Council Approves $23 Million Of Pay Increases For County Workers – The County Council on Tuesday voted 8-1 in favor of a second straight year of pay raises for county employees. The vote was preliminary, with Councilmember and county executive candidate Phil Andrews again being the only vote against the Isiah Leggett-recommended increases. The full package would cost more than $23 million and include wage, step and longevity increases. Members of the main county government employees union would get a 3.25 percent pay increase on Sept. 1. Members of the police union would get a 2.1 percent increase on July 1 and members of the firefighters union would get a 2.75 percent increase on the same date. [The Gazette]
Exelon To Buy Pepco In $6.8 Billion Deal – Energy giant Exelon will buy Pepco Holdings Inc. for $6.83 billion to create a large electric and gas utility serving about $10 million customers, many in the Mid-Atlantic region. Chicago-based Exelon already owns BGE, ComEd and PECO. The deal would combine those utilities with Pepco’s Altantic City Electric, Delmarva Power, and namesake Pepco, which provides electricity to much of Montgomery County and Washington D.C. Outgoing Pepco CEO Joseph Rigby is scheduled to talk to the media in a 9:30 a.m. conference call. [Bloomberg]
Cava Mezze Trio’s Slow But Steady Rise – The three friends who started the growing Cava Mezze Grill chain have deep roots in Bethesda. Ted Xenohristos, Dimitri Moshovitis and Ike Grigoropoulos worked in various Bethesda restaurants such as the Tel Aviv Cafe and Olazzo before coming up with their small plates Greek concept. [Bethesda Magazine]
Woodmont Triangle Bar Crawl – Five Woodmont Triangle bars will take part in a Cinco de Mayo bar crawl on Saturday. Union Jack’s, Caddies on Cordell, Parva Lounge, Hanaro Restaurant and Lounge and 4935 Bar and Kitchen will offer $2 Yeunglings, $3 tequila shots and $4 Coronas — plus the ticket price of $8.38. That includes a $1.38 service fee. [Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row] [Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl]
St. George Greek Festival This Weekend – Drop by the St. George Greek Orthodox Church this weekend for food, live music, art vendors and a moonbounce. The church (7701 Bradley Blvd.) is hosting its Greek Festival, set for noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The event is free. [St. George Greek Festival]
Flickr photo by Nicolas Raymond
