Health

Montgomery County Office of Animal Services Warns That Canine Influenza Is Being Found in the County and Around the Washington Region

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Cases of canine influenza virus have been reported by a number of veterinary practices in Montgomery County and in other localities within the Washington Region. The Montgomery County Office of Animal Services (OAS) wants dog owners to be aware, and take precautions, regarding the respiratory disease that is caused by a specific strain of the Type A influenza virus and is highly contagious.

The symptoms of canine influenza are cough, runny nose, eye discharge, fever, lethargy and poor appetite. The signs range in severity between no signs at all and severe illness sometimes resulting in death.

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Bethesda

Olazzo in Bethesda to Close for One Week

By Patrick Herron

Olazzo at 7921 Norfolk Ave in Bethesda has announced it will be closed from January 9-15th. The restaurant posted the following message on their social media pages: “Thank You to Everyone Who Celebrated Your Holiday Season With Us!🤩 To Give Our Staff a Much Needed Rest and Make Some Upgrades to the Restaurant, Olazzo Will Be Closed Monday 1/9 through Sunday 1/15 Please Visit Our Sister Restaurants: Alatri Bros and Gringos & Mariachis🍝🍕🌮”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnM9Qs0OKhs/?igshid=MWI4MTIyMDE=

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Crime

Police Looking For Information Regarding Broken Church Window

By MCS Staff

Per Takoma Park Police: The Takoma Park Police responded to the 7300 block of New Hampshire Avenue for the report of vandalism. Unknown suspect(s) threw rocks through a stained-glass window. The incident occurred in the overnight hours.

According to Fox 5, this incident occurred at the Bright Light Baptist Church. Anyone with information on this case should call the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230001043. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

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Montgomery Planning

Montgomery Council Seeks Applicants for Montgomery County Planning Board

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County:

The Montgomery County Council is currently seeking applicants to fill three upcoming vacancies on the Montgomery County Planning Board. In October 2022, the County Council appointed five temporary acting Planning Board members. All members serve until their successors are appointed. The Council intends to appoint successors, before February 28, 2023, for three members. The Council is expected to appoint the remaining two positions, including the chair, by June 14, 2023 and will advertise to fill those positions at a later date.

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Restaurants

Dunkin’ to Give Free Coffee and Breakfast Wraps to Blood Donors

By Patrick Herron

Dunkin’, which is in the process of adding several new locations in Montgomery County, is giving away Free coffee and “Wake-Up” wraps for American Red Cross donors as a part of National Blood Donor Month.  Per Dunkin’: January is National Blood Donor Month, a time to recognize the importance of giving blood and platelets while honoring those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need. To help drive awareness and blood donations this winter, Dunkin’ of the DMV is partnering with the American Red Cross to provide 20,000 coupons valid for (1) free Medium Hot or Iced Coffee and (1) free Egg & Cheese Wake-Up Wrap to blood donors in the region, redeemable at participating Dunkin’ restaurants throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.*

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

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Maryland

Governor Hogan to Deliver Farewell Address Tuesday Evening

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Hogan will deliver his farewell address to Marylanders tomorrow evening, Tuesday, January 10, at 5:00 p.m. ET.  “We have come a long way together over the last eight years changing Maryland for the better,” said Governor Hogan. “I look forward to having one final opportunity to express to Marylanders how grateful I am for the privilege to serve as governor, and share some thoughts about the direction of our state and our country.”

Over the course of his last year in office, Governor Hogan has visited every region of the state to highlight administration initiatives and accomplishments.

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Beyond MoCo

Sears to Close Its Last Remaining Maryland Department Store This Sunday

By Patrick Herron

Many of us likely grew up with a Sears department store somewhere nearby, but lately you may have noticed that you haven’t seen much from the brand that has been a household name for decades. Sears has been rapidly closing locations since 2018, when it filed for bankruptcy in October of that year. According to a report from the Frederick News Post, the Sears department store at Frederick’s Francis Scott Key Mall is set to close on January 15th. Note: There is still a Sears Hometown Store listed as open in Chestertown, MD, but it is not a traditional Sears department store and focuses on selling appliances, tools, hardware and lawn and garden equipment.

“Sears at Frederick’s Francis Scott Key Mall — one of the final remnants of a once great department store empire — is going out of business.The last day customers can shop at the store will be Jan. 15, a manager, who declined to provide her name, told a Frederick News-Post reporter on Tuesday afternoon. Bright yellow signs advertising the store’s impending closure in red block letters are plastered on the store’s windows. More hang around the building’s interior.”

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Lakeforest Mall

Store Closing Sales Begin at Macy’s in Gaithersburg

By Patrick Herron

This was one of the largest hurdles in order for WRS Inc. to reach its target date of 2024 for demolition of the mall and the start of new construction. A more specific date will be available after the approval of sketch plans. The City of Gaithersburg Joint Planning Commission/Mayor and City Council Hearing on the plan is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 at at City Hall, 31 S. Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

WRS purchased the core, ponds, and forest conservation of the mall back in 2019 and added the four anchor sites earlier this year, spending a total of $75 million to acquire Lakeforest Mall. At a meeting in October, WRS announced that they have worked with the City of Gaithersburg since March and plan to submit their zoning application and sketch plan in the next couple weeks. As mentioned above, the target date for demolition of the mall and the start of new construction is currently 2024, with a more specific date to come after the approval of sketch plans. The sketch plan requires at least 35% “green space” and WRS stated that initial sketches are currently at a little more than 35%. Green space is defined as trees, grass, walking/biking areas, etc.

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DMV

U.S. Capitol Police Offer Harry Dunn (Wheaton Resident) Receives The Presidential Citizens Medal For His Role in Protecting the Capitol on January 6, 2021

By MCS Staff

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal at the White House on Friday for his role in protecting the Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Officer Dunn, who lives in Wheaton, shared the following statement on social media:

“Thank you, Mr. President. It is the honor of a lifetime to receive this award from you. I accept it humbly, and with gratitude to you and the other distinguished guests who are present today. I would like to thank my parents, Harry and Joyce Dunn, my daughter, Daphne, my sisters Janice and Lisa as well as Crystal and Cristen who could not be here today and to my cousin, Jarryd, for being here. I firmly believe that a man is only as strong as the family and his support system who surrounds him. I have been blessed with two loving parents who taught me to protect the things that I love, whether they were my sisters growing up, members of Congress, or my daughter, Daphne. And for you Daphne, I stood my ground on January 6, 2021, and every day since so that you can grow up in a country worthy of the label “land of the free and home of the brave.” I would like to lastly but certainly not least, acknowledge the men and women of The US

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Maryland

Governor Hogan Announces Appointment of Bernice Mireku-North to Represent Legislative District 14 in the House of Delegates

By MCS Staff

Governor Larry Hogan announced the appointment of Bernice Mireku-North—a former assistant state’s attorney in Anne Arundel County—to represent Legislative District 14 in the House of Delegates. This appointment will be effective January 11, 2023, the date that the 445th session of the Maryland General Assembly convenes. Mireku-North succeeds Del. Eric Luedtke, the incoming Chief Legislative Officer for Governor-Elect Wes Moore.

“I want to congratulate Bernice Mireku-North on her appointment to the General Assembly, and wish her well in representing the people of Montgomery County,” said Governor Hogan. District 14 is also represented by Sen. Craig Zucker, Del. Anne Kaiser, and Del. Pam Queen.

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Maryland

Maryland Ranked 19th in WalletHub’s ‘2023’s Best & Worst States to Raise a Family’ List

By MCS Staff

With rampant inflation making raising children much more costly than usual, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best & Worst States to Raise a Family. Maryland was ranked 19th overall, coming in at 8th place for ‘affordability’ and 10th place for ‘education & child care.’

To determine the best states in which to put down family roots, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 51 key indicators of family-friendliness. The data set ranges from the median annual family income to housing affordability to the unemployment rate.

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