Coronavirus patient surge at hospitals puts Montgomery County on Blue Alert

Critical care beds

"mostly full" at all

County hospitals tonight

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed by the Maryland Health Department has continued on an upward track recently. Tonight, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer confirmed that critical care beds at all county hospitals are "mostly full" this evening. This triggers a Blue Alert for MCFRS crews. County EMS supervisors are actively managing patient distribution countywide at this hour.

"All area hospitals are busy," Piringer said. As a result, patients may be transported to a hospital further away from their home until beds free up.

Strong-arm robbery in Twinbrook Metro station parking lot in Rockville

A strong-arm robbery in the Twinbrook Metro station parking lot at 1600 Chapman Avenue was reported to Montgomery County police Tuesday. The robbery took place around ten minutes before midnight, according to crime data.

Rockville City Centre sold

One of the larger shopping centers in Rockville has changed hands. Rockville City Centre, home to a Giant grocery store, Popeyes and other popular tenants, was sold to Wheaton Properties of Maryland, LLC, a shell company established in Aspen Hill. According to Maryland real estate records, the property sold for $7 million - quite low considering the redevelopment potential here, at the intersection of MD 355 and N. Washington Street on the edge of Rockville's Town Center.

The seller was Tafida Associates. This site was once home to one of the DC area's famous Hechinger hardware stores, known as "The World's Most Unusual Lumber Yards."

Regal Cinemas Rockville marquee has new coronavirus messaging

Regal Cinemas Rockville Center has posted some new coronavirus pandemic messaging on its marquee at 199 E. Montgomery Avenue. Not surprisingly for a cineplex, the updated messages draw on classic movies like Casablanca and Sudden Impact. Most of all, the theater misses "our Rockville neighbors."

Rockville construction update: Duball Rockville Town Center Phase II (Photos)

Duball LLC's Rockville Town Center Phase II is anticipated to deliver in mid-2021 across from Phase I, which included a Cambria Suites hotel, The Upton luxury apartments, and several shops and restaurants. Phase II will add 20,000 SF more of retail and dining space, beneath 400 apartments. 250 apartments will be market rate, and the other 150 will be affordable housing for seniors.

Barnes & Noble installs sign at Congressional Plaza in Rockville

The permanent sign is up at Barnes & Noble's future Congressional Plaza location on Rockville Pike. They'll be moving up the Pike from Montrose Crossing later this year. There's still a long way to go on the interior construction of the new bookstore, but the new canopy and exterior look finished when you look up from the sidewalk.

Enterprise Holdings to lay off 92 in Rockville

The economic collapse caused by the coronavirus pandemic continues to implode Montgomery County's already-moribund economy. Enterprise Holdings announced yesterday that it intends to lay off 92 of its employees in Rockville. In a statement, Enterprise said their rental car business is "at a standstill" with very little travel taking place nationwide.