Beyond MoCo

Per Montgomery County: On Wednesday, the Office of the County Attorney for Montgomery County filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Northern District of California against McKinsey and Company, Inc. for the company’s role in marketing opioids to the public and medical providers. The suit alleges that the McKinsey defendants served as marketing advisors to several opioid manufacturers, and in this role, helped counter the “emotional message” from the families of overdose victims and advised Purdue on how to “turbocharge” the sale of opioids. To read the full complaint, please click here.

“As Purdue and other pharmaceuticals companies made billions off the harm and death their products brought to millions of Americans, McKinsey and Company, Inc. were their enablers and a profiteer of this blood money,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This is another example of the corporate structure being used to shield people from their immoral actions. They must be made to account for their callous greed and the filing of this lawsuit marks an important milestone in our county’s efforts to do just that. We will aggressively advocate for the many Montgomery County residents who have been harmed by this deadly and preventable epidemic. The actions and decisions of this company were immoral, inhumane, and unconscionable. They need to be held equally accountable.”


White Oak

The suspect is described as a Black male, thin build, approximately 18 to 20-years-old, 5-feet, 10-inches to six-feet tall, with short black hair. He was carrying a white backpack with black trim and wearing a black ski mask, black coat with fur around the hood black jeans and black shoes.


Fairland

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old from the Fairland area of Silver Spring.  Belinda Garcia-Bonilla was last seen on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at approximately 10 p.m., in the 14300 block of Fairdale Rd.

Garcia-Bonilla is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. She has brown eyes and shoulder length hair that is dyed blonde. It is unknown what she was last seen wearing. She was also carrying a red and blue backpack and a separate pink backpack.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


Gaithersburg

Update: Chipotle at Rio Has Reopened After a Temporary Closure

Chipotle Mexican Grill at 205 Boardwalk Pl in Gaithersburg has temporarily closed. A sign on the front door reads, “Due to construction, we are currently close. We apologize for the inconvenience and will reopen as soon as possible.” A representative from Chipotle was not able to provide an estimate on when the restaurant would reopen. There are nearby Chipotle locations at Gaithersburg Square and the Kentlands. We will post an update when additional information is available.


Silver Spring

Per MCPD: A Silver Spring man has been indicted by a Montgomery County grand jury on charges related to a double fatal collision that occurred on Sunday, July 10, 2022, in the intersection of Georgia Avenue and May Street. 24-year-old Daniel Alberto Aviles Gonzalez has been charged with two counts of grossly negligent manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol, driving suspended, and driving on a learner’s permit without supervision.

The investigation by the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit revealed that Aviles Gonzalez was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee south on Georgia Avenue when he struck a Toyota Camry turning left from northbound Georgia Avenue onto May Street. 79-year-old Prabodh Vaid and 77-year-old Nirmala Vaid, a married couple who lived at the corner of May Street and Georgia Ave, died at the scene of the collision. The investigation determined that Aviles Gonzalez was driving at a high rate of speed while under the influence of alcohol.


MoCo

Early Thursday morning, Kevin Lewis of WJLA/ABC 7 announced that he will be leaving the station after 10 years of covering Montgomery County. Kevin Lewis joined the ABC7 News team in August of 2013 and has covered Montgomery County, Maryland, from the get-go. His full statement can be seen below:

“After nearly 10 years, Friday, February 24th, will be my final day at ABC7 in D.C. The decision to leave the station has been incredibly difficult for me to reach… confusion and sadness, but a gnawing sense that it’s time for me to write a new chapter.


Aspen Hill

Espinales is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She has pierced ears and a nose piercing. It is unknown what she was last seen wearing. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Allison Espinales is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301)279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.


Rockville

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 2nd District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 56-year-old from Rockville.  Neil Bernstein was last heard from on Friday, February 17, 2023, at approximately 9:53 a.m. He is missing from Twinbrook Parkway in Rockville.

Bernstein is approximately 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 150 lbs. He has short grey and brown hair and green eyes.  Police and family are concern for his welfare.


Gaithersburg

Potomac Cookie Co is coming to 109A Market St in the Kentlands Square shopping center in Gaithersburg, near Moby Dick and the upcoming Poke Bros. Potomac Cookie is known for its “giant size” 4oz cookies.  Flavors include Choco-delight, Da Fudge, Dorothy’s Slippers, Double Dutch,  Peebee ‘n’ Yay!, and S’more Love. No opening date for Potomac Cookie Co has been announced. Feature photo courtesy of @potomaccookie on Instagram.

In other Kentlands news, construction recently began at both Brio’s Chicken and Neal’s Bagels in Gaithersburg. Both restaurants will be  located in the Kentlands paseo, next to Burtons and across from RanKen Noodle House and My Big Finds. Signage for Brio’s Chicken first went up at the location back in 2020 but the restaurant was delayed several years due to issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. No opening date for the Peruvian chicken restaurant has been announced. Brio’s Chicken previously had a location in Aspen Hill in the Aspen Manor shopping center, where Outback is located, but that location is under new ownership and is now known as Gio’s Chicken.


Downtown Silver Spring

Nike Unite officially opens its Downtown Silver location today, Thursday, February 23, at 10am. The store will be open from 10am-8pm Monday through Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sundays.

Back in June we let you know that the Nike Unite store would be coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. Nike is also opening a store in Bethesda.


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County has released the second-quarter update of its Fiscal Year 2023 Climate Work Plan, highlighting ongoing work on the County’s Climate Action Plan. In the second quarter of FY23, progress was made on more than 50 actions to help reach the goals of the plan. The Climate Action Plan (CAP), unveiled in 2021, is a strategic plan to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and by 100 percent by 2035. The plan seeks to reduce climate-related risks to the County’s residents, businesses and the built and natural environment.

The quarterly progress report summarizes the efforts undertaken by County departments and agencies to implement the CAP through innovative and collaborative projects in clean energy, building, transportation, carbon sequestration, climate adaptation, climate governance, public engagement and zero waste.