Hogan launches Democrats for Hogan in Maryland Senate race; Alsobrooks responds with video, Clinton endorsement

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) formalized his outreach to Democratic voters in the blue state, a day after winning the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat of the retiring Ben Cardin (D). He turned to former Democratic State Senator Bobby Zirkin (MD-11) to lead "Democrats for Hogan," a coalition voters can join that will spearhead the popular former governor's effort to win with bipartisan support in November. 

Hogan enjoyed such support during his two terms as governor, and with his attacks on Donald Trump, reporters and pundits pointed out that polling showed him more popular with Democrats than in his own party at times. Some Republicans took to calling Hogan "Lockdown Larry" for his response to the pandemic, but he received high marks for his handling of the Covid-19 crisis from a majority of voters.

"I’ve been a lifelong Democrat, and as a Democrat, I’m excited to vote and support and work for Larry Hogan for the United States Senate. He is exactly the leader we need," Zirkin said in a video released by the Hogan for Maryland campaign. "I encourage all of my fellow Democrats to really review the record of Governor Hogan, to look at things like fracking and criminal justice reform and cyberbullying, and the way that he was able to hold the line on taxes and still invest in things that are important like education and the Chesapeake Bay. Maybe most importantly, for those of you who believe like me from both parties - but I’m talking to the Democrats right now - that the hyper-partisanship in Washington is not what we should expect from our leaders. That we should expect them to work together. And if you believe that like I do, then I would encourage you to come out and support Larry Hogan for the United States Senate."

Not so fast, Hogan's Democratic opponent, Angela Alsobrooks said with her postings on social media today. Alsobrooks tweeted a video in which she emphasizes Hogan's identity as Republican rather than bipartisan. She retweeted an endorsement from Hillary Clinton, in which the former U.S. Senator wrote of the current Prince George's County Executive, "Maryland, help this extraordinary public servant become your next Senator!" Not surprisingly, the overarching theme of Alsobrooks' output today was abortion. So far, the campaign and all of its surrogates are laser-focused on the pro-choice message, which Democrats have found to be a winning one since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The topic was also on Hogan's agenda today. Referring to his record at the state level, he tweeted, "As governor, I protected the rights of Maryland women to make their own reproductive health decisions. I will do the same in the Senate by restoring Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. No one should come between a woman and her doctor."

He followed up his Democrats for Hogan announcement with a new video of prominent Democrats praising him compiled from TV and radio reports broadcast in recent years, featuring current Governor Wes Moore, former president Bill Clinton, President Joe Biden, Senator Chris Van Hollen and...Angela Alsobrooks.

"To my Democratic and Independent friends, you know me and you know my proven track record of reaching across the aisle to find common ground for the common good," Hogan said in a statement. "I will continue to be the same strong independent leader for Maryland that I always have been. You know that I have the courage to put people over politics and to put country over party. If you are completely fed up with the divisiveness and dysfunction and want a strong, independent leader who will stand-up and fight to clean up the mess in Washington—then join our cause."

Photos courtesy Hogan for Maryland (top), Alsobrooks for Senate (bottom)

MCPS Countywide Art Show at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Here are some of the exhibits displayed during the recent Montgomery County Public Schools Countywide Art Show at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The schools represented at the show included Ashburton Elementary School in Bethesda, Candlewood Elementary School in Derwood, and Germantown Elementary School. MCPS uses the annual art show to represent student talents, and illustrate the goals of its Visual Arts curriculum. "The visual arts promote the core competencies - Academic Excellence, Creative Problem-solving, and Social Emotional Learning - identified by MCPS as essential to prepare students for success in the 21st century," the school system explained in a description displayed alongside the artwork.

Alsobrooks to take on Hogan this fall, Parrott surprises to face Delaney in Maryland primary election results

Democrat David Trone's wallet is a lot lighter this morning, as Angela Alsobrooks brought an expensive end to the multimillionaire's political career by securing the Democratic nomination for the Maryland U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Ben Cardin (D). Alsobrooks, who currently serves as Prince George's County Executive, would be the first Black person to represent her state in the U.S. Senate if she wins in November. Standing between her and victory is popular former governor Larry Hogan (R), who also won his primary last night. 

While the victory of Alsobrooks followed the trends of her party in the state's recent elections, the favoring of younger and more-progressive candidates did not extend to the 6th Congressional District race, as April McClain Delaney defeated fellow Democrat Joe Vogel. The McClain Delaney-David Trone-John Delaney arc begs the question: has this seat simply become the plaything of the rich? One has to be wistful for the days of farmer Roscoe Bartlett (R), who - God bless him - is still living his best life at the age of 97 after being gerrymandered out of the seat in 2012. A congressperson who thought it was wrong for the government to spy on its own citizens - imagine that!

