On Tuesday, September 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Montgomery Planning will host a meeting to offer residents the opportunity to provide feedback on what they love about working or living in the Great Seneca corridor area, discuss and share ideas that will help create a shared vision for the area, and inform the recommendations for the Great Seneca plan. Online registration is required. Residents can also provide feedback through an online questionnaire.

The Great Seneca area consists of the area that surrounds Shady Grove Adventist Hospital & the Universities at Shady Grove, as well as the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) and the Londonderry, western Quince Orchard, Rosemont & Oakmont neighborhoods. Gaithersburg occupies 10 square miles in the center of the Plan area.


Per the news release from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office:  The Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent in the fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 20 in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The decedent has been identified as 35-year-old Hamed Ghorouni Delcheh, of Germantown, Maryland. Because the involved officer was assigned to the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force at the time of the shooting, the Independent Investigations Division is investigating this incident in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both agencies continue to investigate the circumstances of this fatal shooting.


Inferno Pizzeria, located at 12207 Darnestown Rd., will be closed until August 31 for a summer vacation, the restaurant announced last week via social media. “To afford our small staff the opportunity to rest and enjoy time with family and friends, each August we close the restaurant for two weeks. Please plan to join us again when we return and thank you for your understanding.

Back on June 29, USA Today published a ‘Top 50 Pizzerias in the US’ list, “as ranked by Italian pizza experts.” The list was created by 50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation site in Paestum, Italy, not far from Naples. New York City reigned supreme with 9 pizzerias on the list, but Inferno made the list as Montgomery County’s only contribution, coming in as the 25th ranked pizzeria in the country.


Update per Montgomery County Police: At approximately 11:23 p.m., for reasons unknown a juvenile male was involved in a dispute in the area of the 18300 block of Lost Knife Circle. During the course of the dispute, shots were fired and it was determined that a juvenile male was the victim of a shooting. Officers and fire rescue responded. The victim was transported to an area hospital with serious injury.

Original Report: A teenager was shot at approximately 11:20pm last night on Lost Knife Circle, which is located just off of Montgomery Village Avenue and Lost Knife Road in Montgomery Village. Officers were initially dispatched for a sound of shots complain and found the teenaged victim critically shot. Officers rendered first aid prior to EMS arrival. The victim was transported to the hospital with very serious injuries.


On Thursday, August 18th, the basketball courts at Life Time in Gaithersburg will be closed due to basketball backboards being removed, as the right side court will be permanently converted to Pickleball in the coming weeks. The basketball courts are currently unavailable due to Summer Camp that ends on Friday, August 26th. After that date, full basketball availability will continue in Gym 1 and Pickleball will become a permanent fixture once the courts are ready.

Per the Life Time website, each club has scheduled pickup play for basketball throughout the week for adults, including 18+ and 40+ only, as well as kids 17 and under and 12 and under. Outside of the pickup schedule and other scheduled events on the court, you can always shoot hoops or find a game of 21, 2-on-2 or even a run of 5-on-5. Pickleball is offered through clinics, lessons, and open play, which is a series of set times every week where all players with a reservation can participate in fun and challenging games.


DrinkMaryland, a market-like pop up event, will make a stop at Olde Towne Plaza in Gaithersburg on Friday, September 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. Featuring local Maryland wine, cider & beer, this open-air market is perfect for a casual Friday night. Learn about the local craft beverage industry from the vintners, brewers & distillers themselves while sampling their products. Enjoy live music, visit with artisans & crafters, and enjoy food from vendors & local restaurants in the historic commercial center of Gaithersburg.

Unlike traditional wine tasting events, DrinkMaryland is an open marketplace for visitors to explore. Public entry to the event is free; tasting passes for the sampling of wine, cider, mead, beer, and distilled spirits can be purchased for $20 in advance or $25 on-site. Order a sampling pass here. Artisans & crafters are still being sought for this Maryland Makers event. For vendor information, please contact the Community Museum.


The annual Oktoberfest celebration returns to transform the Kentlands in Gaithersburg, with multiple stages of live entertainment featuring traditional Bavarian music & dancing, along with local, regional & national talent. Fall-themed activities for families, a Business Expo, artisans, beer, mead & cider, and delicious food will delight attendees throughout the day. The event will take place on Sunday, October 9th from 12pm until 5pm. In past years this event has drawn crowds of up to 30,000. Admission, shuttles & parking are free to the public.

In the past, Oktoberfest has allowed area residents to experience a taste of Germany right in their own backyard with musical performances, traditional festival food, and samples from many local microbreweries and Maryland varietal wines. Fall festivities have previously included professional pumpkin carving and apple cider pressing demonstrations, free horse-drawn wagon rides, hands-on crafts, pumpkin and face painting, artists and crafters, family activities, and strolling entertainers. More details will be added as the event draws nearer.


Update per Montgomery County Police: At approximately 11:23 p.m., for reasons unknown a juvenile male was involved in a dispute in the area of the 18300 block of Lost Knife Circle. During the course of the dispute, shots were fired and it was determined that a juvenile male was the victim of a shooting. Officers and fire rescue responded. The victim was transported to an area hospital with serious injury.

Original Report: A teenager was shot at approximately 11:20pm last night on Lost Knife Circle, which is located just off of Montgomery Village Avenue and Lost Knife Road in Montgomery Village. Officers were initially dispatched for a sound of shots complain and found the teenaged victim critically shot. Officers rendered first aid prior to EMS arrival. The victim was transported to the hospital with very serious injuries.


Barnes & Noble has announced the return of their popular Book Haul event. It began on August 12th and will be running through Labor Day weekend.  The bookseller again offers book lovers half-off from over 700 Hardcover books. While supplies last, there are books included in every genre and all stores nationwide are participating, as well as online at bn.com/bookhaul. There are Montgomery County Barnes & Noble locations in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront and Rockville’s Congressional Plaza. In addition to books, the sale includes deals on board games, planners, LEGOs, tea, and more.

Per the press release: “This is the biggest Book Haul in our history,” said Jackie De Leo, Chief Merchandising Officer, Barnes & Noble.  “With half-off so many exciting and new hardcover titles during Book Haul, it gives our customers a fantastic opportunity to build out their bookshelf. The choice is wider than ever and for those who are quick on their feet into our stores, there are so many brilliant titles to be had.”


Zion Allen was last seen on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at approximately 9 p.m. in the 10000 block of Polk Square Court.

Allen is approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. He has dark brown hair, that he wears in locks and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black Nike jacket, white shorts, and red headphones. He was carrying a multi-colored, “Jordan” backpack and was riding a blue and white bicycle.


Construction began this past winter on a 244 unit multi-family building with amenity space and internal courtyards at 333 Ellington Blvd in Downtown Crown (photos and renderings below). This will also include the expansion of the existing parking garage on Copley Place. The Planning Commission approved the Final Site Plan application back on June 16, 2021. The Property is comprised of 76,894 sq. ft. (approximately 1.765 acres), located in the City of Gaithersburg. We don’t expect completion until 2023. Additional information and renderings can be seen below, courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg:

The site is the last multi-family redevelopment site in Neighborhood 1 of Downtown Crown and, upon its construction, Neighborhood 1 will be largely built-out in its contribution to the overall vision established by the Sketch Plan and the Schematic Development Plan (defined and discussed in further detail below) for this community.


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