Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Bus Crashes Into Jewelry Store in Wheaton

Published March 2, 2023 at 11:27AM | Updated March 2, 2023 at 12:09PM

A collision involving a Metro bus has Veirs Mill Rd shut down between Reedie Dr and University Blvd, according to Montgomery County Police. Drivers should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes. The incident occurred at the Jewelry Buyers at 2575 Ennalls Ave in Wheaton around 9:30am on Thursday, March 2. Per Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services: “Montgomery County Fire Rescue is currently active at an incident located on the corner of Veirs Mill Road and Ennalls Avenue. Bus versus car with the bus into a building. 3 people transported with non-life threatening injuries.” We will post an update when additional information is available. Feature photo courtesy of Alex Chapelle. jewelry

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Minimum Wage Will Increase to $16.70 on July 1

By Patrick Herron

Published March 2, 2023 at 8:38AM

Per Montgomery County: The minimum wage will again increase in Montgomery County on July 1. Sponsored by then-County Council member, and current County Executive, Marc Elrich and signed into legislation on Nov. 17, 2017, Bill 28-17 raises the minimum wage incrementally each July 1. Based on the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) for Washington-Baltimore, the Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer has set the rate for the increase of minimum wage for July 2023 for large employers (those with 51 employees or more) at $16.71 per hour.

After hitting the $15 minimum wage rate in 2021, the law 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. Starting July 1, the County minimum wage will increase to $16.70 per hour for large employers. The rate for mid-sized employers will be $15 per hour. The rate for small employers will be $14.50 per hour.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Committees to Meet March 2 to Discuss Expanded Wellness Services in High Schools and Mental Health Support

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 10:06PM

Per Montgomery County: The joint Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education and Culture (EC) Committee will meet on Thursday, March 2 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) amendments for the High School Wellness Center and Expanded Wellness Services project. They will also receive updates on the implementation of expanded wellness services in high schools and the implementation of mental health supports for youth. The members of the HHS Committee include Chair Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Laurie-Anne Sayles. The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Albornoz and Kristin Mink.

The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet at 10 a.m. for a policy discussion about Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB). The committee will also review Expedited Bill 5-23, Personnel and Human Resources – Prospective Employees – Health Care Privacy, and Bill 8-23, Boards, Committees, and Commissions – Open Meetings – Supplemental Requirements. The members of the GO Committee include Chair Kate Stewart, Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Sidney Katz.

Rockville

Veterans and Military Members Wanted for City of Rockville Ceremonies

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 9:58PM

Per the City of Rockville: Rockville’s annual Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies each include a member of the military as a featured speaker. Rockville and Montgomery County residents who have retired from, or currently serve in, the United States military are eligible to take part in the ceremonies. The Memorial Day ceremony will be held Monday, May 29. The Veterans Day ceremony will be held Saturday, Nov. 11. Volunteer speakers must be comfortable speaking in public and must prepare a five- to seven-minute speech about their experiences in the armed forces, including what it means to serve and to honor those who have served.

Rockville

Bike Safely From the City of Rockville

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 9:57PM

Per the City of Rockville: Rockville is a great place to get around by all modes of transportation. People may drive to a park, bike to work, or walk or roll to a store. Traffic safety is a shared responsibility. Just like drivers, people walking, rolling, and bicycling need to do their part to keep themselves and everyone else on the road safe. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when bicycling:

Rockville

‘Rockville Means Business’ Event to Highlight How Vendors Can Work with City Government

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 9:54PM

Per the City of Rockville: Rockville’s Procurement Division will host an event in April offering vendors the opportunity to learn more about doing business with city government. Registration is now open for “Rockville Means Business” on Thursday, April 20 at Glenview Mansion at Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The event, from 9 a.m.-noon, will feature information sessions and exhibits by city departments giving vendors the opportunity to interact with City of Rockville staff. A continental breakfast will be available.

