Thai Two Cents is continuing to move forward with plans for its upcoming Gaithersburg location, with a key licensing step scheduled later this month for the upcoming restaurant in the Spectrum Town Center.
The National Weather Service has released some snow totals from trained spotters across Maryland and Virginia from various times this morning. Not every community has an available measurement, and the timing of each report can lead to differences in what you’re seeing at home. Your backyard may look a bit different from the official totals, depending on when and where the snow was measured.
Romero’s Italian Restaurant is preparing to take over the longtime home of Cristina Ristorante Italiano in Wheaton, marking a new chapter for a space that has been part of the local dining scene for more than two decades.
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…)
Snow totals across the DC region are trending higher Saturday night, with updated forecasts from NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer and the National Weather Service showing increased confidence in measurable accumulation for much of Montgomery County and the surrounding area.
Both sets of maps point to a narrow but impactful band of snow developing late Saturday night and continuing into early Sunday morning. While widespread totals of 1 to 3 inches remain the most likely outcome for central Maryland and the District, newer guidance shows pockets where higher amounts are possible if the heavier band sets up overhead.
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,
A multi-vehicle crash involving three cars shut down a stretch of Columbia Pike in eastern Montgomery County Sunday evening, sending one adult to the hospital with serious injuries.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has announced that all community use of school buildings on Sunday, Dec. 14, is canceled due to forecasts calling for cold temperatures and 1–3 inches of snow, which will affect the ability to clear parking lots, sidewalks, and entrances.
Sweeteria, the popular Silver Spring dessert café, has opened its new location at 7525 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. The café moves into a space previously occupied by St. Arnold’s Mussel Bar, Tyber Bierhaus, and Thimian Thai. (more…)
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined 19 other states in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions, arguing it is unlawful, exceeds federal authority, and would worsen critical workforce shortages.
A Maryland woman won $1 million from a single $2 Powerball ticket purchased at a Prince George’s County 7-Eleven. The winner plans to pay off debts and buy a larger home. Full story below courtesy MD Lottery: (more…)
Winter Weather Advisories have expanded to include Frederick County, Maryland and eastern Loudoun County, Virginia, as forecasters continue to track a narrow band of snow expected to impact the region overnight into Sunday morning.
The County Council announced upcoming public hearings in January, including a Jan. 13 session on a proposed $2.4 million supplemental appropriation for the Public Safety Joint Operations Center and an expedited bill that would strengthen immigrant protections within County government.