B.F. Saul has provided an update on Twinbrook Quarter, announcing that they plan to turn the grocery store space over Wegmans in early Spring of 2024, after which Wegmans will begin to build out the store’s interior. The grocery store has a planned 2025 opening.
Roadwork at Halpine & Chapman: Regrading at the intersection of Halpine Road and Chapman Avenue is underway this week and possibly over the next few weeks. The road will remain open with some adjustment to the traffic flow.
Last March, Bill No. 1-22 Healthy Meals for Children, which requires restaurants in Montgomery County that offer a children’s meal to provide a healthy option (meal and drink) for their youngest customers, was passed. The first phase (healthy beverage option) went into effect in March, and the second phase (healthy meal option) goes into effect this Friday, September 15. This is the first bill of this nature to be fully implemented in the country. It should be noted that while a healthy option must be presented, customers are not limited in selecting any menu item of their choice. According to the bill, the healthy meals must be under 600 calories and include the following:
On Thursday, county leaders held a press conference at the Silver Diner (12276 Rockville Pike) in Rockville. Per the restaurant, “Silver Diner made it clear today that it supports Montgomery County, Maryland’s new legislation, “Healthy Meals for Children” Bill. (Bill 1-22) that goes into effect on Friday, Sept. 15. The legislation requires food and restaurant facilities offering children’s meals to include healthy food and beverage options, something Silver Diner has been doing for more than 10 years.
The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Xavier Beltran, a missing 15-year-old. Beltran was last seen on Monday, September 11, 2023, in the 200 block of Poplar St. in Rockville. He is 5’6″, 120 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants and red and black high top sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Xavier Beltran is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
According to the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Michael Mason, defendant, David Hall Dixon, 42, of Takoma Park, MD, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of 38-year-old James Johnson and 32-year-old Dominique Williams, and one count of first-degree assault for shooting at a third victim. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 16th, 2023. Dixon faces up to 30 years in prison per a plea agreement. The judge may or may not add additional suspended time.
This stems from an incident on the morning of April 7th, 2021, when the defendant fired gun shots at a vehicle in the parking lot of his apartment building located along the 7000 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park, striking two of the occupants. Dixon told police that he believed the people inside of the vehicle had been attempting to break into a parked van. The defendant was an off-duty Police Officer with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. State’s Attorney John McCarthy and Assistant State’s Attorney George Simms are prosecuting this case.” Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.
Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks will host Parks Ale Trail on Sunday, September 24, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. This free, family-friendly festival features a nearly two-mile hike along the trails of Lake Needwood in Rock Creek Regional Park, live music, as well as a beer garden and food from area vendors available for purchase. Kids will have an opportunity to climb trees for a bird’s-eye view of the lake and park, with the support of Montgomery Parks tree climbing crews or enjoy the inflatables. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed.
“We are excited to bring back Parks Ale Trail this year. We are also excited to be featuring five Montgomery County breweries and a winery this year. It promises to be a beautiful day to kick off fall and the Oktoberfest season with a hike, live music, local beer, and food and fun with family and friends,” said Michael Coppersmith, director of Montgomery Parks Activation Program.
On August 27, 2023, at approximately 7: 53 p.m., 2nd District officers observed orange spray paint reading, “Club Aryan Excellent” with a black Swastika in an orange outline and a palm tree painted on the wall under the Josiah Henson Parkway pedestrian tunnel.
Anyone with information regarding suspect(s) or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Tips may remain anonymous.”
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Christopher Fogelman sentenced defendant, Teymour Peters, 22, of Rockville, to ten years in prison suspend all but one year and five years of supervised probation upon release. In addition, the defendant has served seven months pre-trial and is not receiving credit for time served, so the total sentence is 19 months in prison. The sentencing hearing occurred on Monday, September 11th.
Peters pleaded guilty on June 15th, 2023, to involuntary manslaughter for the death of Kevin Ourand, 20, of Rockville. Ourand was found deceased by his mother in her basement on October 12, 2022. A medical examiner determined cause of death to be fentanyl intoxication. The defendant sold Ourand pills and it was clear from messages recovered from the victim’s phone that the defendant was aware the pills contained fentanyl. These were blue pills stamped with the letter “M” and the number “30” to mimic the appearance of prescription medication. This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Kimberly Cissel and Jennifer Harrison, who both serve on the Overdose Prosecution Task Force.”
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) was dispatched to the 14800 blk of Southlawn Ln (Rockville), Georgetown Paper Stock of Rockville, for an “outside fire involving paperstock and recyclables” shortly after 8pm on Tuesday night.
According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, four fire engines, two aerial towers, one brush truck, and one rescue squad was required for this call. Firefighters used heavy equipment to expose fire and wet down.
Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today announced more than $11.5 million in federal highway safety grants to organizations across Maryland as part of a statewide focus to prevent motor vehicle crashes and eliminate roadway fatalities. The federal funds will be distributed on Oct. 1 by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office to 85 agencies, organizations, and programs.
“These investments are critical to building and maintaining a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system in Maryland,” said Gov. Moore. “Our administration is committed to partnering with local governments, officials and advocacy groups to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities and to ensure that highway safety remains a top priority across the state.”
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested and charged 19-year-old Bill Gomez with auto theft related offenses that occurred over the span of several months in the Rockville and Baltimore areas. Detectives from the Auto Crime Enforcement Section (ACES) were investigating the rise of Infiniti G37 models being stolen in the county and developed Gomez as a suspect.
The investigation revealed that Gomez was running a pseudo “chop-shop” out of his residence located in the 800 block of Westmore Avenue in Rockville. Gomez had also obtained Vehicle Identification Numbers from wrecked/salvaged vehicles and placed them onto stolen vehicles to conceal their stolen status.
Dollar Tree has signed on to take on the vacant space on the upper level of the Metro Pike Center at 11560 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda. Construction is expected to begin soon on the space next to Palm Beach Tan. An opening date is not yet available, but we anticipate a 2024 opening.
The national chain, which has MoCo locations in Damascus, Derwood, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Montgomery Village, Rockville, Silver Spring, and Wheaton has added “Dollar Tree Plus” sections to area stores. Items in the “Plus” section are priced $3 and $5. New higher priced items include cookware, headphones, chargers, and t-shirts (Baby Yoda, Lilo & Stich, etc.) similar to those found at FiveBelow.