Rockville Town Square Arts Festival this weekend

Over 160 artists will converge on Rockville Town Square this weekend for the annual RTS Arts Festival. Artworks will be on display throughout the property, and available for sale.

There will be live music again, headlined by the 19th Street Band. New this year will be wine and craft beer sold in commemorative glasses. Selections will be from local breweries and vintners in the state of Maryland.

Mediums represented at the festival will include painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, digital works and more.

The festival will run from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday, May 7, and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, May 8. Admission is free.

Photo courtesy Rockville Town Square

WECA asks Mayor and Council to halt approval process for expansion of small cell towers in Rockville

A small cell tower atop
a pole at the
Red Mill Center in
Derwood

A zoning text amendment that would permit small cell towers to be installed on any structure 15' or higher in the City of Rockville is sailing towards a decision by the Planning Commission next Wednesday, unless the Mayor and Council intervene Monday evening. The staff recommendation is that commissioners recommend the Mayor and Council approve the ZTA, but reduce the allowable size of the antennas from 2x4.5' in size to 2x3'.

Yesterday, the West End Citizens Association sent a letter to the Mayor and Council asking them to halt the approval process until the public can be officially informed of the proposal and data on the health impacts of cell towers.

Noreen Bryan, President of WECA, wrote that City staff scheduled the May 11 commission hearing, and a June 6 Mayor and Council hearing, before alerting the public to the issue. Simply using the Rockville Reports newsletter to inform residents after the hearings was not sufficient, Bryan wrote.

"I believe that staff has overstepped its authority, has acted in a way that is adverse to protecting the public and has failed to allow citizens to participate in the issue by failing to notify themof the text amendment," she wrote.

Bryan urged the Mayor and Council to cancel the public hearings at their next meeting this coming Monday, to gather the available research on the health impacts of cell towers, and to then formally report that information - and the ZTA itself - to the public before holding any hearings.

In previous written comments submitted to the City, Bryan expressed concern that these small cell towers could wind up on many utility poles in residential neighborhoods, and that the low altitude of the towers would increase ground-level radiation. She also noted that the ZTA language would give the Board of Appeals power to allow antennas larger than the proposed 2x3'.

The applicant is Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless. Cell towers could not be installed on single-family homes under the ZTA as currently written.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville

Rockville construction update: The Habit Burger Grill (Photos)

Burger lovers who follow nationwide hamburger headlines have to be excited about the future opening of The Habit Burger Grill at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville. In regions that already have locations of the expanding chain, their burgers are attaining Five Guys-level hype.

This is where Ted's 355 Diner used to be on the property. All that's missing is a drive-thru.

Signs pop up all over Rockville Town Center (Photos)

Signs have been installed at three soon-to-open businesses in Rockville Town Center: Old Line Bank and Panera Bread in the Cambria Hotel and Suites/Upton apartment building, and a new additional sign above Mellow Mushroom in Rockville Town Square.

Music was blaring from speakers outside Mellow Mushroom yesterday afternoon, but the window coverings remain on.

Giammo seeks answers on Carver controversy from Rockville city attorney

Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton brought a request from former Rockville mayor Larry Giammo to the floor during Old/New Business at last night's Mayor and Council meeting. Giammo is requesting that the City Attorney give definitive answers to two legal questions regarding Montgomery County's plan to use the historic Carver Educational Center as a bus depot.

The questions regard which legislative body has jurisdiction in this case (several at the meeting said they believe the Montgomery County Council is that body), and a clarification on the Rockville Historic District Commission's legal role and authority in reviewing the County's request.

Newton asked City Attorney Debra Yerg Daniel to respond to Giammo's request. Councilmember Mark Pierzchala initially objected to Newton unilaterally making the request, saying such a direction to City staff could only come from the body as a whole. He ultimately made a motion to direct the City Attorney to respond to Giammo's request, which passed unanimously.

Pierzchala also requested that the Carver Coalition citizen group that opposes the depot be able to get its many legal questions answered definitively, as well.

Knock First lingerie and adult toy store coming to Rockville (Photos)

Knock First, a lingerie and adult toy boutique, is coming to the Ritchie Center. The shop will also carry "novelties...and fine art!!!" according to the sign in the window. Ritchie Center is located on Rockville Pike at Wootton Parkway.

Shh.... 

Samovar is hiring at Rockville Town Square

I can't wait for the first Russian restaurant to open in Montgomery County. Samovar at Rockville Town Square is now hiring. The interior remains top secret, as the window coverings have been replaced with drawn curtains. How many days until a beef stroganoff or borscht will be on my plate?