Bethesda

Squishable, a pop-up shop that sells hundreds of varieties of stuffed animals that are “cute giant balls of squishy love that are soft, huggable, cuddly, and all-around awesome,” is now open at Montgomery Mall. It is located in the lower level of the mall near Bath & Body Works. Squishables (photos below) has been creating cuddles for 15 years now, growing from a tiny mom-and-pop shop run out of a living room into the (still pretty tiny) 33-person company it is today. Many of its designs are also crowdsourced from the company’s million-strong group of fans who create and vote on hundreds of new potential Squishables each year. “The world can be a hard place. Hug something soft.”

According to its website, Squishable was started in 2007 by co-founders Aaron and Zoe. They didn’t know anything about toys, but they figured it out. Over the last decade and a half, we have released millions of Squishables to their new homes in the wild. Here at Squishy HQ in Soho, New York City, we’re creating things that help make the world a cuter place.”


MDLottery

Her sister was shocked. She joined Senora in the Winner’s Circle at Lottery headquarters this week. “I am grateful and happy. If anyone deserves this, it is her,” said the sister. The lucky lady usually buys scratch-offs four times a week and has been a loyal player for more than 20 years. She also has a superstition, as she prefers to use old nickels from before 2005 to scratch off her instant tickets, Senora won $5,000 on a scratch-off using an old nickel but said it is hard to find those coins. She just happened to obtain an old nickel a day before she won her $100,000 prize.

11310 Georgia Avenue


MCDOT

Riders can plan trips online with Ride On Real Time.


Rockville

It's Giving Tuesday and it's easier than ever to give back to the local community with Rockville's Holiday Drive. We are now accepting toy and book donations, as well as monetary contributions. Visit https://t.co/12hPc26x4A for more information. pic.twitter.com/TZRwM3DfFy

— City of Rockville (@Rockville411) November 29, 2022


MoCo Recreation

Once approved, each eligible family member will receive $200 placed on qualifying individual’s ActiveMontgomery account for use. Rec Assist 2023 funds are available for use from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023, or until the funds are depleted. Funds are available on a first come, first served basis. Rec Assist applications will be accepted online, by mail to Montgomery County Recreation Attention Rec Assist, 2425 Reedie Drive, 10th Floor, Wheaton, MD, 20902, or can be dropped off at that same address Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.


MDLottery

Lottery officials encourage all winners to sign the back of their tickets and put them in a safe location. They get 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes. The Powerball jackpot has rolled to an estimated annuity value of $100 million for the Wednesday, Dec. 7 drawing, with an estimated cash option of $52.9 million. This year, in Powerball, Maryland Lottery has sold two $2 million second-tier winning tickets, seven $1 million second-tier winning tickets, 90 third-tier winning tickets and five Double Play third-tier winning tickets.

Instructions on claiming prizes in person or by mail are available HERE. Players must redeem prizes larger than $25,000 by mail or at Lottery headquarters in the Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. The Lottery’s Claims Center in Baltimore is open by appointment only (no walk-ins). Click HERE to schedule an appointment. Winners can also drop off a winning ticket along with a completed claim form and copies of their photo ID and proof of Social Security/Tax ID number in the Lottery drop box in the Montgomery Park Business Center lobby.


Crime

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment adding two new defendants to the nine defendants previously charged in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme.  The superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and stealing a post office key.  The superseding indictment was returned on November 30, 2022.  Charged in the superseding indictment are:

The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division (USPIS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); and Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP); and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.


Events

Students in the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) and Information Technology Foundation (ITF) will sell used cars and computers they have refurbished on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Gaithersburg High School, from 9–11 a.m. The school is located at 101 Education Blvd. in Gaithersburg. The cars and computers are refurbished and reconditioned by the students as part of their classroom and lab studies. The sales provide students with the opportunity to practice their sales skills, earn Student Service Learning hours, and develop a deeper appreciation for community involvement.

The ATF is still seeking car donations, which will help high school students learn how to evaluate, repair and restore used cars. The ATF accepts donations year-round between 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday at Damascus, Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley high schools, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology and at the Shady Grove Bus Depot. Donations may be tax deductible. Future sales are coming up:


Gaithersburg

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminaries report on the plane crash that occurred in Gaithersburg on Sunday, November 27th and left the pilot and passenger trapped inside the plane that was stuck in an electrical tower for many hours. The full report can be seen below:

NTSB report: On November 27, 2022, at 1729 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N201RF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Gaithersburg, Maryland. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.


MoCo Government

Marc Elrich was sworn-in to his second four-year term as the 7th Montgomery County Executive along with 11 members of the Montgomery County Council during a historic Montgomery County government Inauguration ceremony at the Strathmore Music Center. The incoming Montgomery County Council increased by two members, from nine to eleven, with the most women ever, as well as became the most racially and ethnically diverse Council in County’s history. To read the full transcript of the County Executive’s Inaugural speech please click here. To view the Inauguration Ceremony, please click here.

County Executive Elrich expressed appreciation to his fellow elected officials, government employees, residents, non-profits, and businesses for successes over the past four years, and, most notably, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Looking forward to his second term, the County Executive expressed economic optimism, expansion of educational offerings, continued investment in infrastructure as well as an urgent call to action to combat climate change, produce more affordable housing units, and expand the County’s emphasis on equity . The County Executive expressed interest in collaborations with the new County Council, the County’s General Assembly Delegation, the incoming administration of Governor-Elect Wes Moore and Lt. Governor-Elect Aruna Miller, as well as the County’s Congressional delegation on policies, solutions and funding priorities for the challenges that lie ahead.