Hertz rent-a-car opens new Rockville location

Hertz rent-a-car has opened a new Rockville location. It is "just up the Pike" from their existing office, at 1052 Rockville Pike, in the Edmonston Crossing shopping center. Operating hours at the new location are 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Wow, those are limited hours - - you'll have to run like O.J. Simpson to get there before closing time.

Rockville Mayor & Council to be briefed on plan to replace church with townhomes

Rockville's Mayor and Council will receive a briefing on a proposal to demolish a church in the Twinbrook area of the city, and replace it with a new townhome development, at their meeting tonight, February 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM. Developer Pulte has proposed redeveloping the church property at 5906 Halpine Road with 36 "two-over-two" townhomes. No decision will be made tonight; the briefing is for information purposes only, and to allow the Mayor and Council to comment or provide feedback and suggestions to Pulte.  

At a future date to be determined, the Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing to allow residents and other stakeholders to comment. Then they would schedule a future vote on a resolution for rezoning the property, approving the Project Plan, and authorizing the necessary waivers for a side yard setback and layback slope for the project. 

Nearby residents have raised concerns about overflow parking, and the potential reduction of the setback required. The grade of the church property has also led to worries about drainage impacts from the future townhome site. Some residents of the adjacent townhome community are concerned that the contemporary design of the new townhomes could cast shadows onto their shorter homes. Many who have contacted City staff have also advocated for leaving the trees on the church property in place. Pulte's current plan would do that, and also plant additional trees as part of the new development's landscaping.

Rockville Lunar New Year celebration set for February 17, 2024

Save the date for the City of Rockville's annual Lunar New Year celebration this coming Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, at Rockville High School at 2100 Baltimore Road. Celebrate the good luck of the Year of the Dragon with live cultural performances, interactive displays, craft activities for kids, and to-go snack boxes (while supplies last). Admission is free. The event is co-sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Task Force.

Larry Hogan announces run for U.S. Senate in Maryland

Larry Hogan, with wife Yumi,
files for U.S. Senate race at the
Maryland Board of Elections office in
Annapolis Friday

Former Maryland Larry Hogan (R) has finally come to his senses, and is running for the one office he might have a chance to win in 2024, the Maryland U.S. Senate seat of the retiring Ben Cardin (D). The question that will be answered in November: Did Hogan's decision come too late? Hogan announced his entry into the race Friday afternoon. Since leaving office in January 2023, the former governor has been exploring a potential run for U.S. President - - initially as a Republican, then as part of a bipartisan ticket under the No Labels platform.

Hogan is the strongest candidate for the U.S. Senate the Maryland GOP has been able to muster in decades. He might have even been the favorite in the race, had he segued directly from being a popular governor with bipartisan support to the Senate campaign. But Hogan's presidential ambitions have enraged both the Donald Trump-loving base of the GOP, and Democrats and independent voters who fear a No Labels ticket will end up sending Trump back to the White House in 2025. 

Once praised by Democrats for his willingness to trash Trump on the national stage, Hogan has received more jeers than cheers on social media for his No Labels adventure and U.S. Senate announcement. And Trump supporters, who still remember Hogan verbally pummeling Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox throughout the 2022 election season, were already lashing "Lockdown Larry" online within minutes of his announcement Friday.

The initial raw feelings will likely give way to a suddenly serious race for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. One big winner after Hogan's announcement: local broadcasters, who are going to enjoy an infusion of cash from the Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee and GOP dark money groups. MAGA Republicans may not be enthused to vote for Hogan, but the multinational corporations behind various superPACs suddenly see a Senate seat that could be flipped from blue to red by an establishment Reagan Republican.

The biggest losers from Hogan's entry? Democratic candidate Angela Alsobrooks, as national and Maryland Democratic strategists grapple with the fact that only David Trone will be able to dominate the money race in a contest with Hogan. And Republican Robin Ficker, who was the frontrunner in the GOP primary race until yesterday afternoon. Ficker had the most money, and greatest name recognition, among the GOP candidates prior to Hogan's announcement.

Trone vs. Hogan would likely be a premier matchup this fall, with money and national surrogates pouring into the state. The advantage has to go to Trone at the moment. He not only has unlimited funds from his own pocket, but his friends include Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Trone has even hosted fundraisers with Obama and Bill Clinton -- in person -- at his home.

Another big problem for Hogan: abortion. The word you will hear the most from summer to fall in 2024: Abortion, abortion, abortion. It will be coming from your television speakers during every commercial break. The abortion issue could provide Democrats with a clean sweep of the White House, U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in November. It's been a winning issue for Democrats in blue and red states alike, since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. It's an issue Hogan will have to skillfully navigate, as in that context, few Democrats will want to help tip the Senate back to the GOP by voting for Larry Hogan.

Still, even Trone hasn't been able to buy a seat in Congress every time he's run, losing his first primary contest to Jamie Raskin. Trone doesn't have much support among Republicans, except when compared to more-progressive candidates in his party. On balance, Hogan is remembered by independent and moderate voters in both major parties as a popular governor who ran the state well for eight years. He has much more name recognition statewide than Trone. But he doesn't have the razor-thin advantage he might have had, if he had gone directly into the race from Government House in 2023.

Photo courtesy Hogan for Maryland

Vandals go wild with fire extinguishers inside vacant Rockville office building

Vandals broke into a vacant Rockville office building, and hosed down the interior with fire extinguishers on January 29, 2024, Rockville City police report. The two suspects forced their way into the building in the 2000 block of Gaither Road at 2:15 PM that afternoon, and damaged two doors. This may have been related to an arson incident that same day in another vacant building in the same office park. Both buildings are among several slated for demolition in a delayed redevelopment project at the property.

Police describe Suspect 1 as a Hispanic male with a medium build, wearing glasses, a black beanie, a black jacket, and black pants. Suspect 2 is described as a Hispanic male, also with a medium build, wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. Anyone who has information regarding the suspects or this incident is asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Cutculture Barbershop moves to Ritchie Center in Rockville

Cutculture Barbershop is relocating in Rockville. It is moving from its previous location at 620 Hungerford Drive to the Ritchie Center. The shop's new address is 765-L Rockville Pike. Cutculture has built a loyal following over the last year, with high scores from clients on Yelp (4.5 stars out of 5) and Google (4.8 stars). 

Contents of Rockville restaurant to be auctioned off

Freshii, a fast-casual restaurant at 9613 Medical Center Drive in Rockville, is closing, according to an online auction listing. The contents of the restaurant will be auctioned off beginning February 21, 2024. Among the items available is a still-in-sealed-package soup warmer. 

The Freshii chain was acquired by Canadian firm Foodtastic in 2022. Freshii was already based in Canada, where the majority of its restaurants are located. It hasn't fared as well in the United States, where many locations have shuttered since 2017. QSR Magazine has a good analysis of the financial pressures Freshii franchisees in the U.S. have been struggling under.