Silver Spring bank to become dental clinic

The vacant Bank of America branch at 8788 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring has a new tenant. Capital Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics has leased the space, which will obviously need some significant transformation inside. For example, each patient room or workstation will need plumbing hookups. Capital Kids Dentistry has an existing location at 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., but the Silver Spring office will offer full orthodontic treatment in addition to pediatric dentistry.

Sunshine Smiles to relocate in Silver Spring in 2026

Sunshine Smiles Dental Care will make a short move in the summer of 2026. The dental clinic is currently located at 923 Bonifant Street in downtown Silver Spring. Next summer, it will move over to 8404 Georgia Avenue. Drs. Mike Horng and Roberto Aleman offer dental services in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.

Dinty Moore Beef Stew recalled due to wood in cans

Dinty Moore Beef Stew is usually one of the best canned products you can buy. But not one recent batch. Manufacturer Hormel has announced a recall of 20-ounce metal cans of the product with “BEST BY Feb 2028” and lot code “T02045” printed on the can. That lot code may also have an additional number at the end on your can. You will also see establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the can. The recall is nationwide.

Hormel received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product. So far, there have been no confirmed reports of injury from the foreign material. Hormel can be contacted with questions and concerns at 800-523-4635.

Visionworks closes at Wheaton Plaza

Visionworks has closed at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall. It appears to be the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy. That's because the Texas-based eyewear chain's overall financial performance has been strong nationwide. Visionworks hasn't closed many stores; in fact, it had a net gain of 28 new store openings last year, for a total of 773 locations. It also ended 2023 as one of the Top 10 optical retailers in America, even finishing ahead of the much-hipper Warby Parker, according to Vision Monday.

Workers at 2 East MoCo cannabis dispensaries declare intention to unionize

Workers at two cannabis dispensaries in eastern Montgomery County have announced their intention to unionize with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 Union. The two businesses are The Apothecarium in Burtonsville, and Sweetspot in Olney. Another Apothecarium location in Cumberland, Maryland voted unanimously to unionize this past Friday. UFCW has found success in this new economic sector, having already organized union workplaces at dispensaries in Rockville and Germantown, and elsewhere in the state. Local 400 represents workers in grocery, retail, cannabis, health care, food processing, service and other industries in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

"We, the workers of The Apothecarium Burtonsville and Sweetspot Olney, have filed for union elections to join UFCW Local 400," the employees said in a joint statement this morning. "We are grateful for our community, from patients to customers alike, for their support in fair treatment and compensation of workers. We look forward to voting for our union when we receive our dates from the National Labor Relations Board and bargaining our first contracts alongside the other The Apothecarium/Terrascend and Sweetspot locations that have recently unionized across the country. We’re all in this together and we are proud to be part of the wave of unionizing workers throughout our industry."

Photos courtesy UFCW Local 400

Wheaton nightclub becomes marijuana dispensary

The planned conversion of a former Wheaton nightclub into a higher use as a marijuana dispensary is now complete. Verilife is now open at 11300 Georgia Avenue. The dispensary offers marijuana for adult recreational and medicinal uses, and has opaque windows for patient privacy. Operating hours are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Friday, and 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturdays.

Keswick Creamery cheese sold at Takoma Park farmers market recalled for Listeria risk

Keswick Creamery is recalling 10 cheeses sold at farmers markets in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the Takoma Park Farmers Market, due to the risk of Listeria infection. Routine testing of Keswick's products by the Food and Drug Administration found the bacteria in some of these cheese samples. The following cheeses are affected by the recall:

