Armed robbery at ULTA Beauty in Burtonsville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at ULTA Beauty at 15743 Old Columbia Pike at Burtonsville Crossing on March 18, 2025. Four suspects entered the store at 3:34 PM that afternoon, police say. They displayed weapons and took merchandise before fleeing.

Police describe the suspects only as four Black males, "ages unknown." No surveillance camera images or footage from the cosmetics store has been released as of this writing. If you can help detectives identify any of the alleged robbers, call (301) 279-8000.

Controversial Kensington billboard shut off (Photos)

A billboard in Kensington that some nearby residents complained was keeping them up at night appears to be switched off after dark for now. Last night it was inactive. Of course, this defeats the purpose of the billboard, as it was most effective and visible during the nighttime hours. The residents had said light from the Michael & Son billboard was shining into the windows of their homes. It is located at the Michael & Son office at 3511 University Boulevard W., near the intersection with Newport Mill Road. 

Colesville Park & Ride Lot could lose 14 spaces to EV chargers

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has proposed replacing 14 parking spaces at the Colesville Park & Ride commuter parking lot at 13504 New Hampshire Avenue with a bank of 4 electric vehicle chargers. An unidentified private company would install the chargers, in partnership with MCDOT. The lot currently has 190 parking spaces. MCDOT will hold a virtual public hearing on the proposal on April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM. 

You must sign up online for the hearing by 5:00 PM on Friday, April 11 to participate in the hearing. If you sign up by the deadline, you will receive a link for the April 15 hearing on April 14 by email. Alternatively, you can submit written comments to 

MCDOT - Division of Transportation Engineering 
David Harris, Property Acquisition Section 
100 Edison Park Drive, 4th Floor 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878 
Email: david.harris@montgomerycountymd.gov 
Phone: 240-777-7256 

If you require special accommodations for this hearing, contact David Harris.  

JOANN closing sale underway in Wheaton

JOANN Fabric & Crafts is closing at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall. A closing sale is now underway, and is anticipated to continue for several months. During the sale, no gift cards, returns, or coupons will be accepted. No final closing date for the store has been announced.

We can't blame the moribund Montgomery County economy for this closure. The chain has filed for a second bankruptcy, a sad turn of events for a venerable retailer that has been around since 1943. Initially stating it would close 500 of its 850 stores, JOANN now plans to close all stores nationwide.

8676 Georgia Avenue/Silver Spring Tastee Diner site plan before Planning Board today

The proposed redevelopment of two adjoining properties in downtown Silver Spring, one of which includes the vacant-but-historic Tastee Diner, will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Board today, March 27, 2025, at 9:00 AM, at its Wheaton headquarters at 2425 Reedie Drive. Applicant 8676 Georgia Ave, LLC will present its site plan depicting the redevelopment of the assembled lot, 8676 Georgia Avenue. If approved, it would include a 312' high-rise apartment building with 493 residential units, 15.1% of which would be moderately-priced-dwelling-units (MPDUs). The building would also include 20,000-square-feet of retail and restaurant space, and would incorporate an adaptive reuse of the historic diner building. Planning staff are recommending approval of the site plan, with conditions including specific "green cover" environmental specifications related to the green roof and tree plantings, undergrounding of utilities, and construction of master-planned pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Kensington billboard keeping neighbors up all night

A small billboard on University Boulevard in Kensington is keeping some nearby residents up at night. Installed in 2022, the billboard is located at the Michael & Son office at 3511 University Boulevard W., near the intersection with Newport Mill Road. This winter, the billboard was put into use to advertise the well-known plumbing, heating, and electrical contractor. Some residents in nearby homes are now complaining that the light from the billboard is shining into their windows at night. 

Picture People closes at Wheaton Plaza

Picture People has closed at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall. Its space has been cleared out inside. The portrait studio was located on Level 1 in the Target wing of the mall. Picture People opened this location about three years ago. This brings back memories of when operations like Sears Portrait Studio were fixtures at malls across America. "What the hell happened to us? What happened to the American Dream?" "It came true - you're lookin' at it."

