Former United States Vice President has announced that he will be ending his bid to become President in 2024. According to the Associated Press, Pence said “It’s become clear to me: This is not my time,” at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gathering in Las Vegas. “So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today.” He went on to call his bid an “uphill battle, but I have no regrets.”
Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan commented on Pence’s decision via social media, calling him a “man of integrity, a traditional Republican, and a true conservative, who has devoted his life to public service.” Hogan went on to write “Since we served as governors together, I have been proud to call him a friend. As he enters this next chapter, I know he will continue to fight for what he believes in.” Pence has not yet endorsed another candidate for next year’s primary election.
Montgomery County Police are investigating a single-vehicle fatal collision that occurred Saturday afternoon. According to police, “At approximately 12:15 p.m., on Saturday, October 28, 2023, Montgomery County Fire Rescue and MCPD responded to the intersection of Old Columbia Pike and Dustin Road for the report of a single vehicle collision.
The preliminary investigation has revealed that a blue, 2008 Hyundai Elantra was traveling northbound on Old Columbia Pike, near Dustin Road when, for unknown reasons, the driver struck a retaining wall. The driverofthe Hyundai, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Montgomery County DepartmentofPolice – Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating the collision.”
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!
Per CAIR: “The Maryland office of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), today said it has recorded 89 complaints, including hate bias incidents, between Oct. 9 to Oct. 24 following the escalation of violence in the Middle East on Oct. 7.
The civil rights group is issuing a community advisory encouraging vigilance and basic safety precautions and asking community members to document and report complaints and incidents to police and to CAIR. The nature of complaints and incidents include: 1) smears, hateful comments and slurs on social media, 2) school-based bullying and harassment, 3) doxxing threats against students expressing support for Palestinian human rights, 4) chilling of free speech and alleged retaliation at schools, universities/colleges and places of employment for pro-Palestine advocacy, 5) complaints about biased, one-sided statements about Israel/Palestine, 6) alleged discrimination at restaurants/businesses, 7) hostile incidents at mosques and 8) visits or questioning by law enforcement officers.
About Nick Carter: “Sparking his career at the age of 12, Nick Carter quickly became an international pop superstar as the youngest member of the iconic boy band, Backstreet Boys. With his boyish good looks and heartthrob status, Carter’s 30-year entertainment journey has extended far beyond sold-out arenas, encompassing a diverse range of projects in television, film, philanthropy, and publishing.
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.
Per the Maryland Department of Health (10.23.23): “The Maryland Department of Health today announced a new funding opportunity for Maryland nonprofits to establish and expand community behavioral health programs for service members, veterans and family members. Selected applicants will be eligible to receive approximately $100,000 through the Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans.
“Expanding behavioral health services to our military-connected communities is of vital importance to me,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott. “Many service members and veterans are trained to be resilient and may be less likely to ask for help, so it is our responsibility to offer providers the information and tools to reach and provide care to these individuals and families.”
A post made on Thursday on the NextDoor app, garnering over 600 comments, alleging that a woman who wears a hijab was attacked in her car by a woman yelling anti Muslim slurs at a red light. The post includes video and pictures of a woman violently banging on the car and its windows while cursing and holding up her middle finger on Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Rockledge Dr. and Democracy Blvd in Bethesda. We reached out to Montgomery County Police, who provided us without the following preliminary statement:
“On Thursday, October 26, 2023, at approximately 1:20 p.m., 2nd District officers responded to the area of Rockledge Dr. and Democracy Blvd. for the report of a disturbance. Officers spoke to the complainant and documented the incident.”
Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is recruiting volunteers to become IRS-certified VITA tax preparers, schedulers, greeters, quality reviewers and site coordinators during the upcoming tax season (January–mid-April). VITA provides free tax help to Montgomery County residents, including ITIN taxpayers, with household incomes of $64,000 or less.
The program links residents to valuable tax credits that can provide critical financial support to lower income households. Last year, volunteers served 2,820 hours, helping Community Action’s VITA program serve 1,946 households. That represented a tax impact of nearly $7 million.
Per the Washington Regional Alcohol Program: “Preparing to combat that time of year when according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half (48%) of U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers,* a local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during this month’s Halloween celebration.
Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2023 Halloween SoberRide® program will be in operation beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 and operate until 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk period
Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, in conjunction with County Executive Marc Elrich, are supporting the “Labor of Love Initiative” benefiting March of Dimes. The campaign will take place Oct. 29-Nov. 19.
All ABS retail stores, including its new Oak Barrel & Vine stores, will be asking customers if they want to make donations to support March of Dimes and the Labor of Love initiative. Customers also will be asked if they want to round up their invoices to the nearest dollar.
With Halloween and Daylight Saving Time approaching, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is urging drivers and pedestrians to use extra caution when traveling during evening hours.
“The National Safety Council tells us that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “That statistic should serve as an important reminder for motorists; drive safely, keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters, and never drink and drive if you’ve celebrated with alcohol. As the clocks turn back on Nov. 4, drivers and pedestrians should also be aware of the safety challenges that occur as it gets dark earlier during the shorter days of fall and winter.”
Per the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: With colors intensifying across the state this week, parts of Maryland are right on the cusp of peak leaf change. The mountains of western Maryland are seeing bold shades of amber, crimson and gold, while other regions of our state are reporting marked increases in autumnal hues, spreading further along the tree canopies in central, northern, and southern Maryland. This weekend’s weather promises to bring warmer than average temperatures to the region, and we’re embracing the shift – and the burst in fall color – by including some of our best locations to enjoy a walk in the woods at one of our state parks and forests.
“Fall has arrived in full splendor” in Frederick County, according to Cunningham Falls State Park Manager Mark Spurrier. Cunningham Falls is located in the picturesque Catoctin Mountains, an ideal spot for viewing fall’s bounty of colors. Aaron Cook, Project Manager/Forester in Clear Spring, predicts Washington and Frederick counties will reach peak leaf change next week as the area enjoys another weather pattern of sun-filled days and crisp, starry nights.
