
Carmen’s Italian Ice in Rockville is bringing back its 24-hour celebration for National Ice Cream Day, keeping its doors open around the clock from Saturday night into Sunday, July 19, with special deals, giveaways and limited-time menu items.
The shop, located at 1115 Nelson Street, will close briefly at 10 p.m. Saturday before reopening at midnight to kick off the celebration. From midnight to 8 a.m., customers can take advantage of the popular “Stuff Your Stanley” promotion, filling a Stanley or similar tumbler with Italian ice for $10. From 8 a.m. to noon, Carmen’s will serve its annual “Ice Cream for Breakfast” menu, and throughout the full 24 hours, small frozen custards will be available for $4. The shop will also hand out prizes during the event.
Carmen’s Italian Ice first introduced the overnight celebration last year after being inspired by similar promotions in the ice cream industry. Founded in Rockville in 2001 by New Jersey native Jason Mandler, Carmen’s is known for its homemade Italian ice offered in more than 60 flavors, along with frozen custard, milkshakes and a variety of toppings.
Lettuce and salad greens have become the prime suspects in an explosive outbreak of the diarrheal parasite Cyclospora, which is surging nationwide but erupting to extraordinary heights in Michigan.
In recent years, Michigan has typically reported around 50 cases of cyclosporiasis, which causes urgent bouts of watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. But, this year, as of July 14, the state has reported 3,309 cases of the food-borne pathogen. Of those 44 have been hospitalized.
Based on interviews with more than 1,000 people sickened in Michigan, the latest data is pointing to leafy greens as the source, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).