CORRIDOR CITIES TRANSITWAY MEETING TONIGHT AT 7:00

Corridor Cities Transitway Project Manager Rick Kiegel will host a public meeting tonight in North Potomac at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be at Stone Mill Elementary School, located at 14323 Stonebridge View Road in North Potomac.

The CCT is a transit project that was recently switched from light rail to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Its travel time from Clarksburg to Shady Grove Metro station is estimated to be a sluggish 48 minutes. At that rate, a car in rush hour traffic could beat it there.

Tonight's meeting will discuss the community impacts of the CCT on the North Potomac area, but the route also extends through the City of Rockville. King Farm, in particular, will be impacted by the route.

Only a portion of the full route is being discussed right now, as developers are anxious to qualify for the density at Science City (Belward Farm, etc.) that only the CCT can permit. But with ridership potential now seriously reduced by the decision to switch from rail to bus, its effectiveness in managing the major traffic impacts of the Science City plan is in doubt to say the least.

Even on this short segment, estimated travel times are about three times slower than current automobile travel times. In fact, even the existing, humble Ride On bus beats the CCT between Belward Farm and Shady Grove by a whopping ten minutes! Embarrassing.

What is the justification for this taxpayer boondoggle, other than the financial and political benefits accrued to the developers and the politicians they help get elected to office?

ROCKVILLE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: HAIR DESIGN ZONE AT ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE (PHOTOS)

Hairstylist Juan Ma is bringing 10 years of experience at Abanai, one of the top salons in Osaka, Japan, to Rockville Town Square. But first she needs a salon, and that work is underway at 141-C Gibbs Street. Hair Design Zone will aim to bring the latest hair designs and styling methods from Japan and America to Rockville, offering haircare, cuts and coloring.

The salon replaces The Hair Cuttery, which closed last August.

EV & MADDY'S MENU - NOW OPEN IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Ev & Maddy's is now open at Rockville Town Square. The bistro replaces 82 Steak Out. Here's the menu (click photos to enlarge for detail):

SIDEWALK CLOSED BY GORDON BIERSCH AT ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE (PHOTOS)

A sidewalk outside of Gordon Biersch was blocked with what appeared to be sewer/plumbing repair equipment last night. Heads up if you are walking around there today.

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION DECLINES TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR 5 CHOKE CHERRY ROAD

The demolition reprieve the Sullivan and Associates-designed building at 5 Choke Cherry Road received from Rockville's Historic District Commission was short-lived. Last night, the commissioners voted unanimously that the structure did not merit historic designation by the city. Jack Sullivan has been recognized as one of the most significant architects in the history of Rockville.

The motion was made by Commissioner Anita Neal Powell, and seconded by Commissioner Craig Moloney.

Commissioner Jessica Reynolds urged the city to begin considering which of Sullivan's buildings in Rockville should receive such designation, to be preserved from demolition in the future. Moloney said he concurred.

The vote removes one of the last hurdles for developer JBG's planned Upper Rock retail project to proceed.

BRIGITTA MULLICAN RUNNING FOR ROCKVILLE CITY COUNCIL - 2015 ELECTION

Sign outside Mayor and Council debate
in October 2013

The 2015 election is underway in Rockville, as Brigitta Mullican has announced she is running for a City Council seat. Mullican, a retired budget analyst with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has run for the council and for the office of Mayor in the past. 

The Twinbrook resident has been very active in the city, serving as a Planning Commissioner, past president of the Twinbrook Civic Association, and most recently, as President of the Rockville Sister City Corporation.

Mullican's campaign has a Facebook page.

Winners of this year's election will be the first in Rockville history to serve 4-year terms, following a a charter amendment by the current Mayor and Council last July.

If you are interested in running for Mayor or a Council seat, a Candidate Information Packet is available now on the city's website. 

Candidates running who have press releases can send them throughout the campaign to Rockville Nights by email to robert1999 [at] hotmail [dot] com.

The filing deadline to run is Friday, September 4, 2015.

PETITION TO REINSTATE HOWARD AT TWINBROOK SAFEWAY NEARING SIGNATURE GOAL

462 customers of the Twinbrook Safeway on Veirs Mill Road have signed the Reinstate Howard Abrams' Employment Status at Safeway petition online, nearing the goal of 500 signatures. You can still add your signature to the list.

Abrams was apparently terminated while on his annual vacation, and unjustly so in the view of his loyal customers and the grocery employees' union, which is contesting the move. Many customers have threatened to shop elsewhere if the "World's Best Cashier" isn't reinstated soon.