MoCo Government

Montgomery County first enrolled in the World Health Organization/AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in December 2015. It now joins more than 700 Age-Friendly communities across the country and more than 20 other nations around the world. By 2030, Montgomery County’s population is projected to be 1,124,790 and more than 25 percent residents will be age 60 or over (281,198).


MoCo Government

Town hall will be held at Lakelands Park Middle School in Gaithersburg with virtual participation available

The Montgomery County Council will hold a hybrid town hall meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Lakelands Park Middle School, which is located at 1200 Main St. in Gaithersburg.  Councilmembers have scheduled this time to answer questions and listen to concerns from community members. Some of the topics for discussion will include public safety, public health, housing and transportation, and other issues of community concern.


Rockville

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police Vice and Intelligence Unit (V&I) have charged a woman with sex trafficking while operating an illegal spa. There is a concern that there may have been additional women hired and potentially victimized by Yang Jiang, and detectives are asking for them to come forward.

63-year-old Yang Jiang of New York is accused of running an unlicensed spa in the 14800 block of Physicians Lane in Rockville. In November of 2022, V&I detectives began an investigation into the spa after locating ads with scantily clad Asian women in lingerie on a website known to solicit prostitution.


MCPS

Head Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach at Magruder High School Scott Zanni announced his retirement today. Zanni has been coaching high school volleyball for 30 years, with the last 27 being at Magruder in Derwood.  In 2019, the Magruder Varsity Girls team won the 3A state championship with a 25-0 record. Below is the resignation letter he submitted to Magruder Principal Dr. Leroy Evans:

“After 30 rewarding years serving as a high school volleyball coach, I have decided the time is right for me to retire as the varsity volleyball coach at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School. Coaching student athletes has been among the most gratifying and enjoyable experiences of my life and I will be forever thankful. However, I believe now is the time for me to step away from a sport that has given me so much and take on new challenges and new experiences, both inside and outside of Montgomery County Public Schools.


Event

Beautiful venue; great art, gifts and hand-crafted items; refreshments; and meet the award-winning painters, photographers, mixed media artists, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more – some 40 artists in all. It’s an extraordinary array of framed wall works, 3-d media including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber pieces, and unframed prints.

Among them, you’ll see:


MoCo Government

“Whether it’s attracting Fortune 500 companies from around the country, retaining the businesses that already call Montgomery County home, or simply making it easier to do business here, there is a lot more we can do,” said Council President Glass. “Moving this economic roadmap forward is crucial to ensuring that Montgomery County residents of all income levels feel financially secure.”

“Montgomery County needs to focus on our local economy in order to better compete in the global economy. By cutting red tape and streamlining our processes, we will further open our doors to residents and businesses from around the region and the world.”


MDLottery

A dedicated scratch-off player of 30 years almost missed a winning combination on the 7th edition of the Deluxe Crossword game. The Montgomery County resident found four of eight winning words and only resumed scratching off the rest of the puzzles when a ticket scanner reported he won a $50,000 top prize.

The Germantown man said the excitement began when he scratched off four black words on one of the two crossword puzzles in the game. He took the winning instant ticket to a Lottery retailer to retrieve what he thought was a $5 prize. When he scanned his scratch-off to verify the win, he learned his prize was much more than $5.


Bethesda

Cava Group Inc., the parent company of CAVA restaurants, announced on Monday morning that the group confidentially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to go public in the United States. CAVA, the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry, has opened over 200 restaurants since opening its first fast-casual spot in Bethesda in 2011.

In 2006, first-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis launched the full-service Cava Mezze restaurant in the Traville Gateway shopping center (Rockville), with Moshovitis as executive chef. Following the launch of four additional restaurants, in 2008, Xenohristos, Grigoropoulos, and Moshovitis launched a line of dips and spreads to over 200 stores, including Whole Foods Market. In 2009, Brett Schulman joined them as CEO and co-founder of the fast-casual chain CAVA (originally called Cava Mezze Grill, later rebranded as Cava Grill and then simply as CAVA). The group opened the first CAVA restaurant in Bethesda in January 2011.


Potomac

Back in November 2021, we reported that the $48 million sale of River View (7979 E. Boulevard Drive in Alexandria, VA)– a 16,000 square foot home with an additional carriage home had set a new record for the most expensive home sale in DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) history. The home was bought buy Montgomery County native and owner of the Washington Commanders, Dan Snyder. Now, with the sale of the Commanders looming, Snyder is selling his Potomac, MD home (named River House) for $49 million, according to a Biz Journals report. This is one million more than he purchased River View for in 2021, and would be the most expensive home sale in DMV history if it sells for asking price or more.

Per the report, River House on River Rd. in Potomac, “spans just over 15 acres and features a 30,000-square-foot French château-inspired home completed in 2004. Snyder bought the majority of the Potomac River-fronting lot, at 11900 River Road, in July 2000 for $8.64 million from the estate of Jordan’s King Hussein and Queen Noor, then expanded with the acquisition of six adjoining parcels.” It is being listed by listed by Heather Corey and Michael Rankin of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. Photos of the home below, by Sean Shanahan.


MCPS

Applications for MoCo EmpowHER’s Spring Leadership Institute are now open. All MCPS middle school students, regardless of gender identity, are invited to apply. The application can be found here along with more information regarding this opportunity. The Spring Leadership Institute will meet bi-weekly on Saturdays over Zoom from 2:00 to 3:30 P.M. The application is due on February 12th by 11:59 P.M.

Detailed information regarding the Leadership Institute can be found at mocoempowher.org. This is a great opportunity to meet other middle school students from around the county, discuss important and relevant issues, and to enhance your leadership skills in a safe and encouraging space! If you have any questions regarding the Spring Leadership Institute application process, you may reach out to MoCo EmpowHER’s Leadership Institute Co-Directors Mridhula Birdy ([email protected]) and Aneela Shemsu ([email protected]).


Education

Students in the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) and Information Technology Foundation (ITF) will sell used cars and computers they have refurbished from 9–11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Damascus High School. The school is located 25921 Ridge Road in Damascus.

The cars and computers are refurbished and reconditioned by the students as part of their classroom and lab studies. The sales provide students with the opportunity to practice their sales skills, earn Student Service Learning hours, and develop a deeper appreciation for community involvement.


Germantown

Back in April we let you know of the impending arrival of Laperaux, the Journeymanchef’s Bistro,  the new restaurant coming to 18056 Mateny Rd in Germantown- the former home of Gumbo Ya Ya, Dickie’s BBQ Pit, and Cafe Mileto (located in the Cloppers Mill shopping center, in the same strip as Shoppers). The French bistro has recently completed “front of house” training and plans to officially open on Tuesday, February 7th, according to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Chef and owner Gregory Webb, who has earned such accolades and awards as “Chef of the Year 1998” in Houston, Texas, “Winner all Categories” at the Texas Open Wild Game Cookoff, “Top Chefs of Mexico City” and many others, will be bringing a French bistro to the location (menu available below). The restaurant will offer high casual cuisine created by Webb, who has competed against Bobby Flay on The Food Network, and won numerous ‘chopped style’ competitions put on for various local charity and fund raising events, including DC Central Kitchen’s Chefs Cook Off.