Community volunteer Sheena Saydam began hosting free monthly yard sales after noticing how many families felt overwhelmed by clutter or the stress of moving. With so many people looking to downsize and so many others in need of essential items, she saw an opportunity for what she describes as a collective win. What started as a simple idea revealed a much deeper level of need in the community.
Walter Johnson High School is officially beginning the search for its next varsity football coach following the departure of Head Coach Aaron Fiddler from the program. Fiddler, who led the Wildcats for the past three seasons, will remain a teacher at the school, but is stepping away from his coaching role.
Last week, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed legislation authorizing up to $420 million in tax increment financing bonds to help finance Viva White Oak, a $2.7 billion investment featuring more than 3 million square feet of lab space, office/medical office, retail, and over 4,400 quality residences. The 280-acre site, which is located adjacent to the FDA headquarters and near Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, is expected to begin construction this fall.
“This is a project that has been discussed and planned for a long time, and now we are getting to the point where people will actually begin seeing it take shape,” said County Executive Elrich. “VIVA White Oak will bring thousands of homes, good jobs, restaurants, stores, and other amenities to an area of the County that has needed this level of investment for decades. We found a financing approach that allows us to build the infrastructure needed to make this development possible while using the new tax revenue generated by the project to repay the bonds. I appreciate the Council, our State partners, MCB, and especially the East County residents who kept pushing to get us to this point.”
Anchored by Costco and with a focus on innovation and research and development, Viva White Oak represents one of the largest development opportunities in Montgomery County in recent years. Once completed, the development is expected to generate $4.9 billion in annual economic output and give the County $21 million year in new revenue. Additionally, the new development is projected to generate 19,000 construction jobs and 9,000 permanent jobs.
“Viva White Oak demonstrates the County’s continued commitment to supporting growth and investment in Montgomery County,” said Jared Smith, President & CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). “The County’s first TIF gives us another important tool to compete for investment, attract businesses, and create jobs. Montgomery County has tremendous assets and opportunities, and using tools like this strategically will help us translate those strengths into long-term economic growth.”
Viva White Oak is expected to take place in two phases. In phase one, which is expected to be completed by 2031, it will deliver over 960 townhomes, 1,000 apartments, 470,000 square feet of retail space, a 175-room hotel with meeting space, up to 1,279 permanent on-site jobs, and 92,000 square feet of medical office space. Phase two, which will take place between 2033 and 2044, will deliver 1.3 million square feet of life sciences office and lab space, 400,000 square feet of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) life sciences manufacturing, almost 2,500 additional housing units delivered, a 150-room hotel dedicated to supporting innovation, and over 3,800 permanent on-site jobs.
Viva White Oak represents the County’s first use of a TIF and follows a push by Montgomery County to remove barriers and create new opportunities for businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs. In July, the Montgomery County Council approved the Job Creation Project zoning initiative, which is expected to cut permitting time in half for development projects that are in Montgomery County’s key industries—including life sciences and technology— or are expected to create at least 200 local jobs, further showcasing the County’s commitment to powering economic growth in target industries.
The City of Rockville will prohibit plastic carryout bags at most businesses beginning Jan. 1 after the Rockville Mayor and Council voted to adopt Montgomery County’s Bring Your Own Bag Law, which aims to reduce waste and encourage reusable bag use.
Ding Café on Rockville Pike is holding a “grand opening” style celebration to mark one year under new ownership, offering two weekends of promotions in December 2025 that include free drinks, buy one get one deals, and additional discounts.
We are so excited to be in our new location at 4833 Rugby Ave, Suite 200, Bethesda,MD
Spectrum Acupuncture & Wellness has been serving the MoCO community for over 20 years. We specialize in Women’s Health, Pelvic Floor Care & Chronic Pain. Whether you have been experiencing migraines or neuropathy, insomnia or anxiety, are going thru fertility treatments or in the midlife peri/menopause transition, we are here for you! Call or text for your complimentary consultation and let’s make a plan together to get you where you want to be.
Event location
Olney Baptist Church
17525 Georgia Ave
Olney, Maryland 20832
You’re Invited to the Community Fall Dance! 🍁
Join us for a fun, free evening of music, dancing, and community under the stars!
Rockville City Police reported during a Nov. 17 public safety work session that improved staffing, recruitment, and community engagement have contributed to reductions in several crime categories, including assaults and motor vehicle thefts.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and 18 other attorneys general are opposing the Trump administration’s plan to expand the SAVE program to include personal data from natural born U.S. citizens who have never interacted with the immigration system.
Investigators have charged an 18 year old Germantown man in connection with a May 31 collision in Gaithersburg that led to the death of an 88 year old Rockville woman.
The iconic entrance signs from Lakeforest Mall have officially been sold, giving local residents a chance to own one of the final physical remnants of the once-bustling Gaithersburg landmark. The auction, hosted last month by Capital Online Auctions, drew strong interest, particularly for the mall’s blue entrance signs, which received the highest bids.
MCPD UPDATE: “MCPS has lifted the HOLD status at Bethesda Chevy Chase HS. Police have confirmed that this was a swatting incident. Officers are clearing the scene.”
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has shared that “Bethesda Chevy Chase HS is currently in a HOLD status because of an alleged swatting call. MCPD officers are on scene investigating the validity of the threat.”
The Montgomery County Council elected Natali Fani-González as president and Marilyn Balcombe as vice president, each to serve one year terms.
KLNB has completed the sale of 189 Kentlands Boulevard in Gaithersburg, a two-story, 19,880-square-foot office property positioned on 1.28 acres in the center of the Kentlands community. The building sold for $5.95 million to Community Options, which will occupy the property as an owner-user, according to ConnectCRE.