MoCo Police

Rockville Police Department Offering ‘Fair and Impartial Policing’ Informational Training For Community

By MCS Staff

The Rockville City Police Department is offering a free Fair and Impartial Policing training for community members who would like to understand more about bias-free behavior in community policing. This event will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Social Hall at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre. Light refreshments will be served.

This training will give community members the tools needed to better communicate with police officers so that community members and police can work together and make their community safer and more resilient. An FIP national instructor will lead a roundtable discussion session specifically designed for community members, covering the following topics:

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Aspen Hill

Update: Suspect Arrested for Monday Night Homicide; Identity of Victim Released

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: 23-year-old Manuel Alejandro Ayala, of Layhill, has been arrested and charged with a shooting and murder that he allegedly committed on Monday, September 4, 2023.  At approximately 7:54 p.m., 4th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14200 block of Punch St. for the report of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers located an adult male in the street, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. When officers entered a nearby home, they located 65-year-old Rosa Maria Benitez-Ozuna, of Layhill, deceased. Officers also located the suspect’s mother suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.

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DMV

Toosso Pakistani Kitchen Has Closed its Rockville Restaurant

By MCS Staff

Toosso Pakistani Kitchen has announced that it has closed its Rockville restaurant in Loehmann’s Plaza after 8 years. The restaurant was previously located at 1596 Rockville Pike near the old Pizza CS and Fuddrucker’s restaurants, but had to move due to the development of Twinbrook Quarter. It opened in its recent location at 5290 Randolph Rd in November 2020.

The restaurant left the following message on social media, inviting customers to its Sterling, Virginia location. “Restaurant closed. To our valued customers: Toosso Pakistani kitchen (Rockville) has closed its doors after 8 years. It has been a pleasure to serve the community. Thank you for your patronage and friendship that made us a success. We will miss you all. Please don’t forget to visit our Sterling location 20921 Davenport drive Sterling VA 20165.”

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Education

Masks Required For One Class in One MCPS Elementary School Until the End of This Week Following COVID-19 Outbreak

By MCS Staff

A letter was sent home by Rosemary Hills Elementary School principal Rebecca Irwin Kennedy informing the school community of a mask requirement for one class at the Silver Spring school. The letter stated that three or more individuals tested positive for COVID-19 In the past 10 days and that the school is taking the steps to keep the school environment as safe as possible, including the requirement of masks for the one class. Per the letter, “Additional KN95 masks have been distributed and students and staff in identified classes or activities will be required to mask while in school for the next 10 days, except while eating or drinking. Masks will become optional again following the 10 day period.”

MCPS spokesperson Christopher Cram that there are four reported cases in one Pre-K class and per CDC guidance for an outbreak there will masking in that one classroom until the end of this week. Cram also sent us the following, from the MCPS Medical Officer:

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Restaurants

Denizens Announces Silver Spring Taproom Will Be Closing Permanently

By MCS Staff

Denizens has announced that its Silver Spring taproom will close permanently on Sunday, October 22nd. The announcement was made via a video shared on social media by Denizens co-founder and owner Julie Verrati. Denizens opened at 1115 East-West Highway in Silver Spring back in 2014.

“Our ten year lease has come to an end and that’s the end of an era for us, an end of a chapter. It’s been an incredible ten years in Silver Spring and we’re so grateful for the community here. We’re still making the same high quality beer, high quality service, high quality food that you can grab right here in Riverdale Park, Maryland.” Verratti said in the video, which can be seen below.

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Gaithersburg

Kabob N Karahi Hopes to Open Second Location Early This Fall

By Patrick Herron

Kabob N Karahi at 18232 Flower Hill Way (Previously Aaron’s) in Gaithersburg is hoping to open by the end of the month. Kabob N Karahi is a Pakistani restaurant (that serves some Indian cuisine), and its menu consists of a variety of kabobs, curries, stews, and tandoori naan.

The Cloverly Village Center location at 15521 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring., opened in 2008 and has become a staple in Cloverly. Per Kabob N Karahi: “Welcome to Kabob N Karahi, Maryland’s best family restaurant to find fresh, casual, authentic Pakistani-Indian kabob and curry cuisine. KNK is completely a Halal restaurant. We use only Halal meat, house sauces and salads are made fresh daily. We specialize in delicious chicken, beef, lamb, kofta kabobs and tikkas as well as Karahi. We provide catering for all the occasions (Birthday,Wedding and Engagement etc).”

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Damascus

Inaugural Maryland Cider Fest Takes Place This Saturday, September 9

By MCS Staff

The inaugural Maryland Cider Festival is taking place this Saturday, September 9th at Two Story Chimney Ciderworks (7115 Damascus Rd. Gaitherburg, MD 20882) from 11am until 4pm. Though the event has a Gaithersburg address, it’s north of Laytonsville closer to Damascus. This event will showcase hard cider makers from across the Old Line State. You’ll also find local artisans, craft vendors, live music, and food trucks. Whether you’re an aficionado who knows their cider, cidre, or sidra, or you’re just looking for a refreshing change of taste this is the place to be. Come join us for a celebration of Maryland craft makers.

The festival will feature ten local cideries showcasing their best hard ciders, from dry to sweet, still to sparkling, modern to heritage, and everything in between. Ciders of all styles and types will be in glass for you to sample and take home, and you’ll get to learn more about the cider-making process from the experts. The festival will also have food trucks serving up delicious bites to pair with your cider, live music from local musicians for your enjoyment, and local craft vendors selling their unique and handmade products.

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Gaithersburg

Spirit Halloween Coming to New Rockville Location

By MCS Staff

Spirit Halloween is coming to 2210 Veirs Mill Rd., the former CVS location in the Twinbrook Center in Rockville. This is a different location than the nearby Pike Center (where TGI Friday’s is on Rockville Pike) where Spirit Halloween has set up shop in recent years.

The store also recently announced its new Gaithersburg location at the former Pier 1 location (30 Grand Corner Ave) in Rio. Last year, Spirit had an additional Montgomery County location in Burtonsville. During the Halloween season, Spirit operates over 1,400 stores in North America. The Spirit Halloween website is open year-round, offering its in-store products online. The store usually open 30-60 days prior to Halloween.

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Bethesda

First Look at MoCo’s First Andy’s Pizza

By MCS Staff

Andy’s Pizza has opened its first Montgomery County location at 4600 East West Highway– the former site of sandwich shop Booeymonger in Bethesda. Our very own Mr. MoCo stopped by during opening week to buy a few slices and support one of MoCo’s newest businesses. The video and more information can be seen below.

The pizza dough at Andy’s undergoes a 72-hour cold ferment and is cooked in a New York deck oven. The process creates a crispier crust with a chewy interior, and a hint of a sour flavor. Andy’s Pizza will also offers salads, wings, fries, and more. In 2021 Andy’s got 1st place in the International Pizza Challenge™, which has evolved and grown in stature and prize money to become one of the most prestigious pizza-making competition in North America.

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Clarksburg

Child Struck by Driver Near Middle School; Suffers Minor Injuries

By Patrick Herron

WUSA9 reports that Montgomery County Police responded to a collision involving a child on Tuesday, September 5, near Rocky Hill Middle School in Clarksburg.  According to police, “MCPD responded to the area of Frederick Road and Little Seneca Parkway at approximately 7:49 a.m., for the report of a pedestrian struck.  A juvenile victim has been transported with minor injury to an area hospital.  The driver remained on scene.”

We will post an update if additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

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