Olney

On Friday, May 20, employees of the Starbucks at 16806 Georgia Ave in Olney voted 9-4 in favor of unionizing, according to a tweet by Starbucks Workers United.  In April, employees of the store sent a letter to Starbucks President Howard Schultz announcing their intention to unionize, saying they had attempted on numerous occasions to communicate with management regarding their grievances but believe their concerns fell on deaf ears. The letter went on to say that the employees had, “grown increasingly exhausted and stressed, not to mention faced with constant, inconsistently enforced changes.”

Olney is the third Maryland Starbucks location to unionize, joining stores in Baltimore and Linthicum Heights. On Friday Council Vice-President Evan Glass tweeted support for the Olney Starbuck’s, saying he was “really proud that the Starbucks on Georgia Ave in Olney is officially the first Starbucks in Montgomery County and 3rd in Maryland to unionize. Stopped by today to support the workers as they voted. Congrats and thank you.”


Silver Spring

On Monday, May 23, 2022, at approximately 8 a.m., Breanna Hooper was last seen in the 12400 block of Braxfield Ct.    Hooper is 6-feet tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black leggings and white shoes.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Breanna Hooper is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.


MoCo Police

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, The V&I Unit were conducting surveillance at the Rockville Hotel, located at 3 Research Court, when detectives observed a black Chevrolet Tahoe that appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle. To ensure that they were not hindering another police investigation, detectives contacted the hotel to determine who the vehicle belonged to.

During their investigation, detectives determined that the vehicle was registered to Taber who identified himself as an “agent” when he checked into the hotel. He displayed what hotel staff believed to be law enforcement identification and stated that his “government issued vehicle” needed to be parked in front of the hotel. Through further investigation, it was determined that Taber was not an “agent” and falsely identified himself as such.


MoCo Government

Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro has endorsed David Blair for County Executive. In a press release from the Blair campaign, Navarro is quoted as saying, “I heartily endorse David Blair for County Executive because I believe he will bring the right leadership ability and experience that will move us forward towards a more innovative and economically vibrant county as he builds on the progress we have made in many crucial areas,” and “This COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated our challenges, but it has also opened exciting opportunities for innovation, equity and shared prosperity. David understands the importance of bringing everyone into the conversation, including traditionally underrepresented communities, and has a proven record of visioning and executing big, bold ideas. This seminal moment requires strong leadership that will leverage our assets in order to expand opportunities for all. We need David’s bold and enterprising leadership in the office of the County Executive.”

Navarro, the first and only Latina to serve on the Montgomery County Council, has represented District 4 since 2009, twice been chosen by her Council colleagues to serve as Council President, and is well known for her strong leadership on expanding early childhood education, advancing economic development in Wheaton and East County, ensuring racial equity and social justice are part of County policymaking, improving fiscal sustainability and government operations, and more throughout her impressive career.


Olney

168 Asian Burrito at 18000 Georgia Ave in Olney has announced on social media that it will be reopening on June 10. The restaurant, which is located inside of the Olney Exxon gas station, had previously announced that it would be closed from 4/18-5/26 due to “family reasons.” 168 Asian Burrito serves sushi burritos, poke bowls, and Chinese buns.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd46OkmBH2o/


Kensington

Swartz is approximately 5-feet-8-inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He has brown eyes and is balding with brown and gray hair. Swartz may be operating a black 2017 Toyota Avalon with MD tags 2CV7753. Police and family are concerned for his welfare.

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


Beyond MoCo

On July 31 at the Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, TN, 73-year-old professional wrestler Ric Flair, real name Richard Fliehr, will be making his return to the ring for one last match at an event titled Starrcast V.  One person who isn’t excited about the Nature Boy’s return to the ring is CBS radio anchor and part time news writer for WTOP  Christopher Cruise. Wrestling fans will remember Cruise as a play-by-play commentator and interviewer for World Championship Wrestling during the late 80’s and early 90’s. Cruise argues that a man Flair’s age , with serious health problems, should not be allowed to compete.

Prior to this summer’s upcoming event, Flair’s last wrestling match took place in Orlando, FL against a man called Sting at a TNA wrestling show in September 2011. Though he hasn’t wrestled in nearly 11 years, Flair has made many appearances on various wrestling programs, including WWE, in recent years. Reaction to the announcement of Flair’s upcoming match has been mixed.


MoCo Government

“The Council was delighted that Planning Board Member Rubin reapplied to serve on the Planning Board for a full term, after completing a partial term in this role,” said Council President Gabe Albornoz. “Her experience, professionalism and commitment to the job are outstanding. The Council is grateful for her public service, and we look forward to continuing to work with her on important land use and planning matters that impact our entire community and the future of Montgomery County.”

Ms. Rubin was first appointed to a partial term on the Planning Board in Oct. 2021 after she retired as a special project manager for the Montgomery County Planning Department. Prior to that, she served as acting deputy planning director with oversight responsibility for the Divisions of County wide Planning and Policy, Management Services, Information Technology and Innovation and Research and Strategic Projects.


MCPS

The new HD channel joins four other County HD channels and nine standard-definition (SD) channels available through Xfinity TV. The channels are part of the Connect Montgomery Alliance (CMA) that provides a variety of programming focused on local issues.

MCPS-TV airs mental health awareness programs such as “Mindful Moments” and “MCPS Waymaking,” as well as live coverage of County Board of Education meetings and Superintendent’s Community Conversations.


MoCo

CFW Commissioners and representatives from Montgomery County Public Libraries judged over 30 entries ranging from short stories to drawings based on creativity and content. Winners were selected from four categories: elementary, middle, high school, and adult. The 2022 winners and honorable mention recipients are:

Elementary


Traffic

“Each year, we see vehicle breakdowns during the hot days of summer that could have been avoided with a simple check prior to a trip,” said MDOT SHA Chief Operating Officer Andre Futrell.  “A vehicle check only takes a few minutes and can help avoid costly repairs and keep you on the road.”

In 2021, MDOT SHA highway response technicians provided nearly 36,000 motorist assists, most of them due to vehicle mechanical breakdowns. Common sense preventative maintenance can provide a level of vehicle protection for drivers who are preparing to travel by motor vehicle during the hot summer months.


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