Cape girls’ lacrosse completed the non-Delaware part of their regular season with three wins over six days across the bay 12-8 and closing out with a sunny Saturday home win over visiting Germantown Friends out of Philadelphia 19-6 then close out the regular season at once-beaten Caesar Rodney Tuesday “The top four seeds for the state tournament are still playing out,” said coach Lindsey Underwood “And there are dangerous teams like Tatnall and Sussex Academy that had unusual seasons but they have the talent to beat anyone.”   Cape escaped a seesaw first quarter against Friends with a 5-3 advantage after having two goals waved off one for dangerous propelling (comes with a card) and a buzzer-beater that appeared to beat the clock ran a 14-2 crooked number at Germantown Friends over the final three quarters for an emphatic 19-6 victory Goal scorers for Cape were Claire Lopez with five Steinwedel and Frederick each with two and Diehl with one Goalie Abbey Schaeffer had four saves and Daisy Mastriana had one Germantown Friends scorers were Sarah Goldburg with three The 12-8  win at Ocean City was characterized by long possessions from the Jersey team “There were times when they had the ball for five minutes,” Underwood said “We were fortunate to stay in front and make the most of scoring opportunities.” Cape was led in scoring by Haley Gamuciello with five goals and single goals from Regan Best and Mairead Rishko and single assists from Lina Frederick and Ally Diehl Abbey Schaeffer was credited with seven saves Notes: Junior Claire Lopez scored career goal 100 in the win over Germantown Friends The Germantown Flea Market returns Saturday, May 3, from 8am-1pm at the MARC rail commuter lot at the intersection of Germantown Rd. (Rt. 118) and Bowman Mill Drive. Additional details below courtesy of the Germantown Historical Society: “Find hidden treasures at the largest Flea Market in Montgomery County The Germantown Community Flea Markets are held on the first Saturday of the month from April through November There are 50 to 150 vendors depending on the weather Everything from household goods to antiques The markets are held from 8am to 1pm at the Germantown MARC Commuter lot at Germantown Road and Bowman Mill Drive There is no fee and free parking for customers Vendors pay $25 for 10‘x10′ space and must arrive between 5;30-7:30am The Market benefit the Germantown Historical Society the Button Farm Living History Center and Boy Scout Troop 1325 Inclement weather cancellation posted by 6am at 301-972-2707.” By: 7:30 am on May 4 Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-story single-family residence at 458 Earlham Terrace in Germantown The new building will be attached and include a cellar with an eight-foot front setback beginning above the second floor The project is planned for a 1,085-square-foot lot and will provide 1,972 square feet of interior living space 458 Earlham Terrace Plan via MC Architectural LLC The project will rise from a vacant parcel measuring 878 square feet David Elmaliah is listed as the contractor and Properties II LLC is the project owner The architectural drawings submitted with the permit provide a basic outline of the structure’s massing and dimensions but do not include detailed renderings or façade treatments The total construction cost is estimated at $327,540 $227,540 is allocated for general construction The estimated contraction timeline has not been revealed yet Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ADVERTISEMENT Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC In Cindy Bass, Council News, Featured by Khara GarciaMay 2 The Inaugural Germantown Jazz Festival (GJF) debuts April 25–27 In partnership with its primary fiscal partner the GJF will bring a dynamic three-day celebration of music and culture to the heart of Philadelphia.The inaugural Germantown Jazz Festival is a vibrant three-day celebration of music and culture that aims to highlight Germantown’s rich history a genre that transcends boundaries and unites communities “Our vision is not just to host a festival but to create a movement that celebrates the legacy of jazz and Germantown’s place within it,” said Khadijah Renee we can make this dream a reality while fostering a sense of pride and connection this year and every year.” “The Germantown Jazz Festival is more than just a celebration of music—it’s a tribute to the deep cultural roots and creative spirit that define our community said Councilwoman Cindy Bass (8th District) “I’m proud to support this inaugural event that will unite people and spotlight Germantown as a vibrant hub for the arts in Philadelphia.” we are also announcing the debut of the Art Pavilion This exciting showcase will unite the art community to celebrate creativity and expression through diverse artistic works the Art Pavilion will highlight emerging and established artists creating a dynamic space where jazz and visual art intersect This initiative fosters artistic dialogue and community engagement making the Germantown Jazz Festival a must-attend event for art lovers and music enthusiasts the festival will feature local Germantown and juried Philadelphia-based artists offering a diverse array of expressive art that reflects the times and lifestyles of people living in the diaspora The exhibit will include key art-based stakeholders The Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program The Mural Arts Philadelphia will donate two 8×12 board pieces to be painted by juried artists for the live arts portion of the festival A special highlight of the Art Pavilion will be the children’s art tent and create art in a fun and supportive environment All children’s tent activities will be free to the public ***Artists interested in participating in the Art Pavilion can register at https://octobergallery.com/jazzfestival/  VIP Seating Donation Request: $50 | General Admission: $25, https://germantownjazzfestival.com/tickets/ A FREE public event that features two jazz stages The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown Festival Headliner: Bobby Watson – Renowned saxophonist $50 Advance | $55 at the door, https://germantownjazzfestival.com/tickets/  The Cookers – An all-star ensemble featuring Eddie Henderson (trumpet), George Cables (piano), Azar Lawrence (saxophone), Cecil McBee (bass), David Weiss (trumpet), Jaleel Shaw (saxophone), and Billy Hart (drums). $40 in advance | $45 at the door, https://germantownjazzfestival.com/tickets/ Henderson Hfactor band will headline and host an open Jazz Jam Fundraiser for the Festival’s continuity into 2026 $10 General Admission | $15 musicians, singers, and poets | $30 bands, https://germantownjazzfestival.com/tickets/ About the Germantown Jazz Festival With three successful fundraisers already uniting the community, the Germantown Jazz Festival (GJF) is more than an event—it’s a movement celebrating Germantown’s deep connection to jazz and its cultural legacy. www.GermantownJazzFestival.com / @GermJazzFest Germantown and a city resident have reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit stemming from the use of giant skeletons decorations in holiday displays The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) — the law firm representing resident Alexis Luttrell — and Germantown agreed to a $24,999 settlement in exchange for the dismissal of Luttrell’s First Amendment lawsuit FIRE told The Commercial Appeal the settlement came shortly after the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved the third and final reading to repeal the city’s holiday decoration ordinance during its April 28 meeting There was no discussion by the board about a new decoration ordinance at the meeting “Not only am I no longer at risk of being fined for my skeletons the unconstitutional ordinance is now dead and buried,” Luttrell said in a release “Today is a victory for anyone who has ever been censored by a government official and chose to fight back.” GERMANTOWN NEWS: How much is Germantown planning to give GMSD for Houston High renovations? The push to scrap the ordinance came after Luttrell fought a citation given to her by the city over her use of giant skeleton decorations in various outdoor holiday displays Luttrell kept the skeleton decorations in her yard after Halloween incorporating them in other holiday displays That violated Germantown's ordinance that dictated decorations could only be displayed 45 days before and 30 days after their intended holiday FIRE filed a lawsuit on Luttrell’s behalf in February in the U.S District Court for the Western District of Tennessee against the City of Germantown claiming the holiday decorations ordinance violated Luttrell’s First Amendment rights Germantown attorney David Goodman told the board after reviewing the ordinance that he had some legal concerns about it Germantown later moved to dismiss the citation against Luttrell “Germantown’s leaders deserve a lot of credit for quickly repealing its holiday ordinance after FIRE’s lawsuit,” FIRE attorney Colin McDonell said in a release “Instead of digging in and wasting time and taxpayer dollars defending an unconstitutional ordinance they boned up on the First Amendment and did the right thing.” Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610 To keep up with the latest news from the Shelby County suburbs, sign up here for our Suburban Pulse weekly newsletter About Us | Contact Us | Email Preferences | Help | Donate Subscribe Log In href="/section/business" aria-current="page" href="/section/opinion" aria-current="page" href="/section/sports" aria-current="page" href="/section/arts-culture" aria-current="page" href="/section/suburbs" aria-current="page" href="/section/neighborhoods" aria-current="page" href="//marketplace.dailymemphian.com/" aria-current="page" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-daily-memphian-23209873738" href="/section/suburbsarlington" aria-current="page" href="/section/suburbsbartlett" aria-current="page" href="/section/suburbscollierville" aria-current="page" href="/section/suburbsgermantown" aria-current="page" href="/section/suburbsmillington" aria-current="page" href="/section/suburbslakeland" aria-current="page" href="/section/suburbsnorth-mississippi" aria-current="page" googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1575557230823-0'); }); googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1575558347846-0'); }); Germantown By , Daily Memphian Updated: May 02, 2025 2:41 PM CT | Published: May 02, 2025 2:41 PM CT googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1576080080820-0'); }); David Skinner (in a 2021 file photo) walks his family’s land near Poplar Avenue in Germantown. He wants the property, which has been in the family for 100 years, rezoned for commercial use. