Darnestown

MoCo Native Johnny Hodges Earns Two Big 12 Awards

By MCS Staff

The All-Big 12 Conference football teams and individual award winners have been announced and Montgomery County’s very own Johnny Hodges has earned two awards. Selections are made by the league’s 10 head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.

Hodges, a 6’2, 240 pound junior linebacker from Darnestown, who graduated from Quince Orchard High School in 2019, is a starting linebacker for the TCU Horned Frogs– currently ranked 3rd in the country. He has been named to the 2022 All-Big 12 Second Team and won the award for “Defensive Newcomer of the Year.” Hodges was also recently named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the week after he had a team-best and season-high 11 tackles, more than double the next-closest Horned Frog, to lead a strong defensive effort in then No. 4 TCU’s 17-10 win over then No. 18 Texas. The junior LB had 1.5 tackles for loss as part of his 11 stops and combined on a tackle for no gain on a 4th-and-1 Bijan Robinson rush on Texas’ opening series to set the tone for the game.

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Local Singer, Pete Looney, Has Passed Away; Celebration of Life to Take Place in December

By MCS Staff

Local singer Pete Looney, who has been providing entertainment across the county and DC Metro Area for years, has passed away according to a post on his Facebook page. His children, Pat and Monika, released the following statement announcing a Celebration of Life that will take place on Sunday, December 11th:

The Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, December 11th at 7pm-9pm at Windridge Vineyards (15700 Darnestown Road). Light bites and some wine will be provided. The event organizers ask anyone who is planning to attend to mark “going” on the Facebook event page so that they can plan accordingly.

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Permanent Signage Up at Isaac’s Poultry Market in Gaithersburg; Targeting Late Winter Opening

By MCS Staff

Coming soon signage is up at Isaac’s Poultry Market at 12167 Darnestown Rd in Gaithersburg, the former site of Pizza Hut. The restaurant is being opened by Rob Gresham, a lifelong MoCo resident and the former Director of Operations at CAVA. The restaurant will feature American roasted chicken, wings, sandwiches, and salads. Issac’s is currently targeting a February opening.

Gresham tells us that everything they sell will be made from scratch and that the menu will feature plenty of healthy options. Isaac’s will also feature frozen custards and a variety of baked goods and desserts. Featured photo by Todd Apna.

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MoCo’s Johnny Hodges Was Named the Big 12 Player of the Week

By MCS Staff

TCU’s Johnny Hodges was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in 4th ranked TCU’s victory against Texas. Hodges is a 6’2, 240 pound junior linebacker from Darnestown, who graduated from Quince Orchard High School in 2019.

Hodges had a team-best and season-high 11 tackles, more than double the next-closest Horned Frog, to lead a strong defensive effort in No. 4 TCU’s 17-10 win over No. 18 Texas. The Horned Frogs held Texas to three offensive points, 199 yards and 1-of-13 third-down conversions. The junior LB had 1.5 tackles for loss as part of his 11 stops and combined on a tackle for no gain on a 4th-and-1 Bijan Robinson rush on Texas’ opening series to set the tone for the game.

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Permanent Signage Up at First MoCo Wayback Burgers Location

By MCS Staff

Way back in July 2021 we let you know that Wayback Burgers, a fast-casual burger chain based out of Connecticut, is coming to Montgomery County with a new location in Gaithersburg. Permanent signage has now been erected, and though there is a tarp partially covering the sign, it’s evident that it says “Wayback Burgers”.

Construction on the restaurant began a while ago, but there have been plenty of delay before recent progress. The restaurant  will be located at The Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center at 12121 Darnestown Rd. in the location that was formerly home to an AT&T store and a tanning salon before that.

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Inferno Pizzeria Closed Until August 31 for Summer Vacation

By MCS Staff

Inferno Pizzeria, located at 12207 Darnestown Rd., will be closed until August 31 for a summer vacation, the restaurant announced last week via social media. “To afford our small staff the opportunity to rest and enjoy time with family and friends, each August we close the restaurant for two weeks. Please plan to join us again when we return and thank you for your understanding.”

Back on June 29, USA Today published a ‘Top 50 Pizzerias in the US’ list, “as ranked by Italian pizza experts.” The list was created by 50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation site in Paestum, Italy, not far from Naples. New York City reigned supreme with 9 pizzerias on the list, but Inferno made the list as Montgomery County’s only contribution, coming in as the 25th ranked pizzeria in the country.

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USPS Mail Delivery Truck Destroyed in Fire Thursday Afternoon

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail delivery truck on fire in the rear of a house on the 14200 block of Seneca Rd in Darnestown at approximately 12:30pm on Thursday afternoon. The fire was quickly extinguished in the 90+ degree heat with a heat index of almost 100 degrees, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The driver indicated that there was a mechanical issue as smoke and flames started to come from the engine when it was started, eventually combusting. There was no extension to the nearby home, but there was over $30K in damages incurred (vehicle total loss) in addition to a lost load of U.S. Mail. The driver, though not injured, was transported to a hospital due to anxiety from the fire.

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MoCo Pizzeria Is The Only Pizza From Maryland to Make 50 Top Pizza’s 2022 Best Pizza in the USA List

By MCS Staff

On June 29, USA Today published a ‘Top 50 Pizzerias in the US’ list, “as ranked by Italian pizza experts.” The list was created by 50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation site in Paestum, Italy, not far from Naples. New York City reigns supreme with 9 pizzerias on the list, but Montgomery County contributed with the 25th ranked pizzeria in the country– Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, located in Darnestown/Gaithersburg.

Inferno was opened at 12207 Darnestown Rd. by Chef Tony Conte back in 2015. Conte, who is well known for his high-end cooking at DC’s Oval Room, got his start making pizza in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut. Conte’s father moved to the United States from a small town near Naples at 17, and raised his family in New Haven, Connecticut where Conte worked in a Sicilian pizzeria during high school, according to Washingtonian Magazine.

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Great Seneca Plan Scope of Work Approved by Montgomery County Planning Board

By MCS Staff

Great Seneca Plan examines the vision set in the 2010 Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan to support a globally recognized biotechnology hub in the Shady Grove Life Science Center

WHEATON, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Board, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), approved the Great Seneca Plan: Connecting Life and Science Scope of Work at its May 26 meeting. Montgomery Planning staff laid out an approach that builds on the vision set in the 2010 Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan to support a globally recognized biotechnology hub with housing options and recreational opportunities.

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Eternal Love and Pizza is Now Open at Windridge Vineyards in Darnestown

By MCS Staff

After a successful soft opening, Eternal Love and Pizza is rolling full steam ahead at its location at Windridge Vineyards in Darnestown (15700 Darnestown Rd). “I finally opened. After 2 years and 15 different dough recipes!” wrote owner Neil Dundee on Reddit.

While some of us have experienced a garlic dip for our crusts, Eternal Love and Pizza provided you with a garlic whip to help you finish your crusts. MoCo native Tod Fishman shared his love for the new pizza place via social media. “This place is good and they give you this garlic whip to dip your crust that’s insane!” Fishman wrote to us in his message.

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