The renovation work included the replacement of all flooring, reconfiguration and updating of shelving, painting throughout, a new service desk, new lighting, redesign of the children’s reading nook, installation of security equipment, the addition of lounge seating and study areas, replacement of the entry doors, creation of a family restroom and the updating of interior and exterior signs.
Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken at 16248 Frederick Rd (on the border of Gaithersburg/Rockville), which opened on February 19, will hold its official grand opening on March 11. The restaurant will donate 10% of that day’s sales to the Montgomery County Humane Society. The North Carolina-based biscuit chain is known for their buttermilk-brined chicken and has additional Maryland locations in Columbia and Towson. Menu items include biscuit sandwiches, biscuits & gravy, fried chicken strips, and donuts. Full details below per Rise:
“Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken, the award-winning biscuit and chicken concept based in Durham, North Carolina, will celebrate the grand opening of its new Gaithersburg, MD location on Saturday, March 11th. Rise will be donating 10% of that day’s sales to the Montgomery County Humane Society and giving customers multiple opportunities to win free Rise food and branded merchandise.
Per Montgomery County: On Tuesday, Council President Evan Glass introduced a resolution calling on Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly to allocate $175 million in the fiscal year 2024 budget to help an estimated 17,000 Maryland families avoid eviction. The resolution is cosponsored by Councilmembers Natali Fani-González, Kate Stewart, Gabe Albornoz, Sidney Katz, Will Jawando, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Kristin Mink and Council Vice-President Andrew Friedson. The resolution can be read here.
“Anyone can find themselves temporarily unable to pay their rent due to a medical emergency, car accident, funeral expense or job loss. With over 130,000 households in Montgomery County struggling to make rent every month, we must do more to provide affordable housing and help those at risk of being evicted,” said Council President Glass.
Brew House Kentlands at 325 Main Street in Gaithersburg will open this Saturday, March 4. Per its logo, it touts itself as being the “best coffee shop in Kentlands.” Brew House Kentlands is taking over the previous home of Clear Skies Meadery, which has opened its new meadery at 15201 Display Ct in Rockville. In addition to coffee, the menu also features beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as breakfast and lunch options. The full menu can be seen below.
Per MCDOT: Montgomery County teens have an opportunity to win some great prizes by producing videos to encourage peers not to allow cell phones to distract them while driving and walking. The County Department of Transportation’s “Heads Up, Phones Down” high school video contest. High school students can be the writer, producer, director and the star in a 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) video. Videos should be 30 seconds about the importance of paying attention and not allowing phones to distract while walking, driving, or riding a bike.
Montgomery County public and private high school students can submit videos for the contest between March 1 and 31, 2023. Video entries can be submitted individually or as a group of up to four from the same school in English or Spanish.
“The Council appreciates Cherri Branson, David Hill and Amy Presley for serving as temporary Planning Board members. Their work was essential to providing continuity of service and building a bridge to the new Planning Board. Additionally, we thank all those who applied to serve on the Planning Board and encourage residents to stay engaged and informed about land use and planning issues.”
In Oct. 2022, the Council appointed five temporary Planning Board members to ensure continuity of operations at the Montgomery County Planning Board and maintain services for residents. The three newly appointed Planning Board members will serve out the unexpired terms of the prior members and are registered voters of the same political party as the prior Planning Board members. Shawn Bartley will serve as the Republican member until June 14, 2024. Mitra Pedoeem will serve as the unaffiliated member until June 14, 2025. James Hedrick will serve as the Democratic member until June 14, 2026.
The bill would establish the urban district to provide funding for, and support the work of, The Friendship Heights Alliance, a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of businesses and residents in Friendship Heights to further economic vitality and strengthen community in the area. This legislation dovetails with legislation proposed by Washington, D.C. Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin to develop a Business Improvement District on the D.C. side of Friendship Heights.
“The bi-jurisdictional Friendship Heights Alliance, strengthened as a D.C. BID and Maryland Urban District, will support a robust recovery for the Friendship Heights commercial district,” said D.C. Councilmember Frumin. “I look forward to partnering with the Montgomery County Council and the Friendship Heights Alliance to support the local business community along the Wisconsin Avenue Corridor.”
Montgomery County Police responded to an armed robbery on Tuesday afternoon in Rockville. According to police, “At approximately 1:56 p.m., MCP officers responded to the 7-11 store at 10020 Darnestown Rd. for the report of an armed robbery that just occurred. The preliminary investigation has determined that the armed suspect entered the store, stole an undisclosed amount of money, and left the scene. No injuries have been reported. The suspect has not been apprehended.”
According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, the suspect was armed with a rifle. We will post an update when additional information is available. Feature photo courtesy of Google Maps.
Per MCPD: An 18-year-old high school student is in custody following the armed robbery of a Montgomery County gas station. Rockville City Police officers arrested Jeffrey Gabriel Johnson of Rockville, on Monday, February 27 at Richard Montgomery High School, where he was taken into custody without incident.
On Monday, February 20, 2023, at approximately 9:52 a.m., Gaithersburg and Montgomery County Police officers responded to the Summit Shell Station at 15 South Summit Ave in Gaithersburg for the report of an armed robbery. The investigation determined that two Black males entered the store, and one suspect pulled a knife from his waistband. The suspect went behind the counter, held the knife to the clerk, and demanded that the clerk open the cash register. The clerk complied and the suspect removed an undisclosed amount of money from the drawer. Both suspects ran from the store after the armed robbery.
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) will open registration on Sunday, March 5, for its annual limited availability whiskey lotteries that provide opportunities to purchase highly sought spirits. The lotteries are free to enter, but have residency requirements. ABS expects to release more than 1,100 bottles for purchase in the lotteries. Among the spirits that County residents will have an opportunity to purchase are a 2022 Double Eagle Very Rare, a Michter’s 20-Year Old and several rare releases from the Willett Distillery. Maryland residents selected in the lottery will have an opportunity to purchase bottles from the First Edition Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, the Final Edition (fall 2022) Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Collection and the Old Forester Birthday Bottles (2022 edition).
The first lottery will be open to Maryland residents 21 and over. The second lottery will be open only to County residents 21 and over. Each lottery includes a wide range of spirits bottles, with some overlap. County residents will be able to enter both the State and the County lotteries.
Today, Councilmember Will Jawando will be introducing Bill 12-23, the Safety and Traffic Equity in Policing (STEP) Act, which will limit traffic stops that he says have resulted in racial disparities. According to the County Council, “the legislation would prohibit a stop for certain traffic offenses by a police officer; prohibit consent searches of a vehicle by a police officer; require the collection of data and information related to traffic stops; and exclude the limitations on traffic stops from collective bargaining.”Councilmember Kristin Mink is a cosponsor.
According to Jawando, “the goal of the STEP Act is to promote fairness and reduce racial disparities, promote safety and reduce community trauma, improve community policing relations, and further the county’s Vision Zero.” A public hearing is scheduled for June 13 and the Public Safety (PS) Committee is scheduled to review the bill on July 17.