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian) googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1568903208082-0'); }); if (document.body.classList.contains("column-article")) googletag.eventListeners = googletag.eventListeners || {}; googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded = googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded || {}; var handlers = googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded["div-gpt-ad-1576080080820-0"] || []; if (typeof handlers === 'function') handlers = [ handlers ]; var $adContainer = $("#div-gpt-ad-1568903208082-0").closest(".Ad").parent(); var adSlot = googletag.pubads().getSlots().find(s => s.getSlotElementId() === 'div-gpt-ad-1568903208082-0'); $adContainer.insertBefore($adContainer.siblings(".AuthorCallout").first()); $adContainer.addClass("Ad-container--full-float"); googletag.eventListeners.onRenderEnded["div-gpt-ad-1576080080820-0"] = handlers; Germantown was justified in denying a zoning change for a potential Chick-fil-A location near Poplar and Forest Hill-Irene David Skinner sued the city more than three years ago after officials denied two rezonings on his property west of the Exxon at Poplar Avenue and Forest Hill-Irene he requested commercial zoning for a Chick-fil-A on the site Skinner owns more than 10 acres northwest of Poplar and Forest Hill-Irene Road His requests focused on about 3 acres fronting Poplar nearby residents expressed strong opposition to the zoning change This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe. Abigail Warren is an award-winning reporter and covers Collierville and Germantown for The Daily Memphian. She was raised in the Memphis suburbs, attended Westminster Academy and studied journalism at the University of Memphis. She has been with The Daily Memphian since 2018. Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.  Sign up for our morning and evening editions Please check your inbox to finish the signup process 10 minutes, check your spam/junk folder or contact us at support@dailymemphian.com for assistance Manage Your Email Subscriptions Landmark Clayborn Temple total loss after pre-dawn fire Trial blog: Closing arguments begin in Tyre Nichols state criminal trial Ask the Memphian: Who is Prince Mongo? And he’s from where? Budget takeaways: What Wanda Halbert’s mistake cost and more Memphis Athletic Ministries closing, will merge with Streets googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1533927466764-0'); }); googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1533927600831-0'); }); Become a subscriber to keep reading Help Log In The Daily Memphian | Contact Us | FAQ | Additional Subscription Options | Work With Us | About Us | Privacy Policy | Donate It's a separate element as animating opacity is faster than rgba() PhotoSwipe keeps only 3 of them in the DOM to save memory window.dmConversions = window.dmConversions || {}; window.dmConversions.conversionEventQueue = []; window.dmConversions.captureConversion = function (conversion) { if (window.PARSELY && window.PARSELY.loaded) { dmc.conversionEventQueue.push(conversion); window.dmConversions.trackParselyConversion = function (conversion) { window.PARSELY.conversions.trackSubscription(conversion.label); window.PARSELY.conversions.trackCustom(conversion.label); window.PARSELY.conversions.trackNewsletterSignup(conversion.label); window.dmConversions.Conversion = function (data) { self.existingContact = data.existingContact; for (var i = 0; i < dmc.conversionEventQueue.length; i++) { "name": user.firstName + " " + user.lastName median?.onesignal?.externalUserId?.set?.({ window.median?.onesignal?.externalUserId?.remove?.(); median?.onesignal?.externalUserId?.remove?.(); var allowAnonymous = await waitForWindowVariable('median_allow_anonymous'); $main.append("*If you do not already have an account please subscribe on The Daily Memphian website prior to using this app The community will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month on Sunday The Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) and Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) will host the event from 11 a.m the celebration will feature cultural performances Attendees can explore community resources and learn about AAPI cultures through art Organizers encourage families to attend and take part in the free event at 19401 Crystal Rock Drive and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S The 15-year incumbent leader of Germantown lost his reelection bid last week amid opposition to several new housing developments in the Washington County village Village president Dean Wolter netted only 38 percent of the vote former school board president Bob Soderberg won 62 percent of the village’s votes The largest planned development in the area is the mixed-use Village Center project hundreds of new apartments and a German-themed marketplace to an intersection of two state highways Soderberg criticized the village’s process in planning that project “There’s a heightened sense of awareness of what’s going on,” Soderberg said of voters’ mood about planned development Incumbent Wolter will hand over his post to Soderberg on April 15 Soderberg and Wolter met for coffee the evening after the election Village Center is a chance to give Germantown a mixed-use “We’re losing the 25- to 40-year-olds to other communities that are offering that kind of housing,” he said The village’s plan commission is discussing almost $50 million in subsidies for the 438-unit project Other local governments in metro Milwaukee, like Wauwatosa’s have taken a similar approach in high-profile development projects including a study comparing Germantown’s current apartment stock to that of nearby municipalities “Maybe we are well under the metric and we need more apartments or maybe we’re above metric and we don’t need apartments,” he said “I just want to get the emotions out of that by doing a study.” He also said the village should not be subsidizing residential developments Germantown’s village board voted in February to purchase the site’s real estate before pitching it to developers But in March, the school board asked the village to “not take any action” advancing the Village Center project until the board completes its enrollment and facility use studies “While single-family developments offer stable enrollment high-density rental projects present challenges with fluctuating enrollment numbers,” School Board President Russell Ewert wrote to WPR “If the school district were forced to expand due to enrollment based on new village development it may cause us to propose a referendum to the community.” Ewert also said he believes the Village Center development was influential in last week’s election results Soderberg said the board’s studies should come out in late April “If that’s going to trigger a referendum the community needs to know that,” he said would be to build the development’s retail phase before its population-boosting apartments Decisions on purchasing property and approving subsidies ultimately rest with the entirety of nine-person village board of which the part-time president is a member Wolter said he’s looking forward to getting some free time back after 15 years in the post “It was a blessing and an honor,” Wolter said According to a post by Soderberg’s campaign the two opponents met again for drinks on Thursday Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board (WZTV) — A surprise announcement is shaking up one of Nashville’s busiest neighborhoods The Kroger store at Rosa Parks and Monroe Street in Germantown will close its doors this Wednesday The sudden move is causing serious concern especially among the many low-income residents who rely on this store as their most affordable grocery option "I definitely think it'll be an inconvenience because there's a lot of people in this area," said shopper Jasmine Conyers The store serves a large number of customers who walk there daily or extra income to spend at higher-priced grocery chains in the surrounding area thousands of residents in the area are on fixed incomes or government assistance the closure creates more than just an inconvenience—it threatens access to affordable they can't do Kroger delivery," said shopper Edward Jones While the renovated Kroger promises big improvements—like 30,000 additional square feet and 50 new jobs—many worry that those benefits will come too late for residents struggling to make ends meet now Kroger says it is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank and Dream Streets to provide food assistance during the closure The company is also coordinating with WeGo Transit to help shoppers reach other grocery options in the city "Our regular routes should really help folks," said WeGo Transit spokesperson Eric Melcher "Grocery stores are one of the areas that we always make sure we try to have a bus stop if it's on a route." Melcher says shoppers can use the 22 Bordeaux route on Rosa Parks Boulevard to reach other Kroger locations While other options like Save A Lot and Publix are nearby many shoppers say those stores are either too expensive or too far without reliable transportation Kroger confirmed that the store’s pharmacy and fuel center will remain open throughout the renovation period Shelves at the Germantown Kroger are already beginning to empty Shoppers have until Tuesday night to grab essentials before the doors officially close Get reports like this and all the news of the day in Middle Tennessee delivered to your inbox each morning with the FOX 17 News Daily Newsletter. NPR's Morning Edition takes listeners around the country and the world with two hours of multi-faceted stories and commentaries that inform Morning Edition is the most listened-to news radio program in the country city and community leaders to discuss solutions to keep communities safe East Germantown residents reviewed info on keeping recreation centers safe from violence at a town hall meeting at Lonnie Young Recreation Center in Philadelphia on April 15 Councilmember Anthony Phillips and city leaders are looking for solutions after a triple shooting at the Charles M The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. Coalition for a Safer Delaware will feel the pinch of federal funding cuts for gun violence intervention and community programs President Donald Trump proposed cuts to gun violence research that some experts say could cost lives Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY Don’t miss the first (annual?) Germantown Jazz Festival which spotlights world-class talent on a community scale Or take note of some horizon-stretching offerings at midweek from fearless young explorers like saxophonists Immanuel Wilkins The bottom line is that this music is thriving Spotlight: Germantown Jazz Festival — Friday through Sunday “We don’t have a jazz club here in Germantown anymore,” observes Khadijah Renee a jazz singer and healer who has called the neighborhood home for many years “So why don’t we just try to revive a home for jazz That intention led her to start a concert series, Germantown Jazz at the Nile, in 2023. It has now expanded to become the first Germantown Jazz Festival which will sprawl across three venues over as many days community-based movement to shine the light on area musicians who have made names for themselves while keeping jazz alive,” says Renee on Friday at Germantown Friends Meeting House will feature local stalwarts like the Robert Landham Quartet along with a Germantown Jazz Youth Ensemble local artists and a vendor marketplace will bring a festive atmosphere to Vernon Park and The Maplewood Mall before an evening concert by alto saxophonist Bobby Watson — a Kansas City son who proudly considers himself an honorary Philly cat — at the First Presbyterian Church the hard-bop unit The Cookers will perform on Sunday at The Nile Café alongside seasoned hands like trumpeter Eddie Henderson pianist George Cables and bassist Cecil McBee is “our own Jaleel Shaw — there’s the Philly tie-in It’s a true reflection of how jazz is interwoven intergenerationally Closing Concert: April 27 at 4 p.m., The Nile Café, 6008 Germantown Avenue, $40 advance, $45 at the door; more information Saxophonist Zoh Amba is in her mid-20s, but already a force on the free-improv landscape. Two and a half years ago, she played the first show at Solar Myth This week she returns with her devotional Sun Ensemble which features Lex Korten on piano and Miguel Marcel Russell on drums April 22 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $25 advance, $30 day-of-show; purchase tickets.  