Trump endorses Dan Cox in Maryland governor race

Republican candidate Delegate Dan Cox has received President Donald Trump's "Complete and Total Endorsement" in the 2022 race for governor of Maryland. Trump declared Cox "MAGA all the way," after speaking with him by phone while Cox was visiting the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on Monday. He called Cox a "tough lawyer and smart businessman."

The Trump endorsement was another opportunity for the 45th president to roast current Gov. Larry Hogan (R) almost as much as touting Cox's MAGA bona fides. Trump's statement blasted Hogan as a "RINO," or Republican-in-name-only, who "has been terrible for our Country." Hogan has been highly critical of Trump, and briefly entertained the idea of running against him in 2020.

Trump praised Cox as an advocate for low taxes, election security, veterans, school choice, and 2nd Amendment rights, and for opposing further pandemic lockdowns of schools and businesses. Last year, Cox sued Hogan over coronavirus restrictions in a case that was ultimately dismissed, but which raised Cox's statewide name recognition.

Cox expressed his "sincere gratitude" to Trump for the endorsement in a livestream on Facebook Monday evening. He is competing against Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly Schulz, Montgomery County attorney Robin Ficker, Nottingham resident Minh Thanh Luong, and Baltimore County attorney Joe Werner in the Republican primary.

Rockville City Hall to reopen in January 2022

Rockville City Hall will reopen to the public on January 3, 2022, City Manager Rob DiSpirito announced. The building has been closed since March 14, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. “I strongly believe that employee collaboration and level of service to customers will benefit by reopening all city offices, including bringing employees back on site at City Hall,” DiSpirito said in an email that informed city employees of the planned reopening.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville

Melina sets opening date, menu in Rockville (Photos)

Just one day after I gave you an exclusive first look at the stunning interior of Melina at 905 Rose Avenue at Pike & Rose, the owners announced the official opening date of the modern-casual Greek restaurant. Melina will open this coming Monday, November 22, 2021. Menus have now also been posted on the website; here are three sample dishes:

Beef Tartare

Roasted Heirloom Carrots

Slow-roasted Lamb Neck Kleftiko

Top photo: Robert Dyer; menu photos courtesy Melina

Rockville Taco Bamba giving away 50 coffee tumblers Friday to celebrate breakfast launch

Taco Bamba is now open at 9:00 AM for breakfast at 1627 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. To celebrate the launch of a new, all-day breakfast menu, the restaurant will be giving away free coffee with any purchase until noon every day. This Friday, tomorrow, November 19, 2021, Taco Bamba's Rockville location will also be giving away 50 free coffee tumblers, to the first 50 customers who purchase any breakfast item.

Photos courtesy Taco Bamba

First look: Melina Greek restaurant at Pike & Rose (Photos)

Wow. The window coverings have been removed at Melina, the new modern Greek restaurant from the founders of CAVA at 905 Rose Avenue at Pike & Rose, and it's one of the more impressive dining rooms seen in recent years. A plant-forward menu is reflected in abundant greenery throughout the space, and classical statues recall the staggering cultural legacy of ancient Greece. Light sconces share space with a more recent cultural icon on the walls, a Zorba the Greek poster - not from the movie, but of the 1946 book cover.

Melina will certainly be a fine lunch or dinner spot to impress clients if you are working in the offices upstairs at 909 Rose Avenue, as well as for date nights. Stay tuned for an opening date, which is going to be soon, judging from the ready-to-go appearance of the dining room and bar.

Transit, office use still haven't recovered in Montgomery County, mobility data show

Use of parks continues to surge

New mobility data released by Google indicates Montgomery County residents still aren't riding transit or going to the office in pre-pandemic numbers, despite having one of the highest vaccination rates in the country. Google compared data acquired from devices between September 29 and November 10, 2021 with pre-covid-outbreak data collected between January 3 and February 6, 2020. 

Transit use is still down 43% from early 2020 ridership numbers, the new data show. Employees are traveling to office workplaces 31% less this fall than in early 2020. 

Montgomery residents are still spending
more time in pharmacies than before the
pandemic, but less than they did this summer

County residents are still shopping in grocery stores and pharmacies more than they did before the pandemic, but only 2% more often, down from 7% more at the time of my last report. Shoppers are still not going into other types of retail stores or recreation facilities as often as they did pre-covid; those numbers are still 11% below the early 2020 baseline.

Use of Montgomery County parks during the
pandemic continues to surge

Montgomery County still has a new appreciation for the great outdoors, though. Fall use of parks countywide shot up to 42% higher than that of early 2020; that number was up only 28% more in warmer July and August 2021, by comparison. 

Stacey Webster named CFO for City of Rockville

Stacey Webster, a longtime member of the City of Rockville's Department of Finance who has worked on many city budgets, has been named Chief Financial Officer for the city. City Manager Rob DiSpirito announced the decision promoting Webster, who is currently the Deputy CFO. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead Rockville’s outstanding Department of Finance, and to continue to provide sound and strategic financial advice to the executive team and to our Mayor and Council,” Webster said in a statement.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville