Gaithersburg Archives - Page 239 of 411

City of Gaithersburg’s 2023 Environmental Award Winners

Published April 6, 2023 at 7:16AM

Corky Logsdon: Corky Logsdon has been a resident of Shady Grove Village since it was built in the 70s and has always been a great resource for the community. In 2022, he went above and beyond by planning, installing, and maintaining a pollinator garden in the HOA common space for everyone to enjoy. He also purchased and planted a native red maple as the first step of re-establishing Shady Grove Village’s historic tree canopy. Corky continues to provide guidance for future plantings and assessing trees for the neighborhood.

Karl Van Neste: Karl Van Neste’s passion is reducing the amount of road salts that wash into our streams and eventually end up in our drinking water. Whether he is outside with a test kit after a winter storm, advocating for legislation changes at the state and local level, providing interviews or gathering petition signatures, Karl is working to improve our natural environment and health outcomes for all members of the community.

(Cancelled) 22nd Annual Paws in the Park to Take Place on April 30

By MCS Staff

Published April 6, 2023 at 7:13AM | Updated April 30, 2023 at 8:47AM

Due to inclement weather forecast for April 30, the event is cancelled. Please contact Montgomery County Humane Society at 240-252-2555 for more infromation.

The 22^nd Annual Paws in the Park dog walk & festival is a signature special event of the Montgomery County Humane Society, held in partnership with the City. One of the largest dog walks in the DC area, it raises funds to help homeless & abandoned animals throughout Montgomery County.

Pleasant View Park Update (Gaithersburg’s Upcoming 9.54 Acre Park)

By MCS Staff

Published April 5, 2023 at 8:02AM

The City of Gaithersburg is developing a 9.54-acre park at 10901 Darnestown Rd. with parking, community gardens, a bicycle skills course (pump track), open space, pavilions, a playground, fitness pods, and a welcome plaza. A progress video is available below.

The park will be called Pleasant View Park is named after the nearby Pleasant View community, one of the first free black communities established after the Civil War. The park’s name honors the historic significance of that community and also reflects the beauty of the natural surroundings. The land was acquired through the Federal Land to Parks Program of the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. From 1955 to 1975, this location served as a fire control radar site for the U.S. Army NIKE missile system. After 1975, the site was used by the Consumer Product Safety Commission as the National Laboratory Campus for testing consumer products.

Gaithersburg State of The City Address Celebrates Resiliency

By MCS Staff

Published April 5, 2023 at 7:55AM

Per the City of Gaithersburg: Mayor Jud Ashman and members of the City Council hosted the 2023 State of the City address on Thursday, March 30, at Asbury Methodist Village. More than 130 guests attended the reception & presentation, including civic partners who serve on City boards, commissions & committees, elected officials, community leaders, and others whose involvement is invaluable to the Gaithersburg community. The event also featured remarks by Junior Mayor Loriele Nix.

Mayor Ashman’s address featured several stories that focused on the City’s resilience, connection and commitment to the Gaithersburg community. The State of the City event serves as the platform for the presentation of the City’s annual Distinguished Resident, Outstanding Organization, and Distinguished Friend awards.

MoCo Native’s LavaBox Impresses Judges on Shark Tank

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 6:51PM

Josh Thurmond, a 1994 graduate of Quince Orchard High School and Gaithersburg native, is the inventor of LavaBox Portable Campfire– a new style of portable fire pit that’s built in a military-style ammunition can and was “created to combat climate change and reduce wildfires.” LavaBox has made waves, or fires, since its inception in late 2020, and LavaBox joined fellow Montgomery County businesses that have made it into the tank in recent months (Collars & Co. was featured in November, OoogieBear was featured in September, and ShredSkinz was featured in December) when Thurmond brought LavaBox into the tank on Friday, March 31st at 8pm.

Thurmond was looking for $200,000 for 10% equity in his company. He shared that the Lavabox comes in three sizes, with the most popular being the smaller version which retails for $195 (and costs just over $25 per unit to produce). The larger varieties cost more to produce, but also come with a higher price range. He expects to reach over $1 million in gross revenue sales by the end of this year- numbers that impressed all the sharks. Thurmond explained that most sales come directly from word of mouth, and that he wants tp get into big box stores. Mr. Wonderful Kevin O’Leary was impressed enough to offer the $200,000 for 10% equity that he was looking for. Daymond John made an offer, wanting 20% equity, but was more interested in licensing the LavaBox instead. Lori Greiner then jumped in with an offer of $200,000 for 12.5% equity, but also wants a royalty of .75 cents per unit sold until she gets $200,000 back. Her 12.5% equity would remain the entire time if the deal is accepted. considers his options and chooses to accept Lori’s offer. After considering all offers, Thurmond went with Lori Grenier’s offer.

