Curaleaf Montgomery Village dispensary to open in January 2021

A Curaleaf medical marijuana dispensary at 10011 Stedwick Road in Montgomery Village is now scheduled to open in January 2021. In an interesting twist, the dispensary business is already for sale before it has even opened. It is being marketed with the twin advantages of marijuana dispensaries having been deemed essential businesses not subject to pandemic shutdowns, and the fact that medical marijuana use has soared to record levels during the pandemic. The asking price is $3,053,500, and the building has a ten-year lease. 

Al Punto Services to take over vacant Waters Appliance space in Gaithersburg

Al Punto Services will open an office in the vacant space formerly home to Waters Appliance, at 216 E. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg. Al Punto offers money transfer, bill paying, check cashing and notary services, and much more. They currently have an office at 32 N. Summit Avenue, Unit B1 in Gaithersburg, in the Morazan Grocery building. 

The E Diamond Avenue storefront is going to give Al Punto a much more visible location. Waters Appliance was a classic Olde Towne business that started in 1964, and closed last year.

Weis Markets closes in Gaithersburg

Weis Markets has closed at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. This is disappointing because this was the furthest-south location of the grocery chain in Montgomery County. They have some items you can't get at other stores, so it's sad to see them contract rather than expand further.

Popeyes Kentlands update (Photos)

The sign is up and lit at Popeyes, opening soon in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg. There has been major progress inside the space, which is now looking on the verge of opening. A large photograph of Popeyes fried chicken adorns one wall as artwork. High concept!

First look: Montgomery Village Aldi (Photos)

Here's a sneak peek inside the new Aldi grocery store at 19150 Montgomery Village Avenue. The sign is up, and even the famous Aldi shopping carts are in place. This location isn't appearing on the German grocery chain's "Grand Openings" page yet, so stay tuned for an opening date.

Giant to add pick-up area at Germantown store

Giant is remodeling part of its Germantown store at Germantown Commons at 13060 Middlebrook Road. The update is a sign of our pandemic-stricken times. They will be creating a 530 SF area for online order pickups.

Strong arm robbery in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Gaithersburg Sunday morning. The incident occurred at a store in the 200 block of Muddy Branch Road around 10:50 AM. It apparently was quite a bizarre incident, as crime data shows additional offenses of shoplifting and indecent exposure at the same address at the same time.

Bed Bath & Beyond closing Gaithersburg store

Gaithersburg Square is still reeling from the closure of Chuck E. Cheese. Now another big vacancy is going to open up at the shopping center. Its Bed Bath & Beyond at 558 N. Frederick Avenue is one of the stores the struggling retailer now says it will close by the end of the year, WPIX-11 News reports. 

BB&B reports its sales have slumped 77%, despite Americans spending more time in their homes than ever before. By contrast, chains like Home Depot and Lowes have enjoyed booming sales, as people put more time and money into home improvements.

Peeping tom in Washington Grove

Montgomery County police were called to a home in Washington Grove Wednesday night, after a peeping tom was spotted in the backyard. The incident occurred in the 100 block of Maple Road around 9:00 PM.

Car stolen in Damascus

Montgomery County police responded to a report of stolen car in Damascus Wednesday morning. The vehicle was parked along the street in the 10600 block of Brixworth Court, off of Oak Drive near Ridge Road. It is believed the car was stolen sometime over the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Strong-arm rape in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape in Germantown early Sunday morning. The incident was reported to have occurred in a "field/open space" off the 19400 block of Frederick Road around 1:30 AM.

Will Gaithersburg have to change its name? Mayor & Council to receive report on places named for Confederates, slave owners next week

The Benjamin Gaither Center in Gaithersburg,
like the city itself, is named for a slave owner

Gaithersburg, Montgomery County 

named

for slaveholders

Gaithersburg City Councilman Ryan Spiegel asked city staff earlier this year to compile a list of any Confederate monuments ,and streets or places named for Confederates or slave owners, within the city. That list has now been compiled, and it turns out the city itself is named for a slave owner, Benjamin Gaither. Gaither is also commemorated by the Benjamin Gaither Center and Gaither Road.

