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Gold’s Gym Now Open in Germantown

Published July 21, 2023 at 11:39AM

Gold’s Gym is now open at 12922 Middlebrook Road in Germantown, in the former location of DSW in the Germantown Commons shopping center, next to the recently closed Bed Bath & Beyond. Gold’s Gym previously had a Germantown location in the Fox Chapel shopping center which closed in December, soon after the new gym was announced.

Gold’s Gym has other Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, and two in Rockville (Rockville Town Square and Wintergreen Plaza). Featured photo courtesy of Gold’s Gym Germantown.

Maryland Department of the Environment Encourages Water Conservation with Drought Watch for Portions of the State

By MCS Staff

Published July 21, 2023 at 6:44AM

Per The Maryland Department of the Environment: The Maryland Department of the Environment is urging citizens and businesses in a large part of the state to voluntarily reduce their water usage as a drought watch has been issued. “Water conservation is a good practice year-round, but we are asking residents and businesses to pay particular attention during the summer months when the State can experience hot and dry conditions,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain.

“You can do your part by limiting the use and duration of sprinklers for lawns, taking short showers as opposed to baths, and not leaving the faucet running while brushing your teeth. These things sound simple, but it all adds up.” A drought watch has been issued for Western Maryland and portions of Central Maryland based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year. During a drought watch, MDE increases oversight of water supply conditions and encourages voluntary water conservation practices. No mandatory water use restrictions have been issued.

CVS Announces Closing Date For One of Its Germantown Locations

By MCS Staff

Published July 20, 2023 at 3:11PM

Last month we let you know that CVS at 18080 Mateny Rd in the Cloppers Mill shopping center in Germantown confirmed that the store will be closing. Signage is now up at the store announcing that the store will be closing on Thursday, August 24th and directing customers to a nearby Germantown location at 1285 Wisteria Drive and the new Kentlands lcoation at 311 Kentlands Blvd in Gaithersburg (photo below).

CVS also recently closed its locations at 9140 Rothbury Drive in the Goshen Crossing shopping center in Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village and at 10113 New Hampshire Ave in the Hillandale Shopping Center. In 2021, CVS announced that it would be closing approximately 900 stores “over the next 3 years due to changes in population, consumer buying patterns, and future health needs.” CVS locations at Rockville Town Square (360 Hungerford Drive) and Twinbrook Center (2210 Veirs Mill Rd) both closed last year as well.

Concern for Missing 50-Year-Old Woman

By Patrick Herron

Published July 20, 2023 at 9:25AM

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Tina Louise Martinez, a missing 50-year-old. Martinez was last seen on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in the 19900 block of Sweetgum Circle in Germantown. She is 5’5″, 210 Ibs., with blonde hair and green eyes and was last seen wearing a tan shirt. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

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

Clarksburg Town Center Looking For Approval on Final Amendments That Would Put the Development “in a position to attract additional tenants”

By MCS Staff

Published July 20, 2023 at 8:40AM

In a proposal from earlier this summer, Clarksburg Town Center is looking for approval on limited amendments that would put the upcoming development in “a position to attract additional tenants and multifamily residents sufficient to support development of this final phase of Clarksburg Town Center.” The subject amendments to the Project Plan, Preliminary Plan and Site Plan propose construction of 179 multifamily units in three buildings along the east side of Clarksburg Square Road, and approximately 99,200 sq. ft. of retail/commercial space, including a grocery store of approximately 55,000 sq. ft.

At a Clarksburg community meeting on the future of the Clarksburg Town Center (CTC) last December, it was revealed in updated plans that the hope was for construction to begin in 2024 and be completed in “one fell swoop”. It was also announced that a grocery anchor, Weis, has signed a letter of intent to open up a new store at the CTC.

Edward U. Taylor School Site in Boyds Added to County’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation

By MCS Staff

Published July 19, 2023 at 5:47PM

The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted July 11 to add the former Edward U. Taylor Elementary School property to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The County Council’s vote designating the Taylor School a historic site aligns with the recommendations of the Montgomery County Planning Department and the Montgomery County Planning Board. The Taylor School was built in 1952 as an elementary school for Black students at a time when Montgomery County used legally sanctioned racial segregation to prohibit Black children from attending white schools. The facility was built to modern school design standards and represents the movement by the county’s Black community to have better facilities and opportunities after decades of public underinvestment in educational facilities for Black children. One of the last schools to be desegregated in 1961, the Taylor School was the only segregated Black elementary or high school that retained its original use as a school building when it integrated.

