Developers Bernstein Management and Finmarc Management have pulled the first permits that will allow for construction to begin on the upcoming White Oak Town Center (12345 Columbia Pike), according to a report from Maryland Newsletters. In February, BizJournals reported that “Amazon has reached a deal to open a new supermarket at a long-planned Silver Spring redevelopment fewer than three miles from the Food and Drug Administration’s campus”, referring to White Oak Town Center. “The team behind the White Oak Town Center has swapped a 41,000-square-foot Amazon-branded market, likely an Amazon Fresh, in for what had been a roughly 16,000-square-foot Trader Joe’s.” While a date for construction to start has not been set, there isn’t anything else currently standing in the way.

Last year we shared preliminary plans for the upcoming White Oak Town Center that included updated renderings (available below). In the renderings there was a noticeable change in the grocery store that was depicted. In earlier drawings, the grocery store designs resembled Trader Joe’s, but the updated renderings resembled Amazon Fresh. White Oak Town Center will be located at 12345 Columbia Pike, in the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Prosperity Drive and Industrial Parkway. Below you’ll see some bullet points about what to expect, along with the renderings from our July update:


Adventist HealthCare’s hospitals in Montgomery County have received national awards for providing rapid, research-based and high-quality care to heart attack patients. Shady Grove Medical Center and White Oak Medical Center have both earned American Heart Association awards. Shady Grove has received the Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus award and White Oak Medical Center has received the Mission: Lifeline STEMI & NSTEMI Gold awards. The hospitals previously earned national recognition for providing high-quality stroke care.

Per the press release: Each year, more than 280,000 people nationwide experience a STEMI heart attack, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Known as the deadliest type of heart attack, the STEMI must be treated in an efficient, timely manner. The NSTEMI is experienced by over 546,000 people a year and is caused by a partial blockage of blood flow to the heart. Both types of heart attacks require medical staff to work as quickly as possible to restore blood flow, either mechanically or by providing medication.


Adventist HealthCare’s hospitals in Montgomery County have received national awards for providing rapid, research-based and high-quality care to heart attack patients. Shady Grove Medical Center and White Oak Medical Center have both earned American Heart Association awards. Shady Grove has received the Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus award and White Oak Medical Center has received the Mission: Lifeline STEMI & NSTEMI Gold awards.

Per the press release: Each year, more than 280,000 people nationwide experience a STEMI heart attack, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Known as the deadliest type of heart attack, the STEMI must be treated in an efficient, timely manner. The NSTEMI is experienced by over 546,000 people a year and is caused by a partial blockage of blood flow to the heart. Both types of heart attacks require medical staff to work as quickly as possible to restore blood flow, either mechanically or by providing medication.


Adventist HealthCare hospitals in Montgomery County have earned national recognition for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive high-quality care. Shady Grove Medical Center was recognized with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus and Target: Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll awards. White Oak Medical Center achieved the Get with The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus and Target: Stroke Honor Roll awards. Both hospitals were also awarded the association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition.

Per the press release: High-quality stroke care ultimately leads to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospitals. Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and accelerating recovery times. Both hospitals are committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest research-based guidelines.


The preliminary investigation by detectives has determined that a white 2006 Chevrolet Express 2500 was traveling on northbound New Hampshire Ave., when for reasons still under investigation, he crossed the median and struck a blue 2008 Toyota Corolla in the southbound lane. The Corolla was then struck by a Metrobus traveling southbound. The driver of the Corolla and the driver of the Metrobus were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Express 2500, Ovidio Aroldo Gonzalez Cortez, was pronounced dead on scene.

The Montgomery County Department of Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this collision. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at 240-773-6620.


There was a multiple vehicle collision that occurred in the area of New Hampshire Ave. and Lockwood Dr. (White Oak) on Sunday night that left one adult male dead. The following details courtesy of MCPD:

On Sunday, July 24, 2022, at approximately 8:52 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a collision, involving a van, a car and a Metro bus. As a result of the collision, the male driver of the van was pronounced dead at the scene. There is no confirmed age for the deceased at this time.


The new route will operate between Hillandale Transit Center and the Tech Road Park and Ride lot with stops along Powder Mill Road, Cherry Hill Road, Plum Orchard Drive, Broadbirch Drive, and Tech Road. The route will have connections with Metrobus, Ride On, and Flash bus routes, as well as other transportation services within the network.

Ride On interiors will continue to be cleaned by the County’s Department of General Services with hospital-grade disinfectant. Bus filter and ventilation systems are also treated with a disinfectant.


In addition to a full-color traffic signal, the nearly $200,000 project includes a marked crossing on the south side across US 29, with countdown pedestrian signals and accessible pedestrian signals activated by push buttons. The system will significantly improve pedestrian safety at this busy location. The signal will include a protected left-turn phase for northbound US 29 left turns onto Oak Leaf Drive to improve overall traffic operations.

US 29 at Oak Leaf Drive is a six-lane major arterial route with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. Approximately 60,300 vehicles use this section of US 29 each day. The closest protected pedestrian crossing at this location is 800 feet to the south of Oak Leaf Drive at Prelude Drive. However, pedestrians cross US 29 near Oak Leaf Drive to access nearby bus stops.


Actor Michael Ealy has recently made a splash in his recurring role on ‘Bel Air’, the reimagined version of popular 90s sitcoms ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ which started Will Smith.  We’ve mentioned several times that Michael Ealy, then known as Michael Brown, graduated from Springbrook High School and grew up in Silver Spring (later attending the University of Maryland).

Earlier this week, reader Mekhi Leftwich, sent in some photos of Ealy from his time at White Oak Intermediate School (now White Oak Middle School) on 12201 New Hampshire Avenue, back in 1986, where he attended school prior to moving on to Springbrook.


Minimally Invasive, Permanent Implant in the Heart Reduces Stroke Risk for Some Patients

Per Adventist Healthcare: Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center now offers the WATCHMAN™ heart implant, a one-time, minimally invasive procedure that lowers bleeding risk and risk of stroke in patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).


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