Gaithersburg

On the morning of Friday, May 16, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a middle-of-the-row townhouse fire on the 11900 block of Roan Ln. in Gaithersburg. The accidental blaze caused extensive damage estimated at approximately $700K with seven adults and six children displaced from multiple homes. Arlington Fire Department Captain David Zuniga alerted the Song family by banging on their door, prompting their quick evacuation. A GoFundMe has been started for the Song Family, and a video of Captain Zuniga alerting them can be seen below. We were informed over the weekend that the Bett family was also displaced, with a fundraiser started for them that’s available here.

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Maryland

Maryland’s federal and state leaders, including Governor Wes Moore and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, released a joint statement supporting the relocation of the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt, Maryland, following recent comments by FBI Director Kash Patel about the need for a modern facility. (more…)


Maryland

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) is expanding its Maryland Mobile ID program. The MVA is now integrating Mobile ID technology with the self check-in kiosks located at all MVA branch offices, allowing customers to use their smartphones to verify identity and manage appointments.

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Beyond MoCo

Baltimore’s Ekiben is set to open its first location outside the city in Frederick, according to the Baltimore Banner. Founder and Quince Orchard High School alumnus Steven Chu shared two photos on Instagram– a view of a building’s interior and a floor plan for a commercial kitchen accompanied by the caption “#4.” The upcoming Frederick restaurant will occupy 500 N. Market Street, a space that formerly housed Affiliated Barbershop and, prior to that, a State Farm branch. No opening date has been announced.

Founded in 2014 by Ephrem Abebe, Steve Chu, and Nikhil Yesupriya, Ekiben began as an Asian fusion fast-casual stand selling unique takes on Asian and Ethiopian cuisine from a hotdog cart at the Fells Point Farmers Market. Since its inception, the restaurant has grown to operate three brick-and-mortar locations in Baltimore– in Fells Point, Hampden, and South Baltimore– and a catering operation.


Rockville

In October, Silver Branch Brewing Company, located at 8401 Colesville Rd #150 in Silver Spring, announced it was planning to open a third location at 7301 Calhoun Pl #600, the former home of True Respite Brewing (True Respite Brewery closed in September 2023 after five years in business), to increase production capacity and expand distribution. The Rockville location is now open.

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