MoCo Government

Eligible voters in Maryland have been mailed applications for mail-in ballots. Applications for mail-in ballots must be received by July 12. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters via first-class U.S. Mail beginning June 13.

To be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than July 19, and the oath on the postage-paid return envelope that arrives with the ballot must be signed. Those who choose to cast their votes using ballot drop boxes must submit their completed ballots by the final collection time—8 p.m. on Tuesday, July—for their ballot to count.


MoCo Government

Funding for the grants is provided in partnership with the Montgomery County Government, with the support of County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council.

“We are excited to work with the grant recipients this upcoming year, in addition to all of the community members who participate in our trainings,” MCAEL Executive Director Kathy Stevens. “Through the work of the entire coalition, more and more adults in Montgomery County are gaining the English skills they need to speak English, read news or writing skills to fill out a job application.”


I-495

As the result of a recent residential burglary trend, the Montgomery County Police – 2nd District Investigative Section was conducting follow-up investigations when they obtained footage from a June 21, 2022, burglary that occurred in the 5300 block of Brookeway Drive. The surveillance footage indicated four unknown suspects entered the residence and stole a GMC Yukon SUV, which was subsequently recovered in the area the next day.

On Thursday, June 30, 2022, at approximately 1:20 a.m., officers from the Montgomery County 2nd District Special Assignment Team responded to the 6000 block of Johnson Avenue for the report of an attempted burglary in progress. Officers from the 2nd District – Special Assignment Team observed a BMW SUV, matching a previous burglary suspect vehicle form June 21, 2022, leaving the area and initiated surveillance.


Crime

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Judge David Boynton, defendant, Macdoff Oghenejabo Okah, 46, of Silver Spring, entered a guilty plea to charges of sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult and sexual offense in the third degree. This follows his conviction in a separate case yesterday where a jury found Okah guilty of one count of sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult and three counts of sexual offense in the third degree. He is facing a maximum of 60 years in prison for the combined six counts. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2022 at 1:30 pm.

These cases stem from two incidents involving separate victims at Adventist Healthcare Behavioral Health located in the 14900 block of Broschart Rd. in Rockville. Okah was employed as a Psychiatric Technician there since 2016 and was terminated on June 7, 2019. “This defendant abused his position of trust and authority over the victims, preying on them while they were in a vulnerable state. It took courage for the victims to come forward and that bravery will help to prevent further abuse. We look forward to a lengthy prison sentence in this matter,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.


Bethesda

Three MoCo restaurants have made it onto Eater DC’s “Hottest New Brunches to Try Around D.C.” list that includes some of the most popular new restaurants that offer “D.C.’s most cherished meal.” The restaurants are listed geographically, which puts the three Montgomery County restaurants in the top 3 spots.

Listed first is Melina in Pike & Rose:


Traffic

In addition to a full-color traffic signal, the nearly $200,000 project includes a marked crossing on the south side across US 29, with countdown pedestrian signals and accessible pedestrian signals activated by push buttons. The system will significantly improve pedestrian safety at this busy location. The signal will include a protected left-turn phase for northbound US 29 left turns onto Oak Leaf Drive to improve overall traffic operations.

US 29 at Oak Leaf Drive is a six-lane major arterial route with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. Approximately 60,300 vehicles use this section of US 29 each day. The closest protected pedestrian crossing at this location is 800 feet to the south of Oak Leaf Drive at Prelude Drive. However, pedestrians cross US 29 near Oak Leaf Drive to access nearby bus stops.


MoCo Government

Now through the end of October,  in-person tax appointments are available from 11 a.m. –  5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday. at the Community Action Agency office, which is located at 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 320, in Rockville. Virtual appointments are available from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.  Assistance with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) applications is available on Thursdays.

As part of VITA’s free tax help, the program links residents with valuable tax credits that can provide critical support to households. This year’s historic expansion of the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and the County’s Working Families Income Supplement (WFIS) added thousands of dollars in tax refunds for individuals and families. This included ITIN taxpayers who were eligible for the state EITC and County WFIS for the first time ever.


Burtonsville

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old from Burtonsville.

Jozlyenn Sanderson was last seen on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at approximately 1:48 a.m., in the 4300 block of Tazewell Ter.


Darnestown

On June 29, USA Today published a ‘Top 50 Pizzerias in the US’ list, “as ranked by Italian pizza experts.” The list was created by 50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation site in Paestum, Italy, not far from Naples. New York City reigns supreme with 9 pizzerias on the list, but Montgomery County contributed with the 25th ranked pizzeria in the country– Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, located in Darnestown/Gaithersburg.

Inferno was opened at 12207 Darnestown Rd. by Chef Tony Conte back in 2015. Conte, who is well known for his high-end cooking at DC’s Oval Room, got his start making pizza in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut. Conte’s father moved to the United States from a small town near Naples at 17, and raised his family in New Haven, Connecticut where Conte worked in a Sicilian pizzeria during high school, according to Washingtonian Magazine.