It provides a hint of how the music will sound here: bristling with restless tensions April 23 and 24 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $40 advance, $45 day-of-show; purchase tickets Wilkins described all of this as “a transporting experience,” combining aspects of healing and home Graham Kozak is an up-and-coming bassist with credits on Broadway and around the club scene in New York He plays one of the last Rite of Swing Jazz Cafe sets of the current season with a band that features a sagacious jazz elder Also in the band are trumpeter Banks Sapnar April 24 at 4:30 p.m., Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 North Broad Street, free; more information.  April 26 at 7:30 p.m., Black Squirrel Club, 1049 Sarah Street, $20; tickets and information The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved the third and final reading to repeal the city’s holiday decorations ordinance during its April 28 meeting There was no discussion by the board about a new decorations ordinance The push to scrap the ordinance came after resident Alexis Luttrell fought a citation given to her by the city over her use of giant skeleton decorations in various outdoor holiday displays COMING TO GERMANTOWN: 'Million Dollar Bacon' is coming soon: See when First Watch plans to open in Germantown The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed a lawsuit on Luttrell’s behalf in February in the U.S Germantown attorney David Goodman told the board after reviewing the ordinance that he had some legal concerns about it "I would recommend that the ordinance as written would be repealed," Goodman said in March "If the board ultimately does repeal (the ordinance) we would then have an opportunity to look into potentially drafting a replacement ordinance." Montgomery County’s Asian American Health Initiative and Office of Community Partnerships will host the fourth annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration on Sunday at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown The event will feature cultural performances and family-friendly activities to honor AAPI contributions and address ongoing inequities Per the news release: “The Montgomery County Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) and the County’s Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) will host the fourth annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m family-friendly event is open to the public This celebration coincides with National AAPI Heritage Month, which recognizes the history, culture and contributions of AAPI communities across the United States. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 16% of Montgomery County residents identify as Asian and an additional 0.1% identify as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander “This celebration is important because it recognizes the many ways that our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have shaped Montgomery County—through culture public service and everyday contributions that often go unrecognized,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich we also have to be honest about the inequities that persist including disparities in health care access language services and economic opportunity That’s why we support the work of the Asian American Health Initiative and our community partners—because we want a County that doesn’t just celebrate diversity once a year but works every day to make equity real.” The event will feature a variety of activities for all ages the event is being planned in collaboration with a wide range of community partners More information about the event can be found on the AAHI website OCP strengthens relationships between the Montgomery County Government and the residents it serves, with a special focus on underserved and emerging communities and neighbors in need. For more information, visit the OCP website part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services works to improve the health and wellness of AAPI residents by applying equity community engagement and data-driven approaches COVID-19 Updates Vaccine and Booster Information View All Media Advisories View All Speeches & Testimony Sign up for a newsletter or update your subscription preferences Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardJacqueline L retired Spanish teacher and former Eagles cheerleader longtime Spanish teacher for the Philadelphia School District teacher mentor and peer intervention specialist and one of the first Black Eagles cheerleaders of complications from a stroke at KeystoneCare hospice in Wyndmoor She was a natural-born teacher and caregiver and her classroom was a safe space for her students “You could feel comfortable in Miss Johnson’s class,” her daughter said She embraced Latino culture and chaperoned class trips to Spain and Mexico she taught the children of her former students and many of them greeted her warmly when she was out and about “And she remembered every single student,” her daughter said She championed more funding for education initiatives and teacher benefits through the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and spoke passionately at labor rallies and union meetings and peer intervention specialist for the union after she left the classroom “She could read a room and make people comfortable,” her daughter said Longtime friend and sorority sister Cheryl Harper said: “She was an excellent role model.” Her four brothers played sports growing up she became one of the first Black cheerleaders on the sidelines at Eagles football games She cheered on Sundays and represented the team at promotional and public events for several years into the early ’80s A poster of her squad appears briefly in the 2006 movie Invincible “She made a lot of friends on those weekends,” her daughter said She mentored mothers and children through the Philadelphia chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. and routinely reunited with her own group of cohorts they called the Forever Friends She joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Cheyney and ran committees and food and toiletry drives for her underserved neighbors “She was the most selfless person I know,” her daughter said She had two older brothers and two younger brothers She was close to her brothers and made lifelong friends in the Girl Scouts She especially enjoyed helping her mother and grandmother make Sunday dinner “She was a lively and personable child with boundless energy,” her family said in a tribute She was 2 when the Johnsons moved from North Philadelphia to become the first Black family on their block in Germantown They attended Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church she joined Grace Baptist Church and was a praise dancer and frequent contributor to the congregational newsletter She was an honor roll student at Germantown High School and earned an academic scholarship to Cheyney She graduated fifth in her college class in 1971 and went on to earn her master’s degree at Temple She liked water ice and was an avid reader Johnson is survived by three brothers and other relatives Donations in her name may be made to the Philadelphia Education Fund There may be an exchange of land between the village of Germantown and a local golf club that could bring hundreds of additional housing units to the village Blackstone Creek Golf Club in Germantown is proposing this land exchange to develop a mixed-use housing development of 350 to 425 residential units The units would include two-story garden-style units row-style townhomes and traditional multi-story apartment buildings Village Administrator Steve Kreklow said the potential land exchange is at the early stages Kreklow said the Park and Recreation Commission and Plan Commission will review the proposal and vote on whether to enter into negotiations the residential units would take several years to build over multiple stages What is the plan for Germantown?The plan for the potential agreement between Germantown and Blackstone Creek Golf Club is to exchange various land parcels in and around the golf course The goal is to create and develop a mixed-use community consistent with the vision for the Village Center District in the village's 2050 comprehensive plan The village will get more land in the potential exchange The village would give up 23 acres of its land but would gain about 150 acres What parts of Germantown land would Blackstone Creek Golf Club take?Kreklow said the owners of Blackstone Creek Golf Club would take the village's former yard waste recycling center along Main Street He said the club also may take parts of Haupt Strasse Park (N116 W16952 Main Street) where the pickleball courts and skateboarding area are located village residents could potentially have more public access to the Menomonee River to fish and kayak He said the village would give up some of its current pickleball courts and skateboarding area but the village could rebuild new facilities on the new land Kreklow also said the village could add a disc golf course on the additional land Kreklow said the village could finance additional amenities with fees the village charges on new residential units contributions negotiated in the development agreement or with tax incremental financing district money Kreklow said that the process for approval can take about six months to a year More: Brian Gutekunst is ready for an NFL draft unlike any other in his eight-year tenure as Packers GM More: A guide to Milwaukee-area farmers markets open in 2025 Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com The Chick-fil-A Germantown location at 1230 S Germantown Road will be closed starting Saturday for a drive-thru remodel the restaurant announced in a Facebook post Chick-fil-A Germantown plans to reopen in April The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a development contract for Chick-fil-A Germantown in December The changes will include rerouted drive-thru lanes to keep more cars on-site and off nearby roads such as Wolf Trail Cove and Wolf River Boulevard The project will also add extended detached canopies to shield employees working outdoors NEW GERMANTOWN BUSINESSES: From Half Shell to Barnes & Noble, here are 7 new businesses to watch for in Germantown and the number of indoor seats will be reduced from 136 to 86 to abide by the city’s zoning ordinance The pedestrian entrance to the Germantown Greenway also will be realigned.A traffic study conducted by Chick-fil-A shows that the improvements will not negatively impact surrounding traffic patterns the ongoing roadway expansion project on Germantown Road will not interfere with the new drive-thru layout or canopy placement Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610. To keep up with the latest news from the Shelby County suburbs, sign up here for our Suburban Pulse weekly newsletter GERMANTOWN MAN TO SERVE 15 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF A MINOR Judge Joanmarie Raymond Brubaker sentenced 33-year old Tre Anthony Garrett suspend all but 15 years in the Division of Corrections for First-Degree Child Abuse and Neglect of a Minor Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Frederick Health Hospital for a report of child abuse of a severely injured 2-year old child suffering from injuries to his body as well as multiple brain bleeds and skull fractures The child was flown to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C Medical staff concluded the injuries were highly suspicious of non-accidental trauma Detectives interviewed the child’s mother who told police she went to run errands while the Defendant (the child’s father) had the child she observed the Defendant walking with the child wearing clothing inappropriate for the weather The mother confronted the defendant and attempted to obtain the child from the defendant and when she was unable to when responding to a different 9-1-1 call in the area Approximately ten hours after the initial 9-1-1 call by the child’s mother the child was brought to Frederick Health Hospital by the Defendant’s mother Through the collaborative investigation between detectives and medical personnel it was determined that the child’s injuries were in fact acute and occurred during the time he was in the care of the Defendant Judge Raymond Brubaker addressed the Defendant saying “You must get a handle on your drug issues to establish a healthy relationship with your son.” the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation with special conditions including no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with any minor child Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsey Carpenter and Assistant State’s Attorney Erin Pearl represented the State of Maryland The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to assisting and supporting the victims and witnesses of crime in Frederick County We have experienced and trained professional Victim Witness Coordinators who are assigned to each division © Copyright 2022 – Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office | Privacy Policy Here is a list of businesses that have recently opened Dumpling District has seven locations across the DMV with more coming soon the restaurant’s only Montgomery County location is in Wheaton (12009 Georgia Ave but additional restaurants are planned for Rockville (in the upcoming Luna Hall) and a currently undisclosed location in Bethesda The Germantown location is a full-service location and offers table service as well as takeout The restaurant’s standout offering is the Rainbow Soup Dumplings featuring a vibrant assortment of six freshly made dumplings each bursting with unique flavors: classic pork Additional details courtesy of the Germantown Historical Society: “Find hidden treasures at the largest Flea Market in Montgomery County The Germantown Community Flea Markets are held on the first Saturday of the month from April through November There are 50 to 150 vendors depending on the weather There is no fee and free parking for customers Vendors pay $25 for 10‘x10′ space and must arrive between 5;30-7:30am The Market benefit the Germantown Historical Society the Button Farm Living History Center and Boy Scout Troop 1325 Neighbors have long bemoaned the building as an eyesore and have repeatedly called on the city to restore the historic property before it’s too late The former Germantown YWCA stands adjacent to Vernon Park in Phiiladelphia's Germantown neighborhood critics say Act 135 has harmed property owners in vulnerable city neighborhoods Our weekly newsletter delivers original reporting on the people The majority of workers who commute into the urban core have returned since the COVID-19 pandemic began five years ago according to the annual State of Center City report More than 1.2 million international visitors traveled to Philadelphia last year but far fewer tourists are expected to visit in 2025 A notable bookstore chain appears to be expanding into a Memphis suburb A commercial alteration permit was filed with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development on Tuesday for a Barnes & Noble location at 2130 Exeter Road in Germantown The location is at the Germantown Collection shopping center off Poplar Avenue which includes other popular retail tenants such as Trader Joe’s which leases tenants for Germantown Collection shopping center did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday The permit valued at roughly $587,000 was filed by New York-based HBC Architects the Barnes & Nobles location would occupy an almost 12,000-square-foot building The owner listed on the permit is Atlanta-based Stockbridge Capital Group New-York-based Barnes & Noble has more than 600 bookstores in the country and also operates an online bookstore at bn.com It has Memphis area locations in Wolfchase Galleria area at 2774 N Germantown Parkway and in Collierville’s Carriage Crossing at 4610 Merchants Park Circle SIGN UP: Keep up with the latest in the Shelby County suburbs with CA's Suburban Spotlight newsletter GERMANTOWN DEVELOPMENT: New restaurant coming to The Standard Germantown development: What we know about the plans By: 8:00 am on November 19 Project construction costs are listed at $5.9 million of which $5 million is allocated toward general construction 8263 Germantown Avenue Floor Plan Ground Floor via Regan Kline Cross Architects 8263 Germantown Avenue Floor Plans 2-4 Floors via Regan Kline Cross Architects The new building will feature 3,900 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor as well as a basement and residential units on the second and parking for nine cars and ten bicycles 8263 Germantown Avenue Section via Regan Kline Cross Architects 8263 Germantown Avenue Site via Google Maps This building is gross and sucks and ruins the look of the area but it’s taking up every possible square foot to sell the most possible units with zero respect for the neighborhood This is everything wrong with new development and the reason people oppose projects that should be greenlit That is across from the SEPTA REGIONAL RAIL STATION The four-story is an intricately designed (part herringbone) all brick structure with large industrial-style windows This a first rate mixed use apartment and commercial project Zero transition or respect for the historic structures surrounding it We will try to build everything in harmony with the surroundings no cheap 2024 materials…and we’ll do it all for a few hundred thousand…math definitely works Looks like that there could be 20 cars parked on the street It’s hard to find a single resident in the area who thinks this building fits the neighborhood The developer just purchased another building in the neighborhood The other 21 units must use BIKES for transportation It is so massive and out of scale with our charming community It looks like an elephant perched next to the beautiful Baptist Church They could put a structure on the old gas station and not exceed the height of the church The developer has filed appeal against the neighbors Typical of the sorry sort of exploitative greed that represents the developers ‘ Bet they wouldn’t live there Great to have more foot traffic for local restaurants and businesses and users for the trains so we can keep them running Sarah Kolker is Jewish and always has been but her view of the world is informed by other traditions as well but the adults around her also read the Quran and the Bible and discussed all three said that this upbringing helped inspire her to study visual arts and cultural studies as an undergrad and social justice activism and more art as a graduate student it inspires her to bridge the gap between communities that are separated by mountains of tension “A lot of people feel scared to honor and celebrate who they are and their Jewish heritage And I think that it’s made me more dedicated to the work that I’m doing,” she said “What happened at that time and beforehand really doesn’t impact me being Jewish so I’ve been really standing true to that and not being afraid to have hard conversations.” Kolker is not currently a member of a synagogue but she said that she still observes holidays and has attended synagogues for services or events a community she still identifies with because of its secular She previously belonged to the Germantown Jewish Centre and she has also attended services at Mishkan Shalom Her work now centers on two activities: art and activism an organization that works on behalf of Jewish families of color “I was surrounded by a lot of activist Jews growing up in our faith and mixed-race Jews my whole life in the community that I was in,” she said she began work on a project with Jewish Learning Venture called “We Belong at the Table,” which features Jews of color their culinary traditions and more about their lives and worship practices She is working with a Jewish filmmaker from Puerto Rico on the project “These films are now a part of the Weitzman Museum which got a big grant to do Jewish curriculum for public schools in the area and it includes the films to show how diverse the Jewish people are,” she said Kolker said that an estimate by the Jews of Color Initiative estimates that Jews of color make up 12 to 15% of the Jewish population She said that “a lot of the conversation that’s coming up at this exact moment” is about how traditional Ashkenazi settings don’t always “see and communicate the richness and diversity of all Jews.” She noted that there are also conversations about whether the term “Jews of color” should apply at all and how maybe “we should be focusing less on identity politics and more just on honoring how rich all Jewish people’s cultures and backgrounds are.” one of the best ways to appreciate each other’s cultures and backgrounds is through art which she wrote about while studying for her graduate degree in education with an emphasis in special needs populations “I wrote one of my essays on the importance of mural work as an innate tool to tap into students’ different abilities and creating collaboration because there’s so many different things to do and there’s so many setups that can meet the students where they are,” she said “Everybody just comes together and works together and they feel a sense of pride in being able to help out and put their hand on it It also enlivens and beautifies neighborhoods.” Kolker said that the effects of beautiful mural art can