Recently, “Harry” and his brother were in the Mt. Airy area, where “Harry” is planning to buy a farm, and they stopped at 7-Eleven #28890 located at 1610 Ridgeside Drive in Mt. Airy. “We were having a bad day,” he recalled, “so I said, ‘Let me try the 50 Years! scratch-offs.’”
The winner’s brother was busy buying convenience store items and “Harry” called him over to show him he won $100,000. “He didn’t believe me at first,” the accountant recalled. Their excitement spilled over and soon everyone knew what had happened. “We were loud about it! We celebrated with everybody in the store.”
Per the State of Maryland: “Governor Wes Moore today toured the AstraZeneca site in Gaithersburg and joined BioHub Maryland to announce a new skills training agreement with the Dublin, Ireland-based National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training, a global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing training and research. The partnership makes BioHub Maryland the exclusive training partner in the National Capital Region, enabling Marylanders—including veterans and members of disadvantaged communities—to learn a unique brand of skills required to work in the life sciences industry.
“Today, we’re not just here to celebrate this new BioHub partnership. We’re here to celebrate a new direction for Maryland’s economy and workforce,” said Gov. Moore. “We are ready to win. We are ready to grow and we are ready to show the entire country what we’re made of.”
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival is coming to Montgomery County on November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland. Get ready to sip, sample, shop, and enjoy a full weekend of family-friendly fun!
Sip, Sample & Shop
Get ready to explore a festival floor filled with top chocolate makers, coffee roasters, bakeries, specialty food vendors, artisan brands and small businesses from across the region and beyond. Sample new flavors, meet the people behind the products and shop directly from the talented makers and businesses who created them.
Experience Chocolate History
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is a large-scale chocolate sculpture of George Washington on horseback, created by award-winning chocolate artist Paul Joachim.
The sculpture will be part of a special exhibit exploring chocolate’s place in early American history. Guests can see the sculpture up close, sample colonial-style drinking chocolate, and shop the exclusive Collector’s Heritage Box inspired by the historic drink. It’s a unique opportunity to experience chocolate through art, history, and taste all in one place.
Seminars, Demonstrations & More
Visit the Sip & Share Seminar Classroom for educational sessions and demonstrations throughout the weekend, all included with your festival admission. Explore topics ranging from ancestral cacao in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the realities of starting a coffee business to craft chocolate and festival trivia. Learn directly from experts and makers as they share their knowledge, demonstrate their craft and offer a closer look at how their products are made.
Fun for All Ages
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival offers an experience the whole family can enjoy. Kids under 12 receive free admission with a ticketed adult and can get creative at our complimentary kids’ craft tables. Festival mascots Chunk & Bean will also be on-site for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities throughout the weekend. Families can even shop for Chunk & Bean plushies, children’s books and other kid-friendly items.
Whether you’re a serious chocolate lover, a coffee enthusiast, a foodie or simply looking for a fun fall outing, there’s something for everyone to see, taste, shop and enjoy.
Save on Tickets
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival Maryland Edition takes place November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland.
MoCo Show readers can use code MOCO10 at checkout to save 10% on online festival tickets. Grab your tickets and get ready to sip, sample and shop at one of the sweetest weekends of the fall!
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Christopher Fogleman has sentenced defendant, Marvin Frazier, 24, of Germantown to 40 years in prison suspend all but 25 to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Frazier was convicted by a jury in April of 2023 on charges including attempted first-degree murder, two counts each of first-degree assault and use of a handgun in a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a handgun. The sentencing hearing took place on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023.
This stems from an incident at a music studio along Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg on August 8th, 2020. Frazier shot a 19-year-old male, causing him to become paralyzed from the waist down. He also pistol-whipped a 20-year-old male. The defendant and victims are associated with rival gangs. The defendant fled but was apprehended in 2022.
