Education

The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) is seeking vehicle donations. Donations will help more than 400 high school students learn how to evaluate, repair and refurbish used cars. The ATF is a nonprofit that fosters automotive education by offering students hands-on instruction in maintenance, repair, sales and marketing. As part of the automotive program, students sell the cars at three sales throughout the school year.

The ATF accepts donations year-round between 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday at Damascus, Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley high schools and at the Thomas Edison High School of Technology. Donations may be tax deductible. The first used car sale will take place on December 9th at Gaithersburg High School from 9am-11am.


Crime

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Jalen Thomas Kelley, age 21, of Abingdon, Maryland, for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault within the territorial jurisdiction. Kelley was arrested by the FBI Charlotte Field Office in Wingate, North Carolina, on September 20, 2023.

According to the indictment, between January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2023, the defendant engaged in a sexual act by force and assaulted Victim 1 without consent on board a cruise vessel Carnival Legend, which had a scheduled departure from and an arrival in Baltimore, Maryland.


MoCo

Wiseguy pizza has opened its first MoCo location. The restaurant is located in the space that was previously occupied by Angel’s Pizza at Wheaton Mall (preview video available below).

Wiseguy serves stone-deck oven baked pizza by the slice that’s made with imported ingredients from Italy, homemade sauces, and dough using a special water filtration system. Pizza options include Cheese, Pepperoni, Paneer Tikki (House Masala, Paneer, Mozzarella, Onions, Tomato, Green & Chili Peppers, Cilantro, Jalapeño Sauce), Nashville Hot Chicken, Chicken Parmesan, and Whitestone (Garlic, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Parmigiano, Oregano, Oil from Tuscany Italy).


Maryland

Per the State of Maryland: In preparation for Tropical Storm Ophelia, Governor Wes Moore has asked State departments and agencies to launch a coordinated effort to keep Marylanders safe and informed in the upcoming days. Governor Moore signed Executive Order 01.01.2023.13 declaring a state of emergency in Maryland on Friday, September 22, 2023.  Here is information on what a state of emergency means.

Not all states of emergency are the same. Each state of emergency is different and can change depending on the severity of the event or emergency.  Be sure to check with your local news and with MDEM for updated information related to states of emergency. A state of emergency has been declared in order to allow Maryland to coordinate and request emergency resources and support. A state of emergency allows the Governor to access certain resources, like the National Guard, in order to increase the State’s response.


Arts

The Block Party hosted by REWILD, originally scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 24th, from 11am to 3pm, has been postponed until Sunday, October 1st (same time).

Cabin John Village is set to transform a central stretch into a luxurious urban escape curated by REWILD. Since it’s the end of summer, we’ve chosen a Block Party Theme! The event seeks to offer residents of Potomac, Rockville, and North Bethesda a unique blend of botanical ambiance, gourmet indulgence, art, and activities for all ages. Key Highlights:


MoCoSnow

Per Maryland Governor Wes Moore: “Having been advised by Maryland Department of Emergency Management- MDEM on the impending impact of severe weather predicted as part of Tropical Storm Ophelia, I am declaring a state of emergency.

We are asking all Marylanders to remain vigilant, to stay tuned to local news stations for the latest updates, and to follow any instructions local officials may provide during this state of emergency.


Burtonsville

Per Burtonsville Day organizers: “The Burtonsville Day Celebration Planning Committee met this morning and have decided to cancel our 2023 32nd Annual Burtonsville Day Parade and Celebration event. This we did in concern of both participants’ and organizers’ health and safety concerns. This is an unfortunate and sad decision for all of us and also event participants who show up each year but was a necessary decision to be made. Thank you for all your support and understanding. We hope to see you all next year. Stay safe.”

Prior to Cancellation: “The 32nd Annual Burtonsville Day Parade and Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, will celebrate the theme of “Discovering East County.” The festivities will include three musical performances in association with the Music Center at Strathmore. The one-mile parade will begin at Paint Branch High School and conclude at the Marilyn J. Praisner Library and Community Recreation Center, which is located at 14906 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. The festival will follow from 11 a,m.-3 p.m. on the grounds of the community center.


Germantown

Margarita Bar & Grill is now open at 19201 Frederick Rd in Germantown. The restaurant’s menu features a variety of tacos, burritos, chimichangas, pupusas, fajitas, steaks, salad, and seafood. Margarita options include Cadillac, Skinny, Flavored, Diablo, and Crazy. A video of the space and a few menu items is available in the video below.

Margarita Bar & Grill has taken over the space that was previously occupied by the Fraternal Order of Eagle #3509 and Captain Mori’s Seafood House. Seafood in the Buff, a mobile steamed crab business, operates out of the parking lot next to this location in the summer months.


Entertainment

Update: This event has been postponed until Sunday, October 1st due to inclement weather.

This Sunday, September 24th, from 11am to 3pm, Cabin John Village is set to transform a central stretch into a luxurious urban escape curated by REWILD. Since it’s the end of summer, we’ve chosen a Block Party Theme! The event seeks to offer residents of Potomac, Rockville, and North Bethesda a unique blend of botanical ambiance, gourmet indulgence, art, and activities for all ages.


Crime

Per the Office of the U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland –Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, age 29, a Nigerian national residing in South Africa, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering (with co-conspirators in Maryland), related to a business email compromise (“BEC”) scheme with intended losses of the conspiracy of more than $6 million.  Simon-Ebo arrived in the United States on April 12, 2023, after being extradited from Canada.

According to his plea agreement, from February 2017 until at least July 2017, Simon-Ebo conspired with others to perpetrate a BEC scheme.  Specifically, Simon-Ebo and his co-conspirators, including co-conspirators residing in Maryland, gained unauthorized access to email accounts associated with individuals and businesses targeted by the conspirators and sent false wiring instructions to the victims’ email accounts from “spoofed” emails, which are emails with forged sender addresses, to deceive the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme, called “drop accounts.”


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