Burnt Mills Hills Subdivision May Garner Historic Status in County

The neighborhood is being explored as part of the White Oak Master Plan.

Over 50 homes in Burnt Mills Hills may become an official part of Montgomery County’s history. The subdivision is being considered for inclusion in the county’s roster of historic districts as part of the White Oak Master Plan (formerly the East County Science Center Master Plan). About a dozen residents in the neighborhood, which is situated around the intersection of Burnt Mills Avenue and McCeney Avenue in White Oak, met with staff from the historic preservation section of the planning department on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Hillandale CHI Center to discuss what a designation might mean to homeowners. Clare Kelly, research and designation coordinator for the department, explained that the county’s historic preservation program is …

Choice Hotels Breaks Ground on Rockville Headquarters, Prepares to Leave Burnt Mills

The company announced in October 2010 that it would move to another part of Montgomery County in 2013.

County Executive Isiah Leggett announced Tuesday that Choice Hotels International, one of the world's largest hotel chains, would break ground on a new headquarters in Rockville. The company's nearly 400 employees are currently based in the Burnt Mills area of Silver Spring. Gov. Martin O'Malley announced in October 2010 that Choice Hotels would move to Rockville when its current lease expires in 2013.   The groundbreaking was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 121 Rockville Pike in Rockville Metro Plaza II. Leggett, Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio and U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen are expected.  The company signed a letter of intent for the move on Oct. 26 with O'Malley, Leggett and Marcuccio. To keep the company's home in Maryland, the …

• Photos (1)

Patch to Tell American Story in New Series

Patch will be providing a local perspective on national issues.

We're inaugurating a new series for our readers here and across the country: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream." Every day, you see national stories on the economy, politics, social issues, health and policy. Debates seem to be raging about unemployment, the housing market, the national debt, education and the nation's infrastructure. American families, business leaders, workers and entrepreneurs are trying to adjust to trying times. We want to explore the effects of these challenges locally--in the neighborhoods of East Montgomery County. We already know that many businesses are putting off expansion plans, people are without jobs, college students are having to leave school and governments are juggling funding priorities. But …

• Photos (1)

Florida Man Heads to Prison For Threatening Choice Hotels Customer Data Fraud

Burnt Mills-based Choice Hotels Internationals targeted.

Landing a new job is difficult in hard times, but one tech savvy Floridian took the process a little too far. Marc A. Schoen, 55, was sentenced to prison after he alerted Choice Hotels, a Silver Spring-based company, that they had a glitch in their computer system and threatened to release customer information if they didn’t hire him to fix it, according to a release from the United States Attorney Office for the District of Maryland. Choice Hotels International includes Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion and Econo Lodge. Schoen went as far as sending samples to the company of the information he found including customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, email addresses, credit card …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Juveniles Rob and Assault at a Burnt Mills Swim Club, More Robberies Reported

East Montgomery County crime roundup.

A group of teenagers are the suspected culprits in a strong-arm robbery and assault that occurred on Monday, June 20 at Northwest Branch Swim Club, 10850 Lockwood Drive. Police say that five males, ages 15 and 16, assaulted the victim and obtained property. Further details about the crime will not be released at this time, according to Angela Cruz, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Police. No arrests have been made in the crime. Three additional robberies were reported last week:    This crime data was released on June 30.
 Data is received from both the 3rd and 4th police districts of Montgomery County and reflects a tracking period of one week prior.

• Photos (1)

Bites Nearby: The Elito Burrito

Burnt Mills’ California Tortilla has some unique burritos, but, for me, the original Blackened Chicken Caesar still rules.

California Tortilla, which had its humble beginnings as a single restaurant in Bethesda in 1995, is actually better known for its line of signature burritos than the food it is named after. Havana Chicken, Buffalo Chicken Wing, California Screamin’ and even the No-Meato Burrito are popular menu items, but nothing has dethroned the original – the Blackened Chicken Caesar in my mind. You can get a large (and I mean large) burrito, plus a side of chips—with choice of queso or salsa—and a fountain drink for under $10. Orders are typically ready within 5 minutes and the meals do not disappoint. The large Blackened Chicken Caesar burrito was thicker than my arm, and was bursting with rice, black beans, salsa, romaine lettuce, shredded jack …

• Photos (2)

Morning Links: How Not to Get Sued

A collection of news links about Silver Spring and Montgomery County.

Just like the post office, neither rain, nor sleet nor snow will keep us from making sure you can find out everything you ever wanted to know about our corner of the county. We'll be doing regular Morning Links, so if you read great stuff that fits the bill, shoot us an email and we'll be sure to include. 

• Photos (1)

Oh Snap! Holy Cow

This mural whets most viewer's appetites - where in our community is it?

Oh Snap! is a photo series from Colesville Patch. If you have a photo to contribute, send an email to whitney.teal@patch.com.

• Photos (1)

Oh Snap! Falling for MoCo

This little bit of paradise in our part of the County isn't far off the beaten path. Any idea where it is?

Give up? The falls are part of Rachel Carson Greenway Trail, near the Burnt Mills area.  Oh Snap! is a photo series from Colesville Patch. If you have a photo to contribute, send an email to whitney.teal@patch.com.

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Whitney Teal

2:49 pm on Saturday, January 22, 2011

Thanks for guessing, Barry! Check back for the reveal tomorrow.   more ›

Local Retailers Still in a Giving Mood with After-Christmas Sales

Whether you got a gift card, want to make an exchange or just feel like buying yourself something nice, merchants have you covered.

Just when you think all your 2010 shopping is done, here come the after-Christmas sales. Since 1996, The National Retail Federation (NRF) has been tracking winter holiday retail sales (which include the months of November and December). Much like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, after-Christmas sales have become key for retailers' bottom lines. The NRF predicts 2010 holidays sales will be up 2.3 percent over 2009 figures, totaling $447.1 billion. Patch has put together this list of after-Christmas sales at some area retailers. White Oak Shopping Center Orchard Shopping Center Burnt Mills

• Photos (1)