THEFT SPREE CONTINUES IN WEST BETHESDA, ASSAULT AT BETHESDA COUNTRY CLUB, DRUG ARREST IN GROSVENOR - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

The theft spree continues in western Bethesda, with thieves returning to Sumner and Green Acres, and hitting new targets, like Kenwood and Somerset.

A separate wave of vehicle break-ins occurred on December 18 in White Flint, according to crime data. An assault was reported at Bethesda Country Club on Bradley Boulevard the same day, as well as a drug arrest in Grosvenor.

Here is a list of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 18 and 19:

December 18

Assault. Bethesda Country Club.

Theft. 7700 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Theft. Bethesda Metro Center 1.

Theft. 4900 block Hampden Lane.

Burglary. 5300 block McKinley Street (NIH area).

Theft. 5200 block Chamberlin Avenue (Kenwood).

Theft. 5800 block Warwick Place (Somerset).

Burglary. 5100 block Dorset Avenue (Kenwood).

Theft. 4400 block Willard Avenue (Friendship Heights).

Theft. 5300 block Western Avenue (Mazza Gallerie area).

Vehicle burglary. 8900 block Ewing Drive (Bradley Hills area).

Theft. 4800 block Bayard Boulevard (Green Acres).

Drug arrest. 10400 block Grosvenor Place.

Vehicle burglary. 11300 block Orleans Way (White Flint).

Theft. 6100 block Tuckerman Lane (Tilden area).

Vehicle burglary. Orleans Terrace (White Flint).

Theft. 11300 block Woodglen Drive (White Flint).

Vehicle burglary. 11600 block Nebel Street (White Flint).

Theft. 11500 block Rockville Pike (White Flint).

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard (Westfield Montgomery Mall area).

Theft. 7100 block Westlake Terrace (Westfield Montgomery Mall area).

December 19

Theft. 7400 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Theft. 8000 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block Cordell Avenue.

Theft. 4900 block Auburn Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Drug arrest. MD 355 at Cedar Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 5200 block Elsmere Avenue (Cedar Lane area).

Vehicle burglary. 4700 block Merivale Road (Green Acres vicinity, River Road corridor).

Vehicle burglary. 6000 block Roosevelt Street (Bradmoor).

Theft. 5100 block Westpath Way (Sumner).

Theft. Ericsson Road (Cabin John/Glen Echo area).

Vehicle theft. 11400 block Rockville Pike (White Flint).

Theft. 10400 block Auto Park Avenue (Westfield Montgomery Mall area).

THEFTS CONTINUE IN BETHESDA NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Three more thefts were reported in neighborhoods along Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda on December 17. One was in Sumner on Baltan Road, which has already been hit in this crime spike. The second and third were in the Green Acres/Glen Cove area. Since my last crime update, another theft was also reported not far from Baltan, in the 5100 block of Westpath Way.

If you live in the area, make sure your car and home doors are locked, and that all valuables are removed from the vehicle cabin.

Here is a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 17:

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Earlston Drive (Glen Cove area, Massachusetts Ave. corridor).

Theft. 5100 block Baltan Road (Sumner).

Vehicle burglary. 4900 block Bayard Boulevard (Green Acres).

Arrest for weapons offense. 4400 block East-West Highway.

Burglary. 4600 block Norwood Road (Chevy Chase along Green Mile).

Theft. 6900 block Maple Avenue (Chevy Chase, just outside downtown Bethesda).

Vehicle burglary. 5800 block Plainview Road (Whitman HS area).

Theft. 4900 block Strathmore Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 11100 block Rokeby Avenue/4700 Argyle Avenue (Garrett Park area).

Theft. 11300 block Rockville Pike (White Flint).

Vehicle burglary. 11400 block Commonwealth Drive (Tilden area).

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. Home Depot, 7111 Westlake Terrace.

VEHICLE THEFT AT BETHESDA ES, 3 ASSAULTS & MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here is a list of crimes reported around Bethesda on September 7-8, 2013, according to crime data:

September 7

Theft. 5300 block Westbard Avenue.

Assault. 4900 block Earlston Drive (Green Acres area).

Assault/rape. Suburban Hospital. No details given, but remember that a sexual assault reported at the hospital does not necessarily mean the incident occurred at the hospital.

