Montgomery County has issued a Hypothermia Alert for 8:00 pm Sun. 11/13 until 10:00 am Mon. 11/14. Expect the wind chill to be at or below 32 degrees. Wear layers if you go outside. Take extra precautions if you spend significant time outdoors during that time.
A Hypothermia Alert is issued for the County when forecasted temperatures, and/or wind chill, in at least part of the County fall below 32 degrees creating a hazardous situation in which hypothermia and frostbite are likely.
The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State(MPower) announced a transformative partnership to establish the University of Maryland 3 – Institute for Health Computing (UM-3-IHC), which is being led by the University of Maryland, Baltimore(UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), in collaboration with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and Montgomery County. The institute is expected to open in leased space in early 2023. Final completion of laboratory and office space in the North Bethesda Metro area in 2028, according to officials. Video below shows Thursday’s announcement.
Per the press release: This new Institute will leverage recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing to create a premier learning health care system that evaluates both de-identified and secure digitized medical health data to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases in patients across the state of Maryland. “We are witnessing an unprecedented revolution in health care that is being driven by biomedical innovation, the digitization of medical records, and advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence,” said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. “This new Institute will include all of these elements in a synergistic effect that will transform our health care system.”
Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg will hold a ‘Holiday Street Fest’ that will include a fireworks presentation on Saturday, December 10th. The fun begins with a market during the day from 1pm-5pm, a DJ playing music from 5pm-7pm and fireworks at 6:45pm. Additional details, per Rio, below:
“Cue the holiday festivities! 🎄 rio’s Holiday Street Fest & Fireworks presented by Novavax is Saturday, December 10, and you’ll want to be HERE FOR THE CHEER. 🎅 We’re stocking up on the fun along Grand Corner Ave. with pop-up bars, s’mores stations, holiday workshops, an artisan market, and more from 1 – 5 p.m. Bring your best elf to the Boardwalk Stage from 5 – 7 p.m. and sing along to festive favorites with our DJ & Cheer Station! Wrap it up with a lakefront firework show at 6:45 p.m. for the perfect end to the night. ✨ Mark your (advent) calendars!”
Black Diamond Restaurant & Lounge, will be taking over the space that was formerly home to TTT and Buena Vida at 8407 Ramsey Ave in Silver Spring.
The restaurant currently has a hearing for a Class D, Beer, Wine, and Liquor License at 10:30am on Thursday, November 17th. We are told the Black Diamond may open as soon as the end of this month, but no specific date is available at this time.
Last month we let you know that Dick’s Warehouse Sale is coming to Congressional Plaza in Rockville, taking over the space previously occupied by Saks OFF 5th, which closed in 2019, at 1675 Rockville Pike. The store opened on Friday, November 11 (photos below). Dick’s Warehouse Sale is an outlet/warehouse version of Dick’s Sporting Goods that offers merchandise at clearance prices. Dick’s Sporting Goods currently has Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg (Rio) and Wheaton.
Per Dick’s: “Save Big at DICK’S Sporting Goods Warehouse Sale Store. Our outlet stores have a great assortment of apparel and footwear at discounted prices. Find products from the biggest brands, including Nike, adidas, Under Armour and more. At DICK’S Sporting Goods Warehouse Sale store, we add new markdowns throughout the year, so check back often for the newest savings. For incredible prices and savings you don’t want to miss, keep checking to see if a DICK’S Sporting Goods Warehouse Sale store is opening near you!”
2010 Clarksburg High School graduate Jon Thompson opened his food truck, Fifty Fifty, last year. He specializes in half-beef and half-bacon smash burgers, with the bacon ground right into the beef so they’re cohesive. Following the success of the food truck in the last year, Fifty Fifty will now open inside of Olde Mother Brewing Co. at 526 N Market St in Frederick. Construction just started on ithe kitchen inside of the brewery and they’re hoping to be open before the end of the year.
“We do double smash patties to get 4 layers of crispy seasoned bacon and beef with layered creamy cheese in ever bite. We focus on unique and creative toppings like roasted poblano cream cheese, spicy peanut butter or even authentic Belgian waffles as a bun for a one of a kind burger experience.” Thompson told us.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jessica Pearson is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.
If you haven’t gotten your REAL ID yet, you have less than six months as enforcement of the REAL ID Act at the card level begins on May 3, 2023 (Maryland has been Real ID compliant since 2011). On May 3, 2023, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. The REAL ID Act is a federal law passed by Congress after Sept. 11, 2001, that establishes specific minimum federal standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards to be accepted for certain federal purposes, like entering a federal building or boarding a domestic commercial flight.
In Maryland, anyone with a driver’s license or identification card that expires before May 3, 2023 is eligible to renew and become REAL ID compliant up to six months prior to the expiration date on the card. MDOT MVA will contact you to remind you it’s time to renew one year in advance of your expiration date. Anyone with a driver’s license or identification card that expires after May 3, 2023 has the option to wait until the expiration date on the card OR upgrade to a REAL ID. Please keep in mind that after May 3, 2023, a REAL ID will be necessary to fly domestically or visit a federal facility. There is a $20 fee to upgrade.
Update: The opening of La Catrina has been postponed. A new date will be provided soon.
Back in August we let you know that La Catrina Bar & Lounge is coming to 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, taking over the location that was formerly home to George’s Chophouse, 4935 Bar & Kitchen, The Loft at 4935, Tragara’s, and others. The restaurant has now set an opening date, sharing on social media that it’ll be open on Friday, November 18th.
A celebration of Life & Memorial Service will be held on Monday, November 14, 2022 for Miguel Antonio Ortiz and Ana Margarita Ortiz, who were tragically killed by a driver while walking to their polling place in Gaithersburg on the morning of Tuesday, November 8th. Visitation will take place from 9:30 am-11 am, followed by a Memorial Service from 11 am-12 pm at Neelsville Presbyterian Church, 20701 Frederick Rd, Germantown, MD 20876. A private graveside burial will take place later in the day.
Their obituary, per Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky: Miguel Antonio Ortiz (65) and his beloved wife, Ana Margarita Ortiz (70), originally from El Salvador, and longtime resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland, tragically passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, as the result of their injuries after being struck by a speeding car.
Last month, a representative from Lotte Plaza Market in Germantown Plaza (13069 Wisteria Drive) confirmed that the grocery store will be closing permanently by the end of the year. The store has announced a “store closing clearance sale” that will take place until the store closes on November 27th. Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Silver Spring will remain open.
Lotte Plaza Market is a grocery store that specializes in Asian groceries. Per its website, Lotte started with a single store on Veirs Mill Road in1989 and now has a dozen locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida. “Our goal is to open 50 Lotte Plaza Market locations by 2030.” A sign advertising the sale is currently in the window at Lotte (as seen below, courtesy of Instagram user @f0restbean