SILVER SPRING/WHEATON/ASPEN HILL/GLENMONT POWER OUTAGE UPDATE

Dozens of customers are without power around Silver Spring and Wheaton tonight. Less than 5 Pepco customers are in the dark off Georgia Avenue just south of the Matthew Henson State Park in the Aspen Hill-Glenmont area. Other small outages are being reported off of Connecticut Avenue, south of Veirs Mill Road, in Montgomery Knolls, along New Hampshire Avenue near Notley Road, and in the Glen Haven and southern Kemp Mill areas of Wheaton. The greatest number of outages are in the Glenmont Forest vicinity.

Pepco's current estimate for restoration of power to these folks is midnight.

3 DRUG ARRESTS IN DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING, ASSAULT ON WAYNE AVE. - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on July 1, according to crime data:

Theft. 8800 block Lanier Drive.

Theft from vehicle. 9400 block Georgia Avenue.

Drug arrest. East-West Highway at 16th Street.

Drug arrest. East-West Highway at Colesville Road.

Liquor arrest. 2700 block University Boulevard W.

Assault/"other sexual offense." 1100 block Wayne Avenue.

Burglary. 11000 block Amherst Avenue (Wheaton).

Assault. 11200 block Georgia Avenue (Wheaton).

Drug arrest. 7900 block Georgia Avenue.

Burglary. 1700 block Woodman Avenue.

Liquor arrest. 11400 block Georgia Avenue (Wheaton).

WENDY'S STEAKHOUSE JR. CHEESEBURGER REVIEW (VIDEO)

Wendy's Steakhouse Jr. Cheeseburger has arrived in Wheaton and Aspen Hill. Before you start thinking about a 1/3 pound Wagyu beef patty, that's not the kind of Steakhouse Wendy's is talking about. This is the standard Dave's Hot and Juicy 100% junior beef patty, with Steakhouse seasoning added.

A garlic aioli finishes the steakhouse theme, along with other standard toppings: lettuce, tomato, red onion, and American cheese.

Does the Steakhouse Jr. Cheeseburger live up to the steakhouse hype? Watch my video for the full report!

WHITE OAK SECTOR PLAN DRAFT IS NOT ABOUT JOBS

"And now," as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of story." Here's what readers of the Washington Post will be told about the proposed "revitalization" of White Oak. But here's the rest of the story. White Oak is actually a highly developed area of residential neighborhoods, with commercial areas that support them. Despite efforts by the Maryland SHA (which have been far more vigorous than those along other state highways in the county), Route 29 continues to have traffic issues. New Hampshire Avenue is a major route throughout the White Oak area, as well.

You're being told this is about "jobs." It's not about jobs. There is currently no demand for office space or corporate headquarters in White Oak. If corporations won't move to a Class A building next to the Bethesda Metro, they surely aren't coming to White Oak.

The "research triangle" is good PR, but the facts don't bear it out. FDA in White Oak is far more of a regulator than an a scientific innovator. You can't compare the FDA campus in terms of biotech magnetism to NIH, or even the 270 corridor.

Here's the real White Oak plan: lots of luxury apartments, on top of the rubble of existing shopping centers. New urbanization on those centers that will start to encroach into the existing residential neighborhoods. Housing prices, dining and shopping that no longer are within the buying power of current residents. Just as in Wheaton, Glenmont, Long Branch and Takoma-Langley, this master plan would reduce diversity by race and income, not increase it. And that's wrong.

There is no rapid transit, no MARC train, and no rights-of-way for new highways in White Oak. When planning officials talk about managing traffic or reducing new automotive traffic, that is complete malarkey. Virtually everyone moving into the new luxury apartments in White Oak will be driving cars, and hitting the road in the morning into DC via Silver Spring. The proposed White Oak plan is a traffic disaster, that requires the plan itself to address road congestion in totally fictitious, fantasy terms.

A real White Oak plan will focus on utilizing what space there is to attract jobs, Fortune 500 companies and startups. We need affordable housing in Montgomery County, not more luxury housing. To create the live-work dynamic necessary to support sizable residential development in White Oak, we need the high-wage jobs that would make that happen. Not more service jobs pouring coffee and folding jeans.

