MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney has become the site of Maryland’s first endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy, according to MedStar Health.

Breast surgeon Jennifer Son, MD, performed the procedure in early September, introducing a minimally invasive surgical option for select patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. The first patient was a woman in her late 30s for whom preserving her appearance was an important part of her treatment and recovery plan.

Unlike a traditional mastectomy, the endoscopic nipple-sparing procedure allows the surgeon to remove breast tissue while preserving the outer skin, nipple and areola when medically appropriate. The procedure is performed through a small incision near the underarm using an endoscope – a thin tube equipped with a small camera – along with specialized surgical instruments.

Breast reconstruction can then be performed during the same operation. According to MedStar Health, the approach can provide a more natural appearance while minimizing visible scarring and avoiding additional operations.

The procedure is not appropriate for every patient. Factors considered include breast size and shape, the amount of natural sagging, and the size and location of the tumor. In general, potential candidates may include patients with small to medium-sized breasts, limited sagging and tumors that have not spread to the skin, chest wall, muscles or nipple area.

“Breast cancer surgery is not one-size-fits-all,” Son said. “For appropriately selected patients, endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy gives us another option to consider when developing a surgical plan that takes into account their cancer, anatomy, reconstruction goals and preferences.” Son said the priority remains providing safe and effective cancer treatment while helping patients understand the surgical options available to them.

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center offers breast cancer services ranging from imaging and biopsies to surgery, reconstruction, genetic counseling and testing, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, clinical trials and post-treatment support. The addition of the endoscopic nipple-sparing procedure allows eligible patients to receive the minimally invasive surgical option locally in Olney.

Beginning Monday, September 28, Westfield Wheaton and Westfield Montgomery will implement a new Parental Guidance Policy requiring visitors under 18 to be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older after 3 p.m. daily.

The policy will be in effect from 3 p.m. until closing each day and applies to interior and exterior common areas at both malls. One supervising adult age 21 or older may accompany up to four minors.

Westfield said the policy is intended to help maintain a comfortable, safe and family-friendly environment for shoppers, dining guests and other visitors. The policy applies at Westfield Wheaton, located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road, and Westfield Montgomery, located at 7101 Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda.

Maryland’s 2Fifty Texas BBQ has earned another national honor, this time being named one of the best barbecue restaurants in America by loveFOOD.

loveFOOD, a popular international food and travel website, recently released its ranking of the best barbecue restaurants in the U.S., placing 2Fifty Texas BBQ in Riverdale Park (Prince George’s County) at No. 17 in the country. The publication says its ranking is based on user reviews, awards and accolades, along with the opinions of its food and travel team, while acknowledging that “some level of subjectivity is unavoidable.”

In highlighting 2Fifty, loveFOOD points to the restaurant’s Texas-inspired barbecue and Central American influence. The publication specifically highlights its wagyu brisket, along with sides including mango salad, sweet potato mash, and sweet beans with brisket.

2Fifty was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife team Fernando González and Debby Portillo, who are originally from El Salvador. The restaurant has since received recognition from a number of national and regional publications and organizations.

Earlier this year, 2Fifty also earned national recognition on Yelp’s list of the “Top 100 BBQ Restaurants in the U.S., According to Yelp Elites.”

2Fifty describes its cooking approach as “Central Texas style barbecue,” explaining that the style revolves around fire, wood, and simplicity. “For us, it means more like a culture that revolves around fire. It means using 100% wood and mainly salt and pepper to season our meats. The meats are commonly cooked at an offset propane tank-shaped pit,” the restaurant says.

The restaurant also incorporates sides and flavors inspired by its owners’ Salvadoran heritage, blending traditional Central Texas barbecue techniques with their own cultural influences.

2Fifty has built a devoted following for both the quality of its barbecue and its limited daily availability. According to the restaurant, its meats can take between six and 14 hours to cook using a low-and-slow smoking process, limiting how much can be served fresh each day.

“Even though our 100% wood smokers operate at full capacity, the smoking process is done low and slow (at a low temperature for a long period of time). It takes between 6 to 14 hours to finish the cooking process so we have a limited capacity to serve our menu fresh everyday,” the restaurant says.

The latest recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for 2Fifty. The Riverdale Park restaurant was named Casual Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 RAMMY Awards, and González was named Restaurateur of the Year at the 2026 RAMMY Awards.

2Fifty Texas BBQ operates locations at 4700 Riverdale Rd in Riverdale Park in Prince George’s County and 414 K St NW in Washington, DC.

Wayback Burgers is still planning to open its first Montgomery County location in Damascus, but the restaurant’s anticipated opening has been delayed.

The burger chain signed a lease last year for a 1,925-square-foot restaurant at 9811 Main Street, with plans at the time calling for a late 2025 opening. In a recent update provided to The MoCoShow, Wayback Burgers confirmed the Damascus location remains in the works but has encountered an issue with the property’s grease trap. “Still planning to open. Had some grease trap issues so we are trying to resolve that. Stay tuned,” Wayback Burgers told The MoCoShow.

The restaurant is owned by franchisee Shahzad Manzoor and is expected to feature dine-in seating and an open kitchen. Wayback’s menu includes burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes and salads.

The Damascus restaurant would mark Wayback Burgers’ first Montgomery County location. The chain previously planned a restaurant at The Shops of Potomac Valley on Darnestown Road in Gaithersburg, where signage was installed and initial construction began, but that location ultimately never opened.