MoCo Government

Organizations can apply independently or in collaboration with other groups. This mini-grant program will strengthen current efforts of the Montgomery County Community Food Rescue (CFR), a food recovery network of Manna Food Center. Applications are due by 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.

A pre-application technical assistance conference will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22. More information and the online application are available online.


Business

Sidney Hechinger opened his first hardware store in Washington D.C. in 1919. In 1953, the company had grown to five stores. Sidney brought in his son, John Hechinger, and his son-in-law, Richard England, as partners. By the early 70s, the company had doubled in size to ten stores. Hechinger and England took the company public in 1972.

John Hechinger Jr. became was named president of the company in 1986. He was the third generation of Hechingers to run the show and reincorporated the company in Delaware the next year. At the time, the company was up to just over 50 stores. By 1995, there were 131 stores in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. That’s when the competition from Home Depot and Lowe’s forced Hechinger to close almost twenty stores, while reformatting a few others. It was the first major decrease in stores the company had ever seen.


Business

Barnes & Noble has announced the return of their popular Book Haul event. It began on August 12th and will be running through Labor Day weekend.  The bookseller again offers book lovers half-off from over 700 Hardcover books. While supplies last, there are books included in every genre and all stores nationwide are participating, as well as online at bn.com/bookhaul. There are Montgomery County Barnes & Noble locations in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront and Rockville’s Congressional Plaza. In addition to books, the sale includes deals on board games, planners, LEGOs, tea, and more.

Per the press release: “This is the biggest Book Haul in our history,” said Jackie De Leo, Chief Merchandising Officer, Barnes & Noble.  “With half-off so many exciting and new hardcover titles during Book Haul, it gives our customers a fantastic opportunity to build out their bookshelf. The choice is wider than ever and for those who are quick on their feet into our stores, there are so many brilliant titles to be had.”


Fairland

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at approximately 9:54 a.m., 3rd District officers were dispatched to the location for the report of a fraud that occurred earlier.

The investigation by detectives has determined that on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at approximately 3 p.m., Young arrived at the dealership and purchased a 2020 Silver Toyota Prius and a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid with two fraudulent checks.


Gaithersburg

Zion Allen was last seen on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at approximately 9 p.m. in the 10000 block of Polk Square Court.

Allen is approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. He has dark brown hair, that he wears in locks and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black Nike jacket, white shorts, and red headphones. He was carrying a multi-colored, “Jordan” backpack and was riding a blue and white bicycle.


MCDOT

The award, from FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, makes the County a leading adopter of this clean technology.

The award will enable replacement of 13 diesel-fueled buses in the County’s Ride On fleet with zero-emission, hydrogen-electric powered buses. The project advances the County’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035. It reduces annual emissions by 640 tons while ensuring reliable and sustainable bus service.


Cloverly

At approximately 10p.m., 4th District Officers responded to the location for the report of a burglary that just occurred.

The investigation by detectives has determined that two suspects forced entry into the gas station, stole an undisclosed amount of money and left the scene.


Maryland

“Many ITT Tech students were misled, coerced, or victimized by other illegal misconduct. The students incurred thousands of dollars in debt, often for useless degrees or credits,” said Attorney General Frosh. “We are pleased that the Department of Education heeded our recommendation to forgive the federal loans owed by defrauded students.”

ITT’s widespread and pervasive misrepresentation violated state consumer protection laws, including Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. In 2019, Attorney General Frosh secured a settlement obtaining $6,021,455.80 in debt relief for 582 former ITT Tech students in Maryland as part of a multistate settlement with Student CU Connect CUSO, LLC (CUSO). The attorneys general alleged that ITT pressured and coerced students into accepting loans from CUSO, which often carried interest rates that far exceeded rates for federal loans.


Takoma Park

Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care, located at 7600 Carroll Ave in Takoma Park, will close permanently to patients on August 19th at 5pm. The health care facility is rerouting anyone in need of urgent care following this date to Patriot Urgent Care in Laurel and White Oak Medical Center in White Oak. According to Adventist HealthCare, “a new Primary Care office will open in September nearby.” It will be located at 7610 Carroll Ave, Suite 410 in Takoma Park. A specific opening date has not yet been provided.

According to the Adventist HealthCare website, the new primary care facility will offer the following:


Education

Nearly a decade ago, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College and the Universities at Shady Grove – with its nine university partners – teamed up to launch a joint program in several high schools across the county to help make the dream of college and attainment of a bachelor’s degree more possible for thousands of students from historically underrepresented demographic groups. That program – ACES, which stands for “Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success” – has since served more than 7,500 students and in the past few years, some of the first bachelor’s degree graduates have emerged from university programs at USG.

Six of those graduates recently shared some of their perspectives in a series of “My ACES Story” video vignettes. Here are their stories.


Takoma Park

Units arrived to find a victim who had been assaulted by an unknown male subject.  The victim stated that while exiting the Metro bus in the area of Larch Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue, he was approached by an unknown male subject last seen wearing a black face mask, black hooded sweatshirt and black pants with colorful shoes.  An altercation occurred and the subject hit the victim over the head with an unknown object and then fled on foot in an unknown direction.  Officers canvassed the surrounding areas with negative results.  The victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Investigation continues under case #220034810. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100.