Pedestrian in critical condition after collision in Rockville

A 40-year-old man is in critical condition, after he was struck by the driver of a 2017 Toyota Corolla heading east in the 1600 block of E. Gude Drive on Monday. The collision occurred at 5:38 PM. While police said the pedestrian was crossing Gude "from north to south," they did not specify if he was in a marked crosswalk at the time. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the police investigation.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this collision. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at 240-773-6620.

Maryland governor-elect Wes Moore names first cabinet members, with heavy emphasis on Baltimore

Wes Moore introduces Fagan Harris (left) as
his Chief of Staff Monday

Maryland governor-elect Wes Moore (D) held a press conference Monday to introduce his choices for several positions in his future cabinet. He was joined by running mate Aruna Miller, as he presented five nominees who face the challenge of helping him translate campaign promises into legislation and accomplishments. 

Moore named Fagan Harris as his Chief of Staff. Harris co-founded non-profit Baltimore Corps with Moore, He is also a President Joe Biden appointee to the AmeriCorps Board of Directors. 

Another non-profit sector veteran, Tisha Edwards, was named as Moore's Secretary of Appointments. That's the political position current Gov. Larry Hogan (R) held before assuming the top office in the state. Edwards is also known for creating the Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success in Baltimore City,

Moore stuck with Baltimore for his third appointment. Helene Grady is vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer for Johns Hopkins University. She will serve as the Secretary for the Department of Budget and Management.

Amanda LaForge, who served as counsel to Moore's gubernatorial campaign, will now be his Chief Legal Counsel. LaForge served that role in the past for the Democratic National Committee. She was most recently Of Counsel to the firm of Sandler, Reiff, Lamb, Rosenstein & Birkenstock, PC.

Finally, Maryland Delegate Eric Luedtke (D - District 14) was announced as Moore's selection to be his Chief Legislative Officer. Luedtke will have to give up his seat and his enviable position as Majority Leader in the House. The potential for a plum job for the next eight years may make that an easy choice for Luedtke, who has represented parts of Silver Spring, Burtonsville, Olney, Damascus, Brookeville and Sandy Spring in his current office.

Photo courtesy Moore for Maryland

Montgomery County Council to vote on gun control bill today that may trigger a lawsuit

The Montgomery County Council will vote on a gun control bill during its 9:30 AM session this morning that is designed to stymie the right to carry a firearm in public, by designating an exhaustive number of places as gun-free zones. Bill 21-22 would make it illegal for concealed carry permit holders to carry a firearm over so much of the geographical area of the county, as to render that recently-Supreme Court-ruled right nearly impracticable to exercise. That will almost surely invite legal challenges, for which County taxpayers will pick up the tab.

Should the bill pass this morning, it would make it illegal to possess a firearm within 100 yards of any publicly or privately-owned 

• park
• place of worship
• school
• library
• recreational facility
• hospital
• community health center, including any health care facility or community-based program licensed by the Maryland Department of Health
• long-term facility, including any licensed nursing home, group home, or care home
• multipurpose exhibition facility, such as a fairgrounds or conference center
• childcare facility

Possession of firearms, even legally, would also become criminal inside the following buildings, which have now been defined to include the building's parking lot and grounds:

• government building, including any place owned by or under the control of the County
• polling place
• courthouse
• legislative assembly, and
• a gathering of individuals to collectively express their constitutional right to protest or assemble

RASA to replace Slapfish in Rockville

Slapfish has closed at 12033 Rockville Pike in the Montrose Crossing shopping center. This is not a total surprise, as the restaurant was urgently seeking a sublease over the summer. The chain itself has run into choppy waters in recent times, canceling a massive number of planned openings in Texas and Arkansas. Slapfish will be replaced by RASA, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with four existing locations in the D.C. area.

Signage has been torn off the storefront. The restaurant did leave a cordial goodbye message in the window, which is a good strategy to at keep a friendly impression of the brand in customers' minds. Diners are being redirected to the chain's not-exactly-convenient Ashburn location. Located in a more business-friendly jurisdiction, the Ashburn restaurant appears to be more resilient against the stormy seas than its Montgomery County counterpart was.

Assault at store in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to a store on Rockville Pike early yesterday morning, after a person reported having been the victim of an assault there. The assault was reported at 12:00 AM Sunday, at a store in the 1700 block of Rockville Pike.

Armed robbery at Norbeck Road Park & Ride lot

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Norbeck Park & Ride lot at 3890 Norbeck Road yesterday morning, November 13, 2022. The robbery was reported at 7:19 AM Sunday, not a busy commuting day for the lot, which offers connections to Metrobus and Ride On routes at the border of Rockville and Silver Spring.

What's happening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for holiday shopping season 2022 (Photos)

The countdown to Black Friday 2022 is on at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Many favorite holiday decorations have been brought back, alongside some new ones we haven't seen before. An elf was seen testing Santa's chair, to make sure everything is just right for Father Christmas when he arrives. Here are some of the exciting events and new features the mall has planned for 2022:

Jingle Lounge

A new Christmas-themed seating area called the Jingle Lounge has been set up, with upscale white chairs, sofas and tables, near Talbots on Level 1. Nutcrackers stand guard, and a pillow promises "Christmas cheer here." From November 18 to December 24, the Jingle Lounge will offer pizza delivery from Frank Pepe's Pizza, and cocktails, along with scheduled activity events.

Jingle Lounge

Jingle Lounge

Jingle Lounge

Mario Lopez

Speaking of events, the mall will start the holiday shopping season with a bang this coming Sunday, November 20, with Mario Lopez hosting a Home for the Holidays Kickoff Concert from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The concert is free, but you are being asked to RSVP online. By RSVPing, you also could win a meet-and-greet with Mario Lopez. Consider making a generous donation when you RSVP, as 100% of the proceeds will go to the Children's National Medical Center, and the Seacrest Studios at CNMC.

Westfield has partnered with CNMC. The company will match donations up to $10,000 during the holiday campaign, so your $10,000 donation would turn into $20,000-worth of benefit for the hospital. Find the concert in the Center Court on Level 1.

If you can't get out of bed for Sunday's concert, keep your pajamas on and head to the mall on Saturday, November 26 for a Holiday Pajama Party with the legendary Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys R Us, which has a shop inside Macy's this holiday season. Take a selfie of yourself in your pajamas and tag @WestfieldMontgomery on social media for a chance to win a $250 gift card from Macy's. RSVP online, and you could win a free children's birthday party performance by Zucchini the Great. The pajama party will be held in the Center Court on Level 1 .