The surprise of the night in the 6th was the decisive victory of Neil Parrott on the Republican side of that contest. Former gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox was expected to win, or at least come close, after his high-profile endorsement by Donald Trump two years ago. Now spending most of his days in a Manhattan courtroom, and without his nemesis Hogan facing Cox this time, Trump did not weigh in on the 6th District race.

Cox has a strong and loyal following among his supporters, establishing a real movement among Christian conservatives and America First Republicans, even if downsized from 2022. While Tuesday's loss may add to doubts about his future statewide potential, it's unlikely you've heard the last of the attorney and former delegate on the political stage. Parrott will now need to maintain his momentum - and money, money and more money - to stay competitive with McClain Delaney this fall. The 6th District remains severely gerrymandered in strong favor of Democrats. A majority on the U.S. Supreme Court seem to be fine with that, as long as they don't have to undo the red state gerrymandering that has helped Republicans win more seats in Congress than they otherwise would have in recent years.

In the 8th Congressional District, Cheryl Riley defeated Michael Yadeta in a blowout victory. She will face incumbent Jamie Raskin (D) in November.

Can Alsobrooks beat Hogan? Absolutely, if all of the Democrats, independents and Republican women fired up about Roe v. Wade turn out like they did nationally in 2022 and 2023. Out-of-state groups supporting abortion rights were already engaged on her behalf in the primary, and those cash spigots will almost surely be fully-opened after Labor Day. You will hear the word "abortion" coming out of your TV speakers non-stop starting around that time, and lasting through Election Day in November. 

With Black voters holding real power in Maryland, Alsobrooks' potential history-making win is another point in her favor. And she clearly has keen political senses and organizational skills, having just run one of the biggest upset campaigns in recent Maryland history.

At the same time, Hogan has to like the result last night. Alsobrooks doesn't have the Trone fortune at her disposal, while Hogan will have a bounty of GOP dark money flowing in from out of state. Trone had much more appeal to older, moderate and independent voters than Alsobrooks will; those demographics are now in Hogan's corner again. 

Hogan enjoyed strong bipartisan support during his time as governor; Alsobrooks has not in her time as executive or state's attorney. She also doesn't have the statewide name recognition Hogan has. And because she has served in an executive role, Alsobrooks has a record with some weak spots that Hogan or his surrogates can target to a greater extent than Trone's would have provided.

Hogan was limited in what he could do while governor, as his power was greatly restricted by the Democratic legislature. But the things he did do, such as stopping tax hikes or reducing tolls, helped everyone, and voters across a diverse spectrum are likely to remember that at a time when wallets are being crushed by inflation. Barring a Roy McGrath October Surprise, Hogan is going to run a competitive race, and it will be the most-watched contest in the nation outside of Trump vs. Biden.

The most closely-watched races in Montgomery County were for the Board of Education. With the school system, student safety, and student performance continuing to trend downward, and a contentious debate over parents' ability to have their kids opt-out of some curriculum content, a number of insurgent candidates entered the contests to take on the establishment. Election results are so far showing none of the "opt-out" candidates prevailing, and two out of the three teacher's union Apple Ballot candidates are currently winning. 

Apple Ballot choice Rita Montoya is in a tight At-Large race with incumbent Lynne Harris, as ballots continue to arrive and be counted. Election results show Montoya seemed to perform best with voters who cast their ballots in person, while Harris excelled among those voting by mail. Mailed-in votes will continue to be delivered to the Board of Elections in the days ahead.

But David Trone spending $60 million of his own fortune and losing is probably the biggest headline this morning. The private jets, the Ferraris, the lavish mansions that the rest of us could have bought if we had that money... Or the sick who could have been cured, the homeless that could have housed, and the children who could have been educated... Our political system is totally corrupt, and our bank vault-busting election spending is only one of the notable symptoms. 

Rita's Italian Ice for sale in Derwood

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard at 7211 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood is available for sale. The shop shares a building with Ledo Pizza across the street from the Red Mill Shops. It has walk-up window sales, and outdoor seating. 

The asking price is $260,000, according to the sale listing. Inventory is not included in the sale price. Rita's opened here in 2017, and remains open for business.