Assault. 4500 block Middleton Lane (downtown Bethesda area).

September 8

Vehicle theft. Bethesda ES.

Vehicle burglary. 11500 block Rockville Pike (White Flint area).

PARVA LOUNGE BUILDING UP FOR SALE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The distinctive building currently occupied by The Parva lounge and restaurant is now on the market for $2,299,000. But even if it is sold, The Parva will still remain there for at least 3 more years.

With two stories and 4546 square feet of space, the restaurant property at 7904 Woodmont Avenue could eventually be a prime piece of mixed-use redevelopment property. To achieve that, however, would likely require joining the plot with the adjoining structure that holds BGR and Jetties.

The Parva still has 3 years on its lease, and they could always sign an extension after that. My guess is the next owner might be willing to give the lounge a short term lease, if no viable redevelopment project is on the table in 2016. According to the seller, the current Parva lease is at a below-market rate.

Let's hope The Parva stays, as the building and renovated interior add much of the South Beach atmosphere to the lounge. We really need more Latin American restaurants and nightspots, not less, in downtown Bethesda. The Parva is currently the only club in Bethesda that regularly offers VIP table service. BlackFinn has offered it on Thursday nights in the past, and the first establishment to provide it - Relic - went out of business.

The Parva also has a diverse menu, featuring dishes from Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Peru.

And it is one of the few spots around town that shows any life after midnight. In my opinion, it's a business that has a lot of potential to continue to grow.

Fortunately, there isn't likely to be any change in the near future.

BETHESDA POST OFFICE MEETING PRODUCES MANY QUESTIONS, FEW ANSWERS

"I KNOW NOTHING!"

Certainly Sgt. Schultz could have appreciated last night's United States Postal Service public meeting on the future Bethesda post office, which will be located... uh, can I get back to you on that?

Long rumored to be a retail post office in the 20816 zip code, and without PO boxes, the project is now even more vague.

Richard Hancock, a USPS real estate specialist who arrived from North Carolina to discuss the planned facility, conceded he was unfamiliar with Bethesda's zip codes and streets. But Hancock assured residents attending the meeting that he will quickly get up to speed.

Hancock said he would know what zip code(s) are under consideration by Monday. As of last night, the project has a one-sentence objective: a 2000 square foot retail post office in Bethesda. He also said there will be PO boxes in the store.

Unfortunately, it sounds as if the mistakes of the new 6900 Wisconsin Avenue post office could be repeated again. Hancock said parking would be ideal, but is not a requirement. Likewise, the disability access could be legally and technically ADA-compliant, but not functionally accessible, which is what happened at 6900 Wisconsin.

BCC Regional Services Center director Ken Hartman said he had sent a letter earlier in the day emphasizing disability access as a priority to the USPS.

Hancock said he knew absolutely nothing about the process and decisions reached in the 6900 project. He insisted things would be better this time.

One resident questioned that. She carried with her last night her notes from the same type of meeting regarding the 2011 search that ended with the selection of 6900.
She said many of the promises made by Hancock were made by USPS at that earlier meeting, and that USPS broke all of them.

Hancock replied that this case will be "different," with him in charge.

Hancock said loading docks and truck access would be essential to efficient operation. Essentially, he was describing the now-demolished Arlington Road post office. I said to him that, if that's so important, why did USPS tear down an existing facility with those features? Economic pressures, he replied.

We really have 3 major needs for postal facilities in Bethesda:

1. Walkable location near the center of town.

2. Surface parking near the door for the disabled and elderly.

3. Drive-up drop boxes.

Hancock says he expects the new post office to open one year from now.

ANOTHER STOLEN CAR IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Yet another car has been reported stolen in Bethesda. This one was taken from the 9200 block of Bulls Run Parkway on Wednesday, May 8, according to crime data.

Here are other notable crimes reported this week:

MAY 7:

Theft. 10400 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 4800 block Fairmont Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 7700 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 4400 block Montgomery Avenue.

MAY 8:

Theft from vehicle. 4700 block Sangamore Road.

Theft from vehicle. 8800 block Hempstead Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 5700 block Roosevelt Street.

Theft. 4800 block Moorland Lane.

Theft. Walter Johnson HS.

Theft. Home Depot.

