Business

Rockville-Based Emmes Acquires Panama City-Based VaxTRIALS

By MCS Staff

Rockville-based Emmes (401 N Washington St), a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, announced the acquisition of VaxTRIALS. Headquartered in Panama City, Panama, VaxTRIALS’ 160+ staff members manage and monitor vaccine clinical trial activities throughout Latin America. Additional information below, per the press release:

“Today’s clinical trials are both more complex and more global in nature than ever before,” said Emmes Executive Chairman Sastry Chilukuri. “Combining VaxTRIALS’ depth of expertise in Latin America and Emmes’ strengths, particularly in technology, biostatistics and data management, will give clients an unmatched partnership experience in conducting their clinical trials.”

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Travel

Metro Service Information for Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 9

By Patrick Herron

Per WMATA: On Monday, Oct. 9, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day, Metrorail service will operate weekend service levels and Metrobus will run Saturday Supplemental Service. Pre-scheduled subscription trips will be canceled on MetroAccess, but customers may still make a separate reservation to travel on the holiday.

SERVICE INFORMATION

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Health

Maryland Department of Health Announces First Travel-Related Case, Death Due to Tickborne Illness Powassan

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Department of Health: The Maryland Department of Health today announced the first travel-related Powassan virus death in Maryland. The Department confirmed the presence of Powassan, which is spread by the bite of an infected tick, on Sept. 22, with subsequent follow-ups reinforcing that result.

“We are very saddened to report the first death due to the Powassan virus in our state,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman. “Powassan is very rare, and this is the first-ever case recorded in Maryland. The individual contracted the virus in Canada and returned to Maryland afterward. We do not believe that Powassan poses any threat of local transmission in Maryland. As always, we urge everyone to practice good habits when in areas that could have ticks or avoid those areas altogether.”

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Beyond MoCo

Nearby Columbia, MD Rated 2nd Safest City in The U.S., Washington D.C. in Bottom 10 According to Study

By MCS Staff

With the U.S. experiencing over 500 mass shootings and over 25,000 motor vehicle deaths so far this year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Safest Cities in America, with nearby cities like Columbia (Howard County) and Washington D.C. making appearances on each side of the list.

To determine where Americans can feel most protected against life’s hazards, including nonphysical forms of danger, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 41 key metrics (WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Home & Community Safety, 2) Natural-Disaster Risk, and 3) Financial Safety). The data set ranges from traffic fatalities per capita and assaults per capita to the unemployment rate and the percentage of the population that is uninsured.

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MCFRS

MCFRS Respond to Collision With Rollover and Entrapment Monday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision on New Hampshire Ave and Elton Rd, near I-495 in White Oak around 5:15am on Monday, October 9. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the collision with entrapment involved two vehicles and two patients were transported to the hospital for injuries.

We will provide and update if additional information becomes available.

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Burtonsville

Moby Dick House of Kabob Signs On To Open Restaurant At Burtonsville Crossing

By MCS Staff

Moby Dick House of Kabob is the most recent tenant to sign on to join the redeveloped Burtonsville Crossing shopping center. The new restaurant will join Montgomery County’s first Sprouts grocery store, which is on pace to open by the end of this year. It will also be joining Domain Fitness & Performance, an upcoming TJ Maxx location, ULTA Beauty, and Creative Outlets Arts Center which recently announced that they’ll be moving into the shopping center from their previous Montgomery Mall location that closed in Bethesda earlier this summer.

This will be the Persian kabob restaurant chain’s 27th restaurant overall and 8th in Montgomery County, where it all started in 1989 with its Bethesda location. Moby Dick’s 7th MoCo location is coming soon to North Bethesda. The restaurant offers “authentic Persian food with a Mediterranean flair.” An opening date is not available, but it’s expected to be at some point in 2024.

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DC Sports

Zoo Lights Return For This Holiday Season; Tickets Go On Sale Later This Month

By MCS Staff

Washington, D.C.’s beloved Smithsonian’s National Zoo holiday tradition is back and brighter than ever as Zoo Lights returns this holiday season. A change this year will be that ZooLights will have a ticket price of $6 per individual. Each attendee, including children over the age of 2, will need a ticket. Parking is available for pre-purchase online at $30 per vehicle.

Paid tickets are a change from past years when this special event was free to attend. Per the Smithsonian, the ticket fee will offset the significant increase in costs associated with running this event. Proceeds from the event will directly benefit animal care and conservation science at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

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MoCo Government

Marc Elrich Releases Statement on Hamas Attacks on Israel

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Executive has released a statement via Twitter/X on the Hamas attacks on Israel. His full statement can be seen below:

“The attacks by Hamas on civilian populations across Israel is the definition of terrorism – terrorism being actions that target civilian populations with the goal of creating such pain and suffering that their governments will change their policies.

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Gaithersburg

Playground Visible From I-270 Removed After 40+ Years

By Patrick Herron

The playground consisting of figure-like slides, swings, and monkey bars that was located behind the Londonderry Apartment complex in Gaithersburg has been entirely removed. The playground, which stood at the location for at least forty years, was visible to drivers going northbound on I-270 between exits 9 and 10. Half of the equipment was removed a couple years back– we were told it was due to deteriorating condition. A representative from the leasing office told us that they were advised to have the remaining equipment removed following an inspection in August and that the playground was removed entirely last month.

In 2019, our own Mr. MoCo made the trek to the site. “I had to take a visit to the playground located behind the Londonderry complex in Gaithersburg. Now I can say I’ve been there.” (scroll down to see the East MoCo version of the figures). The post received over 1,000 likes and hundreds of comments. Some of the best included:

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MDLottery

Powerball Jackpot Up to $1.55 Billion for Monday Night’s Drawing

By Patrick Herron

Since no one matched all six numbers in last night’s drawing, the Powerball jackpot for Monday night is now worth an estimated $1.55 billion with an estimated cash value of $679.8 million.  Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. Additional information below courtesy of MD Powerball:

“The billion-dollar Powerball® jackpot is still waiting to be won, after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Saturday night – white balls 47, 54, 57, 60, 65 and red Powerball 19. The Power Play® multiplier was 3X. The Powerball jackpot now stands at an estimated $1.55 billion for the next drawing on Monday night. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $679.8 million. Monday’s estimated jackpot ranks as the third largest in the Powerball game and fourth largest among U.S. lottery jackpots.

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Gaithersburg

Rockville Man Struck and Killed on Snouffer School Road; Identity of Victim Released 

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD:  The Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is investigating a pedestrian fatality that occurred on Saturday, October 7, 2023, in the 8200 block of Snouffer School Road, just before Bonanza Way. At approximately 8:58, Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the area for the report of a collision involving a pedestrian.

Upon arrival, 47-year-old Carlos Tapia-Sosa of Rockville, was located in the roadway. Tapia-Sosa was pronounced dead. The driver of a silver, 2012 Hyundai Elantra, remained on the scene. The preliminary investigation by CRU detectives has revealed that the driver of the Elantra was traveling westbound on Snouffer School Road. Tapia-Sosa was crossing Snouffer School Road from south to north when he was struck in lane two of westbound Snouffer School Road.

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