Other names identified by city staff include Clopper Road. Francis C. Clopper not only owned slaves, but was a Confederate sympathizer, of which there were many in Montgomery County during the Civil War. Jubal Place was named after Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early, who led a Confederate campaign into Montgomery County with the aim of taking Washington, D.C. Brig. Gen. John McCausland led cavalry in that attempt, and he, too, is commemorated in Gaithersburg by McCausland Place.

Slaveowner John T. DeSellum is memorialized by DeSellum Avenue, and the City-owned DeSellum House. His Summit Hall farm in Gaithersburg was a source for street, school and place names, as well. Places in Gaithersburg named for Watkins, Clagett and Tschiffely may also be problematic, staff allege. But they said they first must determine if the specific family members memorialized were among those in those families who owned slaves. Watkins and Watkins Mill are school, street and community names in Gaithersburg.

How far to take name changes is a decision in the hands of the Mayor and Council, as it is for the Montgomery County Council at the County level. Montgomery County is named after Revolutionary War hero Richard Montgomery, who has been labeled a slave owner.

If name changes are as critical as many have stated they are, Gaithersburg and Montgomery County will both have to be renamed. If short streets and school buildings must be renamed, why not the most prominent usages in jurisdiction names, as well? That would be a fascinating question to hear answered from a variety of perspectives. The Mayor and Council will take up the staff report at its September 14, 2020 meeting.

Montgomery County Council proposes creating its own illegal police force to pull you over

Proposal is illegal under

federal and state law

The Montgomery County Council is proposing to create its own police force, to replace the Montgomery County Police Department's role in traffic enforcement. This would be illegal under both federal and Maryland law, but that's not deterring them from trying to quietly move forward. Councilmembers have floated the idea with two local reporters in recent weeks, resulting in two low-key articles, one in The Washington Post and one on NBC Washington's website. Those, and a virtual town hall being held by one councilmember tonight, have largely evaded public attention.

Who would make up this new police force remains unclear. The Post article made vague references to "civilians" somehow gaining the authority to pull over and detain motorists. NBC Washington reports that it could be County bureaucratic employees who somehow gain this authority. Unfortunately for the Council, neither group can engage in such activity under the law. Which is why such a ridiculous idea isn't currently allowed anywhere in America.

In the case of civilians, the Council may have been inspired by an idea proposed in the District to have civilians be able to use an app to enforce traffic laws in Washington, D.C. One can only imagine the potential abuses of an army of "Karens" wielding a Stasi-style reporting app, but that was largely the goal, as yet another way to harass people committing the horrific offense of continuing to drive private automobiles.

Now, imagine Karen or a random bureaucrat empowered to pull you over and issue tickets and other penalties, with no way to defend yourself against any preposterous allegation designed to fill the County's dwindling coffers. Your crime might be your race, as if racism is somehow only found among sworn police officers, or a particular religious or political bumper sticker displayed on your vehicle. Let's not forget, it was our white County Planning Board chair who repeatedly called in police officers on members of a black church peacefully protesting at board meetings.

Having non-sworn civilians pulling people over in traffic would not only be a violation of federal and Maryland law, but it would also be a danger to those making the traffic stops. Who would pull over for a non-police vehicle, especially when a non-sworn bureaucrat would have no authority to make a stop? What happens if the driver detained is a criminal and has a violent response? How would tourists know non-police could pull them over in our jurisdiction? How many accidents will be caused by the confusion of non-police vehicles trying to pull over drivers on busy roads? And traffic stops are inherently very dangerous to make, as the number of police officers hit by vehicles while making such stops each year indicates.

Montgomery County has one of the most professional and highly-trained police forces in the nation. These men and women are prepared physically and mentally for one of the most difficult and demanding jobs in the world. Bureaucrats would not have anywhere close to the same preparation and judgement as these officers possess. And if they did, why and how would taxpayers fund what essentially would be a duplicative police academy and police department?

The bottom line is that what the Council is proposing is illegal. They've offered no details on their proposal, nothing is mentioned about it on the Council website, and there is so far no public process through which we the People can yet comment on this.

If you are concerned about your Constitutional rights and tax dollars, you may want to sign up for Councilmember Will Jawando's little-advertised "virtual town hall" tonight at 7:00 PM. Given the hush-hush nature of the event beyond the Montgomery County political cartel, it's unlikely he's expecting your virtual attendance.

Would you turn to your lawyer or hairdresser to perform emergency heart surgery? Likewise, most of the general public is more comfortable with professional police officers enforcing the law than with random bureaucrats. It's about time we also had a professional County Council. Maoist fever dreams like a personal police force are yet another distraction from the Council's failure to address the multiple crises they've created over the last two decades.

Cars stolen in Montgomery Village and Germantown

Two vehicles were stolen in the upcounty over the night between Sunday and Monday. One vehicle was taken from the driveway of a home in the 10200 block of Crested Iris Drive in Montgomery Village. The second vehicle was parked along the street in the unit block of Seneca Forest Court in Germantown.

New traffic light installed on Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg

Since the new Watkins Mill interchange opened at I-270, there has been a four-way stop governing the intersection of Watkins Mill Road and Spectrum Boulevard. A traffic signal has now been installed, and should be operational soon.

Loudoun County leader blasts Montgomery County for failure of understaffed 911 call center in teen's death

Montgomery County Council has

failed to fully-fund 911 call center staffing,

leaving 54 positions vacant

The Montgomery County Council has failed to adequately staff the county's 911 call center for years, leading to call takers working overtime, and being stressed and exhausted. In recent weeks, the call center has been criticized for its response to a 911 call from the Loudoun side of the Potomac River. By the time the first rescue unit arrived at the correct location, 36 minutes had passed.

"I am baffled by how poorly Montgomery County handled this," Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall said, according to the Washington Post. "How do you wait 17 minutes and then keep waiving Loudoun off, and saying, 'We're taking this call?' They need to work on their 911 center."

But the Post reports that the Montgomery County Council has not only failed to fully staff the 911 center, but is now dragging its feet in investigating the 911 center's failures in the drowning incident in which a 16-year-old family friend of Randall's died. Loudoun has already completed an investigation, and developed a 77-page report. Montgomery County? A Council "briefing is expected later this month," the Post's Dan Morse reported.

It's mind-boggling to consider the tens-of-billions of dollars in wasteful spending and kickbacks to its campaign donors the Council has approved over the last decade. They also managed to have $6.7 million in taxpayer funds vanish, in an embezzlement scheme that has yet to be investigated by the FBI. 

Let's not forget Council expenditures like the $900,000 over-budget Glen Echo Heights sewer pipe, or paying $22,000 for a security camera system that costs less than $1000 retail. And countless extraneous new executive-level positions with six-figure salaries, often filled by political allies of the Council. 

Yet they've failed to spend the necessary funds to staff the 911 call center - where the 911 system itself has experienced two outages in recent years. 

It's a County Council that cannot execute the most basic functions of government. Now, competing jurisdictions aren't only whipping Montgomery County's posterior in economic development, infrastructure and schools, they're also starting to call out its incompetent and feckless elected officials. Considering the local press won't, it's about time someone did.

Fact check: Is Montgomery County Ride On bus service being cut by Larry Hogan?

A remarkable column about Montgomery County transit appeared in Friday's Washington Post. It was remarkable for two reasons. First, Post columnists have been silent on transit cuts made by the Montgomery County Council over the last decade, including their elimination of the Park and Ride route for Frederick commuters entering Montgomery, and their slashing of weekend bus service in Damascus. And remarkable because it was...false.

Columnist Petula Dvorak was apparently attempting to write a critical piece about service cuts proposed by the Maryland Transit Administration to MTA bus routes and MARC rail service. But a lengthy introduction, and let's-give-the-Council-free-press quotes from councilmembers, suggest that Montgomery County and its Ride On bus service will be the victims of the MTA cuts.