Theft. 4700 block Montgomery Lane.

FORMER AMERICA'S MOST WANTED TV SHOW HQ IN BETHESDA LEASED TO HEALTH FIRM

Downtown Bethesda has hosted more TV networks and shows than many realize.  One of the most prominent was the long-running crime series America's Most Wanted, hosted by John Walsh.

When Fox unceremoniously canned the venerable program (it survives on cable in a different form), AMW left its 8th Floor production headquarters in 2 Bethesda Metro Center.

The space has now been filled by two tenants. Precision Health Holdings has leased 8000' of the space, and another 1600' has been claimed by National Government Services.

Can I get away with calling this the Most Wanted office space in Bethesda?

HOW MANY INCHES OF SNOW WILL BETHESDA, DC AREA GET FROM WINTER STORM SATURN?

Bethesda is under a Winter Storm Watch right now. The sun is shining, but there's a wintry chill in the air.

Winter Storm Saturn is on its way to the DC area.

How many inches of snow will end up falling on Bethesda tonight and on Wednesday?

The average prediction is 5-6 inches. Some forecasters say it could be as many as 8-12.

But here's an intriguing prediction: the now-famous Euro Model is saying the DC area will receive a 1-3" accumulation. This contradicts the majority of forecasts. Yet it is intriguing because the Euro Model was dead-right about the hurricane last fall.

The fact is, nobody knows. But conditions are right for up to a foot of snow.  And it is supposed to be a wet, heavy snow. That means more effort to shovel and plow for humans and machines.

Even though the Euro Model sounds unlikely, you can't rule out the data from a model that has been accurate so many times.

The fact that temperatures will rise above freezing on Wednesday could certainly reduce the potential total accumulation.

But that ice and slush will freeze solid after dark again, so watch out.

Today, expect light showers by 5:00 PM, changing over to snow after dark.  Accumulation of 1-2" possible tonight. Winds gusting to 30 MPH.

Wednesday, heavy showers and heavy snow. Accumulation of 5-12" possible through Thursday morning. Winds will gust to 35 MPH. Visibility could be affected if snowfall is heavy, due to winds.

Metro and Metrobus are total wildcards in recent years, in contrast to their past practice of operation during all but the worst snows in prior decades.

Stay tuned here and at @BethesdaRow on Twitter for updates throughout the storm!

WINTER STORM IAGO APPROACHING BETHESDA, 1-3" RAIN AND/OR SNOW ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE IN DC AREA

BETHESDA STORM CENTER:
IAGO SNOW UPDATE

While some forecasts have overhyped the snowstorm expected to hit the DC area today, you can count on slick roads during the evening rush hour tonight.

Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN and employees have the option for UNSCHEDULED LEAVE or UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK, according to the OPM website.

Expect rain showers this morning, and a rain/snow mixture early in the afternoon.  Temperatures are not currently forecast to drop below freezing tonight. Any concentrated snowfall will have difficulty sticking if that holds true.

In the worst case scenario, snowfall accumulation should total no more than 1-3" by evening.

Snow should taper off after 9 PM.

This is more likely a "be careful driving" storm than a "clean out the grocery store" blizzard.

Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for Bethesda weather updates as warranted.

GLEAMING NEW LOBBY AT 7550 WISCONSIN AVENUE (PHOTO)

Here's a photo of the brand-new main lobby at the future Class-A office tower 7550 Wisconsin Avenue.

BETHESDA WEATHER FORECAST

Another beautiful day ahead in Bethesda:  Sunny with highs in the upper 70s.  5 MPH breeze.

Tonight will be Sweater Weather again:  Lows in the lower 50s with a 5 MPH breeze.

SWEATER WEATHER TONIGHT IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA, MD FORECAST

Out of the frying pan and into the igloo.  After a relentlessly hot summer, suddenly tonight you'll have to remember how to put on outerwear.

Yes, the lows tonight will be in the upper 40s(!!).

Hot libations may be in style at the bars around Bethesda this evening.

But first, we'll have fantastic weather today - sunny, with highs in the very comfortable mid-70s.  A nice breeze, but with wind gusts up to 25 MPH.

Then you'll have to call on your sweaters and jackets a bit early this year, when temperatures plunge into the upper 40s later tonight.  5-10 MPH breeze.