Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Jersey Mike's is coming to Takoma Park


Jersey Mike's
is coming soon to Takoma Park. The popular sub sandwich chain has leased a space at 7663 New Hampshire Avenue. That is at the Takoma Langley Crossroads shopping center. This will be the first Jersey Mike's location in the City of Takoma Park. There hasn't even been a location that was convenient to Takoma Park up until now, much less in the city. Construction is expected to begin this fall.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

WSSC asks Maryland customers to limit water use due to power outage at filtration plant


Water utility WSSC has issued an Essential Water Use Only request to its customers in Montgomery County and Prince George's County, Maryland. A power outage at the utility's Potomac filtration plant has led to concerns that the supply of processed water could run out before Pepco can restore power. However, WSSC says water is currently safe to use and drink at this time, and that no Boil Water Advisory has been issued yet. Customers are asked to limit shower time and toilet flushes, and to postpone outdoor uses and running of clothes washers and dishwashers until the emergency is over.

Monday, September 28, 2026

Assault at Wheaton Library


Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Wheaton Library last Friday afternoon, September 25, 2026. The assault was reported at the library at 4:11 PM. The library is located at 11701 Georgia Avenue. Yet another example of the 2026 crime trend of violent crimes being perpetrated during daylight hours.

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Police investigate shots-fired incident in Silver Spring


Montgomery County police responded to a report of gunfire in the Fairland area of Silver Spring Thursday night, September 24, 2026. Several residents in the area of Ballinger Drive at Ballinger Terrace called 911 at 10:04 PM Thursday, to report sounds of gunshots. Officers found at least one shell casing where a bullet had struck a townhome. No injuries were reported, and the investigation is ongoing.

Friday, September 25, 2026

White Oak Starbucks to close


Starbucks
announced a new round of downsizing nationwide, and the closure list includes six stores in Maryland. Montgomery County stores at Pike & Rose in Rockville, and 12255 Prosperity Drive in the White Oak area of Silver Spring are among those getting the axe. That's particularly devastating for residents of the buildings at Pike & Rose, as having an on-site Starbucks was among the amenities of living there. Also shuttering will be Starbucks stores in Chester, Easton, Frederick, and Pocomoke City.

Thursday, September 24, 2026

UK quantum computing firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. HQ


It's Groundhog Day once again for economic development in the Washington, D.C. region, as yet another firm has chosen Virginia over Maryland, and Arlington County over Montgomery County for its corporate headquarters. This time it's British quantum computing firm Phasecraft. The company announced that Virginia is the winner in the sweepstakes for its new U.S. headquarters. Phasecraft will open the HQ at a not-yet-announced address in Ballston.


The announcement has to particularly sting Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who has repeatedly claimed that he wants to make his state a leader in quantum computing. It certainly didn't help Maryland's bid that Moore declared four days prior to the company's decision that he would sign a total ban on data centers, if the legislature sent one to his desk. This forehead-smacking faux pas is reminiscent of the Montgomery County Council announcing it was canceling the biggest infrastructure project in the White Flint sector plan on the very day that Amazon's HQ2 search team was touring the County's suggested site in White Flint. Whoops!

Just as the Council's transportation infrastructure cancellation cost it the HQ2 of a logistics company, Amazon, announcing you are going to possibly totally ban data centers would almost certainly terminate the consideration of any quantum computing firm to locate in our state. Doh! A decade later, we continue to be led by very stupid people.

A smarter governor, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, found herself once again taking a victory lap. "Virginia continues to grow as a global hub for cutting-edge companies and groundbreaking technologies," Spanberger said in a statement. "I’m thrilled to welcome Phasecraft to the Commonwealth and look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they grow and build on Virginia’s world-class innovation ecosystem. This investment will create new high-tech jobs, attract other leading companies to Virginia, and strengthen the Commonwealth’s growing role in bringing next-generation technologies to market."

Virginia, in contrast to Maryland, is known as the data center capital of America. How Maryland will become "a leader in quantum computing and cybersecurity" without data centers is indeed a puzzling and even humorous dilemma for observers of Governor Moore, who has proven so far that he's far from the sharpest tool in the drawer. What we already do know is that Maryland and Montgomery County haven't attracted a single major new corporate headquarters in over 25 years. Will voters quintuple down on futility on Election Day in November?

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Dogtopia opening Silver Spring location


Dogtopia
is opening a new Silver Spring location. It will be at 8913 Brookville Road in Lyttonsville. The doggie daycare and boarding chain also offers dog training. There will not be an outdoor dog run at this location. Construction is expected to begin this fall.