MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Rockville Biotech Begins Withdrawing Clinical Trial Participants From Antiretroviral HIV Medication; “All 7 participants have already shown safety and blood markers of efficacy”

Published October 23, 2022 at 9:59AM

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

Bethesda

The St. James Aiming for a “Late Fall 2022” Opening in Bethesda

By MCS Staff

Published October 23, 2022 at 9:41AM

Celebrities

Halloweentown Star, Kimberly J. Brown, is From Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Published October 23, 2022 at 8:55AM | Updated October 24, 2022 at 7:13AM

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.

Potomac

Pama Thai Now Open in Park Potomac

By MCS Staff

Published October 23, 2022 at 8:28AM

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.

Gaithersburg

City of Gaithersburg Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

By MCS Staff

Published October 22, 2022 at 6:44PM

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.

Gaithersburg

Former Quince Orchard And Penn State Football Star, Bani Gbadyu, Has Passed Away at 34 Following a Battle With Pancreatic Cancer

By MCS Staff

Published October 22, 2022 at 2:39PM | Updated October 22, 2022 at 5:46PM

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.

Restaurants

Vietfood, a Vietnamese Restaurant, to Open in Twinbrook Center

By MCS Staff

Published October 22, 2022 at 1:20PM

Vietfood, a Vietnamnese restaurant that currently operates as a stall called Viet Kitchen in Rockville’s Pike Kitchen, will be moving to a new location at The Twinbrook Center in Rockville. It will be taking over a 1,500 SF space that was previously occupied by Asia Market., according to the brochure for the shopping center by klnb. An opening date is not yet available.

The Twinbrook Center is located at 1902 Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20850, and is currently anchored by Lotte Mart and previously by CVS, which closed this past summer. Other tenants include Twinbrook Deli, Don Pollo, Dunkin’, Little Caesars, and more. Longtime tenant Bamboo Buffet also appears to be leaving, as the space they’re currently operating in is available for lease, according to the property brochure.

Takoma Park

Takoma Park Offering Free Canopy Trees to Private Property Owners to Help Reduce Noise Pollution, Clean Air, Support Biodiversity

By MCS Staff

Published October 22, 2022 at 12:43PM

Per the City of Takoma Park: Tree Takoma is the City of Takoma Park’s private property canopy tree planting program. This program uses resources in the City’s Tree Fund to offer free canopy trees to private property owners. Planting replacements for canopy trees lost on private properties around the City is an important practice for sustaining a robust urban forest.

Any private property inside the City of Takoma Park city limits is eligible. The City is particularly interested in working with properties and areas of the City that have a lower tree canopy, so please help us spread the word!

Restaurants

On Top, a Korean/Japanese Fusion Restaurant, Has Opened at Pike Kitchen in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Published October 22, 2022 at 11:36AM

On Top, a new restaurant offering Korean and Japanese fusion cuisine, opened its stall earlier this month at Pike Kitchen food hall in Rockville (1066 Rockville Pike).

The restaurant has shared photographs of yubu, which is a fried tofu pocket filled with rice and various toppings “On Top.” Our featured photo, courtesy of @ontop_pike on Instagram, shows Masago, Spicy Crab, Spicy Pork, Spicy Chicken, Unagi (Eel), and Mentaiko Mayo yubu. Donburi, a Japanese rice bowl dish consisting of fish, meat, vegetables or other ingredients served together over rice, is also on the menu. We do not have a website for the restaurant at this moment.

Montgomery Planning

Two November Meetings for Three Mile Stretch of University Blvd This November

By MCS Staff

Published October 22, 2022 at 10:42AM

Per Montgomery Planning: Building on major Montgomery County initiatives—including the 2013 Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050 and Vision Zero— Montgomery Planning is initiating the University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan and beginning its public engagement.

This planning effort will be centered on a key three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193). Throughout this process, Montgomery Planning will strive to understand community needs as they pertain to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The team will also explore potential opportunities for new infill development, bikeways, and future bus rapid transit (BRT). The team will also consider the potential to create a complete street —a boulevard with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops and safe access.

Darnestown

Permanent Signage Up at First MoCo Wayback Burgers Location

By MCS Staff

Published October 22, 2022 at 9:04AM

Way back in July 2021 we let you know that Wayback Burgers, a fast-casual burger chain based out of Connecticut, is coming to Montgomery County with a new location in Gaithersburg. Permanent signage has now been erected, and though there is a tarp partially covering the sign, it’s evident that it says “Wayback Burgers”.

Construction on the restaurant began a while ago, but there have been plenty of delay before recent progress. The restaurant will be located at The Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center at 12121 Darnestown Rd. in the location that was formerly home to an AT&T store and a tanning salon before that.