MoCo Headlines: Low Voter Turnout, Health Effects of Costco

Catch up on news you might have missed this week including how spring break might have factored into low Montgomery County voter turnout in the primary election, the report of shots fired at a Takoma Park police car, and which site county planning staff rejected for the new Bethesda-Chevy Chase middle school.

POTOMAC — The 2011 decision that moved Maryland's primary election day to April also caused it to coincide with Montgomery County Public Schools' spring break. It may have also contributed to a low reported voter turnout in Montgomery County.

ROCKVILLE — Douglas M. Duncan went through the familiar motions of a candidate on Election Day on Tuesday evening at  in Rockville. Only the former three-term County Executive and one-time gubernatorial candidate's name wasn't on the ballot.

KENSINGTON — Community groups have long argued that the proposed Costco gas station at Wheaton Mall would substantially hurt the surrounding neighborhoods, particularly air pollution from long lines of idling cars. After repeated requests that the Montgomery County government conduct a public health study about the project, the Kensington Heights Civic Association sought out its own expert, a professor from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health.

KENSINGTON — Although last week Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr recommended Rock Creek Hills Local Park become the site of a new middle school for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster, county planning staff opposed the plan in the April 2 memo.

TAKOMA PARK — Shots were fired near or at a Takoma Park Police cruisers at 15th Ave. and Elson Place on Tuesday around 5 p.m., according to Takoma Park Police. An investigation revealed the incident happened in Prince George's County, Md., so PGCPD took over the investigation. Prince George's County Police and Takoma Park Police jointly searched and secured the area, but found no shooter or weapon, police said. No injuries or damage were reported, police said.

POTOMAC — Rocklands Farm, located a little north of Potomac, is giving families the chance to raise a little spring cheer this year. Families can "rent" chicks to raise through spring and return them later in the year, and one Montgomery County family has offered to share pictures of their experience with Patch.

COLESVILLE — Comparatively higher incomes, fewer instances of premature death and fewer people reporting unhealthy behavior earned Montgomery County the No. 2 spot on a recent ranking of the healthiest counties in Maryland. 

CHEVY CHASE — Local restaurants Rosa Mexicano and American City Diner, both in Chevy Chase, have developed special menus for Passover. Rosa Mexicano's menu blends Passover and Mexican flavors, resulting in dishes like "Matzoh-Breaded Chicken Breast and a tropical twist on Haroset made with tangerine, pomegranate and coconut," while American City Diner offers more traditional Passover fare, such as beet borsht and beef brisket.

BETHESDA — The new post office will be at 6900 Wisconsin Ave., The Gazette reported this week. Downtown Bethesda's two post offices are closing in the face of declining revenues at the U. S. Postal Service, but the community has raised concerns about accessibility of the new consolidated location.

DARNESTOWN — With the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles opening their seasons this week, ESPN's Baseball Tonight analyst and Darnestown resident Tim Kurkjian sat down to talk with North Potomac-Darnestown Patch about his career as a baseball writer.