“Join us at Poolesville’s 18th annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony, Friday, Dec.1st at 6 p.m. as Whalen Commons is transformed into a Winter Wonderland. We have an exciting line-up of festivities planned for the evening, which include the following: A chance to visit Santa at his workshop, musical and dance performances, visits with Frosty & Rudolph, a ride aboard the “Polar Express”, a special reading by Mrs. Claus of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, ice skating rink, wood sculpture demos, shop local with PACC artisans, PACC sponsored Gingerbread Cookie Decorating (at the Poolesville Museum), Calleva’s wagon rides through town, WUMCO Basket Auction, Shine On Together Gingerbread House Decorating Contest, and food trucks.
Santa will arrive courtesy of the Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department at 6:30 pm and the official Tree Lighting takes place at 6:45 pm. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
Bring your family and friends to our free , all-day outdoor Oktoberfest celebration. These will be an outdoor craft fair featuring local artisans and professional woodworkers, a chainsaw carving, woodworking and tool demonstrations by Festool, Montgomery Wood Turners and Carvers. There will also be lots of delicious food provided by El Parente Tacos, El Jeffe Wood-fired pizzas, Bruster's Ice cream and seasonal craft brews from Saints Row Brwsing Company.
Results of first round Maryland high school football playoff games can be seen below. Scores will be updated as we receive them (an F will signify the score is final).
A fire at 687 Lofstrand Lane in Rockville has caused approximately $3 million in damage. According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, ~95 firefighters respond to the scene around 5:15am on Thursday, November 2. The fire originated at Soto Leeson Linen Service and spread next door to Motor Works Inc. The fire at the commercial building also involved some parked vehicles.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, although it is believed to have been accidental. There were no injuries reported, but two cats are currently missing/unaccounted for.
The two bronze statues of a cat and a bear have been a fixture at Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront for years, but did you know that they have a name and a story behind them? The whimsical sculptures of Fridolin, the bronze bear, and Kimo, a human size bronze cat, encourages a “hunt for missing objects.”
The bronze animals hold open books that tell a story about their character and that describe six lost items — a pocket watch, hat, suitcase, beehive, Dutch shoes and a bag of popcorn with a bird eating from the bag. See if you can find them all! Read their stories below:
Per the Maryland State Police: “As the weather begins to get colder, and as the holiday season approaches, it is more important than ever that motorists take proper precautions to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of vehicle theft. This warning from the Maryland State Police and the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council comes at a time when vehicle thefts are on the rise nationwide. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, nearly 500,000 vehicles were reported stolen nationwide in the first half of 2023, which represents an increase of more than 2 percent compared to the same period in 2022.
Per MCPD: “Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 4th District Patrol Investigative Unit are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect responsible for multiple theft from autos that occurred on Sunday, September 24, 2023, in the 2800 block of Atlanta Drive in Silver Spring.
The investigation has revealed that the suspect entered multiple vehicles parked in the area, stole property from those vehicles and left the scene. Detectives reviewed surveillance cameras and obtained images of the suspect checking door handles in the area. The suspect is described as a Black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, gray pants and white shoes. He was carrying a gray backpack.
On Sunday, Nov. 5, our clocks will roll back one hour at 2 a.m marking the end of Daylight Saving Time. With days growing shorter, students and families should be mindful of extra safety measures while traveling to and from school. The time change can also affect our health through disruptions to sleep. This is a good time to review good sleep hygiene and how to prepare for the time change. MCPS has provided the following reminders for adjusting to the changes:
On November 3, 2023, at approximately 12:23 am, a Takoma Park Police Officer in an unmarked vehicle was patrolling on Walnut Avenue in Takoma Park. According to police, “this area has had multiple calls for service related to the sound of gunfire over the past several months. The plainclothes officer saw two individuals walking together south on Walnut Avenue headed towards Eastern Avenue. Both individuals were wearing all black; one was wearing a face mask; and the other was wearing a noticeable orange knit cap. The individual with the face mask was armed with a handgun visible in his hand.
The Takoma Park Police Officer exited the unmarked vehicle and identified himself as a police officer. A foot chase ensued as both suspects immediately fled on foot into the District of Columbia. The Metropolitan Police Department responded to assist with a K-9 unit and a helicopter but the suspects were able to make good on their escape. The Takoma Park Police Department will continue to work with our community and law enforcement partners to identify these individuals.”
