Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, along with 41 other state Attorneys General, filed a series of federal and state lawsuits against Meta, alleging that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms with the intent of addicting children and teens, while falsely assuring the public that these features are safe and suitable for young users. The federal complaint (attached) seeks injunctive and monetary relief to rectify the harms caused by these platforms.
The Attorneys General assert that Meta’s business practices violate the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires providers of online content, such as Meta, to abide by specific guidelines relating to the collection and handling of minors’ personal information. These practices have harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens, and have fueled what the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed a “youth mental health crisis” that has ended lives, devastated families, and damaged the potential of a generation of young people.
Kayla DiCello, a 2022 graduate of Northwest High School in Germantown, won the all-around gold on Monday at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. According to USA Gymnastics, “DiCello won the women’s all-around with a 54.699, thanks to posting the highest scores of the evening on uneven bars (13.633) and floor exercise (13.733) and scoring a 13.200 on balance beam and 14.133 on vault.” She is the first U.S. woman to win all-around gold at the Pan American games since 2011.
DiCello is a six-time USA National Team Member and currently attends the University of Florida. In 2021, DiCello made the Olympic team as an alternate and participated in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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 Montgomery County: “Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has expedited $311,700 in Nonprofit Security Grant funding to Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities in Montgomery County to enhance security measures. Since the outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza, concern has risen that these communities have been, or will be, threatened by violence and other crimes motivated by hate and bias. These awards will provide immediate assistance to the organizations that are receiving funding to invest in various security measures to protect their communities and facilities.
“The conflict in the Middle East has created a heightened level of security concern in the Muslim and Jewish communities in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Elrich. “I have spoken with religious and community groups about the challenges they are facing, and the need to enhance security is paramount. As a result, I am expediting additional security funding. We will not tolerate acts of hate by anyone. I hope all of us can grieve as we need to, but that we can also restrain ourselves from lashing out at our neighbors and friends. What has happened abroad should not change how we interact with people here at home. I want to thank the community organizations, especially Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), for working with us to move this quickly. I am determined do everything in my power to make sure that Montgomery County remains a safe place for all.”
Per the Maryland Lottery: “Congratulations to Maryland’s newest multimillionaire! A Mt. Airy resident won the top prize of $2 million on the $30 Cash is King scratch-off. The happy player scratched off his instant ticket and saw one of the winning numbers was 39. On the sixth row of the game, he found a matching 39 with the $2 million prize underneath the number.
The 63-year-old purchased the winning scratch-off at 108 Liquors in Clarksville. For selling the top-prize winning instant ticket, the Howard County retailer receives a bonus from the Lottery of $2,000, which is based on a percentage of the prize’s value.
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.
According to Gaithersburg Police, “On October 23, 2023 at 7:17 p.m., police received a report of a vandalism at the Kentlands Market Square in the 500 block of Main Street that occurred earlier. The complainant, who was not on scene, advised that an unknown individual drew with chalk antisemitic graffiti on the sidewalk near the office building. Upon arriving, officers did not locate any drawings on the sidewalk. This remains an ongoing investigation.”
In response, the Shaare Torah community has organized a “Wash Away Hate” hate gathering that will take place tonight, October 24, at 5:30pm at the site where the vandalism occurred.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating an armed carjacking that occurred on Monday, October 23, 2023, in the 19400 block of St. Johnsbury Lane in Germantown. At approximately 10 p.m., 5th District officers responded to the location for the report of an armed carjacking.
The investigation by detectives has revealed that at approximately 9:35 p.m., an adult male victim arrived at his home in a 2015 silver BMW and parked it on the driveway. At that point, four suspects parked their unknown vehicle behind the victim, blocking the driveway. Three armed suspects exited the vehicle, pointed their guns at the victim and ordered the victim to get out of the BMW. The victim complied with the suspects’ demands. One of the suspects got in the BMW and left the scene, and the other three suspects drove away in their vehicle.
Coming soon signage is up at Potomac Cookie Co. at 109A Market St in the Kentlands Square shopping center in Gaithersburg, near Moby Dick and the upcoming Poke Bros. Potomac Cookie Co. is known for its “giant size” 4oz cookies and flavors include Choco-delight, Da Fudge, Dorothy’s Slippers, Double Dutch, Peebee ‘n’ Yay!, and S’more Love. Construction is currently underway on the interior of the store and we’re told the restaurant is anticipating a December opening.
In other cookie news, New York‘s Chip City will be opening its first Maryland location at the Shoppes of Bethesda, replacing Fancy Cakes By Leslie at 4939 Elm St. Fancy Cakes by Leslie closed in October 2022. A commercial permit was issued at the beginning of the summer for a $210,000 buildout at the location and now the opening date has been announced– Friday, November 3rd.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) units have been dispatched to 7750 Wisconsin Ave/Marriott Headquarters for two window washers who are stuck on scaffolding after a mechanical issue with the cable.
The two personnel are not injured and were four stories above grade in a back alley. The MCFRS technical support team was on the scene and the two workers were removed via Fire Department aerial. Power to a nearby pole was taken down by Pepco as a precaution. There were no injuries or transports.
Per MCPD: “Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating a fatal collision that occurred on Monday, October 23, 2023. At approximately 12:05 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the intersection of southbound Columbia Pike at Blackburn Rd., for the report of a traffic collision involving two vehicles.
The preliminary investigation by detectives has revealed that the driver of a white 2019 Ford Escape was stopped in the roadway of the southbound lanes of Columbia Pike at the intersection of Blackburn Rd. For reasons still under investigation, the driver a black 2010 Toyota Corolla, hit the back of the Ford, sending both vehicles through the intersection.
Local Facebook groups are still dealing with a nationwide scam involving car detailing or duct cleaning offers, involving social media posts typically consisting of similar content – before and after pictures of car detailing or duct cleaning and a variation of the following ad copy:
Update: Rockville Town Square Outdoor Ice Skating Rink is Now Open
Rockville Town Square Outdoor Ice Skating is opening soon– as early as later this week, according to a representative. The rink is currently being constructed and reservations are highly recommended once the rink opens as timeslots do sell out. Additional information below, per Rockville Ice Skating:
