Author: Patrick Herron

Montgomery Village

Montgomery County Police to Host Cannabis Intoxication Impaired Driving Labs

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County Department of Police will be holding cannabis intoxication impaired driving labs later this week at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy in Montgomery Village. According to MCPD,  “Montgomery County Department of Police’s Cannabis Intoxication Impaired Driving Labs are unique employee training programs that promote community engagement, increase citizen participation in understanding police activity, and work to enhance traffic safety while aiming to deter impaired driving.

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Beyond MoCo

Beyond MoCo: Settlement Reached with Baltimore Pet Store After Alleged Violation of Puppy Mills Law

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office:  Upholding his commitment to protecting the public from those who violate consumer laws, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement with Charm City Puppies, Inc. and its owner, Wayne Cossentino (Charm City Puppies). The Division alleged that Charm City Puppies violated the Consumer Protection Act when it sold puppies to consumers in violation of the “No More Puppy Mills Act.”

The Maryland legislature passed the No More Puppy Mills Act, and in January 2020 it became illegal for retail pet stores to sell puppies. Under the settlement, Charm City Puppies is barred from offering, selling, or transferring dogs from Maryland. Charm City Puppies and its owner also agreed to refund payments made by Maryland consumers who purchased dogs with certain conditions since January 1, 2020, or pay for treatment of certain conditions. The settlement bans Charm City Puppies from selling dogs in Maryland and requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $75,000 that increases to $250,000 if the company or its owners breach the agreement.

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MoCo Government

Statement from County Executive Marc Elrich Regarding Antisemitic Incidents in the County Over the Weekend

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: “Over the weekend we learned about new antisemitic incidents of hate and intolerance in our County. The first took place at three MCPS schools and the other in a neighborhood in Kensington. For several months, we’ve seen and responded to hate speech being spread across our community in the form of graffiti and flyers dropped off in neighborhoods in a cowardly manner while many of us sleep. Last night flyers were left in the Kensington area targeting several Jewish families. Police are investigating the incident and, as with each incident before, we intend to prosecute any hate crime to the fullest extent of the law. If you have information that could help the investigation you’re encouraged to contact 240.773.TIPS (8477.)

On Saturday, we learned about 3 separate incidents in which swastikas were drawn into desks last week in Montgomery County Public Schools. MCPS leaders tell us the incidents were reported, the people responsible identified and punishment administered.

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Restaurants

“Downtown Brew’s” to Open This Week

By Patrick Herron

“Downtown Brew’s” at 5751 Fishers Lane in Rockville is scheduled to hold its soft opening this Thursday, located at the former site of Downtown Beer and Wine.

According to the store, “We have on and off premise service so people can come here and enjoy a glass of wine and beer or take them with them.” “Downtown Brew’s” will also offer beer and wine home delivery services and plans to eventually offer charcuteries, gourmet toast and coffee. Accoridng to the highlight tabs on its social media, additional information, including hours of operation, will be available via the @dtbrews Instagram account, soon.

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Silver Spring

Detectives Ask for Assistance Locating Missing 29-Year-Old Woman

By Patrick Herron

Catherine is approximately 5-feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. She has blue-green eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a pink and red winter coat and gray sweatpants.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Catherine Michelle Ruano is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

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Rio

Update on Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen in Rio

By Patrick Herron

The restaurant is part of Jeffeary Miskiri’s Miskiri Hospitality Group, which describes itself as a unique collective of Black, family and woman-owned products and restaurants in the DC area. Miss Toya’s will serve southern-influenced dishes such as red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese and a southern fried chicken sandwich. It will be joining the recently announced Sportrock Climbing Centers, Charley Prime, Le Macaron, as well as the recently opened Donutchew, as locally-based businesses opening in Gaithersburg’s Rio. Below you’ll see a video of the recently opened full-service Miss Toya’s restaurant in Downtown Silver Spring:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChZ-tyJgUP_/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c53984a8-5e53-4a38-ac20-f4e873b9c6dc

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council and Committee Meetings on January 23, 2023

By Patrick Herron

The Economic Development (ECON) Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. to receive a presentation from the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) on economic development strategies that have been determined to establish and maintain a business-friendly environment in the County. In addition, the committee will receive a briefing from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) on the County’s economic indicators. The members of the ECON Committee include Chair Natali Fani-González, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles.

The Education and Culture (EC) Committee will also meet at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Monthly Financial Reports and receive an update on the MCPS Requested FY24 Capital Budget and Amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Statement Condemning Antisemitic Symbols at Montgomery County Public Schools

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Today, the Montgomery County Council issued the following statement condemning the drawings of swastikas found at three separate Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

“We are once again saddened and disgusted at the displays of hate targeting the Jewish community at three Montgomery County schools. 

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MCPS

Update: Swastikas Drawn on Desks at Three Separate Schools Over the Past Week; Statement From MCPS Condemning Antisemitism

By Patrick Herron

These specific three instances are not the first this year in which the Jewish community in our county and our schools have experienced acts of antisemitic hate or bias. We must do more, and we will. In collaboration with advocates such as the Jewish Community Relations Council, we will continue our efforts to educate our students about antisemitism. Our schools have held and will continue to hold restorative conversations with students and staff, and schools have held community meetings to discuss incidents, but honest and forthright conversations must continue. As a community, we must speak loudly and together against antisemitism and all acts of hate and racism. We must be inclusive and welcoming of everyone in our diverse and vibrant community. Our differences make us stronger and better and make our community an exciting place to live; there is no room for hate.

To learn and to do so at high levels, all students must feel physically and, yes, emotionally safe. When they experience anxiety because of acts of hatred, they can’t be at their best in their classroom. We must embrace the work necessary to ensure our scholars are in safe and welcoming school environments.

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Kensington

Drawing of Swastika Found at Middle School

By Patrick Herron

A drawing of a swastika was found on a desk at Silver Creek Middle School at 3701 Saul Rd in Kensington on Thursday. The school sent out the following message to the community on Friday:

Our highest priority is the safety and security of our students. As a No Place for Hate school, we find this behavior to be unacceptable and against the core values we embrace at Silver Creek. As such, students who engage in this type of behavior will be given appropriate disciplinary actions aligned with the MCPS student code of conduct.”

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