Community Corner

Top Headlines: Storm Recovery, Belward Trial Date, 'Gurgitator' Takes Hot Dog Eating Contest

Top news from around Montgomery County this week.


The development dispute between the successors of Belward Farm and Johns Hopkins University is one small but significant step closer to a resolution after a scheduling hearing Friday. Judge Ronald Rubin set a trial date for Nov. 13, and the the lead plaintiff's public relations representative said she expects proceedings to end Nov. 19. The resolution would determine whether JHU can build a "Science City" on the 138-acre farm.


Residents cut off from emergency access described a frustrating waiting game in the wake of Friday's destructive storm system. Tammy Hartwell of the Sharon Woods neighborhood said she spent at least one night on the floor in her mother-in-law’s basement. The cool surface was one of the few comforts available to her while she waited for officials to remove a tree that left everyone on her block stranded, with no road access, no power and no water, she said.

Germantown’s resident competitive eater, Juliet Lee, earned second place at an international hot dog eating contest in Coney Island on July 4. Known as "The Gurgitator,” Lee, a 45-year-old mom and salon owner, downed 33 hotdogs in 10 minutes. The competition was televised on ESPN. Read more at .

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 


The Takoma Park Independence Day Parade is a big deal to residents of the city. And in typical Takoma Park fashion, the parade was as political as it was fun. Even the pets were getting political.

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Good Dog, Bad Romney is a political organization, tasked with spreading the story that Mitt Romney took a 12-hour road trip with the family dog, Seamus, in a crate tied to the roof of his car. The group took to the streets and marched with their dogs in the parade to spread the message and to promote animal rights.

 

The , a beloved neighborhood institution for nearly 60 years, lost almost all of its goods in the power outage after last week's storm. "The only bright spot in this whole thing has been the numerous phone calls, emails, knocks on the door. Everybody coming by with their support," co-owner Kevin Kirsch said.

 

Morayma Rivera noticed two things about the Safeway at the Rock Creek Village Shopping Center in Rockville on Tuesday. “No ice cream whatsoever,” she said. “Starbucks is packed.” 

 

A petition against Pepco is gaining momentum six days after a powerful storm knocked out power to millions of homes in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  The group Change.org hopes to collect 2,000 signatures in an effort to push for improvement in the utility’s reliability and safety by burying power lines.

Pepco is nearing 100 percent power restoration in Montgomery County following Friday’s powerful derecho, but it may take until Sunday for residents still left in the dark and heat to feel relief.

 

Restaurants in Potomac Village were forced to throw out hundreds of pounds of food during the power outage following Friday’s storms.

Every electrical outlet was taken at Westfield Wheaton the day after the June 29 storm swept through the DC region. Read more on  about the Montgomery County residents who sought refuge at the mall in the form of air conditioning, wifi, and a place to charge their cell phones.


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