Ride On Route 55 is specifically cited by Dvorak, and later she says the MTA cuts will make the Route 55 buses even more crowded like "sardine cans." She adds that low-income residents in Montgomery County will be "among those devastated by reductions in bus routes." The article paints Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) as the villain who is behind the cuts.

Just one problem - Ride On is not run by the MTA. Ride On is funded by Montgomery County taxpayers, and is run by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. There are no Hogan cuts to Ride On because Hogan has no authority over or involvement with Ride On. There are no MTA cuts to Ride On routes proposed. If any Ride On cuts are made, they will be made by the Montgomery County Council deciding not to fund those routes.

The column wound up literally being fake news. At best, Capitol Hill resident Dvorak did not realize the MTA doesn't run all bus service in the state of Maryland.

Depicting Montgomery County Council members as heroes fighting to save Ride On bus service in the County doesn't even pass the laugh test, much less a fact check. If they are working so hard to save transit, why have they still not restored weekend service on Route 90 in Damascus, a 2010 Ride On cut that left car-free residents stranded in town on weekends?

Is Montgomery County Ride On bus service being cut by Larry Hogan? Nope. It has been cut in the past by the Montgomery County Council, though.

Fact check score: FOUR PINOCCHIOS 

Child missing in Clarksburg

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing child from Clarksburg. Ashley Roa, 12, of Arora Hills Drive, was last seen at around 11:00 am on Thursday, September 3. Police have not specified the location where she was last seen, if not at home.

Roa is described by police as being approximately 5’02” tall, weighing around 130 pounds, and having brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ashley Roa is asked to call the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

Germantown KFC/Taco Bell remodeling ahead

The KFC/Taco Bell at 19650 Gunners Branch Road in Germantown will be getting a makeover. A renovation of the dining room interior is plannned, and the exterior will get a facelift, as well. New signage will also be installed.

The drive-thru will remain open for business while the interior work is being performed. It's an interesting development, as the exterior at this location is already one of the most modern-looking in the area.

Hogan: Let's go to the movies! Elrich: Not so fast

Montgomery County won't immediately 

accept move to Stage 3 of reopening Friday

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) declared Tuesday afternoon that the state's coronavirus numbers now permit moving to Stage 3 of reopening. He said that would include movie theaters and all businesses, and would go into effect this Friday at 5:00 PM. But don't call the Moviefone guy for Tenet showtimes just yet, Kramer.

Regal Cinemas Majestic 20 in
downtown Silver Spring is still closed,
like all Maryland movie theaters

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said Hogan's announcement had "taken us by surprise." Because Hogan did not share his executive order with County officials in advance, Elrich said, it would take time to review it. "Although I want to see our community open as quickly as possible, we also must proceed with care," Elrich tweeted, adding that he would continue to rely on "data and science" in making decisions.

New movie posters outside the Regal, but
not always with the right release dates in
the tumultuous coronavirus era

Elrich said it will take at least a few days to review the order and data. He said he was troubled by Covid-19 case numbers being higher this week than last week in the county. Stay tuned for further updates between this morning and Friday.

Cars stolen in Gaithersburg and Boyds

Montgomery County police responded to the reports of vehicles being stolen in Gaithersburg and Boyds on Sunday. A vehicle was taken from a commercial parking lot in the 19200 block of Chennault Way in Gaithersburg. Another was stolen from a residential parking lot in the 22500 block of Cabin Branch Avenue in Boyds near Clarksburg.

Amazon Fresh grocery store coming to Gaithersburg

Amazon will open one of its new Amazon Fresh grocery store concepts in Gaithersburg. The store will take over the Office Depot building at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road.

First opening in California, the stores will offer the Amazon Dash Cart, which identifies the items you place in it. Customers can then push the cart through the Dash Cart checkout lane for instant checkout when leaving the store.

Fresh foods are prepared daily in-store. Amazon Fresh stores will emphasize low prices, compared to the company's higher-end Whole Foods Market chain. Expect a 2021 opening for the store.