Stabbing at Aldi in Calverton

This morning's news takes us back once again to Calverton. Montgomery County police were called to the Aldi at 12012 Cherry Hill Road at the Orchard Center on June 13, 2025. At 8:31 PM that evening, a male suspect allegedly displayed a weapon and stabbed a man at the grocery store. Police identified and arrested a suspect. 

Juan Rivas-Jordan, 44, of no fixed address, has been charged with felony 2nd-degree attempted murder, felony 1st-degree assault, misdemeanor theft, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held without bond at the County jail. 

According to Maryland court records, Rivas-Jordan had been arrested for theft and trespassing in a separate incident in March. On March 15, he posted $1000 bond and was released pending trial. Rivas-Jordan did not appear at his trial on May 5. Judge Eric John Nee issued a bench warrant for his arrest. That outstanding warrant was served when Rivas-Jordan was arrested for the alleged June 13 stabbing.

One victim injured in Calverton shooting

One person was seriously injured in a daytime shooting in Calverton yesterday, Montgomery County police report. Officers were dispatched to the unit block of Hunters Gate Court at 1:12 PM yesterday, June 19, 2025. That is a townhome community across the street from the Orchard Center shopping center. Officers found an adult male suffering from "serious injuries," but police did not specify that the injuries were gunshot wounds, as they do in other cases. One suspect was taken into custody, and police say they believe this was an "isolated incident." However, their investigation is ongoing.

Temporary closure of Bonifant St.-Ramsey Ave. intersection in Silver Spring set for July 10, 2025

Commuters and residents in downtown Silver Spring should prepare for a temporary full closure of the intersection of Ramsey Avenue and Bonifant Street, effective on or about July 10, 2025, through September 10, 2025. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) announced on Tuesday that this closure is required so that crews can install new tracks, reconstruct sidewalks, and complete essential utility crossings for the Purple Line light rail project.

The closure will necessitate adjustments for those accessing the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center and surrounding businesses. However, the MTA emphasizes that significant efforts have been made to maintain accessibility for key transit services and local establishments.

Impact and Alternative Access:

Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center (Level 3) Access: The Kiss and Ride and taxi stands on Level 3 of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center will remain open and accessible. All traffic intending to use these services should plan to access them via Ripley Street.

Bonifant-Dixon Garage: Access to the Bonifant-Dixon Garage from Dixon Street will remain open for the convenience of local businesses.

Pedestrian Access: The MTA assures the public that pedestrian access to the transit center, the MARC platform, and all local businesses in the vicinity will be maintained throughout the closure. Pedestrians are advised to follow posted signage and directions from on-site personnel for safe navigation.

Commuters are encouraged to plan their routes in advance and allow for extra travel time during this two-month period. The MTA advises all individuals in the area to pay close attention to posted signage and instructions from on-site personnel, who will be present to guide traffic and pedestrians safely through the work zone.

Montgomery County Council wants to ban bamboo

The few among the public who even know what the Montgomery County Council is, or what it does, would tell you it primarily raises taxes, provides reckless zoning and giveaways of taxpayer money and public land to its developer sugar daddies, and "bans stuff." It's a lazy summer for the very part-time Council, but it has just announced the latest thing it wants to ban: bamboo. If Bill 26-25 passes later this year, perhaps after the Council's long summer vacation, there would also be a new nanny state requirement that at least 50% of the landscaping in any new development be comprised of native plants, although this provision appears only in the Council press release and not in the current language of the bill.

The bill would prohibit the sale of invasive bamboo, which is a rapidly-spreading plant. It would also establish penalties for doing so. A public hearing on the bill has been scheduled for July 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM at the County Council chambers.

Most people would probably agree that bamboo is an aggressively invasive plant. Maybe it should be banned, or maybe it should have been banned a long time ago. But one can't help but notice the many crises the County is facing, and wonder why bamboo is the top priority of the County Council. The current Council hasn't passed a single bill to address our moribund economy or sustained violent crime wave. Montgomery County hasn't attracted a single major corporate headquarters in over 25 years. And we are currently facing fiscal oblivion in the coming years, regarding the County's structural budget deficit and debt. This is a part-time Council that is absurdly unserious in its legislative pursuits. We can't go on like this.

ALERT: Possibly-rabid raccoon in Wheaton/Kemp Mill area

Montgomery County is alerting residents in the Arcola Avenue area of Wheaton and Kemp Mill that there is a potentially-rabid raccoon on the loose in that vicinity. Areas likely to be frequented by the raccoon would include Arville, Kemp Mill, Wheaton Regional Park, Arcola Local Park, Sligo Creek, and Colt Terrace Neighborhood Park. However, keep in mind that the typical raccoon in a developed area like this may travel as far as one-to-two miles each night, so you really want to be aware of your surroundings during the day and night, if you are within a mile or two of Arcola Avenue. Behavior and movement of a raccoon will also be affected if it is rabid; it is more likely to roam during daylight hours, for example.

The raccoon in question has bitten two people in the 1800 block of Franwall Avenue in the Arville neighborhood. The County Office of Animal Services and the Department of Health and Human Services are asking residents to be alert, and to share this information with neighbors. Rabies is a serious disease that is typically fatal if the victim of exposure does not receive rabies shots in time.

Residents are asked to call 911 and Animal Services at 240-773-5900 if they come into immediate contact with an animal acting aggressively or strangely. If you determine you are not in immediate danger from the animal, you can just call Animal Services to report your sighting so that they can investigate.  HHS advises that if you and/or your pet had contact with a raccoon in this area, to seek medical or veterinary care immediately. If you can supervise your pets' outdoor time, and keep them indoors the rest of the time, that would be the safest way to avoid or be aware of any contact with this raccoon.

Downtown Silver Spring retail building for sale

A three-level retail building at 8241 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring has hit the market for sale. It is fully-leased with seven tenants. Constructed in 1987, the building is really a mini-mall in its layout, which includes an elevator servicing all three levels. It will also be a prime redevelopment opportunity in the future. That is one of the reasons the asking price is $5,000,000, according to the online listing. Another reason is that the current owner kept rents lower to retain tenants during the pandemic and Purple Line construction, leaving the new owner a justification to raise them once the light rail system opens in 2027.

Love this retro 80s design

Photos courtesy Larry Rosen Commercial & Investment Realty Associates, LLC

Armed robbery at Kohl's in Silver Spring

The Kohl's department store at 12024 Cherry Hill Road at the Orchard Center in Silver Spring was held up on June 1, 2025, Montgomery County police report. At 8:17 PM that evening, a suspect inside the store displayed a weapon, and stole merchandise. Police have no description of the suspect at this time, which is a bit hard to believe, given that there are surveillance cameras all over the store. If you can identify the perpetrator of this robbery, call police at (301) 279-8000.