be seen wherever such art is displayed there are secondary benefits that one might not think of “People feel less inclined to litter or do things that are not so exciting when it looks like the people of [that neighborhood] care and are coming out and supporting this beautiful creation of a mural,” she said Working in activist circles in recent years means that Kolker that the important work she has done since Oct “One of the biggest things that I have been doing since Oct and recognizing that I don’t have all the answers,” she said “I feel like a lot of people have stopped wanting to have these conversations and I really think that one of the strongest things about being Jewish is our discourse and our desire for more learning I think that our willingness to stand strong in our history and being guided by our values is very important.” [email protected] and website in this browser for the next time I comment Imagine going to a huge family backyard barbecue with many aunts You can sit at any picnic table and say to someone who will be preparing the barbecue at Germantown's new restaurant This Texas-style barbecue restaurant, located in the former Barley Pop Pub's restaurant "We set our dining room up kind of like a picnic area to give it that feel," he said who started working at restaurants when he was 14 said he's always enjoyed cooking for family and friends Hower said he built and perfected two smokers with his late friend and he began smoking meats to perfection for friends and family He started supplying smoked meat for Blackstone Creek Golf Club in Germantown and then for the Fire Ridge Golf Club in Grafton Hower said Trible B's Backyard BBQ opened in mid-February Trible B's Backyard BBQ is located at N116 W16137 Main St What makes the barbecue and other food items stand out at Trible B's?Hower said what makes their food special is the barbecue items are fresh and smoked daily (It) took a lot of practice to get to where we are at," he said adding that all their meats are smoked and no sauce is added during the smoking process What is the most unique item on the menu at Trible B's Backyard BBQ?Hower said the loaded tater tots are probably the most unique item on Trible B's menu He said the tots are served with "your choice of smoked meat then topped with our homemade cheese sauce Trible B's menu includes briskets It also features appetizers such as pork belly burnt ends Hower said Trible B's Backyard BBQ will feature smoked prime rib Trible B's currently does not feature a fish fry But Hower said the eatery will eventually have fish on the Friday menu ― either deep-fried cod or smoked salmon Trible B's Backyard BBQ's hours are 11 a.m The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday Where can I find more information about Trible B's Backyard BBQ?For more information about Trible B's Backyard BBQ, visit triblebsbbq.com or facebook.com/Triblebsbackyardbbq More: Four Wisconsin locations of Ollie's Bargain Outlet, including West Bend, look to open Feb. 12 More: A clothing store, tap room and dessert food truck are now open in Milwaukee's north suburbs A preliminary rendering of Germantown’s prospective Village Center The projected “village center” development in Germantown is planned for the southeast corner of Pilgrim and Mequon roads GERMANTOWN — The Village of Germantown voted to move forward with plans for a new village center development at its meeting on Monday following a lengthy presentation from those the village has worked with so far in the planning process According to item’s description in the meeting’s agenda packet the village has agreed to purchase three properties in the vicinity of the intersection of Pilgrim and Mequon roads for the purpose of creating a new village center development including the property that was previously the location of the Flower Source a vacant 1-acre parcel adjacent to the Flower Source property and abutting Pilgrim Road and a property that is currently leased to Ascension Columbia St The development is expected to feature new public spaces as well as residential and commercial land uses with preliminary estimates of the first phase of the project expected to cost around $11 million According to Germantown Community Development Director Jeff Retzlaff the village has been meeting with RINKA and Bailey Copeland of CopeLand Companies along with members of the community about this project since last year including two visioning sessions and now two presentations Retzlaff noted that this area presents a substantial opportunity for growth within the village "The 22-acre area located in the southeast corner of the Mequon and Pilgrim Road intersection is an important gateway into the village center district," Retzlaff said "(It is also) one of two opportunity areas identified in the 2050 plan as having the greatest potential for transformative change in the next 30 years." RINKA Senior Design Director Eric Mayne presented the current plans and ideas for the project including multifamily residential developments commercial spaces and a public center/ marketplace for events and other public uses One of the benefits Mayne noted was the village’s ability to close off the area for larger public events "The principles (of the public space) are really about creating a great place around enclosure that’s well-served through great roadways that can be closed off during events so it’s a multipurpose flexible space that is driven by the market,” Mayne said but (it) still allows for great event space you can activate commercial ground-floor spaces to create a vibrant community.” Ehlers senior municipal adviser Phil Cosson spoke at the meeting regarding the financial viability of this project noting that the village has the capability to undertake this project Cosson recommended the creation of a tax incremental district around the area to help generate increment to cover the cost of the development over the course of a maximum of 27 years this phase of the development is projected to have a total estimated value of $69 million SIGN UP The presenters at the meeting also made it a point to note that these figures are all preliminary and different figures may appear as the process progresses District 4 Trustee Jan Miller expressed some concerns about the viability and necessity of the project noting that with the recent public safety referendum and the village’s current construction of a new Department of Public Works building the village has other things it could be spending time on “What is going to happen to the public safety building a ’want,’ and I don’t want to get away from what Germantown really ’needs’ right now.” District 1 Trustee Terri Kaminski came out in support of the development noting that it presents an opportunity for some much-needed growth to the area “I think we have needed this village center for the time I’ve lived in Germantown — 30 years — and I think it’s extremely important to our future if we don’t want to be left further behind,” Kaminski said Mequon or Menomonee Falls because we don’t have the restaurants we don’t have the entertainment factor and we don’t have a village center like all of these other communities do.” After much discussion the board elected to move forward with the project in a 6-2 vote The next meeting of the Germantown Village Board will take place on March 3 at 7 p.m in the board room of Germantown Village Hall 10 things to know this week from the WOW counties (Waukesha Ozaukee and Washington) sent on Sundays Get the latest Washington County news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates Have Washington County breaking news alerts sent to your inbox as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: When Germantown resident Alexis Luttrell bought an 8-foot skeleton man and accompanying skeleton dog she intended to use them for more than just Halloween decorations Her plan was to showcase them in her yard throughout the year just to keep the mood light she had the skeletons hold political signs and hung large campaign flags from their arms Luttrell incorporated the skeletons into the Christmas display at her Turpins Glen home The skeleton man donned a wreath for a necklace and a festive red-and-green tutu while the skeleton dog wore a Christmas tree hat Luttrell also made a leash out of garland and lights to make it appear the skeleton man was walking the dog But the skeletons have Luttrell facing a Feb 13 court date in Germantown Municipal Court Luttrell received a warning from a Germantown compliance officer in early December that cited a city ordinance restricting the length of time holiday decorations can be displayed At the heart of the issue is her use of the skeletons for holidays other than Halloween the city's warning has turned into a citation and court date As Luttrell has vowed to fight the city's ordinance that she believes violates her First Amendment rights, the situation has garnered national attention, including a story in The New York Times She has even received calls from law firms nationally to assist her in the case  “I wasn’t expecting this to get this much attention,” said Luttrell who noted she appreciates the local support she has received from people on social media “I had two different civil rights/constitutional law firms with one in Philadelphia and one right outside Washington that have called to see what they can do to help.” Germantown officials declined to comment on Luttrell's and a law firm's claims that her First Amendment rights have been violated Luttrell incorporated the skeletons into her Valentine's Day display which also includes inflatables and a small sign that states: "Love is Love." The skeleton man is dressed neatly with a red-and-white tie-dye shirt with a heart and red tutu while the dog has a Valentine's-themed leash Inflatable hearts also hang from the skeletons She has plans to decorate the skeletons for future holidays including St Germantown's director of economic and community development said the city has no issue with the skeletons being up for Halloween the issue is that skeletons have remained up past the 30 days since Oct Germantown officials said the ordinance has been in place for a long time and this is a matter in front of the court to consider for lack of compliance with the Germantown property maintenance ordinance holiday lights on houses or in the yard or shrubbery shall not be installed or placed more than 45 days before the date of the holiday for which said decorations are intended and shall be removed within a reasonable period of time following the date of the holiday for which said decorations were intended are not permitted to remain on any house or structure year-round "Temporary residential and non-residential lighting displays shall not be installed or placed more than ten days prior to the special event and no more than 30 days total." Ross said as with any other code violation the resident is provided a courtesy notice explaining the issue and asking them to remedy the situation If this is not completed in the time allotted “If the violation continues to remain unresolved over the time allotted by the code then a summons to court is issued so that the process can be addressed by