Glenmont

A Montgomery County Resident is $1,000,000 richer after claiming a winning lottery ticket she purchased back in April from the 7-Eleven at 12405 Georgia Ave in Wheaton-Glenmont. Full story below courtesy of MD Lottery:

“Although she was chasing a Mega Millions jackpot, a Silver Spring woman is happy to join the game’s millionaires’ club after winning a $1 million second-tier prize in an April drawing. The Montgomery County resident, who said she has chased the jackpot her entire life, gave herself the nickname “Lady Jackpot Chaser” to tell the story of her April 18 Lottery win.


Restaurants

Mastiha Bakery at 2387 Lewis Ave in Rockville has announced the launch of Mastiha Taverna, a new food truck that will be stationed in front of the bakery. According to Mastiha, the truck will serve pita sandwiches, Greek dessert, drinks, traditional salads, dips, and small bites/sides. Mastiha Taverna will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5-9pm.

Per Mastiha Bakery: The word mastiha refers to the sap drippings, or “tears”, from the mastic tree which grows on the north-eastern Aegean Greek island of Chio, where founder and owner, Katerina Georgallas traces her origins. Founded in 2011 with a deep appreciation for heritage, culture, and scratch-made goodness, Mastiha Bakery specializes in assorted sweet and savory pastries, cookies, authentically crafted pita bread, hand stretched rustic phyllo pies and other delectable items. Using local ingredients and old-world craftsmanship you can taste, Katerina is committed to producing quality goods entirely from scratch.


DMV

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has forecast a Code Red air day for the metropolitan Washington region on Thursday, June 29. Code Red levels mean the air is unhealthy for everyone. Smoke coming from wildfires in Canada is contributing to the increased levels of fine particle pollution. COG advises the following health precautions:

Residents can check current air quality conditions on COG’s website or the Clean Air Partners website. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency also recommends the following during wildfire events:


Darnestown

50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation site in Paestum, Italy, not far from Naples, has released its 2023 Top 50 Pizza list. Montgomery County contributed with the 23rd ranked pizzeria in the country– Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, located in Darnestown/Gaithersburg. Last year Inferno was ranked 25th on the list.

Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana has been open in Gaithersburg (12207 Darnestown Rd.) for nearly 7.5 years– there is still a line into the parking lot full of eager diners hoping to get a table before the dough ran out for the night– something that’s a common occurrence for Inferno (see our video below). For those unfamiliar with the restaurant, it was opened by Chef Tony Conte in October 2015 after he spent nine years in DC’s Oval Room. Inferno specializes in pizza, but regulars will tell you that the appetizers are often just as much of a draw.


Olney

Brew Belly at 18065 Georgia Ave in Olney has announced it will be holding its annual Cheesesteak Eating Contest on July 4 at 12:00pm. The winner of the contest, which is open to the first 25 people to sign up ($20 entry fee), will win free cheesesteaks from the restaurant for one year.

The $20 entry fee will be donated to Hero Dogs. In addition to cheesesteaks, Brew Belly boasts of over 250 Maryland-born brews, between its ever-changing (24 tap) beer list, to its well-stocked (12 door), reach-in, self-serve cooler. “Hero Dogs, Inc. improves the quality of life of our nation’s heroes by raising, training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of charge with lifetime support of the partnerships. We serve the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.”


Beyond MoCo

Per the University of Maryland: Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that the University of Maryland will receive nearly $40 million in grant funding to fast-track its plans to convert its bus fleet from diesel to electric vehicles. Funds will be used to purchase 35 battery electric buses, bus charging stations and associated infrastructure renovations to enable onsite electric bus charging as well as to support workforce development, and train drivers and maintenance staff on how to operate and service electric buses.

The funds were awarded through the FTA’s FY23 Low-No Program, which will provide nearly $1.7 billion for transit projects in 46 states and territories. UMD’s grant was the largest given to a university in this award cycle and one of the largest of the 130 grants awarded overall.


Germantown

Montgomery County will host two free Independence Day fireworks displays this year, one on Saturday, July 1, and the other on Tuesday, July 4. The Independence Day celebrations will take place at the following locations:

“Our Independence Day fireworks displays are such wonderful events and the perfect opportunity to enjoy music, outdoors and time with family and friends,” said Montgomery County Recreation Director Robin Riley. “We look forward to celebrating together once again this summer.”


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council issued a statement on the recent vandalism, burning and removal of LGBTQ+ Pride flags, a Black Trans Lives Matter flag and Ukrainian flags at residential homes in Silver Spring in the early morning on Wednesday, June 28. 

“We are outraged by the numerous incidents of hate and anti-LGBTQ+ vandalism that occurred early this morning, which included the removal and burning of Pride flags, LGBTQ+ banners, Ukrainian solidarity flags, a Black Trans Lives Matter flag and other inclusive lawn signs in the Park Hills neighborhood and nearby streets in Silver Spring. 


DMV

The 7th edition of the International Colombian Festival of Washington DC will take place on Saturday, July 22nd 2022, from 11:00AM at 8:00PM at Catholic University (University Garage, 3598 John McCormack Rd NE, DC 20310).

Last year’s festival included over 5,000 spectators in attendance and a large turnout is expected again this year. The festival will include “food, folklore, dance, art and tradition.” Organizers Go Columbia LLC say “This year, we have MEXICO as a guest country and we are anxiously looking forward to even greater success. In the past, we have counted with the participation of well-renowned artists and recipients of Grammy awards, and this year we are not expecting less as we are pushing for unique.”


MCPD

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating multiple hate-based vandalisms that occurred in Silver Spring. Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect(s).

The preliminary investigation has revealed that during the overnight hours of Tuesday, June 27, 2023, to Wednesday, June 28, 2023, several Pride and Ukrainian flags had been burned in the Mansfield Road, Wayne Place, Ellsworth Place, Greenbrier Drive, Pershing Drive and Deerfield Avenue neighborhoods.


MCPD

According to Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, Montgomery County Police have received reports  of signs and flags being vandalized in Silver Spring. Glass tweeted the following:

Earlier today MCPD received reports of Pride flags, Ukrainian flags and inclusive lawn signs in Silver Spring being desecrated.