• Calverley Cheese in 4 oz to 12 oz packages, price and weight labeled in red, black, or purple ink
• Vulkwin’s Folly Cheese in 4 oz to 12 oz packages, price and weight labeled in red, black, or purple ink
• Havarti Cheese in 4 oz to 12 oz packages, price and weight labeled in red, black, or purple ink
• Vermeer Cheese in 4 oz to 12 oz packages, price and weight labeled in red, black, or purple ink
• Wallaby Cheese in 4 oz to 12 oz packages, price and weight labeled in red, black, or purple ink
• Cider Washed Tomme Cheese in 4 oz to 12 oz packages, price and weight labeled in red, black, or purple ink
• Feta cheese in 4 oz to 12 oz packages, price and weight labeled in red, black, or purple ink
• Whole Milk Ricotta, 8 oz and 16 oz clear deli container, expiration dates 7/18/22, 7/25/22, 8/1/22, 8/8/22, 8/18/22
• Bovre Cheese (plain, oregano and garlic, herbes de Provence, cranberry and honey), 8oz clear deli container, expiration dates 7/25/22, 8/1/22, 8/8/22, 8/22/22
• Quark Cheese (plain and dill and onion), 8 oz and 16 oz clear deli container, expiration dates 7/7/22, 8/4/22, 8/25/22

As of the posting of this recall, no illnesses have been reported.

Sameday Health closes at Wheaton Plaza (Photos)

Sameday Health has closed at Wheaton Plaza. The health clinic's space by J.C. Penney has been cleared out. It appears that their business has been hurt by the rise of in-home rapid testing, fewer situations in which the general public must furnish a negative COVID test result, and the shift by governments at all levels toward "living with the virus." Sameday Health was founded in September 2020, growing nationwide largely on the need for rapid COVID testing, and is now shifting its business model to providing other services like intravenous vitamin therapy.

Number 1 Pharmacy opens, Smoke Island coming soon at Glenmont Shopping Center

The Glenmont Shopping Center is welcoming two new tenants. Number 1 Pharmacy is now open. They've had a location in Layhill prior to this. Coming soon next to Pizza Hut will be Smoke Island. The tobacco retailer is in a major expansion phase in Montgomery County; they carry cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipe tobacco, e-cigarettes and liquids, vaporizers, hookah equipment and accessories, flavored wraps, and rolling papers.

Maryland Gov. limits travel to essential purposes only, requires out-of-state travelers to quarantine or provide negative test

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) held a press conference late this afternoon, announcing several executive orders and coronavirus protocol directives. Hogan announced he is lowering the state's public gathering limit from 25 people to 10. The governor also issued an emergency order limiting travel to essential purposes only. Travelers from out-of-state (or Marylanders returning from out-of-state) must self-quarantine for 10 days, or provide a negative Covid-19 test, upon arriving in the state. 

Mandatory telework has been proscribed for all state employees who can. Hogan said that starting December 21, front-facing government offices will be temporarily suspending all in-person interactions with the public for two weeks.

Echoing New Zealand's exemption for the Easter Bunny earlier this year, Hogan exempted Santa Claus, elves, and reindeer from travel restrictions. He said Dr. Anthony Fauci told him in a Zoom conference earlier today that Santa Claus has immunity to Covid-19.

Hogan said the state will provide $30 million in assistance for restaurants, and $15 million more for entertainment venues, hurt by the pandemic. He also announced $40 million being added to the Temporary Assistance Program, and $40 million to care providers for the developmentally disabled.

The governor asked residents to do their part to reduce the spread of the virus, and to look forward to "a better, healthier and happier 2021."

Patient First coming to Aspen Hill

Patient First is coming to Aspen Hill. The urgent care chain has leased space at 13671 Georgia Avenue, at the Aspen Manor shopping center. There was previously an urgent care clinic at this location, Xpress MedCare.

Hogan orders all Maryland restaurants, bars to close at 10 PM, new restrictions on retail, hospital visits, sporting events, places of worship

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced additional restrictions on businesses and activities this afternoon, as the coronavirus pandemic worsens in the state and around the world. Effective Friday at 5:00 PM, Hogan has ordered all restaurants and bars statewide to close at 10:00 PM nightly. None will be allowed to open between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. 

Hogan also ordered most hospital visits to be suspended with some exceptions, and nursing home visitors will be limited to compassionate care visitors, who have to be tested 72 hours before visiting. The governor also banned all attendance at professional and collegiate sporting events, just weeks after fans were allowed to return to stadiums in the state.

