The Germantown Historical Society will host a free, two-part presentation on the structures of the B&O railroad, which will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023. Go to www.germantownmdhistory.org/upcoming-events  to sign up via Eventbrite for this free event and get directions. Full details below courtesy of Susan Soderberg:
Viaducts Bridges and Trestles – Structures holding up the Trains Next spring we will be celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the railroad that runs through the County. The Germantown Historical Society will be previewing the celebration with a dual event – a talk on the structures of the railroad on Saturday, November 19 followed on Sunday, Nov. 20 by a short hike to one of the most magnificent of those structures – the Waring Viaduct over Seneca Creek.

Many of you have ridden over this viaduct on the train or seen pictures of it, but not many have actually visited the structure from below. That is because there are only two ways to access it – either by a very steep and overgrown path from Waring Station Road at the top, or through the private property of the Izaak Walton League below. For this event the League has granted GHS and our guests access through their property. We may even have a picnic in their pavilion if the weather cooperates.

From the time the Metropolitan Branch of the B & O Railroad began service to Washington D.C. in the spring of 1873 it started to transform the County. Suburban railroad towns started popping up down-county and the farmers up-county began planting peach and apple trees and milking cows. Steam-powered mills and factories were built near the train stations, bringing us into the Industrial Age. City folk came up from the city in the summer to escape the sweltering heat, noise and pollution. So people in the up-county opened their homes as rooming houses or built hotels to accommodate them.

Rising more than 500 feet from the District to Gaithersburg, cutting through the highest elevation of Parr’s Ridge, and crossing many small brooks and large creeks and the Monocacy River, the 42-mile long railroad posed many challenges for the builders. Great feats of engineering were needed to meet these challenges. Come to the lecture to find out about these engineering feats – and learn the difference between a viaduct, a bridge and a trestle.

Saturday, November 19, 1pm
Germantown Library, 19840 Century Blvd., Germantown, MD

Sunday, November 20, 1pm
A Short Hike to the Waring Viaduct from the Isaac Walton League park.
Go to https://germantownMDhistory to sign up via Eventbrite for this free event and get directions

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You can add Walmart to the list of retailers that are running promotions this holiday season by offering price discounts on Thanksgiving food staples.  Now through December 26, Walmart is offering “this year’s Thanksgiving meal at last year’s price.” According to a press release, “after all these years, we know what our customers put into their baskets for Thanksgiving. All the basics are there, like turkey, ham, potatoes and stuffing, but the convenience items are there too, like ready-to-heat mac and cheese or freshly made pumpkin pie, and we ensured that the price for the same basket of items does not cost more than it did last year. We’re proud to offer customers this year’s Thanksgiving meal at last year’s price so families don’t need to worry about how they’ll set their holiday table. We are currently rolling out the pricing, and customers can take advantage of the savings for all their holiday meals through December 26, 2022. You can shop the baskets here.” Walmart’s lone MoCo location is at 20910 Frederick Rd in Germantown.

Earlier today we reported that ALDI is running a “Thanksgiving Price Rewind”  where the grocery chain will be matching 2019 prices on holiday food items marked with a red sticker.  Aldi has MoCo locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Kensington, Montgomery Village, Rockville, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park.

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Planet Fitness at 13031 Wisteria Dr in the Germantown Plaza shopping center has temporarily closed as renovations are currently being made to the location. Signage on the door reads: “We are working on an upgraded and expanded club! We temporarily close on 10/30 at 9pm and plan to re-open the gym floor tentatively on 11/12. Further communication will be sent out! -Planet Fitness Management

Part of the renovations include expanding next door into the former site of Eye to Eye, which relocated to 19520 Waters Rd in Germantown over a year ago.  The nearby Gaithersburg Planet Fitness, which is also currently undergoing renovations, is open for business. The company will also be opening a new location at 5520 Randolph Rd in Rockville (Montrose Shopping Center) in the space that was formerly occupied by Gold’s Gym.

Last week we reported that Lotte Market, also in Germantown Plaza, has announced it will be closing by the end of the year.  Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Silver Spring will remain open. Lotte Plaza Market is a grocery store that specializes in Asian groceries. Per its website, Lotte started with a single store on Veirs Mill Road in1989 and now has a dozen locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida. “Our goal is to open 50 Lotte Plaza Market locations by 2030.” The Germantown location has been active for 15 years, since 2007. There is no current word on a replacement for the grocery store. We’ll provide an update when the closing date is solidified.

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“The Costco in Gaithersburg is the 7th circle of hell” is just one of many answers we received when we asked the question, “What is the worst parking lot in MoCo?” on social media.  Everyone has had their share of terrible experiences in MoCo parking lots, and while there are more than 26 “bad” parking lots, we’ve narrowed down a list (in no particular order) of what we feel are the worst.

