Thursday, November 30, 2023

Holiday Makers Market at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg December 8-10


Rio Lakefront will host a Holiday Makers Market at 30 Grand Corner Avenue from December 8 through 10, 2023. The indoor market will be open from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM on December 8, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM  on December 9, and 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM on December 10. Handmade products that will make excellent and unique holiday gifts from more than 50 local artisans. The show is organized by Locally Crafted.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Wawa Gaithersburg signage, gas pumps installed ahead of December opening (Photos)


There are real "signs" of progress at the construction site of Montgomery County's first Wawa at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. The most visible to drivers passing on MD 355 is the roadside sign with the Wawa logo, and digital displays for gas prices. But the main logo sign is also now on the storefront of the convenience store, as well. Wawa-branded gas pumps have been installed, and safety bollards in line with the pumps. Above them is the Wawa logo signage for the gas station canopy. 


When will the Gaithersburg Wawa open? The chain's current target opening date is December 2023. There's still a not-insigniicant amount of paving and landscaping work to be done on the site. Let's see if they can get it done before the ball drops on New Year's Eve.




Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Land behind Burger King for sale in Germantown


Have it your way behind Burger King in Germantown. A 2.03 acre site, partially-developed with several commercial buildings, is now on the market for sale. The entire property, squeezed between Burger King and a residential street, could be redeveloped as commercial (grandfathered) or as an R-200-zoned residential site. According to the online listing, the asking price is $2.1 million.



Monday, November 27, 2023

Carmen's Italian Ice opens in Gaithersburg


Carmen's Italian Ice
is now available in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg. Their newest location in Montgomery County is at 130 Market Street, at Kung Fu Tea. Operating hours are 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week. Carmen's has existing locations in Rockville and Olney.




Friday, November 24, 2023

Carter's opens at Gaithersburg Square


Carter's
has returned to Gaithersburg Square, at 520 N. Frederick Avenue. The children's clothing boutique temporarily closed at the shopping center a couple of years back, but apparently had a change of heart or fortune. Operating hours of the new store are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. Carter's was founded by William Carter in Needham, Massachusetts in 1865.



Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Montgomery County police arrest suspects in Montgomery Village shooting death

Osman Antonio Maldonado

Montgomery County police have arrested two suspects in relation to the November 10, 2023 shooting death of Gaithersburg resident Alan Garnica, 22. The homicide took place in the 18400 block of Lost Knife Circle. Kenes Yair Guevara, 19, and Osman Antonio Maldonado, 20, have both been charged with first-degree murder. Guevara is a resident of Gaithersburg; police did not identify the hometown of Maldonado. Both men remain in custody, awaiting bond hearings.

Kenes Yair Guevara


Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Montgomery County Board of Elections votes to not follow anyone on social media

Montgomery County Board of Elections
President David A. Naimon

The Montgomery County Board of Elections voted unanimously yesterday to not follow anyone on social media, part of a new social media policy the board passed via that vote. While the board encourages residents, voters and political candidates to follow its accounts on social media, commissioners decided that its own accounts should not follow anyone, and should not "like" social media posts. The board said it made the policy change to emphasize its commitment to free and fair elections, and equal treatment of all candidates and ballot question debates. 

“As a non-partisan organization, the Board must ensure that all candidates, political parties and voters are treated fairly and that no candidate or supporter or opponent of a ballot question receives or is perceived to receive preferential treatment,” Board President David A. Naimon said in a statement after the vote. “The mission of the Board is simple - - free, fair, and transparent elections for all candidates and voters.”

For official information about the 2024 elections, including how to register to vote and/or volunteer to serve as an election worker, follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on X at @777vote (https://twitter.com/777vote), on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/777vote/, or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/777vote/. Information also continues to be available on the BOE website at www.777vote.org, and by phone at 240-777-8500.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Poke Bros. opens in Gaithersburg


The newest location of Poke Bros. is now open in Gaithersburg. It is at 107 Market Street, at Kentlands Market Square. This is Poke Bros.' first Maryland restaurant. Operating hours at this location are 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week. 



