What’s Next for King Farm and 900 Rockville Pike?
The next Rockville Mayor and Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 14, 2025 starting at 5:30 p.m. Several agenda items may directly interest residents and businesses, including a proposed development extension on Rockville Pike and new plans for the King Farm Farmstead Park. The meeting also includes updates on international partnerships and community celebrations. Complete agenda available online.
Proclamations and Student Recognitions
What’s on the Agenda
The Mayor and Council will issue several proclamations and recognitions:
- Declaring July 17 as Mattie J. T. Stepanek Peace Day
- Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Recognizing Park and Recreation Month
- Honoring student achievers from local schools
Why It Matters
These recognitions highlight the community’s values and the achievements of Rockville’s residents. It’s also a chance to show appreciation for local leaders, programs, and youth accomplishments.
Rockville Sister Cities Corporation Presentation
What’s on the Agenda
David Hill, president of the Rockville Sister Cities Corporation (RSSC), will present its annual report, highlighting cultural exchanges with Pinneberg, Germany, and Yilan City, Taiwan. The update includes student visits, community festivals, and international partnerships—as well as growing challenges related to funding, volunteer capacity, and city support. Sister City programs were created in the aftermath of World War II to promote peace through people-to-people diplomacy. But with recent closures of international initiatives like USAID’s local programs and the Fulbright Scholar exchanges, some are asking: could Sister Cities be next?
In 1776, Independence Wasn’t Obvious
Today, as we celebrate our independence from Great Britain and look forward to the 250th anniversary in 2026, it’s important to reflect on the complex journey to liberty and freedom. While we grill hot dogs and slice watermelon, we might nostalgically view the decision for independence as an obvious one. However, it was a highly contentious process. If you think achieving national consensus is challenging today, consider 1776, when delegates from the colonies gathered in Philadelphia to debate independence. For instance, in December 1775, Maryland unanimously and vigorously voted against separation from Great Britain, declaring they were:
desirous to remove from the mind of the King, an opinion which we feel to be highly injurious to the people of this province and in order to manifest to his Majesty, to the Parliament, the people of Great Britain, and to the whole world, the rectitude and purity of our intentions in the present opposition to the measures of the British Ministry and Parliament, do declare, That the people of this province, strongly attached to the English constitution, and truly sensible of the blessing they have derived from it, warmly impressed with sentiments of affection for and loyalty to the House of Hanover, connected with the British nation by the ties of blood and interest and being thoroughly convinced, that to be free subjects of the King of Great Britain, with all its consequences is to be the freest members of any civil society in the known world, never did, nor do entertain, any views or desires of independency. That as they consider their union with the mother country, upon terms that may insure to them a permanent freedom, as their highest felicity, so would they view the fatal necessity of separating from her, as a misfortune next to the greatest that can befall them.
Maryland considered independence a “misfortune next to the greatest”? Why did they change their minds six months later?
Mayor and Council to Discuss Programs for Affordable Housing and Independent Living
At its Monday, August 7, 2023 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will discuss the 2023 Compensation Commission Report. On the Consent Calendar (items approved without discussion) are contracts for lighting and water supply maintenance and repairs, tree planting at RedGate Park, among others. The Mayor and Council will also receive reports on the Rockville Villages Program, Rockville Housing Enterprises, and 2023 State Legislative Wrap-up by Delegate Joe Vogel.
The Villages Program in Rockville was established in December 2016 in King Farm based on a Boston-based program whose mission is “to provide information and services, sponsor recreational and educational activities and foster a strong sense of community so that older adults in central Boston neighborhoods can live their lives to the fullest independently in their own homes.” In Rockville, Villages in various stages of development in East Rockville, Town Center, West Rockville, Wootton’s Mill, Orchard Falls (working title), New Mark Commons, Lincoln Park, and Twinbrook. The Villages Facilitator produces a monthly newsletter that is distributed electronically to nearly 600 recipients (subscribe for free!).
The City of Rockville established Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE) in 1955 to as an independent agency to address affordable housing in the City. It currently owns and operates 80 apartments (“housing units”) and 450 housing units participate in its Housing Choice Voucher program (allows households to rent in the private market with rental assistance). RHE also partners with employers and service providers in the community to help participants obtain jobs and services, such as childcare, transportation, job training and employment counseling, and financial coaching. They have just launched the RHE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit subsidiary dedicated to resident-oriented initiatives such as down payment assistance, disaster relief, and energy conservation. More details starting on page 10.
The Mayor and Council are conducting hybrid meetings. If you wish to submit comments in writing for Community Forum or Public Hearings, please email the comments to MayorAndCouncil@RockvilleMD.gov by no later than 10:00 a.m. on the date of the meeting.
More details in the 261-page agenda packet are available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08072023-6979.
Next meeting on September 11 (Council will be taking a break). On the agenda is a report on the community policing advisory board and a public hearing on increasing the number of Councilmembers need to request a public hearing. Expect the election season to begin in earnest by the time this meeting happens.
Parental and LGBTQ+ Rights Advocates Face Off at Confused Moms for Liberty Rally in Rockville
At today’s Moms for Liberty rally held at the Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education meeting in Rockville, a diverse group of attendees gathered to express their views. Moms for Liberty oppose MCPS curriculum and the adoption of books that present diverse perspectives on personal identity and relationships. Reporters observed that many anti-rally participants appeared to be from local mosques, dressed in Muslim attire, while the pro-rally crowd sported rainbow-themed clothing and accessories, signifying their support for LGBTQ+ rights.
