Damascus

The Montgomery County man has favored 12345 as his Pick 5 number of choice ever since the digits hit on a significant date in February. “Jumper” missed a win on his birthday when he got a haircut instead of placing a $1 straight bet on 12345. His other favorite number is 8, which leads him to buy Lottery games with 8 in the name as well as 888 in Pick 3 and 8888 on Pick 4.

“I like 8s, period,” he said. The $50,000 Pick 5 prize that the married father just won in the Aug. 19 drawing is his biggest prize to date, well exceeding a $15,000 prize won over a decade ago.


Beyond MoCo

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today provided an update on state efforts across multiple state agencies to assist Baltimore City in addressing elevated bacteria levels in a portion of the city’s drinking water system.

“Our agencies are working around the clock to assist city officials and help ensure access to clean water,” said Governor Hogan. “Residents in the affected areas should follow the boil water advisory until it is lifted. We will continue to provide coordination and technical assistance, and make available what resources and personnel are needed as the situation warrants.”


Events

Saints Constantine & Helen will hold its annual Greek festival this weekend. The festival will take place over three days– starting Friday, September 9th and lasting until Sunday, September 11th. It will take place on the grounds of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, located at 701 Norwood Road in Silver Spring: Friday, 9/9: 4pm-9pm, Saturday, 9/10: 11am-9pm. Sunday, 9/11: 11am-7pm

You‘ll be able to enjoy homemade Greek dishes and desserts, such as gyros, souvlaki, and loukoumades or shop at local Greek vendors for Greek groceries, jewelry, and crafts all while enjoying Greek music with live performances from Greek dance troupes.


Montgomery Village

Ryan Homes is advertising single family homes coming soon to the new Bloom Village development in Montgomery Village, starting in the low $700s. The 150 acre site will consist of townhomes, single-family homes, walking paths, picnic areas, a dog park and an edible garden.

Bloom Village is the planned community that is being built on the former site of the Montgomery Village Golf Course. The development has touted “Montgomery County’s most affordable new home community featuring garage townhomes with easy access to endless amenities and 30 mins to DC -from the upper $400s.”


Maryland

 

The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) on Tuesday, September 6, opened the application process for mobile and Class B facility sports wagering licenses. All businesses and individuals who wish to pursue licenses have 45 days to submit their applications. The applications and additional information are available at swarc.org/applications.


Poolesville

Construction began in late April and plenty of progress has been made at the Crossvines project in Poolesville, according to photos by Poolesville Town Commissioner Jim Brown (available below). Crossvines will be a multi-purpose facility in Poolesville that will feature a custom grape-crushing facility, a casual bistro, a special events venue and a winery. It’s located on the Revenue Authority property that also hosts the Poolesville Golf Course.

Crossvines is an exciting project that will change the economic prosperity of the Agricultural Reserve. As one of the only grape-crushing facilities in the region, this will open up opportunities for more landowners to grow profitable grapes and to explore winemaking as part of their future options.” said County Executive Marc Elrich.


Bethesda

Each class begins at 10 a.m. and lasts for three hours. The classes are open to residents 18-and-over who have never previously ridden a bike or who have not done so in a long time.

Advance registration is required to participate in the “Learn to Ride and Basic Skills Training Bike Classes.” The cost of each class is $10 for Montgomery County residents. There is no charge for WABA or Capital Bikeshare members. Classes are limited to 25 people and often fill up quickly.


Silver Spring

Jamillah Haynes was last seen on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, leaving Northwood High School in the 12600 block of Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. Haynes is approximately 4-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 100 lbs. She has black and burgundy hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, a black skirt and black sandals. She may be carrying a white Calvin Klien purse.


MoCo Government

The $830,000 Healthy Communities Fund was part of County Executive Marc Elrich’s recommended Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget for DHHS and was part of the budget adopted by the County Council.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for, and the complexity of services provided to, minority communities, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,” said County Executive Elrich.  “We have one of the most diverse communities in the U.S. and the Healthy Communities Fund will provide financial help to organizations who work every day providing needed services to our residents.  The COVID-19 Relief Fund used in Fiscal Year 2022 was successful.  I am glad we can continue providing financial help.”


Maryland

Press release from the office of Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh: Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh today announced a tentative agreement in principle of over $438.5 million between JUUL Labs and 34 states and territories that would resolve an investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer’s marketing and sales practices. In addition to the financial terms, the settlement would force JUUL to comply with a series of injunctive terms restricting their marketing and sales practices.

JUUL was, until recently, the dominant player in the vaping market. The attorneys general contend that JUUL rose to this position by willfully engaging in an advertising campaign that appealed to youth, even though its e-cigarettes are both illegal for them to purchase and are unhealthy for youth to use. The attorneys general allege that JUUL relentlessly marketed to underage users with launch parties, advertisements using young and trendy-looking models, social media posts, and free samples. It sold its product in flavors known to be appealing to underage users. The attorneys general further allege that, to preserve its young customer base, JUUL relied on age verification techniques that it knew were ineffective.


Crime

Per the U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Rashaun Onley, age 23, of Washington, D.C., today to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on federal charges of committing an armed commercial robbery, carjacking, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Onley has been detained since his arrest.

According to his guilty plea, in the early morning of February 5, 2021, Onley and a co-defendant entered a convenience store in Silver Spring, Maryland, selected some items from the shelves, and approached the counter.  Onley grabbed a convenience store employee, Victim 1, by the shirt, struck Victim 1 in the head, led Victim 1 behind the counter, and forced Victim 1 to his knees.  Onley then brandished a black semiautomatic handgun and ordered Victim 1 and Victim 2, another employee, to open the cash register.  Victim 2 opened the cash register and Onley and the co-defendant removed the cash from the register and fled.  Officers with the Montgomery County Police Department (“MCPD”) recovered video surveillance footage showed Onley and his co-defendant committing the robbery.