UPDATE: All lanes are now open on the outer loop I-495 after this morning’s crash involving an Amazon truck.
An overturned Amazon truck with spill has closed several lanes on the outer loop of I-495 between Georgia Ave (exit 31) and Connecticut Ave (exit 33), according to the Maryland State Highway Administration. The incident occurred around 6am on Sunday morning and as of 12pm, only a single left lane gets by, according to @WTOPTraffic on twitter.
Holly Agouridis started “The Catalina Haunt” (video below) at her Kensington home back in 2015. The haunted house, located on Catalina Terrace, is now in its 8th year with a growing audience each year. “Between October 1st and Halloween night I have about 500-600 people stop by. The last halloweens I have been on the news and we have about 300+ come on Halloween night.” Agouridis told us.
She started really getting into decorating in 2015- initially using small props and homemade scarecrows and pumpkins. Then, she found the store Spirit Halloween and it took off from there. Agouridis has lived in MoCo for nearly 20 years, since 2003. When she was trying to figure out a name for her haunted house, a neighbor’s child who was 7 or 8 and would sit on her driveway everyday to watch her work on the house said “Ms. Holly, we live on Catalina Terrace so let’s call it the Catalina Haunt Yard” and the rest was history.
A Maryland biotech company has taken an important next step in their HIV Clinical Trial that they hope will lead to long-term remission for participants. Rockville-based biotech company American Gene Technologies® has begun withdrawing clinical trial participants from their antiretroviral HIV medication to determine whether the gene therapy treatment works. All 7 participants have already shown safety and blood markers of efficacy, according to the press release. Full press release below:
The Gene Therapy Industry Is Poised for Enormous Growth
A 39-year-old male pedestrian was pronounced dead after a collision on Midcounty Highway in Gaithersburg on Saturday night. According to Montgomery County Police, detectives were originally investigating this as a hit-and-run, but after further investigation, they do not want to definitively call it a hit-and/run. Below is a summary of events from MCPD:
“On Saturday, October 22, 2022, at approximately 8:42 p.m., 6th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the area of Midcounty Hwy. and Miller Fall Rd. for the report of a pedestrian struck. A 39-year-old male pedestrian was located in the roadway that had been struck by at least one vehicle, which remained on scene. At this time, the circumstances leading to the pedestrian being struck in the roadway is under investigation. The victim was pronounced dead on scene. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
Actress Kimberly J. Brown, best known to audiences for her portrayal of the teen witch Marnie Piper in the Halloweentown films, is from Gaithersburg. In a 2016 interview with a Maryland-based blog, she referenced growing up in Gaithersburg in the 80s and early 90s. “There were certain areas near where I lived that were so serene. I love that whole country, green feel. Our family ritual was going to duck ponds in the area and playing with the baby chicks. I love being able to have a bat and a ball, and not caring where the ball lands if that makes sense. In Los Angeles, you don’t have that luxury all the time.” In the interview she also refers to Washington as her favorite NFL team.
Brown got her first big break playing the role of Marah Lewis on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light– the daughter of “super couple” Josh Lewis and Reva Shayne. When she was 13 she was cast in Halloweentown as Marnie Piper, a young witch who is determined to learn magic from her grandmother Aggie, portrayed by Debbie Reynolds. Halloweentown aired on October 17, 1998, and was well received by audiences, leading Disney Channel to produce three sequels; Brown reprised her role as Marnie in two of them, but was replaced by Sara Paxton in the fourth installment, Return to Halloweentown, a decision over which Brown expressed confusion and disappointment.
Last December we let you know that Kruba Thai would be coming to Park Potomac. Instead, Pama Thai has arrived. The new Thai restaurant comes from the owners of Kruba Thai, which has a location at 301 Water St. near Nationals Park in Washington, DC. Their menu offers traditional Thai dishes, but we are told will not offer sushi like DC”s Kruba Thai (aside from one appetizer roll). Pama Thai had a soft opening earlier in the week and has since listed that it will be open from 11:00am-9:30pm, 7 days a week. It is located at the former Wine Harvest location at 12525 Park Potomac Ave B.
The menu offers a variety of appetizers ranging from $7-$13, that includes chicken satay, chive dumplings, curry puffs, and more. Pama signature dishes range from $18-$20, and include pineapple fried rice (featured photo), clay pot shrimp, crispy eggplant, and more. Entrees, curries, noodles, and fried rice dishes all come in at $15 a piece, and four different desserts are available, ranging from $5.95-$9.95.
Updated Sunday 10/23: A 39-year-old male pedestrian was pronounced dead after a collision on Midcounty Highway in Gaithersburg on Saturday night. Montgomery County Police originally stated that the incident was being investigated as a hit and run, but are now reporting that the owner of the vehicle did remain on the scene. Below is a summary of events from MCPD:
“On Saturday, October 22, 2022, at approximately 8:42 p.m., 6th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the area of Midcounty Hwy. and Miller Fall Rd. for the report of a pedestrian struck. A 39-year-old male pedestrian was located in the roadway that had been struck by at least one vehicle, which remained on scene. At this time, the circumstances leading to the pedestrian being struck in the roadway is under investigation. The victim was pronounced dead on scene. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
Sunday 10/23 Update: A 39-year-old male pedestrian was pronounced dead after a collision on Midcounty Highway in Gaithersburg on Saturday night. Montgomery County Police originally stated that the incident was being investigated as a hit and run, but are now reporting that the owner of the vehicle did remain on the scene. Below is a summary of events from MCPD:
“On Saturday, October 22, 2022, at approximately 8:42 p.m., 6th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the area of Midcounty Hwy. and Miller Fall Rd. for the report of a pedestrian struck. A 39-year-old male pedestrian was located in the roadway that had been struck by at least one vehicle, which remained on scene. At this time, the circumstances leading to the pedestrian being struck in the roadway is under investigation. The victim was pronounced dead on scene. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
The City celebrates and honors Native American Heritage Month in November with educational presentations, programs & a proclamation highlighting the culture, heritage & achievements of our Native American neighbors. Activities & exhibits celebrating Native American Heritage Month include:
Proclamation: An official proclamation designating November 2022 as “Native American Heritage Month” in the City will be presented at the November 7 Mayor & City Council meeting. The public is welcome to attend the meeting at City Hall, watch it live on YouTube or watch it via Zoom by registering here. The proclamation will be received by Milo Booth, a Tsimshian member of the Metlakatla Indian Community. Milo moved to the Gaithersburg area in 2011. He participates in multicultural events at schools, often visiting classrooms to talk about his heritage, including songs & dance and sharing items that are important to the Tsimshian culture.
Former Quince Orchard High School and Penn State football star Bani Gbadyu died early Saturday morning from complications related to pancreatic cancer, according to a report by the York Daily Record. “Close friends confirmed the news. They expect funeral and celebration of life services to be announced shortly in the Lebanon, Pa. area.”
Previous report (10/13/22): Bani Gbadyu made a name for himself battling on the football field. Now, the former Quince Orchard and Penn State student/athlete has a different battle. “I never thought I would hear the words Advanced Pancreatic Cancer in my life, much less at such a young age. Hearing and learning that I have cancer and being in the hospital for over 2 weeks has been the absolute hardest experience of my life.” Gbadyu wrote in a social media post yesterday.