Wetzel's Pretzels to open in Wheaton

Can it really be a day at the mall without a hot pretzel experience? Most people think of Auntie Anne's, a ubiquitous presence in malls across America. Their competitor, Wetzel's Pretzels, is coming soon to Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall at 11160 Veirs Mill Road. Construction is anticipated to begin sometime this spring.

Wetzel's has far fewer locations than Auntie Anne's, and is rare in our region today. They have a location at Arundel Mills Mall, and previously had a kiosk at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, which closed in January 2017.

Bill Phelps and Rick Wetzel founded Wetzel's Pretzels in Redondo Beach, California, in 1994. That first location was in a mall, of course: the wonderful South Bay Galleria. Today, there are over 340 locations worldwide. Each Wetzel's pretzel is hand-rolled, baked fresh and served hot from the oven. Menus are similar at both mall pretzel chains, with pretzel-wrapped hot dogs, pretzel bites, dipping sauces, cold drinks, and the OG main event relatively-giant pretzels.

Photo courtesy Wetzel's Pretzels

Relax Zone coming soon to Wheaton

Relax Zone is "coming soon" to Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall, according to signage across its future space at the retail center. The massage spa chain has existing locations from coast to coast across America. Many of its spas are located in malls. When it opens, look for Relax Zone on Level 1 of the mall, across from Zumiez in the Dick's Sporting Goods wing. 

Regal Majestic Theater tagged with graffiti in Silver Spring

Graffiti artists apparently gained access to the rooftop of the Regal Majestic cineplex building at 900 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring. They left tags on the facade just below the top of the corner parapet of the building. Because there is an overhang below that facade, the graffiti is not highly visible from the streets directly below. Four of the facade tiles were painted black behind one of the tags.

These dogs are up for adoption today in Silver Spring (Photos)

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue will be holding a dog adoption event this afternoon, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Silver Spring. All of the dogs pictured here will be available to adopt (a few are contingent upon volunteers giving them a ride over, as noted below). There will also be some cats to adopt, as well. The event will be held at the PetSmart at 12020 Cherry Hill Road at the Orchard Center in Calverton from 12:00 to 3:00 PM.

Accused robber chases victim into Glenmont McDonald's

Montgomery County police have arrested a juvenile in a robbery and assault that took place in Glenmont Thursday, March 20, 2025. Shortly before 6:35 PM that evening, the 15-year-old victim was on a Ride On bus in the Glenmont area when he was approached by a 14-year-old who demanded personal property. The victim disembarked from the bus near the Glenmont McDonald's restaurant at 12313 Georgia Avenue. When he realized the 14-year-old suspect had also gotten off the bus and was following him, the victim ran into the McDonald's.

The alleged robber pursued the victim into the McDonald's, and again demanded the victim's personal property. He then began physically assaulting the victim. Police were called to the McDonald's after someone reported that a pair of juveniles were fighting behind the counter. Officers arrived and arrested the 14-year-old suspect.

He was transported to the 4th District Montgomery County police station, and charged with attempted robbery and assault. His case will be handled by the Department of Juvenile Services, and he has been released into the custody of "guardians," police said. They did not cite the injury status of the victim.

Silver Spring man charged in Wheaton laundromat burglary

Montgomery County police have arrested and charged a suspect in the March 5, 2025 burglary of Express Check Cash & Laundry at 2303 University Boulevard W. in the Wheaton Manor Shopping Center. The burglary took place at 9:03 PM that evening. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry at the business, and money was taken.

