NIH Agrees to Notify County of Outbreaks — The agency only announced the event about a year after an antibiotic-resistant bacteria led directly to the death of seven patients at its research hospital in Bethesda. That led to some consternation among county officials, who pushed county health staff to come up with a system for notification of such incidents. [Washington Post]

Montgomery Mall Espresso Spot, Eatery Seeks Alcohol License — Aroma Espresso Bar, the Israeli Panera-like import making its first foray into the D.C. market with a location in Montgomery Mall, will have a beer, wine/liquor hearing with the county next month. [Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row]

3 Spots to Sit With Santa This Holiday Season — The jolly big man from the North Pole is, as always, in high demand and as the holiday shopping season begins there are already three places in Bethesda and Chevy Chase where you can see him. [Chevy Chase Patch]