Up County Archives - Page 123 of 203

Police and Family Concerned for Missing Fourteen-Year-Old

Published April 13, 2023 at 10:19AM | Updated April 13, 2023 at 6:12PM

Sarabia is 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs approximately 134 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black and white pajamas and a red blanket. She was also carrying a black and white backpack with white lettering. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Belinda Sarabia is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773- 5400. Callers may remain anonymous.

Hallie Wells Assistant Principal, Beth F. Thomas, Wins Edward Shirley Award

By MCS Staff

Published April 12, 2023 at 7:17PM

Per MCPS: Beth F. Thomas, assistant principal at Hallie Wells Middle School, is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision. This prestigious award, given by the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP), is presented annually to an administrator or supervisor who exemplifies outstanding leadership and accomplishments in purposeful leadership, instructional or systemwide leadership, human resources development, resource management, interpersonal skills, professional involvement, and community and stakeholder involvement.

In addition to her eight years of service in New York, Thomas has spent most of her educational career in MCPS. Over the last 28 years she has served as a special education teacher, special education resource teacher, alternative I teacher and administrator. In 2006, Thomas became an administrator at James Hubert Blake High School. When Hallie Wells Middle School opened in 2016, she was selected as the assistant principal and has served there since.

Concern for Missing Germantown Man

By Patrick Herron

Published April 12, 2023 at 3:14PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Ankit Bagai, a missing 30-year-old from Germantown. Bagai was last seen on Sunday, April 9, 2023, at approximately 11:30 a.m., in the 12000 block of Panthers Ridge Drive.Bagai is 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. He has brown eyes, brown hair and a brown beard. He was last seen wearing a dark colored jacket, light gray pants and white shoes. Family and police are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ankit Bagai is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

MCFRS Respond to Apartment Fire Monday Morning in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published April 10, 2023 at 9:35AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire in the 13500 blk of Derry Glen Ct in Germantown around 5:30am on Monday, April 10. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was located on a 2nd floor balcony at the four-story apartment building and was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials in a plastic pot. Damage is estimated to be ~$10K and there were no injuries reported.

#Protip: Planters are NOT ashtrays.
Potting soil is not dirt. Many people don’t think of potted plants as fire hazards which may be why so many smokers try to extinguish their butts in the pots. #DYK the soil is packed w/ flammable materials that can easily ignite? @mcfrs says… https://t.co/gj2IerXnt1 pic.twitter.com/ecfZfNwGG5

Update on Upcoming Germantown KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

By Patrick Herron

Published April 9, 2023 at 7:44PM | Updated April 9, 2023 at 8:37PM

Last summer we let you know that KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot will be opening a second MoCo location, taking over the space that was previously occupied by Honey Pig at 19727 Frederick Rd #1337 in the Fox Chapel shopping center. According to representatives at the restaurant, KPot is currently scheduled to open in two months. The restaurant, which is not owned by the same franchisee as the Rockville location, had its hearing for a Class B, Beer, Wine & Liquor License back in January. Honey Pig closed permanently in November of 2021 after five years at the location.

According to KPot, the restaurant was started by four friends from different backgrounds who decided to share their mixed cuisine over the same table. KPot combines traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors. Hot pot, also known as “soup-food” or “steamboat,” is a communal pot of simmering broth that is stuffed with raw ingredients like meat and vegetables to cook in the pot.

Crews Searching On Land and in Water After Report of “Someone in the Water” in Germantown

By MCS Staff

Published April 9, 2023 at 2:54PM | Updated April 9, 2023 at 3:29PM

Update – Lake ChurchChurchill, Germantown, nothing found (after an exhaustive search), good intent call

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call at Lake Churchill in Germantown for a report of “someone in the water” from what has been described as a reliable source by MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer. The call came at approximately 1pm. Crews are currently searching on land and and with boats in the water. We will provide an update once additional information is available.

