EDENS will hold a community plaza groundbreaking on Friday, April 28 at noon. “Please join EDENS and special guests in celebration of our groundbreaking for the new community plaza area at Burtonsville Crossing, plus announcements and updates on our progress.” – EDENS. A new tenant has also signed on at the shopping center– Domain Fitness Center (additional information in the post below).

Construction began on the redevelopment of the Burtonsville Shopping Center a couple months back. Approximately 7,600 square feet of existing retail is in the process of being demolished with that retail square footage being turned into two new pad sites with drive- thrus. There will also be improvements to open space, landscaping, lighting, and pedestrian circulation. Video of recent construction is available below, by Larry Jones of the Burtonsville, MD Facebook group.


Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a collision involving a Montgomery County Public Schools bus on Monday, April 24, around 9:30am in the 13000 block of Old Columbia Pike in Fairland.

Four children (initially reported as five) and the driver were on the bus at the time of the collision. According to MCPD, “one child was extricated from the bus, but everyone was transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries” The ages of the children have not yet been released. According to a report, the bus was traveling to Fairland Elementary School.


2pm Update: Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a collision involving a Montgomery County Public Schools bus on Monday, April 24, around 9:30am in the 13000 block of Old Columbia Pike in Fairland.

Four children (initially reported as five) and the driver were on the bus at the time of the collision. According to MCPD, “one child was extricated from the bus, but everyone was transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries” The ages of the children have not yet been released. According to a report, the bus was traveling to Fairland Elementary School.


Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting in White Oak on Sunday, April 23. According to MCPD, “the call for a shooting was received at approximately 10:01 a.m. 3rd District officers responded to the 11300 block of Lockwood Dr. and located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No suspect is in custody at this time. At this time, there is no reason to believe there is a threat to the public.

Public safety reporter Cordell Pugh tweeted that that officers applied a tourniquet to the victim prior to EMS’ arrival. We will post an update when addition information is available.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating a shooting that occurred on April 13, 2023, in the 14300 block of Fairdale Road. At approximately 10:13 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location and located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

The preliminary investigation has determined that unknown suspects fired multiple shots into a residence, striking the victim in the residence in the abdomen. The victim was transported to an area hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives have determined that a blue Tesla was observed leaving the scene shortly after the shooting.


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 15-year-old from the Colesville area of Silver Spring.

Jennifer Orellana was last seen on Friday, April 14, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m., in the 1600 block of Northcrest Drive.  Jennifer Orellana is approximately 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. Jennifer has brown eyes and shoulder length hair which is dyed red. Jennifer was last seen wearing a black shirt, a black sweater, checker pants with purple lines and white/purple sneakers. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


Pepino’s has been responsible for most of the parked cars you’ve seen at the Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center the last few years.  Owners/sisters Patti Pignataro and Margaret Manley told us, “Every night’s a dinner party!” when we stopped by during our 2019 “tour of Burtonsville”. Sadly, Pepino’s has confirmed that Saturday, April 29th will be the last day of operations for the restaurant, as they won’t be around for the redevelopment of Burtonsville Crossing.

Originally located in the current Cuba de Ayer location, Pepino’s has been around since 1991. Patti and Margaret bought the restaurant in 2006. They’re the former owners of Umberto’s, which was located in the Cabin John Shopping Center in Potomac. The restaurant didn’t miss a beat and remained a staple in the Burtonsville community.


MoCo Directory highlight: Drs. Eric and Kevin Chai of Colesville Dentistry were born and raised in the Silver Spring area. Eric graduated from Paint Branch High School and attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Maryland Dental School in 2014. Kevin graduated from Blair High School and then went on to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland Dental School.

The brothers now operate Colesville Dentistry at 724 Cloverly Street in Cloverly/Silver Spring where their mission is to give every patient the best experience possible by providing comfortable, compassionate and comprehensive dental care. Both Dr. Eric and Dr. Kevin were both named as 2023 Best Dentists by Washingtonian Magazine.


Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting around 10:15pm on Thursday, April 13 on Fairdale Rd, near Bradshaw Dr and Fairland Elementary School. According to MCPD, “3rd District officers and MCFRS responded to the 14300 block of Fairland Rd. for the report of a shooting.  An adult male victim was located suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.  No suspect(s) in custody at this time.  This is an active and ongoing investigation.”

According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, the victim was struck while inside of a home after shots were fired outside and rounds penetrated the nearby residence.


Montgomery County Police are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sunday, April 9, 2023, on Old Columbia Pike in Silver Spring.  Per MCPD“At approximately 3:22 a.m., Montgomery County Police responded to a residence in the 11800 block of Old Columbia Pike to assist Montgomery County Fire Rescue.  

Upon arrival, officers located an adult male with trauma to the body. Officers provided life saving measures to the victim who was then transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore will conduct an autopsy to officially determine the cause and manner of the death.  


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