Darnestown Archives - Page 5 of 8

Pho City Will Close Permanently Today After Approximately 15 Years in Gaithersburg

Published July 29, 2023 at 4:14PM

Pho City, which has been located at The Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center at 12123 Darnestown Rd. in Gaithersburg for approximately 15 years, is closing permanently today the store confirmed on the phone.

We are told that the restaurant has been sold to a restaurant that plans to offer Chinese-style beef noodle soup, but there is no current timeframe for when the new restaurant will open. The shopping center has also recently lost Neal’s Bagels, which recently moved to a nearby Kentlands location. and there hasn’t much movement at the Wayback Burgers restaurant that installed permanent signage about one year ago. Isaac’s Poultry Market opened in the shopping center earlier this year. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Inferno Pizzeria Ranked 23rd in “Top 50 Pizzerias in the USA” List

By MCS Staff

Published June 28, 2023 at 9:46PM

50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation site in Paestum, Italy, not far from Naples, has released its 2023 Top 50 Pizza list. Montgomery County contributed with the 23rd ranked pizzeria in the country– Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, located in Darnestown/Gaithersburg. Last year Inferno was ranked 25th on the list.

Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana has been open in Gaithersburg (12207 Darnestown Rd.) for nearly 7.5 years– there is still a line into the parking lot full of eager diners hoping to get a table before the dough ran out for the night– something that’s a common occurrence for Inferno (see our video below). For those unfamiliar with the restaurant, it was opened by Chef Tony Conte in October 2015 after he spent nine years in DC’s Oval Room. Inferno specializes in pizza, but regulars will tell you that the appetizers are often just as much of a draw.

Update: Illegal Fireworks Cause Garage Explosion That Injures Two and Leads to ~$400K in Damage; Several Pets Safely Removed

By MCS Staff

Published June 28, 2023 at 7:04AM | Updated June 28, 2023 at 7:22AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for an explosion that occurred in the 14200 block of Cervantes Ave in the Seneca Estates neighborhood near Seneca Rd on Tuesday evening.

According to the initial report by MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, it was communicated that a model rocket malfunctioned and resulted in an explosion inside of the garage of a single family home. The investigation later revealed that the explosion occurred due to illegal fireworks that were misused with modifying components. Crews arrived to see smoke coming from the garage of the home and were able to extinguish the fire.

Two Adults Taken to the Hospital With Serious Injuries After Illegal Fireworks Mishap

By MCS Staff

Published June 27, 2023 at 8:16PM | Updated June 28, 2023 at 6:38AM

Updated to reflect that the explosion occurred due to illegal fireworks

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call on the 14200 block of Cervantes Ave in the Seneca Estates neighborhood near Seneca Rd on Tuesday evening.

Detectives Continue to Investigate Turkey Foot Road Fatality; Victim’s Identity Released

By Patrick Herron

Published March 23, 2023 at 12:09PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating a fatal single vehicle collision that occurred the morning of Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in the 14400 block of Turkey Foot Road. At approximately 12:27 a.m.,1st District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a traffic collision.

The investigation by detectives has determined that the driver of a gray 2017 Toyota 4Runner was traveling west in the 14400 block of Turkey Foot Road. For reasons that are still under investigation, the Toyota left the roadway and struck multiple trees, causing the vehicle to overturn. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The decedent has been identified as 48-year-old Mark Sampson, of Gaithersburg. This is an active and ongoing investigation.

Police Investigating Fatal Collision That Occurred Early Wednesday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Published March 22, 2023 at 10:39AM

Montgomery County Police are investigating a fatal collision that occurred at approximately 12:27 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Darnestown. According to MCPD, “The preliminary investigation has revealed that the driver of a gray Toyota 4Runner was traveling west in the 14400 block of Turkey Foot Road. For reasons that are still under investigation, the Toyota left the roadway and struck multiple trees, causing the vehicle to overturn. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The Montgomery County Department of Police, Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating this collision. A news release will be distributed once more information is available, including the name of the deceased following proper notification of next of kin.”

We will post an update when additional information becomes available.

Driver Crashes Into Darnestown Home Early Tuesday Morning

By MCS Staff

Published February 1, 2023 at 10:33AM

A driver described as “flying down Jones Lane Rd” by the resident of the home that was hit, crashed into the home at the intersection of Darnestown Rd and Jones Lane at approximately 3:30am on Tuesday morning (photos below).

When the car crashed into the home, there was a resident approximately 5 feet to the right where the car entered. There were no injuries. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) and Montgomery County Police arrived on site, but no arrests were made. It is unclear how the driver lost control of the vehicle at this time.

Quince Orchard’s Savan Briggs Commits to Howard University

By MCS Staff

Published February 1, 2023 at 8:31AM

Quince Orchard High School student-athlete Savan Briggs is a highly recruited two-time State Championship winning quarterback at Quince Orchard. On Tuesday, he announced that he has committed to Howard University (announcement can be seen below, courtesy of Fox 5).

Briggs, a 6’2, 190 lb dual threat quarterback that has led Quince Orchard to back-to-back 14-0 seasons while earning a 3.45 GPA, previously announced via social media that he received an offer from the Bison late last month.

Good Counsel’s Jacob Hardie (Georgia) and Quince Orchard’s Johnny Hodges (TCU) to Compete in Monday Night’s National Championship Game

By MCS Staff

Published January 6, 2023 at 8:43AM | Updated January 6, 2023 at 9:26PM

The undefeated and defending National Champion Georgia Bulldogs (14-0) will take on the TCU Horned Frogs (13-1) on Monday night for the 2022 NCAA College Football National Championship. Each team will have one Montgomery County native representing the area, as Jacob Hardie (Good Counsel, Class of 2021), Georgia, and Johnny Hodges (Quince Orchard, Class of 2019), TCU, prepare for Monday night’s game.

Jacob Hardie, who played wide receiver and free safety at Good Counsel, walked on to the Georgia football team when coaches invited him for a workout after seeing him on film while evaluating another player. According to Hardie, older players in front of him and injuries kept him from getting major playing time while he was at Good Counsel, but he knew what he was capable of. The 5’9, 180 pound Olney native is now on the roster of the defending national champions as a running back.

Former MoCo Resident and NFL Hall of Famer Tom Mack Honored by the LA Rams

By Damon Anderson

Published December 12, 2022 at 8:29AM

Former Darnestown resident, Tom Mack, was honored by the Los Angeles Rams last week during their game vs the Las Vegas Raiders. Mack was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the second pick in the 1966 NFL Draft and played left guard for the Rams for 13 seasons from 1966 to 1978, appearing in 11 Pro Bowls. During his NFL career, he appeared in 184 consecutive games, 176 as a starter. He was a starter on the 1964 Michigan team that won the Big Ten Conference championship and defeated Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl. He was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player in 1965 and was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 2006. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

After retiring from football, Mack worked as an engineer, using the engineering degree he received at the University of Michigan. He eventually became a lobbyist for Bechtel Group, Inc., whose headquarters are located in nearby Reston, VA. Tom and his family lived in Darnestown from 1987-1993. His daughters, Katy and Cari, graduated from Seneca Valley & Quince Orchard respectively.

Santa’s Schedule and Holiday Parades/Celebrations Across MoCo

By MCS Staff

Published December 5, 2022 at 10:17PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:42PM

Santa may be visiting your neighborhoods as fire departments across the county will be guiding Santa through some of the places listed below. There are also other holiday parades/celebrations listed […]