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.

Gaithersburg teen missing

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing Gaithersburg teenager. Eimy Henriquez, 16, hasn't been seen since she left her home on Trafalgar Square on December 13 around 9:00 PM.

Police describe Eimy Henriquez as being about 5’ 1” tall, and weighing 120 pounds. She has brown eyes, and blonde and dark brown hair.

Anyone with information about Eimy Henriquez’ whereabouts 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.

Montgomery County stagnant or getting worse in all key areas, residents say

Montgomery County's elected officials haven't improved any major area of concern or crisis, residents say in a new County-operated survey. Vast majorities countywide say there has been no progress or improvement in the moribund County economy, Montgomery County Public Schools, traffic congestion, crime and public safety, quality of life or the environment in the last two years.

86% of residents say there has been no improvement in availability of affordable housing. 76% feel there has been no improvement in crime prevention and public safety. A whopping 87% found no improvement in traffic congestion over the last two years. In fact, it's getting worse.

63% of residents say there has been no improvement in MCPS, which has declined steadily over this decade, as test scores and graduation rates plummeted and an achievement gap worsened. Yep, that's getting worse, too. But rather than improve failing schools, the corrupt MoCo cartel is trying to ready a forced busing strategy that failed nationwide decades ago, and is preemptively calling those who favor neighborhood schools "racists" and "white supremacists" - terms regularly deployed as the nuclear option when one has lost a debate on the facts.

Montgomery County's stagnant economy reached rock bottom in the region this decade, and residents' opinions squarely reflect that reality. A powerful 69% of residents say there has been no improvement in job growth. 61% report no improvement in business growth. Montgomery County ranked at the bottom in the region on both measurements this decade.

Progressive and green Montgomery County is leading the nation in environmental policy, our elected officials assure us weekly. Mmm...not so much, counter Montgomery County residents. 68% of residents say the environment hasn't improved, or has gotten worse, since 2017. 66% responded that quality of life opportunities in the county - the arts, culture, recreation and libraries - have either not improved or have gotten worse.

Halal Guys opening Friday

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker isn't the only thing opening Friday in Gaithersburg. The line may or may not be as long at Halal Guys, which will be opening in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center that day, December 20, 2019. There will be drawings for prizes, including a 4K TV set, an Apple iPad, $250 cash (2 winners), and free Halal Guys for a month (3 winners). Here's a sneak peek inside to get you ready for Friday:

Minerva Express Indian Cuisine reopens in Gaithersburg

Minerva Express Indian Cuisine has reopened after a temporary closure. The restaurant is located in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center.

Germantown named Worst College Town in America by WalletHub

WalletHub just landed a low blow on the corrupt Montgomery County political cartel by naming Germantown as the Worst College Town in America. The financial website composed a list of 415 college cities and towns across America, rating them by several criteria. They concluded that Germantown was the worst college town in the country, and that Austin, Texas is the best.

The three criteria considered were 1) Wallet Friendliness, 2) Social Environment and 3) Academic & Economic Opportunities. 31 refined metrics were then employed under those three headings.

Based on the metrics shown by WalletHub, Germantown's rock bottom finish was impacted greatly by Montgomery County's moribund economy, low job creation, high cost of living and the recent collapse of its nightlife following the disastrous "Nighttime Economy Task Force" debacle. Eighteen nightspots closed in Bethesda alone after the County Council took up the nighttime economy initiative.

Thanks to our incompetent elected officials, Montgomery County now not only ranks rock bottom in the D.C. region by all federal government economic indicators, but now has the "worst college town in America" declared to be within its borders. What a train wreck. We can't go on like this.

Police release Montgomery Village armed robbery video

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect in the November 6 armed robbery of the Metro PCS store in Montgomery Village. The suspect entered the store at 9989 Montgomery Village Avenue around 5:55 PM that day. He threatened an employee with a knife, and demanded cash. After receiving money, he fled the scene.

Police have now released surveillance video of the suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or this armed robbery is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5100.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).  Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest in this case.

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair volunteer wins Heritage Award

Susan Sullivan, a longtime volunteer with the annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in Gaithersburg, is one of five volunteers at fairs across the nation to win the 2019 Heritage Award from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). The awards were given at the IAFE's 129th annual convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Sullivan will receive $1000 along with her award plaque. The IAFE will also donate $500 to the Montgomery County fair.

Top Golf sign lights up in Germantown (Photos)

The sign is up and lit at Top Golf, opening soon just off I-270 in Germantown. You can also see golf and TV screens have been installed in the player stalls already. There's still some landscaping to be done, among other finishing touches.

AT&T Store opens in Gaithersburg

The AT&T Store looked like it was ready for a holiday shopping season late last week, and sure enough, it opened over the weekend weekend in the Kentlands. Find it at 109-A Market Street at Market Square in Gaithersburg, next to Daviko Gems.

Hughes enters Brazilian market with UAE partner

Germantown-based Hughes Network Systems, one of the few remnants of Montgomery County's long-passed golden era of aerospace and telecommunications, has joined with a United Arab Emirates-based satellite company to provide satellite broadband service on a large scale in Brazil. Yahsat and Hughes will operate the partnership under the name Hughes do Brasil.

"We are pleased to commence our Brazilian joint venture with Yahsat, our longstanding partner, in this important market," Hughes President Pradman Kaul said this morning. "The partnership further leverages our commitment to bringing unserved and underserved communities and businesses throughout Brazil the many essential advantages of connectivity."

New center for children with autism opens in Germantown

Little Leaves Behavioral Services has opened its newest location at 20400 Observation Drive in Germantown. The center uses Applied Behavioral Analysis to help children aged one to six to "reduce their symptoms of autism," Little Leaves said in a press release Wednesday. The facility will move to a nearby location that is now under construction. At that point, Little Leaves said the center will have the capacity to serve 40 children at once, but is still accepting applications now.

AT&T Store Kentlands update

The interior fit-out of the future AT&T Store at 109-A Market Street in Gaithersburg has made much progress. Shelving is in place, and there are even some Christmas-themed displays, including a nice one of Charles Schulz's Peanuts. This is in the Market Square development in the Kentlands.

Brews & Barrels update from the Kentlands in Gaithersburg

Brews & Barrels has been scheduled to open by the end of this month at Market Square in the Kentlands. From the looks of the interior, they appear to be on schedule. I see no sign of a website or social media presence as of yet, however. They are hiring, and their liquor license hearing is set for Thursday.

Minerva Indian Cuisine temporarily closed in Gaithersburg

Minerva Express Indian Cuisine at 560 N. Frederick Avenue was closed Sunday in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center. A sign in the window stated, "temporarily closed." Also in the window was a notice from the Montgomery County Department Health and Human Services ordering the "premises closed for the serving of food and drink to the public until further notice."