What a year it’s been. From the frightening touchdown of tornadoes and a massive pool party at a Potomac mansion that raised neighbors’ eyebrows, to black bear sightings and the growing presence of the dreaded spotted lanternfly, Montgomery County has seen its share of newsworthy events in 2024. Here’s a look at seven of MoCo360’s most-read articles of the year.
Long-awaited Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center opens
In February, the 120,000-square-foot Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center opened its doors to the public. The facility at 1315 Apple Ave. in downtown Silver Spring boasts several swimming pools, a gymnasium, activity rooms, a culinary arts kitchen, a café and a statue of county Olympian Dominique Dawes.
“I have not been this excited since the Washington Nationals won the World Series,” County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz told hundreds of eager attendees at the facility’s grand opening ceremony on Feb. 24.
Dog shot, injured in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose
In March, thousands of readers turned to MoCo360 for news and updates after a dog was shot and injured in the leg in the North Bethesda Pike & Rose shopping and residential development. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of March 8 in the 11800 block of Grand Park Avenue, according to county police. The dog survived and was transported to a local veterinarian’s office by the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
Residents look skyward to watch the partial solar eclipse
Across the county people headed outside on April 8 to catch a glimpse of a celestial marvel: a solar eclipse. While the county was not in the path of full totality, residents were still able to see more than 85% of the sun covered by the eclipse.
Solar glasses giveaways, eclipse-viewing events and special offers were available across the county, including the addition of fizzy Space Dust on scoops from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in downtown Bethesda.
Black bear visits Montgomery County
In May, a solitary black bear made its way through the county with sightings reported in Aspen Hill and near Sligo Creek in Silver Spring. Black bears are more common in Western Maryland, but local sightings can be expected in the springtime, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
‘Wet Dreams’ pool party at a Potomac mansion raises eyebrows
An event advertised on social media as a “Wet Dreams” pool party at a Potomac mansion caused quite the ruckus in June after hundreds of partygoers shot off fireworks and blocked roads with vehicles. In the aftermath, county and state lawmakers started looking into ways to prevent such an event from occurring again in a residential neighborhood.
Tornadoes touch down in western and central Montgomery County
Multiple tornadoes ripped through the county in early June, leaving behind collapsed homes, fallen trees and downed power lines in their wake. The tornadoes tore through Poolesville and then moved on to Germantown, Gaithersburg and Olney.
“It was terrifying,” Gaithersburg resident Nikia Smith told MoCo360 after the thunderstorm that spawned the tornadoes had ended. “When we heard it coming, we were tracking the storm in our basement. I had to run and get the cats and get the kids and put everybody in the basement.”
Spotted lanternflies make their presence known across the county
In 2024, the county saw a “big population boom” of the invasive spotted lanternflies, according to Mary Travaglini, the county’s liaison to the National Capital Region Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). The bugs fluttered on sidewalks and trees around the county and caught the attention of many residents who had never seen them before.
Travaglini noted that the bugs were first reported in the county in 2022 and the recent boom was mostly assisted by human activity, with the bugs hitching rides on vehicles traveling across state lines and counties — and even into downtown Bethesda. Although they are harmless to humans, the bugs cause damage to trees and crops by sucking sap from trunks and stems.
One way residents can help is by smashing the invasive bugs with a stomp of the foot.
“If you want to smash them, it’s relatively satisfying when you are having a stressful day,” Travaglini said.