The atmosphere remained calm until around 10:30 am when music from “Footloose” started playing, prompting the pro-rally side to dance and enjoy themselves. Chants from both sides filled the air, with the Moms for Liberty participants calling for “Religious Freedom” and “Protect Our Children,” while the anti-rally side responded with “Love Is Love” and “Protect All Children.” As the event progressed, the anti-rally side appeared to adopt tactics from the pro-rally group, initiating their own chants.
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring joined the anti-rally side, displaying a large banner. Conversations between the two sides took place, highlighting the varying perspectives on sex education and parents’ rights. As the rally continued, some attendees found the situation increasingly peculiar, with both sides chanting similar messages. The event showcased the diverse opinions present within the community and the importance of open dialogue—and that the arguments are incredibly confusing.
Asian American Population Increasing; How Should Rockville Respond?
The recent increase in anti-Asian American threats and attacks prompted me to examine their presence in our hometown and who might be affected by racism. The US Census shows that the number of Asians in and around Rockville has grown in recent years, which might prompt good and bad reactions.
If we value the contributions of Asians in our community, they should serve in leadership roles. At present, Rockville’s boards and commissions include very few people from the Asian community, instead serving in ethnically affiliated and less influential taskforces or committees, such as the Asian American Task Force.
Mayor Newton appoints citizens to Rockville’s boards and commissions—how well is she addressing this disparity? What should she do?
Maria’s, Rockville’s Chinese Diner, to Close September 4
Maria’s Bakery Cafe, a small “hole in the wall” diner exclusively serving home-style Chinese food in the Congressional Village shopping center at Rockville Pike and Halpine, will close on September 4 with the owners’ retirement. They’ll be returning to Hong Kong to join family and friends, but they certainly made lots of friends in the region through their pastries, bao, soups, and entrees served from a busy open kitchen at reasonable prices. On Friday, the lunch line stretched to the door and I enjoyed my last cha sui bao and bought a jar of their special hot pepper oil as a souvenir (and a customer in front of me bought 3 jars!). I suspect more of their customers will be stopping by for their last meal over the Labor Day weekend.
When Did Whipping End in Rockville?
From the Chicago Defender, March 25, 1922.
Each day, another archive is digitized and made available online and today I fell into a couple surprising stories while researching the history of our fair town of Rockville. The first story was the 1850 trial of W. L. Chaplin, who was indicted for helping two enslaved men to escape and for assaulting the men who attempted to stop him. Because the court believed he could not receive a fair and impartial trial in Rockville, the case was moved to Ellicott City. I’ll have to follow the case out there to find out what happened.
The second surprise was that whipping was an acceptable form of punishment until the 1920s. With the headline “Whipping Makes Men ‘Feel Fine'”, the Chicago Defender related the lashing of two men for abusing their wives in Rockville in 1922. There aren’t many details in the paper except that it might have been done publicly (“they were bound to the post and then the lash was applied”) and that it was usually “applied” to African Americans as a punishment (“Kemp was the first white man to receive such punishment in Montgomery county for many years.”). This story is uncomfortable and infuriating in so many ways.
Thanks for the View!
I was saddened to learn that Rockville View, a regular blog fed by Cindy Cotte Griffiths, will cease this summer due to the increased cost of insurance for websites. She promises, however, to “keep you all informed and will continue in an email newsletter format.”
Keeping the community informed about local news from special events to crimes to Council meetings is a tough job, especially as a volunteer. It takes more time than anyone can imagine, although it looks so easy to do. A few paragraphs and a photo can quickly consume several hours (and I’m speaking from experience). So a big thanks to Cindy and all of the other community bloggers who keep us informed (even if I don’t always agree with you) because you’re helping to fill a big hole left by the closing of the Gazette. Bethesda Magazine and the Washington Post still haven’t managed to provide the coverage that Rockville deserves (geez, it’s one of the largest cities in the state and the county seat of the most influential counties in the U.S.).
Rockville Farmers Market Opens on Saturday
Rockville’s Farmers Market opens this Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and runs through Nov. 18 in the jury parking lot at East Jefferson (MD 28) and Monroe streets in downtown (that’s across from the Americana). This weekend will probably feature various salad greens, asparagus, and strawberries, as well plants and flowers, herbs, baked goods, local beer and wine, knife sharpening, meat, and coffee. For more information, including a list of participating vendors and approximate harvest dates for select fruits and vegetables, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/farmers or call 240-314-8620.
If you’re new to Rockville, in addition to this Saturday morning market, there’s a second but smaller market downtown in front of Continue reading →
Senator Kagan’s Kickoff List of Priorities for 2017
With the State Senate and Assembly starting their annual legislative session soon, State Senator Cheryl Kagan outlined her priorities:
- Enhancing our 9-1-1 Emergency System: Continuing the the work I began last year in memory of wonderful Rockville resident and activist Carl Henn to make our 9-1-1 system more reliable (this bill died in committee in a battle over security and accountability, alas)
- Protecting Consumers: Prohibiting “bait and switch” at the gas pump and restricting the swiping and storing of personal data from our driver’s licenses.
- Increasing Election Access and Transparency: Modifying our election laws to provide for greater access and transparency.
- Supporting Non-Profits: Providing short term micro-loans to bridge funding gaps that many organizations experience.
Successes from her first year as the senator from our district include Language Access (the first bill of its kind in the nation!), “Fertility Parity,” informing voters about ‘closed’ primaries, and funding for worthy local projects (such as the Rockville Swim Center improvements). She provided an overview of her legislative agenda to Gaithersburg’s Mayor and Council on January 3, 2017 (YouTube, starting at 41:00).
I’ve just requested Delegates Kumar Barve, Jim Gilchrist, and Andrew Platt in District 18 for their legislative priorities for this year and will share them as soon as they’re available.
Max for Rockville 