Car stolen at Rio Lakefront

Gaithersburg police investigated a report of a stolen vehicle at Rio Lakefront Wednesday night, December 29, 2021. The vehicle was reported stolen on Rio Boulevard at 8:36 PM, according to crime data.

Clarksburg, Laytonsville firefighters redeployed to other fire stations due to Covid-19 case surge

The omicron Covid-19 case surge has put additional strain on Montgomery County Fire and Rescue resources. 110 career and 23 volunteer firefighters are unable to report to work due to coronavirus protocols. 75 others are out for other reasons. This totals 9% of the firefighter pool, forcing Montgomery County to take several steps to staff fire stations countywide.

Among the actions taken was the reassignment of some staff from Clarksburg's Aerial Tower ladder truck, and from the Laytonsville Rescue Squad heavy rescue unit, to other stations around the county. The reason given was that these stations receive fewer service calls. "I want to thank MCFRS for these prudent decisions, wish all sick and isolating employees a speedy recovery, and recognize the hard work of all our firefighters and paramedics during these challenging times," County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement. "I also encourage all residents to be aware of these staffing shortages and remember to only call or use 9-1-1 services in emergency situations.”

Shady Grove Burger King touts 2 new restaurants + first look at new interior (Photos)

One reason the major renovation of the Burger King on Shady Grove Road has taken so long may be the addition of other restaurants to the building, which is on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. New signage has been posted in the restaurant windows for Ripieno's Italian Bistro and JoJo's. Potomac Foods Group owns many restaurants across Maryland, including this Burger King.

PFG has already added a Ripieno's to the rear of its Ocean City Burger King restaurant. That location's pizza has been named to some Top 10 pizza lists since its opening there. Potomac Foods Group has operated Golden Corral restaurants in Maryland. One of its former Golden Corral locations in Salisbury is now....JoJo's Family Restaurant. The surf and turf photograph in the sign matches one on the JoJo's website.

The idea of adding two restaurants to this Burger King is not exactly brand new. PFG previously considered adding a Bojangles and a sub and salad shop to the Shady Grove location. The Bojangles was to replace the large play area at the front of the restaurant. 

There's still no reopening date announced, but it looks like opening day is getting closer. We now have our first look at the renovated interior. Furnishings now look a bit more upscale than the typical fast food dining room. There appears to be an outdoor dining patio space, as well.

Damascus gerrymander: "It's not fair. It's not right," delegate says

Del. Neil Parrott (R)

Damascus is no stranger to gerrymandering. The town that has been a Republican stronghold through the last Montgomery County Council election in 2018 hasn't been represented by a GOP County Council member since 2002. A new Congressional map approved by the Democrat-controlled Maryland General Assembly in a special session now may have town residents wondering who exactly their congressperson is. Delegate Neil Parrott (R) held a press conference last week in Frederick to announce a Judicial Watch lawsuit challenging that new map on grounds that it violates the Maryland Constitution.

Parrott noted that Damascus once again will be gerrymandered out of fair representation. "Damascus, one little town in Montgomery County, is divided, I think, into three different Congressional districts," Parrott said. "It's not fair. It's not right." 

Pocket picked in Montgomery Village

Montgomery County police were called to a Montgomery Village parking lot early Sunday morning after a victim reported having their pocket picked. The theft was reported at a commercial parking lot in the 9100 block of Rothbury Drive at 12:57 AM, according to crime data.

Germantown homicide breaks Montgomery County yearly homicide record, set almost 30 years ago

Montgomery County tied its 1994 homicide record of 34 this week, with the brutal stabbing death of a man in a stairwell at the Shops of Wisconsin in Bethesda. Last night, the County's record was broken with a homicide reported at 6:35 PM in the 19300 block of Circle Gate Drive in Germantown. The record was smashed just as it was revealed that the County police force has shrunk by 56 officers since February 2021. Response times have suffered, and the annual number of police traffic stops plunged from 106,075 in 2019 to only 39,412 in 2020.

Defunding of the police department by the County Council accounts for only 27 of the 56 lost officer positions. The others have resulted from retiring officers not being replaced, and from reduced morale. Perhaps the only relief for County officials who have to own the new record of 35 homicides, is that there are only seven more days in 2021.

CHOPT Kentlands update (Photos)

CHOPT looks fairly close to opening at 200 Kentlands Boulevard in Gaithersburg. Finishes, light fixtures, seating and some menu signage are already in place inside the fast casual salad restaurant. Stay tuned for an opening date!

Burger King gets retro logos on Shady Grove Road

The main sign at the temporarily-closed Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road features a more-recent burger king logo. But the renovated restaurant will also display retro BK logos. Several have now been installed, as well as the structure that will hold the drive-thru menu. 

Striping and arrows have been applied to the drive-thru lane. Burger King announced last January that it planned to switch back to the logo the chain used during its most successful era.

Burton's Grill and Bar still in early stages of construction in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Opening day is still quite a ways off at Burton's Grill and Bar at 200 Kentlands Boulevard in Gaithersburg. The mixed-grill/casual steakhouse interior is dominated by preliminary structure work, and large piles of dirt. Inspired by its home base on the Massachusetts coast, the chain touts its food-allergy-diner-friendly policies as much as the seafood and steaks on the menu.

Galito's Flame Grilled Chicken opening in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Galito's Flame Grilled Chicken is coming to 15918 Shady Grove Road in early 2022. "Coming soon" signage has been posted on the storefront. Galito's will serve piri-piri-style chicken, a famous flavor of Portugal, Brazil and South Africa. The restaurant will be located next to Argos Optical in the Shady Grove Center, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg.

Photo: Robert Dyer/ Rendering at top courtesy Galito's Flame Grilled Chicken

More signage installed at Royal Farms in Gaithersburg (Photos)

The future Royal Farms at 690 Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg is now on a list of "Store Locations Coming Soon" on the Royal Farms website. Since my update a week ago, two more pieces of permanent signage have been installed. One is an entrance directional sign, and the other is a long strip that fits below the Royal Farms logo on the convenience store's facade, which reads, "World Famous Chicken & Fresh Kitchen." Royal Farms is now hiring for all positions at this store, which is in the Spectrum development off of Watkins Mill Road.