Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Celebration Saturday, September 3 in Sandy Spring

Montgomery Parks announced that it will be hosting a Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Celebration tomorrow, Saturday, September 3, 2022, at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park at 16501 Norwood Road in Sandy Spring from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Since 2019, by directive of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), September has been declared Underground Railroad Month in the state. 2022 is also the bicentennial of Tubman's birth in Dorchester, Maryland.

The event will include forested hikes, during which guides will explain techniques used by those fleeing slavery to successfully navigate a route to freedom. An $8 fee for the hike includes admission to the Woodlawn Museum. Visit the event website for advanced registration for the hikes.

“While Harriet Tubman was never active in this part of Maryland, we believe her story should inspire and generate pride in every Marylander," Woodlawn Manor Park Education Program Manager Cameron Walpole said in a statement. "Our guided hikes on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail allow visitors to contemplate the risks that freedom seekers took for a chance at freedom. These hikes focus on real Montgomery County freedom seekers. Our free children’s take-home activities, which are designed for ages 5 and up, provide a great opportunity for families to start a dialogue about what freedom means.”

Photo via Montgomery Parks

Maryland governor candidates Dan Cox, Wes Moore to square off in TV debate October 12

After declining several invitations to debate Republican Dan Cox, Democrat Wes Moore has accepted an invite extended to both Maryland gubernatorial candidates from WBAL and Maryland Public Television. The debate is scheduled to take place on October 12, 2022 at 7:00 PM. It will be broadcast live on WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5, WBAL-TV 11 in Baltimore, Maryland Public Television statewide, and on NBC4 in the Washington, D.C. area.

Unless Moore agrees to further debates, this will be a high pressure forum, particularly for Cox. With far less broadcast advertising money than Moore has at his disposal, this will be a key opportunity for Cox to speak to a substantial TV and radio audience of likely voters. Cox is also in a rare scenario where the current governor of his own party affiliation - Larry Hogan - is refusing to help him in any way, due to Hogan's ongoing feud with Donald Trump. Trump endorsed Cox over Hogan's choice of Kelly Schulz in the GOP primary. 

"I look forward to the opportunity this October to contrast my vision and values with Dan Cox’s far-right agenda,” Moore said in a statement. “I am glad Wes Moore has finally accepted an invitation to debate with me," Cox said in his own statement this morning. "So far, he has refused or declined to respond to several requests, including those from Morgan State University and the Maryland Federation of NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association). I would like to thank MPT and WBAL for this opportunity. I look forward to letting the voters of Maryland see the candidates live, in person and unfiltered."

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.

Filippo's Italian Deli for sale in Wheaton

Filippo's Italian Deli, a fixture in the Wheaton Triangle since it started as Marchone's in the 1950s, is for sale. The deli hasn't declined with time, as it just won the "Best Deli in Montgomery County" contest held by The MoCo Show in 2020. It remains fully open for business, but is now available for sale at an asking price of $420,000, according to the sale listing.

Silver Spring construction update: Solaire 8200 Dixon apartments (Photos)

The new titleholder for tallest building in downtown Silver Spring is being delivered by Washington Property Company at 8200 Dixon Avenue. Solaire 8200 Dixon is just about completed on the outside; some units inside are still being completed, and the curved-facade food hall on the ground level is expected to debut early next year. The finished product actually looks better than the renderings, and along with the 26-story height, the fact that it's not jammed amidst other high-rises on all sides helps the design to stand out even more.

According to the website, building tours and some apartment units are now available. However, some renters have reported online that - depending on their unit - their move-in has been delayed from late August to September or October. Those future residents are reportedly receiving hotel and storage accommodations until their unit is ready, if they had already signed a lease with an August move-in expectation. At the same time, the property's official website shows me unit B-11 - a 927 square-foot one-bedroom for $2495 a month - to be available, so it may a unit-by-unit issue.

Dollar Tree opening Wheaton location; Max's Kosher Cafe space available for lease

Big changes are ahead at the Wheaton Manor shopping center at 2311 University Boulevard W. in Wheaton. The large retail space at the corner of University and Elkin Street that once housed Toys R Us - and more recently, CVS Pharmacy - has been leased by Dollar Tree. And the adjacent space recently vacated by the beloved Max's Kosher Cafe will become available for lease on September 1, 2022, according to real estate brokerage firm KLNB. That Dollar Tree should really boost foot traffic for a restaurant tenant that moves into the Max's space.

Leasing map images courtesy KLNB

Marc Elrich victory confirmed as Montgomery County Executive election results are certified

The Montgomery County Board of Elections certified the results of the July 19, 2022 gubernatorial primary election yesterday. A full recount in the Democratic Montgomery County Executive primary race confirmed the victory of incumbent Marc Elrich over second-place finisher David Blair. Final results showed Elrich with 55,504 votes, and Blair with 55,472 votes, a difference of only 32 votes.

Elrich will face Republican Reardon Sullivan in the November general election. While the lengthy counting and recount provided a final result more than a month after the primary, the small change in votes produced by the recount does help to boost confidence in the integrity of the vote-counting process in Montgomery County.