By Tom Toles. Click to see the punchline.

Dan Reed leaving

Maryland and the region will suffer a big loss as Dan Reed leaves for graduate school in Philadelphia. We hope he will come back and resume blogging for those without much voice, like residents of eastern Montgomery, skaters, and others. (JUTP)  

Vacant stores and gas stations not the path

Montgomery planners are hoping to finally spark revitalization in Wheaton, though one obstacle may be property owner Greenhill Capital which several recently-closed Wheaton businesses have accused of being too inflexible (including DeJaBel cafe, which Cavan discussed) (Gazette) … DeJaBel is moving to downtown Gaithersburg (Post) … The County Council has is opposing a fast track approval process for the proposed Costco gas station. (Gazette)  

Lots in (& near) LeDroit

Housing Complex gets drawings of the new Gage-Eckington Park … Police are still trying to identify the driver who intentionally hit a bicyclist at 1st and Florida (Fox5) … The project at 1922 Third Street got the support of the local design review committee but the ANC still opposes it. (Left for LeDroit)  

Oh, these spare parts?

A WMATA Inspector General audit has found that the agency doesn’t have a good inventory of its spare parts, which it estimates as worth $95 million but includes substantial obsolete inventory that hasn’t been identified. (Examiner)  

Alexandria’s parking solution

Alexandria plans to increase meter rates, but seems to be targeting them to areas that need more turnover and to drive long-term parkers to the off-street garages. They’ll also meter some more spaces. (Examiner)  

All about Bobs (and Tom)

Bob McCartney recommends against cutting MetroAccess service to the ¾-mile minimum (Post) … Senator Bob Menendez proposes a new tax credit for transit-oriented development (Streetsblog) … Rethink College Park criticizes opponents of grad student housing, including Councilmember Tom Dernoga.  

Drive-thru booze

A Louisiana (where else) drive-thru sells daquiris and shots. It’s apparently legal as long as they don’t actually put the straw in the cup, but they can hand the driver the straw along with the cup. (Current TV via Upgrade: Travel Better)