URBAN BUTCHER ADDS HAPPY HOUR STARTING JULY 2 IN SILVER SPRING

Urban Butcher, the new restaurant, butcher shop and meat cellar in downtown Silver Spring, is adding Happy Hour for summer. Starting Wednesday, July 2, stop in between 5:00 and 7:30 PM Monday-Friday (11:30 AM - 7:30 PM on weekends) for Happy Hour at the bar, or on the patio (coming soon) and communal table.

Choices on the new Happy Hour Menu include $5 specialty cocktails like the White Sangria, Dirty Gibson, Lavender Margarita or Boulevardier.  Or choose from $5 select wines by the glass and $5 rotating draft beers.  Bar bites include Beef Empanadas ($4), Butcher’s Meatballs & Melted Provolone ($7), Smoked Bluefish Rillette ($5) and the Happy Hour Meat Cellar Board ($15). Those searching for something heartier have $10 Butcher Sandwiches to choose from. Prosciutto Cotto & Provolone, Thick-cut House Pastrami, Hickory Bourbon Pulled Pork BBQ & Smoked Mozzarella and the Butcher’s Burger are among the choices, and each sandwich includes fries.

For the 4th of July weekend, Thursday's Happy Hour will start at 3:00 PM, and Urban Butcher will host an all-day Happy Hour on July 4. They will also be serving brunch from 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Independence Day.

Urban Butcher

8226 Georgia Avenue

ROBBERY AT PLAZA DEL MERCADO, ASSAULT AT DAYS INN + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on June 27, according to crime data:

Burglary. 1900 block Flowering Tree Terrace.

Theft. Target at Wheaton Plaza.

Assault/"rape." Days Inn, 8040 13th Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft from vehicle. 8000 block Blair Mill Way.

Drug arrest. Discovery Place.

Vehicle burglary. 1000 block King Street.

Drug arrest. Georgia Avenue at Eastern Avenue.

Robbery. Elkin Street at University Boulevard.

Robbery. 700 block Sligo Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 7100 block Cedar Avenue (Takoma Park).

Vehicle burglary. 3200 block Kayson Street (Aspen Hill).

Vehicle burglary. 12700 block Layhill Road (Glenmont).

Liquor arrest. Flower Avenue at E. Wayne Avenue.

Liquor arrest. Piney Branch Road at Flower Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 10800 block Lombardy Road.

Theft. Kohl's (Aspen Hill).

Drug arrest. 10700 block Columbia Pike.

Drug arrest. 800 block Lowander Lane.

Assault. 12000 block Remington Drive.

Vehicle burglary. 3300 block Beaverwood Lane (Aspen Hill).

Burglary. 7900 block Kennewick Avenue (Takoma Park).

Robbery. Plaza del Mercado, 2203 Bel Pre Road.

Assault. 11400 block Lockwood Drive.

Theft. 16600 block George Washington Drive.

Vehicle burglary. 13200 block Limetree Road.

Theft. Giant Food gas station (New Hampshire Avenue).

VANTAGE MANAGEMENT TO TAKE OVER THE PREMIER APARTMENTS IN SILVER SPRING TUESDAY (PHOTOS)

The Premier, a 160-unit apartment building at 8711 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, is getting new management on Tuesday. Vantage Management will take over operation of the 14-story tower, and resume lease-up for the property. Only open since January, the new, smoke-free high rise is the latest next-generation Montgomery County residential building to join the Vantage portfolio; the company recently celebrated the grand opening of Gallery Bethesda, a 17-story tower it manages for the Donohoe Companies.

"Vantage is very excited to be selected as the property management agent for The Premier and to begin a new relationship with the owners, Guardian Realty Investors," Vantage Executive Vice President and COO Brad Marson said in a statement. "The Premier is located in a thriving Silver Spring market that is saturated with a number of new apartment communities in lease-up, so we have our work out for us. Bringing this property onboard is in line with our growth strategy in the greater DC market. It’s an opportunity for us to demonstrate our expertise to lease up a new luxury building and compete in an established market like Silver Spring," Marson said.

The Premier has a Silver LEED certification, and its units range from studios to 2-bedrooms. A pet-friendly building (like Gallery Bethesda), The Premier also boasts a 24-hour concierge, stainless steel
appliances, granite countertops and wide plank wood flooring.