Rockville

Rockville’s Mayor and Council will consider in February several recommendations from the city’s Charter Review Commission that could change the city’s voting age, the size of Mayor and Council and other elements of city elections.

On Monday, Feb. 6, the Mayor and Council are scheduled to hold a public hearing on recommendations that, if adopted, would amend the city charter to lower the voting age from 18 to 16, permit noncitizens to vote, set term limits, create representative districts, create an administrative process to fill a vacancy on the council, change election years to coincide with presidential or gubernatorial elections, and implement ranked-choice voting. Learn how to testify during the Feb. 6 hearing at www.rockvillemd.gov/hearings and find more information when the agenda is posted at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.


Gaithersburg

The joint public hearing on the Lakeforest Mall Rezoning & Sketch Plan was conducted on January 17, 2023. The Planning Commission will hold their record open until 5 p.m. Friday February 17, 2023 with anticipated recommendation March 1, 2023. The Mayor & City Council hold their record open until 5 p.m. Friday March 10, 2023 with anticipated Policy Discussion April 3, 2023.

Below is a video of our very own Alex Tsironis discussing the latest meeting on Fox 5, followed by some highlights from WRS, Inc’s presentation on January 17th:


Arts

The Montgomery Art Association (MAA) member exhibition has returned to the Benjamin Gaither Center (80 Bureau Dr A) in Gaithersburg  through March 26, 2023. Meet the artists at a free reception on Tuesday, February 21 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The exhibit and reception are open to the public. Masks & social distancing are encouraged.

The Montgomery Art Association is a nonprofit organization supporting the visual arts and artists in Montgomery County and the D.C. metro area. It offers a number of opportunities for its 350 members to display & sell their work. The Association offers field trips, plein air painting outings, business workshops, art-themed social events & monthly meetings with noteworthy guest speakers.


Rockville

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) will re-open its Montrose store under its upgraded retail concept, “Oak Barrel & Vine,” at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27. The celebration and ribbon cutting will occur in front of the store, located at 1205-B Rockville Pike in the Montrose Crossing shopping center in Rockville. County Executive Marc Elrich, other elected officials and alcohol industry representatives plan to attend the opening.

For the grand opening, and in the days that follow, some rare and allocated items will be available for purchase. Each specific highly allocated item will be limited to one bottle per customer. No more than two highly allocated bottles can be purchased per customer, per day. The items will be available for purchase when the doors open at 10 a.m.


Wheaton

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old from Wheaton.

Tristan Juan Carlos Prieto was last on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m., in the 12400 block of Dalewood Dr. Prieto is approximately 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. He has short brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a navy blue and black jacket, a white shirt, ripped blue jeans and black sneakers. Police and family are concerned for his welfare.


Silver Spring

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 58-year-old man from Silver Spring.  Harold W. Coe was last seen on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at approximately 5:30 a.m., in the 10600 block of Meadowhill Rd. Coe is approximately 6-feet tall and weighs 185 pounds. He has long brown hair, brown eyes and a gray beard. It is unknown what he was last seen wearing.  Police and family are concerned for his welfare.  A picture of Coe is not available.     

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Harold W. Coe is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the 3rd District Investigative Section at (240) 773-6870. Callers may remain anonymous.


Gaithersburg

The 14,316-square-foot facility now features a new PF Black Card® Spa area with HydroMassage beds, massage chairs and tanning beds. Coming soon will be its latest amenity, the Recovery Lounge. To help members relieve pain, recover and improve circulation, the lounge offers a multi-sensory experience combining hot, cold and compression therapy to kickstart the recovery process. Additional improvements include new locker rooms, new cardio equipment, new entrance way tile and new rubber flooring on the upper level.

“We are committed to reinvesting in the Gaithersburg community and are thrilled to unveil our brand-new Judgement Free facilities to our existing and soon-to-be members,” said Victor Brick, co-owner of Ohana Growth Partners (OGP), a franchise division of Planet Fitness. “Already, we’ve experienced an outstanding response from the community and encourage everyone to come check out the club, meet our friendly staff, get a tour and see what the Judgement Free Zone® is all about.”


Education

Panelists will share important information on the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment. The event will be from 9:30–11:30 a.m. in the Clarksburg High School cafeteria, 22500 Wims Road in Clarksburg. Please RSVP. The event will also be livestreamed on the MCPS homepage. Ride On will provide free bus rides on Saturday from 7:00–2:00 p.m. on routes 10 and 75.

2. Help Rising High School Juniors and Seniors Learn About Your Workplace and Career Field


Beyond MoCo

Gordon Ramsay’s new two-story waterfront restaurant, Hell’s Kitchen DC, sits in The Wharf (652 Wharf Street SW, Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20024) with views overlooking the Potomac River. The space is over 14,000 SF and offers dining room, patio,  or terrace seating. The restaurant is currently holding “preview nights” from 1/25-1/27 (bookings no longer available), but is expected to open soon after. The menus offered at the restaurant can be seen here.

Hell’s Kitchen, Washington, D.C. serves iconic Chef Ramsay dishes like Beef Wellington, Pan-Seared Scallops, Lobster Risotto, and one of Chef Ramsay’s personal favorites, Sticky Toffee Pudding. “The design considers the waterfront location and ensures a relaxing yet luxurious experience. With beautifully-plated dishes, experiential cocktails being served in smoking lanterns, delectable desserts, and the famous red and blue kitchen, Chef Ramsay brings the energy of Hell’s Kitchen to Washington D.C.”


Gaithersburg

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District Investigative Section have arrested and charged 30-year-old Eugene Thompson (a.k.a. Michael Stewart), of Washington, D.C., with the strong-armed robbery that occurred on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at approximately 3:50 p.m., at the Giant grocery store in the 18200 block of Flower Hill Way in Gaithersburg.

The adult male victim stated that he was shopping inside the store when he observed Thompson along with a group of male suspects acting disorderly. When the victim approached the suspects and asked them to stop, the suspects surrounded the victim, with Thompson making anti-Semitic statements towards him.  Thompson then is alleged to have begun physically assaulting the victim, causing him to lose consciousness. Thompson and the other suspects then left store. The victim’s keys were taken following the assault.