MoCo

Montgomery County Public Space Firearm Ban is Upheld in Court

By MCS Staff

A Montgomery County ban on firearms in public spaces passed by the County Council and signed into law last year was upheld by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland last week. The law strictly prohibits the carrying of firearms within 100 yards of places of public assembly, including parks, churches, schools and public buildings.

Last week, the court denied the request for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction, which attempted to put an immediate halt to the law. County executive Marc Elrich wrote, “This victory is an important first step in defending our law.”

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Events

“Pooch Pool Party” Registration Now Open for August Event

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Recreation is hosting a “Pooch Pool Party” on August 26th and 27th from 11am until 3pm at the Upper County Outdoor Pool, located at 8211 Emory Grove Rd. in Gaithersburg. Additional information can be found for this paid event below, per Montgomery County Rec:

“We’ve closed the pool to humans and opened it to dogs! Dogs will be allowed to swim and frolic at the pool before it is closed and cleaned for the winter. Each dog MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult. Any dog displaying any signs of aggression will be asked to leave immediately. ALL DOGS MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN PROOF OF A CURRENT RABIES VACCINATION before they will be allowed into the event, and dogs owned by county residents must have a current Montgomery County dog license, available from the County Police Department. Please register in the name of the responsible adult who will accompany the dog. Due to health concerns, humans may wade only up to the knees at your own risk. For more info, call 240-777-6840.” Anyone interested can register here.

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Potomac

Kema by Kenaki in Soft Opening Phase at Cabin John Village (Potomac)

By MCS Staff

The long awaited Kema by Kenaki is currently in its soft opening phase at 11325 Seven Locks Rd. STE 115 in Cabin John Village. The restaurant will be open from 11:30am until 8:30pm from Wednesday through Sunday (closed on Monday and Tuesday).

The almost 2,000 square foot restaurant will be very similar to what Kenaki in Kentlands offers, but will be more “fast paced,” in what will be a hybrid between Kenaki and AKO. Kenaki is a full-service restaurant while AKO is a sushi counter at a food hall. Kema will offer signature rolls from Kenaki/AKO such as the Black Magic roll- made with “forbidden rice”, spicy tuna, pickled jalapenos, and truffle oil, the Donkey Kong roll- made with eel, fried plantain, cream cheese, cucumber, tempura flakes, togarashi spice mayo, and sweet shoyu, among others.

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MoCo Government

Marc Elrich Releases Statement Following News of Another Purple Line Delay

By MCS Staff

Marc Elrich has released a statement on the news of the Purple Line opening at least seven months later than the previous estimate and costing $148 million more. His full statement can be seen below:

From the beginning of this process, I have been clear about the perils of engaging in a poorly conceived and constructed public private partnership. Taxpayers and transit riders will continue to pay for the mismanagement of the Hogan Administration. We deserved better.

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Event

StoryBox Comics Fair 2026

Third Hill Brewing Co.

8216 Georgia Ave

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Contact Social

Join Us for StoryBox Comics Fair, a two-day festival celebrating local and independent comics authors!

Day 1 – Saturday, June 27th, 11-5pm @ DwightMess compound (805 Silver Spring Ave): Events are open to the public, admission is FREE. Featuring Special Guest Artists, gallery exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, a modeling session (suggested donation) and exhibitors, you can dig in to indie comics and also tour the compound, which features an extensive comics collection, a rare video collection, Risograph and screenprinting studios.

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Restaurants

Japong Bakery to Hold Soft Reopening on Sunday, July 16

By MCS Staff

Japong Bakery, which opened at 785 Rockville Pike in the Ritchie Center nearly five years ago in October 2018, closed temporarily on April 17th with a plan to reopen  approximately three weeks later at its new location at 765 A Rockville Pike within the same shopping center. After a bit of a delay, the bakery has announced it will hold its soft opening on Sunday, July 16th from 9am-8pm.

The message on social media read, “We are extremely happy and proud to announce that we will be opening our doors again to our amazing customers. we are excited to share our new shop with you, so please come to visit us soon! The soft re-opening is: Sunday, July 16, 9:00am – 8:00pm. Let’s Japong!”