Anthony J. Harris, 27, of Silver Spring has been charged with felony 2nd-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, and theft of less than $100. According to Maryland court records, he is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for April 4 in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

Safeway truck gets stuck in barricades in downtown Silver Spring (Video)

A Safeway truck got stuck in ill-placed barricades in downtown Silver Spring. Departing the Safeway store at 909 Thayer Avenue, the driver attempted to turn onto Georgia Avenue from Thayer. The plastic and concrete barricades on either side of the intersection did not allow enough space for an 18-wheeler to easily make the right turn, and the truck became stuck. As the driver attempted to work his way out of the trap, traffic began to back up, as northbound Georgia was completely blocked for more than 10 minutes. We've seen the Maryland State Highway Administration become politicized during the governorship of Larry Hogan, where best engineering practices began to take a back seat to demands from Montgomery County elected officials and developers. Here is an improper turn ratio for trucks entering one of the busiest state highways in the county. Let's take a look:

Virginia beats Maryland in January job growth

Virginia hammered Maryland in job growth once again in January 2025. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia added 7,100 jobs in January, while Maryland only created 4,900. The BLS also revised Virginia's numbers from December upward, with the Old Dominion's jobs-added figure rising from 4,900 to 14,200. Maryland had infamously only gained a paltry 200 jobs in December.

“More Virginians are working than ever in the Commonwealth as jobs and opportunity continue to expand in Virginia,” Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Tuesday. “In January, the Commonwealth added 7,100 nonfarm jobs, building on the upwardly revised job gains in December. This performance underscores the success of our pro-business policies and our ongoing focus on workforce development, which are providing Virginia companies the talent they need to grow and Virginians with the opportunities to succeed.” 

Dollar Tree to open new store in White Oak

Dollar Tree will open a new location in White Oak later this year. The chain has leased the space at 11130 New Hampshire Avenue. That was formerly home to Montgomery County's last Office Depot store until 2023. The 10,770-square-foot retail space was also once home to a W. Bell & Co. store. Montgomery County police officer Phillip Carl Metz was tragically killed in the line of duty at this W. Bell & Co. location, when he was shot by a burglar breaking into the store on March 27, 1981.

Why can't you name this park in Silver Spring?

Montgomery Parks, the parks department of Montgomery County, is promising a chance to sort-of help name the County's newest park, now under construction at 1110 East-West Highway in downtown Silver Spring. But in true Montgomery County facepalm fashion, you have to pick one of three names they've already chosen. And one of those is the placeholding name it's already known by at the moment.

The three possible names you can vote on are:

• Bottleworks Urban Park, which will refer to the Coca-Cola and Canada Dry bottling plants that once operated in this formerly-industrial part of town
• Kennett Street Urban Park, which recalls that nearby street's status as an industrial corridor in the mid-20th-century
• South Silver Spring Urban Park, which is what the park is currently named

Bottleworks is probably the most vivid of the three names - in very relative terms. Most people who either lived here prior to the transformation of downtown Silver Spring, or who are familiar with its history, have a favorable opinion or fond recollection of the Canada Dry facility. It seems like it would make more sense to call it Canada Dry Park if we were going in that direction, although I imagine there would be some legal trademark objection, despite the free publicity for ginger ale.

But if you think of all the prominent people associated with Silver Spring, or even some aspirational national or international figures, the selection of choices being offered is underwhelming to say the least. Voting will close at the end of the day on May 7. If you would like to vote on one of the three names, you have an equal number of ways to do so:

1. Online via the South Silver Spring Urban Park naming survey  
2. By phone:  301-495-2595 (Please reference South Silver Spring Urban Park renaming contest)  
3. By mail:      2425 Reedie Drive, 12th Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902  Attn: Public Affairs  

If Maryland loses FBI HQ, Gov. Wes Moore may have only himself to blame

If Maryland loses the FBI headquarters it thought it won in a beauty contest during the Biden administration, Governor Wes Moore may have only himself - and his devotees in the press - to blame. Moore lashed out at President Donald Trump after Trump declared the FBI would be staying in D.C. during a speech at the Department of Justice last week. He called Trump's statement political - and he was right, but not in the way he thought. It was Moore who played politics badly almost a month ago.

