This article has been updated to include updated plans for the Downtown Silver Spring location.

Chick Fil A on Tech Rd. in the Calverton/Fairland/White Oak area (technically Silver Spring) has temporarily closed for renovations. The store closed on Thursday at 2pm and will reopen in 8-10 weeks (approximately two months).

When the store reopens, it will be operated by Tina Oyeniya. Current store operator,Terrell Daniel, will be transitioning to Burns Corner FSU in Stafford, Virginia. The Downtown Silver Spring location, at 825 Ellsworth Drive,  also planned to closed for renovations earlier this summer but has not done so yet.

Chick-fil-A has Montgomery County locations in Bethesda, two in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Rockville, and Silver Spring (between Calverton, Fairland, and White Oak). The chain opened its newest location last month in Gaithersburg. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Per MCPD: A 16-year-old wanted in connection with a Father’s Day homicide is in custody. Isaiah Brown-Hawkins was arrested by Forest Heights police officers on Thursday, August 31, 2023. The Damascus teen is accused of shooting and killing 32-year-old James Joel Austin on Sunday, June 18 in the 9800 block of Bethesda Church Road in Damascus. Brown-Hawkins drove away in a Honda belonging to Austin. The car was located in Washington, DC, however he has been on the run since the shooting.

Brown-Hawkins was seen driving a stolen vehicle on Audrey Lane in Oxon Hill. When officers attempted to make a traffic stop, Brown-Hawkins allegedly rammed police cruisers, got out of the car and ran away. Brown-Hawkins was taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit. A handgun was found by officers during the pursuit. Detectives requested and obtained a warrant for Brown-Hawkins’ arrest on Monday, June 19. He has been charged with first-degree murder, armed carjacking and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Homicide Section responded to Prince George’s County, and Brown-Hawkins was transported to Montgomery County’s Central Processing Unit, where he was served with the warrant and awaits a bond hearing.

19-year-old Khamani Imes of Damascus was arrested on Tuesday, August 1, for allegedly giving a gun to Brown-Hawkins, which was used to shoot and kill Austin. This remains an active investigation.

The City of Gaithersburg is governed by an elected Mayor/City Council – City Manager style of government, with elections held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd numbered years. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and presides over the City Council.  The City Council consists of five members elected at-large, each serving staggered four-year terms.

The next City Election for three City Council Members will be Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Gaithersburg residents will cast their ballots for three City Council Members in the November 7, 2023 Election. The terms of office for Council Members Neil Harris, and Robert Wu expire in November. There is an open seat vacated by Ryan Spiegel. On August 28, 2023, the Gaithersburg Board of Supervisors of Elections certified the following candidacies for the three City Council positions up for election in the City of Gaithersburg, which will be held on November 7, 2023:

• Neil Harris
• Yamil Hernández
• Daniel Lukomsky
• Shanika Whitehurst
• Omodamola Williams
• Robert Wu

The elected officials will each serve a four-year term. Information on the candidates is available here. The City of Gaithersburg will use a hybrid process that allows for mail-in or in-person voting. Starting September 8, all registered voters will begin receiving an application in the mail inviting them to apply for a mail-in ballot. Registered voters can also request mail-in ballots online.

Voters with approved applications will receive their mail-in ballot starting on October 6 and can return ballots by mail or place them in any of the seven secure ballot boxes that will be located throughout the City. Ballots must be postmarked or placed in the boxes by 8 p.m. on November 7.

If you are registered to vote in Montgomery County, you are automatically registered to vote in City of Gaithersburg elections and will receive a ballot application in the mail. For information on voter eligibility contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections or call 240-777-VOTE (8683).

If you choose to vote in person, the Activity Center at Bohrer Park is the only polling place available during this election. Early Voting will take place at the Activity Center on Sunday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The polling place will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Same-day voter registration is available for in-person voting. Those registering during Early Voting or on Election Day will be asked to show an approved form of identification and will cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted upon verification of voting eligibility.

Residents will receive a City of Gaithersburg Voter’s Guide in mid-September. It will contain election information and statements from the candidates.

Candidate statements will also be aired on Gaithersburg TV, which can be found countywide on Comcast 27 and within the City limits on RCN Channel 13 or FiOS Channel 25. The statements will be available for viewing online here and on the City’s YouTube channel at @GburgMD in early September. A sample ballot will be mailed to all registered voters in the City in late October.

Courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating a fatal collision that occurred on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, in the area of Frederick Road and Gunners Branch Road in Germantown. The decedent has been identified as 28-year-old David Glenn Jenkins, II  of Germantown.

