Assault in Gaithersburg

A second-degree assault in a Gaithersburg parking lot drew a response from Montgomery County police yesterday morning. Officers were called to the scene in a residential parking lot in the 18500 block of Grouse Lane around 9:11 AM, according to crime data.

Java Nation coming to Kentlands

Java Nation is expanding to Gaithersburg. The local chain will take over the recently-vacated Starbucks in the Kentlands. Java Nation has existing locations in White Flint and Kensington.

Strong-arm robbery in Montgomery Village

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Montgomery Village early Sunday morning. The robbery was reported in the 18200 block of Lost Knife Circle around 4:03 AM, according to crime data.

Mustang Mach-E SUV arrives at Sheehy Ford in Gaithersburg

The Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV has arrived at Sheehy Ford at 901 N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. This model's exterior color is called Star White Metallic Tri-Coat. 

Head-on and from the side, it looks nothing like a Mustang. It appears they were going more for a European aesthetic than an All-American one. But the rear sports a classic Mustang taillight design, and the front and rear both have the iconic pony emblem. 

Rear seat passengers will definitely prefer getting into this Mustang, compared to the classic 2-door coupe version! This one will cost you just over $52,000 to drive off the lot onto MD 355.

Second assault in a week at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg police returned to Rio Lakefront on Saturday afternoon, to investigate the second assault at a business there in less than a week. Last Tuesday, an assault was reported at a retail store on Grand Corner Avenue. On Saturday, police were called after an alleged aggravated assault at a restaurant in the 200 block of Boardwalk Place around 5:12 PM, according to crime data.

Maryland bill to protect black cemeteries needs amendments, advocates argue

A bill designed to increase protections for African-American cemeteries in Maryland is a good start, but needs amendments, advocates say. HB-1099, introduced by Montgomery County delegate Al Carr, will receive a public hearing next Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 1:30 PM. Residents can provide their opinions on the bill during the virtual hearing by signing up online this coming Monday, February 22, 2021 between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Rules for testifying can also be found online.

As currently drafted, the bill would create a fund to finance the preservation of African-American cemeteries in the state. It would also fund a study of the obstacles and threats to such preservation. 

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition is suggesting four amendments to strengthen and expand the bill: the rights of African-American descendants to the remains of their ancestors and how their resting places will be memorialized and celebrated should be recognized; the bill should address the fact that many black cemeteries are no longer in the hands of the original black landowners, and now often in the hands of developers; create civil and criminal penalties for the desecration of black cemeteries; and elevate the status of descendant communities in the bill to be equal to that of developers, "white preservationist NGOs, [and] big-business cultural resources groups."

BACC notes that some of the organizations currently recognized in the bill have facilitated the desecration of Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda. They should not, therefore, have the same status as the descendants of those buried in the cemetery, BACC argues.

Assault at Rio Lakefront

Gaithersburg police responded to a report of a second-degree assault at Rio Lakefront on Tuesday afternoon. The assault took place in a "department/discount store" in the unit block of Grand Corner Avenue around 3:33 PM, according to crime data.