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 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.