Derwood

From Jan. 1 through June 30, 1,117 dogs came into the animal center. During the same period in 2022, 916 dogs came into the building, meaning there was an increase of 201 dogs admitted during the first six months of 2023 compared to the previous year. The increase in the number of dogs entering the animal center in June of this year was substantial. In June, 214 dogs entered the shelter, but only 173 dogs exited. This is a significant reason the shelter is currently at capacity.


Entertainment

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair returns next month on Friday, August 11th and will run through Saturday, August 19th. This will be the 74th annual fair and it’s third year back after having to cancel for the first time in its 70+ year history in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. You can download a copy of the 2023 Fair Catalog here.  Admission to the fair is $15 on-site and $12 online. Children 11 & under can enter free and parking is $15 per car. Tickets can be purchased here. 

Free entertainment this year includes a canine aquatics competition, pig racing, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, illusionists, remote control car racing, comedy shows, and stilt walkers.  Ticketed events at the Fair’s Grandstand include Truck Drag Racing on August 14th, the Renegade Monster Truck Tour on August 16th and 17th, and Demolition Derby “Night of Destruction” on August 18th and 19th.


North Bethesda

RASA, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with four locations in DC and Virginia, that recently opened its first MoCo location at 12033 Rockville Pike in the Montrose Crossing shopping center, won a RAMMY award for ‘Favorite Fast Bites.’ The RAMMY awards were created by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington to celebrate the DC region’s restaurant and foodservice industry.

RASA, founded by Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman (combined to create the name, RASA), who grew up in Gaithersburg, opened its first location in Navy Yard in 2017 before opening a location in Mt. Vernon Triangle in 2020, Crystal City in 2021, and Fairfax this past summer. The menu offers seven chef-curated bowls under the “We Got You” portion of the menu, that includes their signature bowls like the “Tikka Chance on Me”, “Open Sesame”, “Eat Your Veggies”, “Home Cooking”, “Goa Your Own Way”, “Aloo Need is Love”, and “Caul on Me” or the “You Got It” portion of their menu that allows customers to “DIY” and design their own bowl using the assembly line format of a base, main, sauce, veggies, toppings, and chutneys/dressings. The full menu can be seen here.


Sponsored

Montgomery County, MD is commonly known as being a suburb of the nation’s capital, but what might surprise some is that it is also home to a thriving biotech ecosystem. With over 350 life sciences companies, including global brands like AstraZeneca, United Therapeutics, and Novavax, Montgomery County anchors the third largest biophama hub in the U.S., behind only Boston and San Francisco.

Running annually in Washington D.C. for over 25 years, World Vaccine Congress attracts an international audience from over 80 countries and convenes more than 3,000 people to learn about the latest trends, research, and technologies in the vaccine industry. This year, Montgomery County took center stage, with a featured session on the extensive Biologics Value Chain in the County, as well as a session during which County Executive Marc Elrich spoke about the extensive resources available to companies here, and an exhibit space showcasing these resources.

A Complete Biologics Value Chain in One Region

One of the defining strengths of Montgomery County is its ability to support the full lifecycle of biologics, all the way from early research to large-scale manufacturing. During the panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Stefanie Trop, Director of Life Sciences at the Maryland Department of Commerce, local leaders emphasized that the region’s strength lies in its network of partners who work collaboratively across discovery, development, testing, and production. Panelists from companies in all stages of the value chain spectrum included Dr. Andrew Lees, Founder of Fina Biosolutions, Benjamin Moutier, Senior Vice-President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies at AstraZeneca, Dr. Helen Sabzevari President & CEO of Precigen, and Dr. Frederick Holtsberg, Chief Scientific Officer of Integrated BioTherapeutics.

This end-to-end capability in close geographical proximity gives companies a unique advantage and is rare to find in other markets, even established ones like San Francisco and Boston. In fact, only a handful of places worldwide offer the combination of infrastructure, expertise, and collaboration found in Montgomery County and if diversity, education and population density are taken into consideration – then Montgomery County standouts even more.

“Gaithersburg is one of the six places in the world where we can do what we’re doing,” explained Benjamin Moutier, Senior Vice-President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca. “We have the right partners at every step of the value chain [in Montgomery County].”

A Strong Partnership Network

Biotech breakthroughs rarely happen in isolation. They depend on strong partnerships between private companies, local and state governments, academic institutions, and workforce training organizations. Montgomery County has intentionally cultivated these connections, making collaboration and coordination defining characteristics of its life sciences ecosystem.

Dr. Frederick Holtsberg, Chief Scientific Officer at IBT Bioservices, a full service CRO offering clinical & preclinical contract research services, says the company’s close partnerships between them and local stakeholders have been crucial to its success. “As a Rockville-based company, we’re grateful for the partnership and support from city, County, and state leaders,” explained Dr. Holtsberg. “These programs have helped fuel our growth, and we’re excited about the continued momentum of our community.” (more…)


Restaurants

Subway has announced the arrival of freshly sliced meats in U.S. restaurants – its latest and biggest change since the brand began its efforts to improve every aspect of the guest experience, headlined by a better menu, which began in 2021. Today, Tuesday, July 11th, between 10am and 12pm the first 50 customers at participating restaurants can get a free 6-inch sub to celebrate the sandwich chain’s new deli meat slicers and upgraded menu items. Unfortunately, a list of participating restaurants has not been provided so you will have to check with your local Subway.

Per Subway: To showcase freshly sliced meats*, Subway revealed a major expansion of its Subway Series menu with a new category called Deli Heroes, a collection of the ultimate deli subs. These authentic, deli-style sandwiches, ordered by name and number, will satisfy the strongest deli cravings.


