Gaithersburg

The United Stated Department of Justice announced on Monday that Junior Noe Alvarado-Requeno, 24, of Landover, was sentenced to life in federal prison for conspiring to participate in La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), and for three counts each of “murder in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, as well as for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine.”  Alvarado-Requeno was convicted of those charges on November 23, 2021.  According to a press release, the evidence showed that in June 2016, Alvarado-Requeno ordered members of the Sailors Clique to murder a suspected rival in the woods at Malcolm King Park in Gaithersburg.  Luring him with the promise of sex with a female MS-13 associate, the gang members ambushed the teenaged victim and stabbed him 153 times. It was later determined that the victim did not belong to any gang. You can view the original MCPD news release here.

According to the evidence presented at the four-week trial, between 2015 and 2018, Alvarado-Requeno and his co-defendant, Miguel Angel Corea Diaz, a/k/a “Reaper,” age 41, of Long Branch, New Jersey, controlled and operated the Sailors Locos Salvatruchos Westside (S.L.S.W. or “Sailors”) Clique through a pattern of racketeering activity, which included murder, extortion, drug trafficking, money laundering, and witness tampering.  Evidence showed that the gang ran a protection scheme in and around its home base in Langley Park, Maryland, and extorted local businesses by charging them “rent” for the privilege of operating in MS-13 “territory.”  The gang also trafficked in illegal drugs, including marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.  A large share of the proceeds of the gang’s illegal activities were sent to gang leadership in El Salvador to further promote the goals of the gang, using structured transactions and intermediaries to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.


Gaithersburg

Coming soon signage is up at Taco Bamba in Quince Orchard Plaza in Gaithersburg. The new restaurant will be located in the space that was formerly home to Urban Crawfish at 670 Quince Orchard Road, next to the upcoming Miyaji Kebab and Rumali Rolls (which is next to Beers & Cheers Too).

Chef Victor Albisu opened the first Maryland location of Taco Bamba in Rockville’s Congressional Plaza in June 2021.  Albisu stated that Maryland is a “priority area of growth for Taco Bamba” citing the line at last year’s Rockville opening, according to a report by Bethesda Beat.  “We can’t wait to build a whole new food and cocktail menu for our friends in Gaithersburg. It’s a town with an eclectic mix of restaurants serving a diverse community that knows good food.” The news of Taco Bamba’s second MoCo location was first reported by Bethesda Beat.  Right now the restaurant is looking at a June or July opening.


Gaithersburg

The operator was transported to an area hospital with serious injury. She ultimately succumbed to her injuries several hours later. This is an active and ongoing investigation. The collision is now being investigated by the Montgomery County Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU). Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at (240) 773- 6620.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY : Woodfield Road is closed between Watkins Road and Rocky Road for further police investigation of the fatal collision that occurred on Friday, April 22, 2022. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect delays. #traffic #mcpnews pic.twitter.com/ozILkT3eyw


Gaithersburg

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 22, 2022/PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, has initiated administration of the first booster doses of NVX-CoV2373, the company’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, in the pediatric expansion of the PREVENT-19 pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. The study will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of NVX-CoV2373 among trial participants aged 12 through 17.

“We see the ongoing need for alternative vaccine options because we are continuing to monitor spikes in COVID-19,” said Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President, Research and Development, Novavax. “The expansion of our PREVENT-19 booster trial into the pediatric population reinforces our commitment to seek to make our vaccine available to a broader population.”


Gaithersburg

“We continue to evaluate the dynamic public health landscape and believe there may be a need for recurrent boosters to fight both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza,” said Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President of Research and Development, Novavax. “We’re encouraged by these data and the potential path forward for a combination COVID-19-influenza vaccine as well as stand-alone vaccines for influenza and COVID-19.”

The safety and tolerability profile of the combination vaccine was consistent with the stand-alone NVX-CoV2373 and quadrivalent nanoparticle influenza vaccine reference formulations in the trial. The combination vaccine was found to be generally well tolerated. Serious adverse were rare and none were assessed as being related to the vaccine.


Gaithersburg

Coming soon signage is up at Crumbl Cookies at 277 Kentlands Blvd in Gaithersburg, next to Panera, in the space that was formerly home to TD Ameritrade. Crumbl Cookies opened its first MoCo location in 2020 at Federal Plaza in Rockville. The chain will also be opening a Germantown location near Wegmans at at 20650 Seneca Meadows Pkwy, in what used to be home to Sprint, next to Sally Beauty.

Opening dates have not been provided for either upcoming locations, but neither seem to be anytime in the very near future as plenty of construction is left to go for both location. We do expect Germantown to come first as permanent signage is now up at the location and construction is ongoing inside.


Gaithersburg

The Garden Bros Nuclear Circus will be at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (501 Perry Pkwy, Gaithersburg) from June 2-12.

Attractions at the show include, “Crazy Cossacks Riderz, Human Slingshot, Wheel of Death, Human Cannonball, Motorcycles in the Sphere of Fear, Showgirls Hanging from their Hair, Olympic Gymnasts, the Funniest Clowns, and  Back Flipping Dogs as seen on America’s Got Talent.”


Gaithersburg

Back in June of 2020 we let you know that Ela Mesa Taste of Greece would be coming to the Spectrum Town Center in Gaithersburg. After almost two years, the restaurant has announced it will hold its grand opening on Monday, May 2nd. The new Greek restaurant is located at 109 Paramount Park Drive in the Spectrum Town Center in Gaithersburg, which is currently home to restaurants like Barking Made Cafe, California Tortilla, Hot Pot Hero, and Firebirds.

The pandemic, coupled with permitting and supply chain issues, caused the delays in the restaurant’s opening. The restaurant will offer traditional Greek fare and will also have a full bar that seats 10 people. Ela Mesa will be open Monday through Saturday 11am-10pm, and Sunday 11am-9pm.


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