Moore initially took a more measured approach after Trump's victory last November. It appeared their relationship was off to a promising start when Trump appointed Moore to the bipartisan Council of Governors last month. But then Moore attended a meeting of governors from across the country at The White House, and went on a press tour to say that Trump had gone "off the rails" at the event. Eager to champion any Democrat who will forcefully take on Trump, and overeager to bolster Moore's bid for the presidency in 2028, the media began publishing reports and encouraging Moore to boost his attacks.

"Maryland Governor Wes Moore appears to have dismissed any possibility of working with President Donald Trump," Maryland Matters reported. "Any possibility?" Does that sound like a wise position to take when the state depends on the federal government in so many ways?

Moore told reporters that he supported Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown's lawsuits against the Trump administration. He said he was "deeply underwhelmed" and "troubled" by Trump. Moore described Trump's speech as "an hour-long diatribe of conspiracy theories and attacks." The Baltimore Sun said Moore was "more determined to push back" against the President. Many Democrats and journalists were positively giddy about Moore's rants against Trump, despite a replacement Key Bridge and the FBI HQ being just two major projects hanging in the balance.

Imagine if Moore had taken a different approach, especially knowing that other politicians have followed a rather simple strategy to forge a successful relationship with Trump. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has met privately with Trump for dialogue outside of the public view, rather than fire invective through the press. She has acceded to several Trump priorities over the last few months, either by verbal intent, or by action, such as the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza. As a result, a major cut to the D.C. budget was overturned by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate at the 11th hour, and Trump has so far not followed through on his threats to intervene in city affairs. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, off to a rocky start at home, put on a master class in Trump diplomacy during his White House visit. With a flourish, out came an invitation to visit King Charles, a clear play on Trump's oft-stated affection for the British Royal Family. And the contrasting approaches of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan toward Trump have had predictably-opposite outcomes. All three of those who established a successful rapport with Trump used a combination of flattery and pragmatism, while holding firm on certain principles that were cast as furthering Trump's objectives. Those who simply attacked ended up empty handed.

It's no surprise, then, that Trump would not hesitate to pull back the FBI headquarters after a barrage of attacks from Moore through the media. In a state that has failed to score any big economic development wins in the private sector for decades, fumbling the rare infusion of government largess the FBI HQ represented was an unforced error by Moore.

Rendering via Prince George's County 

Silver Spring Chick-fil-A renovation update (Photos)

The Chick-fil-A restaurant at 825 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring is temporarily closed for renovations. It is a major gutting and remodeling of the space, and the store is expected to reopen before summer. According to the chain, every Chick-fil-A location will undergo a major overhaul like this at least once every thirty years. Updating kitchen equipment to the latest standards, and improving the flow of pickup and delivery orders, are among the goals of the renovation. Here is a look at the current status of the project:

Assault at Aspen Hill Library

Montgomery County police were called to the Aspen Hill Library at 4407 Aspen Hill Road Thursday afternoon, March 13, 2025. An individual reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault reportedly occurred around 4:00 PM. Police were dispatched to the scene at 5:41 PM.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's poll numbers drop as he pushes unpopular tax, fee hikes

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) received more bad news from poll results this week, as his highly-unpopular plan to raise multiple taxes and fees - and introduce new ones - is tanking his approval rating across the state. 55% of registered voters approve of the governor, down from 61% in January, according to the Gonzales Poll released Wednesday. 50% of those polled said they believe the state is heading in the wrong direction. 58% labeled Maryland's economy as "fair or poor" - that has risen by 4 points since the University of Maryland Baltimore County poll in late February.

The combination of Maryland's moribund economy, Moore's tax hike plan, his proposed 75-cent tax on all Amazon and food deliveries from firms like DoorDash and Uber Eats, his EmPOWER MD fee that caused electricity rates to skyrocket this winter, and his squandering of a $5.5 billion surplus left by his predecessor, Republican Larry Hogan, is leading some to ask if Moore is up to the job of leading the state. That's quite a change from the beginning of his term, when the primary question was how long he would serve before running for the White House. 

