Gaithersburg

Hong Kong Pearl has announced that it will be taking over the location that has been home to New Fortune at 16515 S Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg. New Fortune has operated in Gaithersburg for many years and the dim sum restaurant, known for having over 140 different offerings, has been a staple in the Walnut Hill shopping center.

Recently a sign was placed on the New Fortune window explaining that the restaurant is under new management. The same notice can be found on the New Fortune website. Hong Kong Pearl, which has a location in Falls Church, also offers dim sum. The new restaurant will hold its grand opening on on Saturday, July 8th with “new dishes and a dragon dance” starting at 11:30am.


Bethesda

Isaiah was last seen on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m., in the area of Montgomery Avenue and East West Highway in Bethesda. Isaiah was seen inside a dark gray 4-door F-150 bearing New Jersey license plate PGTW70 that was driven by his mother’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Chris Mitchell, who resides in New Jersey.

Isaiah is approximately 4-feet tall and weighs approximately 55 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing an orange long sleeved sweatshirt and navy-blue shorts. Isaiah is believed to be traveling with his mother’s boyfriend, Chris Mitchell, to New Jersey.


Beyond MoCo

Daniel Aldazabal Cucho, 44, of Germantown drowned in the Potomac River while fishing on Tuesday, July 4, The Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the follwing information regarding the incident:

“A 44-year-old Montgomery County man drowned in the Potomac River in Frederick County on July 4. Maryland Natural Resource Police Officers responded at about 5 p.m. to the area of Lock 33 in Knoxville for a report of a missing person in the water. Officers learned that the victim,  Daniel Aldazabal Cucho of Germantown and two companions had been fishing on the Maryland bank of the river when they attempted to cross through the water to a rock island. Shortly after entering the river Aldazabal Cucho began to yell for help and slipped beneath the water. The two companions attempted to reach him but were unsuccessful.


Crime

Per Takoma Park Police: As reported by the news media, Taylor Taranto was arrested on June 29, 2023, near former President Barack Obama’s home in Washington D.C. by federal authorities on numerous charges stemming from the January 6th riot at the U. S. Capitol. Prosecutors are requesting that he be held without bail.  The Washington Post reported that Taranto had live-streamed from within the Piney Branch Elementary School on June 18th and the excerpt from the article is below:

Separately, prosecutors said that on June 18, Taranto live-streamed himself and several others entering a gymnasium and displaying a Jan. 6-related film at Piney Branch Elementary School in Takoma Park, just north of Washington. Prosecutors said Taranto said he chose the school because it was close to the home of Raskin, a four-term Democrat who has been a leading congressional critic of Donald Trump. – Washington Post Report by Emily Davies.


Crime

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, July 6, 2023, in the 11500 block of Lockwood Drive in Silver Spring.

At approximately 9:51p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel were dispatched to the location for the report of a shooting.    Officers arrived at the scene and located an adult male inside an apartment, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers provided life saving measures to the victim until Montgomery County Fire Rescue arrived.


Clarksburg

Baked Potato House, featuring “delicious stuffed potatoes”, is now open in the Clarksburg Premium Outlets, taking over the space that was previously home to Day & Night Cereal Bar. The cereal bar cleared out of the space in May and is expected to open in a new location sometime this summer.

Menu items at Baked Potato House include a “build your own” stuffed potato with toppings such as cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, gyro meat, broccoli, olives, sweet corn, and a variety of sauces, a selection of specialty baked potatoes, ice cream, and lemonade. The menu also features “wet burgers,” an Istanbul-style street burger that has been marinated in a special tomato sauce.


Montgomery Parks

Per Montgomery County: The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) an $18.5 million RAISE grant to fund the rehabilitation of multi-use paths to fill gaps in the Capital Trails Network. The Capital Trails Network is a plan developed by local jurisdictions, the National Park Service and trail advocacy organizations, to connect 990 miles of trail between Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Two Montgomery County trails will be among the five that will benefit from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) money. Those are the Northwest Branch Trail and the Sligo Creek Trail.

The funds will be used in Montgomery to:


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: The 2023 Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale on Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23, will be a unique opportunity for residents to explore 21 select farms in the County’s Agricultural Reserve, shop local, enjoy fresh food, see farm animals and learn about farming as a way of life. The Farm Tour will offer a chance to visit select farms, some of which are only open to the public during this special weekend event.

During the Farm Tour weekend, all 21 participating farms will be open on Saturday, July 22, and 17 farms will be open on Sunday, July 23. Tourgoers should check the 2023 Farm Tour website for each farm they plan to visit for any additional costs, details on hours and activities or to make any necessary reservations. No pets are allowed except service animals for persons with disabilities.


Events

Explore all things sports as the City of Gaithersburg hosts the annual SportsFest on Saturday, July 15th from 8am-11am. Youth entering grades K through 8 can participate in a variety of activities. The free event, which takes place rain or shine, will be held at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm.

The Gaithersburg Sports philosophy of participation over competition will be on display throughout the day. The event kicks off with a 3K Run through Bohrer Park at 8 a.m., registration is required for the 3K Run. The deadline to register is Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Following the 3K Run, we will have an opening celebration before the stations open at 9 a.m.


Bethesda

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County-operated garages, parking lots and street meters in Downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring will begin charging for Saturday parking beginning on Saturday, July 8. The Saturday hours and rates will be the same as the existing weekday schedules. Sundays will remain free. Drivers will be able to purchase monthly parking passes valid for mornings, evenings and weekends.

Parking revenue will be used to implement new safety and security measures in Downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton parking facilities. This will include installing more lighting and cameras, in addition to maintenance. The Montgomery County Council approved the new parking schedule and a monthly pass with Resolution 20-167, “Setting Transportation Fees, Charges, and Fares,” as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget process. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will implement the changes in accordance with the resolution.


Highways / Interstates

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue (MCFRS) responded to a single vehicle rollover on Thursday, July 6. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the incident occurred around 1pm on southbound Georgia Ave at MD200 when the driver of the vehicle apparently failed to navigate the exit ramp. The driver was trapped after the collision and then extricated. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

(~1p) SB Georgia Av, at MD200, Single vehicle rollover (apparently failed to navigate exit ramp) – trapped & then extricated, @MCFRS_EMIHS A724, PE740, T725, RS742, OC700, EMS704, SA700, DC700 responded pic.twitter.com/xer6X6SPQi