Beyond MoCo

Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Dennis James Harrison, age 40, of Rocky Ridge, Maryland, to 45 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of children to produce child pornography, related to the sexual exploitation of two minors who were between the ages of 10 and 12 at the time of the abuse.  Chief Judge Bredar also ordered that, upon his release from prison, defendant Harrison must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”).

Harrison also had a conviction from August 12, 2009, in the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County, Pennsylvania, for possession of child pornography and was a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest in this federal case.


Beyond MoCo

With the unemployment rate at 3.7% and employers planning to hire 15% more new graduates from the Class of 2023 than they did from the Class of 2022, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best Places to Find a Job, with nearby Columbia, MD (Howard County) ranked #2 on the list.

Columbia, Maryland, has the highest median annual household income (adjusted by cost of living), $104,486, which is 3.5 times higher than in Newark, New Jersey, the city with the lowest at $30,271. To determine the strongest local job markets in the U.S., WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 32 key metrics. The data set ranges from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary. Top 10 and bottom 10 can be seen below:


MoCo Government

The Montgomery County Council is currently seeking applicants to fill three upcoming vacancies on the Montgomery County Planning Board. In October 2022, the County Council appointed five temporary acting Planning Board members. All members serve until their successors are appointed.

The Council intends to appoint successors, before February 28, 2023, for three members. The Council is expected to appoint the remaining two positions, including the chair, by June 14, 2023 and will advertise to fill those positions at a later date.


Maryland

Six decades of delivering joy. Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring is one of the largest hospitals in Maryland. It was founded in 1963 by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and has led all Maryland facilities in new births since its inception. On January 10th, the hospital celebrates its 60th anniversary.

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Gaithersburg

Yesterday we reported that Texas Parrillada at 9631 Lost Knife Rd in Gaithersburg has closed with the restaurant’s last day of service being on Sunday, January 1. Now we know that the restaurant will be replaced by Los Amigos– a Mexican restaurant. We are told the restaurant plans to offer authentic Mexican cuisine and hopes to open on January 18th:

Texas Parillada had a long run in the Montgomery Village Crossing shopping center, which is home to BLT Grill, Hook & Reel, and Roy Rogers. the restaurant offered menu items that included Tex-Mex staples like burritos, carne asada, enchiladas, and tacos.


Damascus

Bryan Bresee has officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, according to his Instagram post from earlier Monday afternoon. The 6’5, 305lb Clemson defensive lineman  graduated from Damascus High School in 2019. He is the former No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2020, and played three years at Clemson, missing significant time in 2021 with an ACL tear. He is widely expected to be drafted in the first round. His announcement and more on his time at Damascus below:

When I committed to play football for Clemson University, I never could have imagined how special this opportunity would be. The support I have received from the Clemson community the past 3 seasons has been amazing. I truly appreciate this experience.


MoCo

The D.C. region’s very first baby of 2023 was born at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring at 12:03am on Sunday morning (New Year’s Day).

According to Fox 5, “The baby boy named Lael (pronounced Lyle) is the son of Brenda and Renauld Sabuni. He arrived at 12:03 a.m. and weighs eight pounds, 10 ounces. The hospital staff say mom and baby are doing well and look forward to joining their two brothers at home.” Fun Fact: Holy Cross Hospital of Silver Spring has been serving the community since 1963. It has led all Maryland facilities in new births since its inception. Dora Jean Duckett was the first baby born at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring back in 1963.


Restaurants

Over a year ago we let you know that Black Lion Café, which has a location in Rockville, will be opening a new location in the Fenton Silver Spring apartments at 8240 Fenton St in Silver Spring. After a previously planned November 1st opening that was pushed back, a new opening date of Monday, January 2nd was set. The cafe announced another delay on Instagram (post available below), stating that the “opening has been delayed, but not for long. Stay tuned for updates!”

The cafe opened its first location at the Traville Gateway shopping center in late 2016. Black Lion Café sources its coffee from three regions of Ethiopia known for producing some of the best tasting coffee beans in the world. Keffa, the region of Ethiopia that gave the name ‘coffee’ to the bean, Yergacheffe, and Harrar. Featured photo courtesy of Taste MoCo


Maryland

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the January firearm deer hunting season opens Jan. 6, 2023, in Deer Management Region B, which includes all of the state except the westernmost counties. Hunters with a valid hunting license may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this season.

The winter firearm season is open Jan. 6-7 in all of Region B. The season is also open through Sunday, Jan. 8 on private and designated public lands in Cecil and St. Mary’s counties, and on private lands only in Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Washington (Zone 1), and Worcester counties. Shooting hours end at 10:30 a.m. in Kent and Montgomery counties.


Education

Per MCPS: Staff and students are strongly encouraged to test prior to returning from the holiday break, especially if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, may have been exposed to COVID-19, or were in a higher risk exposure situation like public travel or large indoor gatherings.

Test Kit Information: Testing is an important way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our school community. Montgomery County residents have multiple free at-home testing options. Order free rapid test kits by mail through COVID.gov.


MCFRS

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) assisted in a baby delivery at approximately 6:45am on New Year’s morning, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

Per Piringer, “While driving to the hospital, the baby was delivered in the car on the ICC (great work by 911 caller and call-taker, prior to EMS arrival).” The call was initially reported as a medical emergency on westbound MD200 ICC between Georgia Ave. and Shady Grove Rd at 6:51am on Sunday morning, but a 7:04 update revealed that MCFRS EMIHS was “transporting 2 patients, mother & baby, NLT, Happy New Year!!!.” Photos below:


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