Gaithersburg Square
In the past year this shopping center has added a Marshalls, Five Below, &Pizza, and Claire’s,  and is scheduled to open a Montgomery County Liquor store in the coming months.  These new stores, in addition to a CVS, Panera, and a very busy Chipotle, have turned Gaithersburg Square into one of the busiest shopping centers in the county.

Norbeck Center (Rockville)
This center has several incredibly popular restaurants (Full On & Big Greek Café) and only a handful of parking spots. Full On has even devoted of a portion of their website (www.fulloncraft.com/parking/) to helping guests with the parking situation. “While there are only a few spots in front of Full On, the lot in front of White’s Hardware Store is public space. 46 spots are open to the public at all times. Follow the sidewalk that runs parallel to Norbeck Rd which takes you directly to our door!”

Costco (Gaithersburg)
This article was inspired by Fox 5’s Jim Lokay when he tweeted “What is the most lawless frontier in the DC region and why is it the parking lot at the Gaithersburg Costco?”  The Gaithersburg location has the strangest layout and most people don’t use the underground portion of the lot.

Chick-Fil-A (Germantown)
The traffic for this Chick-Fil-A’s drive thru on Century Blvd is so bad that it often times closes all lanes of the parking lot.

Fallsgrove (Rockville)
The biggest issue is getting in and getting out. When those lines start to form and it seems like nobody knows who’s supposed to go? Oh man.

Every Trader Joe’s
Federal Plaza in Rockville has been one of the busiest parking lots for as long as I can remember. Trader Joe’s doesn’t help. The same goes for every other Trader Joe’s location in the county. Some say they do it on purpose so that they can increase the amount of customers during their off-peak hours.

Shady Grove Home Depot (Gaithersburg)
“Leaving Home Depot Gaithersburg #2550 off this list is a major oversight” was just one of the dozens of comments we received about the Home Depot at 15740 Shady Grove Rd when we posted the 2021 list. This year we’re not making the same mistake.

Costco (Wheaton Plaza)
The Costco at Wheaton Mall opened in 2013 and the parking lot has been packed ever since. In addition to the normal craziness of a Costco lot there’s the added bonus of a shopping mall.

Gaithersburg Commuter Bus Stop/Park & Ride 
Several readers mentioned the Park & Ride stop that’s located on West Diamond Ave in Gaithersburg, with one writing, “will take you a good 20 minutes to get out of the lot during rush hour..”

Flagship Center (Rockville)

Flagship is located on Rockville Pike across from the Montrose Crossing Shopping Center.  With restaurants like Pho 75, Thai Cuisine, and China Bistro, there’s good reason parking is always tight.

Rio AMC (Gaithersburg)
Everyone’s favorite garage at Rio, most people prefer to try to find a spot at the very bottom of the lot so they can walk out by Guapo’s.  Also a popular spot for giant SUVs backing up into spaces.

Woodmoor Shopping Center (Silver Spring)
One of the oldest shopping centers in MoCo can also be one of the most problematic. Though you can park in the back (it also gets full), we all hope for the best and try to make it into that front triangle parking lot.

Wheaton Park
With H-Mart, the Dollar Store, and AutoZone all next to each other, it’s no surprise that this parking lot is one of the worst in the area. The lot is also known for its very narrow lanes.

Montgomery Village Center 
What was once considered a “dead” shopping center, this parking lot has seen a huge increase in traffic ever since Aldi opened up next to Big Lots in 2020. With the addition of Starbucks, and several more restaurants scheduled to open this year, expect it to only get worse.

Leisure World
The closer to Giant you get, the better your chances of a bad experience. We try to park far away and get our steps in when we head to the Leisure World shopping center.

Lancaster Dutch Market/Outback Parking Lot (Germantown)
You have to just park up by Dairy Queen and walk, but we always have high hopes and look for something better when we get there. Lots of spaces, but tends to get pretty full when you want to be there.

Firstfield Shopping Center (Gaithersburg)
The Starbucks drive-thru in this center is so busy that the line of cars often extends outside of the parking lot and on to the main road. The center also includes Einstein Bagels and Jimmy John’s.

Manhattan Pizza/Upcounty Beer & Wine (Clarksburg)
A very tight spot that makes it almost impossible to get in and out of. We suggest parking on the opposite end near the Subway. On a side note, definitely try the gelato at Manhattan!

Germantown Plaza 
Whether it’s the people double parking to run into Little Caesars for pizza, or trying to find a place to park in the back alley for Planet Fitness, both sides of this shopping center are a mess.

