MoCoSnow

The ‘Special Weather Statement’ from earlier today has been update to no longer include C/SE MoCo. It now covers areas as close as Prince George’s County with potential for hazardous commuting conditions for the Monday morning commute.

Per the National Weather Service for ‘Special Weather Statement’ areas (shown in featured photo):


Business

Stretch Zone, the nation’s first and largest practitioner-assisted stretching company, continues expanding throughout the United States with its first Maryland location now open in the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg. Stretch Zone takes over the former GNC location at 251 Kentlands Blvd, the former home of GNC.

Stretch Zone, the company that brought practitioner-assisted stretching to the public and introduced a new vertical in the health and wellness industry, closed out 2021 with a record-breaking year of milestones, from its fastest growth of studio openings to its highest-revenue year.


DC Sports

SportsLine oddsmakers have released their odds on who will be the Washington Commanders’ first-ever starting QB.

Incumbent Taylor Heinicke is leading the way at +300. That’s based on the belief that the Commanders will draft a quarterback with the 11th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft who is likely to not beat Heinicke out for week 1 starting duties. Heinicke is familiar with offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s offense and now has a full year of starter’s reps under his belt. Oddsmakers aren’t certain Heinicke will beat a newly drafted quarterback out for the position, as the odds for the 2022 draft pick starting are at +500, which is the third most likely situation.


Germantown

Back in September we let you know that Lidl, a German international discount supermarket chain, was under contract to purchase the subject properties between Walter Johnson Road and Germantown Road and seeks to develop a 31,000 square foot Lidl Grocery Store with associated parking and open space areas. The application was accepted on December 15th of 2021 with future planning board action pending. Signs about potential development have been up since summer 2021.

The project site occupies approximately 2.8 acres of land on Walter Johnson Road between Bowman Mill Drive and Wisteria Drive, a few blocks northeast of the Germantown MARC Station. The site is a consolidation of several parcels of land. Currently, the site is partially wooded. The developed portion of the site houses an office building with a copy center on the ground floor and part of the parking lot for an adjacent credit union building.


Rockville

The City of Rockville is considering implementing a Pair Parental Leave Policy to provide leave to eligible employees following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care. Paid Leave would run concurrently with leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), as applicable.

This was discussed on the January 31st, 2022 Mayor and Council meeting. Discussion on the matter will continue. Per City Code, unless the Mayor and Council instruct staff to modify the proposed policy, the policy will go into effect 55 days from the distribution of the revised PPM to the Mayor and Council.


Health

Per the State of Maryland:

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today encouraged all Marylanders to celebrate the state’s frontline medical workers as he issued an official proclamation designating Feb. 7-13, 2022 as Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Week in Maryland.


MoCoSnow

The National Weather Service has released a ‘Special Weather Statement’ for the area, which includes Central/SE Montgomery County. The full statement can be seen below:

“There is a potential for hazardous commuting conditions for the Monday morning commute.


Wheaton Mall

About the VIP: Kaylee is 12 years old and can be very shy. Her favorite color is purple, and her favorite animal is a llama. She likes to paint, draw, and go hiking. She likes the marvel movies. She enjoys going to the park and spending time with her family. One of the main things she is looking to get during her shopping spree is a new iPhone. She and her family would like to eat at the nearby IHop for lunch.

Photos courtesy of Westfield Wheaton