Emergent BioSolutions to lay off employees, shutter Rockville facility

Emergent BioSolutions of Gaithersburg will lay off 154 workers, and shutter its Rockville manufacturing facility, the company announced as part of a restructuring. It will also eliminate some vacant positions, in an attempt to save $80 million. The biotech firm will scale back its goals to focus on its core businesses: medical countermeasures and NARCAN Nasal Spray. 

"Decisions like these are never easy as they have real impact on many of our dedicated colleagues," Emergent CEO Joe Papa said in a statement. "We are committed to providing resources to those affected as they transition to new opportunities." Emergent will concentrate its operations at sites in Winnipeg, Canada, and Lansing, Michigan.

Assault in Rockville Town Center area

Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault in the Rockville Town Center area late Friday afternoon, May 10, 2024. Officers were called to the 300 block of N. Washington Street at 5:13 PM Friday. A weapon other than a firearm was utilized in the assault.

"Do not enter with mask," warns business at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

"Do not enter with mask," a sign warns patrons at Perfume World in Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A hand-drawn illustration next to the message depicts a full-face ski mask. The City of Philadelphia passed a ban on ski masks in many public places, with some exceptions, last year. Many jurisdictions across the country have a form of ski mask ban, while others have considered passing one amid a persistent spike in retail and violent crime since 2020. A few, including New York City and Washington, D.C., have repealed existing ski mask bans during that same time period.

Strong-arm robbery at Rockville Metro station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery at the Rockville Metro station late Thursday afternoon, May 9, 2024. The robbery was reported at the station at 5:05 PM Thursday. A report that an arrest was made in this case is not yet confirmed as of this writing. An update on this story will be published as soon as that information becomes available.

Wallet snatched from diner's hand at Rockville restaurant

A diner attempting to pay for his meal at a Rockville restaurant suddenly had his wallet snatched right out of his hand, Rockville City police say. The victim took out his wallet at a restaurant in the 400 block of Hungerford Drive (MD 355) at 11:25 AM on April 30, 2024. A male suspect grabbed the wallet, and fled on foot. Police describe the suspect as a slim, Black male, 5'5" in height, approximately 25 years of age, and wearing all-black clothing. If you have any information regarding the suspect or this incident, you are asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Jinlan Dumplings opening in Rockville

Jinlan Dumplings is coming soon to White Flint Station at 11620-A Rockville Pike. Chef and cooking instructor Jinlan Wenhua is a fixture at many farmer's markets across the region, where she has been selling her authentic Chinese dumplings made with fresh ingredients from local farmers. Now, like many chefs who have gained popularity with food trucks or farm market sales, she is opening an actual restaurant.

The 1,325-square-foot space will seat about 20 diners. It will be open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. A mid-June opening is anticipated, but stay tuned for an official opening date.

Photo courtesy Jinlan Wenhua

Rockville Dunkin' Donuts May 11 grand opening is a chance to win free coffee for a year

The grand opening of the newest Dunkin' Donuts in Rockville this Saturday, May 11, 2024, will give you a chance to win free coffee for a year. Just be one of the first 100 guests in line starting at 9:00 AM at the Dunkin' Donuts store at 9761 Traville Gateway Drive, and you'll receive a coupon book containing 4 free medium hot or iced coffee coupons per month for 14 months good only at this location. A ribbon-cutting will be held at 10:00 AM. 

This is Luis Group Management's 26th Dunkin' Donuts store in Maryland. Following the ribbon-cutting Saturday, the Luis Group will present a check that will award Driven to Cure with a $3,000 grant to help raise awareness and provide funding for research of rare kidney cancers in children and young adults. Between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, guests will also enjoy free giveaways from the Dunkin’ Prize Wheel, an appearance from the Dunkin’ mascot Cuppy, and face painting.  

The Traville Gateway store features the new upgrades Luis Group has implemented at many of its existing and new locations in recent years, including a more energy efficient and environmentally-sensitive design and materials, the Premium Pours tap system that provides consistent quality for 8 of the chain's most popular cold beverages, and touchscreen ordering and dedicated mobile order pickup area to get you in and out of the store with your takeout order faster than ever before.

This new Rockville location will be open daily from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM. At 2,000-square-feet in size, it employs about 20 team members. Free Wi-Fi is available for customers, and best of all, there is a drive-thru!

