Old Glory DC pro rugby team to host open training session for fans today in Germantown

Professional rugby arrives at the Maryland Soccerplex at 18031 Central Park Drive in Germantown today, February 24, 2024. Old Glory DC, a Major League Rugby team, will host an open training session from 1:00 to 3:00 PM this afternoon. In addition to a preview of the team in action, fans can meet the coaches and players after the session ends. Team ambassadors will provide "Rugby 101" explanations and provide real-time match analysis, and food and beverages (including adult beverages) will be available for sale from vendors on-site. Admission to the event is free.

Old Glory DC's new head coach is Simon Cross. This season's roster features stars from 11 countries around the world, including Team Captain Jamason Faanana-Schultz (AUS), DC native Jack Iscaro (USA) Rob Harley (GBR) of the Glasgow Warriors, Damien Hoyland (GBR) of the Edinburgh Rugby Club, Axel Muller (ARG), and Perry Humphreys (GBR). 

The team's season will begin March 2, 2024 with a road game against the New Orleans NOLA Gold. Old Glory DC's home opener at the Soccerplex will be on March 16, when the club hosts the Chicago Hounds. Single match and season tickets can be purchased during today's event, or online.

Second assault in 48 hours at Rockville Metro station

Rockville City police were called to the Rockville Metro station for the second time in 48 hours yesterday, February 23, 2024, after an individual reported having been assaulted there. The incident was reported at 10:00 AM Friday. The first assault, which involved a firearm, was reported at the station at 8:15 PM Wednesday night.

Aggravated assault with gun at Rockville Metro station

Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault involving a firearm at the Rockville Metro station Wednesday night, February 21, 2024. The assault was reported at the station at 8:15 PM Wednesday. 

Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville wins 1st Amendment Press Freedom Award

For the fourth time, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville is one of the recipients of the annual 1st Amendment Press Freedom Award. The award "recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content." Winners are determined by a committee made up of representatives from the Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society. Twenty-eight schools received the award this year, the most recipients ever. But Charles E. Smith is the only school in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland to win.

Dini's Divine Pies to open in Rockville in March 2024

Dini's Divine Pies will open in a dedicated, bricks-and-mortar space next month in Rockville. The pie shop will open Saturday, March 9, 2024, and will initially be open on Saturdays in March from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It will be located at 11612 Boiling Brook Place, in the Randolph Hills Shopping Center. All of the handmade pies are baked with fresh, organic, local fruit when possible, and organic flour is used for the all-butter pie crusts. 

Photo courtesy Dini's Divine Pies

Bethesda Black cemetery advocates to protest at Jamie Raskin campaign event tonight

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition will hold a protest rally outside of a campaign event for Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin (D) tonight, February 22, 2024, at 7:00 PM at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Advocates for the desecrated Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda have been seeking Raskin's help in getting federal action on the historic gravesite, which is hidden under parking lots behind the Westwood Tower apartments. BACC President Marsha Coleman-Adebayo says that the cemetery is in Raskin's district, but that he "refuses to condemn the desecration and flooding" of the burial ground.

Those interesting in participating in tonight's protest are asked to meet up at Ben and Jerry's at 903 Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring (across from the Civic Building) at 6:00 PM tonight. But if you can't get there that early, just head to the Civic Building at 7:00.

Wawa Burtonsville plan advances to Montgomery County Planning Board as Gaithersburg awaits opening

The first Wawa in Montgomery County hasn't even opened yet, and the company is already moving forward on a second. A proposal to open a Wawa convenience store and mega gas station at 15585-15595 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Boad at its February 29, 2024 meeting. Montgomery County planners are recommending approval of the project, with conditions. Wawa will need to obtain a special exception from Montgomery County to accommodate the project's size, and comply with conditions of a forest conservation plan, before it can pull permits to construct the store. 

The site is currently home to a 7-Eleven, a gas station, and a Mattress Barn store. All would be demolished to make way for the Wawa.

The property owners have proposed construction of a new signalized intersection to facilitate safer ingress and egress from the Wawa onto Old Columbia Pike. They have also agreed to construct a 10'-wide "sidepath" along Old Columbia Pike, and a 16'-wide "bike breezeway" (first time I've heard this term in Montgomery County planning) along the ramp to Route 29. A new trash enclosure would be constructed, and up to nine electric vehicle charging spaces would be provided at the Wawa.