Germantown’s Deka Biosciences Announces First-in-Human Dose in Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Cancer Treatment

By MCS Staff

Published April 8, 2023 at 7:41AM

Deka Biosciences (“Deka”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered at 20271 Goldenrod Lane in Germantown and focused on developing novel cytokine therapies to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases, announced that the first subject has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial of DK2¹⁰ (EGFR) at NEXT Oncology in Fairfax, Virginia. The Phase 1, first-in-human, multicenter clinical study seeks to characterize the safety, potential efficacy and evaluate possible biomarkers of response to DK2¹⁰ (EGFR) in patients with advanced solid cancer(s) who are expressing epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) (NCT05704985).

Per the press release: “We are beyond thrilled to begin the clinical trial of DK2¹⁰ (EGFR), marking our first program to enter clinical development,” said John Mumm, Ph.D., President and CEO of Deka. “Importantly, we anticipate that the results of the study will confirm the clinical safety, pharmacokinetics, exploratory efficacy and correlative biomarker responses to our first Diakine^TM, establishing a solid foundation for the expanded use of this treatment in cancer patients.”

It’s a Girl! Mom and Baby Doing Well After I-270 Delivery

By Patrick Herron

Published April 7, 2023 at 9:52PM

Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center has provided an update on the mother who gave birth to her baby girl on southbound I-270 early Friday morning: “Alexa Almonte never expected her first daughter to arrive roadside, but baby Valentina had other ideas. Mom and baby are resting comfortably at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center after the exciting delivery Friday, April 7. Valentina was born along southbound I-270 in Germantown at about 2 a.m.

Valentina weighs 7 pounds, 15 ounces and measures 21 inches. Her name means “healthy and strong” says Alexa, who also has two sons. Alexa says the delivery was “very unexpected” and came just 30 minutes after experiencing signs that she might be in labor. She praised the outstanding nurses at Shady Grove Medical Center for the care and emotional support they are providing to her family after the experience. “It’s so important to have,” Alexa says.

MCFRS Respond to House Fire in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published April 7, 2023 at 4:12PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a house fire on Drumcastle Ct, near Frederick Rd and Germantown Rd, on Friday, April 7 around 11am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the occupants of the home smelled smoke and discovered that the roof of the townhouse was on fire. The cause of the fire is believed to be “resistive heating of electrical wire which ignited wood framing.” One family (two adults, two kids) has been displaced and damage is estimated to be ~$80-100K.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – Drumcastle Ct; TH, Origin/Cause, 2nd floor wall (damaged sheathing of 2 cables caused by over-driven cable staple) fire cause, resistive heating of electrical wire which ignited wood framing; Damage >$80K; Occupants smelled smoke, discovered roof on fire, called 911”

Baby Born on 270 Early Friday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Published April 7, 2023 at 11:57AM

A mother gave birth to a child on southbound I270 between Route 121 and Route 27 (Ridge Rd) in Germantown on Friday morning around 2am. According to Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Pete Piringer, both mother and newborn were transported to the hospital by EMS and everyone is doing well.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “child birth on SB I270 between Route 121 and near Route 27 (Ridge Rd) @MCFRS_EMIHS A735 responded & family w/ newborn. Mother & newborn child were transported. Everyone is reportedly doing well.“

Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House is Now Open in Germantown

By MCS Staff

Published April 6, 2023 at 8:45PM

Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House is now open at 19520 Waters Road Unit 5 in Germantown. The new restaurant has taken over the location that was formerly home to Provisions Cafe closed in January 2022 after just over three years in Germantown.

Ji Bei Chuan is a restaurant franchise based in China that was founded in 2018. In just five years it has become one of the fast growing noodle restaurants in China with over 400 locations across the country. There are now several locations in the United States (over 50 in the last two years) with the Germantown location being the first in Maryland. Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-9:30pm, and Sunday from 11:30am until 9pm (closed on Tuesdays). The menu can be seen here. Featured photo courtesy of Ji Bei Chuan, photo below courtesy of Google Maps.