Event

Historic Indigenous Recognition Event to Take Place in Montgomery County, Maryland

The Taino American Indigenous National Organization (T.A.I.N.O.) proudly announces its upcoming signature public event,


Bethesda

Back in September 2021 we let you know the popular DC restaurant The Salt Line would be making its way over to Bethesda Row, taking over the location at 4900 Hampden Lane that was previously home to Greek restaurant Kapnos until 2018. After a soft opening over the weekend, The Salt Line will hold its grand opening on Tuesday, July 11th.

According to the restaurant, the opening menu at features a selection of beloved New England favorites also found at The Salt Line’s Navy Yard and Ballston locations, as well as additions from Executive Chef Eric McKamey and Long Shot Hospitality Chef/Partner Kyle Bailey. Highlights include the Local Heirloom Tomato Salad, Bucatini and Clams, Maine Peekytoe Crab Roll, and more. In addition to full beer and wine lists, the cocktail program is heavily influenced by the New England lifestyle and showcases imaginative twists on timeless classics such as the Cape Codder G&T, The Blue Cheese Martini, Sbagliato Spritz, and more. The interior evokes a nautical feel, with mahogany paneling, brass fixtures, booths inspired by yacht seats, a huge u-shaped bar, and vintage coastal ephemera throughout.


Bethesda

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Marielsa Bernard found defendant Sergio Koyangbo, 21, of Bethesda, guilty but Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) for the stabbing death of his stepfather, 46-year-old David Beasley on March 6, 2022. The State challenged an NCR finding by a state expert in December of 2022 and retained one of Maryland’s leading forensic psychiatrists to conduct an independent evaluation of the defendant. That doctor, however, came to the same conclusion of an NCR finding. In light of the second expert’s opinion, the State conceded the issue. Immediately following today’s hearing, Koyangbo was committed to the Maryland Department of Health. He will remain in a medical facility pending future evaluations.

According to Montgomery County Police, on March 6, at approximately 9:30 pm, 2nd District Officers arrived at the scene and located a male victim, later identified as 46-year-old David Beasley from Bethesda, inside the residence with apparent stab wounds to his body. Officers provided life-saving measures to Beasley until Montgomery County Fire Rescue arrived at the scene. Beasley was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Detectives spoke with witnesses and determined that Koyangbo stabbed his father, Beasley, inside the residence. Detectives also located items of evidentiary value at the residence. Koyangbo was placed under arrest without incident and transported to the Central Processing Unit, where he has been charged with first-degree murder. He is being held without bond.


Crime

Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a body that was recovered from Seneca Creek. On Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 5:41 p.m., 1st District officers, along with officers from Maryland Natural Resources were dispatched to the area of for the report of a body in the Creek.

Montgomery County Fire Rescue responded and removed the body, and it was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who determined the manner of death to be a homicide.


Crime

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Christopher Fogleman, a jury has found defendant, Gary Savage, 60, of Tampa, FL, guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, and two counts of Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence.

This stems from an incident on September 3rd, 2021. The defendant drove from where he was living in Tampa, FL to the home of his estranged wife on Baileys Court in Silver Spring, MD. When Savage arrived, his estranged wife and her boyfriend, 44-year-old Whali Shabazz, were getting into a vehicle. Text messages that were admitted into evidence showed Savage knew the two victims were together and expected Shabaz to be there when he arrived. Savage opened fire on both of them, killing Shabaz and continuing to shoot at his estranged wife while she took cover behind another vehicle. She was not injured.


Clarksburg

Per MCPD: A 24-year-old Clarksburg man has died following a traffic collision that occurred on Sunday, July 9, 2023. At approximately 6:13 p.m., 5th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the intersection of Frederick Rd. at Milestone Manor Ln., for the report of a traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a vehicle.

Preliminarily, Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) detectives have determined that the operator of a black 2021 Yamaha MT09 motorcycle was traveling southbound on Frederick Rd. approaching the intersection at Milestone Manor Ln. when for reasons still under investigation, he struck a left turning white 2017 Toyota Prius. The driver of the Prius and a passenger were treated for minor injuries at an area hospital. The motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. The motorcyclist has been identified as Elijah Isaiah Shand Thweatt, of Clarksburg. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at (240) 773-6620.


Burtonsville

EDENS continues to make progress at Burtonsville Crossing (photos below, courtesy of Dave Golden). A couple months back EDENS held a community plaza groundbreaking event at Burtonsville Crossing with County Executive Marc Elrich, Council President Evan Glass, District 5 Councilmember Kristen Mink, and former NBA player Jason Miskiri in attendance. Miskiri is part of a group that will be opening Domain Fitness & Performance, a new fitness center that has signed on to open in the shopping center and will be located adjacent to Sprouts. Miskiri also owns several restaurants in Silver Spring, including the Angry Jerk, The Breakfast Club, and Society Restaurant & Lounge.

It was also announced that Sprouts is on track to open by the end of this year.  Sprouts was the first business to sign a lease for the renovated Burtonsville Crossing and this will be the chain’s first Montgomery County location. The grocer offers a wide selection of natural and organic foods, including fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, deli, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, natural body care and household items.


Beyond MoCo

Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterway Improvement Funds. The funds will support new and improved public boating access facilities, dredging of navigable public waterways, emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders, and other important infrastructure and initiatives.

“Investing in infrastructure is integral to achieving the full potential of Maryland’s resources,” said Gov. Moore. “This partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and our local jurisdictions is critical to improving, maintaining, and promoting use of our public waterways.” The Waterway Improvement Fund is primarily derived from the one-time 5% excise tax when a boat is purchased and titled in the state, as well as a small portion of the state gas tax. It has been used to construct and maintain more than 400 public boating facilities and more than 250 public navigational channels across the state as well as the acquisition of vessels.