Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old from Wheaton. Bridget Coca was last seen in the 2800 block of Hardy Avenue on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Bridget Coca is 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has long black hair and brown eyes.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Bridget Coca is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old from Silver Spring.    Samar Hammad was last seen on Monday, March 6, 2023, at approximately 9 p.m., at her residence on Fairland Rd. in Silver Spring.

Samar is 5-feet, 4-inches tall and weighs 90 pounds. She has brown and red hair and brown eyes. She was last seen carrying a black and orange Six Flags bag and wearing brown paisley print flair pants.    Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


Admissions to the Adventist HealthCare Alternate Care Site (ACS) in Takoma Park stopped on Monday, February 20, 2023, and current patients, at the time, in the care of the ACS, continued to receive services there until discharge. Adventist HealthCare will decommission the site by April 28.

Per the city of Takoma Park: In May 2020, Adventist HealthCare worked with the state of Maryland to open a COVID-19 Alternate Care Site (ACS), one of five such sites dedicated to caring for those impacted by COVID-19. Since then, the ACS in Takoma Park at the former Washington Adventist Hospital site has played a vital role in recovering more than 4,000 COVID-19 patients and supported hospitals and health facilities in the region during the pandemic’s surges.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sunday, March 5, 2023, in 900 block of Bonifant St. At approximately 10:17 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for a check the welfare call. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male deceased, in a car, with an apparent gunshot wound.

The body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, where an autopsy will be conducted to officially determine the cause and manner of death. Currently, there is no suspect in custody. This an active and ongoing investigation. The name of the decedent will be released following proper notification of next-of-kin.


David is 6-feet, 1-inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. David was last seen wearing a black puffy jacket, black pants and black boots. David drives a dark blue Chevrolet, Malibu 4-door sedan with Maryland registration plate: 8EJ1963.     Police and family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of David Kasozi is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.


One person has died following a shooting Sunday night in Silver Spring. According to Montgomery County Police, “At approximately 10:17 p.m. Third District officers responded to the 900 Block of Bonifant Street for the report of a one down. When officers arrived they located one adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. It was determined the victim succumbed to his injuries. This is an ongoing investigation.” We will post an update or additional information becomes available.

DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING CRITICAL SHOOTING: Bonifant Street between US-29 Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street in Downtown Silver Spring, MD (Montgomery County). ~10:10PM Sunday, man found shot, critically injured. Details limited; Montgomery County Police investigating… #DTSS


Back in July we let you know that Dollar Tree is coming to 2321 University Blvd W in Wheaton, the former site of CVS (next to Max’s, which closed in July). CVS closed this location back in December 2019.  Neighboring businesses let us know that the opening is likely coming very soon and a peek inside shows that construction is nearly complete with the store currently looking like it only needs to be stocked before being ready to open (photos below).

Dollar Tree has undergone several big changes over the past year.  In January 2021, the company raised the price of all items in its stores from $1 to $1.25.  At the time, Dollar Tree said the higher prices were not a result of inflation, but rather to allow the company to offer a wider range of merchandise. In April the chain added “Dollar Tree Plus” sections to area stores, with items priced $3 and $5.  The higher priced items include cookware, headphones, chargers, and t-shirts (Baby Yoda, Lilo & Stich, etc.)  similar to those found at FiveBelow.


In December we let you know that Red Ribbon Bakeshop, a Filipino bakery chain, is coming to Wheaton. The bakery will be located at 2501 University Blvd W right next to the Anchor Inn sign that still stands. Currently, Red Ribbon Bakeshop has over 200 locations across the Philippines and 39 in the United States. In 2005 it was acquired by Jollibee Foods Corporation, which opened its first D.C. area Jollibee location at Wheaton Mall in 2021. Red Ribbon Bakeshop announced on its social media in November that it is hiring a General Manager for the location and has since added coming soon signage, but there is still plenty of construction left to go inside (photo below). Though we don’t have an opening date, we suspect the bakery to be at least a couple months away from opening.

More about Red Ribbon: In 1979, Amalia Hizon Mercado, husband Renato Mercado together with their five children, Consuelo Tiutan, Teresita Moran, Renato Mercado, Ricky Mercado and Romy Mercado established Red Ribbon as a small cake shop along Timog Avenue in Quezon City. The cakes developed by daughter Teresita Moran are what gave Red Ribbon its prominence in the dessert market of the Philippines. In 1984, it opened its first overseas outlet in West Covina, California. The company began franchising in 1999. Today, there are more than 200 branches all over the Philippines and 39 in the United States as it continues to expand.


On March 4 at 10:28 am, Takoma Park Police responded to the 7100 block of Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland, for the report of an armed carjacking.  The suspect ordered the victim out of her vehicle at gunpoint.  The victim complied and the suspect fled with her vehicle.  The suspect was described as a Black male, skinny, 5’6 to 5’8, 18-22 years old, last seen wearing all dark clothing and a black ski mask.  The suspect’s handgun was described as a small compact black handgun.

The victim’s vehicle was described as a 2023 black Toyota.  The victim was not seriously physically injured. At approximately 4:08 pm, through investigation, the vehicle was located intact in the District of Columbia. Investigation continues under case #230010692 Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


CVS has recently opened locations at 311 Kentlands Blvd in Gaithersburg and at 22701 Gosnell Farm Dr in Clarksburg. CVS is also expected to open a location in the new Westside at Shady Grove Metro development, in the area across from the strip that contains Starbucks, Inspire Nails, Kids Ground, and more (Crabbs Branch Way and Gramercy Blvd).


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