Work resuming on Purple Line bridges over Rock Creek in Silver Spring this week

The new construction contractor for the Purple Line light rail project is restarting operations on the new transit line between Bethesda and New Carrollton this week. In Silver Spring, that will include resuming work on the bridge that will carry trains over Rock Creek. A second span will carry the Capital Crescent Trail. No trail closures are anticipated, but workers will direct pedestrians around construction activity as needed. So just be aware of this if you are hiking through Rock Creek Park in the vicinity of the Capital Crescent Trail.

Rumi Life store to open at Wheaton Plaza

Rumi Life will open a new location at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall. The lifestyle store chain carries affordable products from around the world designed to make you happier and more creative, and your home more spacious and comfortable. Product categories include apparel, beauty, health, housewares, toys and electronics. Look for Rumi Life on Level 2 next to Shoe Stars.

Elrich finishes first in Montgomery County Executive election results, Blair-requested recount pending

After canvassers counted the 102 missing ballots that election workers discovered Thursday, Marc Elrich held onto his narrow lead over David Blair in the Democratic race for Montgomery County Executive yesterday. Blair did manage to cut Elrich's lead from 42 votes down to 35. That number could change again in the coming days and weeks, as Blair is requesting a full recount. But as of this morning, Elrich has 55,497 votes (39.20%) to Blair's 55,462 votes (39.17%).

Montgomery County Board of Elections finds 102 more ballots

The already drama-filled Montgomery County primary election just took another bizarre twist. Montgomery County Acting Election Director Alysoun McLaughlin issued a statement late last night on Board of Elections letterhead announcing that election staff has found 102 missing ballots. As a result, McLaughlin said, the Board will be unable to certify the election results today as scheduled. The Board will meet at 3:30 PM this afternoon to figure out how to proceed.

The ballots were found Thursday during a "precertification audit," McLaughlin wrote. “Today, we pulled our random sample of empty provisional ballot envelopes for audit and were unable to locate one of the randomly selected envelopes where it should have been," she explained. "In addition, we were unable to resolve a discrepancy between the number of provisional ballots that our staff had recommended that the Board accept, and the number of ballots scanned. Together, these two pieces of information prompted a visual search of folders where provisional ballots had been stored prior to the canvass. Those folders contained 102 unopened, sealed ballot envelopes that were never removed from their folders and presented to the canvass from the following precincts:

• Precinct 06-10 – 1 ballot

• Precinct 06-11 – 1 ballot

• Precinct 06-13 – 14 ballots

• Precinct 06-14 – 7 ballots

• Precinct 06-15 – 15 ballots

• Precinct 13-56 – 12 ballots

• Precinct 13-57 – 10 ballots

• Precinct 13-58 – 30 ballots

• Precinct 13-59 – 12 ballots

Intriguingly, McLaughlin personally apologized in the statement for not locating the missing ballots until yesterday, thereby delaying a certification of the results. The delayed certification has all kinds of implications for the photo finish of Democrats David Blair and Marc Elrich in the County Executive race. Elrich declared victory in the race last week. But if the 102 ballots found yesterday were to split Blair's way, that could flip the current results and Elrich would then have the option to ask for a recount. If Elrich retains his lead after the 102 new ballots are tallied, the recount Blair has said he will request following certification will be further delayed.

"I want to emphasize that Maryland’s comprehensive precertification audit was designed to identify issues like this before an election is certified to ensure theaccuracy of the results," McLaughlin wrote. "It worked as intended.”

“I will finish reviewing the rest of the audit to ensure that there are no further discrepancies before I ask the Board of Elections to certify the results of the election. The Board will meet at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, August 12, and we will discuss the findings of our audit and the schedule for canvass and certification.”

Sameday Health closes at Wheaton Plaza (Photos)

Sameday Health has closed at Wheaton Plaza. The health clinic's space by J.C. Penney has been cleared out. It appears that their business has been hurt by the rise of in-home rapid testing, fewer situations in which the general public must furnish a negative COVID test result, and the shift by governments at all levels toward "living with the virus." Sameday Health was founded in September 2020, growing nationwide largely on the need for rapid COVID testing, and is now shifting its business model to providing other services like intravenous vitamin therapy.

Flood watch in effect for Montgomery County as severe storms approach

Severe thunderstorms are expected to pass through the area this afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch that will remain in effect until 11:00 PM tonight for Montgomery County, Prince George's County and most of Maryland west of the Chesapeake Bay, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. Rainfall amounts of 2-4" are expected, in timeframes as little as one or two hours, leading to potential flash flooding. Isolated strong wind gusts are also expected.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued a statement this afternoon regarding the severe weather forecast. "More severe weather is expected to impact our state this afternoon and evening, including thunderstorms that could produce damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding," Hogan said. He urged residents to "please monitor local forecasts, exercise caution while traveling, and never drive through standing water."

Now is the time to charge your devices, and check the batteries in your flashlights. Bring objects that might fly away in from yards and balconies. Have a battery-powered radio to receive information in case of power outages. For Pepco customers, download the Pepco app to report power outages.

Signage installed at Kusshi at Downtown Silver Spring

The sign is up at Kusshi, opening soon at 8512 Fenton Street at Downtown Silver Spring. There are two existing locations of the sushi bar and Japanese restaurant at Pike & Rose, and at Westpost (a.k.a. Pentagon Row🤷) in Arlington. Kusshi may sound like sushi, but the local chain is actually named after the "ultimate" Japanese oyster.