Over 50 Himalayan cats and kittens have been found in the Wheaton area, most of them near the Sligo Creek Trail or in Wheaton Regional Park since late August (some were also found in nearby neighborhoods). Citizens have been engaged in an active effort to search for these cats and kittens and report sightings. Yesterday, the Montgomery County Cat Coalition (MC C³) stated that more cats are still on the loose and continue to be found:

“Wheaton area residents, we need your help in locating any more of the dumped Himalayan cats that are still outdoors. Though many have been rescued, some of them are still out there and these cats continue to be found. Email [email protected], if you see one of these cats. We are grateful to Dr. Hannah Levy and her staff at Cozy Cats Vet: A Cat Practice for the initial exams and treatments.

Our MC C³ volunteers have been out nearly every day looking for additional cats in locations where they have been reported or locations from which others have already been rescued. We depend on the public reporting any new sightings.”

There is still no word on who released the cats in the area or why, with efforts concentrated on ensuring their safety. McPaw.org handled the adoptions for the Himalayan cats that were found.

Police responded to a home invasion robbery on Sunday, October 22 in Rockville. According to MCPD, “At approximately 4:30 p.m., Rockville City Police and Montgomery County Police officers responded to the 200 block of Elizabeth Ave. in Rockville for the report of a home invasion robbery that just occurred.

 The preliminary investigation has revealed that an adult male victim was approached by two armed suspects at his home. The suspects entered the home and then left the scene in a vehicle. One suspect has been taken into custody. Officers are still looking for the other suspect.  The victim was not injured. This is still an active and ongoing investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.”

According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, the suspect was taken into custody after a brief pursuit. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

ROCKVILLE ARMED HOME INVASION, PURSUIT, & ARREST: ~4:30PM Sunday, @RockvilleCityPD spotted a vehicle fleeing a home invasion that had just occurred within the City. After a brief pursuit, 1 armed suspect was taken into custody. RCPD and Montgomery County Police investigating…

— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) October 22, 2023

Maryland Student Hockey League – Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity scoresfor Friday 10/20/2023 powered by www.MocoAI.com

Thursday 10/19/23 Score

In his weekly message to the community, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich commented on the “Local Impact from Hamas-Israel War”. The excerpt can be seen below:

“Over the past two weeks, I have had many conversations with members of the Jewish and Muslim communities and others with connections to the Middle East. While our diverse communities fear for the safety of their family and friends abroad, they also fear for themselves and their loved ones at home here in Montgomery County. They are worrying about what could occur here in their neighborhoods, synagogues and mosques. The recent murder of a 6-year-old in Chicago, as well as a rise in harassment and hateful rhetoric, has heightened concerns.

As a local government with significant Jewish and Muslim communities, we are committed to listening and engaging with our residents who are concerned and feeling attacked and vulnerable. People in our community are deeply impacted and suffering because of what is happening in Israel and Palestine. There are County employees who are Jewish and Muslim who have lost loved ones, and we have neighbors who are afraid to walk down the streets here in our community. We are determined that Montgomery County will remain a safe place for all.

I appreciate the County Council for supporting my supplemental request that I sent over last week, adding an additional $100,000 to the Nonprofit and Faith Communities Security Grant program for communities fearing for their safety and well-being. Montgomery County also has the Partnership Fund for Victims of Hate/Violence in our Office of Human Rights. It has been part of our community since 1987 to help provide partial compensation for property damage and help victims of racial, ethnic or religious based attacks. Individuals and private institutions may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the fund to repair or replace property if it has been damaged because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability. Groups must apply for the assistance soon after through the Office of Human Rights. For more information on the Partnership Fund, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/humanrights.

Civilian deaths are horrifying, regardless of where they occur. The emotional impact on people from the deaths of loved ones who were simply trying to live their lives and harming no one is hard to accept. We will not tolerate acts of hate by anyone. I hope all of us can grieve as we need to, but that we can also restrain ourselves from lashing out at our neighbors and friends. What has happened abroad should not change how we interact with people here.

We need our schools to double down on anti-bullying resources for Muslim and Jewish students. Schools should be a safe place for students and should help students to process the hurt and rage they are feeling. We need to support our children who are struggling to make sense of this.

I recommend subscribing to our Faith Community Advisory Group newsletter, which updates the community on matters related to organized religious groups and community partners with ties to those groups. The latest newsletter had good information about County, State, Federal and nonprofit resources to help support communities during these challenging times. You can visit faithmcmd.org to sign up for newsletters or find resources that can help through tough times.”

In his weekly message to the community, Montgomery county Executive Marc Elrich shared his thoughts on the Montgomery County Police Officer who was recently indicted for his involvement in the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol:

“I am very disappointed and quite frankly angry to learn that a suspended Montgomery County Police Department officer, Justin Lee, was indicted this week by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

At this moment, I have more questions than answers. As I understand from our police department, we had no previous knowledge about his activities. Throughout his interview, background, training and brief time as a sworn officer, we were not made aware that Federal investigators suspected his involvement in the insurrection. Lee was sworn in as a new officer in January of 2022.

When MCPD was made aware in July that Lee was being investigated by the DOJ, Chief Jones immediately and rightfully removed his police powers. Now that he has been indicted, Lee is currently suspended without pay pending termination.