MoCo Government

Voluntary Rent Guideline Increase Set at 5.8 Percent

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 5:58PM

Per Montgomery County: Under requirements of Montgomery County law, the Voluntary Rent Guideline (VRG) is updated annually to represent the prior year increase in the rental component of the Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metropolitan Area. Based on that, the VRG for Montgomery County has been set at 5.8 percent. That guideline went into effect on Feb. 24. The VRG for 2022 was 0.4 percent. Per the County law, a notice of rent increase must be in writing and delivered to a tenant at least 90 days prior to the effective date of the rent increase. The limit on rent increase notices applies to all County-licensed residential rentals, including rental units in multifamily buildings, houses, townhouses, individual condominium units and accessory dwelling units.

Hillandale

MoCo Scratch-off Fan Wins $100,000 Top Prize

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 5:55PM

The construction worker is married with two children. He plans to put most of the prize in the bank but might take a trip to El Salvador, his native country, to visit family members. Hillandale Beer & Wine in Silver Spring was the home of the winning scratch-off. For selling a $100,000 top-prize winning instant ticket, the Montgomery County retailer located at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery. The bonus equals 1% of the prize. The $100,000 Extreme Cash game is one of five $30 scratch-offs and went on sale in September 2020. Five $100,000 top prizes still remain unclaimed along with two $5,000 prizes and 29,600 others ranging from $30 to $500.”

Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Maryland State Police Investigating Discovery Of Human Skeletal Remains In Cecil County

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 5:36PM

Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains found Sunday in a wooded area in Cecil County. Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on February 26, troopers from the North East Barrack received a call from two hunters in a wooded area off of Mountain Hill Road, near Route 7 in Perryville. They told police that they located possible human skeletal remains along with a firearm, clothes, and jewelry. Troopers responded along with crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division. Investigators located the remains, a .22 LR/410 bore combination rifle and a gray backpack. Crime scene technicians processed the scene for evidence. The skeletal remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for analysis.

Police believe the deceased to be a Caucasian male, 6-feet tall, approximately 50 to 60 years old with a healed collarbone break and a healed broken rib. The preliminary investigation indicates the presence of a possible camp in the area where the remains were located.

Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Public Libraries Celebrates ‘Read Across America Week’ March 2-6 with Volunteers Pairing with Children in Reading Program

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 1:14PM

Courtesy MCPL

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Libraries is partnering with the Jewish Council for the Aging Heyman Interages Center (JCA), or Interages, to celebrate “Read Across America Week” by providing a reading program at selected branches. The special week is March 2-6. The one-on-one program will pair JCA volunteers with children between kindergarten and third grade. The volunteers have been recruited, vetted and trained by JCA in communication and intergenerational interaction. Reading sessions will be at the Gaithersburg and Wheaton libraries.

“Getting our young people inspired to read is one of the most important things we can do in providing great educations for our upcoming generations,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Having a reading partner often is the key to making reading fun and interesting. The Read Across America program in which Montgomery County Public Libraries partners with the Jewish Council for the Aging is a model program we should duplicate wherever possible—including right at home.”

Silver Spring

Up to $100,000 Available to Winning Proposal for Public Art in Gene Lynch Urban Park in Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 11:52AM | Updated March 2, 2023 at 12:57PM

Per Montgomery County: Artist proposals are now being accepted to create a permanent art installation at Gene Lynch Urban Park in Downtown Silver Spring. The park, which will open in spring, sits on a quarter acre at the intersection of Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue, immediately adjacent to the former Discovery Channel Headquarters building and across the street from the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center and Silver Spring Metro Station. The winning proposal could earn up to $100,000 for its artist. The deadline to submit qualifications to be considered is March 10. The public will select the winning artist from the group of finalists through an online voting process.

There will be a two-step selection process. Applicants should submit their professional qualifications and examples of a broad range of their exterior public work, as outlined in the application requirements. Incomplete applications will not be considered. An artist selection panel will review initially submitted materials to develop a short list of finalists based on qualifications and artistic excellence as demonstrated by past work, other professional accomplishments and the likelihood of successfully completing the project within the expected timeframe.