Author: Patrick Herron

Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Maryland Renaissance Festival Returns August 27

By Patrick Herron

The Maryland Renaissance Festival, which takes places annually at 1821 Crownsville Rd in Annapolis, returns this Saturday for their 46th season.  The festival will be open weekends from August 27 through October 23 and tickets can be purchased at www.rennfest.com.  Per the event’s website:

“The 27 acre Village of Revel Grove comes to life each autumn with more than 200 professional performers on ten stages, a 3,000 seat arena with armored jousting on magnificent steeds and streets filled with village characters. Join His Most Royal Highness King Henry VIII in the forests and glades with over 140 artisans exhibiting crafts in their own renaissance shops, five taverns featuring cool libations, 42 food and beverage emporiums providing a vast array of succulent and sweet treats to sate even the most hearty of appetites.

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Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Latest Update on the 126,000 SF Indoor Water Park Coming to Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Mid-Atlantic families will have something fun to howl about as Great Wolf Lodge, North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, has announced that its newest resort in Perryville, MD (located in Cecil County, northeast of Baltimore City) is scheduled to open in August 2023. Great Wolf Lodge Maryland will be the company’s 20th resort in North America, and their largest.  It will offer 700 family-friendly suites, a 126,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 57,000 square-foot entertainment center, and 12,000 square-feet of conference space. The resort is currently offering 25% off reservations at www.greatwolf.com/maryland.

Great Wolf Lodge, which broke ground in July 2021, will sit on 48 acres on the western edge of Cecil County, for what is being dubbed as “a convenient family getaway destination for guests living throughout Maryland, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and many other Mid-Atlantic and Northeast areas.” Offerings include the indoor water park that has a variety of indoor pools and slides and is open throughout the year. The adventure park touts engaging attractions for the whole family, and daily events and activities are included in the cost of your stay.

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Bethesda

Update: Police Investigating Fatal Collision Involving Cyclist, Identity of Victim Released 

By Patrick Herron

The cyclist, 42-year-old Sarah Joan Langenkamp, was in the bicycle lane when the Volvo turned right into the parking lot of 5244 River Rd. and struck Langenkamp, who was run over by the Volvo. Montgomery County Fire Rescue responded, and Langenkamp was pronounced dead on scene.  This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at 240-773-6620.

Original 8/25 Report: A bicyclist was struck on eastbound River Road between the Kenwood Station shopping center and Landry Lane in Bethesda at approximately 4pm on Thursday afternoon.

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Burtonsville

Detectives Ask for Assistance in Locating Missing 13-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old from Silver Spring.

Zanaiya Neil was last seen on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at approximately 12 p.m., in the 4200 block of Cloudberry Court in Burtonsville.

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Maryland

U.S. News & World Report Names Maryland as No. 1 State For Gender Equality

By Patrick Herron

“Every child in Maryland deserves access to a world-class education, regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in,” said Governor Hogan. “We are proud that Maryland leads the nation in expanding opportunities for women and girls. While there is always more work to do, it is especially gratifying that this study recognizes our commitment to closing the gender gap in the computer science and STEM fields, where we have made great strides. This is another example of how we are truly changing Maryland for the better.”

Education. According to the report, “Maryland took the top spot in the ranking’s education category, placing first among its peers for lower gender disparities in math and reading scores for eighth graders, and third among them for four-year public college graduation rates. Experts say Maryland, under the last two governors – a Democrat and a Republican – has prioritized K-12 education even as other states have scaled back funding.”

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Gaithersburg

Different Starbucks Location to Open 24 Hours While MoCo’s Only 24 Hour Location Closes for a Month

By Patrick Herron

MoCo’s only 24-hour Starbucks location at 505 Quince Orchard Rd. in the FirstField Shopping Center (Gaithersburg) will be closed for one month starting on September 9th and lasting until October 9th for renovations, an employee of the store tells us.  During that time the Starbucks located at 300 Spectrum Ave in Gaithersburg will be temporarily operating 24-hours for the duration of the Firstfield remodeling.

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Bethesda

Update: Electrical Fire at Apartment Complex Causes $800,000 in Damages and Leaves Dozens of Residents Displaced

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a 2-alarm fire at the Grosvenor House Apartments located at 10101 Grosvenor Pl. around 12:30pm on Thursday, August 25. The building was evacuated and the fire was controlled by the building’s sprinkler system. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, there was an electrical fire inside of the utility closets on the 9th and 10th floor of the building which caused heavy smoke conditions on the upper levels of the 18-story building. The fire originated in an “electric busway where two sections of busway join and was most likely caused by a significant arc which blew through metal housing of busway.”

Floors 8,9 & 10 of the north wing are uninhabitable and residents from around 30 apartments have been displaced.  Around 85 firefighter responded to the scene and there no injuries reported. Damages are estimated be $800K, which includes $750K in structure and $50K contents.

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MDLottery

$50,000 Winning Pick 5 Ticket Sold at Silver Spring Giant

By Patrick Herron

“I was walking my dog when I checked my ticket on the Lottery app,” said the rehabilitation counselor. “I literally jumped for joy.” Calling his wife as he hurried home, the 58-year-old shared the good news and his excitement was contagious. “She was very, very happy, sort of laughing and crying on the phone.”

The Montgomery County couple, along with their extended family, experienced a pre-vacation nightmare recently that involved payments gone missing. While they continue looking into the unusual situation, their Lottery surprise will do much to make them whole.

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Education

‘Launchpads’ Loaner Tablets for Children Are Now Available at Four Montgomery County Public Libraries

By Patrick Herron

Launchpads are populated with carefully chosen content of various themes including educational apps, games, videos, stories and activities focusing on specific topics.

Launchpads will be available from the MCPL branches of Long Branch, Maggie Nightingale, Marilyn Praisnerand White Oak. Customers can place holds on the Launchpads to have them transferred to their closest MCPL branch for pick up.

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Bethesda

Three Arrested and Charged with Armed Robberies of Two AT&T Stores

By Patrick Herron

At approximately 8:58 p.m., 1st District officers responded to the above location for an armed robbery that just occurred.

The investigation by detectives determined that the suspects entered the store and announced the robbery by displaying a handgun and using it to hit a victim on the head. The suspects then forced the employees into the rear office and storage area. Once inside they demanded that the employees open the safe. The victims complied and Cole, Smith and Drayton then began to fill large laundry style bags with iPhones, iWatches, tablets and AirPods. Before leaving with the stolen items, they also stole the store’s nightly cash deposit.

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Gaithersburg

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken is Coming to MoCo

By Patrick Herron

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken is coming to 16248 Frederick Rd in Gaithersburg, in the recently renovated Rock Grove Center on the corner of 355 and Shady Grove Rd. The center is also home to Minerva Indian Cuisine, Qdoba, and the recently relocated Dunkin Donuts. The North Carolina-based biscuit chain is known for their buttermilk-brined chicken and currently has Maryland locations in Columbia and Towson.  Menu items include biscuit sandwiches, biscuits & gravy,  fried chicken strips, and donuts. The restaurant is expected to open this fall.

Press Release: Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken, the nation’s fastest-growing biscuits and fried chicken restaurant is building on the success of its Columbia and Towson eateries with a third Maryland location set to open in Gaithersburg, Maryland in fall 2022.   The new store, located at 16248 Frederick Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 is the third location for father and son franchisees Francis & Christopher Kirley.

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