Friday, November 17, 2023

Tobacco Hut opens in Gaithersburg


Tobacco Hut & Vape
is now open at 309 N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. The shop offers all of the standard tobacco products you are looking for, plus vaping supplies, CBD and hemp products, pipes and hookah equipment. Tobacco Hut is open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It's hard to miss in that former hair salon house location, on Gaithersburg's main drag, directly across from Forest Oak Cemetery. Convenient free parking is available behind the store.



Thursday, November 16, 2023

Is your home or business eligible for a Montgomery County security camera rebate?


Montgomery County has launched a new security camera rebate program for residents and businesses in select "priority areas" of the county, to combat the ongoing spike in crime. If your home is within one of these priority areas, you can receive a rebate on a security camera purchase of up to $250. So, if the camera is $250 or less, it will be free, minus installation or other costs beyond the camera itself. For businesses and non-profit organizations, the rebate tops out at $1250. 


The camera must meet certain standards set by the Montgomery County Police Department, and you must keep footage taken by the camera for at least 7 days. See all the requirements and fine print at the security camera program website.


You can check if your address is within a priority area using the Montgomery County police GIS map for the program. Among the priority areas are the Westbard commercial district, part of the Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda, parts of Rockville and Derwood near MD 355, large portions of Gaithersburg and Germantown, commercial areas of Olney and Damascus, and downtown Silver Spring. 


“Today we implemented our Private Security Camera Incentive Program, created to protect Montgomery County businesses and residents in areas experiencing relatively high incidences of crime,” County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz said in a statement. “Last year, my Council colleagues and I passed Bill 14-22, an opt-in program that lets businesses and individuals apply to receive a voucher or rebate to offset the cost of a security camera on their property. We are currently facing heightened security issues in every aspect of our daily lives. This program is even more important today than it was when it was passed a year ago. We look forward to working with MCPD to provide additional support to our businesses and residents with the greatest need.” 








Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Shoplifters assault New Grand Mart employees in Germantown


A group of alleged shoplifters got violent when confronted by employees of a Germantown grocery store on November 4, 2023. Six suspects stole merchandise from the New Grand Mart at 13069 Wisteria Drive in the Germantown Plaza shopping center at 9:39 AM that morning. When several employees tried to stop them, they were assaulted by the suspects, who then fled the store.

Police describe the suspects as 2 Black males of unknown age, another Black male in his early twenties, and 2 Black females of unknown age. There is no description of the sixth suspect. If you have any information on this incident, or you can identify the suspects involved, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Strong-arm robbery in Germantown


Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Germantown yesterday afternoon, November 13, 2023. The robbery was reported in an alleyway in the 19700 block of Waters Road at 3:18 PM Monday. 

Monday, November 13, 2023

Police seek suspects in midday fatal shooting in Montgomery Village


Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the shooter and anyone else involved in a fatal shooting in Montgomery Village this past Friday, November 10, 2023. At the height of the weekday lunch hour at 12:26 PM, police were called to investigate the sound of gunfire in the 18400 block of Lost Knife Circle, near the Cider Mill Apartments and a busy shopping center (which includes my favorite Little Caesar's in Montgomery County). Arriving at the scene, officers eventually found two men suffering from gunshot wounds.

One victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, but the second, Alan Garnica of Gaithersburg, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Garnica was located about twenty minutes after the initial call at a separate location on the same block.

The suspect(s) remain at large. Lost Knife Circle is one of the highest-crime areas in Montgomery County, and has been for many years.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are asking for anyone with a home security system, to review video footage, and contact Major Crimes detectives at (240) 773-5070 with any evidence regarding this shooting.

Anyone with information regarding suspect(s) or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477.  A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects. Tips may remain anonymous. 

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Hangry Joe's opening Germantown location


Hangry Joe's
is expanding to Germantown. The Nashville Hot Chicken chain has been rapidly growing in Montgomery County, with two existing locations in Rockville, one in Wheaton, and one in Montgomery Village. It has also announced a future Gaithersburg restaurant. But Germantown is the latest addition to the roster; the future Germantown Hangry Joe's will be in the vacant storefront at 19730 Germantown Road, in the Shops at Town Center.

