Rockville High School student wins Montgomery County BOE Student Service Award

A Rockville High School student was named the winner of the 2025 Montgomery County Board of Education Student Service Award last evening at The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda. German Diaz-Peña, a senior at RHS, was forced to cut short his student athletic career due to an injury. He maintained his involvement in sports by becoming Sports-Announcing Operations Manager for Rockville High School's Broadcast Journalism program. In this role, he organized and led coverage of all Rockville sports events, assigning reporters to games, juggling the schedules of the many sports, and providing commentary himself.

In addition to providing coaching for aspiring student announcers, Diaz-Peña also volunteered with Montgomery County Public Schools' MCPS-TV, and as a photographer at school and sporting events. He is currently vice-president of Rockville’s Student Government Association, and a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society, earning the Seal of Biliteracy. Diaz-Peña plans to pursue a career in sports medicine.

Diaz-Peña was selected over the other two finalists, Samantha (Sam) Ross of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, and Kylie Zhang of Poolesville High School, who have both been recognized for their outstanding records of service to the community. You can watch Diaz-Peña's winning moment and brief speech from last night here.

Police called after assault at 7-Eleven in Rockville

Damage to 7-Eleven front door
allegedly caused by assailant

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at the 7-Eleven store at 11530-G Rockville Pike on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The alleged assailant entered the store shortly before 2:00 PM that afternoon, and was confronted by employees, who accused him of shoplifting. In response, he threw unspecified items at the employees, kicked and cracked a glass panel in the store's front door, and fled. An officer responding to the assault call forwarded a photo of the suspect to other officers in the White Flint area.

The suspect was seen walking near the 7-Eleven by police around 3:01 PM. Officers followed the suspect to the nearby White Flint Metro station. When they informed the suspect he was under arrest, he attempted to run away. Following a brief foot chase, the suspect was arrested. Asked to identify himself, he allegedly provided a false name. A search of his person led officers to conclude he was in possession of clothing stolen from H&M and GAP at the nearby Pike & Rose development. Security at both stores confirmed that Shall had been in their stores earlier that day.

Ceolus Shall, 32, of no fixed address, was charged with theft of less than $100, malicious destruction of property, obstructing and hindering an investigation, and failure to truthfully identify. However, he was quickly released on a $100 unsecured personal bond. A woman was assaulted at the same 7-Eleven store 16 days earlier.

Photo courtesy Montgomery County Police Department

Janie and Jack opens in new location at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Janie and Jack has completed its move at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It was a short move across the Nordstrom wing on Level 2 for the children's apparel boutique. Janie and Jack is now open next to California Pizza Kitchen. Founded in 2002 in San Francisco, Janie and Jack carries clothing for children in sizes from "newborn to 18."

The demise of Forever 21 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Forever 21 has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Their two-level space has been cleared out. The surveillance camera and monitor are still running, though. Forever 21 is closing all stores after filing for bankruptcy; most were due to close by May 1, likely depending on how quickly a store was able to liquidate inventory.

New Rockville Pike McDonald's now hiring (Photos)

The new McDonald's restaurant at 11710 Rockville Pike in White Flint is now hiring for all positions. Interested prospective employees can interview every Wednesday between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, according to banners posted at the construction site (seen in the photos above and below). As you can see, the building is nearing completion, but there is still work to be done on the parking lot and landscaping around the exterior. Now added since my last update: the weather canopies above the two drive-thru windows.

Pickleball firm JOOLA begins construction of retail store in Rockville

JOOLA has begun construction on its first retail store at 917 Meeting Street at Pike & Rose. The pickleball and table tennis equipment manufacturer recently relocated its Rockville headquarters to Pike & Rose, the latest of many corporate HQs poached from the City of Rockville by the newer Federal Realty development in unincorporated Rockville, with Choice Hotels being the most prominent. With completion of the new store, JOOLA will have the opportunity to sell its products directly to the rapidly-growing number of pickleball players in the area. 

Subway to return on Rockville Pike (Photos)

Subway will make a comeback at 1402 Rockville Pike in Rockville. The sandwich shop vacated the premises there last December, and left no message whatsoever about the closure for customers. Subway's website stated this location was "closed," and all signage was removed from the building. However, the interior is now being renovated, and new Subway graphics are visible on the wall inside, as well as a Subway-branded "Open" sign in the window. They really owe us a $5 Footlong for this!