The Council on Tap and a Pool for Laps

The snappiest lead I ever wrote while working for my former employer was "Gaithersburg stinks." It was tight. It was attention-getting. It was accurate. It was ... killed by my editor.

The story was about all the wet grass clippings piling up at the Shady Grove transfer station early during one particularly wet spring (like this one?). The pungent smell of decomposition from the clippings was carried on the wind across southern portions of the city.

There was something in the air in the East Rockville last week, as documented by our friends at Rockville Central. Check out Deb Emerich Stahl's post from May 11.

Thankfully, Stahl reported that the smell had abated by week's end. But she wondered if maybe it had moved elsewhere.

After some back and forth, city spokeswoman Marylou Berg posted that the city "visited Maryvale Park and checked for sewer issues in East Rockville." Berg reported that the city workers didn't turn up the culprit and reminded residents that "if anyone smells anything unusual please call our Department of Public Works at 240-314-8500 to report the location." 

Kudos to the city, Marylou and to Rockville Central. That, my friends, is how social media is supposed to work.

Here's the rest of this "what's that smell?" edition of "The Rundown":

• If you've grown accustomed to the recent marathon sessions of the Rockville City Council, tonight's meeting could be a change of pace. The agenda highlights include discussions of how the council makes appointments to boards and commissions and guidelines for forming ad hoc committees, subcommittees and work groups. The council meets at 7 p.m. at .
• The Outdoor Fitness Pool at the is now open for lap swimming. For the next two weeks, the Outdoor Fitness Pool will be open for lap swimming on weekdays from 7:30-8:20 a.m., from noon to 2 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. The Outdoor Fitness Pool will be open on weekends from noon to 6 p.m. The South Pool will be closed while the Outdoor Fitness Pool is open.
• The economy is in rough shape, Osama bin Laden is dead—but he's also all over television news. It can be a time of high anxiety for kids. Jewish Social Service Agency can help.
  JSSA experts, including social workers and psychologists, offer strategies on addressing a number of everyday challenges on the JSSA Web site, including "Advice on Discussing Tough Financial Times with Your Children" and "Discussing Frightening Current Events with Your Children."
• Follow us on Twitter @RockvillePatch. "Like" Rockville Patch on Facebook.