Milestone Starbucks in Germantown hosting pop-up party today

The Milestone Shopping Center Starbucks at 20934 Frederick Road in Germantown is one of only four locations in Maryland that will host a pop-up party today. Stop by between 1:00 and 2:00 PM today for festive fun and a free, tall handcrafted espresso drink. Sounds good to me!

Gaithersburg biotech firm saves man's leg

Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, a Gaithersburg biotech firm, is being credited with saving a man's leg from amputation. John Haverty of Minnesota was facing that dire prognosis after contracting superbug klebsiella pneumoniae following a knee implant, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. A phage organism supplied by APT, an experimental new treatment not approved by the Food and Drug Administration but allowed by the FDA as a "compassionate use of an unapproved therapy," successfully destroyed the superbug and saved Haverty's leg.

Incredible things are happening in Montgomery County's biotech sector, the lone bright spot in an otherwise-moribund county economy. This is also a good reminder of just how foolish our incompetent County Council sounded years ago when they claimed the FDA was an innovation agency - in fact, they are often blocking innovations from reaching the general public. APT is located at 22 Firstfield Road, near NIST. Fortunately, before their wiser predecessors were ousted from office by the MoCo cartel in 2002 and 2006, they had the foresight to boost biotech in the I-270 corridor.

A true medical miracle.

Germantown man missing

A Germantown man is missing, and Montgomery County police are asking for the public's help in locating him. Lamar Leander Hayes, 39, of Dairymaid Drive, hasn't been seen or heard from since he spoke with family on the telephone on Saturday, December 21. They have been unable to contact him since.

Hayes is described by police as approximately 5’ 6”, and weighing about 175 pounds. He has brown eyes, black hair, and tattoos on his hands and arms.  Hayes was wearing a jean jacket over a white sweatshirt the last time he was seen.

Anyone with information regarding Lamar Leander Hayes’ whereabouts is asked to call the Montgomery County Department of Police at 301-279-8000 (24-hour line).

Montgomery Village man missing

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing Montgomery Village man. Sergio Moreira, 24, has not been seen since 8:00 PM on Christmas night in the area of 941 Clopper Road in Gaithersburg.

Moreira is described by police as Latino, 5'7" tall, and weighing about 140 pounds. He has long black hair worn in a bun, brown eyes, a full beard, pierced ears, and a large cloud tattoo on his chest.  He was wearing black skinny pants, tan boots, and a jean jacket with fur lined collar when he disappeared.

Anyone who has information regarding Sergio Moreira’s whereabouts is asked to call the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number, 301-279-8000 (available 24/7).

Hogan follows Trump in creating new Christmas Eve holiday

Days after President Donald Trump surprised federal workers with a new holiday designation for Christmas Eve, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan provided the same Christmas Eve bonus to state workers. Today, December 24, 2019, is now an official state holiday. Maryland state government agencies and offices will be closed today in observance of Christmas Eve.

“I am declaring Christmas Eve a state holiday this year to give our dedicated employees more time to spend with their families and loved ones,” Hogan said in a statement. “We hope that our hardworking state workers, and all Marylanders, have a merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.”

Interesting trivia: The last president to give federal workers a full holiday on Christmas Eve was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Damascus Library hours to be restored to Montgomery County standard

Damascus residents are used to being treated as children of a lesser god by the Montgomery County Council. Councilmembers are now agreeing to give the Damascus Library operating hours that...actually reflect the hours others libraries are open around the rest of the County. Gee, thanks!

Of course the Council wants to get credit for doing what it should have done years ago. Kind of like a grocery store expecting an award for providing you with a shopping cart. Beginning Sunday, January 5, 2020, the new Damascus Library hours will be:

Monday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m. 

Germantown man arrested for stolen handgun in Glenmont

Montgomery County police arrested a Germantown man during a traffic stop in Glenmont, when they allegedly discovered he possessed a gun stolen from North Carolina on December 17. Dayvon M. Irving, 25, of the 18700 block of White Sands Drive, has been charged with firearm-related offenses, drug-related offenses, and credit card fraud related-offenses.

Irving was also allegedly carrying a credit card reader skimming device and fraudulent credit cards. An officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, as well, police say. Irving is being held without bond.