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Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) in Derwood has reached a dangerous capacity for animals of all types. Despite the recent support in a campaign to have large dogs adopted, the over-population situation remains critical and has extended to all types of animals. To help inspire adoptions, the shelter is waiving adoption fees for the next 100 pets adopted by Thursday, Aug. 24.
The full capacity means the shelter will only be accepting animals who need immediate help. This policy is to help prevent euthanasia. Owners who must rehome a pet are encouraged to use rehoming websites. The shelter can list pets on the website for owners trying to rehome. Visit Surrender an Animal (montgomerycountymd.gov) for information on rehoming. Due to lack of space in the shelter, surrendering a pet now means it is at an increased risk for euthanasia.
On Friday, August 18, 2023, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police and allied agencies conducted a sobriety checkpoint on northbound Frederick Road at Game Preserve Road in Gaithersburg. On Tuesday, MCPD announced that during the checkpoint, officers stopped approximately 565 vehicles and arrested 4 people for driving while impaired.
Last month, recreational marijuana use became legal in the state of Maryland and Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones issued the following reminder before the July 4th weekend, “We implore drivers to think of cannabis the same way they think of alcohol. Do not get behind the wheel of a car if you are impaired. Our officers will pull over and arrest anyone they suspect of driving while impaired. Alcohol, marijuana and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Our priority is keeping the roads safe for everyone.”
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…)
August message by Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz: Governor Wes Moore recently announced a new strategy for how Maryland will deploy state resources to improve water quality in our waterways by better aligning our ongoing Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays cleanup efforts with the latest science.
A major study released in May by leading Chesapeake Bay scientists continued to show watershed states struggling to reduce nonpoint sources of pollution – the runoff being washed from our farms, cities, and suburbs. This challenge continues to prevent residents and visitors in parts of our state from having access to clean water. In response, we’re shifting Maryland’s waterway cleanup efforts to more effectively tackle nonpoint source pollution. The associated work will also help build resiliency for communities facing threats from a changing climate.
Beautiful venue; great art, gifts and hand-crafted items; refreshments; and meet the award-winning painters, photographers, mixed media artists, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more – some 40 artists in all. It’s an extraordinary array of framed wall works, 3-d media including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber pieces, and unframed prints.
Among them, you’ll see:
Earlier this week, FOX 5 announced that Planning Editor Lexi Brooks would be leaving the station to begin working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a travel production assistant. Brooks had been with FOX 5 since November 2021 and worked behind the scenes on several programs, including Good Day DC. Brooks starts working for WWE this week and says she’ll be flying out this Thursday to work on Friday night’s WWE Smackdown event in Louisville, Kentucky.
“Lexi Brooks has been a planning editor with FOX 5 for nearly two years, booking some the biggest names and making the magic happen behind the scenes at our summer long Zip Trip events. But it’s on to new adventures for the Lexicutioner. She will be missed!” Full segment can be seen below:
Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: In a sealed order issued August 16, 2023, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City authorized the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) to release a revised, substantially unredacted version of the Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The court unsealed its ruling today and authorized OAG to release the new version of the Report in late September, subject to further order of the court.
In April 2023, the court authorized an interim public release of the Report. The interim public release was redacted, by order of the court, to shield the identities of ten alleged abusers who had not previously been publicly accused of child abuse. The names of five ranking officials of the Archdiocese of Baltimore were also redacted. Those five officials had extensive participation in the Archdiocese’s handling of abuser clergy and reports of child abuse. In addition, the names were redacted of over two dozen other individuals who were identified by name at various points in the Report although they are not accused of child sexual abuse. In the ruling unsealed today, the circuit court has authorized OAG to release a new version of the Report in which the identities of all but three of the previously redacted persons will be unredacted.
The 30th Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Run, Walk, and Kid’s Fun Runs, as well as a virtual race component, will take place on Saturday, September 2nd from noon until 2pm. The 5K course winds through the Lakelands and Kentlands neighborhoods before heading down Main Street to the finish line. Every 5K registration comes with a Dri-Fit crew neck race shirt (men’s, women’s, and kid’s sizes available). The post-race celebration will feature a Merchant’s Expo area.
Per the Kentlands/Lakelands 5K website: Live entertainment will be featured on the course – local bands set up along the course to delight participants and spectators alike, making what is already a spirited and fun event even livelier. The event finishes with the awards ceremony, team awards (lots of family options), and raffle items donated by local merchants. Cash prizes for the top three male and female finishers.
It’s almost Back-to-School for the Kiddos so bring them in for a treat! The Greene Turtle in Burtonsville (15660 Old Columbia Pike) is offering a deal in anticipation of the school year beginning. “Kids Eat FREE, EVERY Day, ALL Day from Monday, 8/21 – Monday, 8/28!”(restrictions apply).
“Kids Eat Free” is offered Dine-In Only. Receive One Free Kids Meal per Purchased Full Price Adult Meal. Purchased adult meal excludes appetizers, sides and desserts.
Quince Orchard High School Health and Special Education teacher Julie Lyst is going into her 13th year teaching. This year, she’s also heading into the schoool year as one of the popular clothing brand Chubbies’ 2023 Brand Icons.
Chubbies was founded in 2011 by a group of friends who found the traditional world of men’s capital-F-”Fashion” completely unrelatable. “We saw pictures of shirtless men with rippling ab muscles, some standing outside of storefronts coating you with cologne, with the message of “if only you buy our clothes you can try to be as cool as we are” – and we were absolutely repelled.” The clothing brand spent months searching, sorting through thousands of votes, and putting their skills to the test in a real Chubbies photoshoot, and recently announced five winners, that included MoCo’s very own Julie Lyst.
Stretch Lab is coming to 18304 Village Center Drive in Olney. It will be moving in to the location that was previously home to Sally Beauty Supply and Sunburst Tanning/Solar Planet before that. An opening date is not yet available.
Founded in 2015, StretchLab is an assisted stretching brand, offering one-on-one and group stretch services for all ages and fitness levels. StretchLab offers consumers more ways to reduce their risk of injury, regain mobility, improve flexibility and range of motion, and reclaim their freedom. The company previously announced its first Montgomery County location, coming soon to 8525 Chevy Chase Lake Terrace.
According to Montgomery County Police, there was a call for an armed robbery that was received at 9:48 p.m. 4th District officers responded to a restaurant in the 3300 block of Georgia Ave. The suspect entered the business and displayed a gun. Employees left the restaurant. No injuries were reported and the suspect is not in custody.
Per our public safety reporter, Cordell Pugh, “At approximately 9:45PM Tuesday, at Five Guys on Georgia Avenue & Olney–Sandy Spring Rd. Armed Male suspect in restaurant wearing ski mask. Montgomery County Police currently on scene investigating as an attempted armed robbery & First-Degree Assault.”