Rockville native receives posthumous honor from CT governor

Television news anchor Denise D’Ascenzo grew up in Rockville, but is most prominently known as a news anchor in Cleveland and in the Hartford-New Haven market in Connecticut for the last several decades. D’Ascenzo passed away suddenly last month, from what her station WFSB 3 called "a massive heart attack." She was 61.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) declared Thursday to be Denise D'Ascenzo Day in Connecticut, in honor of her longtime work and service there. A public memorial service was held the previous day in Hartford. “For more than thirty years, Denise D’Ascenzo entered millions of homes through her news broadcasts, becoming an extended member of each of our families,” Governor Lamont said in a statement yesterday. “On behalf of the entire state, our hearts remain with Denise’s family, friends, and colleagues at WFSB.”

MSNBC anchor Hallie Jackson
tweets about D'Ascenzo's passing

In Rockville, D'Ascenzo attended Rockville High School (Class of 1976), and was editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper. She also worked for The Sentinel, which ceases publication this week, in a sad coincidence.

Rockville Mayor & Council to consider amending city travel policy

The City of Rockville's government travel policy could be amended soon. A discussion of possible amendments will be held by the Mayor and Council at their meeting Monday night, February 3, 2020 at 7:00 PM. Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton and City Council members, along with members of the City's Compensation Commission, will take part in Travel Policy Training tomorrow, January 31, ahead of Monday's discussion.

In a report, the Compensation Commission revived a recommendation by a prior commission that the Mayor and Council be able to receive reimbursement for travel expenses the same as City staff. They said this would eliminate any murkiness on what travel can be reimbursed for elected officials by providing a precise framework. The commission also recommended giving each Councilmember and the Mayor a separate $5000 travel budget apiece. By FY2024, the allowance would increase to $6000 annually. The travel issue is part of a larger discussion of boosting compensation for the Mayor and Council. 

Travel policy abuse is not rare in our area; Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer was found to have received compensation for travel to private meetings with his campaign donors, and requested - and received - compensation from taxpayers for a campaign-style website, despite already having a County Council website for official business. No one, including the Council, ethics oversight bodies, nor the local media (those aware included The Washington Post) besides this website, has investigated nor addressed that inappropriate use of taxpayer funds by Riemer to date.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville

Rockville law firm partner to headline MCGOP Lunar New Year celebration

Christina E. Shin (Sohn) will be the headlining speaker at the Montgomery County Republican Party's 2020 Lunar New Year Celebration on February 7, 2020 at 7:00 PM at New Fortune Chinese Restaurant, located at 16515 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Shin is a founding partner of Rowe, Weinstein & Sohn, PLLC and Quantum Title Corporation in Rockville. She is also the President of the Korean American Republican Party of Virginia.

Guests will enjoy a 7-course meal of Fried Shrimp Balls, Seafood Tofu Soup, Roasted Chicken Cantonese, Walnut Shrimp, Mushrooms with Vegetables, Chow Foon with Vegetables, Sweet 'n Sour Pork Chop, Young Chow Fried Rice, Oranges/Fortune Cookie, Soft Drinks, and Tea (vegetarian options available). Adult beverages will be available at a cash bar.

Tickets are $40.00 if purchased by Feb. 2, 2020, or you can pay $45 at the door. Payment can be made online, by credit card, or by check; cash will not be accepted for this event. Sponsors can buy a table for 10 for $400, and will be recognized at the event - but must buy tables by January 31.

Make Checks Payable to MCGOP: 15833 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville, Maryland 20855.

Rockville cancels Lunar New Year celebration due to coronavirus fears

Fears of an escalating coronavirus pandemic are growing in China and abroad. Student trips at local universities have been canceled in some cases, and Chinese celebrations of the Year of the Rat have been severely curtailed by quarantines. In this climate, the City of Rockville has decided to cancel its planned Lunar New Year celebration that had been scheduled for this Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Rockville High School.

A statement released by the City Monday stated that "[t]he decision to cancel the event was made out of an abundance of caution in response to concerns about the coronavirus that have arisen from community members, event participants and the city’s Asian Pacific American Task Force, which partners with the city to organize the annual celebration."

The event will not be rescheduled, the statement added. A growing number of suspected coronavirus cases in the Washington D.C. region, including Maryland and Virginia, have increased concerns in recent days. The City noted that it is far from the only jurisdiction to cancel planned Chinese New Year festivities this week.

Graphics via CDC.gov

Bar Louie closes Rockville, Wheaton Plaza locations

Just as nightlife in booming Washington, D.C. expands into new corners of the District, it continues to tank spectacularly in moribund Montgomery County. Bar Louie has closed in Rockville Town Square. As if that wasn't enough, Bar Louie also closed its newer location at Wheaton Plaza, which was in a very modern and new structure with prime proximity to the AMC Wheaton 9 cineplex. "Thanks for all the memories," read signs in the windows.

Having been at Rockville Town Square for many years, the closure reflects the drastic downturn the county has taken over the past decade, as the Montgomery County political cartel has seized all nine seats on the County Council. The fact that the Wheaton location exited the same weekend indicates that this was more than just the ongoing struggles at Federal Realty's Rockville Town Square, which has seen a mass exodus of many of its key tenants in recent years.

