Bella Sena boutique opens at Rockville Town Square

Bella Sena boutique has opened at Rockville Town Square. Owned by Bethesda resident Bella Sayag, Bella Sena carries casual and activewear apparel, hats, handbags and jewelry among its inventory. Bella Sena is located at 156 Gibbs Street, which was most recently home to Sunday Kitchen & Bath.

Fighter jets over DC, Montgomery County, N. Virginia after State of the Union rattle residents

Significant fighter jet activity over the Washington, D.C. area around 11:00 PM Tuesday night had many residents seeking answers, answers that are not forthcoming as of this writing. President Trump's State of the Union address had ended earlier, and the commander-in-chief was presumably already back at the White House by the time the jet flyovers began. It was not surprising to hear jets deployed, but they have not been heard to this extent following other recent State of the Union speeches.

The noise was somewhat reminiscent of the weeks following 9/11. It continued for about 15 minutes, paused for a few minutes, and then resumed for about 5 more minutes - at least over Montgomery County. Based on social media chatter, the jets were heard in the District and Northern Virginia, as well. Following the jet flyovers, commercial airliners were heard resuming landings at Reagan National Airport, in greater numbers than one usually hears along the Potomac after 11:00 PM.

A Google News search finds no news articles on the jet noise. In a tweet, Oriana Pawlyk, an air war reporter for Military.com, suggested the fighters may have been F-16s from Andrews Air Force Base.

Ourisman Mazda building new showroom on Rockville Pike

Another Rockville auto dealership is getting a new look. Ourisman VW/Mazda at 801 Rockville Pike is building a new Mazda showroom. They remain open for business during the construction.

Pinnacle Pictures, Luxury Beauty & Nails open at Montgomery Mall; EJJI Ramen, UASIS close

EJJI Ramen closure official,

Luxury Beauty & Nails and

Pinnacle Pictures open

Two spas played musical chairs over the weekend at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. When the music stopped, one no longer has a spot. And a third spa opened. UASIS Day Spa has closed permanently. However, I'm told that the stylists at UASIS have moved to UA Salon and Day Spa, Ricky Alessandro Salon, and Avalon Lifestyle Nail Salon & Spa, all of which are located in Montgomery Mall.

Infinite Beauty closed on Level 2. But Infinite Beauty has another location by Nordstrom, Boutique Spa by Infinite Beauty.

Infinite Beauty's alternative
location - Boutique Spa by Nordstrom

Can't find your old stylist or technician at the new locations? Find someone new at the brand-new Luxury Beauty and Nails, in between Jamba Juice and Candy World.

Luxury Beauty and Nails
just opened

Finally, there's more bad news on the closing front at the mall. The closure of EJJI Ramen became official this weekend, when Westfield erected a wall around their former space in the Dining Terrace.

Can we end with some good business news, often in short supply thanks to our anti-business Montgomery County Council? Pinnacle Pictures has opened at the mall. Annoy our corrupt County Council by supporting local business and dropping a few bills on photo products here.

Da Yu Hot Pot opening Rockville location

Da Yu Hot Pot, a Chinese restaurant chain with over 300 location in China is now expanding to our side of the Pacific Ocean. Rockville, New York and Boston are the first cities to experience the Chongqing cuisine of this company founded at the turn of the century.

New York's Da Yu opened first last September, and has earned a 4-star average rating on Yelp from Manhattan diners. Construction is underway now at 1701 Rockville Pike. Da Yu will be in the vacant REI space, a few doors down from the EVEN Hotel. Have we now officially topped Annandale as the top Asian dining destination in the DC region? The case can be made.

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