Mui Japanese restaurant to replace The Block in Rockville

The Block is gone at 967 Rose Avenue at Pike & Rose, but the space is going to remain a destination for Asian cuisine. Mui, a Japanese restaurant, will open in the former food hall spot next to West Elm this coming winter. Inspired by the modern cuisine of Japan, the menu at Mui will combine traditional and innovative new dishes. Seafood and meat will be cooked on a Robata grill. Like many top sushi restaurants in the region, Mui will offer an omakase dining option, which will leave the selection to the chef, who will surprise and delight diners with their latest creations.

A wine and champagne list will join a curated selection of cocktails. These will be complimented by a menu of fine agave, scotch and sake brands. 

"We warmly welcome Mui to Pike & Rose," Federal Realty Senior Vice President Stuart Biel said in a statement this morning. "Our highly amenitized neighborhood is a popular destination for foodies and shoppers from North Bethesda and the greater community, and we are thrilled to share this new dining experience." "With its lively environment, Pike & Rose is the perfect setting for Mui’s first restaurant location, noted Mui's Edward Wong.

Assault at Rockville apartment complex

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at an apartment complex in the Upper Rock area Tuesday morning, May 7, 2024. The assault was reported at an apartment building in the unit block of Upper Rock Circle at 8:30 AM. Officers were called to the building's parking garage.

Chocolate Moonshine reopens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Chocolate Moonshine has reopened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is now on the edge of the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2. This is the spot recently - and shockingly - vacated by 7-Eleven. Chocolate Moonshine closed in its old location in early April, where it had been in operation since 2016.

Chocolate Moonshine's chocolate bars are made with bourbon, whiskey, champagne, rum, and Barrel aged Irish whiskey. Moonshine Bars are filled with smooth and creamy centers. All bars are gluten-free, and made with only natural and organic ingredients. Their fudge is cooked in small, 50-pound batches, and made with 30% less sugar than competing products.

Pickleball thieves stock up in Rockville

Rockville City police are searching for three suspects who allegedly pulled off a major heist of pickleball equipment from a store in the 800 block of Rockville Pike last month. The suspects entered the business at 2:24 PM on April 26, 2024, grabbed "a large quantity of pickleball rackets," and fled, police say. 

Detectives describe Suspect 1 as a thin White male with a "dark complexion," black hair and a full beard. He was wearing a black jacket and black pants. Suspect 2 was a thin White female with a "dark complexion." She was wearing a black cardigan sweater over a white shirt, and a long black skirt. Suspect 3 was as equally fit and well-dressed as her alleged accomplices, a thin White female with a "darker complexion." Her outfit was a black dress accessorized with a white shawl.

Police did not provide an approximate age for any of the three suspects. If you have any information about the suspects or this incident, you are asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Police called after assault at Rockville grocery store

Rockville City police were called to a grocery store in the King Farm community on Friday afternoon, May 3, 2024, after someone reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at 4:00 PM Friday at the Safeway store at 403 Redland Boulevard. That is in the King Farm Village Center.

If you snooze, you lose...your Apple Watch in Rockville

Doze off during dinner in Rockville Town Center, and you might find your smart watch gone when you wake up. That's what happened to a customer who fell asleep inside a business located in the 200 block of E. Middle Lane on April 27, 2024, Rockville City police say. After the victim nodded off around 7:30 PM that evening, an unknown suspect grabbed their unattended Apple Watch and fled the building. If you have any information about this theft, call police at 240-314-8900.

Assault reported at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to Richard Montgomery High School, located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Thursday morning, May 2, 2024. A 2nd-degree assault was reported at the public school. The assault was reported at 9:00 AM Thursday.

Tesla Cybertruck deliveries picking up in Rockville (Photos)

Here's a rare sighting: A Tesla Cybertruck in the wild without an overpaid influencer behind the wheel. Deliveries of the king of trucks appear to be picking up at the Rockville Tesla facility at 1300 Rockville Pike. A purported halt of Cybertruck deliveries in mid-April due to an accelerator pedal issue clearly has ended, at least here in Maryland. 

There was only one Cybertruck on this car carrier loaded with Teslas, but at least three more could be seen parked on the top level of the facility's garage. It seems that the production numbers of Cybertrucks and Tesla stock are both trending in an upward direction.

Assault at Montgomery College in Rockville

Montgomery County police were called to the Rockville campus of Montgomery College late Tuesday morning, April 30, 2024. An individual reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault at the college. The assault was reported at 11:44 AM Tuesday.

Dunkin' Donuts reopens at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville

Dunkin' Donuts has reopened at 865 Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza. The store just completed a major remodeling of its interior. A new Rockville-specific branding sign has been installed on the far right wall inside. The store is open from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM seven days a week. Time to make the donuts!