the city prosecutor and judge,” Ross said a code enforcement officer issued nine citations in December for holiday decorations involving giant skeletons staying up longer than the ordinance permitted eight of those who were cited have removed the skeletons with Luttrell being the lone resident who has been cited and not taken down the decorations Crockett said any fines that Luttrell accumulates will be considered as part of the court's proceedings She indicated Luttrell still has the opportunity to bring the issue into compliance before the court date and would only be responsible for court costs Luttrell said the city wants her to pay any fine and court cost but doesn’t know yet how much that would be Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo declined to comment The Commercial Appeal reached out to all five of the city's aldermen three of whom responded and declined to comment The mayor and aldermen referred to the comments from city staff GERMANTOWN DEVELOPMENT: What's next for Germantown's biggest projects in 2025? New housing, retail and more Law firm says First Amendment rights violatedRobert Frommer is a senior attorney for the Institute for Justice a Virginia-based nonprofit public interest law firm Frommer said the law firm learned about the case from monitoring the news and had stayed in contact with Luttrell as things unfolded He wouldn’t confirm to The Commercial Appeal whether the Institute for Justice would represent Luttrell in the case and noted the law firm hadn't made any firm offer yet Frommer said Germantown’s enforcement actions violate the First Amendment of the U.S The law firm stated a core principle of the First Amendment is that the government cannot discriminate against speech based on what it says or who puts it up Frommer said that includes the decorations that someone puts up to celebrate a holiday made clear that those kind of content-based regulations must serve the most compelling of government interests Installing holiday decorations “too early” or keeping them up “too late” simply doesn’t fit the bill The Institute for Justice boasts it has years of experience litigating across the country against violations of Americans’ free speech rights The Institute for Justice has sued several local governments including Conway where city officials ordered a local bakery to remove a mural that was painted by some local high school art students because it featured some of the same baked goods that were sold inside Frommer said the Institute for Justice has spent more than a decade showing that officials across the country regularly abuse ordinary Americans by acting like the “speech police.” In this case he said: Luttrell’s holiday decorations issue leading to a court summons He stated it seems based on the ordinance that Germantown officials or code enforcement officers get to decide whether a resident’s holiday decorations match the particular holidays but it should be the resident who decides what decorations are appropriate for the holidays “What they’re (Germantown) really saying (regarding the ordinance) is we don’t think your skeleton and skeleton dog is Christmassy enough so we’re deciding for ourselves what’s an appropriate Christmas decoration,” Frommer said How is a skeleton any more dangerous or any more ugly than like an inflatable Santa It’s up to people to decide what they want to put up.” Germantown resident ready for legal battle with cityLuttrell who has a law degree and works in health care compliance for a pharmaceutical firm is standing firm that she is going to fight the citation in local court and beyond if need be “We’re at the point where we’re at an impasse,” said Luttrell who estimates she has spent about $1,000 on skeletons 'We’re going to see her in court,' and I’ve just said and I’m bringing representation with me.' This is just unexpected that they would dig in their heels like this especially with this being a pretty basic First Amendment argument I guess they just thought I would be like the other people I’m going to take it down… I don’t know who let them think they (Germantown) can win this because if they win the short-term battle then they have set themselves up to lose the bigger battle.” Frommer praised Luttrell for fighting what she believes is right He reiterated that the whole idea behind free speech in this case is that people like Luttrell should get the right to choose what decorations they use to celebrate and Germantown officials shouldn’t get to block Luttrell just because they dislike her picks “There’s a lot of unconstitutional laws out there,” Frommer said “The hardest thing is finding someone to stand up and say I don’t want this for me or anyone else.' This is what she is doing by saying this violates my First Amendment rights and not just my rights I commend her for fighting the good fight.” Frommer also believes that Germantown controlling such things as how long people can keep up their holiday decorations could make the Memphis suburb less attractive for those looking to move into the area friendly place where people can live their lives 'Is Germantown really the place for me to raise my family and am I really going to be able to decide for myself what I can put up or things like that?'” Germantown, Maryland, got its name from German immigrants who settled there in the 1830s and 1840s but the Montgomery County city of about 91,000 residents is considerably more ethnically diverse now ranking as No.1 for ethnic diversity in 2024 Germantown’s population is almost equally split among major ethnic groups: at 24% white WalletHub said just over 50% of the population speaks only English at home 13% speaking Asian languages and 12% speaking other languages Just 47% of Gaithersburg residents speak only English at home and 43% of its residents are immigrants born outside of the U.S 5 on WalletHub’s ethnically diverse cities list the District has the smallest share of residents who were born there at just 33% and a higher-than-average share of residents who were foreign-born at 15% round out the top five most ethnically-diverse states WalletHub’s full report ranking both cities and states on ethnic diversity language diversity and birthplace diversity is online Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area Jeff Clabaugh has spent 20 years covering the Washington region's economy and financial markets for WTOP as part of a partnership with the Washington Business Journal and officially joined the WTOP newsroom staff in January 2016 The Germantown Historical Society (GHS) will start its flea market back up on Saturday in the MARC parking lot at the intersection of Germantown Road and Bowman Mill Drive The flea market will be held on the first Saturday of every month from 8 a.m “Find hidden treasures at the monthly community Flea Markets, free and open to all with free parking,” GHS said on Facebook “Lots of vendors with everything from household goods to jewelry and electronics.” For those looking to set up shop at the market No reservations will be accepted and vendors must bring their own tables to set up between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m Additional information about the flea market can be found on the GHS website Journalist at the University of Maryland - Philip Merrill College of Journalism Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGERMANTOWN (WMC) - A man has been found dead inside his home in Germantown after it erupted in flames Friday afternoon as police were at the address investigating a domestic disturbance The Germantown Police Department says 59-year-old David L Beck was found dead inside his heavily-damaged home on Cavershamwood Lane after the fire was extinguished Officers were called to the home in the Kimbrough area just after 1 p.m Friday in response to a domestic disturbance involving an “armed individual.” Officers arrived and met the caller outside the house before attempting to contact Beck Shelby County property records list Beck as one of two homeowners at the address GPD says that officers noticed smoke and flames coming from the home so they contacted the Germantown Fire Department The fire grew into a massive inferno that created a plume of smoke visible from Midtown Memphis Beck never emerged as firefighters worked to put out the blaze police confirmed that Beck was found dead inside his house Footage from the scene shows that the residence is severely damaged GPD says the cause of the fire and circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error Germantown eliminates holiday decorations ordinance By var shareButtons = document.querySelectorAll(".st-custom-button[data-network]"); for (var i = 0; i < shareButtons.length; i++) { Germantown no longer has any regulations regarding holiday decorations after the suburb’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen repealed that ordinance Monday This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe This story has been updated to remove a photo that was not of the Glasgow site The Glasgow development at the former Germantown Country Club is expected to complete its first phase this summer Spence Ray is the vice president of McNeill Commercial Real Estate and developer of the Glasgow project which will include 366 new homes across three phases Ray said Glasgow's phase one will include 150 single-family homes while phase two will have 113 homes and phase three 103 While phase one is expected to be completed this summer the other two phases are slated for completion in 2026 Ray told The Commercial Appeal that McNeill Commercial has submitted drawings for construction review to the city for phases two and three of the development which in total is usually a six-month process “The reason we went ahead and did that is because there is so much demand for phase one that we wanted to be ready to start phases two and three,” Ray said “This is assuming that phase one goes like we hope it does.” While Ray reiterated that phase one is projected to be completed this summer he said infrastructure work is currently being done at the site with crews from Memphis Light “You can’t build anything until you get electric and gas so that’s our biggest thing that we’re waiting on right now for them to get their work done,” Ray said “We’re super excited that they are out there.” SIGN UP: Keep up with the latest in the Shelby County suburbs with CA's Suburban Pulse newsletter High demand for new homes in Glasgow developmentAccording to Ray phase one of the development includes 150 single-family homes with construction of lots for the homes to be built on them done by April About 1,250 people have expressed interest in buying a home in the Glasgow development “We aren’t saying that all 1,250 people are necessarily ready to go (buy a home) and some of them are probably curious,” he said but we think just from talking to these people and sending them information and questions they’ve asked that there is a very large group of people that would like to live there.” Ray said 50% of those interested in purchasing a home in the Glasgow development reside in Germantown or Collierville while 35% live in Memphis and 15% live outside of the Memphis area or in another state “They plan