Minimum Wage Going Up — The Council on Tuesday passed a bill that will raise the minimum wage in Montgomery County to $8.40 an hour in October 2014, $9.55 an hour in October 2015, $10.75 an hour in October 2016 and $11.50 an hour in October 2017. The 8-1 final vote came after a flurry of amendments and back and forth between members. Craig Rice, who at first proposed delaying a vote on the bill, switched sides and voted for the $11.50 measure, setting up a 6-3 vote on an amendment that led to the nearly unanimous vote. Phil Andrews voted against the bill. Officials in D.C. and Prince George’s, part of the “regional effort” in enacting the $11.50 an hour minimum wage, said they expect their Councils to pass the legislation. The original proposal had the $11.50 per hour wage coming in 2016. [Washington Post] [Montgomery County Council]

Transportation Matters — Some updates from the Bethesda Transportation Solutions, including tips for pedestrian and bicyclist safety and the Rock Creek Trail renovation project. [Bethesda Transportation Solutions]

Bethesda Resident Designs New Stamp — It is Ethel Kessler’s third Hanukkah stamp for the United States Postal Service. The agency’s stamp art director has designed more than 300 stamps for USPS in her long career. [The Gazette]

Max Brenner Closes For Minor Renovations — The fast casual chocolate eatery (7263 Woodmont Ave.) is doing some “minor design and back of the house renovations,” and will reopen Wednesday night. [Eater DC]

Flickr photo by Bill in DC