The Inkas closes in Rockville (Photos)

The Inkas has closed in Rockville, Originally known as Sazon Inka, the Peruvian restaurant more recently had a change in ownership and name. But under any name, the space at 6 N. Washington Street has been totally cleared out, and the Inkas sign is gone. You have to hand it to The Inkas' neighbor, the venerable Apollo, which keeps going year after year in one of the toughest industries to compete in.

Big week ahead for Rockville-Pinneberg Sister Cities 60th Anniversary

UPDATE 11:25 AM: The article has been updated to clarify which events are open to the public. 

Rockville will welcome a delegation of 13 residents of Pinneberg, Germany this coming Monday, October 2. They are here for the 60th anniversary of their sister city relationship with Rockville, and will be staying with city residents. The Pinneberg delegation will be officially welcomed to the city at Monday night's Mayor and Council meeting at City Hall, at 7:00 PM.

Forty-seven more Pinneberg residents will arrive on Thursday. The travelers will have a busy week ahead, with several events planned by the City and the Rockville Sister City Corporation.

In addition to those invitation-only events, don't forget about the big Rocktobierfest next Saturday, October 7, 2017 from noon until 6:00 PM in Rockville Town Center. That event is free to the public.

Rockville construction update: Doña Cecy's Pupuseria (Photos)

The new interior of the future Doña Cecy's Pupuseria is looking spiffy at 2002 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville. Furnishings are in place, and it looks like opening day isn't far in the future. They are also hiring all staff. Doña Cecy's is in the Twinbrook Shopping Center.

Planning Commission to review plan for new Avery Road drug treatment center tonight

The Rockville Planning Commission will review the proposal by Montgomery County to demolish and replace an addiction center at 14703 Avery Road at its meeting tonight at City Hall at 7:00 PM. Because it is a County government project under mandatory referral, commissioners will be limited in their ability to make drastic changes to the project, much less to stop it.

Along with increased beds, the new center will increase parking to 92 spaces. The site is within the Rock Creek watershed, so construction and any future runoff will have environmental implications.

City staff recommend approval of the project with conditions, including that existing and future impervious areas comply with City code on stormwater management.

Rockville construction update: Halal Guys (Photos)

The interior fit-out of the future Halal Guys restaurant at Wintergreen Plaza is still in the early stages. In fact, it looks like they're still demoing the space. This used to be the home of Rocklands Barbeque. A national chain, Halal Guys specializes in gyros and chicken, but is also known for falafel and the famous Halal Guys White Sauce.

The Beer Junction to open in Rockville

Residents of The Galvan will soon have a short trip to buy booze. The Beer Junction, a beer and wine store, will open in the ground floor of the apartment building at 1800-C Rockville Pike. With the old Pie 360 sign still up, one wonders how many hungry drivers have pulled off the Pike thinking they're going to get a pizza at this place, only to find it's closed.

Gov. Hogan proposes massive traffic congestion relief plan

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan proposed the largest traffic congestion relief plan in the nation on Thursday, which would widen the entire Capital Beltway (I-495) within Maryland, I-270 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD-295). The $9 billion plan would add tolled Express Lanes to each road, but not charge for use of existing lanes.

To expand capacity on the B-W Parkway, the state would have to be given control of the road by the federal government. Hogan has begun preliminary discussions with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke regarding this issue, he said. A private partner will be solicited by the state to construct and operate the new Express Lanes on all three highways. Because of the public-private nature of the plan, Hogan can largely move forward on his own to implement it, another plus in what is sure to be a contentious election year legislative session in Annapolis.

In a press conference yesterday, Hogan called his plan "unprecedented" and "absolutely transformative." The popular governor predicted that the congestion relief would assist the entire region, not just Maryland residents. Aside from the clear practical benefits, the highway plan is a brilliant political move, as many of Hogan's rivals have already taken the bait and come out opposing traffic congestion relief(!).

Other politicians, even those not in Hogan's party, smartly endorsed the plan. Robin Ficker, a Republican candidate for Montgomery County Executive who has called for such a plan for I-270 for years, praised the governor's proposal. "We say thank you to Governor Larry Hogan for putting forth a plan to widen the 495 beltway and I 270," Montgomery County Young Republicans VP Dan McHugh said in a statement. "This will help alleviate the terrible traffic problems we have here in Montgomery County!! This is what happens when you elect Republicans - we get things done!!" Patricia Fenati, a GOP candidate for the House of Delegates in District 14, recalled the many hours she has spent over the years driving from the upcounty into the District for work. "Finally, a hero has come along to look at that problem, and come up with a solution," she said of Hogan.

Predictable criticisms and the old "induced demand" canard came from organizations engaged in the War on Cars in our region following yesterday's announcement. "Induced demand" theory has never been proven, as missing pieces of our regional freeway system have been to blame for growing congestion on our few highways. For example, there is no second Potomac River crossing, and no M-83 Midcounty Highway Extended, to relieve traffic on the American Legion Bridge and I-270. And the Capital Beltway was doomed to be jammed when anti-car forces foiled the original plan to run I-95 through Washington, D.C. That dumb move sends East Coast traffic around our Beltway 365 days a year, creating massive traffic jams.