“Montgomery Planning commends the County Council for designating the Edward U. Taylor Elementary School site historic,” said Acting Planning Director Tanya Stern. “The Taylor School is a significant landmark in the fight against racial segregation in Montgomery County and the nation and educates current and future generations about the struggle to integrate schools. Adding it to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation ensures the inspiring efforts of individuals like Edward U. Taylor and Black organizations, parents, and teachers to obtain quality educational facilities for Black children in the mid-20^th century will never be forgotten.” The draft amendment to add the Taylor School to the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation also proposed adding the former Weller’s Dry Cleaning site in Silver Spring to the master plan. The County Council followed the Planning Board’s recommendation and voted to not designate the Weller’s property historic. Historic designation criteria are established in Chapter 24A in the Montgomery County Code. The Council evaluated the sites against the criteria and found that the Edward U. Taylor School met the following criteria:

Beyond MoCo: Urbana VFD Carnival This Week

By Cordell Pugh

Published July 18, 2023 at 2:10PM

The Urbana Volunteer Fire Department’s 49th Community Carnival is open nightly this week through Sunday, July 23.

The event is tailored towards fun for the whole family. Admission and parking are free, and the doors open every evening this week at 5:30, with rides opening at 6:00. There are a variety of carnival games throughout the midway. This year, there will be free nightly live music and fireworks at 10:00 PM Thursday night. A Blackstone 36″ Griddle is being raffled off, with the raffle drawing Sunday night. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, unlimited ride tickets are available for $20.

La Casita in Germantown to Close

By Patrick Herron

Published July 18, 2023 at 11:38AM

La Casita at 18058 Mateny Rd in Germantown has announced it will be closing on July 31. The restaurant tells us the decision was made “due to lease negotiations and our decision to open Laurel, we decided not to move forward.”

La Casita was founded in Montgomery County when the Silver Spring location opened in 2002 and currently has locations in Gaithersburg, Nationals Park & Union Market District. Last week, La Casita announced plans to open a new location in Laurel, MD. Per La Casita on social media, “We have a very special announcement to make (and please pardon our dust 👷🏽‍♂️)…a brand new La Casita Pupuseria is coming to Laurel, MD! Yes, we are super excited to finally be able to reveal after a long project that hopefully by Fall 2023 we will be able to serve the greater Laurel area right on Baltimore Ave.”

50 Year Sentence for Defendant in Fatal Stabbing Outside Germantown Extended Stay

By Patrick Herron

Published July 17, 2023 at 8:48PM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney sentenced defendant, Kyle Noble, to 60 years in prison suspend all but 50 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.” Noble was convicted last month on charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery for the death and robbery of 31-year-old Efrain Arias.

This stems from an incident on September 15^th 2019, when the defendant, Noble, confronted Efrain Arias as Arias exited a vehicle in the parking lot of the Extended Stay America hotel on Milestone Center Drive in Germantown. Noble chased the victim down a hill into a field near the parking lot, fatally stabbed him, then came back and robbed the dying victim of personal property. As stated by the prosecutors in court, the attack was fueled by drug-seeking behavior and a jealous rage, as the victim was a friend of the defendant’s ex-girlfriend.

Armed Juvenile Arrested for Burglary in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published July 17, 2023 at 5:20PM

Per MCPD: A juvenile male has been arrested and charged for a burglary that he committed on Monday, July 17, 2023. At approximately 12:10 p.m., 5th District officers responded to the area of Pickering Ct., in Germantown, for the report of domestic violence in progress. The preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who was armed with a knife and handgun, had attempted to force entry into the home of an acquaintance and left the scene. When officers located the suspect, he ran away toward Pickering Dr., and a perimeter was established.

The suspect was later located and taken into custody in the 13000 block of Waters Landing Dr. A backpack containing a knife and an air pistol were also recovered. The suspect was transported to the 5th District station, where he has been charged with first-degree burglary and related charges. Feature photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Four $25,000 Winning Lottery Tickets Sold at Shell Station (all unclaimed)

By Patrick Herron

Published July 17, 2023 at 2:35PM | Updated July 17, 2023 at 8:57PM

Four individual PICK 5 tickets each worth $25,000 ($100,000 total) were sold recently at the Shell Station/Dunkin at 700 Gaither Road in the King Farm neighborhood of Rockville. This same retailer also sold a $10,000 winning PICK 5 ticket on July 10. Additional big winners in Montgomery County last week included a $50,000 ticket sold July 16 at Williams Beer & Wine (15440 Old Columbia Pike) in Burtonsville and a $10,000 winning scratch off sold at Kingsview Beer and Wine (13406 Kingsview Village Avenue) in Germantown. Full list of winners across the state of Maryland below courtesy of MD Lottery:

The Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots continue to climb. Since there were no jackpot winners, the Powerball jackpot grew over the weekend to $900 million and Mega Millions has reached $640 million. The combined total is more than $1.5 billion. Meanwhile, six players in Maryland hit third-tier, five-digit prizes on the two multi-state jackpot games in the past week in Baltimore, Bowie, Columbia, Jessup, Rockville and Waldorf.