Gaithersburg Archives - Page 272 of 401

The Blair Witch Project: Created by Wheaton High School Graduate and Filmed Primarily in MoCo

Published October 26, 2022 at 7:31AM

With Halloween almost here, it’s the perfect time to watch some scary movies. Did you know that the first installment of the Blair Witch franchise, The Blair Witch Project (1999) 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.

Jazzercise Gaithersburg Grand Opening/Open House This Saturday, October 29

By MCS Staff

Published October 26, 2022 at 7:17AM

This past summer we let you know that Jazzercise, a fitness franchise that combines dance, strength and resistance training with popular music for a full-body workout class, will be opening a new location in Muddy Branch Square next to Giant. The workout classes that have been around for over 50 years have additional Montgomery County locations in Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring. Jazzercise will have its grand opening on Saturday, October 29th from 8am-3pm. Additional details below:

“Join us for the Grand Opening of the Jazzercise Gaithersburg Fitness Center! Our open house celebration will feature FREE classes, raffle prizes, studio tours, sign-up deals, and so much fun.

MCPD Autism/IDD Unit Hosts Driver Safety Course and Mock Traffic Stops

By Patrick Herron

Published October 25, 2022 at 10:23AM

The Montgomery County Police Department – Autism/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Unit will be conducting a driver safety course on Tuesday, November 1, from 2-6pm at Public Safety Headquarters (100 Edison Park Drive) in Gaithersburg to teach those with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities the importance of being a safe driver and what to do if they are pulled over or in an accident. Per MCPD:

The Montgomery County Autism/IDD Unit was established in 2004 and provides a broad approach to safety and action, along with awareness, for those with autism and other intellectual disabilities.”

Exterior Construction Complete at CVS Kentlands

By MCS Staff

Published October 25, 2022 at 7:45AM

Exterior construction appears to be complete at the upcoming CVS location in the Kentlands. The fencing that surrounded the construction site for the last few months has been removed, but there is still work left to do on the surrounding parking lot and interior of the store (photos below). While an opening date has not been provided, it’s very possible that CVS could open in the next couple months.

We first reported that CVS would be taking over the old Tommy Joe’s/Boulevard Tavern/Brasserie Beck/O’Donnell’s location in the Kentlands back in 2019, and it took a while for demolition/construction to get started, but things have moved quickly in recent months.

Progress at Shake Shack Kentlands

By MCS Staff

Published October 25, 2022 at 7:34AM

Following months of delays due to flooding at the site, construction has continued at the upcoming Shake Shack location in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood. As shown in the featured photo, the frame of the building has gone up and it should construction of the building should move quickly from here, weather permitting. While an opening timeframe hasn’t been provided, we’d expect the restaurant to open in the first half of 2023.

Background: On July 8, 2021, Shake Shack was granted approval for the construction of a 4,700 square foot building with outdoor seating as the second of three commercial infill sites totaling 16,000 square feet along Kentlands Square Place. The burger chain was granted its license to sell beer and wine on the premises during its Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) hearing on January 6th of 2022, and prepared to break ground in February. Construction began in March, but stalled after flooding that occurred over the summer.

Update: Victim’s Identity Released as Detectives Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Collision That Occurred on Midcounty Highway Saturday Night

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2022 at 4:32PM | Updated October 24, 2022 at 4:52PM

At approximately 8:42 p.m., 6th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a pedestrian struck. The victim was pronounced dead on scene.

For reasons still under investigation, the victim, who was located in the roadway, was hit by a red Saturn Aura. The driver of the Saturn remained on scene following the collision. CRU detectives are working to locate the victim’s next of kin. His name will be released following proper notification of next of kin.

Progress at Sweetgreen in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Published October 24, 2022 at 4:28PM

Last October we let you know that Sweetgreen would be taking over the Verizon Wireless storefront, located next to Downtown Crown Beer & Wine, in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown development. Verizon has since moved within Crown, and signage for Sweetgreen went up in August. Earlier today we stopped by and were told by workers that construction will be complete in “a couple months”, giving the fast-casual restaurant an expected early 2023 opening. We were also told permanent signage is going up very soon.

Sweetgreen currently has three MoCo locations, in Bethesda, Downtown Silver Spring, and Pike & Rose. Crown has been without a fast-casual salad restaurant since Chopt closed in early 2020 and has since moved that location to the Kentlands neighborhood.