Montgomery County is in real trouble, folks. County revenue, not surprisingly, is severely declining with the failing economy and flight of the rich to lower-tax jurisdictions in the region. Nightlife took a catastrophic blow from the Council's disastrous "nighttime economy task force" debacle, which resulted in the closure of 18 nightspots in Bethesda alone, and was capped by several new Council policies that hit the bottom line of hospitality businesses hard. Not to mention the Council preserving and beefing up the County government liquor monopoly, instead of ending it as bar and restaurant owners have begged them to do for years.

More liquor money for Virginia and D.C. We're being led by very stupid people, folks.

THRōW Social DC and Kick Axe Throwing opening in DC's Ivy City

The District continues to clean Montgomery County's clock in nightlife. THRōW Social DC and Kick Axe Throwing will be the newest addition to DC's nighttime economy when they soft-open January 31, 2020 at 1403 Okie St. NE. Their official grand opening will be on February 6. The 22000 SF facility will include five curling rinks and six FootBowl (a game that combines football and bowling) "ranges" on the former's upper floor, and twelve axe-hurling ranges on the lower floor.

The Aspen lodge-themed
Kick Axe Throwing

The founder of D.C.'s Escape Room Live, Ginger Flesher-Sonnier, is opening the D.C. THRōW and Kick-Axe location. Come with enough players for a team (eight), or the venue will help by pairing you with other smaller groups and individuals.

Axe ranges - Gilius Thunderhead
would be proud!

Kick Axe is far from the first axe-throwing enterprise in the District, but the upscale ski lodge aesthetic promises to set it apart. THRōW takes a decidedly different tack, themed around a Palm Beach tropical concept. It features a standard Las Vegas nightclub/dayclub feature you won't find in Montgomery County - cabanas.

A nightlife venue with cabanas?
You're definitely not in MoCo!

Kick Axe Throwing and THRōW Social DC will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3:00-11:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays, noon-2:00 AM; and Sundays, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. THRōW is open to all ages; Kick Axe is open to everyone age 8 and older (children are offered foam axes to throw). Kick Axe patrons must wear closed toe shoes, and high heels are prohibited there. Expect to pay $29 per person for an hour of each gaming experience.

If you haven't been to Ivy City recently, you won't recognize the revitalized neighborhood near Route 50 and an Amtrak maintenance facility. Top-rated restaurants include La Puerta Verde and Ivy City Smokehouse. The latter has a rooftop deck. Other highlights include City Winery, Target and Nike Community Store. The nearby Echostage is a nighttime destination for many a young Montgomery County resident, after 18 nightspots closed in Bethesda alone following the County Council's disastrous Nighttime Economy Task Force debacle earlier this decade.

Photos courtesy Kick Axe Throwing and THRōW Social DC

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Montgomery Mall today, Sunday and Feb. 8, 2020

Today is the day of the Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year. Check out these decorations and messages at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, celebrating the Year of the Rat.

Stop by Godiva on Level 2. They have a special Chinese New Year edition box of chocolates, in varying sizes, with Lunar New Year red ribbons on the packaging. There is also a Godiva limited-edition box that features the Godiva chocolates most popular in Asia. Macy's is selling a Lunar New Year t-shirt. And purchasers of more than $200 in Crystal Living merchandise at Swarovski will receive a free Year of the Rat ornament.

The Young Artist Music Society will perform traditional and contemporary Chinese pieces on Level 1 of the Nordstrom wing today, Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 12:00-2:00 PM.

Continue the celebration tomorrow, January 26, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM with traditional Chinese performances by the Cathay School, and a red envelope decorating activity. Check inside your envelope to see if you got any special surprises. RSVP online.

Kids can then join representatives of the KID Museum between 1:00 and 3:00 PM to create their own dragon puppets (while supplies last).

But this weekend won't be the end of the celebration - head back to the mall on Saturday, February 8, from 6:00-8:00 PM for a 2-hour performance by the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center. Here's the full schedule:

6:00 PM Dragon Dance CCACC Youth Dragon Dance Team  龍隊遊行  中心青少年龍隊

6:10 PM Chinese Folk Dance CLAPS Chinese Dance  民族舞蹈  歡樂中文學校民族舞蹈班

6:20 PM Kung-Fu Fan Sweet Dew Refreshing the Earth Martial Arts Health Dance Society 功夫扇  甘露普潤  大華府養生武舞學社

6:30 PM Dancing, Singing, Rumba CCACC Evergreen Rockville 民族舞、唱歌、倫巴  洛城常青社

6:40 PM Yuan Chi Dance Yuan Chi Research Society 元極舞  華府元極學研究社

6:50 PM Folk Dance "Splendid China" Madison Chinese Dance Academy 錦繡中華  陌地生舞蹈學院

7:20 PM The Melodies of Guzheng & Calligraphy CCACC Guzheng Club  書法古箏賀元宵  美京華人活動中心古箏社

7:40 PM Martial Arts United States Wushu Academy  武術表演  美國武術學院

8:00 PM Lion Dance CYC Lion Troupe  舞獅  青年社舞獅隊