Germantown Archives - Page 103 of 147

Planet Fitness in Germantown Temporarily Closed

Published November 2, 2022 at 7:12PM

Planet Fitness at 13031 Wisteria Dr in the Germantown Plaza shopping center has temporarily closed as renovations are currently being made to the location. Signage on the door reads: “We are working on an upgraded and expanded club! We temporarily close on 10/30 at 9pm and plan to re-open the gym floor tentatively on 11/12. Further communication will be sent out! -Planet Fitness Management”

Part of the renovations include expanding next door into the former site of Eye to Eye, which relocated to 19520 Waters Rd in Germantown over a year ago. The nearby Gaithersburg Planet Fitness, which is also currently undergoing renovations, is open for business. The company will also be opening a new location at 5520 Randolph Rd in Rockville (Montrose Shopping Center) in the space that was formerly occupied by Gold’s Gym.

19-Year-Old Arrested for Germantown Murder; MCPD Announces 100 Percent Closure Rate for Homicides in 2022

By Patrick Herron

Published November 1, 2022 at 6:44PM | Updated November 1, 2022 at 7:46PM

On February 10, 2022, 5th District officers responded to the location of Cinnamon Drive and Mustard Seed Court for the report of a shooting that just occurred. Officers arrived at the scene and located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers provided life saving measures until fire rescue arrived and transported Jones to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Jones, of Germantown, subsequently succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital on February 11, 2022.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives were able to identify Mcroy as a suspect. On October 27, 2022, Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office indicted Mcroy with first-degree murder in reference to the homicide of Keon Jones. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives from the Major Crimes Division are asking anyone who has information about this homicide to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070 or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous.

MCPD Responds to Report of Shooting in Germantown Saturday Night; Weapon Revealed to be Pellet Gun

By Patrick Herron

Published October 30, 2022 at 12:18PM

The preliminary investigation has determined that a male victim was grazed on the leg by a projectile from a pellet gun. The victim was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The suspect(s) have not been apprehended.”

Update on CAVA Digital Kitchen in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published October 28, 2022 at 2:45PM

Permanent signage is up for Cava Digital Kitchen at 19865 Century Blvd in Germantown, which is replacing Zoe’s Kitchen. We’re told the restaurant is hoping to open in November, but no date has been announced. CAVA opened their first Digital Kitchen in Sandy Spring, GA back in March. According to a social media posts by CAVA, “CAVA Digital Kitchen has arrived… Just order ahead on our app or our site for easy pickup or delivery! Convenient *and* delicious. Build your bowl: order.cava.com”

CAVA, the fast-casual restaurant that started in MoCo, acquired Zoe’s and its 200+ restaurants in 2018 for approximately $300 million

Maryland State Police Arrest Men On Gun Charges Following Two Traffic Stops In Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published October 28, 2022 at 1:28PM

At about 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, troopers from the Rockville Barrack conducted a traffic stop on Piney Branch Road south of Ray Drive in Silver Spring, Maryland for a vehicle with suspected illegally tinted windows. Troopers observed suspected illegal drugs in the vehicle. This led to a probable cause search, which yielded a handgun that had been reported stolen in South Carolina.The driver of the vehicle, Robel Habtu, 20, of Silver Spring, Maryland was arrested at the scene. He is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, illegal possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and possession of a firearm while underage. Habtu was transported to the Montgomery County Detention Center. He was released after posting $7,500 bond. The cases remain under investigation.

Traffic: 355 Shut Down at 118 Due to Collision

By Patrick Herron

Published October 28, 2022 at 11:55AM | Updated October 28, 2022 at 12:15PM

A traffic collision has 355 south, just before route 118 (Germantown Rd) shut down, with only one lane open, according to Montgomery County Police.

Drivers should seek an alternate route and expect significant delays. We will post an update when more information becomes available.

Progress at ‘Laperaux, the Journeymanchef’s Bistro’ in Germantown

By MCS Staff

Published October 28, 2022 at 7:23AM | Updated December 27, 2022 at 5:17PM

Back in April we let you know of the impending arrival of Laperaux, the Journeymanchef’s Bistro, the new restaurant coming to 18056 Mateny Rd in Germantown, the former home of Gumbo Ya Ya, Dickie’s BBQ Pit, and Cafe Mileto (located in the same strip as Shoppers). The French bistro is making progress and currently hopes to open in December. We’ll be able to provide you with a sneak peak and additional information in about a month or so. Chef and owner Gregory Webb, who has earned such accolades and awards as “Chef of the Year 1998” in Houston, Texas, “Winner all Categories” at the Texas Open Wild Game Cookoff, “Top Chefs of Mexico City” and many others, will be bringing a French bistro to the location, which hopes to open by the end of the year.

The restaurant will offer high casual cuisine created by Webb, who has competed against Bobby Flay on The Food Network, and won numerous ‘chopped style’ competitions put on for various local charity and fund raising events, including DC Central Kitchen’s Chefs Cook Off. Webb decided on the location because it’s close to his Gaithersburg home. Previously, he spent 7 years as the executive chef at Downtown Crown’s Paladar.

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

By MCS Staff

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.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Ask for Public’s Assistance Locating Missing 14-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published October 25, 2022 at 8:21PM

Azevedo is approximately 5-feet tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black sweater tied around her waist, green leggings and white Fila sneakers. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Fernanda De Silva Azevedo is asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400 or the police non-emergency number at (301) 279- 8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

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:

Worst Parking Lots in MoCo 2022

By Patrick Herron

Published October 21, 2022 at 4:17PM

“The Costco in Gaithersburg is the 7th circle of hell” is just one of many answers we received when we asked the question, “What is the worst parking lot in MoCo?” on social media. Everyone has had their share of terrible experiences in MoCo parking lots, and while there are more than 26 “bad” parking lots, we’ve narrowed down a list (in no particular order) of what we feel are the worst.