Holiday festivities get underway at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

The holiday shopping season is officially underway at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Live performances, celebrity guests and holiday sale offers greeted shoppers at the popular retail center yesterday, as mall owner Westfield held a special holiday launch event six days before Black Friday. The Jingle Lounge is now open, with special beverages and a place to relax between stores, or while you're waiting for someone else to finish shopping. A special wine bar at the lounge hosted by Windridge Vineyards will be open again today, November 19, 2023.  

The Jingle Lounge

One of Santa's elves
caught on camera

Abe Lincoln from the
Racing Presidents of the
Washington Nationals

In this age of high crime, you can
trust Honest Abe to carry your
shopping bags to the car

He always was a little more cautious
after Fort Stevens...

Wine bar today only!

Police investigate alleged weapon possession at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to Richard Montgomery High School at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive yesterday morning to investigate a report of illegal possession of a weapon. Officers responded to the campus at 7:00 AM Friday, November 17, 2023. 

Choice Hotels logo signage installed at future headquarters in Rockville

The glowing logo of hospitality giant Choice Hotels is now shining from atop the new office tower nearing completion at Pike & Rose, at 915 Meeting Street along Rockville Pike. Choice will be relocating its corporate headquarters down the Pike from its current location by the Rockville Metro station. 

915 Meeting Street is on-schedule for a Q4 2023 delivery at the Federal Realty development. Another Montgomery County corporate headquarters in Gaithersburg, Sodexho, has also been lured to the new 266,000-square-foot trophy office tower. Choice represents many brands familiar to travelers, from Quality Inn and Radisson to Cambria Suites and EconoLodge.

Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream now open at Federal Plaza in Rockville

Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream has opened at 12274-E Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza. The shop offers handmade ice cream, sorbet and sherbet. Asian, German and Italian-inspired flavors are found on the menu, alongside standard favorites. Operating hours are 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday, and 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Good Feet Store opening at Federal Plaza in Rockville

The Good Feet Store is opening a new Rockville location at 12274-D Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza. "Coming soon" signage has been installed in the storefront windows. The Good Feet Store specializes in customized arch supports designed to relieve foot, hip, knee and back pain. It has an existing Rockville location at Wintergreen Plaza.

Tobacco Hut opens in Gaithersburg

Tobacco Hut & Vape is now open at 309 N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. The shop offers all of the standard tobacco products you are looking for, plus vaping supplies, CBD and hemp products, pipes and hookah equipment. Tobacco Hut is open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It's hard to miss in that former hair salon house location, on Gaithersburg's main drag, directly across from Forest Oak Cemetery. Convenient free parking is available behind the store.

Is your home or business eligible for a Montgomery County security camera rebate?

Montgomery County has launched a new security camera rebate program for residents and businesses in select "priority areas" of the county, to combat the ongoing spike in crime. If your home is within one of these priority areas, you can receive a rebate on a security camera purchase of up to $250. So, if the camera is $250 or less, it will be free, minus installation or other costs beyond the camera itself. For businesses and non-profit organizations, the rebate tops out at $1250. 

The camera must meet certain standards set by the Montgomery County Police Department, and you must keep footage taken by the camera for at least 7 days. See all the requirements and fine print at the security camera program website.

You can check if your address is within a priority area using the Montgomery County police GIS map for the program. Among the priority areas are the Westbard commercial district, part of the Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda, parts of Rockville and Derwood near MD 355, large portions of Gaithersburg and Germantown, commercial areas of Olney and Damascus, and downtown Silver Spring. 

“Today we implemented our Private Security Camera Incentive Program, created to protect Montgomery County businesses and residents in areas experiencing relatively high incidences of crime,” County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz said in a statement. “Last year, my Council colleagues and I passed Bill 14-22, an opt-in program that lets businesses and individuals apply to receive a voucher or rebate to offset the cost of a security camera on their property. We are currently facing heightened security issues in every aspect of our daily lives. This program is even more important today than it was when it was passed a year ago. We look forward to working with MCPD to provide additional support to our businesses and residents with the greatest need.”