MoCoSnow

Hot and humid conditions are expected today, according to the National Weather Service. High temperatures will reach the mid to upper 90s today and the Heat Index will be around 100 degrees. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible the closer you get to Washington, D.C. this afternoon, but the biggest concern for strong to severe storm with damaging winds remains south of DC.

Friday is expected to be similar to today, with temperatures again reaching the mid 90s and feeling like its 100 degrees. The weekend will bring even hotter temps, with actual highs in the upper 90s and the heat index nearing 105 degrees. The state of Maryland sent out the following message yesterday:


Maryland

With Americans quitting their jobs at record rates during the so-called “Great Resignation,” even in the face of rising inflation, WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s States With the Highest Job Resignation Rates. WalletHub ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on how frequently people are leaving their places of employment, and Maryland has the 8th lowest resignation rate in the United States.  Below, you can see highlights from the report.

Maryland Job Resignation Stats


Restaurants

Èkó House, a modern Pan-African restaurant located in Rockville Town Square announces its grand opening weekend on July 29 and 30, 2022. Èkó House, which celebrates Nigerian culture with fusion cuisine, art, and entertainment, has been open since February, but will have its ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration next weekend. “With exquisite cuisine, carefully curated interior, and exciting ambiance, each moment transports you to the vibrant city of Lagos. “

Attending Friday’s ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. will be: Will Jawando, Montgomery County Council Member; Marji Graf, President & CEO, Rockville Chamber of Commerce; Ricky Barker, Director, Community Planning and Development Services; and Cindy Rivarde, Director, Rockville Economic Development Inc., among others. On Saturday, July 30, SIMI, the Afrobeats singer/songwriter, Isaac Gerald and the Ayo Band will perform from 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Tickets start at $75 and can be purchased in advance here.  “As one of the few Nigerian restaurants in the DMV, we are excited to share the richness of Nigeria’s culture and cuisine with the Rockville community,” said Yomi Ajao, co-founder, Èkó House. “We want the community and the greater region to experience Èkó (Lagos), here in Rockville, Maryland. Rockville Town Square offers an array of culinary offerings, and we are thrilled that Èkó House is now an option.”


Montgomery Parks

In one of the most interesting stories of the week, Montgomery County Park Police asked a man to leave before the man could play music through his very impressive sound system at Sligo-Dennis Local Park in Silver Spring on Tuesday evening. According to Park Rules & Regulations, Chapter IV: Prohibited Activities and Conduct; Section 12: Amplified Sound and Noise: “No person shall operate any device to amplify sound or otherwise create excessive noise so as to disturb the peace and public enjoyment…”, but a lot of people were still left wondering what it could have sounded like.


Montgomery Parks

New program provided opportunities for teenagers to help build and maintain natural surface trails across Montgomery County.

Montgomery Parks is aiming to increase diversity in the mountain biking community with a recently launched Trail Ambassador Program. A group of nine teenagers graduated from the program on July 5, 2022, after spending two weeks helping build and maintain natural surface trails in parks around Montgomery County. In exchange for their hard work, participants received a mountain bike, helmet, bike lock, and certificate. The mountain bikes, a big incentive for participants, were made possible through funding from the Montgomery Parks Foundation.


MoCo Government

DPS issues hundreds of permits for fences each year. Generally, a permit is required to install any type of fence in Montgomery County.

To replace an existing fence with the same kind of fence in the same location and at the same height, a fence permit is not required if the original fence was permitted. If the existing fence was not permitted, a fence permit is required for the replacement fence.


MoCo

The 30th Anniversary of the self-driving Farm Tour and Harvest Sale was celebrated in 2019, but the Montgomery Office of Agriculture’s informal tour was not held in the past two years due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The tour is back with 20 farms open to the public. The Farm Tour brochure can be viewed at brochure front (montgomerycountymd.gov). For more information, call 301-590-2823.

Several farms are open for “pick your own” opportunities. Some will be selling fruits, vegetables or meats. Refreshments will be available at other stops. Eight locations will have animals that can be viewed up close. Montgomery County’s emerging brewing and vineyard industries will be found at seven stops.


MoCo Government

Hans Riemer has officially conceded in the still-to-be determined Democratic primary for Montgomery County Exefutive. Riemer received 14,911 (20.4%) votes, coming in third behind David Blair (28,961, 39.63%) and incumbent Marc Elrich (27,770, 38%) with all 258 Election Day precincts reporting. The mail-in and provisional ballots still have to be counted. Riemer’s message can be seen below:

Earlier today I conceded


Bethesda

Lazzaro’s confirmed its closing on Sunday morning when owner Larry Lazarro wrote the following in response to a post on the Support MoCo FB page: “Thank you for all you and everyone has done on this page. Business was great and so was the feedback. It was a personal family health matter. But this is not the end I’m looking to move into a brick/ mortar. This place fell into my lap. Goin into the mall was never my first choice. lol Thank you to everyone we’ll miss seeing your beautiful faces every day! We love you and appreciate what everyone has done for us in this group! And the family is doing fine now.” The restaurant featured imported cold cuts that are cut fresh daily, homemade meatballs, cannolis, and more. Owner Larry Lazzaro told us his family owned Lucia’s Deli on University Blvd in Wheaton back in the 80’s. The business was eventually sold and the company became what is now Mamma Lucia.

The menu consists of the best selling sausages and sides from their DC location, as well as boozy milkshakes and a funnel cake bar. HalfSmokes sister restaurant Butter Me Up opened its Montgomery Mall location last week. Butter Me Up is located in the old Aroma Espresso Bar location, which is downstairs near the Old Navy entrance and features “instagrammable” decor, will offer a menu that consists of a variety of breakfast sandwiches, toasts, sides, bowls, smoothies, and juices.


Gaithersburg

On Tuesday, August 2, these neighborhoods will hold events to increase drug prevention awareness, generate support for anti-crime programs, encourage residents to be involved in their communities, and send a message that neighborhoods and businesses are organized to fight back against crime. The NNO programs help bring together residents, law enforcement agencies, local officials, civic groups, and neighborhood organizations.

Participating neighborhoods include:


Health

Residents who are identified by public health officials as close contacts of current monkeypox cases will be offered vaccination. Public health staff from the County’s sexual health programs will be working with community-based non-profit organizations to identify residents who could be at risk and are contacting them directly to offer an opportunity to be vaccinated.   As vaccine supply increases, additional residents who are at-risk will be identified and offered vaccination.

Currently, monkeypox vaccinations will be limited to:


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