Friday, November 10, 2023

Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Robin Ficker announces first TV ad buy


Robin Ficker
, a Republican candidate for the Maryland U.S. Senate seat of the retiring Ben Cardin (D), is hitting the airwaves for the first time in the 2024 election season, his campaign announced yesterday. Entitled, "Logic," the ad will first air in the Baltimore and Salisbury television markets. The ad will continue to run on TV through Christmas, Ficker campaign manager Dean Cavaretta said in a statement. 

"I’ve had a lot of political success at the grassroots level, and now I am looking to turn this into a successful campaign," said Ficker, who was previously elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in the 1970s. "That’s why I am running a serious, professional campaign to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate." 

Ficker, a resident of Montgomery County, is currently the only prominent GOP candidate with statewide name recognition in the race. Retired Brigadier General John Teichert, an Air Force veteran who resides in Anne Arundel County, told Maryland Matters last month that he would be entering the contest. Maryland Matters reports that Cecil County Delegate Kevin Hornberger is also mulling a run for the GOP nomination, but that he is giving himself until December 31 to make his decision.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Assault at Montgomery Village Center


Gaithersburg City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Montgomery Village Center Sunday afternoon, November 5, 2023. The assault was reported in the parking lot at 2:40 PM Sunday. It's not immediately clear why Gaithersburg police were responding outside of the city limits of Gaithersburg.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Gaithersburg election results: Harris, Hernandez, Wu on track to City Council victory

Yamil Hernandez

Tuesday was a good day to be an incumbent on the Gaithersburg City Council, and a great day to be Yamil Hernandez. Councilmembers Neil Harris and Robert Wu appear to have won reelection in unofficial City election results. Hernandez has edged out Shanika Whitehurst to potentially claim the third Council seat. Those top four candidates were in a very close race, while Daniel Lukomsky and Omodamola Williams were further back with triple digit vote totals, compared to the potential winners' 2000+ votes each. Like the City of Rockville's election yesterday, turnout was very low at 12.45%.

Hernandez, who garnered attention with a very creative online video ad campaign, tweeted that "I'm having a hard time putting into text and finding the right words to express the range of emotions I feel right now" this morning. "Gratitude* - To Gaithersburg residents for entrusting me with your vote, and this opportunity to serve you. Add in a big thank you to all the volunteers, elected officials, and supporters who guided, counseled, and worked tirelessly on our campaign." 

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Maryland Governor Wes Moore visits AstraZeneca lab in Montgomery County


Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) traveled to Gaithersburg to visit the AstraZeneca laboratory, and to make a big announcement. AstraZeneca is one of the largest biotech employers in Montgomery County and Maryland, and is located in the I-270 life sciences corridor. Moore chose the location to announce a new partnership between the Maryland Tech Council's Biohub Maryland initiative and Ireland's National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training. Ireland is one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical manufacturing countries in the world, and the agreement makes Biohub Maryland NIBRT's exclusive partner in the Washington, D.C. region.


Moore toured the complex, and greeted AstraZeneca employees and biotech leaders. At one point, the governor donned a white lab coat and safety glasses to enter an actual laboratory in the facility. “Today, we’re not just here to celebrate this new BioHub partnership. We’re here to celebrate a new direction for Maryland’s economy and workforce,” Moore said. “We are ready to win. We are ready to grow and we are ready to show the entire country what we’re made of.”

Photos courtesy Maryland Governor's office

Monday, November 6, 2023

Akira Ramen & Izakaya opening Tuesday in Gaithersburg


Akira Ramen & Izakaya
will open its newest Montgomery County location tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 105 Paramount Park Drive at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg. It will be located next to Ela Mesa Taste of Greece, and is convenient to the Watkins Mill interchange of I-270. Akira Ramen has an existing location in the county in Rockville.

Friday, November 3, 2023

Black People's March on the White House this Saturday, Nov. 4 in Washington, D.C.


The 15th annual Black People's March on the White House will be held tomorrow, Saturday, November 4, 2023 in Washington, D.C. It will begin with a rally at Malcolm X Park (Meridian Hill Park) at 16th Street and W Street N.W. at 11:00 AM. Attendees will then march to toward the White House, and a second rally at Lafayette Square Park. A pre-march event - where signs will be made, chants practiced, and you will have a chance to meet some of Saturday's speakers - will be held tonight, Friday, November 3 at 6:00 PM at the Thurgood Marshall Center at 1816 12th Street NW Washington, DC 20009.

