Wendy's introduces limited-time Ghost Pepper Ranch sauce for chicken nuggets

Wendy's is being haunted by a spicy new chicken nuggets sauce option. The fast food chain has temporarily added Ghost Pepper Ranch sauce to its menu. How hot is it? Watch a detailed review on YouTube.

Mr. Wish to open Rockville location

A new source of refreshment is coming to Congressional Plaza in Rockville. Mr. Wish is "coming soon" to 1615 Rockville Pike, according to signage placed in the storefront window. At Mr. Wish, you will find fruit teas, bubble teas, and smoothies that may hit the spot after your workout at the shopping center's new Fit Row fitness studios.

Mr. Wish currently has locations in nine other states. This will be the Pennsylvania-based chain's first Maryland store. Mr. Wish will be located next to Custom Ink.

Rockville Town Square now offering 2 hours free parking without validation

 

A major challenge for businesses at Rockville Town Square has been greatly reduced after years of debate. Patrons at the Federal Realty development will now be able to park free in the Rockville Town Square garages for 2 hours, without validation. 

After two hours, the parking fees are $1 (2-3 hours), $3 (3-4 hours), and $5 (4-5 hours). While parking there still won't be free for unlimited hours like it is at competing developments Rio Lakefront and Downtown Crown, the two free hours at least makes it competitive now.

Rockville expected to add new Rock East District

Rockville's Mayor and Council may officially designate a new district within the City at its meeting on Monday, July 19, 2021. Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) has formally submitted a request that elected officials declare the East Gude Drive corridor as the "Rock East District." If the Mayor and Council approve Monday night, REDI will fund and install pole banners along East Gude Drive for a targeted formal launch of the branding in September. Banners, signage and other branding materials will illustrate the breweries, "trendy shopping" and recreational opportunities found along the industrial-oriented corridor.

Rockville Mayor & Council to consider changes to remainder of 2021 event schedule

While the Biden administration earlier this year targeted July 4 as a symbolic ending to the pandemic, new virus variants, debates about the necessity for booster shots, and a failure to reach vaccination targets have made it hard to make such a declaration. In this context, the City of Rockville is now re-examining events that had been anticipated to take place over the remainder of 2021. "The pandemic is better, but not quite over," a staff report prepared for the Mayor and Council meeting for July 19 summarizes. 

Staff recommendations include postponing a planned Post-Covid 19 Pandemic Celebration until next year, as well as the State of the City address and the annual Volunteer Appreciation Party. The report notes that, in addition to health concerns, staff shortages at security firms have massively increased costs for hiring event security this year.

Other recommended changes are to move the Rocktobierfest from Rockville Town Square to RedGate Park, and to proceed with the 9//11 ceremony, the Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show, and Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Park as scheduled, as all of these events are outdoors.

The Mayor and Council will review the recommendations at Monday's meeting, and instruct staff to implement any schedule changes.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville

Montgomery County to rifle through residents' recycling bins with camera crews in tow

Montgomery County is experiencing a violent crime wave, but has defunded 27 police officer positions. The County was chastised last year for leaving 54 positions unfilled at its 911 call center, a failure that was highlighted by a 36 minute response time to a fatal drowning incident. Those are far from the only areas of government understaffed, as witnesses to the collapse of a rusted-out traffic signal pole in Bethesda this week can attest. But the County's Department of Environmental Protection appears to be well-staffed, as it will demonstrate this morning in Bethesda. 

According to a press release, DEP inspectors will go house-to-house in the neighborhood near Walt Whitman High School, and rifle through each resident's recycling bin. "Reporters and camera crews will be able to follow the inspectors" starting at 6:30 AM this morning, in what appears to be a massive violation of residents' privacy. This was clearly the wrong week to toss your unshredded sensitive documents or Playboy collection. Do you read the wrong newspaper, or drink too many boxed alcoholic beverages? We may find out this morning!

The "Oops Tag" program quietly began two months ago, the press release states. Inspectors have had the time and manpower to already sweep through those early-targeted neighborhoods "two to three times." Rummaging through residents' recycling bins, they have left a tag on those which contained items that cannot be recycled, identifying the ineligible items. Such ineligible items cost taxpayers approximately $750,000 in 2020, the press release says.

Rockville Pike Mobil completes garage conversion to convenience store

The Mobil gas station at 890 Rockville Pike by Edmonston Drive has a new, more modern look. A recent project to convert the auto repair garage bays into a larger convenience store space is now complete. This is definitely an above-average size of convenience store as far as Rockville Pike gas stations go, and somewhat more competitive with the Dash In-style convenience store model found on corridors like MD 650 and US 301 in Maryland, or the smaller 7-Eleven gas stations.