A fire broke out late Saturday night in the attached garage of a single-family home on Forest Brook Court in the Crawford Farm area of Germantown, prompting a large emergency response from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS).
According to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, firefighters were dispatched around 11pm to the home off Waring Station Road for a reported garage fire. Multiple engines, trucks, medic units, and command staff responded to the scene.
Representative Jamie Raskin announced Friday that he has secured more than $16.5 million in federal funding for projects across Maryland’s Eighth Congressional District, directing new investment toward public safety, infrastructure improvements, environmental protection, and workforce development.
A new locally owned boutique is headed to Bethesda, with Sunset on Midsummer set to open at the Shops at Wildwood in spring 2026. The shop plans to open on April 18th.
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…)
Two Montgomery County artists are among the finalists competing in this year’s Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, as Strathmore marks the competition’s 10th anniversary with a live concert and awards ceremony later this spring.
Silver Spring rapper and songwriter She-unO and Clarksburg ninth grader Saanvi Purohit were selected from a competitive field representing Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The finalists will perform original music on Friday, April 24 at 7:30pm at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, where winners will be announced following live performances and feedback from industry judges.
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A simple question posted in a large Facebook group dedicated to growing up in Maryland quickly turned into a wide-ranging debate over history, culture, sports, and entertainment: who is the most “legendary Maryland-born celebrity?”
Burger King has reopened in Burtonsville following a months-long closure, unveiling a completely renovated building at 15703 Columbia Pike. The restaurant, the only remaining business from the previous version of Burtonsville Crossing, now features a modernized exterior, updated interior, and two drive-through lanes designed to improve traffic flow and service speed.
Kalahari Resort, currently under construction in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, is scheduled to open in late 2026. The large-scale indoor water park and resort complex is located less than 75 miles south of Washington, D.C., and about 80 miles from central Montgomery County, making it a relatively short drive for many area residents. (more…)
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Monday, February 9, beginning at 11:30 am, to receive an update on state legislative activity from the Office of Intergovernmental Relations and to review state and local legislation.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned Saturday morning that dangerous cold and powerful winds would continue across most of Maryland and Northern Virginia, with life-threatening conditions expected to last through Sunday morning.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich addressed widespread frustration over the county’s recent winter weather response in his weekly message, describing the past two weeks as among the most challenging weather events the region has faced in decades.
A recent home sale has set a new pricing record in Gaithersburg’s Lakelands and Kentlands neighborhoods, underscoring strong buyer demand as the spring market begins to take shape.