Silver Spring

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 16-year-old from Silver Spring.  Angely Lisbeo Lora was last seen on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at approximately 10 p.m., at her residence in the 2300 block of Glenmont Circle in Silver Spring.

Angely is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a creamed colored crop top and windbreaker pants with white stripes on the sides.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


Beyond MoCo

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse – Internet Crimes Against Child Unit arrested a College Park man this morning for possession and distribution of child pornography. The suspect is 47-year-old Patrick Wojahn.

Per Prince George’s County Police: On February 17, 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the PGPD that a social media account operating in the county possessed and distributed suspected child pornography. The image and videos had been uploaded to the social media account in January of 2023. Through various investigative techniques, PGPD investigators discovered the social media account belonged to Wojahn.


Montgomery Parks

The National Park Service has predicted peak bloom for the DC area Cherry Blossoms to fall this year between March 22 – 25, the NPS announced on Monday. According to the NPS, “The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) blossoms are open. Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions. The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).”

Here in MoCo, Montgomery Parks  makes it easy to find and tour cherry blossoms in local parks with its online tree finder map. “People regularly flock to Washington D.C. to enjoy the cherry blossoms and may not even realize there are so many of these trees right here in Montgomery Parks,” said Mike Riley, Director of Montgomery Parks. “Why not pick a park you’ve not yet visited and go enjoy these beautiful trees.”


MCFRS

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

 


Event

Join Us for StoryBox Comics Fair, a two-day festival celebrating local and independent comics authors!

Day 1 – Saturday, June 27th, 11-5pm @ DwightMess compound (805 Silver Spring Ave): Events are open to the public, admission is FREE. Featuring Special Guest Artists, gallery exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, a modeling session (suggested donation) and exhibitors, you can dig in to indie comics and also tour the compound, which features an extensive comics collection, a rare video collection, Risograph and screenprinting studios.


Bethesda

Longtime MCPS teacher and coach Larry Hurd has accepted the Athletic Specialist (formerly known as “Athletic Director”) position at Walter Johnson High School. Hurd, who has been the football coach at the school, will be stepping down as coach in order to take the position. He will be replacing the legendary Tom Rogers. Below is Hurd’s full statement:

“Wildcat Nation,


Education

New York Times bestselling author Sheree Renee Thomas spoke to Northwood High School students during a visit to Maryland last month. Thomas wrote Marvel’s Black Panther: Panther’s Rage novel, adapted from the legendary comics. She is the editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, founded in 1949, and Obsidian, founded in 1975. Last year, she co-curated Carnegie Hall’s historic, citywide Afrofuturism Festival. She also spoke at the Rockville Library on afrofuturism and diversity in sci-fi.

The featured photo, courtesy of MCPS, shows Sheree Renee Thomas speaking to students at Northwood High School.


Education

Per MCPS: The Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators (MCABSE) is accepting submissions for its annual Distinguished African American Scholars.

Applicants must be graduating MCPS high school seniors who plan to pursue post-secondary studies at an institution of higher learning, including community college and technical training schools, for the 2023–2024 school year. Scholars must be committed to academic excellence and to leadership in their high school schools and communities. Principals, resource counselors and college and career information coordinators are asked to submit the name of one student to represent their school.


Education

By a unanimous vote during its business meeting on Feb. 23, the Board of Education (BOE) approved a $3.2 billion Operating Budget recommendation for Fiscal Year 2024. The request includes a $296 million increase—10%—over the current budget and $272 million above the minimum amount required by the maintenance of effort law.

The budget reflects amendments based on BOE feedback to provide focused investments to improve literacy and math across the district. This includes the addition of supervisors, instructional staff and coaches to increase math and literacy support; oversight and progress monitoring for schools, and increased professional development opportunities for staff. The budget also prioritizes salary increases to support recruitment and retention and the addition of security assistants to promote a safe and inclusive school climate.


MoCo Government

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.


Rockville

Lil’ Cakes & Creamery will open its newest location at 844 Rockville Pike, the former site of Sam’s Cafe & Market, on Saturday, March 11. The grand opening will include “free cupcakes or ice cream everyday for a week” to the first 50 guests, face painting, and raffles. Lil’ Cakes & Creamery offers a rotating selection of cupcakes and ice cream, as well as macarons, pupcakes, cookies, cookie sandwiches, pushpops, and milkshakes.

Lil’ Cakes & Creamery opened its first location in Gaithersburg Square back in October 2019 and have additional locations in Urbana and White Marsh.