Olney Gardens (where CVS, Cava Mezze, and Cafe Rio are).
Olney Village Center and Fair Hill are also bad, but Olney Gardens is narrower and we think it squeaks out the victory of the Olney parking lots because if that.

Aspen Hill Shopping Center
There’s a lot going on so it could take a long time to get from one end to the other. Heading to McDonald’s? That’ll make it even worse.

Lowe’s Parking lot (Kentlands)
The four way stop in the Kentlands is pretty bad, but it’s not a parking lot, so we’re gonna go with Lowe’s here. There can be 11 cars parked yet somehow 378 people are walking to and from the parking lot at all times.

Wildwood Shopping Center (Bethesda)
The truck is to park in the back, but those can fill up too, and let’s be honest…we always think we’ll find something in the front. These short parking columns are the stuff nightmares are made of.

Megamart (Gaithersburg)
The international grocery store Megamart is one of the busiest grocery stores in the entire county. The shopping center also includes a 7-Eleven and Advanced Auto Parks.  An honorable mention goes to Gaitherstowne Plaza (IHOP) right across the street on 355.

Every Whole Foods
Just like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods seem to bring out the worst in people in the parking lots. Silver Spring and River Rd. are my two least favorite parking lots, but the Kentlands and Rockville/N. Bethesda isn’t far behind.

Cabin John Village (Potomac)
The addition of the fast-casuals on the one side allows traffic to hit you from every angle. Construction didn’t help things recently either. Never a fun time when it’s busy.

 

 

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Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Units, including the MCFRS Bomb Squad, are on the scene assisting the Department Of Energy (19901 Germantown Rd) in the investigation of a suspicious package.  According to a report from WJLA, a FedEx truck was searched after a package was found Wednesday morning near the entrance of the building.  Per MCPD:
“At 11:15 a.m. today, Montgomery County Emergency Communications received a call regarding the possibility of a suspicious package inside of a delivery truck at the Department of Energy (DOE), in the 19000 block of Germantown Road.  Montgomery County Department of Police is assisting the DOE with traffic management.Montgomery County Fire Rescue Fire and Explosive Investigations Unit is conducting a search of the truck. Germantown Road is closed between Crystal Rock Drive and I-270, including ramps 15A and 15B.
Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route and expect significant delays. ”

 

Feature image courtesy of Google Maps.

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Germantown Rd. is currently closed between Crystal Rock Dr. and I-270, including ramps 15A & 15B, as a result of a suspicious package in the 19900 block of Germantown Rd, according to Montgomery County Police.

Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route and to expect significant delays. We will post an update as soon as more information becomes available.

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Per Montgomery Parks:
Calling all little goblins and ghouls, celebrate the spooky season at Montgomery Parks Spooktacular event on Sunday, October 23 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Adventure Playground in South Germantown Recreational Park. Halloween Costumes are encouraged for all participants!

This free kids’ Halloween event features several attractions and performers to get your little ones in the Halloween spirit! Check out some magic tricks at the magician’s corner, add to your costume at the face painting area, and create a Halloween art project at the craft station.

Catch a showing of “Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs” with The Puppet Co. at the stage area on the lawn. See showtimes below under Event Information! Stop by the moon bounce area to enjoy some Halloween-themed inflatables! Test your cognitive skills with the Haunted Maze, get your energy out on the Jack-O-Lantern Bounce, and race your friends on the Funhouse Slide. Move and groove to fun Halloween tunes from the DJ while you enjoy concessions for purchase from the food vendors listed below. Make sure to stop by the photo booth to capture your Parks Spooktacular experience with a take-home photo keepsake!

Entertainment:
The Puppet Co.
“Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs” Showtimes; 10:30 am & 12:00 pm

We all think we know the Big Bad Wolf from the classic fairytales, but what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories? What if there’s been a big mistake? What if the Wolf isn’t so big or so bad? Recommended ages 4+. The run time is approximately 35 minutes.

