Montgomery Parks is seeking ideas for a new park in downtown Bethesda. The Bethesda Market Park project(opens in a new tab) will repurpose two parking lots adjacent to the historic Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market. Montgomery Parks will host two in-person public meetings in March to present initial concepts for the park and solicit input from the community.

Each meeting will provide the same information and begin with a brief presentation of the plan followed by an interactive session to give the community a closer look at the project and the opportunity to provide feedback.


Per MCPD: Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 2nd District Patrol Services have arrested and charged 23-year-old Thomas Tabbs, of Harrisburg, PA, with the theft of two catalytic converters that were stolen on Monday, February 20, 2023, in the 10500 block of Montrose Ave. in Bethesda.

At approximately 6:33 a.m., 2nd District officers responded to the location for the report of a theft of vehicle parts.


Per MCDOT: On Wednesday, March 29, starting at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public hearing to discuss the latest progress of Segment 3 of the MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway Improvements project in Bethesda. The public will have an opportunity to provide oral testimony and ask questions.

The MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway Improvements project provides a continuous 8-foot-wide shared use path along the west side of the roadway with a 5-foot-wide grass buffer, or if 5-feet is not available, a barrier. In addition, the project provides drainage, minor roadway widening and resurfacing improvements. The project limits are from Oberlin Avenue to the County line. Public testimony is encouraged and may influence the final design of this project.


Federal Realty has announced that Vuori will open its first location in the DMV at Bethesda Row in Bethesda, Md., in 2023. Vuori makes premium performance apparel inspired by the active Coastal California lifestyle — an integration of fitness, surf, sport, and art. It will join Bethesda Row’s sophisticated scene of recently opened and soon-to-be-opened retail:

▪         ANINE BING, a Los Angeles-based fashion brand, featuring everyday wardrobe essentials and investment pieces for modern women seeking a timeless, yet rebellious approach to style, open.


In September 2021, we let you know that Gregorio’s Trattoria would be opening its third MoCo location, and fourth overall, at Park Potomac– taking over the space that was previously home to Sugo. Sugo closed its doors permanently last in the summer of 2021. According to a report by Store Reporter, Gregorio’s is now aiming for a September opening after encountering issues replacing the HVAC system in the Park Potomac Space.

Gregorio’s started out in Reston in 2008 and opened a second location in what’s now Cabin John Village in Potomac. The restaurant opened its second MoCo location in November 2020 at the Shops at Sumner Place in Bethesda, in the spot that was home to China Pavilion for over two decades until it closed almost three years ago. For those concerned about the Cabin John Village location’s future, Store Reporter also mentioned that Gregorio’s has signed a new ten year lease to remain in the shopping center.


Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Judge Karla Smith, defendant, Billy Phillips, 38, of Rockville, pleaded guilty to counts of First-Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, and Use of a Firearm in Commission of Felony for the death of his former manager, Geoffrey Biddle, 66, of Bethesda, on June 23, 2021.

Phillips faces the potential of life in prison plus an additional 65 years when he is sentenced on March 10th at 10:30 a.m. The State will be seeking the maximum penalty. According to witnesses, Phillips had recently been in financial despair and was fired from his job in April 2021 for fraud. When he was arrested, the victim’s bank card and checkbook were in the defendant’s car. Featured photo shows home where murder occurred, courtesy of Google Maps. Photo below shows Billy Phillips


A television news crew in a spare helicopter landed in the back field of North Bethesda Middle School in Bethesda (not near the building or any people) after an issue in flight. A Prince George’s County Police Chopper stopped by to make sure everything was fine after the precautionary landing. Both choppers successfully took off minutes later, when it was safe to do so.

The involved aircraft was a 2010 Robinson R44 Helicopter, per our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 14-year-old from Bethesda. Jayleen Chavez was last seen on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m., in the 10300 block of Strathmore Hall St.

Chavez is approximately 5-feet tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 2nd District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who committed multiple thefts from autos and credit card fraud in the Bethesda area. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the suspect.  On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, a victim reported that his credit cards were stolen out of his car and were used a Home Depot in Bethesda to make fraudulent purchases of gift cards.

On Sunday, September 11, 2022, the victim, who is a Fauquier County, VA resident, stated that her credit cards were stolen out of her car, in the overnight hours of September 10, into September 11, 2022. Her stolen credit cards were then used at a Home Depot in Bethesda on September 11. Detectives determined that the suspect used the stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards.


Per Montgomery County: Montgomery Parks will be hosting two meetings to present initial concepts and solicit feedback on the future Bethesda Market Park development. The first meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, at the Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center located at 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase. The meeting will be held in the social hall.

The second meeting will cover the same content. It will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, at Bethesda Elementary School, which is located at 7600 Arlington Road in Bethesda. The meeting will be held in the all-purpose room


Two MCPS media specialists are finalists for Maryland School Librarian of the Year. Meredith Hickman, media specialist at Seven Locks Elementary School (Bethesda), and Dr. Sheri Massey, media specialist at Cabin John Middle School (Potomac), are two of 14 finalists for the state recognition.

The award honors a school librarian for exemplary service and outstanding achievements in the field of school library media. To be considered, nominees must be a current member of the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL), actively working as a school librarian and serving in the same position for three or more years. The winner will be announced at the MASL conference in April. More information on the award.


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