More News

Branches of a Capital One/Chevy Chase Bank and Hair Cuttery will join a Giant food store and CVS in the Burtonsville Shopping Center, currently under construction near the intersection of routes 29 and 198.

As the much-anticipated center moves toward completion, asphalt was laid down Monday for a Capital One/Chevy Chase Bank and the CVS, both set to open by May 1, according to Chris Jones, president of BMC Property Group and owner of the center.

Additionally, the Hair Cuttery location in nearby Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center will relocate to the Burtonsville Shopping Center in August, according to Diane Daly, spokesperson for Hair Cuttery. The discount salon is following in the footsteps of Giant food store, also set to relocate from Burtonsville Crossing.

The Burtonsville Shopping Center, which closed last summer, is being rebuilt as an environmentally-friendly 130,000-square-foot shopping center. Before its closure, the center housed the Dutch Country Farmers Market, the Burtonsville Post Office and a Dunkin' Donuts location.

Parks update: artificial turf field coming

The Department of Parks is currently finalizing plans to build an artificial turf field at Fairland Recreational Park, according to Kelli Holsendolph, spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Department of Parks. Bids opened March 9 and park staff are expecting to award the contract in May or June of this year, she said.

Turf fields are growing in popularity due to the high demand of reliable fields in the county, according to Mark Pharaoh, chair of the East County Recreation Advisory Board.

"Everybody's saying the same thing," he said. "We need more fields; there's not enough fields." Artificial turf fields, though more costly up-front, last longer than grass fields and allow for more use since they can be used during rainy or dry weather, he said.

Another change to parks countywide is the closure of several park activity buildings, including the one at Colesville Local Park, due to low levels of use and budget constraints, Holsendolph said. The Colesville building, closed starting April 5, will be reopened for the day of the annual Colesville Strawberry Festival, she said.