These performances will be accompanied by an American Sign Language Interpreter

    • Magician

      10:00 am to 1:00 pm
    • Kids’ DJ

      10:00 am to 1:00 pm
    • Balloon Clown

      10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Event Information

  • Adventure Playground Address: 17920 Germantown Park Dr, Germantown, MD 20874
  • Free parking on-site
  • Restroom facilities are available on-site
  • Halloween costumes are encouraged
  • Dogs are welcome
  • This event is intended for kids ages 2 to 12 years old

Attractions

  • Inflatable Haunted Maze
  • Jack-O-Lantern Moon Bounce
  • Funhouse Dual Slides
  • Face Painting Station
  • Halloween Craft Station
  • Photo Booth

Concessions

Blondie’s Doughnuts

Steeze Burger

 

This event will be held at South Germantown Recreational Park

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Several winning lottery tickets were sold this past week in Montgomery County that have yet to be claimed. They include a $50,000 winning Powerball ticket sold on October 5 at the W Express (5143 River Road) in Bethesda, a $20,004 winning Mega Millions ticket sold on October 5 at Safeway (403 Redland Blvd) in Rockville, a $10,000 Mega Millions ticket sold October 5 at Sugarloaf Wine Cellar (12955 Wisteria Drive) in Germantown, and a $10,000 Lucky Numbers ticket sold on October 3 at Ollie’s Beer, Wine & Deli (2011 Veirs Mill Road) in Rockville. All four tickets remain unclaimed as of October 11, according to the Maryland Lottery.

Additional information from the Maryland Lottery:
Players across the state won nearly $35.8 million in the seven days ending Oct. 9
A Maryland Lottery player who bought a Multi-Match ticket in Calvert County landed the game’s fourth jackpot hit of 2022 in the Oct. 3 drawing. The lucky winner hasn’t claimed the prize yet, but will have the choice of a $580,000 annuity or the cash option of $374,798. Meanwhile, a scratch-off player in Brooklyn Park claimed a prize worth $250,000, and four other scratch-off players in Baltimore City (3) and Chesapeake Beach claimed $100,000 prizes last week. In all, 46 winning tickets worth $10,000 or more were sold or redeemed in the seven days ending Oct. 9, and the Lottery paid more than $35.8 million in prizes during that span.

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.

Here is the weekly roundup of big winners:
Scratch-off Prizes Claimed Oct. 3-Oct. 9:

$250,000 Prize

$100,000 Prizes

$50,000 Prizes

$20,000 Prizes

  • Ravens X2, Aquaheart Exxon, 720 Aquaheart Road, Glen Burnie
  • Lady Luck, Ballenger Beer & Spirits, 5862 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick

$10,000 Prizes

FAST PLAY and Draw Game Tickets Sold for Drawings Oct. 3-Oct. 9:

FAST PLAY

  • $10,000 Lucky Numbers ticket sold Oct. 3 at Ollie’s Beer, Wine & Deli, 2011 Veirs Mill Road, Suite A, Rockville (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)

MULTI-MATCH

  • $580,000 jackpot-winning ticket sold Sept. 30 for the Oct. 3 drawing at Weis Market #285, 13300 H.G. Trueman Road, Solomons (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)

MEGA MILLIONS

  • $20,004 ticket sold Oct. 4 at Safeway #1715, 403 Redland Blvd., Rockville (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)
  • $10,000 ticket sold Oct. 5 at Sugarloaf Wine Cellar, 12955 Wisteria Drive, Germantown (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)

PICK 5

  • Two $50,000 tickets sold Oct. 4 at High Bridge Market Place, 6201 High Bridge Road, Bowie (both claimed)
  • Two $25,000 tickets sold Oct. 4 at Carroll Mart, 259 Belle Mill Road, Elkton (both claimed)
  • $25,000 ticket sold Oct. 4 at Stadium Osprey, 501 East 33rd Street, Baltimore (claimed)
  • $25,000 ticket sold Oct. 5 at Stadium Osprey, 501 East 33rd Street, Baltimore (claimed)
  • $25,000 ticket sold Oct. 3 at Centerway Mini Mart, 109-A Centerway Road, Greenbelt (claimed)
  • $25,000 ticket sold Oct. 4 at Harford Marathon, 2101 Harford Road, Baltimore (claimed)
  • $25,000 ticket sold Oct. 3 at Salisbury Quick Stop, 2513 North Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)
  • $25,000 ticket sold Oct. 8 at Chillum Wine & Spirits, 5813 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)
  • $25,000 ticket sold at Giant #315, 7546 Annapolis Road, Hyattsville (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)
  • $25,000 ticket sold Oct. 8 at US Fuel, 6100 Moravia Park Road, Baltimore, (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)

POWERBALL

  • $50,000 ticket sold Oct. 5 at W Express, 5143 River Road, Bethesda (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)

RACETRAX

  • $41,587.50 ticket sold Oct. 8 at 8 Days A Week Liquors, 1700 Taylor Ave., Parkville (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)
  • $41,308 ticket sold Oct. 7 at Landover Hills Exxon, 6579 Annapolis Road, Landover (unclaimed as of Oct. 11)
  • $25,434 ticket sold at Liquor Mart, 833 Taylor Ave., Towson (claimed)
  • $14,086 ticket sold Oct. 3 at Dodge Park Sunoco, 7620 Landover Road, Hyattsville (claimed)
  • $13,787.50 ticket sold Oct. 3 at Liquor Outlet, 9824 Liberty Road, Randallstown (claimed)
  • $11,642 ticket sold Oct. 7 at To To Market, 3949 Erdman Ave., Baltimore (claimed)

The Maryland Lottery encourages players to check their tickets by scanning them at any Lottery retailer or with the Lottery’s mobile apps. Draw game winners have 182 days from the date of a drawing to claim their prizes, and scratch-off winners have 182 days from the announced end-of-game date.