On Jan. 6, the men and women of our police department responded bravely to assist law enforcement at the Capitol. To this day, we still have MCPD officers out on leave from injuries sustained on Jan. 6. It is shameful that Mr. Lee concealed his actions during the riot and attempted to work on the same side as officers that he allegedly attacked that day.

Moving forward, our police department is reviewing its background and polygraph procedures to ensure that the process and questions weed out anyone with insurrectionist ideology. An officer’s trustworthiness is their most important asset, both with the community and their fellow officers. It is evident that Lee failed the standard of trust we expect from MCPD officers.”

PacSun will close its only Montgomery County location by Thursday, October 26th, according to a store representative we spoke with this afternoon. We were told there are currently sales going on, but that inventory is going quick. The store has been in Montgomery Mall since the 90s, located on the lower level near Old Navy. PacSun still has a nearby location in Tysons Corner.

Per the store, “PacSun is dedicated to delivering an exclusive collection of the most relevant brands and styles to an inspired community. Founded in 1980 as Pacific Sunwear the PacSun brand has evolved well beyond beach wear. Today PacSun is a leading life style brand offering an exclusive collection of the most relevant brands and styles to a community of inspired youth. Built on youth culture and curated in Los Angeles. In our fleet of over 350 stores and PacSun.com you will find brands such as Vans, Kendall and Kylie, Brandy Melville, Adidas, and Fear of God Essentials, in addition to our PacSun brand. We are dedicated to be leaders in delivering high quality product, relevant retail experiences and unique digital content. As an organization we are inspired and led by the diversity of our customers and associates. We are committed to our responsibility in using our platform to drive change and take action on the issues important to our community. PacCares, was launched in 2020 which allows us to partner with charitable organizations that focus on mental health, female empowerment, and social injustice.”

Initially founded by Jack Hopkins and Tom Moore in 1980, its roots can be traced back to a small surf shop in Seal Beach, California. PacSun built its business selling merchandise from established surf brands but later expanded to include skate and street wear labels. The company offers products for both men and women that include: jeans, tees, tanks, polos, knits, flannels, hoodies, boardshorts, bikinis, shorts, pants, dresses, rompers, skirts, sweaters, jackets, snow apparel, shoes, sandals and accessories. The company went public on March 15, 1993 and at its height had over 1,300 stores in all 50 states. PacSun opened a second chain of stores called d.e.m.o., in 2000. The last of these stores closed in 2008.

Stock Photo of PacSun used as featured photo.

Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting early this morning in Clarksburg. According to police, “On Sunday, October 22, 2023, at approximately 1:59 a.m., MCP officers responded to the 12800 block of Clarks Crossing Drive in Clarksburg for the report of shots fired. 

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect(s) arrived at the location in an unknown vehicle, fired rounds, and left the scene. A home was struck by gunfire. The home was occupied but no one reported any injuries.  This is an active and ongoing investigation.  

We will provide an update if additional information becomes availabe.  Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

Early Sunday Morning: Shots Fired in Clarksburg: ~1:50AM Sunday on Clarks Crossing Drive, South of Clarksburg Square Road (Clarksburg/Montgomery County, MD). Multiple shots fired, at least 2 nearby occupied homes struck. Parked cars reportedly struck as well. @TheMoCoShow

— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) October 22, 2023

Per the Maryland Department of Health: The Maryland Department of Health has been awarded a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand Alzheimer’s and related dementias prevention and care programs in the state. The grant period is from September 30, 2023 to September 29, 2028. Maryland is one of 43 states, cities, and territories to receive funding through the federal Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, signed into law in 2018, to create a national public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer’s and related dementias and preserve brain health.

“Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias represent an urgent and costly public health crisis,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott. “This grant will help Maryland provide support and resources within communities most impacted by this devastating disease and lessen the burden on caregivers and families.”

Alzheimer’s remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Maryland Department of Health will use the funds to continue collaborating with the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Council to track and report activities in the Maryland State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and build upon its Healthy Brain Aging awareness campaign to increase early detection and diagnosis and promote healthy brain aging.

For more information on cognitive health, including Alzheimer’s disease, visit health.maryland.gov/brainhealth.

WHAT: Representatives from the Maryland Department of Transportation will meet with Montgomery County officials to discuss the agency’s Draft FY 2024-2029 Consolidated Transportation Program, which details a $21.2 billion, six-year capital budget investment in the state’s transportation network. The meeting is part of the department’s tour of 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld and other officials will outline the state’s investment plan and discuss Montgomery County’s transportation priorities.

WHO:  Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld
State Highway Administrator William Pines
Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer
Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold
Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Joey Sagal
Maryland Aviation Administration Chief Engineer Paul Shank

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, October 26, 2023

WHERE: Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, Third Floor Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville Watch the meeting HERE.

WHY: Each fall, the Maryland Department of Transportation presents its draft six-year capital program to Maryland counties and Baltimore City for review and comment. After gathering input from local jurisdictions, the Draft 2024-2029 Consolidated Transportation Program will be finalized later this fall, and the final plan will be submitted to the Legislature in January for consideration during the 2024 General Assembly session. To view the Draft 2024-2029 Consolidated Transportation Program, go to www.ctp.maryland.gov.