”Family and friends visiting for Independence Day weekend? Get them moving and into nature! These are some activities happening around Montgomery Parks Friday, July 1, to Monday, July 4!” by Montgomery Parks
Boats
Join the first in-person Visioning Workshop for the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan on July 6
The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department have announced their July 2022 calendar of events and meetings. All persons attending Planning Board meetings in person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902) must be vaccinated, must sign up in advance, and may be required to show proof of vaccination. Those who participate are expected to observe general rules of decorum and address only the issues relevant to the decision before the Planning Board.
Based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) for the Washington-Baltimore region, the Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer has set the rate for the increase of minimum wage for July 2022 for large employers (those with 51 employees or more) at $15.65 per hour. After hitting the $15 minimum wage rate last year, the law now requires the Chief Administrative Officer to adjust the rate each year. The change is based on the previous calendar year. Previous years were based on rate of increase determined by the Montgomery County Council to get to $15.
“This is an important next step to ensure that the minimum wage keeps up with inflation,” said County Executive Elrich. “For too long, the minimum wage was stagnant and did not change based on inflation. I was proud to champion the increase in minimum wage when I was a County Councilmember and pleased to see it finally reached $15 per hour for large employers last year, and under the law, once the minimum wage hits $15, it is then increased based on inflation so that low wage workers are not left behind. A decent wage is the path to more opportunity and improved equity.”
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Press release from Frederick County Fire & Rescue: On Wednesday June 29, 2022, the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services was dispatched to a building fire at Camp Airy, located at 14938 Old Camp Airy Road, Thurmont, Maryland. A Frederick County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer as well as a Maryland State Trooper were first on the scene and confirmed smoke on the second floor of the structure and that the building was evacuated. Arriving fire crews located the camp’s dining hall with visible smoke and a rapid intervention dispatch, tanker task force, and second alarm were requested. The incident brought in over 100 firefighters from Maryland and Pennsylvania to battle the blaze. Fire and Rescue crews were able to isolate the fire to the dining hall and Camp Airy staff relocated all campers safely to a distant section of the property. The fire was brought under control in about three hours but numerous crews remained on scene for the duration of the day extinguishing hot spots.
As is normal for a fire this substantial, hot spots rekindled overnight and throughout the morning today bringing crews back out to continuously monitor and put water on it. Today, local construction company, W. F. Delauter & Son provided an excavator to assist with moving debris so that firefighters could access material that was still smoldering. Over 85,000 gallons of water was placed on the remnants of the structure to ensure it was completely extinguished.
Together with Maryland Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith and representatives from Maryland State Police and the Annapolis YWCA, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCPYVS) hosted a roundtable discussion about combating domestic violence and human trafficking, in addition to sharing victim support strategies.
“Comprehensive crime prevention and victim support are critical to reducing incidents of heinous crimes like domestic violence and human trafficking,” said Governor Hogan. “We are honored to share our progress and best practices with this delegation, in the hope that through these conversations, we can help those impacted by these crimes not only here in Maryland, but anywhere in the world.”
Board of Elections Installs 55 Ballot Drop Box Locations for Upcoming Gubernatorial Primary Election
Eligible voters in Maryland have been mailed applications for mail-in ballots. Applications for mail-in ballots must be received by July 12. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters via first-class U.S. Mail beginning June 13.
To be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than July 19, and the oath on the postage-paid return envelope that arrives with the ballot must be signed. Those who choose to cast their votes using ballot drop boxes must submit their completed ballots by the final collection time—8 p.m. on Tuesday, July—for their ballot to count.
Funding for the grants is provided in partnership with the Montgomery County Government, with the support of County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council.
“We are excited to work with the grant recipients this upcoming year, in addition to all of the community members who participate in our trainings,” MCAEL Executive Director Kathy Stevens. “Through the work of the entire coalition, more and more adults in Montgomery County are gaining the English skills they need to speak English, read news or writing skills to fill out a job application.”
As the result of a recent residential burglary trend, the Montgomery County Police – 2nd District Investigative Section was conducting follow-up investigations when they obtained footage from a June 21, 2022, burglary that occurred in the 5300 block of Brookeway Drive. The surveillance footage indicated four unknown suspects entered the residence and stole a GMC Yukon SUV, which was subsequently recovered in the area the next day.
On Thursday, June 30, 2022, at approximately 1:20 a.m., officers from the Montgomery County 2nd District Special Assignment Team responded to the 6000 block of Johnson Avenue for the report of an attempted burglary in progress. Officers from the 2nd District – Special Assignment Team observed a BMW SUV, matching a previous burglary suspect vehicle form June 21, 2022, leaving the area and initiated surveillance.
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Judge David Boynton, defendant, Macdoff Oghenejabo Okah, 46, of Silver Spring, entered a guilty plea to charges of sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult and sexual offense in the third degree. This follows his conviction in a separate case yesterday where a jury found Okah guilty of one count of sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult and three counts of sexual offense in the third degree. He is facing a maximum of 60 years in prison for the combined six counts. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2022 at 1:30 pm.
These cases stem from two incidents involving separate victims at Adventist Healthcare Behavioral Health located in the 14900 block of Broschart Rd. in Rockville. Okah was employed as a Psychiatric Technician there since 2016 and was terminated on June 7, 2019. “This defendant abused his position of trust and authority over the victims, preying on them while they were in a vulnerable state. It took courage for the victims to come forward and that bravery will help to prevent further abuse. We look forward to a lengthy prison sentence in this matter,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
Mount Airy will be hosting a fireworks event on July 3rd. The event will take place at the Mount Airy Carnival Grounds, located at 1008 Twin Arch Rd. Per the Facebook event page: “We are looking forward to seeing you again this year for our fireworks event on July 3rd!!! Here are all the things you need to know:
Three MoCo restaurants have made it onto Eater DC’s “Hottest New Brunches to Try Around D.C.” list that includes some of the most popular new restaurants that offer “D.C.’s most cherished meal.” The restaurants are listed geographically, which puts the three Montgomery County restaurants in the top 3 spots.
Listed first is Melina in Pike & Rose: