The Maryland Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of beech leaf disease and the associated nematode, Litylenchus crenatae maccannii in Maryland. Beech leaf disease is a new disease affecting all beech species including American beech (Fagus grandifolia). The disease has been found in surrounding states including Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Beech Leaf Disease causes a dark banding or striping between the leaf veins. Trees with severe symptoms are heavily banded with yellowing, shrunken, and thickened leaves. The disease can kill understory trees in two years and mature trees in six to ten years. Treatments for are currently being researched. “I applaud the department’s Forest Pest team for their quick action on identifying this disease,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “The team will continue to monitor and report the spread of Beech Leaf disease as it occurs. Homeowners are encouraged to do the same.”
Per the State of Maryland: Yesterday, Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller visited Baltimore Safe Haven, a transitional housing facility in Baltimore that provides services for Maryland’s transgender community. The visit, made in partnership with the Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs, provided an opportunity to tour the organization’s housing facilities, learn about the services they offer, and participate in a discussion about the needs of transgender Marylanders.
“In Maryland, we lead with love and inclusion and nobody should have to justify their own humanity,” said Gov. Moore. “Baltimore Safe Haven provides help and hope to the people who need it most. The only way forward is together, and Baltimore Safe Haven has a partner in the State House. We have a lot of work to do, and we must tackle that work in partnership. If we do, we can build a kinder, safer Maryland for all.”
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 the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller today visited the 142nd Maryland State Fair in Timonium to celebrate the work of the Maryland agricultural industry. In addition to touring the fairgrounds, Governor Moore spoke with farmers and agricultural producers during the Governor’s Ag Day Luncheon.
“Agriculture is Maryland’s number one industry and we produce some of the best agricultural products in the nation,” said Gov. Moore. “Our farmers are the lifeblood of our state’s economy and you cannot understand the story of Maryland without understanding the stories of our farmers.”
Seven Clarksburg High School students, along with their teacher, Shannon McKenzie, the MCPS 2023 Teacher of the Year, participated in the 2023 Educators Rising national conference in Orlando.
Educators Rising, a state and national student organization, prepares students who are interested in careers in education. The Clarksburg students joined more than 2,000 students and teachers from around the country to compete in events to showcase critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills.
Olney, MD — September 29, 2026 —Olney Theatre Center, Maryland’s largest regional theatre, produces Boublil and Schönberg’sLes Misérables in the Roberts Mainstage (October 30, 2026 – January 31, 2027) in celebration of the musical’s 40th anniversary. This continues Olney Theatre’s tradition of providing popular musicals with multi-generational appeal to local audiences and visitors over the holiday season. This year, Tony Award-nominated director Stephen Brackett returns to direct the production, having last directed Cinco Paul’s critically acclaimed A.D. 16 at Olney in 2022. Trent Saunders, who garnered critical acclaim for his performance in the Broadway company of Dead Outlaw, stars as Jean Valjean, opposite Kevin S. McAllister, a veteran of multiple Broadway and Olney musicals, who recently directed Ford’s Theater’s heralded production of Come From Away. Christopher Youstra, Olney’s Associate Artistic Director of Music Theatre, again serves as Music Director, and William Carlos Angulo is the choreographer.
Tickets are available to the public from $57 – $118 and can be purchased at olneytheatre.org/lesmiz or by calling the box office at 301-924-3400.
Experience the incredible flavors of Japan at Wegmans Rockville Sushi Fest. Enjoy expertly crafted, made-to-order sushi prepared by our talented sushi chefs, along with fresh Bluefin Tuna cuttings daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and King Salmon cuttings throughout the day. Explore unique sushi varieties, discover authentic Japanese products throughout the store, sample customer favorites, and learn more about the craftsmanship and freshness that make Wegmans sushi special. Whether you're a longtime sushi enthusiast or trying something new, Sushi Fest offers a delicious experience for the whole family.
Twenty-two MCPS rising 11th and 12th grade students completed a four-day residential pre-college experience at Towson University (TU). Using Maryland Leads grant funding, MCPS partnered with Towson to offer the TU Teacher Scholars Summer Institute.
High school students were led through learning activities to inspire them to consider careers in education. Students toured campus, participated in team-building experiences, and connected with students from 13 MCPS high schools and others from Howard County Public Schools. They earned one dual-enrollment credit and a stipend for their participation. Ninety percent of the students indicated they are highly likely to pursue teaching as a career.
The Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation, Inc. (ITF) will award a refurbished computer lab to a Montgomery County (501)(c)(3) non-profit organization. The lab will consist of six reconditioned desktop computers with operating systems, flat panel LCD monitors, keyboards, mice and one printer.
Country Boy Market, a staple in Montgomery County for nearly seven decades, has announced that it is winding down operations and will be closing in the near future. Country Boy is located in Glenmont at 2211 Randolph Rd. The full statement can be seen below:
“It is with great regret we share that, due to another serious family illness, after 68 years Country Boy Market will be winding down operations and closing at some point in the near future. We do not have a definitive timeline yet and will share additional details as we can, but it has been our honor and distinct pleasure serving and being part of the greater Glenmont community. From our beginning as a produce stand on Georgia Avenue to our location today, we have enjoyed sharing memories with you and your families. Thank you for everything.”
Earlier today we reported that Maman Joon would be taking over the space that was previously home to Taco Bar and Jerry’s Subs & Pizza at 181000 Georgia Avenue in Olney. Since then we have learned (by additional signage installed at the restaurant) that Maman Noon’s sister restaurant, Z-Burger will also be operating in the space.
Z-Burger is a local, DMV-based chain that describes itself as “a Washington DC landmark! Home to the area’s most delicious handcrafted burgers with endless toppings, fresh cut fries and 75 varieties of hand spun milk shakes and concretes made with premium Wisconsin custard.”
Updated to reflect that Z-Burger will be joining Maman Joon at the location
Maman Joon, a restaurant offering Persian cuisine, and sister restaurant Z-Burger are both coming to 18100 Georgia Avenue. The space was recently home to Taco Bar and previously home to Jerry’s Subs and Pizza. Permanent signage is currently being installed. Maman Joon offers a variety of kabobs, sandwiches, soups, salads, platters, desserts and other Persian specialties. Maman Joon currently has locations in Tenleytown, McLean, and Tyson’s Corner. Z-Burger describes itself as “a Washington DC landmark! Home to the area’s most delicious handcrafted burgers with endless toppings, fresh cut fries and 75 varieties of hand spun milk shakes and concretes made with premium Wisconsin custard.”
The new MegaMart at 33 Dalamar St. in Gaithersburg is currently scheduled to open today (Saturday, September 9) at noon. The grocery store is located at the former site of iconic MoCo restaurant, The Golden Bull. The Golden Bull closed its doors on February 17th, 2017. In 2019, construction crews began the demolition of the building to make room for the new 26,600 SF Megamart.
The exiting MegaMart located across the street at 401 N Frederick Ave in the Hudson Trail Center will remain open for two more weeks. The Mega Bakery at 405 N Frederick Ave will also be closing and relocating to the new site.