At approximately 9:49 p.m., 5th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a collision involving a bicyclist.  The preliminary investigation has revealed that Jenkins was traveling east to west across Frederick Road when he was struck by a silver 2005 Acura RSX that was traveling northbound on Frederick Road. Jenkins was pronounced dead at the scene.  The driver of the Acura remained at the scene and CRU detectives are investigating the possibility that other vehicles may have been involved with the collision

This is an active and ongoing investigation.  Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at (240) 773-6620.

Per MCPS: Here are Things to Know for Thurs. Aug. 31. Get information about a curriculum update for students in Grade 9, new communication tool to receive messages, athletic safety and watch a recap of the first day of school:

1. MCPS Moment: First Week of School 2023–2024: MCPS opened its doors on Monday, Aug. 28, welcoming more than 162,000 students to the start of the 2023–2024 school year. We were also thrilled to introduce Cabin Branch Elementary School, the 211th school in MCPS, and to celebrate the opening of four newly renovated school buildings across the county. Watch a recap and check out a photo gallery from the first day.

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MCPS Schools Implement Remind, A New Communication Tool

2. What Is the Remind App? Remind is a messaging platform that will be used to communicate among MCPS schools, teachers, students and parents. School staff, central office staff, students and parents will all have Remind accounts to enable them to send and/or receive messages using a preferred mode of communication, such as text message, email or phone call and in their preferred language.

When and How Will My School Use it? By winter break, schools will be transitioning to and regularly using the Remind app. When your school makes this transition, parents and older students will receive a text message or email notification from the teacher(s).

For Parents: Parents can log into their Remind account via the web or using the Remind app.

For Students: Students 13 and older will be able to reply to teachers’ messages. All students can log into their Remind account via the web using the Log in to Google option, which uses their MCPS Google apps credentials. Students 13 and older who have a mobile phone can download the Remind app and log in using the “Log in to Google” option as well.

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3. Important News for Grade 9 Students Regarding State Assessment: Starting this school year for students in Grade 9 (Class of 2027), the Maryland Comprehensive Assessments for biology and government will count as 20 percent of the student’s final grade in each course. A virtual parent night will be scheduled this fall to share additional information.

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4. Safety Updates Ahead of the Fall Sports Season Opening Night: MCPS is committed to promoting a safe and welcoming environment for student-athletes, coaches, spectators and our communities. The MCPS Athletics Safety Plan will continue to drive operations and procedures for athletic events in order to promote a safe and welcoming environment for all. Read more.

• This school year, MCPS announced a new partnership with Medstar Health to enhance the school system’s sports medicine program for athletics. Athletic trainers have been hired and have started working in all 25 MCPS high schools. A coordinator of health and safety, Shawn Hendi, has also been hired. Athletic trainers, now MCPS employees, will provide streamlined and enhanced care for student-athletes and across the program. WATCH: Learn more about this innovative program.
• Congratulations! Your Student-Athlete Has Made the Team…Now What – Quick guide for Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of MCPS Student-Athletes

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In Case You Missed It …

Schools to Host Back to School Events

The Watkins Mills Cluster will host the first ever joint “Back to School Block Party” on Thursday, Sept. 14, 6–8 p.m. It is just one of the events happening now through September to welcome back students. The event will be held at Montgomery Village Middle School, 19300 Watkins Mill Road in Montgomery Village.

Be sure to check with your student’s school for the date and time of this year’s Back-to-School night.

Thousands Attend Annual Back-to-School Fair

Thousands of MCPS students, parents and community members joined school system staff and community partners on Saturday, Aug. 26, to kick off the 2023-2024 school year at the Back-to-School Fair. See photos from the fair.

It has been over two years since Pizza Hut signed on to take a portion of the former GameStop in the Four Corners area in Silver Spring, but the store recently made plenty of progress and is now open according to a report by Source of the Spring.

The new Pizza Hut location is a smaller version than traditional Pizza Hut locations of the past– focusing solely on carry out and delivery orders, but still brings the charm of the 80s with the retro lamps hanging inside the carry-out/delivery spot (photo below). In September 2021, David Gibbs (CEO of Pizza Hut parent company Yum Brands), told investors, “We closed a lot of the dine-in stores that didn’t belong on the portfolio over the last 18 months in the United States,” according to a transcript on the financial services site Sentieo. “But for the most part, the stores we have in the portfolio now are good, long-term stores.” The new Germantown Pizza Hut location and the new Rockville location both follow the same model.

