MoCo Headlines: Serial Burglars Nabbed, Cancer Center Breaks Ground

This week's top stories from Patch sites across Montgomery County include: arrests in connection with six burglaries in Takoma Park, a state-of-the-art cancer center breaking ground at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and a Germantown technologist building a hydroponic farm run by salvaged junk robots.

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have been on display in Friendship Heights for the past month. After they were auctioned off last week, Rebuilding Together Montgomery County's funds had grown substantially. 

 At its Thursday meeting, the Montgomery County Planning Board struggled to come to a decision about a contentious zoning text amendment that would place more restrictions on "mega" gas stations—and block the proposed construction of a 16-pump Costco gas station in Wheaton. The final vote rests with the county council.  

A Germantown technologist is building a hydroponic farm run by robots made of salvaged junk. First Fruits Farm Founder Peter James gave Patch a tour of his robo farm. Under the shelter of a greenhouse, the agribots would tend to and harvest an array of greens planted inside water-filled PVC pipes. James said once he’s got a working prototype, he plans to post DIY robo-farm instructions online, open-source style.

 After two arrests this week in connection with six burglaries in Takoma Park's Ward 1, Takoma Park Police arrested a third man Friday, Takoma Park Police Chief Ron Ricucci said. Alexander Gorge Ellis, 19, of no fixed address, was arrested for first-degree burglary, theft over $1,000 and malicious destruction of property, police said. Ellis was apprehended on June 7 in the 100 block of Sandy Hill Drive in Ocean City.  

 The Aquilino Cancer Center, Montgomery County's first free-standing, comprehensive cancer center, is slated to open in 2013 on the campus of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. The center will offer personalized, expert care to cancer patients with up-to-date technology and support services to treat various forms of cancer in a 50,000-square-foot, three-story facility. 

Current and former students are invited to say good-bye to the 43-year-old building of Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville this weekend. Montgomery County invested $81 million in a 340,000 square-foot replacement that will open to students and faculty in August.  

Carlos Vargas has resigned as the City of Rockville’s human resources director, city officials confirmed on Tuesday. Vargas was criticized by former Rockville employees who claimed they were subjected to harassment and discrimination by their supervisors while employed by the city. A city council member, however, praised Vargas' work.