First Phase of Belward Farm Development Has Been Approved

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 2:06PM | Updated April 4, 2023 at 4:10PM

The Applicant, Trammell Crow Company (TCC), was granted approval of Site Plan No. 820220250 which is limited to the 66.5 acres of the northern portion of the 107-acre Overall Site on March 30th. This Site Plan is the subject of a ground lease between the Trammell Crow Company and the Property Owner Johns Hopkins University, and which includes future Parcel A, Block C of the Johns Hopkins University Belward Campus subdivision and Belward Campus Drive. Additional information from the site plan can be seen below:

The Applicant, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), is seeking approval of Final Forest Conservation Plan (FFCP) No. F20230020, which encompasses the entire 107 acres referenced as the Belward Tract or Overall Site. The Forest Conservation Plan was approved for the Overall Site with Amended Preliminary Plan No. 11996110A and amended in the JHU Medical Office Building Site Plan No. 820210120. This current submission of JHU’s Final FCP amendment is triggered by the proposed development with the TCC Site Plan application. The purpose of JHU’s FCP amendment is to modify the previously approved FFCP for the Overall Site to accommodate TCC’s proposed development in their Site Plan application (“TCC Site Plan”).

Update: Basement Fire in Gaithersburg Causes Approximately $100K in Damage

By Patrick Herron

Published April 4, 2023 at 10:48AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire on Prairie Rose Ln., off Muddy Branch Rd in Gaithersburg on Monday, April 3. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire originated in a basement workshop area of the three-story townhouse and was likely caused by lithium batteries. Smoke alarms alerted residents of the fire, who then attempted to fight the fire themselves before notifying MCFRS. All human occupants made it out of the home safely and two adults have been displaced. Firefighters located two cats, one of which was successfully resuscitated, and one that did not survive. Approximately 60 firefighters responded to the scene. Damage is estimated to be ~$100K.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update (230p 4/3) Prairie Rose La, Gburg, Origin/Cause, basement workshop area, plastic storage bin, likely involved lithium batteries; Damage >$100K; smoke alarm alerted residents, delay notifying FF (tried to fight fire) FFs rescued 2 cats, 1 died; 2 adults displaced”

Gaithersburg: Community Development Block Grant Funding Public Meeting Notice

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 6:35AM

Per the City of Gaithersburg: Notice to the general public is hereby given that the City will hold a public meeting to invite comments on the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding available to the City through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The City is preparing its Consolidated Plan and FY 23 Action Plan for the period July 2023 – June 2024. At this meeting, staff will introduce the CDBG program, describe how funds must benefit low-moderate income households, and describe proposed activities to benefit these residents & communities.

Gaithersburg Man Killed in Nevada Motorcycle Crash

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 6:19AM

A Gaithersburg man is dead after a motorcycle crash near the Lake Mead National Recreation area just outside of Las Vegas at approximately 2:30pm last Monday on State Route 167, according to Nevada State Police.

According to investigators, 29-year-old Richard Bienve Batista Peralta, from Gaithersburg, MD, was speeding and lost control of the motorcycle when he approached a curve. The motorcycle went into the dirt shoulder on the side of the road, overturned, and Peralta was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Le Macaron in Rio Expected to Open in Coming Months

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 4:36AM

Last October we let you know that French pastry shop Le Macaron is coming to 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. The store is scheduled to open in “Spring 2023”, but our best guess would be late spring based on where it’s at in the construction process. More on the history Le Macaron, per its website:

MoCo’s Jordan Hawkins Leads the UConn Huskies Into Tonight’s NCAA Tournament Championship Game

By MCS Staff

Published April 3, 2023 at 6:02PM

MoCo native Jordan Hawkins leads the #4 seed UConn Huskies (30-8, 13-7 Big East) against the #5 seed San Diego State Aztecs (32-6, 15-3 MWC) at 9:20 pm tonight in the NCAA Tournament National Championship.

Jordan Hawkins averages three made 3-pointers per game for the Huskies, averaging 16.2 points per game with a 38.6% three point shooting percentage. Hawkins is a Montgomery County native who attended Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Germantown and Gaithersburg High School for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to DeMatha. His UConn Huskies enter the game at 7.5 point favorites.