The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old.
Benito Mabilo, 16, was last seen on Sunday, June 11, 2023, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., leaving his residence on Lea Pond Place in Montgomery Village He 5’8″, 130 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a black jacket and grey sweatpants.
The Blair Witch Project was released on this day in 1999, 24 years ago– the first installment of the Blair Witch franchise. Did you know The Blair Witch Project was primarily filmed right here in Montgomery County?
In the indie supernatural horror, three film students camp in the fictional Black Hills Forest of Burkittsville, Maryland in October of 1994 to film a documentary on the local legend of the Blair Witch. Mysteriously, the trio vanishes, leaving behind hours of footage to be discovered a year later by University of Maryland anthropology students. What the viewer witnesses is this purportedly real home video style footage.
UPDATE: Aiden Offutt has been located safe and unharmed. The Montgomery County Department of Police Special Victims Investigations Division is looking for a 10-year-old missing from Montgomery Village.
10 year-old Aiden Offutt was last seen on Stedwick Road and Watkins Mill Road in Montgomery Village on Thursday July 13, 2023, around 6:45 P.M. He is 4-feet, 10-inches tall, 90 lbsx with short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt, black/yellow sneakers and carrying a red hooded sweatshirt.
La Casita, founded in Montgomery County when the Silver Spring location opened in 2002, has announced an upcoming location in nearby Laurel. La Casita Pupuseria currently has locations serving Germantown, Gaithersburg, Nationals Park & Union Market District.
Per La Casita on social media, “We have a very special announcement to make (and please pardon our dust 👷🏽♂️)…a brand new La Casita Pupuseria is coming to Laurel, MD! Yes, we are super excited to finally be able to reveal after a long project that hopefully by Fall 2023 we will be able to serve the greater Laurel area right on Baltimore Ave.”
Target is kicking off its back-to-school and back-to-college season, announcing deep savings events and season-long deals to make back-to-school shopping easy and affordable for its guests. New this year, Target is also expanding its popular Teacher Appreciation Event to give teachers a one-time 20% discount on an entire shopping trip and bringing back a one-time 20% discount on an entire shopping trip for verified college students through Target Circle, the retailer’s free-to-join loyalty program. With deals starting at under $1 and most under $15, Target is offering even more ways to save as students and teachers prepare to return to school.
“Our back-to-school and back-to-college assortment features a broad range of essentials that are priced right for all families. From on-trend Cat & Jack outfits and fun and functional Room Essentials dorm décor, to supplies of all kinds from Mondo Llama and top national brands, Target has everything to help students from pre-K to college start the school year in affordable style,” said Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target. “We’re also pleased to expand our 20% teacher discount across the entire store and on Target.com, to provide teachers with even greater value on the items they need for their classrooms. Both teachers and students can count on Target for all their school-year gear at great prices.”
The Holiday Inn, which has been located at 2 Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg since it was built in 1972, has reopened after being closed for approximately three years. A representative from the hotel told us that it reopened in late June. The hotel initially closed in 2020 due to Covid restrictions.
After its closure in 2020, B.F. Saul Company worked with Montgomery County’s Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) on a plan to convert the Holiday Inn into affordable senior living. In February 2021, the Gaithersburg City Council approved an amendment that stated properties zoned for commercial, employment and industrial uses could not have residential uses in those zones, which thwarted plans for the planned conversion. “We’re clarifying that when we have a commercial zone, we mean commercial and not residential” Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman stated at the meeting.
John’s 30 years of writing and performing alt-country, honky-tonk punk rock has produced. He’s been part of the North Carolina Triangle music scene with Two Dollar Pistols, Rosewood Bluff, and Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. His 2018 solo album, Not Tonight has been called “a country breakup album of unusual clarity and emotional resonance.” Just prior to our interview, John had been in the studio making fresh recordings for the Fall 2023 re-release of material from dormant album, On Down the Track.
The 7:30 p.m. concert will feature music spanning his long career – Two Dollar Pistols era, the Rosewood Bluff band, selections from Not Tonight and his new work. For this show, he will be joined on stage by classically trained violinist/cellist Sarah Glasco.
Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police has positively identified the adult male recovered from Seneca Creek on Sunday, July 9, 2023. Jose Israel Centeno Velasquez, also known as Carlos, was identified by family members on Tuesday, July 11. The 43-year-old was last seen on Friday, July 7, leaving his Gaithersburg home on Girard Street. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
Major Crimes detectives are asking for anyone who may have seen Centeno Velasquez to call 240-773-5070 or call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s) in connection with this homicide. Callers can remain anonymous.
The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair returns next month on 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. You can download a copy of the 2023 Fair Catalog here. Admission to the fair is $15 on-site and $12 online. Children 11 & under can enter free and parking is $15 per car. Tickets can be purchased here.
Free entertainment this year includes a canine aquatics competition, pig racing, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, illusionists, remote control car racing, comedy shows, and stilt walkers. Ticketed events at the Fair’s Grandstand include Truck Drag Racing on August 14th, the Renegade Monster Truck Tour on August 16th and 17th, and Demolition Derby “Night of Destruction” on August 18th and 19th.
The City of Gaithersburg Planning Commission reviewed the proposed annexation of the Walnut Hill shopping center at its Wednesday, July 5, 2023 meeting and will accept comments through 5:00 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023. The Commission is scheduled to make its formal recommendation to the Council during its July 19, 2023 meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
The Montgomery County Planning Board is scheduled to review the annexation at their July 13, 2023 meeting. The Mayor and City Council have scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall (virtual participation will also be available). The subject properties to be annexed are located northeast of MD Route 355 and include the Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16531 South Frederick Avenue, a restaurant at 8941 North Westland Drive, a vacant parcel at 8939 North Westland Drive, and a portion of the right of way of North Westland Drive.
Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon combination restaurant is now open at 220 Boardwalk Place in Rio, taking over the location that was recently home to Lilly Magilly’s– as the cupcakery is still preparing for a move to a new location.
The two brands, popular for their presence in malls, are co-branding to open locations across the country. In recent years, Cinnabon left then returned to Montgomery Mall. There’s also an existing Cinnabon location in Wheaton Mall. Auntie Anne’s has locations at the outlets in Clarksburg, Ellsworth Place Mall, Montgomery Mall, and Wheaton Mall in MoCo.