Along with a list of candidates vying for an expanded number of council seats and a mayor, four advisory referendum questions will also be on the Nov. 7 Mayor and Council election ballot. Voters will have the opportunity to choose “yes,” “no” or “no opinion” on the following:

The nonbinding advisory questions — meaning they allow voters to express a preference without resulting in a change to Rockville law — are based on recommendations from the Charter Review Commission. The Mayor and Council may consider voters’ preferences on the ballot questions should they choose to change the city’s election law.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) received a call for wires down at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Jones Bridge Rd. According to MCFRS Assistant Chief David Pazos, units on scene report several wires and a tree that has fallen and is blocking all traffic at the intersection. MCPD and Pepco are en route and delays are expected.

Alert Montgomery provided the following: “Severe Traffic Alert: All lanes are blocked on southbound Rockville Pike (MD-355) between Cedar Lane and Jones Bridge Road due to a tree and wires down. Expect significant delays. Seek alternate route.”


The Circuit Court for Montgomery County is a court of general jurisdiction with the authority to hear civil and criminal cases. It is the only court in the county authorized to conduct jury trials and is part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, comprising Montgomery and Frederick counties. This is Governor Moore’s first judicial appointment. Governor Moore is committed to building a strong, impartial judiciary that reflects the people of Maryland.

Jennifer Sue Hollander Fairfax is the founder of Jennifer Fairfax, LLC. She practices family law with a focus on domestic and international adoptions and assisted reproduction issues. Ms. Fairfax authored the preeminent book on adoption law, and has worked with lawmakers on advancing legislation related to both adoption and assisted reproduction. She has also advocated for Maryland laws that expedite the second parent adoption process for married and unmarried partners and provide for gender-neutral terms when referring to parents. Ms. Fairfax has taught law school courses on the adoption process and law including LGBTQ law, adoption process issues, contract issues and family law and has published extensively in this field.


After 9 years in the Travilah Square Shopping Center, Title Boxing has made the decision to move around the corner to the Traville Village shopping center. Title Boxing will be taking over the space that was home to Anytime Fitness (9725 Traville Gateway) until December 2022, next to the Traville Barber Shop.

The goal is to make it happen by the end of the year, but with only a few days of closure from the time the current location in Travilah Square closes to the time the upcoming location opens. Title Boxing owner John Sahakian tells us he is excited for the parking situation in the new space, as there will be ample parking for all guests. We’ll provide an update as things progress with the move.


Moby Dick House of Kabob is opening its newest restaurant in North Bethesda, in the White Flint area, at 11431-A Rockville Pike, next to 7-Eleven. This will be the Persian kabob restaurant chain’s 26th restaurant overall and 7th in Montgomery County, where it all started in 1989 with its Bethesda location. The restaurant has put up coming soon signage on the window area of the storefront that was previously home to Verizon, also located next to Matreshka Russian Gourmet (additional photos below).

Founder Mike Daryoush emigrated to the United States from Iran in 1975. He opened a small sandwich shop in 1987 in Bethesda, Maryland, serving a few Middle Eastern dishes. He changed to a Persian menu and added a clay oven in 1989. The name references one of the biggest kabob joints in Tehran, which was right near the American Embassy during the Shah’s time. It was called Moby Dick, apparently because the owner really liked the book. Daryoush passed away on May 9, 2019, only a week after the chain’s 30th anniversary.


Last month we reported that signage was up for No Regrets Pizza Co. at 5454 Nicholson Lane, on the lower level of the  Harwood Flats apartment building in North Bethesda. We’re told the restaurant will offer both artisan New York and Roman Al Teglia-style pizzas. According to No Regrets, they will serve both pizzas by the slice or whole for lunch and then switch to full wait service for dinner, serving full pies along with homemade pasta and desserts.

No Regrets also plans to have a “high-end craft cocktail” bar that will carry several Montgomery County brewed beers. The current estimated opening date is around March 1st.  We will post an update when additional information is available.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) was dispatched to Miller Fall Rd and Muncaster Mill Rd (Gaithersburg) for a vehicle accident involving an occupied school bus with children. Two occupants from the car are being evaluated for transport and traffic is being diverted by Montgomery County Police.

