The Rockville City Police Department has named Neighborhood Services Officer Fred Mowell its 2025 Civilian of the Year and Officer Chance Thrasher its 2025 Officer of the Year.
The Rockville City Police Department has named Neighborhood Services Officer Fred Mowell its 2025 Civilian of the Year and Officer Chance Thrasher its 2025 Officer of the Year.
Montgomery County Council committees will meet Thursday, March 5 to review elements of the Fiscal Year 2027 to 2032 Capital Improvements Program and receive updates on public health and education initiatives.

This October, Craftmark Homes opened the decorated model of their new townhome community, Watkins Mill Station, just north of RIO in Gaithersburg, MD. If you’ve been watching this corner of Montgomery County for what comes next, now’s the time to visit this exciting new townhome opportunity. For a limited time, Craftmark is offering up to $40,000 in Closing Costs/Rate Buy-Down to celebrate their Grand Opening.
Craftmark has brought their local area expertise to Watkins Mill Station, where they’re offering two townhome plans from the Upper $800s: The Seneca II, their award-winning, elevator-ready plan with 3-5 bedrooms and up to 3,039 square feet; and The Blueridge, a new design that’s available with a covered deck, private rear yard and up to 2,795 square feet. Both showcase designer-selected finishes, oversized kitchen islands, open layouts, and a two-car garage.

Residents of Watkins Mill Station will enjoy a community pool and bathhouse with an outdoor pavilion (currently slated to open spring/summer 2027), a tot lot, and a community pocket park with an art installation. In the meantime, Seneca Creek State Park and the Muddy Branch Greenway Trail are close by for walks, runs and time on the water.
Uniquely, and especially important for area professionals, Watkins Mill Station features an on-site MARC station, so residents commuting into D.C. can relax or get a head start on their morning rather than driving. The Brunswick Line serves the station on weekdays with commuter trains to and from Union Station, and Rockville is one stop away for riders who need to transfer to the Red Line Metro or Amtrak.
Drivers will enjoy immediate access to I-270 and the Biotech Corridor, and Downtown Crown, Kentlands, RIO, and Olde Towne Gaithersburg are just a short trip for dinner and errands.

If you’re looking to settle into a new home and host the holidays in style, Craftmark has Move-In Ready homes available in their model row. Or, do you prefer to select your own finishes? Now’s the time to act to make personal selections for spring move-ins!
Craftmark’s model home is open daily 11 AM – 5 PM, and buyers should call or email Bethany (details below!) to schedule a personal appointment to learn more about available homes and how to personalize a floor plan. Don’t forget to ask about limited-time incentives like up to $40,000 in Closing Costs/Rate Buy-Down assistance!
Craftmark Homes at Watkins Mill Station
MHBR #451
A Capitol Heights man has been charged with solicitation of a minor, and Montgomery County Department of Police 4th District Central Business District officers believe there may be additional victims.
A Maryland restaurant lays claim to serving one of the best pizzas in the world. White Rabbit Gastropub in Frederick earned international recognition in 2022 when it, alongside its sister concept Rad Pies, won 1st Place for Best Pan Pizza at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.
McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) is announcing its acquisition of Smolen Emr Ilkovitch Architects (SEI) of Rockville, Maryland. This partnership expands MPS’s presence into the U.S. Mid-Atlantic with a new studio and grows the reach of the firm’s K12 architecture, interior design, planning, and advisory practice to clients in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the surrounding region. The addition reinforces the firm’s place among the top 25 K-12 architecture practices in the United States.
“We are excited to welcome SEI to the MPS firm family. The SEI team shares our commitment to purposeful and expert design and project execution, exceptional client service, and deep community–centered relationships and presence,” says Chad Cousins, CEO, McMillan Pazdan Smith. “Together, we will support the continued growth, vibrancy, and sustainability of the DMV region with long term community investments, and industry-leading design, planning, and advisory value.”
“This little composition…is, alas, the final mortal sin of my old age. A little technique, a little heart, that is all.”
Gioachino Rossini’s "Petite Messe Solennelle" is neither little nor entirely solemn. Yet beneath the wit and irony of its title lies one of Rossini’s most personal creations, which blends the theatrical brilliance and unforgettable melodies of his comic operas—including extraordinary and virtuosic arias—with an almost uncharacteristic tenderness and spiritual depth.
Montgomery Parks is expanding the hours for its popular Open Parkways program as daylight saving time begins this weekend, giving residents more opportunities to enjoy car-free roads for walking, biking, skating, and other outdoor activities.
The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) reports overall crime in the department’s 3rd District, which covers Silver Spring, has decreased by 8 percent compared to 2024.
J.Crew Factory is expanding in Montgomery County, with a new location planned for Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront. Signage is expected to go up next week, but an opening timeframe is not yet available
iSMASH, a rage room and entertainment concept built around stress relief and hands-on fun, is coming to The Square in Rockville.
The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring will open for the 2026 season on Saturday, March 21, offering visitors access to treetop climbing trails featuring zip lines, rope bridges, and aerial obstacles set throughout the forest.
The Montgomery County Commission for Women, in partnership with Montgomery County Recreation and Montgomery County Public Libraries, is inviting residents to participate in the ninth annual Girl Power Contest as part of Women’s History Month.
A Germantown man recently claimed $100,060 in Maryland Lottery winnings after two of his Bonus Match 5 tickets matched the winning numbers in the same drawing. (more…)