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Friendship Heights

Montgomery County Planning Board Briefed on Friendship Heights Urban Design Study Scope of Work

By MCS Staff

Board provided feedback on approach of study to focus on open spaces, pedestrian and transit networks, activity centers and public life in Friendship Heights today

The Montgomery County Planning Board was briefed on the Friendship Heights Urban Design StudyScope of Work at its July 13 weekly meeting. The Scope of Work lays out the Montgomery County Planning Department’s approach to studying how residents, business owners, and visitors experience the open spaces, pedestrian and transit networks, activity centers and public life in Friendship Heights today.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County Announces $5.75 Million for Nonprofit Grant Programs Targeting Youth, Seniors, Residents with Disabilities and Underserved Communities

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council have announced that $5.75 million in Community Grants funding is available to assist County community nonprofits. The money is to be dispersed to nonprofits with unique and innovative programs focusing on youth, seniors, residents with disabilities and underserved populations to cover special community needs that are not otherwise being addressed by County funding or efforts. 

Applications can now be submitted by eligible nonprofits. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13. Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, outgoing grants program manager at the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing [email protected].

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Kensington

Stella Pointe Grille Will Hold its Grand Opening on Monday, July 17 in Kensington

By MCS Staff

Stella Point Grille has announced it will hold its grand opening this coming Monday, July 17th at 3739 University Blvd in Kensington– the former home of China Gourmet. They’ll be open from 11am until 2am, the restaurant’s regular weekday hours. Graham Gursky, joined in ownership with Stephen Lee, the principal owner of China Gourmet, have rebranded as Stella Point Grille and will offer what they call “elevated American bar fare.”

Gursky let us know the food will be competitively priced, “We won’t be selling $20 chicken wings or $10 Miller Lites.” he said. Gursky also praised local Kensington restaurants Knowles Station and Talia’s Cuzina, telling us that there are great restaurants in Kensington but that he hopes to fill the void of something lacking in the area. Stella Point Grille will be a restaurant where you can enjoy a nice meal and is also a sports bar with 17 televisions ranging 55 to 85 inches. They’ll offer event nights like karaoke, trivia, etc. along with signature food specials created by Chef Leonel Merlos throughout most of the week.

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Gaithersburg

Update: Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon is Open in Rio, But Only Serving Cinnabon For Now

By MCS Staff

Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon combination restaurant opened last week at 220 Boardwalk Place in Rio, taking over the location that was recently home to Lilly Magilly’s– as the cupcakery is still preparing for a move to a new location. We have received an update that only Cinnabon is available for now with Auntie Anne’s items coming soon.

The two brands, popular for their presence in malls, are co-branding to open locations across the country. In recent years, Cinnabon left then returned to Montgomery Mall. There’s also an existing Cinnabon location in Wheaton Mall. Auntie Anne’s has locations at the outlets in Clarksburg, Ellsworth Place Mall, Montgomery Mall, and Wheaton Mall in MoCo.

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Crime

40-Year Sentence in Rare No-Body Murder Case

By Patrick Herron

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Kevin Hessler sentenced defendant, Jean J. Pierre, 50, of Montgomery Village, to 40 years in prison. This is the maximum penalty for second-degree murder, the charge on which the defendant was convicted by a jury.

The jury deliberated for just two hours after a five-day trial in May 2023, prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Ryan Wechsler and Assistant State’s Attorney Gabe Carrera.

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Crime

Update: 17-Year-Old Shot and Killed Thursday Night

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section are investing the shooting death of a 17-year-old in White Oak. On Thursday, July 13, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., the Montgomery County Police Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call for a vehicle collision that occurred in the Birches Apartments parking lot in the 1500 block of Heather Hollow Circle.

Upon arrival, 3rd District officers located Tyrone Howard Brown inside of a car with an apparent gunshot wound. Before coming to a stop, the victim crashed the car into several parked vehicles in the apartment complex’s parking lot.

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