The Early Bird

It's just another emo Monday. Here comes this week in Silver Spring:

Starting today: Montgomery College's Silver Spring/Takoma Park campus hosts a variety of programs for International Student Week. Events run through Wednesday.

Tonight: Silver Spring's Citizens Advisory Board meets to yak about commercial development, transportation, pedestrian safety and neighborhood concerns. The party goes down at the AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd) starting at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday: Aspiring pundits can discuss the election's impact on women at a forum sponsored by Montgomery Women. The expert panel includes Bruce DePuyt, that poor bastard who moderated a raucous debate between then-Senate candidates Ben Cardin, Michael Steele and Kevin Zeese. Citizen punditry is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (8230 Georgia Ave).

Wednesday: The National Institutes of Health sponsor a free screening of "Jumping Off Bridges" (above) at the AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd). After the show, mental health experts discuss the film's themes and take questions. The joint drops at 7:00 p.m.

Friday: The county's department of environmental protection hosts two one-hour workshops on how to save money and energy when heating their homes. Workshops begin at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center (2450 Lyttonsville Rd). Each attendee scores an energy-efficient light bulb.

Thanks to Mike Slack for the photo.

The Early Bird

Correction: The planning board did not hear a progress report on the Silver Spring Transit Center on Thursday. It voted to approve the abandonment of Bonifant Street's west end, which sits within the transit center's footprint. The Daily Penguin regrets the error. (Nov. 15, 2006)

It's going to be a busy week in Silver Spring:

Tuesday: The negative ads and campaign speeches finally end when voters hit the polls for the midterm election. Every seat in the state is up for grabs, from the governorship to the guy who certifies wills. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday: County health officials administer flu shots (above) at the Dennis Avenue Health Center (at Georgia Avenue) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Shots are reserved for people at high risk--kids up to age 2 years, pregnant women, people over age 65 or with chronic illnesses, and healthcare workers. Each shot costs $20. Low-risk people can get the nasal vaccine for free.

Thursday: The county planning board gets an update on the Purple Line light-rail project, as well as a progress report on the Silver Spring Transit Center. The meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. at the board's digs on Georgia Avenue at Spring Street.

Friday: The nation observes Veterans Day. People who work for banks, libraries, the postal service and the government get the day off. Buses run on a Saturday schedule and Metro train service ends at midnight. For everyone else--including public school students--it's business as usual.

Thanks to MSNBC for the photo.

Drug Deal of the Year

CVS Pharmacies have agreed to merge with pharmacy-benefit manager Caremark Rx, creating a drug-dispensing juggernaut that can lean on pharmaceutical companies for lower prices, the Washington Post writes.

CVS has two locations below the Beltway in Silver Spring--in Montgomery Hills and at The Blairs, with another outside the Beltway at Four Corners. Caremark manages the county's drug discount program for residents who lack complete pharmaceutical coverage.

The merger gives CVS and Caremark more leverage over pharmaceutical companies, one bean counter tells the Post. "It's likely to lead to more transparent pricing and keeping prices down," says Mitchell Corwin, an equity analyst with Morningstar.

However, Helen Darling, of the nonprofit National Business Group on Health, worries that CVS and Caremark may not pass along the savings to consumers. She tells the Post that the newly merged companies may choose to pocket the spare change instead.

This merger comes one month after Wal-Mart announced its $4 generic drug giveaway. Target says it will also reduce prices for generics at its pharmacies.

Photo courtesy of Reuters.

"CVS, Drug Benefit Manager to Merge" (Washington Post)