South House Garden opening in Olde Towne Gaithersburg (Photos)

Coming soon signage is up at South House Garden, opening soon at Granary Row at 317 E. Diamond Avenue in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. A beer garden and restaurant, their Southern-style menu will include a rich version of chicken and waffles, as well as steak tacos and several varieties of chicken wings, the owners say. As a railroad buff, I also like the great view of passing trains from the front patio here.

Tutti Frutti near completion in the Kentlands

Tutti Frutti looks almost ready to open at the Market Square center in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg. The frozen yogurt shop was supposed to open late last year, and still does not have an official opening date announced.

Bonchon opens in Gaithersburg

Bonchon has opened at 130 Market Street at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. They are initially only offering takeout and delivery service, even though Montgomery County now allows indoor dining with restrictions. Customers entering to pick up takeout orders must wear a mask.

ICE arrests alleged sex offender Montgomery County released

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has located and arrested an alleged child sex offender whom Montgomery County released from custody. Rene Atilio Ramos-Hernandez, 56, has been accused of repeated sexual abuse of a child. ICE had lodged a detainer with Montgomery County, asking that Ramos-Hernandez be held upon his release from jail so that ICE agents could take him into custody for deportation. County officials did not hold him, and he was released into the community, where he remained at-large for several weeks.

ICE agents located Ramos-Hernandez at his workplace in the District, and took him into custody, the agency said in a statement Tuesday. “Our fugitive operations team safely carried out this arrest in the community, but this required additional time and resources when he could have safely been transferred to ICE custody within the secure confines of the Montgomery County Detention Center,” acting Baltimore Field Office Director Francisco Madrigal said.

In their statement, ICE notes that Ramos-Hernandez also has convictions for driving while intoxicated and driving on a suspended license in Fairfax County, and for driving while intoxicated in Montgomery County, Maryland. The agency says he will remain in ICE custody until an immigration judge issues a final order of deportation for him.

Sexual assault at Gaithersburg restaurant

A sexual assault was reported to Gaithersburg police yesterday afternoon. The victim was fondled at a restaurant in the 500 block of N. Frederick Avenue around 4:13 PM, according to crime data.

True Food Kitchen Rio update (Photos)

True Food Kitchen is starting to look like an actual restaurant at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. You can see many of the facade design elements now. The outdoor seating space is also beginning to take shape.

Montgomery County GOP chairman resigns

Alexander Bush

The chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party has resigned. In a resignation letter to members of the County Republican Central Committee, Alexander Bush, a trial attorney, said that the impact of the pandemic on his practice has placed new limitations on the time he can dedicate to running the party.

Bush will remain a member of the central committee, however. Vice-Chair Dennis Melby will serve as the interim chairman, until a new chair can be elected. Melby has worked at the American Enterprise Institute and Congressional Budget Office, and was elected four times to the Village of Friendship Heights' Village Council.

Photo via Montgomery County GOP