Top news from Montgomery County this past week includes Gaithersburg's controversial annexation of the 27.89-acre Sears property, continuing heat for Pepco officials and a bomb threat at Bethesda's Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Pepco Customers Tell PSC Tales of Feeling Powerless After June Derecho

ROCKVILLE — Bearing photos, frustration and rage, wry humor, harrowing tales of surviving record heat and even poetry, Montgomery County residents railed against Pepco for more than four hours Tuesday night during a hearing before members of the state’s Public Service Commission. Read more on Rockville Patch.

Gaithersburg Unanimously Approves Sears Property Annexation

GAITHERSBURG — The Gaithersburg City Council unanimously approved a resolution to annex the 27.89-acre Sears property along Shady Grove Road in spite of harsh criticism from Rockville officials. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch.

'Homicide House' in Silver Spring Gets New Address

SILVER SPRING — A Silver Spring home made famous for being the site of three murders in the past 10 years is back on the market. The house's real estate agents gave it a little bit of a makeover, though—the home is now listed with a different address. Read more on Colesville Patch. 

Criminal Humor on Twitter, Courtesy of Montgomery County Police

GERMANTOWN — This alert went out to the Montgomery County Police Department’s 2,398 Twitter followers Thursday afternoon: “… MCP Arrests Cat Burglar #catburglar”. As it turns out, the burgling fiend wasn’t a burgling fiend, but was Perry Jane, the feline companion of a police spokeswoman who helped stage the photo shoot. Read more on Germantown Patch.

SHA Nixes Pedestrian-Activated Crossing Signal

CHEVY CHASE — Connecticut Avenue will not be receiving a pedestrian-activated crossing signal in Chevy Chase Village, the Maryland State Highway Administration has decided. Many residents of Chevy Chase, as well as local elected officials, had requested that the SHA install such a signal to help pedestrians cross the six-lane state highway near Chevy Chase Village Hall (which houses a local police station and a post office), but the SHA determined that demand was not enough to warrant the signal. Read more on Chevy Chase Patch.

Darnestown Olympian Looks to Summer 2016 Games

POTOMAC — Though Darnestown native Caroline Queen didn’t quite make it far enough to medal in London, she already has her eyes on the Summer 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Patch sat down to ask Queen a few questions about her experience at the 2012 Olympics. Read more on Potomac Patch.

Walter Reed Bomb Threat Declared False Alarm

BETHESDA — The America Building on the campus of Bethesda’s Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was evacuated Wednesday after an unknown person called in a bomb threat. After a sweep of the building, emergency responders gave the all-clear. Read more on Bethesda Patch.

Utility Stabilization Fee Set to Be Re-Examined

BETHESDA — The Maryland Public Service Commission is asking the public to weigh in on whether utilities should be able to collect a fee to recoup losses from catastrophic events such as major power outages. Read more on Bethesda Patch.

New Cutting-Edge Career in Montgomery County: Farming

GERMANTOWN — Montgomery County officials hope a new program for fledgling farmers will grow a new crop of entrepreneurs. County Executive Isiah Leggett unveiled on Monday an initiative known as the New Farmer Pilot Project, which would train and place farmers on private farms for five years or more “[so] that they can put down roots right here in Montgomery County,” Leggett said. Read more on Germantown Patch.