According to an update by MCFRS Spokesperson David Pazos, MCFRS is transporting three adults (two from the car and the driver of the school bus) to local area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. All 30 students on the bus are ok and are in the process of being transferred to another MCPS bus en route.


Per the City of Rockville: Rockville will begin work this fall on the first phase of a citywide project to replace streetlights owned and maintained by the city with energy-efficient light-emitting diode fixtures. The project’s first phase includes replacing approximately 2,000 fixtures of the more common types, including colonial, contemporary and cobra-head fixtures. The city will replace other decorative fixtures as a later phase of the project. Streetlights that are owned and maintained by the city are located on metal or fiberglass poles and are fed by underground power. Streetlights owned and maintained by Pepco are located on wooden utility poles and are fed by overhead power.


The City of Rockville will proclaim September 15th-October 15th as Hispanic Heritage Month. According to the City of Rockville, the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Theme has been selected. This year’s theme is: “Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America.”

Per the City of Rockville: Hispanic Heritage Month originally started with one week of commemoration when it was first introduced by Congressman George E. Brown in June 1968. With the civil rights movement, the need to recognize the contributions of the Latin community gained traction in the 1960s. Awareness of the multicultural groups living in the United States was also gradually growing. Two heavily Latinx and Hispanic populated areas, the San Gabriel Valley, and East Los Angeles, were represented by Brown. His aim was to recognize the integral roles of these communities in American history. Observation of Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was later extended to a 30-day celebration by President Ronald Reagan, starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law via approval of Public Law 100-402 on August 17, 1988.


According to Rockville City Police, Redin Javier Herrera Ortiz, 24, of the 14000 blk of Cove Ln in Rockville, was last seen Sept 2, 23 at 5:00 pm. Has not reported to work since Sept 1. Police concerned for his welfare. Anyone w/info call RCPD at 240-314-8900 (24-hour line) or e-mail [email protected].

Missing Rkville Man – Redin Javier Herrera Ortiz, 24, of 14000 blk of Cove Ln – last seen Sept 2, 23 at 5:00 pm. Has not reported to work since Sept 1. Police concerned for his welfare. Anyone w/info call RCPD at 240-314-8900 (24-hour line) or e-mail [email protected]. pic.twitter.com/YINVn7AIgF


After more than 30 years of dedicated service to what was Community Ministries of Rockville, and is now Community Reach of Montgomery County, and 15 years as the Executive Director, Agnes Saenz is stepping down in early September 2023. Originally from Costa Rica, Agnes joined CMR (now Community Reach of Montgomery County) in 1991 as a volunteer accountant and soon became a full-time employee charged with updating CMR’s accounting system. She proposed and founded CMR’s Language Outreach Program (originally Latino Outreach), directing that program until 1998 when she was promoted to Managing Director. In that position, she was responsible for oversight of all direct service programs and administration, as well as the day-to-day operations of the organization. In 2008, Agnes was named Executive Director of CMR. Since 2013, Agnes has also served as the Executive Director of Reach’s subsidiary, Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic.

Agnes is fluent in both Spanish and English, knowledgeable in Latino/Hispanic culture issues and serves on several boards and commissions. She has been a member of the Latin American Advisory Committee for Montgomery County Executive, Montgomery Cares Advisory Board, Health Centers Leadership Council for Montgomery County Clinics, and the Human Services Advisory Commission for the City of Rockville. She is a graduate of the 1998 class of Leadership Montgomery. Agnes holds a BS Degree in Business Administration with a major in Management and Accounting from the University of Lima, Peru. She received her Master’s Degree in Human Resources from the University of Maryland University College. She was honored by the Maryland Hispanic Business Conference (MDHBC) as the 2014 Latina Powerhouse Award winner. Agnes is close to her extended family, who also live in Rockville and strongly support Reach and the Clinic.


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