As we prepare for Week 1 of the High School Football season, the MCS High School Football staff has created the Preseason Top 50 list based on performance in previous years, film, and input provided by coaches (MCPS schools only). Check it out below:

Jaylen Harvey Quince Orchard Defensive End 2024 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15829928/63d3feabc123b904744a1de1

Gideon Ituka Gaithersburg Running Back 2024 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16807402/6374fdcaa0237c0e0cfce43e

Iverson Howard Quince Orchard Running Back 2025 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16746869/638ecbf4bd6b0e0364a07f3b

Xavier Gilliam Quince Orchard Defensive End 2024 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15129008/634c1c310428dc13fcced52f

Xavier Rivers Northwest Defensive End 2024 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16833483/6377e17a8cd49a09a0be51cf

Elijah Frazier Seneca Valley Quarterback 2024 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15970641/638e100df56100098070bfa1

David Avit   Churchill Running Back 2024 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13283737/6361bb8cbed6c60ba05553e9

Michael Cooley Damascus Linebacker 2025 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13078597/63bcc8328cdf190a08d7e911

Jeremiah Seaton Blake Running Back 2025 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16694457/6327ef40dfd82709ac782417

Antonio Berry Northwest Running Back 2024
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16776953/6371c0704205d607742063e4

Jaden Nix Sherwood Wide Receiver 2025

Roman Spikes Paint Branch Running Back 2024

Dylan Minnick Walter Johnson Linebacker 2024

Aiden Burgess Quince Orchard Defensive Tackle 2024

Tavahri Groves Quince Orchard Wide Reciever 2024

Emmanuel Hardrick Damascus Wide Reciever 2024

VJ Mahoney Sherwood Running Back 2025

Dinso Okafor Paint Branch Safety 2024

Noah Fosten, Damascus Offensive Line 2025

 Diezel Duckett Churchill Linebacker 2024

Jorden Hungerford. Seneca Valley Running Back 2024

Denis Tebo Blake Defeinsive Line 2024

Nino Marzullo Quince Orchard Quarterback 2024

Aiden Frost Walter Johnson Center 2024

Jackson Rood Churchill Offnsive Tackle 2024

Brendan Heyer  Sherwood Athlete 2025

Nicky Holloway  Rockville Quarterback 2025

Nelson Smith BCC Linebacker 2024

Eric Smith JR. Einstein Defensive Back 2024

Anthony Coreas  Magruder Offensive Line 2024

Seth Lemar   Poolesville Linebacker 2024

Lincoln Wendel   Springbrook Linebacker 2025

Warner Williams   Watkins Mill Defensive End 2024

Georges Monga Mande  Clarksburg Offensive Tackle 2025

 Bryan Silva Damascus Offensive Line 2024

Quinn Stoffa Blair Quarterback 2024

Elisha West Quince Orchard Safety 2024

Charlie Blessing Walter Johnson Quarterback 2024

Ayaan Nabeel Gaithersburg Athlete 2025

Jullian Whyte Einstein Linebacker 2024

Elvis Boadu Wheaton Defensive End 2024

Anthony Dixon  Richard Montgomery Quarterback 2024

Jamar Jones Magruder Quarterback 2024

Seth Weaver BCC Linebacker 2024

Logan Makfinsky  Rockville Offensive Line 2024

Michael Robles  Sherwood Defensive Line 2024

Michael Nwaogwugwu Gaithersburg Wide Reciever 2024

Anthony Gengarella Northwest Defensive Back 2025

Anthony Varron Northwod Athlete 2024

Jordan Horm Paint Branch Athlete 2024

A couple weeks back we let you know that Luna Hall has signed on to move into one of the vacant spaces in the Pike Center (the shopping center that’s the longtime home of TGI Friday’s and the recently opened Golfdom), according to Kimco. The location is listed as taking is the former CiCi’s Pizza spot.

Luna Hall tells us that in addition to Rockville, Luna Hall also has new branches on the horizon in Tyson’s and Ellicott City, but that Rockville’s Luna Hall will be their “premier location.” The Rockville location will offer Hot Pot and Korean BBQ at Top Pot KBBQ, and food court with ten offerings, including Dumpling District, Kung Fu Tea, TKK Fried Chicken, Pollo Aria, Buena Onda by renowned Iron Chef Jose Garces, Mala Pot, Ramen, Kebob, a dessert spot, and a bakery. An opening date is not yet available.

The food hall recently opened its first location in DC’s Chinatown (625 H St NW). Offerings at the Chinatown location include Kung Fu Tea, TKK Fried Chicken, Dumpling District, Pollo Aria, and Luna Bar. The featured photo shows the Chinatown location.