Three fires that have left two separate families displaced occurred overnight, according to MCFRS PIO Pete Piringer. The fires occurred in Takoma Park, Germantown, and a Chevy Chase. There were no injuries reported in any of the fires.

The first was a 2-alarm fire at 7401 New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park at the Hampshire Tower apartments. One family consisting of two children and two adults was displaced, and there was approximately $25k in damages. No word on the cause of the fire.


We previously took a look at Clopper’s Mill, which was burned down by an arsonist in 1947- leaving ruins that are still visible off of Clopper Road in Germantown today. Seneca Creek was one of the main sources of power for the first 150 years of settlement in Montgomery County. Montgomery County has 44 mills

Below, we’ve compiled information from three sources to provide you with more information on the history of water mills in Montgomery County, specifically 19 mills that were found along Seneca Creek.


If you’ve ever driven on Clopper Rd near Waring Station Rd in Germantown, you’ve likely seen the ruins of a building in the woods. That building is Clopper’s Mill, named for Francis C. Clopper, also the road’s namesake. Per the The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission:

Francis C. Clopper operated a mill on Great Seneca Creek. He expanded the existing stone mill in 1834 with bricks made at his Woodlands estate. The original mill dated from 1795, and a mill had been on site as early as the 1770s. Clopper’s Mill, now in ruins, stands near Clopper and Waring Station Roads.


Back in April 2021, Matan Companies announced plans to transform its Milestone Business Park in Germantown into a vibrant and collaborative life sciences destination known as Milestone Innovation Park.

The transformation will include the addition of 532,000 square feet of best-in-class bio-manufacturing and life science research space in three, brand new facilities. Milestone Innovation Park is located at Milestone Center Ct near William B. Gibbs Elementary School and sits along the I-270 Biotech Corridor with prominent visibility on I-270 at Father Hurley Boulevard in Germantown. Once complete Milestone Innovation Park will be one the largest, science-based destinations in the BioHealth region at over 1.2 million square feet.


Construction is ongoing on the 7.24 acres located approximately 0.30 miles southwest of I-270, 1.5 miles from Little Bennett Regional Park and Clarksburg Town Center; and directly north of West Old Baltimore.  The Subject Property is directly across the realigned Clarksburg Road (MD121) from the Clarksburg Premium Outlets.

In the most recent planning board documents, the area will be getting a gas station/convenience store, wine store, coffee shop (with Drive-Thru), automobile service, ATM kiosk, and drug store (with Drive-Thru). As of now, the CVS and gas station have been constructed, but work continues.


Earlier this week, Germantown-based Amentum announced the $1.9 billion acquisition  of PAE Incorporated (“PAE”), a global leader in delivering innovative mission-critical solutions to the U.S. government and its allies on all seven continents.

Amentum is a premier global technical and engineering services partner supporting critical programs of national significance across defense, security, intelligence, energy and environment. Headquartered in Germantown, Md., the company employs more than 37,000 people in all 50 states and performs work in 105 foreign countries and territories.


Today was a reminder that spring is around the corner. Another reminder for many who grew up in MoCo is that March 17th means Jimmie Cone opens for the season.

Jimmie Cone has been serving soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt in Damascus since 1962, which make this year its 60th season! One of the reasons Jimmie Cone’s soft serve ice cream is loved by many could be because it is made with 10 percent butterfat, which is approximately twice as much as in McDonald’s and Dairy Queen soft serve. Cars usually pack the Damascus location on warmer days with long lines that move relatively quick.


Construction continues at the Fairchild Property on Century Blvd in Germantown in the area surrounded by what is mainly comprised of one-story pad-site restaurant uses (IHOP, Red Robin, Señor Tequilas), and surface parking lots.

The Fairchild Apartments will feature 6 stories of multifamily residential when completed. The 209,185 sf building will consist of 212 units and 3 levels of parking. The building will also feature amenities such as a Club Room with kitchen, a fitness and yoga room, a business center, a card room, and a courtyard with a pool.


Update: All lanes of Frederick Rd/355 have reopened at Shakespeare Blvd.

Hazmat, police, and fire and rescue are currently on the scene of an overturned diesel fuel tanker (2500 gal) in Germantown in the area of Frederick Rd.  and Shakespeare Blvd., according to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer.


La Casita, which has locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Silver Spring, and DC, has closed all of their locations today in support of the nationwide Day Without Immigrants.

The first Day Without Immigrants took place on February 16, 2017 to protest President Trump’s plans to build a border wall and the proposed deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.


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