Gaithersburg seeks public input on Diamond Farms playground proposal tonight

The City of Gaithersburg is seeking public input on a proposal for a new playground at Diamond Farms Park. They are also encouraging parents to bring children who will be the primary users of the future playgrounds to get their opinions. The equipment being replaced is targeted towards children of ages 2-5. Equipment geared to older kids in the park is still too new to be replaced.

The community meeting for Diamond Farms Park takes place tonight, Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at the Robertson Park Youth Center, 801 Rabbitt Road. The 90-minute meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

Montgomery Village man missing

Montgomery County police are searching for a missing man who lives and works in Montgomery Village. Craig Michael Johnson, 42, hasn't been seen by family, friends or co-workers since he left his place of employment in Montgomery Village on February 5, 2020.

Police describe Johnson as being around 5’06” tall, and weighing 130 pounds. He has hazel eyes and brown hair.

Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Craig Michael Johnson is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 (24 hours).

Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, Damascus hit by unusual January storm

Damaged car on
Norbeck Road

The upcounty area of Montgomery County is being pounded by severe storms this morning. A tornado was issued for parts of Gaithersburg and Germantown, as well as the northeast corner of the upcounty near the Howard and Carroll County borders. Flooding has been reported across the upcounty, as have fallen trees and power lines. The whole county is being hit by the unusual February summer-style storm, but the upcounty is being affected the most.

Power lines, tree down on
Darnestown Road at
White Ground Road

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services have received so many emergency calls that they are now operating under Condition Red, which means there may be longer response times, particularly for non-critical incidents. Violent weather and storm damage have also impacted parts of Poolesville, Rockville and Silver Spring, most notably in the Dawsonville, Norbeck Road and Layhill Road areas.

Route 109 is currently blocked between MD 355 and the I-270 overpass after a tree fell across the roadway. Some lanes are also blocked at Route 28 and Route 107. Trees are also reported down by MCFRS on Circle Gate Drive in Germantown.

Photos by Pete Piringer/MCFRS

Armed robbery in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to the report of an armed robbery in Germantown early Wednesday morning. A firearm was utilized in the robbery, which occurred in an apartment building parking lot in the 19600 block of Crystal Rock Drive around 12:34 AM.

Fighter jets over DC, Montgomery County, N. Virginia after State of the Union rattle residents

Significant fighter jet activity over the Washington, D.C. area around 11:00 PM Tuesday night had many residents seeking answers, answers that are not forthcoming as of this writing. President Trump's State of the Union address had ended earlier, and the commander-in-chief was presumably already back at the White House by the time the jet flyovers began. It was not surprising to hear jets deployed, but they have not been heard to this extent following other recent State of the Union speeches.

The noise was somewhat reminiscent of the weeks following 9/11. It continued for about 15 minutes, paused for a few minutes, and then resumed for about 5 more minutes - at least over Montgomery County. Based on social media chatter, the jets were heard in the District and Northern Virginia, as well. Following the jet flyovers, commercial airliners were heard resuming landings at Reagan National Airport, in greater numbers than one usually hears along the Potomac after 11:00 PM.

A Google News search finds no news articles on the jet noise. In a tweet, Oriana Pawlyk, an air war reporter for Military.com, suggested the fighters may have been F-16s from Andrews Air Force Base.

Gaithersburg construction update: True Food Kitchen at Rio Lakefront (Photos)

The construction of True Food Kitchen at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg is still in the early stages. This is on the former site of Joe's Crab Shack, which has been demolished (except for a short staircase you will see in one of the photos below). The addition continues the Peterson Cos. property's comeback from recent closures - with several superior dining additions to those that departed, a totally-revamped AMC Dine-In Rio Cinemas 18, and the new Dave & Busters, Rio has recovered and then some.

BonChon opening Gaithersburg location

If you want to know if someone is working for the Montgomery County political cartel, or development interests anywhere, they'll talk to you about the "missing middle" in housing - your cue to start running the other direction. But for BonChon chicken fans, the missing middle has been Gaithersburg. Now BonChon is filling the vacuum between Rockville and Germantown by coming to the Kentlands, at 654 Center Point Way. The sign is already up.