on moving back to retire or because they have children or family here (in the area),” Ray said “They are wanting to build a home or buy a home here.” Ray, who also is the developer of the Thornwood mixed-use development in Germantown has said the 177-acre Glasgow development at the northeast corner of Kimbrough Road and Farmington Boulevard is modeled after the towns and villages people would see outside London or throughout Scotland “The development is all residential and smaller lots with minimal upkeep wide sidewalks and seating areas similar to Thornwood,” he said The homes will range from 3,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet The cost for the homes has not been revealed yet Ray estimated the overall development cost when all homes are constructed to be between $350 million to $400 million With the red ribbon cut and stage lights illuminated, Germantown High School's state-of-the-art performing arts center is officially open, completing a multi-phase $44 million project local leaders and community members gathered Tuesday morning inside the two-story foyer of the new Charlotte Harness Seals Performing Arts Center The facility's opening wraps up a years-long project to accommodate a rapidly expanding student population in the Gluckstadt area Germantown High School itself opened in 2011 to serve Madison County's growing student population A wing of 24 new classrooms opened in July 2024 replacing trailers temporarily used as classrooms the classrooms and the performing arts center total $44 million and 94,000 square feet A look insideThe Charlotte Harness Seals Performing Arts Center totals nearly 55,000 square feet and includes a nearly 1,200-seat auditorium a large foyer and a gallery space complete the facility which rivals any college or university performing arts center Students have access to state-of-the-art technology including movable sound panels and green rooms with screens and speakers to watch the stage while waiting to perform Matching the school's existing style with a sleek modern twist the new center was built onto the existing band hall the concert bands have brand new rehearsal spaces and the center's new parking lot is painted with football field yard lines for marching band practice A car wreck, bitter cold, tornado fears: How lost dog Finnley finally reunited with family the new center serves Germantown High School's 1,390 students in grades nine through twelve The large stage will play host to band and choir performances The center is also open to all Madison County Schools and the broader Jackson Metro community for events several officials involved with the project spoke each emphasizing their excitement over the facility's opening said the performing arts center represents a triumph not only for Germantown High School "The large companies that you read about everyday I promise you they're looking at the education facilities.. when they're doing their site selections," Anderson said "A facility like this does a lot more than just address the needs here in Madison County It addresses the needs of recruitment and economic development for the entire state of Mississippi." former Madison County School District Superintendent Charlotte Harness Seals 2023 after serving five years as superintendent and 31 more years in education She spent the majority of her career within the Madison County School District When the project broke ground in Sept Seals addressed a crowd on the site of the future facility only a few months away from announcing her retirement did not know her name would eventually grace the new performing arts center Seals said a state-of-the-art performing arts center had been in the works since the school opened Follow this singer's journey: Meridian man wins golden ticket, joins 'American Idol' season 23. See his audition round Superintendent Ted Poore, who took over Seals' role in July 2024 calling her a "model of excellence in every facet of her life." "Soon after (Seals) was appointed to her first lead principal position at the original Madison Station Elementary School she began the initiative of integrating more of the arts into the fabric of the curriculum since the arts has been an integral part of Charlotte's life; it's in her DNA," Poore said Poore said Seals personally designed some of the interior spaces and decor of the new performing arts center "She left her mark here in this place," Poore said Seals said it was overwhelming driving up to the building Tuesday morning and seeing her name on the outside She called the facility a dream come to fruition "This performing arts center really represents the very best for Madison County," Seals said Germantown students christened the new center with performances on the auditorium stage Conductor Justin Harvison lead the Germantown High School Wind Symphony in a performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" to accompany the presentation of colors by the Germantown High School Marine Corps JROT Color Guard The ensemble played two more songs before the Germantown High School Legacy Choir took the stage Soloist Neely Ray led the choir in a rendition of SWV's "Weak," and soloist Ella Applegate led the choir in a rendition of Muna's "Stay Away." Germantown High School principal Cody Zumbro concluded the opening ceremony by thanking the performers saying the past several years of meticulous planning and two years of constant construction was all worth it to hear the students' performances Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com GERMANTOWN — With the April 1 election coming up in just less than two weeks the Daily News provided candidates in each contested race a chance to introduce themselves and give local voters an idea about who they are voting for See all of our election coverage at gmtoday.com/elections the District 4 seat on the Germantown School Board is up for grabs and Jeff Voyer and Sharon Kiernan will be the two candidates on the ballot for the position Each submitted responses to the Daily News’ inquiries Daily News: What inspires you to run for this position Voyer: My children are the driving force behind this campaign I am the proud father of two beautiful girls — Olivia (6) I made a promise to myself that when they were in school I was going to run for the school board I know that this is what I should be doing at this point in my life and ready to serve the people of Germantown I am deeply committed to public education and student success I think everyone would agree: Communities are stronger when schools are stronger Our Germantown School Board is responsible for making decisions that impact everything from curriculum & resources to transportation teacher autonomy and school culture — all of which impact student success I’ve demonstrated that I know how to listen effectively and focus on student learning & well-being I hope to strengthen our schools and serve our community in a meaningful way Daily News: What do you think are the greatest needs/issues that the district should focus on right now we need to continue to focus on our financial stability and if we continue on this path of fiscally conservative spending — we will continue to pay off our debts early which is a great My beliefs are that we need to maintain a strong focus on reading and comprehension We need to maintain a high level of transparency to our parents and guide them with age appropriate materials Daily News: How (specifically) do you plan to work to address these needs Voyer: I have spent the last two years attending our school board meetings I have listened and learned (and will continue to do both.) I am ready to follow the appropriate channels to ensure that we continue to stay on the proper path and make Germantown prosper I will advocate for competitive salaries that reflect the time I will continually emphasize that the single biggest impact on student success is the classroom teacher I will advocate for increased transparency in decision-making for more consistent implementation of policies and for genuine consideration of a range of stakeholder perspectives I will work to answer community questions in a timely fashion I will advocate for decisions grounded in honesty and that provide teachers and students with what they need to thrive See all of our election coverage at gmtoday.com/elections Read more of our election coverage at gmtoday.com/elections To see every race and referendum that will be on your ballot, visit myvote.wi.gov and click on the "What's On My Ballot?" button Occupation: Builder/ Contract/ Development Sales GERMANTOWN — The April 1 spring general election is just a couple of weeks out and Germantown is searching for its next Village President the community will have the opportunity to choose between two campaigning candidates: incumbent Dean Wolter and Bob Soderberg To give candidates a chance to introduce themselves and help voters get a little more information on who and what they are voting for the Daily News sent out questionnaires to candidates to help them showcase some details about their candidacy Daily News: What do you believe qualifies you for this position Wolter: I am seeking re-election as Village President because I deeply care about the Village of Germantown and its residents and I want to continue in my service to this community I have the desire and commitment to continue my service for the residents of Germantown and I believe my past experience serving in leadership roles at work along with my years of experience as Village President make me the best qualified candidate for the Village President position Walking the talk is important to me and I have lived by that philosophy in my commitment to service the community My work over the past 30 years for students and preservation of wildlife has been voluntarily founded in service I want to continue my service for you to as Village President and ensure Germantown is on a positive growth plan for it future Soderberg: I am a businessperson with over 40 years’ experience in the multiple business sectors I have successfully managed multimillion dollar budgets and pride myself in being customer focused I was on the school board for 12 years in Germantown and board president for nine years When community members asked me to run for Village President I started attending Village board meetings to ensure that I was fully aware of the issues and concerns that we are facing I am a fiscal conservative as it relates to finances and one who listens Daily News: What do you think are the greatest needs/issues that the municipality should focus on right now Wolter: The three issues I see facing the Village is Public safety and making sure we plan for development and growth Public safety is a high priority for the board as it encompasses and focuses on maintaining a safe and secure environment for residents and overall community well-being allows residents to live in Germantown without fear We are constantly on the front line of serving the community by making concrete policies and changes to protect our residents The residents referendum vote for adding four police officers and twelve fire department personnel such as paramedics and first responders are just two examples