We picked six of our favorite posts from 2013. Not all are happy stories, but all were unique to Bethesda and Chevy Chase this year. Some could have an impact on how our community looks and works in 2014 and beyond.
Let us know what you think. As always, thank you for your continued support of BethesdaNow.com.
Bethesda Farm Women’s Market Reopens | Nov. 15: The market, opened in 1932, closed for about a week after a customer accidentally drove her car into the building, causing county inspectors to deem it structurally unsafe. But a little patience and a little support from longtime customers helped the market merchants make the best out of a difficult situation.
Montgomery County Taking Proactive Approach In Support Of Food Trucks | May 9: The food truck vs. brick-and-mortar restaurant conflict has played out virtually wherever food trucks sprout up. In Bethesda, Montgomery County is putting together a food truck pilot program to help avoid those flare-ups. The idea is that the county’s fleet of food trucks can thrive in office parks and heavy residential complexes, away from the very wary restaurant owners of downtown Bethesda.
Bethesda Variety Store Flap Gets Ugly | March 25: Many bemoaned the loss of the Bruce Variety store at Bradley Shopping Center when it closed in January. It turned out there was much more behind the landmark store’s hiked-up rent and eventual move to a new location in Woodmont Triangle.
A Decade Later, Atkinson’s Sports Storytelling Still Going Strong | Nov. 12: Bethesda’s Jess Atkinson is probably most known for his stints as a placekicker for the University of Maryland and the Washington Redskins, then for his career as a local sportscaster. But for a decade, Atkinson has pursued a different path, growing his film production company into a national brand for telling the stories beyond the gridiron.
Walter Johnson Gets National Attention For Safety Game | Oct. 8: Speaking of football, a local high school team got some unflattering attention for its performance in a game against a cross-county rival. Walter Johnson’s varsity team lost to Magruder in one of the rarest games imaginable — just three safeties were scored for a final tally of 4-2.
White Flint Or North Bethesda? Developers Seem Split | April 25: The massive redevelopment of White Flint/North Bethesda has begun, but what will the area ultimately be called? That could be a bigger deal than you think and some of the major players aren’t on the same page. Of course, many longtime residents told us they’d prefer the area be known as what it’s been called for years — Rockville.