Moore's stellar resume suggested he would lead with strength and competence in all relevant areas. The promised business acumen has yet to emerge, his handling of Maryland's finances has paled next to Hogan's tax-hike-free eight years of fiscal stability, and the state's long-moribund economy has made Moore's plans for massive new spending on social programs and education a difficult-to-impossible mission.

"No Moore" campaign posts video critiquing governor

Contributing to the public's attention to Moore's struggles was a decision by the Maryland Democratic Party to begin attacking an anonymously-led campaign called "No Moore." But in demanding the State Board of Elections unmask the group, and investigate it for unsubstantiated violations of election law, the party wound up elevating public awareness of No Moore - along with the number of its followers on social media. Moore's office distanced itself from that effort. No Moore wasted no time in leveraging its newfound support, posting a video critiquing Moore on X yesterday morning.

Silver Spring home broken into

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a home near the edge of downtown Silver Spring early Tuesday afternoon, March 11, 2025. The burglary was reported at a house in the 800 block of Bonifant Street at 1:14 PM Tuesday. That is near Bullis Local Park. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the home.

Assault in Silver Spring parking lot

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in a Silver Spring parking lot early in the evening on March 11, 2025. The assault was reported in a residential parking lot in the 8500 block of 16th Street at 6:26 PM Tuesday. That appears to be within the large Summit Hills apartment complex, on the edge of downtown Silver Spring.

El Tejano Restaurant II opening soon in Wheaton

El Tejano Restaurant II is opening soon at 2646 University Boulevard W. in Wheaton. It is taking over the former Cam Ranh Bay Pho & Grill/Gourmet Inspirations space. That will allow for a spacious 8259-square-foot Latin American restaurant. Operating hours are anticipated to be 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM on Fridays, 9:00 AM to 3:00 AM on Saturdays, and 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Sundays.

Purple Line detour for Pershing Dr. in Silver Spring to begin March 24

Access to Pershing Drive from Bonifant Street in downtown Silver Spring will be blocked for about a month, beginning on or about March 24, 2025, the Maryland Transit Administration announced. The closure is necessary to complete track installation for the future Purple Line light rail system. During the closure, trash trucks and vehicles using private parking will have access from Wayne Avenue. Delivery trucks will be directed to dedicated loading zones on Bonifant, and on Georgia Avenue.

Watch for flagmen, and be prepared to follow their directions during the closure. Work will proceed on weekdays, and weekends as needed. The Pershing-Bonifant closure is anticipated to last for about four weeks. Should inclement weather occur, the reopening could be postponed.

Argan moves corporate HQ from Montgomery County to Arlington, Virginia

Montgomery County has lost yet another corporate headquarters to Northern Virginia. Argan, Inc., announced yesterday that it has relocated its HQ from 1 Church Street in Rockville to Two Liberty Center in Arlington. The telecommunications and power industry service provider was founded in Rockville over two decades ago. Argan cited the new location's direct access to Dulles International Airport as one of the primary reasons for the move. The firm's stock price doubled, and surged 33% in two days at one point in 2024, and is up about $10 since then, to $104.05 as of this morning.

It's no surprise that Argan, like so many companies, is heading for greener pastures across the Potomac. Montgomery County and Maryland leaders have defiantly refused to construct the long-planned bridge across the river that would provide our own direct connection between the I-270 corridor and the Dulles area. Dulles is the only airport in the region that provides the frequency and variety of direct flights to global destinations demanded by international businesspeople. And let's fact it: Virginia's lower taxes, fewer regulations, and status as CNBC's "Top State for Business in America" certainly didn't hurt. 

Northern Virginia has other advantages for a firm that primarily deals with power plants and telecommunications infrastructure. Maryland leaders have forced the closure of 8 power plants since 2012 alone, and the state is now forced to import 40% of its electricity from out-of-state at higher prices to avoid rolling blackouts. 70% of internet traffic around the globe flows through data centers in Northern Virginia. And the Old Dominion has invested far more in highway, air transport, railroads, and ports than Maryland. It's no wonder Montgomery County has failed to attract a single new major corporate HQ in over 25 years.

