Top Headlines: Rockville Teacher Charged with Sex Abuse, Reprieve for Brickyard, Bethesda Police Station Starts From Scratch

Catch up on this week's Montgomery County headlines, including a Frederick man charged with the sexual abuse of children at a Rockville middle school; the end of a fight between a Potomac organic farm and the county school board; and news that Bethesda's long-anticipated new police station will have to start the development process from the beginning. 

Police: Rockville Teacher Accused of Molesting Students

ROCKVILLE—Sex abuse charges were filed against a Rockville elementary school teacher, police reported Thursday, stemming from allegations that he molested two female students. The full story is at Rockville Patch.

Planning Department Recommends Against Wheaton Costco Gas Station

WHEATON—The Montgomery County Planning Board is set to review Costco's special exception application for a gas station in Wheaton on Feb. 28. The county's planning department has issued a negative report, citing health concerns. The proposed gas station would be located at the Westfield Wheaton mall, where the Costco store is scheduled to open in April. Read more on Wheaton Patch.

Brickyard Site No Longer Slated for Soccer Fields

POTOMAC—The county school board voted on Tuesday to cancel its lease of the Brickyard property in Potomac with the county, which had planned to develop the site with soccer fields. For the past three decades, the site has been leased for use as an organic farm. Read more on Potomac Patch.

Montgomery Village Teen To Serve 18 Months For Pizza Delivery Robberies

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE—A Montgomery Village teen and former Watkins Mill High School football player will serve 18 months in jail for a series of robberies committed on pizza delivery drivers last summer. Read more on Montgomery Village Patch.

Montgomery County Starts From Scratch With New 2nd District Police Station

BETHESDA—Montgomery County last week issued a new document soliciting proposals for the long-delayed development of a new 2nd District police station in downtown Bethesda. A land-swap deal with developer JBG to build the station as part of a housing development recently fell through after years of negotiations. Read more on Bethesda Patch.

Coroner: Woman Died of Abortion-Related Complications

GERMANTOWN—An elementary school teacher from New York state died from abortion-related complications, a spokesman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Thursday. The full story is at Germantown Patch.

Dog Bill Takes Bite Out of Pit Bull Ruling

SILVER SPRING—Lawmakers are trying, for the second time, to take the sting out of last year's court ruling that pit bulls are an "inherently dangerous" breed. Read more on Silver Spring Patch. 

Voltaggio's Lunchbox to Join Range in Chevy Chase Pavilion

CHEVY CHASE, DC—Celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio will open another eatery in the newly renovated Chevy Chase Pavilion later this year—a second location for Lunchbox, his popular Frederick, MD, sandwich shop. Lunchbox will join Range, which Voltaggio opened at the Chevy Chase Pavilion last December, and which provides small plates to the neighboring Civil Cigar Lounge, which opened in January. Read more on Chevy Chase Patch.

WHEATON--Montgomery County’s decision to stop charging for use of the county’s dog parks has satisfied some frequent users of the dog park at Wheaton Regional Park, while others expressed concern that the lack of funding would result in poorer facilities. Read more on Wheaton Patch.

Speak Out: Councilman Andrews Opposes Leggett’s Proposed Pay Raises for County Workers

Montgomery County Councilman Phil Andrews says Leggett’s pay raise proposal is 'excessive, unsustainable and irresponsible.’ See what Patch readers think at Germantown Patch.

Photo of the Day: Monday Fire Causes Significant Damage To Gaithersburg Building

GAITHERSBURG—A two-story commercial building in Gaithersburg housing several businesses was severely damaged in a fire Monday morning. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch.