Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein announces he will retire


Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein announced this morning that he will retire after 31 years of service with the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service. He has served as chief for 8 of those years. Goldstein's last day will be June 30, 2023. MCFRS has been considered one of the top fire departments in the nation under his leadership.

“Chief Goldstein has given this County so much since he first started with the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department in 1987,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement this morning. “We have leaned on his expertise and skills as a leader and watched the department grow under his leadership. Over the past few years, Chief Goldstein has worked with me and other County leaders to make this a smooth transition and I thank him for his service to the men and women of MCFRS and the people of this County.” 

Goldstein has accepted the Fire Chief position for Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue in Kelso, Washington and will begin serving in that post July 17. “It is my honor and pleasure to be part of this great department and to have the opportunity to serve as your fire chief,” Goldstein said in a statement.

Bank orders liquidation of Rockville hockey facility's assets


A bank has ordered the liquidation of a Rockville hockey training facility's assets, according to the Rasmus Auctions firm. First Line Training Center is located at 40-C Southlawn Court in Rockville. Its website appears to be down. Items being liquidated in the bank-ordered auction include 3 skating rinks, over 11,000 square feet of synthetic ice, a skater-trainer treadmill, skate sharpening machines and cleaning equipment, and a variety of hockey and skating equipment. A full list of items being auctioned off is posted on the Rasmus website

Monday, April 3, 2023

Advanced Massage opening in Rockville


If you need an advanced massage, just the spa for you is opening soon in Rockville. Advanced Massage is coming soon to the Edmonston Crossing shopping center. It takes over that empty space at 1028 Rockville Pike, between Rockville Auto Tag & Title and Angkor Nails & Spa. Advanced Massage is apparently not to be confused with Massage Advanced, which also has a Rockville location at 821 Hungerford Drive.

Montgomery County Council bill would permanently eliminate Office of the People's Counsel


A bill introduced by Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D - District 1) would permanently eliminate the Office of the People's Counsel. The office, which was able to assist residents with land use and development issues, and could represent the interests of the public in some land use proceedings, hasn't been funded by the Council since FY-2010. Developer-funded councilmembers used the budget shortfall as an excuse to "temporarily" get rid of the position starting in FY-2011, and, of course, never restored funding since. 

Bill 18-23, co-sponsored by Councilmember Dawn Leudtke (D - District 7), would create a new office, called the Community Zoning and Land Use Resource Office. It would completely gut the functions of the People's Counsel that made it beneficial for residents, but a pain for development interests. The "officer' of the new office would no longer be an attorney. They would no longer be allowed to participate or advocate for the public in administrative proceedings. That would be a big win for developers, as the People's Counsel as currently defined in County code can introduce evidence, call and cross-examine witnesses, and point out when the County or a developer is in violation of County code and regulations.

The reason this is happening is that County Executive Marc Elrich (D) has made a firm point of wanting to have funding for the Office of the People's Counsel finally restored in the FY-2024 operating budget. Much like the bait-and-switch soundalike bills on expanding the Council size and rent stabilization, which sounded like what advocates wanted but prevent the substantive change of the competing proposals, the "Community Zoning and Land Use Resource Office" is as much like the Office of the People's Counsel as the German Democratic Republic was democratic. 

In short, Bill 18-23 is a totally-cynical move to kill off the People's Counsel permanently, as it is getting harder and harder for the Council to explain year after year why it is not funding an office that exists solely to help residents. As you can imagine, it's difficult to publicly announce that you don't want to fund an office that exists solely to help your constituents and protect their interests.  Thus the bait-and-switch. A public hearing on Bill 18-23 is currently scheduled for April 18, 2023 at 1:30 PM.

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Ebere, Wild Custom Apparel opening soon at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda


Two new tenants have signed leases at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and already have their permanent signage installed. Ebere by Alpha is an apparel store with custom designs for men, women and kids. It has an existing kiosk at The Mall at Prince George's, but here it will have its own space on Level 2, next to BeautyBOSS. 


Speaking of apparel, Wild Custom Apparel is also coming soon. There's a custom-printed apparel business by that name at St. Charles Towne Center mall in Waldorf, but it has a different logo. I guess the name is pretty self-explanatory. When it opens, look for Wild Custom Apparel on Level 1, next to Journeys.

Arhaus, Jolly Yolly, Melashops & The Kashmir Collection open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda


Four new businesses have opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Arhaus, an heirloom-quality furnishings store has made its debut on Level 1. But wait, there's more. Melashops has also opened on Level 1, having moved out of Lakeforest Mall before the mall permanently closed Friday evening. Jolly Yolly Kids has opened on Level 1 next to The Cheesecake Factory. Finally, The Kashmir Collection has opened next to Psycho Bunny, and across from Lilly Pulitzer.














Saturday, April 1, 2023

High wind warning issued for Rockville, most of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C.


The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for Rockville and other portions of central, north central, northeast, northern and southern Maryland, the District of Columbia and northern and northwest Virginia. It will be in effect from 12:00 PM today, April 1, 2023 until 12:00 AM tomorrow, April 2. Winds are expected to be between 25 and 35 MPH during that period, with wind gusts up to 60 MPH expected.

Power outages and other damage from falling limbs and trees are expected. Take time now to ensure your phone is charged, your flashlight has fresh batteries, and you have a battery powered radio. The NWS recommends staying indoors, avoiding forested areas, staying away from windows, and remaining on the lower levels of your home if possible.

It's going to be "wild and woolly" out there, as the weatherman on the telephone used to say. Expect possible showers and thunderstorms, and even the chance of an isolated tornado this afternoon. The high temperature will be 76 degrees.