
Concern for Missing Poolesville Man
Update: December 30, 2018 at 2:30 pm – Luke Casey Maher has been located safe and unharmed. Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – 1st District Investigative Section are asking the public for help in locating a missing Poolesville man. Luke Casey Maher, age 21, was last seen by family when he left his Spates Hill Road home at approximately 9:20 pm on Saturday, December 29. Family reported that Maher may have left in his grey, 2017 Ford F-150 pick-up truck.

Police Pickup Package Pilfering Porch Pirate
With a little help from the public, including Germantown Pulse readers, detectives from the 5th District – Patrol Investigations Unit were able to identify and charge the package thief who was caught on a doorbell video camera earlier this month. Police have charged William J. Foster III, age 47, of Kitchen House Court in Germantown, with the theft of packages from the front porch of three homes located on Wheatridge Drive in Germantown. The total value of stolen items in the

Police Report Four Vehicle Thefts in Early December
Montgomery County Police Department reported a number of criminal incidents in Germantown from November 19 through December 15. Police reported four stolen vehicles in Germantown between November 25 and December 6. The first was taken from the 18000 block of Cottage Garden Drive between approximately 6:00 pm on Nov. 25 and approximately 9:00 am on Nov. 26. Unknown entry. The vehicle was recovered on Dec. 5. Another vehicle theft occurred in the 12600 block of Grey Eagle Court

Montgomery Planning Board Sends the MARC Rail Communities Sector Plan to the County Council for Cons
The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Planning Board Draft of the MARC Rail Communities Sector Plan at its meeting on December 20 and transmitted the plan to the County Council and County Executive for review. “This plan is important in promoting better connections to the MARC stations, giving residents more options for commuting, and other improvements that respect the historic identities of these communities,” says Planning Director Gwen Wright. “This plan will

Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Accepting Holiday Trees for Recycling
As soon as holiday celebrations end, one of the main needs of many families is how to dispose of their holiday tree. Montgomery County is now collecting live trees as part of its regularly-scheduled recycling service. Although the County’s recycling program does not have a deadline for collecting trees, it is highly recommended that trees be recycled soon after the holiday. Cut trees can become dry and then pose a threat as a fire hazard. Residents need to place their trees f

Local Irish Dancers Claim Top Prizes Southern Regionals
A Boyds resident has taken the top prize at the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America Southern Region Oireachtas while dancing with the McGrath Academy of Irish Dance which is based in the Washington, D.C. area. Jessie Welgos, daughter of Dave and Jennifer Welgos of Boyds, fended off 113 competitors to reclaim her first-place title in the girls’ under-12 competition in the Oireachtas. And, Sophia Rankin, daughter of Chris Rankin and Jennifer Reed of Cabin John, ou

Hogan Appoints Commission on Sixth Congressional District Gerrymandering
Governor Larry Hogan has appointed six citizen members to the Emergency Commission on Sixth Congressional District Gerrymandering. The Sixth Congressional District currently serves the Germantown and most of the UpCounty Montgomery County area from Potomac and runs through most of Frederick County and west to Washington, Allegheny, and Garrett counties. Governor Hogan announced the creation of the emergency commission in response to a federal court ruling in the case of Benis

Auxilium Technology Named the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber’s Small Business of the Year
The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber (GGCC) awarded Auxilium Technology as the recipient of the 12th Annual Small Business of the Year Award (SBY) on December 6, 2018; as a part of their Annual Celebration Dinner & Awards Ceremony. The award was presented by Aj Nwoga with M&T Bank. “Auxilium Technology is the great small business that exudes passion & success for their business. They excel in many areas, including strategic planning, employee development, community involvement

Post-Christmas Fire Destroys Boyds Home and Music Collection
An early morning fire destroyed a Boyds home just hours after Christmas ended on Wednesday, December 26. According to Montgomery County Fire officials, MCFRS units were called to the 21000 block of Clarksburg Road in Boyds for a report of a house fire at about 3:30 am on December 26. Arriving units encountered heavy fire in a single-story residence located down a long half-mile, dirt driveway off Clarksburg Road, according to MCFRS senior spokesman Pete Piringer. Two resident

Seneca Valley to Part Ways With Head Football Coach
Seneca Valley High School, a name once synonymous with Maryland high school football success, has parted ways with head football coach Fred Kim after posting a 2-8 record in the 2018 season — the worst in program history but the first losing record under Coach Kim. “I announce with utter sorrow and disappointment that there will be a change in leadership with the Seneca Valley Football Program. The administration felt that a new and different direction was needed to revitaliz

Op-Ed: New Year’s Eve Party is Just What Germantown Needs, BlackRock Takes A Step in Right Direction
I have lived and worked in Germantown for almost six years. It is a great place to live, but, one thing I’ve noticed, on which the Germantown Pulse seems to agree with me — we lack a sense of community. What makes up a community, that even other unincorporated places, like Silver Spring or Bethesda, have developed? I think it’s a combination of things, like having established traditions, accessing strong community institutions, and enjoying events that bring us all together.

Police Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Collision on Middlebrook Road
UPDATE: Shortly before noon, on Thursday, Dec. 20 Montgomery County Police confirmed that this pedestrian collision was fatal and a Germantown woman has died as result of her injuries. A woman suffered life-threatening injuries after she was struck by a vehicle in Germantown on Wednesday night. Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department-Collision Reconstruction Unit are investigating a serious collision involving a pedestrian. Police and Montgomery County Fire Re