Burtonsville

On December 20, 2021, after a nine-day trial and nine hours of deliberations in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD before Judge David Lease, a jury found defendant Gregory Jones, 28, of Martinsburg, WV, guilty of first-degree murder for the deaths of Ashley Dickinson and Joshua Frazier in Burtonsville, MD. According to the State’s Attorney office, Judge David Lease sentenced Jones to two life terms in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years for what police described as an execution-style double murder.  

On February 15, 2018, the bodies of Joshua Frazier and Ashley Dickinson, both Virginia residents, were discovered in Ms. Dickinson’s running 2013 Audi SUV at a home on Aldora Circle in the Briggs Chaney area of Burtonsville, Montgomery County, Maryland. Both had been shot once in the back of the head from the back seat of the vehicle. Police located two 9mm shell casings in the car, as well as a projectile on a sidewalk near the vehicle.


Bethesda

Just over a year ago, we let you know that New York City taco restaurant Tacombi was coming to 4749 Bethesda Ave. in downtown Bethesda. The restaurant is now open.

Tacombi got its start in 2006 selling tacos in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico after they purchased a 1963 Volkswagen bus and converted it into a food stand. The restaurant made its move to New York in 2010.


Montgomery Planning

Federal Realty is submitting applications for approval of a Preliminary Plan of Subdivision and Sketch Plan, for consideration by the Montgomery County Planning Board, for the property located at 1776 E. Jefferson Street, North Bethesda, Maryland (many consider the area Rockville). The Property is currently known as Federal Plaza West, which includes approximately 135,446 square feet of retail, including a Planet Fitness gym and other retailers located in a two/three story structure constructed along the Property’s shared property line with Lot 1. A Panera Bread pad site and associated surface parking is located in the southwest quadrant of the Property, according to project plans.

Per the project plans,  Federal Realty is proposing to transform this underutilized site into a thriving mixed-use development containing up to 500 units, up to a total of 108,965 square feet of retail uses (103,965 square feet of existing to be retained, and up to 5,000 square feet new), a half-acre public open space, and street-scape improvements. The orientation of the development along East Jefferson Street, combined with the implementation of the road diet (discussed within), will begin to transform this suburban-styled area of North Bethesda into a more urbanized, walkable community in furtherance of the County’s goals.


Events

“Thank you for being a friend…”

Whether you are a Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, or even Stan, join the City of Gaithersburg at Casey Community Center as to pay tribute to the iconic Golden Girls. Dress as your favorite character, sip some signature drinks, savor some cheesecake, and celebrate these sassy seniors from Miami.


Bethesda

Bacall & Bogie, an “experiential, luxury fashion boutique” that is part art gallery, part sustainable clothing shop, is now open at 8001 Wisconsin Ave Suite 202 in Bethesda. According to the store, “We offer an edited selection of chic, versatile, and sustainably produced garments and accessories from Spain, France, Portugal, Denmark, and more. Committed to quality over quantity, we’re on a mission to make our clientele’s closets easier to shop by providing new, interesting designs for every role they play: the Momtrepreneur, the Traveler, the Artist, the Trendsetter, et., ALL. And we work with brands that respect people and the planet. These choices are simple, but significant. Additionally, Bacall & Bogie is a place to gather. In the post COVID-world we wanted to return to a better and stronger community than we had before, so we created it. Whether it’s an art exhibit, artist workshop, you name it, we want this to be a place for you to come and experience something new.”

“When asked why I started Bacall and Bogie, the answer is pretty straightforward: I am different than I was before. During that first spring of COVID, I remember seeing the cherry blossom blooms brighter than they ever have been. The sky was bluer. The Venetian canals ran clear. It became even more apparent that the way we treat the environment needed to change, and if it did, we could reap the benefits. Our purchasing power and the decision to support sustainable and ethical brands has a major impact on that,” said owner Laura Genova.


MCPS

Churchill boys lacrosse has won the Maryland 4A State Championship, after defeating Anne Arundel County powerhouse Broadneck 15-7 in the championship last night. This is the first State Championship in lacrosse for any Montgomery County team (boys or girls).

Just a couple weeks ago, Churchill celebrated Jeff Fritz’s 300th victory as head lacrosse coach at the school, and now his team won the State Championship for the first time.


Education

Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and the Montgomery County Police Department have announced the high school and middle school winners of the 2021-2022 “Keeping it Safe Coalition” student video contest. The annual contest encouraged teams from Montgomery County schools to create 30-second public service announcements to educate young people about the risks of under-21 alcohol use.

The winning videos can be seen here.


Education

Riki Ellison, a former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders who has won three Super Bowls, visited Takoma Park Middle School recently. He is also the founder of the Youth Impact Program (YIP) for disadvantaged and at-risk adolescent boys. YIP partners with universities, the U.S. Marine Corps, and local NFL teams.

Ellison spoke with sixth to eighth grade boys about his football career and the YIP. His motivational talk discussed how hard work equals success, as well as how to make positive choices.


Education

Approximately 50 African American male students were honored during the Iron Sharpens Iron leadership event on May 19 at Francis Scott Key Middle School. The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Daryl Howard, an instructional specialist with the Equity Initiatives Unit who has a passion for enlightening young people and supporting male educators of color.

Francis Scott Key Middle School received a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to support young men of color to develop skills that would help ensure success academically, socially and emotionally. Throughout the year, students learned leadership skills and had opportunities to complete community service, which included beautification projects, putting food baskets together and coordinating toy drives during the holidays, and sorting and organizing items at A Wider Circle.


MCPS

Dozens of MCPS high school seniors were recognized for their accomplishments in dance and theatre at the 21st annual Superintendent’s All-County Fine Arts Awards Gala on May 23 at Seneca Valley High School.

 


Gaithersburg

Life Time Fitness lifeguards Megan Davis, Olivia Fahlbush, Amelia Grant, Jessica Perkins, and Caleigh Wilson were recognized as ‘Everyday Heroes’ by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) earlier this month for their role in saving the life of a swimmer who suffered from a medical emergency in the pool at the Gaithersburg gym last December.

According to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, the lifeguards recognized the medical emergency, rescued the unconscious patient from the water, and performed life-saving measures until MCFRS crews from Travilah and Gaithersburg arrived.


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