what's up the pike: no rain

- Yesterday, the Planning Board approved the Project Plan for Studio Plaza, a mixed-use development in Fenton Village that I talked about yesterday. The complex, at Fenton Street and Thayer Avenue, will include over 600,000 square feet of office and retail space, apartments and hotel rooms.

Speaking of which: Next month, the County Council will be interviewing applicants for the Planning Board opening left by John Robinson, who has reached the two-term limit. Five of the nine applicants live in Silver Spring, returning an East County perspective to a panel with no current members from this area.

Among them are civic activist Alan Bowser, who lives in Sligo Park Hills, and former County Council candidate Chris Paladino (at left), who lives in Layhill. Only three of the applicants - Donna Mandel Perlmutter of Potomac and Roberto Piñero and Cynthia Rubenstein, who also live in Silver Spring - have an educational background in architecture or planning.

- Friend of JUTP Izzy Klein asked me to remind you (The Readers) about the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, which is coming up next Saturday, June 6:

The 2008 Race for the Cure resulted in $3.7 million in 2009 grants across the DC region… and our goal is to improve on that number this year.

Race day is filled with excitement, speakers, musical performances and, of course, the race. You can walk, run, jog and even sleep in. If you haven't already, please join me and thousands of people here and abroad and register for this year’s race.

Thanks, and see you at the race!

- IMPACT Silver Spring is holding their first-annual Spirit of Silver Spring Fair and Community Dance Party this Saturday, May 30 from 5:30 to 8pm on Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring. For more information, check out their event page on Facebook.

- Meanwhile, the 26th annual Colesville Strawberry Festival takes place at the old Colesville Elementary School on New Hampshire Avenue from 10am to 4pm. For more information, check out the Gazette.