Speakers will include Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, President of the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition; broadcaster Garland Nixon; African People's Socialist Party Chair Omali Yeshitela; WPFW-FM Program Director Katea Stitt; Hands Off Uhuru Fightback Coalition Chair Mwezi Odom; artist Yulong Jones of the International Women's Alliance; John McCarthy of the Center for Political Innovation; and a recorded message from Mumia Abu-Jamal. Cultural performances will feature Luci Murphy, Shirmina Geneva, and the Malcolm X Drummers. 

This year's march is being co-sponsored by the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations, and the Hands Off Uhuru! Hands Off Africa! Fightback Committee. Registration for the march is available online

Dan Cox, endorsed by Donald Trump in 2022, enters Maryland 6th District race for U.S. Congress

Dan Cox, alongside wife Valerie,
announces his run for the open Congressional
seat in Maryland's 6th District

After several months of deliberation, former Maryland state delegate Dan Cox has officially entered the Republican race for U.S. Congress in the 6th Congressional District. Cox enters the race with the highest statewide name recognition of any candidate in any party in the race, thanks to his 2022 run for governor, and his high-profile legal action against former governor Larry Hogan's pandemic restrictions and lockdown. The Frederick attorney gained national attention when his gubernatorial campaign was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Cox's entry closely follows the announcement by Democrat April McLain Delaney that she, too, is seeking the seat being vacated by David Trone, who is running for U.S. Senate. Delaney's husband, John, held the seat before Trone. April Delaney has had her own lengthy career in the federal and nonprofit sectors. Cox and Delaney immediately became the biggest names in the race upon announcing their candidacies. 

"We as a nation are facing challenges like other times in American history," Cox said in a speech announcing his entry into the race. "The decisions made in the halls of Washington, D.C. will genuinely impact our individual freedom, our families, businesses, our jobs, and schools." In his announcement, Cox highlighted several issues he will focus on in his campaign: immigration, the fentanyl overdose epidemic, America's more than $30 trillion in debt, and protecting Constitutional freedoms. Acknowledging the wealth the Delaneys have brought to past campaigns, Cox said he expects to compete against "well funded opponents."

The race may be closer than it will look on the campaign account ledgers. Delaney will have plenty of campaign cash, but the haul also comes with John Delaney's baggage. Many in Maryland's 6th District had the experience of their homes or farms being foreclosed on by the bank during the "Great Recession" of 2008. They'll likely want to know more about John Delaney's ties to Aeon Financial, a debt-collecting firm with an "extra-vicious business model," that aggressively foreclosed on homeowners during that financial crisis. Over 1000 of those foreclosures were in Maryland. Delaney's CapitalSource bank loaned Aeon $30 million in 2009, but the congressman denied he was aware of the expenditure - - despite being the CEO of the company at the time.

After its initial probe into Aeon and Delaney's connection to it, The Washington Post - whose editorial board strongly supported John Delaney over the years - mysteriously avoided the topic when covering Delaney's White House run in 2019. Cox could find success reminding voters of the Aeon scandal and Forbes magazine's branding of John Delaney as a "loan shark" in the largely working-and-middle-class 6th District. For that matter, so might some of April Delaney's Democratic primary opponents. 

Will Trump again endorse Cox in this race? That will be more of a question for the GOP primary, as former Washington County state delegate Neil Parrott makes his third run for Trone's seat, after coming surprisingly close to defeating the Total Wine founder in the 2022 Congressional race.

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Strong-arm robbery in Montgomery Village


Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Montgomery Village yesterday afternoon, November 1, 2023. The robbery was reported on the street in the 19200 block of Watkins Mill Road at 4:47 PM Wednesday. That's about a block away from the Montgomery Village Center.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Akira Ramen & Izakaya update at the Spectrum in Gaithersburg (Photos)


Here's a look at the advanced progress on the interior fit-out of Akira Ramen & Izakaya, which will be located at 105 Paramount Park Drive at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg. The sign is up and lit over the storefront. This is next to Ela Mesa Taste of Greece. Akira has an existing location further down MD 355 in Rockville. They are now hiring staff for this new location.