of how the board listens to our residents in important matters such as public safety The current 10-year road repair plan developed by the Department of Public Works will help to prioritize the repair and reconstruction of our roads The 10-year plan will make sure the worst roads get repaired or replaced first The Village Board will continue to add to the general fund to ensure road repairs are part of the ongoing annual budget and Germantown is able to confidently react when unknown expenditures occur The Village Board is coordinating with consultants to create plans and strategies for addressing long term community development and growth in a responsible way that will focus on economic development which benefits our citizens Soderberg: The issues that we face in Germantown and which I am running on include to lessen the tax burden for all and to better manage our debt to ensure greater government responsiveness transparency and efficiency and having an ‘Open for Business’ mindset in all areas of village functions with a Smart Growth focus and to level the playing field for all developers Daily News: How (specifically) will you work to address these needs if elected budgeting and government funding we layout a 5year plan for road repairs Public safety data in comparison to similar towns will provide direction on where there are additional opportunities to improve working with consultants and the community on how best to grow at a sustainable rate will ensure transparency and balanced budgets we would seek more owner-occupied housing along with manufacturing and industrial businesses (that would be outside of our existing TIDs) we would increase tax revenues that will lessen the tax burden for all and provide much needed revenue streams for the Village and School District This will also allow us to also better manage our debt There will also be no more back room deals which we have today and we will level the playing field for all developers all while being transparent on all Village matters We will eliminate the red tape and roadblocks for all to facilitate Smart Growth one larger topic regarding the village as of late was the Village Center development and its approval by the Village Board Wolter: It is a positive decision for the future of Germantown and aligns with our neighboring communities that have successfully built community centers The Village Center will create a focal point for residents to meet and enjoy ethnic festivities restaurants and a place for friends and family to gather and enjoy the outdoors The Village Center will draw entertainment venues and specialty businesses which will become a destination for persons outside the Village to come and enjoy what Germantown has to offer Soderberg: It was a misguided decision by the Village Board to spend $7.4M of taxpayer’s hard-earned money to purchase three parcels of land and to go down the path of forming TID #10 for government subsidized high-density housing (412 apartments) in Phase 1 of the project The impact on our taxpayers and our schools is great as the school district may be forced to conduct both an operation and building referendum due to an influx of kids and may never transpire if the two landowners do not sell Germantown may only get Phase 1 of the project I support pressing the pause button so that more discussion can take place and the impact on our schools is fully understood Read more of our election coverage at gmtoday.com/elections To see every race and referendum that will be on your ballot, visit myvote.wi.gov and click on the "What's On My Ballot?" button Security & Resiliency Officer for a higher education company and Founder & CEO of Safe Schools Wisconsin Prior elected/appointed positions: Germantown School District Occupation: I have worked in the print industry since I started my career and am currently employed at RR Donnelly in Milwaukee I manage a team of Project Managers who facilitate from start to end large project print contracts from clients such as Home Depot Prior elected appointed positions: I was a board member of the Menomonee Falls chapter of Ducks Unlimited for over 10 years I served for many years as the Youth Group Coordinator in my church and chaired several church committees In 2007 I was elected by Germantown constituencies in District 4 to represent them as their Trustee During my two years as a Trustee I chaired the Economic Development committee I ran for Village President in 2010 which has been an honor for me to serve you A new restaurant appears to be the first tenant coming to a major mixed-use project in Germantown The project lists a tenant buildout restaurant space for Josephine Estelle Notable Memphis chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman opened a restaurant named Josephine Estelle in New Orleans in spring 2016 was named after each of the award-winning chefs’ daughters It was the first restaurant outside the Bluff City for the duo Officials would not confirm Monday with The Commercial Appeal if the Josephine Estelle coming to Germantown was a Ticer and Hudman project. However, they later confirmed with the Daily Memphian that the duo is behind the planned Germantown restaurant declined to comment when contacted by The Commercial Appeal about the restaurant project other than to say: “I’m not in a position to say anything at this time.” Ticer and Hudman did not respond to requests for comment Monday They are the owners of Enjoy AM Restaurant Group which includes such establishments as Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen the total buildout of the two-story space is 10,527 square feet The first floor of the restaurant is listed at roughly 6,100 square foot while the second floor is roughly 4,400 square feet The building was part of The Standard phase 1A's $5 million outparcel building at Poplar Avenue and Kirby Parkway that has been completed electrical and HVAC work and all finishes to be completed The existing fire sprinkler system will have to be adjusted Mark Wofford of Memphis-based Dimension Construction Inc is listed as the contractor of the project Slovis previously said demolition is projected to start in February for the roughly $100 million Phase 2 of the development CRE Devco Germantown will start building the lofts portion of the project which is slated to be a roughly two-year construction timeframe CRE Devco Germantown is led by Billy Orgel with Slovis serving as project manager Phase 2 will include a six-story building with 320 residential lofts units as well as 463 parking spaces via a parking structure and surface parking Slovis said the average size of the lofts will be roughly 850 square feet NEW GERMANTOWN RESTAURANTS: This Florida-based brunch chain is eyeing Germantown for its first Memphis-area restaurant The loft amenities will also include a mezzanine roof deck He said leasing and pricing details on the units will hopefully be announced next year This phase will also include 27,000 square feet of retail commercial space on the ground floor The Standard Germantown's preliminary master plan shows multiple phases Slovis previously said the hope is for Phase 3 to be some type of 140- to 150-room hotel development on the corner of Poplar Avenue and Kirby Parkway next to the outparcel building preliminary plans have started for Phase 4 which include a condominium building with some commercial space and a parking structure The development will have a total of six phases The annual Black Family Wellness Expo will take place on Saturday The Patuxent River Chapter of The Links Incorporated holds the event The Links Incorporated is an international nonprofit that was first established in 1946 More than 17,000 professional women of African American descent are members Today there are nearly 300 chapters around the country and overseas The Patuxent River Chapter encompasses most of upper Montgomery County This is the 11th year the Chapter will hold a Wellness Expo The event will help address issues which negatively impact the health and quality of life for many in the Black community Another goal is raising awareness about conditions that shorten or impact the lives of people in this community from infants to senior citizens The Expo will provide information on pre-natal care and newborn issues Organizers will hand out information on breast and prostate cancer The Wellness Expo features a number of activities The activities will take place on the first floor of the elementary school Other activities include face painting for children and line dancing for adults MCM spoke with the Patuxent River chapter President She said the chapter partners with The African American Health Program (AAHP) and Montgomery College to provide staffing for the event All of the health care providers volunteer their time “We’re so excited and so happy that we have these volunteers and they are bringing their expertise in their fields to do this,” Gray said Gray said she hopes it will make a difference in the community Gray explained many diseases impact the Black Community more than other groups and getting the information out to the public is critical “Heart disease is the number one killer for all Americans It’s due to high blood pressure being more prominent in the community along with diabetes All of these conditions contribute to heart disease,” Gray explained She pointed out members of the Black community do not always have the same access to health care as other racial groups I had a lot of people telling me either I buy the medicine or I buy food to eat So for some it was a choice between eating and or taking their medications Those are the real life choices that they have to make It wasn’t that they didn’t want to take the medicine; it was because they could not afford it There are a lot of people in the United States who cannot afford health care,” Gray said Gray said some people in the Black community do not feel comfortable talking with people who do not look like them There’s been a big mistrust in the African American community that goes way back to the Tuskegee studies,” Gray said “We’re trying to overcome some of these disparities and try to educate people.” The nonprofit group welcomes donations. To learn more about the Patuxent River chapter go to their website. Liz Feldman has worked as a writer and producer for more than 40 years in local TV news She is currently working as a free-lance writer and producer for CNN She teaches at Montgomery College and the University of Maryland She has previously taught for American University Feldman has lived in Montgomery County since 1989 (WMC) - A restaurant in Germantown was targeted by a band of burglars overnight resulting in a crash involving a police officer as they made their escape according to the Germantown Police Department There are currently no suspects in custody Police officers reportedly witnessed a group of suspects make their escape after breaking into La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant GPD says the suspects took off in a stolen car which hit a police vehicle as officers tried to stop it Police say the suspects successfully made their getaway after the crash The officer whose car was struck is reportedly uninjured