After purchasing historic White’s Ferry in February 2021, Chuck and Stacy Kuhn encountered obstacles to reopening this important Potomac River crossing, considering it needed to regain use rights in Virginia. In response to the suspended service, Loudoun and Montgomery Counties conducted a study to evaluate alternatives and address issues, challenges and opportunities for restoring this important regional transportation link. Following Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors and Montgomery County Department of Transportation meetings this week to review the study, Chuck Kuhn, owner of White’s Ferry, released this statement:
“I want to express my sincere appreciation to the governments on both sides of the river for their hard work and commitment to reopening White’s Ferry. This is important for my wife Stacy and me. We live and work here and know the importance of this historic crossing. After its closure in December 2020, there was no plan to reopen the ferry. The prior owner, Herb Brown, had attempted repeatedly and unsuccessfully to work with the Rockland Farm organization to find a way to land the ferry and serve his customers in a way that made business sense. His reasonable offers weren’t accepted, and he was forced to close the business.
We purchased the ferry in hopes for a different outcome. We were under no allusions that the ferry would be a profitable venture, as recent studies captured the difficulty and costs for running the ferry. Our goal was to offer an affordable, safe product with pricing that is fair and predictable for riders while protecting a unique, historic, and valued transportation route. Unfortunately, we have encountered the same issues as the previous owner when trying to negotiate with the Rockland Farm organization, part of a portfolio of assets owned by hedge fund CEO Peter Brown, along with his minority shareholders, Libby Devlin and Harriett Dickerson.
We have made numerous offers to lease and/or purchase the landing site with no success. At their request and our cost, we had the entire Rockland Farm appraised three times to explore the possibility of purchasing the whole farm as an option for reopening the landing site. We subsequently made a $13.5 million cash offer to purchase the entire farm–which was higher than two of the proposals. There was no counteroffer and was ultimately rejected. Rockland Farm’s repeated demands for $2 million cash or 50 cents a car each way along with unacceptable deal terms made negotiations impossible. We further offered to donate the ferry and the land to the respective governments in an attempt to reopen the ferry for our region.
Instead, we have been maligned through Rockland Farm’s aggressive and misleading online and signage campaigns and insulted in public by a Rockland Farm owner…as recently as Tuesday night in front of the Loudoun County Government Center. Given the difficulty and lack of professionalism negotiating with the Rockland Farm ownership, no further negotiations with them appear possible.”
Established in 1786, the ferry remains a significant transportation route between Maryland and Virginia, carrying nearly 800 daily users when operational. White’s Ferry represents a piece of the region’s past as an early commerce route that built and sustained local economies. The Kuhns have already embarked on a number of upgrades to the ferry to bring more operational and environmental efficiencies to improve services and preserve a piece of history.
The Kuhn family seeks land acquisitions that can be sold, leased, developed, placed into conservation easement, or utilized by sister companies JK Moving Services and CapRelo, a global employee relocation and assignment management firm serving private and public sector clients. Over the past decade, they have placed more than 22,000 acres of its purchases into conservation easement, ensuring vulnerable vistas and habitats are preserved and protected for future generations. www.JKLandHoldings.net
Around 60 firefighters responded to a fire at a two-story, single-family home on Big Woods Rd in Dickerson on Sunday evening.
Cheif Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Pete Piringer reports that there was fire in the walls, likely originating in and around the chimney area.
One family is displaced and there were no injuries reported.
Photo courtesy of Jason Blake.
20000blk of Big Woods Rd (Dickerson) house fire. Fire in the walls due to a malfunctioning fireplace. Crews quickly extinguished the fire and there were no injuries reported. @mcfrsPIO pic.twitter.com/9VEx0YNaqX
— Jason Blake (@mcfrsPIO7) November 15, 2021
The lower level and outdoor area will now be known as The Beer Hall at Comus Inn and will feature their current menu. The main floor and upper level will now be known as Chef Sammy D’s Dining Room at the Comus Inn and will feature a new menu with options such as garganelli pasta with duck ragu and organic Scottish Salmon.
The Comus Inn reopened under new ownership back in October, 2020.
From the Comus Inn Facebook:
Markoff’s Haunted Forest Opens for 29th Season
Markoff’s Haunted Forest (19120 Martinsburg Rd.
Dickerson, MD) opened this past weekend for its 29th season.
From our 2020 article:
Every year, the Markoff brothers have invited daredevils to venture out into their frightful forest during the Halloween season. As Halloween fever descends on Montgomery County, Markoff’s Haunted Forest is opening again with health precautions in place to ensure a safe and thrilling night.
The trail is completely outside, with strict time slots for arriving groups to maintain distance between all attendees.
For more information and FAQ, please visit Markoff’s Haunted Forest’s website.
About:
Markoff’s Haunted Forest is Maryland’s original greatest Halloween event, and you will be amazed by what you find lurking in our woods!
Since 1992, when the Markoff brothers started with a Haunted School Bus driven to events and festivals around DC, our haunt has provided fright fest lovers with a creative, dramatic, and – YES — terrifying haunt experience.
The Haunted Bus still exists… it’s been incorporated every year somewhere on our various haunted trails, but now sits in its final resting place: MHF’s Junk Yard scene. Now, our creative team combines music, lights, scents, actors, make-up, technology & detailed set pieces that consistently place MHF among the top haunts in the country.
Our glorious “Front Circle” carnival and the topography of our forest make for an incredible night out for adults and families. We don’t recommend the trail for kids under age 12, since each bend in the path is truly frightening!
Many were disappointed when the City of Gaithersburg announced the cancellation of its Oktoberfest celebration in the Kentlands neighborhood. That was followed up by the City of Rockville cancelling Rocktobierfest a few days later.
Comus Inn looks to fill the void with a five day celebration that starts on Wednesday, September 22nd and goes until Sunday, September 26th.
The celebration will feature German food specials for the week, German beers on tap (along with local Fest beers), and live Oom-pah music.
On Thurday, September 23rd they will offer a ticketed beer dinner with Rockville’s True Respite.
The Comus Inn social media post announcing the celebration can be seen below:
Who’s getting ready for Oktoberfest next week? 🍺🥨🌭📯🇩🇪
Featuring:
* German food specials ALL WEEK!
* German Beers on tap
* Local Fest Beers on tap
* Live Oom-pah music (schedule below)
Also Happening:
GERMAN BEER DINNER
Thursday (9/23)
with @truerespite
tickets: www.thecomusinn.com/events
LIVE MUSIC (12pm-4pm)
Saturday – The Alte Kumpel Band
Sunday – Liab’ und Schneid
Montgomery County Bomb Squad to Conduct Explosives Training Today in Dickerson
MCFRS and MCPD will be conducting ‘explosives’ training today at the Outdoor Shooting Range on Elmer School Rd in Dickerson, MD.
Residents in Dickerson and Poolesville are being alerted that they may hear louder than usual booms. According to MCPD, “All explosive shots have been deemed safe for this area by federal agencies, however, sound waves may travel further depending on weather conditions.”
NOTICE: @mcfrs ‘Bomb Squad’ in conjunction w/ @mcpnews will be conducting ‘explosives’ training IAO @MontgomeryCoMD Outdoor Shooting Range, on Elmer School Rd in Dickerson. Residents in the Poolesville & Dickerson area may hear louder than usual “booms” on Tues 6/29 in that area pic.twitter.com/76AGlg0fgW
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) June 29, 2021