Last claim dates for scratch-off tickets are published in the scratch-off section of mdlottery.com.

 

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Pumpkin Festival returns to Butler’s Orchard (22222 Davis Mill Road, Germantown) this year from September 24th-October 30th.  Admission includes access to Pick Your Own Pumpkins, hay rides, tractor pulls, a straw maze, games, and more. The event runs each Wednesday – Friday: 1-6pm (Last entry 4:30 PM) and Saturday – Sunday, and Columbus Day: 9am-6pm (Last entry 4:30 PM).

Per Butler’s Orchard:
It’s back again for another year! The 42nd Annual Pumpkin Festival starts September 24th, 2022 and runs through October 30th.  We’ve made a few updates to improve your Festival experience, and we are so excited to have you at Butler’s, whether it’s your first visit or 42nd visit!
Note: Making a reservation ahead of time is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. We sell out most weekend days and are not allowing walk ins unless there is ticket availability. You will not be admitted if we are sold out.

The Pumpkin Festival is a weather dependent event.  If weather is questionable, please call or visit the website before traveling.  Service animals welcome.  Comfort or emotional support animals and other non-service animals (pets) are not permitted at Butler’s Orchard.
What’s Included?
  • Admission to Pick Your Own Pumpkins (pumpkins are $0.75/lb)
  • Hayrides
  • Hilltop Hop Jump Pads
  • Jump in the Hayloft
  • Visit Barnyard Buddies
  • Twisted Corn Maze
  • Live Music*
  • Playground
  • Spiderweb
  • Play in the Corn Box
  • Straw Maze
  • Swoop down the Giant Slides
  • Corn Hole Games
  • Pedal Tractors
2022 Other Activities ($)
  • Pumpkin Cannon*, $4.00/shot,
    October 15-16, 22-23, 29-30
  • Pony Rides* (10:30 am – 4:30 pm), $6.00/ride
  • Face Painting*, $4.00 and up
  • Mini Diggers
  • Pick Your Own Pumpkins, $.75/lb
    *available weekends only
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Rio Grande Grill at 13541 Clopper Rd in the Seneca Plaza shopping center in Germantown has been sold. Former owner Erika Myers tells us that the new owners will be keeping the same name and menu.  The restaurant is currently closed for renovations and is expected to reopen in a few weeks.

Rio Grande opened in December 2020, in the location that was previously home to the Mistik Taverna, Germantown Kabob & Sweets, Bhima’s Kitchen & Bakery, and Arirang Korean restaurant. The restaurant offers an extensive menu that goes beyond Tex-Mex cuisine. Menu items consist of “bar food” such as crab pretzels, spinach dip, mozzarella sticks, etc., various salads, build-your-own burgers, fried chicken and pasta dishes, tacos al carbon, bowls, and a wide variety of entrees.

 

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Crumbl Cookies is now open at 20650 Seneca Meadows Pkwy, in what used to be home to Sprint, next to Sally Beauty in Germantown.  The store is open Monday-Thursday 8am-10pm and Friday & Saturday 8am-midnight. Crumbl Cookies opened its first MoCo location at Federal Plaza in Rockville in 2020 and the upcoming Crumbl location at 277 Kentlands Blvd, next to Panera, is expected to open within the next month.

From the Crumbl Cookies Facebook: “Rob Davis and Mark Sumsion are the franchise partners to the Germantown Crumbl! They love Crumbl Cookies because the company’s mission is to bring friends and family together over a box of the best cookies in the world! Mark is married to Rob’s oldest daughter, Kayla. Rob and Mark have worked together for many years and enjoy running this business as a family! They’ve found a lot of joy in bringing other families in the community together and helping them create memories by trying Crumbl’s new and exciting cookie flavors!”

Crumbl Cookies is a bakery with locations nationwide that sells chocolate chip and sugar cookies every day, but the rest of their offerings rotate. Their flavors range from experimental (watermelon chilled sugar cookie), to cookie twists on classic desserts (peach cobbler cookie), to more traditional cookies (peanut butter brownie cookie.)

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