Maryland

Governor Hogan Announces 4.5% Cost of Living Adjustment Increase For All State Employees

By Patrick Herron

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that all employees across state government will receive a 4.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA )increase— effective November 1, 2022—as part of a series of measures to enhance statewide workforce recruitment and retention efforts.

The governor’s action follows official budget projections from the Board of Revenue Estimates showing that, for the second consecutive year, the state is reporting a multi-billion dollar surplus. Overall, after inheriting a $5.1 billiion structural budget deficit, the governor will leave office with a record $5.5 billion in reserves—a more than $10 billion swing in the state’s fiscal fortunes under the Hogan administration.“

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Education

MoCo Board of Education Discusses Evidence of Learning End-of-Year and Performance Data and Makes Administrative Appointments

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on September 22, 2022. During the meeting, the Board discussed the Evidence of Learning end-of-year and performance data report and made administrative appointments.

The agenda for the meeting, with related links, can be viewed on the Board website. Watch the meeting recording. Evidence of Learning End-of-Year and Performance Data Report:

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Events

Winter Lights Festival Tickets Go On Sale October 12

By MCS Staff

The City of Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights Festival is getting ready to welcome visitors for another spectacular season. The wondrous display of lights at Seneca Creek State Park will be open nightly November 25 through December 31. The festival is closed on December 25 and last entry for December 24 & 31 is 8:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale on October 12th at 10am

The 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees that light up the night. The park is located at 11950 Clopper Road, conveniently accessible from I-270.

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Events

Things to Do in Montgomery Parks September 30 – October 2

By MCS Staff

Nature

Meadowside Nature Center has fall-themed outdoor activities during Sensory Friendly Days(opens in a new tab) on Friday, September 30, 10 am, for visitors of all ages with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disabilities. Registration required.

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Highways / Interstates

New Law Takes Effect This Saturday, October 1; Governor Hogan Proclaims October as Move Over Awareness Month

By Patrick Herron

“Moving over and slowing down when passing a vehicle stopped on the highway isn’t just a matter of following the law—it is about saving lives,” said Governor Hogan. “This is especially critical to protect the crews and first responders who are working on the roads within inches of fast-moving traffic. We can all do our part to make sure that everyone gets where they’re going safely.”

The governor is issuing this proclamation today as part of a unified statewide effort—including an event being held this afternoon in Upper Marlboro featuring attendees from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), the Maryland General Assembly, and AAA Mid-Atlantic.

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Bethesda

(Located) Detectives from the Special Victim’s Investigations Division Asking for Assistance in Locating Missing Bethesda Teen

By Patrick Herron

Enayat Nazary is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and 120 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt with a red logo, gray shorts, and yellow Nike sneakers. Police and family are concerned for his welfare. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Aseel Enayat Nazary 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.

 

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Maryland

New 227 Area Code Coming to Maryland

By Patrick Herron

The addition of the ‘227’ code is due to the dwindling supply of existing 240/301 phone numbers. According to the PSC, “the remaining supply of available telephone numbers in the 240/301 area is estimated to be exhausted in the second quarter of 2023 – requiring the establishment of a new area code to support future demands in the region. Customers with a 240 or 301 area code will maintain their existing area codes and their phone numbers will not change. Under the implementation plan approved by the PSC, no new 227 numbers will be assigned in the area until the remaining 240/301 numbers are completely exhausted.”

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Beyond MoCo

Virginia Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Hurricane Ian; Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Monitoring Storm

By Patrick Herron

On Wednesday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a State of Emergency ahead of Hurricane Ian, which is expected to start impacting parts of DC, Maryland, and Virginia on Friday evening. According to a press release, the State of Emergency “allows the Commonwealth to mobilize resources and equipment needed for response and recovery efforts. Virginians should be prepared for the potential of severe rainfall, flooding, wind damage, tornadoes, and other storm-related impacts.”  The full text of Executive Order 22 is available here.

 

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Arts

MoCo Connection in Hocus Pocus; Sequel Set to Release on September 30

By MCS Staff

With Hocus Pocus 2 being released on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, we wanted to revisit the [not so strong] MoCo connection  from the popular original 1993 film– Bethesda native Sean Murray in his role as Thackery Binx.

Hocus Pocus follows teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz), who after moving to Salem, Massachusetts, explores an abandoned house with his sister Dani (Thora Birch) and their new friend, Allison (Vinessa Shaw). After dismissing a story Allison tells as superstitious, Max accidentally frees a coven of evil witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) who used to live in the house. Now, with the help of a magical cat (Binx) the kids must steal the witches’ book of spells to stop them from becoming immortal.

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Arts

Multimedia, Interactive Spy Adventure to Debut at Imagination Stage 

By Patrick Herron

S.P.I.E.S. 2: Flight of the Hawk is the follow-up to S.P.I.E.S. & The Lost Treasure of Atlantis, which was an online hit for Imagination Stage in the winter of 2021. DC Theatre Arts praised it as “a fantastically entertaining conglomerate of action, adventure, suspense, and pure silliness.”

The new adventure (which doesn’t require any knowledge of the first one) is now in-person, with the live audience of children ages 5+ taking on the role of spy cadets being taught by the hilariously bungling live facilitator, Pat. During the cadet training, Pat is contacted and told that an award ceremony for Spy Team 7 has gone awry with the villainous Winnifred Veil putting in motion her plan to dominate the world. It’s Pat and the cadets to the rescue, providing key information and making crucial decisions to assist the spies, who are beaming in on the big screen.

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