"We are thrilled with the move to our new headquarters location in Arlington, Virginia," Argan CEO David Watson said in a statement. "We believe the location and layout will accommodate the Company’s continued growth, improve recruitment and retention of employees, and facilitate greater collaboration and a more productive overall work environment. The Washington metro area has a dynamic and robust economy with a quality workforce, and we look forward to leveraging our new location to enhance the experience of Argan’s current and future employees, partners and customers. The Company’s more than 22 years in Rockville, Maryland where Argan was founded, have been both meaningful and productive, and we look forward to continuing our success in our new home in Arlington."

Montgomery County police raid Silver Spring crack house, arrest 11

Montgomery County police recently received multiple complaints from residents about drug activity in the 12200 block of Selfridge Road in Silver Spring. In response, officers and specialized units raided a home on that block last Friday, March 7, 2025. The home is located near the two highway corridors of Veirs Mill Road and Randolph Road, and two busy shopping centers.

Officers found 30 people inside and outside of the house, and observed evidence of the drug activity neighbors had reported to them. Eleven of the thirty people were arrested. Seventeen outstanding arrest warrants were served.

One suspect was charged with felony possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. A second suspect was charged with a felony nuisance property violation. Two other individuals are facing misdemeanor possession charges.

After the raid, the Montgomery County Police Department issued a statement encouraging residents to report any similar concerns or activity in their neighborhoods. Anyone with information related to drug activity or other criminal concerns is encouraged to contact MCPD’s non-emergency line at 301-279-8000, or to submit an anonymous tip through http://www.p3tips.com/. 

Montgomery County minimum wage to increase by 50 cents on July 1, 2025

Montgomery County's minimum wage is set to increase on July 1, 2025, reflecting the region's inflation rate, as mandated by County law. The adjustments will see a 50-cent per hour increase across all employer sizes. Effective July 1st, large employers (those with 51 or more employees) will be required to pay a minimum wage of $17.65 per hour. Mid-size employers (11-50 employees) will see their minimum wage rise to $16 per hour, and small employers (10 or fewer employees) will be required to pay $15.50 per hour.

The wage increase is directly tied to the 2.9 percent rise in the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers in the Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria area in 2024. This increase over the 2.8 percent seen in 2023 triggered the adjustment, which the County says ensures the local minimum wage maintains its purchasing power in the face of rising costs.

“Raising the minimum wage to account for inflation is an important step in ensuring that all Montgomery County workers can earn a fair wage that supports their well-being,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement. “As the cost of living continues to rise, this increase helps workers and families keep pace while also benefitting local businesses by putting more money back into our community. By indexing the minimum wage to inflation, we are providing a long-term solution that adjusts to economic conditions, making sure that working people are rewarded fairly for their contributions and that our local economy stays strong and resilient.”

County estimates state that this minimum wage increase will boost the income of those receiving the minimum wage by $1,040 this year. The minimum wage law was passed by the Montgomery County Council in 2017, and was spearheaded by Elrich, who was a Councilmember at that time.

Isaac's Poultry Market opens in Burtonsville

Isaac's Poultry Market is now open at 15785 Old Columbia Pike at Burtonsville Crossing in Burtonsville. While the first location opened in Gaithersburg, founder Rob Gresham actually grew up in Burtonsville, making this a homecoming for the former CAVA Director of Operations. That first Isaac's restaurant had barely opened when its chicken sandwich was named Best Sandwich by the Maryland Restaurant Association. 

Isaac's Poultry Market specializes in antibiotic and steroid-free roasted chicken, wings, chicken sandwiches, salads, and frozen custard. Everything is certified Halal. 90% of the menu is gluten free. The concept was developed by Gresham and his son during the pandemic lockdown. It was named by his son for Isaac Newton, who developed his theory of gravity while in quarantine during the Great Plague of 1665.