The Holy Cross Health Foundation was awarded $552,000 by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to help increase equitable access to quality prenatal and perinatal care. The investment will expand clinical services, ensuring a healthy start for all babies and families who receive care at Holy Cross Health every day. Holy Cross Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, people-centered health system that serves the two most populous counties in Maryland, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Holy Cross Hospital, in Silver Spring, is one of the largest hospitals in Maryland, and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital is the first hospital in the nation on a community college campus, enhanced by an educational partnership. Full press release below:

Many of Holy Cross Health’s women and infant initiatives provide care for the underserved, uninsured, immigrant, and under-insured local families who otherwise would not have access to quality health care. The programs help to lessen the economic strain on families by offering a comprehensive approach to care. Families have access to specially trained staff, physicians, and team members focusing on critical care, so that when the unexpected happens, families know they are in the best place for care for their baby.


Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Jose Dagoberto Membreno Orellana, a missing 18-year-old from Germantown. Membreno Orellana was last seen on Thursday, October 12, 2023, on Dovedale Way in Germantown. He is 5-feet, 3-inches tall, 120 Ibs., with black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black sweatshirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black baseball hat.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jose Dagoberto Membreno Orellana is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).


Per Montgomery Parks: This Halloween let the ghoul times roll with friends and family at the Ridge Road Recreational Park Inline Rink for Montgomery Parks’ Frankenskate. On Saturday, October 28, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm come as you aren’t in your best Halloween costumes to enjoy this eerie-sistible afternoon full of music, lawn games, and treats – no tricks, we promise!

Bring your own skates and boogie on down to the sounds of the DJ spinning spooky throwbacks. Refuel at the concession area with local food vendors. Take a break from the rink and lounge on the lawn with your best witches.


Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating London Hoes, a missing 27-year-old. Hoes was last seen on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at approximately 10 a.m., in the area of Locbury Ct. in Germantown. She is 5’8, 150 lbs, with brown hair styled in locs, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black frame glasses, carrying a red backpack

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of London Hoes is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a collision in Germantown around 3:30pm on Tuesday, October 10. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the collision occurred on northbound I-270, near Middlebrook Rd. One patient was evaluated for injuries. Some lanes were blocked following the incident. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available. 

ICYMI (~330p) NB I 270 IAO Middlebrook Road, Collision, @MCFRS_EMIHS evaluating one patient, some lanes were blocked pic.twitter.com/XRFH201wty


The haunt is a benefit performance for Calleva, a 501c3 organization dedicated to building young leaders through positive outdoor experiences. “We spend all year empowering people through outdoor experiences that foster teamwork & individual achievement,” says Nick Markoff, one of the three brothers who founded Calleva. “Then we bring them out to Markoff’s Haunted Forest to knock their confidence back a bit.”  The haunt began as a small scale event, but has grown into one of the nation’s top-ranked performances. Markoff’s Haunted Forest still helps fund Calleva’s summer camp scholarships, community partnerships, and outdoor education programming. It’s a partnership that delivers seasonal fun AND year-round benefits to our Montgomery County neighborhood. Tickets are on sale now at www.markoffshauntedforest.com.

Since 1992, when the Markoff brothers started with a Haunted School Bus driven to events and festivals around DC, our haunt has provided fright fest lovers with a creative, dramatic, and – YES — terrifying haunt experience. Our creative team combines music, lights, scents, actors, make-up & prosthetics, and artistic brilliance in a series of high-tech, detailed scenes that consistently place MHF among the top haunts in the country.


The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Alan Hooker, a missing 24-year-old.  Hooker was last seen on Friday, September 15, 2023, at approximately 6 p.m., in the 20900 block of Frederick Road in Germantown. He is 5-feet, 9-inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, possible facial stubble, and was last seen wearing a blue shirt with Husqvarna in white lettering on the back, a light brown parka hat, black pants and carrying a neon green backpack.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Alan Hooker is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).


The owners of African International Market in Germantown and Gaithersburg are opening a new restaurant in Germantown that will be called ‘Authentic African Restaurant.’ It will be located in Germantown Plaza, in the same shopping center as the first African International Market. An opening date is not yet available, but the restaurant plans to hold its Grand Opening this year (2023). The restaurant will serve authentic African cuisine. We’ll have an update as soon as it’s available.


Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will begin providing sexual health services at the new Upcounty Sexual Health & Wellness Clinic beginning Monday, Oct. 9. The clinic, located at the Sidney Kramer Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road in Germantown, will offer free and low-cost testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV infection.

“While Montgomery County ranks as the healthiest county in Maryland, we have seen an increase in infection rates for STIs, and access to early testing and treatment services is essential to sexual health and wellbeing,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This new clinic location will help residents living in the Upcounty region get services where they live. Many STIs are treatable or curable but early detection is important to successful outcomes.”


Northwest High School principal Scott Smith sent a letter to the community informing them that the school is in a “modified shelter” due to an anonymous threat made via social media. At this time, it is not believed that the threat is credible, but Montgomery County Police is on-sight as a precaution. Full letter can be seen below:

“Dear Northwest High School Students, Families and Staff,


Mother and son are both doing well and resting at Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown after she delivered her own baby on the way to the hospital late Wednesday night. We caught up with the family who told us that “things just kind of progressed quickly on the ride to the hospital” and the baby boy was born on the road leading up to the emergency room entrance just before midnight.

“At one point we were going to go to Shady Grove, which was a couple minutes closer, but she thought we could make it to Germantown.” the shocked father told us. As soon as the family turned onto Observation Dr., where the hospital is located, the baby decided it was time to make an appearance. In the minute or so that it took to get to the emergency room entrance, which was the only entrance open due to the time, the baby was born with mother holding him as hospital staff came out to meet her.


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