Under the new restrictions, all retail stores and places of worship must reduce capacity to 50%. Hogan urged any students returning from college, or who plan to be around elderly relatives for Thanksgiving, to get tested for Covid-19 first. 

The governor asked hospitals to postpone any elective procedures or treatments where possible. He said hospitalizations are up 100% since November 1. The number of patients in ICU beds is the highest since June 2020. Maryland's Health Department is issuing an order to allow hospitals that are full, or nearing capacity, to transfer patients to other hospitals.

"We are in a war right now, and the virus is winning," Hogan said. "Now more than ever, I am pleading with the people of our state to stand together a while longer to help us battle this surging virus.”

Maryland releases draft Covid-19 vaccination plan

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) released a draft of the state's Covid-19 vaccination plan this morning. Like all states, Maryland must submit a plan like this to the federal government for how it will store, distribute and administer any future approved vaccines for the coronavirus.

The Maryland vaccination plan is split into three phases: the initial period when vaccine supply may be minimal and who should have priority to receive it must be determined, a second phase when large amounts become available and there is a more general rush to administer it to a large number of people, and a third, ongoing phase when one or more Covid-19 vaccines continue to be distributed like a flu shot in the future.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R)

The Maryland Department of Health Center for Immunization (CFI) will orchestrate the operational side of implementing the plan. MDH's Office of Preparedness and Response (OP&R) will focus on planning, coordination and logistical matters. And other MDH programs and agencies such as the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Maryland State Police will take on other roles "as the operational needs evolve," the plan draft states.

Will you, the average Montgomery County citizen, be one of the first to receive a Covid-19 vaccine? No, according to the plan. In phase one, only high-risk members of the population and workers at hospitals, long term care (LTC) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are anticipated to be vaccinated. 

The plan states that two doses of the potential vaccine(s) will likely be required, with a period of three or more weeks between shots. Maryland plans to use its PrepMod and Maryland MyIR online portals to send recipients a reminder that it is time to come in for the second dose. PrepMod will also initially be the main vaccine management system, 

PrepMod is an online clinic management and appointment scheduling system. It is used by Maryland local health departments to conduct mass vaccination drives and vaccinations at school-located clinics. Maryland's ImmuNet will play a central role as the one-stop shop for health care providers to register as an official Covid-19 vaccine provider, order their vaccine supplies, track vaccine deliveries, report doses administered, and to determine scheduling of second doses.

Maryland's first priority in public messaging when a vaccine becomes available will be assuring the public that it is a safe and effective vaccine. Public communication will then emphasize vaccination of the most-vulnerable first, and then the general population.

One of the other key points covered in the report is the necessary training of providers in the handling, storage and administration of this new vaccine or vaccines. This training will have to be rapid. Among the required training efforts, Maryland plans to utilize state, federal and CDC materials and webinars to get providers up to speed quickly.

Magview leaving Burtonsville for Howard County

Magview abandoning this HQ in
Burtonsville for Howard County

Magview, a medical imaging software firm, is leaving Montgomery County. According to a press release, the company is relocating with its 75 employees from Burtonsville to the Maple Lawn development in Fulton, Maryland. The loss is particularly embarrassing for Montgomery County officials, because healthcare and biotech are the only bright spots in an otherwise moribund County economy. Howard County in recent years has dethroned Montgomery as the richest county in Maryland, and with news like this - along with the flight of MoCo's ultra-rich - it's pretty obvious why.

New Dennis Avenue Health Center nears opening in Silver Spring

The Dennis Avenue Health Center will occupy its new headquarters on Saturday, March 5, 2016. To facilitate the logistics of the move from the old building next door, the center will close from Friday, March 4 to Wednesday, March 9.

Part of Montgomery County's Department of Health and Human Services, the center houses a variety of programs, including the HIV/STD program; tuberculosis and refugee health; immunizations; disease control and public health emergency preparedness. Clients will be notified in advance of the move.

Residents with an urgent need to reach program staff should call 3-1-1 during the temporary closure.

Dennis Avenue Health Center

2000 Dennis Avenue

Silver Spring

Rendering courtesy Wilmot Sanz Architecture

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