Ida Pearl (known to most as Pearl) was born and raised on Riffle Ford Road. She was born in 1918 and on Thursday, June 18, she celebrated her 105th birthday!

She has lived the last 70+ years on Quince Orchard Road, just couple miles away from her childhood home. She is a faithful and dedicated member of Fairhaven United Methodist Church and a loyal trustee of the Pleasant View Historical Association. Some know her as “The Avon Lady,” as she has been one for over 60 years.


In April we let you know that Copper Canyon Grill is requesting approval for a 1,012 square foot covered dining pier to be located in the RIO Lake. At its regular meeting on June 7, 2023, the Planning Commission made the recommendation to the Mayor and City Council for approval (5-0 vote) of Schematic Development Plan SDP-9003-2021, based on the evidence and testimony submitted to the record and the findings in the Final Staff Analysis, to the Mayor and City Council.

Per the City of Gaithersburg: The Schematic Development Plan would add commercial as an allowed use on the RIO lake parcel. The Planning Commission was supportive and complimentary of the project, noting that this is an exciting new way to enjoy the existing lake. The Mayor & City Council Record was closed at 5 pm on June 14, 2023 with the anticipated Mayor & City Council Final Action to be presented on July 3, 2023 during the Mayor & City Council Meeting. Below are renderings of the proposed piers:


The City of Rockville will hold its annual Independence Day celebration and fireworks display at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in King Farm on Tuesday, July 4th from 7pm to 10pm. “This location offers wonderful spectator viewing, and ample and convenient parking for the 4th of July festivities. Enjoy live music by Vertigo Red and a 20-minute fireworks display.”

 


Chick-Fil-A at 700 N. Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg has announced it will open next Thursday, June 29. The restaurant is located in the new Progress Labs, a 44-acre property that directly fronts I-270 at the Montgomery Village Avenue exit. Progress Labs will also be home to Montgomery County’s first Sheetz, which is expected to open on August 10.

Chick-fil-A has additional MoCo locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg (Kentlands), Germantown, Olney, Rockville, and Silver Spring.


The Lube Center, known for its 10 minute oil changes, has signed a lease to take over the vacant location that was previously home to Ziki Japanese Steakhouse at 10009 Fields Rd in Gaithersburg.

Plans from the Lube Center, which currently operates next door at 10007 Fields are will soon be submitted so that the building can be knocked down and a new car wash can be constructed. The existing Lube Center will remain  and offer a free car wash to anyone who gets their oil changed at the neighboring location. The car wash will also offer monthly memberships to customers.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire in the 10000 blk of Trafalgar Sq, off King James Way, near Muddy Branch Rd in Gaithersburg around 4am on Monday, June 19. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was located in a bedroom on the second floor of a townhome.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision around 11:00am on Sunday, June 18 in Montgomery Village. The incident occurred at the intersection of Goshen Rd and Stewartown Rd. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, two patients were evaluated by EMS. All lanes have reopened.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Goshen Rd and Stewartown Rd, @MCFRS_EMIHS Evaluating 2 patients, @mcfrs A708 and PE708 on scene Some lanes blocked.”


Starvin Marvin opened in Gaithersburg opened in 1982 and was bought by the Foundas family in 1987. In 1990 the family opened a location in Wheaton that only lasted a few years. In 2009, a Frederick location opened and the Gaithersburg store was sold to two brothers who were longtime employees and wanted something of their own. Those early days at the Gaithersburg store in the 90s, however, were the inspiration for Starvin Marvin Mambo Sauce– the restaurant’s version of “mumbo sauce”, the red/orange tangy sauce made popular in D.C. area takeout spots for decades.

“Mambo was something we experimented with from time time in the 90’s because our Gaithersburg customers would ask for it, but it was actually in Frederick where our Mambo Sauce (found in the grocery stores today) began to come together.” Dino Foundas told us. “We worked with some of our dear employees to perfect the recipe that we’ve started to include in a lot of our dishes” (photos below).


Signage is up for African Caribbean Market at 9999 Stedwick Rd in Montgomery Village. The store will be located at Montgomery Village Marketplace, which is the shopping center adjacent to the Montgomery Village Center, and is home to Curaleaf, Eddie’s Carryout, Little Island Kitchen, and Senshi Karate. No opening date has been announced.

In other Montgomery Village news, “coming soon” signage recently went up at Baskin Robbins in the Montgomery Village Center. The ice cream shop will be located next to the upcoming Safe Splash Swim School and Suburban Hair. Other businesses expected to open in the shopping center this year include Antojitos Salvadoreños Isabel, Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken (next to Starbucks), and Fiesta Laundromat. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, which was scheduled to open in the space next to Kobe Japan, appears to no longer be coming to the shopping center. The space is now listed as available again on the shopping center’s leasing website.


Never letting the grass grow under their feet, the Kentlands Under the Lights committee has been hard at work since the beginning of the year on what will be a wholly new and reimagined Kentlands Under the Lights for 2023. Kentlands Under the Lights will have a new and expanded footprint on Market Street running from the traffic circle to CenterPoint – and now fully including the Paseo space and merchants – more music options including three band stages, more food and drink options, and more places to sit and linger and enjoy the company and fellowship of our friends and neighbors on a warm summer night. Kentlands Under the Lights 2023 will be the best yet.


Two fifth grade students serving as safety patrols at Stone Mill Elementary School in North Potomac have been recognized by AAA Mid-Atlantic for their efforts to help a classmate who fell from a second story banister during dismissal earlier this year.

The students, Matina Naum and Alex Rossoshek, were at their safety patrol posts by a stairwell in the school. During dismissal, a fellow student fell from a banister to the cement floor two stories below. The girls remained calm, cleared the stairwell, navigated students away and got immediate adult help. Despite their emotions and their friendship with the boy, they were able to answer many questions from emergency personnel.


View More Stories