Mismanaged Montgomery County finances end up in the red again with $200,000,000 budget shortfall

Regular readers of this website know that Montgomery County government is stuck in a structural budget deficit as far out as the projections go. So those folks won't be surprised at all to find out that their incompetent and spendthrift County Council managed to yet again spend more than they took in - way more. The budget shortfall heading into the FY-2019 budget process is a whopping $200,000,000.

County Executive Ike Leggett released his proposed budget yesterday, and it includes not a dime of tax relief for residents now paying the highest taxes in County history. No property tax cut, no energy tax cut - not even a rain tax cut! Property taxes will increase automatically; unless the County Council changes Leggett's proposed tax rate, you will be guaranteed to have a higher property tax bill.

Happy Tax Paying from Montgomery County!

#ThrowTheBumsOut
#ElectRobertDyer

Rockville Chamber of Commerce CEO resigns

Rockville Chamber of Commerce CEO Michelle Day has announced her resignation, effective June 30, 2018. Day said she and her husband have made the decision to relocate to Atlanta, to be closer to family. She will remain on board to help find a successor, and to assist in the transition.

Under Day's leadership, the Chamber surpassed 300 members and took on greater visibility at meetings and events around town.

“Being President & CEO of the Rockville Chamber has been the greatest opportunity for me professionally, and I am leaving with very mixed emotions," Day said in a statement. "It has been an honor and privilege working with our membership, the community, elected officials and fantastic Board of Directors.”

Annemarie Agnew, board chair, praised Day's tenure as CEO. “Michelle has taken the chamber to the next level the past few years. Her energy and enthusiasm for Rockville have propelled the organization to unprecedented growth. We understand and support her decision, and are delighted that we have time to continue the good work with her!”

Are you CEO material, or do you know someone who is? Head to the webpage for the replacement search.

Suspect in custody after Derwood burglary-armed robbery rampage

Montgomery County police have arrested a man in connection with a spree of burglaries and armed robberies in the Derwood and Gaithersburg area. Anthony Paul Mackie, 27, of "an unconfirmed address," has been charged with committing three commercial armed robberies and ten commercial burglaries in the Derwood, Gaithersburg, and Montgomery Village areas between December 2, 2017, and March 3, 2018.

Officers nabbed Mackie around 5:40 AM on March 3, as he allegedly was attempting to burglarize Redmill Beer and Wine - his alleged effort to victimize the store for a third time in two months. He is currently being held without bond. Here is Mackie's alleged rap sheet from the rampage, according to detectives who have put the pieces together:

• December 2 and December 25, 2017, burglaries of the Verizon store located at 7250 Muncaster Road in Derwood.
• January 23, Mackie robbed the Redmill Beer and Wine store located at 7248 Muncaster Mill Road. Mackie threatened an employee with a knife and obtained an undisclosed amount of currency.
• On February 6, Mackie attempted to rob the B & B Beer & Wine store located at 8403 Snouffer School Road. Mackie threatened an employee with a knife and fled from the store without obtaining any currency.
• On February 7, Mackie robbed the 7-Eleven store located at 17701 Muncaster Road. Mackie threatened an employee with knife and obtained an undisclosed amount of currency and fled from the store.
• February 24, burglary of the Biscotti Restaurant located at 7212 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood.
• February 27, burglary of the Redmill Beer and Wine store located at 7248 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood.
• February 27, burglary of the Ferguson plumbing supply store located at 19320 Woodfield Road in Gaithersburg.
• February 27, burglary of the Kim Airpark Auto Repair located at 7605 Airpark Road in Gaithersburg.
• February 27, burglary of the Tony’s Corvette Shop located at 7500 Rickenbacker Drive in Gaithersburg.
• February 27, burglary of the Goshen Nails located at 20215 Goshen Road in Montgomery Village.
• February 27, burglary of the the McDonald’s restaurant located at 9100 Rothbury Road in Montgomery Village.

MCPS submits site plan for new Maryvale ES to city

Montgomery County Public Schools has submitted a site plan for the new Maryvale Elementary School to the City of Rockville, for mandatory referral by the Planning Commission and Mayor and Council. Mandatory referral is standard for government projects, and means officials can suggest changes or improvements, but MCPS is free to ignore them or overturn an unfavorable decision.

The proposed plan would construct a new elementary school in the center of the current Maryvale site at 1000 1st Street. It will incorporate the Carl Sandburg Learning Center. Together, the new facility will offer the elementary school program, as well as autism and French immersion programs. A parking lot with 176 vehicle spaces and 27 school bus spaces will be provided.

Part of the plan is to locate the school away from First Street, and utilize the created space for a shared-use student drop-off for both Maryvale and two bus loops. A service drive will be built along the north and west sides of the new building, and will require some retaining walls.

The current school building, constructed in 1969, has been identified as potentially-historic by the Maryland Historical Trust. This means the planned demolition of the structure will have to be reviewed by the city's Historic District Commission.

Kiin Imm Thai Restaurant opens in Rockville

Kiin Imm Thai Restaurant has opened at 785-D Rockville Pike, in the Ritchie Center. The early reviews are positive, with the newest Asian option in town currently enjoying a solid 5-star rating on Yelp. Very impressive.

Canopy by Hilton to open March 15; Baked Bear, Starbucks, Uniqlo stake out territory at Pike & Rose (Photos)

Canopy by Hilton hotel overlooks
L.L. Bean and Rose Park at
Pike & Rose

Baked Bear and Uniqlo are coming to Pike & Rose, and Starbucks is moving to a different spot in the development. All 3 want patrons of the Federal Realty property to know their arrival in these new spaces is just around the corner. New hotel Canopy by Hilton (above) will arrive even sooner: their grand opening is now set for next Thursday, March 15, 2018.

Baked Bear, a gourmet custom ice cream sandwich shop, will be located in the L.L. Bean building overlooking Rose Park. Uniqlo, the highly-popular Japanese apparel retailer, will open this fall at 11853 Grand Park Avenue. And Starbucks' future final location has changed yet again - it will now be by H&M at 11860 Grand Park Avenue. The ubiquitous coffee shop will make its move this summer.

New Indian restaurant to open in Rockville

A second new restaurant tenant to report at Pike & Rose this week. Commonwealth Indian will open in the vacant La Madeleine space at 11610 Old Georgetown Road. Not only will Commonwealth have favorites like curry chicken and butter chicken, but the full bar and drink menu will offer Indian beers, Indian wines and Indian cocktails. A champagne brunch will be served on weekends.

Like the previously-announced Kusshi, Commonwealth appears to be a local, independent restaurant as opposed to a chain. No opening date for Commonwealth was announced.