Gaithersburg

F45 in Kentlands is Currently Under Construction

By MCS Staff

Last March we let you know that F45, which has been opening locations across Montgomery County with recent openings in Potomac and Olney, is coming to Gaithersburg with an upcoming Kentlands location. Construction has been ongoing and while an opening date isn’t currently available, it may be ready within a few months (photo below). A Germantown location is also expected to open soon in the Seneca Meadows shopping center near Wegmans (no date available).

The company had pre-Covid plans to make a move into Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront, which fell through, but signed on to take over the space that was recently closed for a few years and previously home to Subway (between Caspian House of Kabob and the recently closed Edible Arrangements).

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Bella Ballet to Open Second Kentlands Location

By MCS Staff

Bella Ballet opened in 2013 when owner Hope MacDonald opened the flagship location, located at 347 Kentlands Blvd in Gaithersburg, at age 24 with $5,000 of her savings. Now, she is opening her second location in the neighboring shopping center at 215 Kentlands Blvd, next to Cava.

The flagship location will remain open with classes offered for students ages 2-7.  The new sister location, Empower, will open at 215 Kentlands Blvd., and will offer classes for students ages 7-18. This location will be open in September 2023. Enrollment for both locations is available now on the Bella Ballet website.

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Public Hearing Draft of Housing Element of Gaithersburg Master Plan Released for Public Comment

By MCS Staff

Per the City of Gaithersburg: In 2019, the State legislature passed HB 1045 requiring all master plans to include a new Housing Element. This new Element is required at a minimum to address the need for affordable housing, including both workforce and low-income housing. The Element may also discuss other facets of housing. The City, over the next several months, will begin working on this new Housing Element, which will include goals and recommendations meant to address future housing needs in the City.  The Planning Commission draft can be viewed here.

Comments on the Planning Commission draft may be submitted in writing to the Planning & Code Administration, 31 S. Summit Ave. Gaithersburg MD, 20877, or by email to [email protected] up until the closing of the records. The Planning Commission’s record will remain open until 5 pm July 21, 2023 with anticipated approval and recommendation on August 2, 2023. The Mayor & City Council’s record will remain open until 5 pm on August 18, 2023 with anticipated adoption on September 18, 2023.

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Rio’s Charley Prime Listed as One of Tom Sietsema’s (WaPo) “6 Favorite Places to Eat Right Now”

By MCS Staff

Tom Sietsema, The Washington Post’s food critic since 2000, has just released the latest version of his “6 Favorite Places to Eat Right Now” and the list features one of Montgomery County’s newest restaurants– Charley Prime. “The menu casts a wide net without going all Cheesecake Factory on its audience.” Sietsema wrote.

Charley Prime opened in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront in May and has been generally well-received by the community. The new restaurant from Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks (Little Coco’s, El Chucho, Bar Charley, Quarry House Tavern) replaced Tara Thai on the Rio Lakefront boardwalk at 9811 Washington Blvd. It features an extensive steak menu that includes filet mignon, New York strip, and a 36oz Tomahawk ribeye, as well as house made pastas and sandwiches like the Roasted Lamb French Dip.

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Suspect Shot and Killed by Police After Stabbing Multiple People Identified as 19-Year-Old From Gaithersburg

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and involved officer in the fatal shooting that occurred on July 22, 2023, in Montgomery County. The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Franklin Castro Ordonez of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The involved Montgomery County Police Officer has been identified as Officer Justin Lee. Officer Lee has been with the department for one-and-a-half years and is assigned to the Patrol Services Bureau. Per MCPD:

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Charges Announced Against Gal Luft, Co-Director of Gaithersburg Think Tank, For Acting As An Unregistered Foreign Agent, Trafficking In Arms, Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, And Making False Statements To Federal Agents

By MCS Staff

Gal Luft, a Dual U.S.-Israeli Citizen and the Co-Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) in Gaithersburg, has been charged for violating U.S. sanctions, arms trafficking, making false statements to U.S. federal agents and acting as an unregistered foreign agent to China, according to a federal indictment that was unsealed earlier this month on July 10th.

He is now a fugitive. If you have any information about LUFT’s whereabouts, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.  Tips can be reported anonymously and can also be reported online at tips.fbi.gov.

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Real Progress at Montgomery County’s First Wawa

By MCS Staff

Coming soon signage for Wawa went up at 405 S Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg earlier this summer and some much anticipated progress has been made as the frame of the convenience store and gas pumps are now up. if progress continues at the current pace, we would not be surprised to see Wawa open by the end of 2023.

The convenience store/gas station will be located at the site of the old Becraft Antiques on 355, across from Gaithersburg High School. Wawa began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pa, in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products.

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Maryland Department of the Environment Encourages Water Conservation with Drought Watch for Portions of the State

By MCS Staff

Per The Maryland Department of the Environment: The Maryland Department of the Environment is urging citizens and businesses in a large part of the state to voluntarily reduce their water usage as a drought watch has been issued. “Water conservation is a good practice year-round, but we are asking residents and businesses to pay particular attention during the summer months when the State can experience hot and dry conditions,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain.

“You can do your part by limiting the use and duration of sprinklers for lawns, taking short showers as opposed to baths, and not leaving the faucet running while brushing your teeth. These things sound simple, but it all adds up.” A drought watch has been issued for Western Maryland and portions of Central Maryland based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year. During a drought watch, MDE increases oversight of water supply conditions and encourages voluntary water conservation practices. No mandatory water use restrictions have been issued.

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$31,714 Winning Lottery Prize Won at Giant

By Patrick Herron

Lottery officials encourage the winner to sign the back of the ticket immediately and put it in a safe location. Winners have 182 days from the date of their win to claim their prize. Instructions on claiming prizes in person or by mail are available HERE. Players must redeem prizes larger than $25,000 by mail or at Lottery headquarters in the Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. The Lottery’s Claims Center in Baltimore is open by appointment only (no walk-ins). Click HERE to schedule an appointment.

The FAST PLAY Gold Fish game has a progressive jackpot that starts at $2,500 and increases with the sale of each ticket until a winning ticket is purchased. There are 15 progressive jackpots remaining in the game along with prizes ranging from $2 to $1,000. Giant #192 receives a $317 bonus from the Lottery for selling a top-prize winning FAST PLAY ticket.

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