The region's local authority is proposing using powers in Scotland's new languages act.

Montgomery County government reminded residents and Metro riders to prepare for major disruptions along the Red Line this summer as a two-month construction project will shut down service between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights.

From July 6 through Sept. 6, trains will not operate through a portion of Montgomery County while Metro crews complete a series of infrastructure upgrades, including work tied to the future Purple Line. During the shutdown, Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, and Bethesda stations will be closed to rail service.

To help riders navigate the closure, Metro will provide free shuttle bus service throughout the affected area. Express shuttles will operate directly between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights, while local shuttles will stop at each closed station. Metro estimates the express trip will take approximately 26 minutes, with local shuttle travel times averaging about 10 minutes between stations. Buses are expected to run every 5-8 minutes during normal operating hours.

The centerpiece of the project is construction of a new second mezzanine at Bethesda Metro station, which will provide a direct connection to the future Purple Line. The 16.2-mile light rail system is expected to open in late 2027 and will connect Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, and New Carrollton while providing new east-west transit options across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

Metro will also use the shutdown to complete repairs to elevated tracks between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center, as well as a full rehabilitation of the Grosvenor platform. Planned improvements include new lighting, updated tiles, and reconstruction of the platform edge.

To reduce travel delays, eight lane-miles of dedicated bus lanes will be established along portions of Rockville Pike/MD 355. Metro is coordinating with state and county transportation agencies to implement the temporary bus-only lanes.

Montgomery County officials are encouraging residents to use the free Ride On Trip Planner app to identify alternate transit options during the closure. All Ride On services, including Ride On, Ride On extRa, Flex, and Flash, remain free.

County officials are also encouraging riders who travel into Washington, D.C., to consider using stations on the Glenmont side of the Red Line whenever possible. Several Ride On routes connect residents to stations that will remain open throughout the construction period.

Metro riders may also consider MARC Commuter Rail service between Rockville and Union Station as an alternative during the shutdown.

Free parking will be available at both North Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro stations while construction is underway.

Metro says the work was scheduled during the summer months when ridership is typically lower in an effort to minimize disruptions. The project was originally announced in February 2024. Normal Red Line service is expected to resume on Sept. 7.

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Pittsburgh-based Millie’s Ice Cream is preparing to open its first Maryland location in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown.

Millie’s will be opening at 202 Ellington Blvd., in the space most recently occupied by The Crepe Shoppe before its relocation to 230 Crown Park Ave.

Founded in Pittsburgh in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Chad and Lauren Townsend, Millie’s began as a small homemade ice cream operation run out of the couple’s kitchen. After years working as a chef in fine dining, Chad Townsend decided to make a career change and purchased a Paco-Jet, a high-end Swiss-made appliance used to create ultra-smooth ice creams and sorbets.

According to the company, the purchase came with one major condition from Lauren Townsend, the expensive machine had to pay for itself by the end of the summer. The couple soon began making and delivering handcrafted pints on weekends before eventually growing the business into what is now known as Millie’s Ice Cream Works.

Over the past decade, Millie’s has expanded throughout the Pittsburgh region with multiple scoop shop locations, a food truck, grocery store pint distribution, and franchise growth in Florida and Texas. The company says its mission is to “spread love” through scratch-made super premium ice cream crafted with ingredients sourced from local farmers and artisans.

An opening date for the Downtown Crown location has not yet been announced.

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Romero’s Italian Restaurant has begun its soft opening at 2666 University Boulevard West in Wheaton, taking over the longtime home of Cristina Ristorante Italiano. We stopped by to get a first look and tried several menu items (video below).

The table started with complimentary bread and ordered the small red pizza as an appetizer, mussels linguini in white sauce, chicken Milanese with spaghetti, and veal parmigiana with spaghetti. The portion sizes were satisfying and leaned into the classic neighborhood Italian restaurant style that many longtime Wheaton diners will recognize from the location’s past history.

The menu focuses heavily on traditional Italian-American comfort dishes, with a large selection of pastas, seafood entrees, pizzas, chicken dishes, veal options, salads, soups, and desserts. Romero’s is aiming for a familiar, family-style dining experience with both dine-in and carryout options.

As we previously reported, the restaurant is currently operating under a soft opening schedule after opening its doors on Sunday, May 25. An official ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for Tuesday, June 3.

Romero’s replaces Cristina Ristorante Italiano, which permanently closed in August 2025 after serving the Wheaton community for more than two decades. Cristina originally opened in 2002 and became a longtime staple for many local residents. According to its Google listing as of May 26th, the restaurant is daily from 11am until 10pm.

 

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