in Columbus, Ohio and Sacramento, California shuttered earlier this year, so a smaller round of closures appears to be taking place.

Oreo Cookies and Creme Pie now available at Bethesda McDonald's

A new limited-time dessert is now available at McDonald's at 5214 River Road in Bethesda. The Oreo Cookies and Creme Pie is made with real Oreo cookie pieces, and filled with a vanilla creme filling. This isn't the Golden Arches' first officially-licensed Oreo product, as those who have ordered an Oreo McFlurry or Oreo Frappe in the past can attest. I believe McDonald's previously had a generic "Cookies and Creme Pie," but it now has the official Oreo license with this release.