3 DRUG ARRESTS IN DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING, ASSAULT ON COLESVILLE ROAD - CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on March 19, according to crime data:

Theft. 8400 block Colesville Road (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 1200 block East-West Highway (downtown Silver Spring).

Drug arrest. 8600 block Cameron Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Drug arrest. Colesville Road and Ramsey Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Disorderly conduct. St. Dunston Lane near Randolph Road (Wheaton).

Theft. JC Penney and Target, Wheaton Plaza.

Assault. Colesville Road at Georgia Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Vehicle burglary. Charles Road at Randolph Road (Wheaton).

Drug arrest. Georgia Avenue at Blair Road (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 1500 block Forest Glen Road.

Drug arrest. SB Georgia Avenue near Price Avenue (Wheaton).

Liquor arrest. Parking Garage at 730 Ellsworth Drive (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 7800 block Fenton Street (downtown Silver Spring).

JAPAN FAIR THIS SATURDAY IN ASPEN HILL

Travel to Japan without leaving Aspen Hill this Saturday! Visit the Japan Fair, from 1:00-5:00 PM, at the Bauer Drive Community Center, at 14625 Bauer Drive. Admission is free.

Japanese exchange students from Yokohama Hayato High School in Yokohama, Japan will demonstrate Japanese arts, games and customs. Watch an informal Japanese Tea Ceremony, and enjoy authentic Japanese music. Take in an action-packed martial arts demonstration, and traditional Japanese dances. Learn how to create origami and calligraphy, play Japanese games and explore Anime and Manga.

The event is co-sponsored by Montgomery County Recreation and Sakura Educational Exchange USA. If you have any questions about the fair, contact Alex Taylor at 240-777-6922.

ASSAULT AT DUNKIN' DONUTS IN WHEATON, BURGLARY ON COLSTON DR. - SILVER SPRING CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on March 18, according to crime data:

Burglary. 2200 block Colston Drive (Grubb Road area, Silver Spring).

Assault. 8300 block 16th Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. Wheaton Plaza.

Drug arrest. Georgia Avenue at Forest Glen Road.

Theft. 1400 block East-West Highway (downtown Silver Spring).

Disorderly conduct. Wheaton Metro station.

Assault. Dunkin' Donuts at 2405 Reedie Drive (Wheaton).

Drug arrest. Cedar Street at Ellsworth Drive.

Drug arrest. 10400 block Julep Avenue (near Sligo MS).

BUMP 'N GRIND COFFEE GETS CONSTRUCTION GREEN LIGHT IN SILVER SPRING

Bump 'N Grind, a coffee shop, vinyl record store and cybercafe all in one, has received its construction permit from Montgomery County this week. It's all starting to come together for the shop that has been generating buzz for several months. Bump 'N Grind's La Marzocco Strada EP multi-coffee boiler just arrived yesterday. That unit allows several coffees to be prepared at separate temperatures.

The 1820 square foot shop will have listening stations for music, and an outdoor patio during warm months.

Bump 'N Grind

1200 East-West Highway

Silver Spring

SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE - ST. PATRICK'S DAY EDITION

Give east county residents and visitors credit - apparently only one person was arrested on alcohol charges on St. Patrick's Day.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on March 17, according to crime data:

Assault. 9800 block Georgia Avenue (the assault apparently was reported in an apartment; Forest Glen area).

Theft. Wheaton Plaza.

Drug arrest. Georgia Avenue and Veirs Mill Road.

Assault. 11100 block Georgia Avenue (Wheaton).

Liquor arrest. 8500 block Georgia Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 8200 block Georgia Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Assault/"other sexual offense." 12700 block Connecticut Avenue (Wheaton).

Vehicle burglary. 12700 block Holdridge Road (Glenmont).

SILVER SPRING STUDENTS WILL TALK TO OUTER SPACE TODAY

Beam us up! Students at Forest Knolls Elementary School in Silver Spring will make direct contact with the International Space Station around 14:38 UTC today (which would be 2:38 PM EST or 3:38 PM EDT? - I honestly don't know for sure). Check that time first, and then you can listen in to the broadcast on ham radio at 145.80 MHz.

Forest Knolls has its own amateur radio station, which also hosts an afterschool ham radio club with 15 student members. This broadcast will be to the Final Frontier, however.

Students will ask astronauts as many as 25 questions, if time allows.

SUPPORT WHEATON REGIONAL PARK AT MACY'S IN WESTFIELD WHEATON PLAZA (PHOTO)

Stop by a register at Macy's in Wheaton Plaza before March 31, and you can help raise money for Wheaton Regional Park. Donate any amount from $1 and up, and Macy's will match your gift, up to a total of $250,000. In other words, when Macy's reaches $250,000 in matching donations across all donors, the fundraising campaign will end.