Courtesy Review of Plan That Would Bring 180 New Units to City by Gaithersburg’s Historic District Commission Takes Place October 26

By MCS Staff

Published October 24, 2022 at 1:51PM | Updated October 24, 2022 at 2:29PM

The City of Gaithersburg’s Historic District Commission (HDC) is scheduled to provide a non-binding courtesy review of the Park and Brookes Avenues Concept Site Plan (CSP-9149-2021) at its October 26 meeting. The Planning Commission is expected to review the Concept Site Plan after the HDC courtesy review. MBW and Haris Design and Construction Co. submitted Concept Site Plan application (SP-9149-2021) on December 16, 2021, to demolish the buildings located at 9, 11, and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue in anticipation of redevelopment into a pair of multifamily buildings totaling 180 units with 2,217 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The building at the intersection of Park and Brookes Avenues will stand four (4) stories tall, and the building to the south along Park Avenue will stand five (5) stories tall. A City-owned alley extends between the two (2) buildings.

Status: Before any demolition permit is issued, the HDC reviews each structure or building fifty (50) years old or older to consider a building’s potential historic or architectural significance for historic designation either individually or as part of an historic district, under the criteria specified in Sec. 24-226 of the City Code. The HDC initially reviewed SP-9149-2021 at its June 22, 2022, meeting. The application was deferred to its next meeting so the HDC could receive more historical information on the properties. At its July 27 meeting, the HDC determined there was reasonable probability 9, 11, 13, and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue could be locally designated as an historic district, or, in the alternative, 9 and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue could be locally designated as individual sites. The HDC directed Staff to prepare a petition resolution to the Mayor and City Council, and the HDC approved the resolution at its August 24 meeting. At its October 3 meeting, the City Council voted not to accept the HDC’s petition to designate the properties as historic. The HDC is scheduled to provide a non-binding courtesy review of the Park and Brookes Avenues Concept Site Plan (CSP-9149-2021) at its October 26 meetingAs currently designed, the project also will require a height waiver from the City Council.

Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen Aiming for an Early 2023 Opening at Rio Lakefront

By MCS Staff

Published October 24, 2022 at 8:16AM

Coming soon signage recently went up at Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen at 229 Boardwalk Pl. in Rio. The restaurant will be located in the 2,741SF space previously occupied by BGR, which closed back in June. We have been told by Rio Lakefront that the restaurant is currently anticipating an early 2023 opening. Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen in Rio will be a fast-casual restaurant, while the recently opened Miss Toya’s Creole Kitchen at 923 Ellsworth Dr in Downtown Silver Spring is full-service (wait staff, etc.).

The restaurant is part of Jeffeary Miskiri’s Miskiri Hospitality Group, which describes itself as a unique collective of Black, family and woman-owned products and restaurants in the DC area. Miss Toya’s will serve southern-influenced dishes such as red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese and a southern fried chicken sandwich. It will be joining the recently announced Sportrock Climbing Centers, Charley Prime, Le Macaron, as well as the recently opened Donutchew, as locally-based businesses opening in Gaithersburg’s Rio. Below you’ll see a video of the recently opened full-service Miss Toya’s restaurant in Downtown Silver Spring:

MoCo Ghost Story: The Headless Horseman of Game Preserve Road

By MCS Staff

Published October 24, 2022 at 7:57AM

From the Montgomery County Sentinel in 1876: “As the story goes, during the Civil War a soldier was decapitated by a saber in a skirmish around what is now Game Preserve Road. After the fight, his fellow soldiers hastily buried him in an unmarked grave, even though they couldn’t find his head to bury with his body.”

The story has been passed down for many generations and many have told tales about the supposed unmarked grave of the headless man. Some have recalled strange noises and apparitions with glowing eyes. Others have seen the figure of a headless soldier (sometimes on a horse and sometimes without it), while many have driven down the Gaithersburg road several times and have stated they’ve never noticed anything out of the ordinary. Below you’ll see a few responses to this story in years past:

Detectives Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Collision That Occurred on Midcounty Highway Saturday Night

By Patrick Herron

Published October 23, 2022 at 6:14PM | Updated October 23, 2022 at 6:40PM

At approximately 8:42 p.m., 6th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a pedestrian struck. The victim was pronounced dead on scene. For reasons still under investigation, the victim, who was located in the roadway, was hit by a red Saturn Aura. The driver of the Saturn remained on scene following the collision.