Kuya Ja's Lechon Belly to open at White Flint Plaza this Spring

Kuya Ja's Lechon Belly has been serving Filipino specialties at a pop-up location inside Gwenie's Desserts at 12113 Nebel Street. Now the owner is gearing up to launch a stand-alone restaurant in White Flint Plaza this Spring. According to the owner, the current pop-up will only continue for a few more weeks, before changing over to the new carryout restaurant. The restaurant will be at 5268-H Nicholson Lane.

Sherwin Williams to open new Rockville location

Sherwin Williams will open a new paint store location in Rockville this year. They have leased a 3200 SF space at 15215 Shady Grove Road, which has been home to Bank of America. Sherwin Williams has two existing stores in the Rockville area: one in Twinbrook, and another in Loehmann's Plaza.

Pour Vino n Hops coming to Rockville Town Center

Pour Vino n Hops will be the newest ground floor retail tenant at The Upton apartments at 44 Maryland Avenue in Rockville Town Center. This will be the second beer-and-wine based business at the Duball, LLC-developed property. World of Beer is around the corner facing "Regal Row." Pour Vino n Hops will be serving craft beer and wine, in addition to selling it.

MoCo Council asking Annapolis for eminent domain-on-steroids land grab power

For the third time in this term of office, the Montgomery County Council is trying to quietly ram a major change in the law through behind closed doors in Annapolis. In 2015, they tried to establish an Independent Transit Authority with unlimited taxation and debt power, and in 2017, they attempted a backdoor runaround the term limits voters had approved only months prior. This morning, they are exhorting the Montgomery County delegation to the Maryland General Assembly to expand and increase their eminent domain authority.

The bill, like the others, is being filed at the eleventh hour, and with no fanfare. Bill MC 27-18, "Eminent Domain - Expansion of 'Quick Take' Authority," would streamline the property seizure process related to highway and transit projects. For example, it would eliminate the ability to compare a property to similar pieces of land for the purpose of determining fair market value. The Council would also be able to force residents out of homes, and businesspeople out of commercial properties immediately, as long as they make an immediate payment of that potentially less-than-actual market value to the landowner.

Purple Line opponents suspect the law may be used in short order for eminent domain seizures related to that light rail project. That would fit the "heckuva rush" manner in which it is being put forward in Annapolis.

But looking ahead, this law would be equally handy in the quick demolition of more than 150 homes and businesses along Georgia Avenue between Olney and Wheaton, for the planned BRT route there. We know that from a state analysis, but we don't have similar numbers yet for which properties would end up being seized for BRT along MD 355 and Route 29. How might this also be used in the Veirs Mill Corridor sector plan, which is about to begin the process of approval before the Montgomery County Planning Board? Land seizures along Veirs Mill have been strongly hinted at by planners.

The late-filed bill will be introduced at the 9:30 AM session of the Montgomery County Delegation this morning. If the bill receives the necessary votes to advance, a public hearing will be scheduled. One question will be: will that hearing be held in Rockville, or Annapolis?

It's no wonder they held this bill from you, despite planning it for months, and are now attempting to file it quietly at the last minute!

Theft from auto in Rockville leads to credit card spending spree (Video+Photo)

Here's another example of why you should never leave valuables in your car. And why you should...lock your doors. It sounds elementary, but one victim failed to do so in Rockville, and police say her credit card ended up being used in a 7-Eleven spending spree.

Detectives say that the victim parked her car overnight outside a home in the 4200 block of Flower Valley Drive on December 11, leaving her car unlocked. When she came out the next morning, she found thieves had ransacked the interior, stealing several items, including a credit card.

Police say those alleged thieves used that card at the 7-Eleven on Professional Drive in Gaithersburg, at approximately 4:30 AM on December 12. In the process, they were captured on the store's surveillance cameras (although, strangely, the video timestamp does not match the time police say they were at the store).

It is suspected that there may be more victims from this pair of thieves. Anyone with information regarding these suspects is asked to call the 4th District Patrol Investigations Unit at 240-773-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided that leads to an arrest in this case.

Public meeting tonight on new Rockville assisted living development

A public meeting will be held tonight, Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 6:30 PM at the King Farm Community Center, located at 300 Saddle Ridge Circle. It will be an informational meeting regarding a proposed 155-unit assisted living facility at the northwest corner of West Gude Drive and Frederick Road (MD 355).

Rockville officials consider allowing voting by mail

Rockville's Mayor and Council are considering a recommendation by the city's Board of Supervisors of Elections to allow residents to vote in city elections by mail. A public hearing on the proposal will be held on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 7:00 PM. Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should call 240-314-8280 before 4:00 PM on February 5.

Only 15.87% of voters participated in the last city election in 2015, and that number has steadily declined over several consecutive elections. Some believe that mailing ballots to voters will increase participation.

Voters would sign an affidavit on the outside of the mailing envelope, which would have a trackable bar code on it, and then mail it back. Ballots could also be dropped off in-person. Switching to voting-by-mail could eliminate the costs of personnel and voting machines during elections.

Considering how many pieces of mail get lost, I would hesitate to vote by mail myself, out of concern that my vote would wind up in somebody else's house, or in the gutter (both have actually happened to me). I would probably return it in-person to make sure my vote counted.