Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a house fire at approximately 9:30pm on the 7600 block of Hawkins Creamery Rd near Laytonsville on Sunday night.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer and Assistant Chiefs James Carpenter and David Pazos, crews from Montgomery and Howard County responded last night for an outside fire that extended to the roof of the single family home, before crews were able to extinguish it. A family of five (two adults and three children) along with two dogs and a cat have been displaced, but were uninjured. One firefighter was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.


Watkins Mill High School has become the first Maryland school to earn Level 1 Status within the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) Honor Roll Program for the third straight year after recently earning the award for the upcoming school year.

The NFHS writes playing rules for high school sports and provides guidance on a multitude of national issues. They offer online education courses for high school coaches, officials, students, parents, and speech and music leaders through the NFHS Learning Center, and showcase high school sports and performing arts online through the NFHS Network. “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that all students have an opportunity to enjoy healthy participation, achievement and good sportsmanship in education-based activities.”


Montgomery County resident John Ols (Laytonsville) has caught a 640.5 lb blue marlin, earning him a world record of $6.2 million at this year’s White Marlin Open in Ocean City, MD.

Per the White Marlin Open: On the last day of the 50th Annual White Marlin Open, the Floor Real out of Ocean City, MD weighed a 640.5-pound blue marlin to take $6,200,000 of the $10.5 million dollar total purse.  The blue was caught by John Ols from Laytonsville, MD.


Permanent signage is up at Le Macaron at 7 Grand Corner Ave (next to BurgerFi) in Gaithersburg’s Rio. The shop is expected to open in the coming months, and is owned by MoCo residents Natalia Mejia and Camilo Beltran. Le Macaron, a Florida-based pastry shop now has more than 70 locations across the US, with more locations on the way as franchisees are opening in shopping centers like Rio, food trucks, and kiosks in malls.

Menu items at the upcoming Rio location will include macarons (available in 20 flavors), gourmet chocolates, French gelato, specialty European style coffees, classic French pastries, and homemade candies.  More on the history Le Macaron, per its website:


The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Timia Scott, a missing 13-year-old from Gaithersburg. Scott was last seen on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at approximately 11:35 a.m., in the area of Treworthy Rd. in Gaithersburg. She is 5’4″, 120 Ibs., with black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a pink and black hoodie with white letters, bike shorts and black and yellow Jordan sneakers

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Timia Scott is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – have charged 33-year-old John Reynolds of an unknown address, with the bank robbery of the TD Bank that occurred on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in the 800 block of West Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg.

At approximately 2:23 p.m., Montgomery County Police and Gaithersburg Police officers responded to the location for the report of a bank robbery.  The investigation has revealed that Reynolds entered the bank, approached an employee who was working behind the counter and demanded money. Reynolds then jumped over the counter, removed an undisclosed amount of money from a drawer and placed it inside of a bag. Reynolds left the bank in a silver Hyundai.


The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair returns this Friday, August 11th and will run through Saturday, August 19th. This will be the 74th annual fair and it’s third year back after having to cancel for the first time in its 70+ year history in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. Discount days at the fair include “Family Days” on Monday, Aug. 14, and Wednesday, Aug. 16, with $25 all-day rides, “Senior Day” on Tuesday, Aug. 15, that includes free admission to seniors 62+ until 5pm, and “Military Day” on Thursday, Aug. 17, which allows for free admission for active military in uniform or with a valid military ID through 5pm.

Make sure to join us opening night for the Fifth Annual Fair Foodie Awards, which will take place at 6pm at the seating tent across from the souvenir booth. Guest judges will include Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones and MoCoShow founder “Mr. MoCo” Alex Tsironis.  Last year’s Foodie winners included Cajun Chicken on a Stick and Cotton Candy Lemonade.


Gaithersburg-based Emergent BioSolutions has made the decision to cut 400 jobs and scale back operations at some its facilities, instead focusing on core products such as overdose reversal nasal spray Narcan and anthrax vaccines. The company is also eliminating its chief operating officer (COO) position. According to WTOP, “the job cuts are at Emergent’s Bayview facility in Baltimore, at its drug production facility in Rockville, as well as another facility in Canton, Massachusetts.”

In March, the FDA granted the over-the-counter approval of Narcan to Emergent BioSolutions. It became the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription. “Emergent’s business pivot is expected to result in yearly savings of more than $100 million, the company explained. The moves will cost Emergent around $20 million—costs it expects to incur in the third quarter of 2023.” according to FiercePharma.


The City is one of eight municipalities from across the country selected to receive coaching & support from NLC’s expert staff.

Per the City of Gaithersburg: The City is proud to announce its participation in the National League of Cities (NLC) Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program. As a selected participant, the City will receive a grant in the amount of $15,000 for economic mobility advancement along with five-months of coaching from NLC. Grant funds will be used toward expanded outreach of the City’s Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) and programs that provide economic support and opportunity.


Last year Burke & Herbert Bank, Virginia’s oldest bank, expanded outside of Virginia (into Bethesda) for the first time in its 170-year history. The expansion was led by Gaithersburg native and Burke & Herbert Bank senior vice president Michael Solomon, who was recently named to BizJournal’s 40 Under 40 list.

Burke & Herbert Bank announced last summer that it opened a commercial lending office in Bethesda, Maryland, which marked the first time the 170-year old financial institution, headquartered in Alexandria, has operated outside of Virginia. The Bethesda commercial lending office, at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, is led by Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager Michael Solomon. Solomon, local to the Montgomery County area, brings over a decade of financial experience to this role. He attended Dufief Elementary School, Robert Frost Middle School, and Wootton High School.


The inaugural Maryland Cider Festival is on its way – Saturday, September 9th at Two Story Chimney Ciderworks (7115 Damascus Rd. Gaitherburg, MD 20882) from 11am until 4pm. This event will showcase hard cider makers from across the Old Line State. You’ll also find local artisans, craft vendors, live music, and food trucks. Whether you’re an aficionado who knows their cider, cidre, or sidra, or you’re just looking for a refreshing change of taste this is the place to be. Come join us for a celebration of Maryland craft makers.

The festival will feature ten local cideries showcasing their best hard ciders, from dry to sweet, still to sparkling, modern to heritage, and everything in between. Ciders of all styles and types will be in glass for you to sample and take home, and you’ll get to learn more about the cider-making process from the experts. The festival will also have food trucks serving up delicious bites to pair with your cider, live music from local musicians for your enjoyment, and local craft vendors selling their unique and handmade products.


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