Chris Vaughn is the proud coach of Team Marvels- a remarkable special needs baseball team based in Manchester, MD in nearby Carroll County. He is running five marathons in five days to raise money for his team (Team Marvels of Manchester Baseball, is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization).
When Sandra Hicks found out she was pregnant at 17 back in 1970, she knew the difficult decision to give her daughter up for adoption had to be made. She gave birth to a baby girl in a maternity home and was able to hold her for just thirty minutes.
This Saturday, October 28th, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington are once again hosting their annual Halloween Movie Night. This year, “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” will be shown at dusk in St. Paul Park on the big screen. Costumes are encouraged for all attendees. The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington will have refreshments available for purchase in the Park, including pizza, popcorn, and candy. Glowsticks will be available as well!
This year, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department will also be visiting BabyCat Brewery’s 1st Halloween-iversary party. According to the Department’s Instagram story, they’ll bring one of their Fire Engines to the Brewery from 12PM-3PM.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=350012294088962
The Urbana Volunteer Fire Department’s 49th Community Carnival is open nightly this week through Sunday, July 23.
The event is tailored towards fun for the whole family. Admission and parking are free, and the doors open every evening this week at 5:30, with rides opening at 6:00. There are a variety of carnival games throughout the midway. This year, there will be free nightly live music and fireworks at 10:00 PM Thursday night. A Blackstone 36″ Griddle is being raffled off, with the raffle drawing Sunday night. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, unlimited ride tickets are available for $20.
This year’s dining options include shrimp platters, fried chicken, pizza, pit beef sandwiches, country ham, and more. There is also a beer garden. Summer treats are also available, including ice cream, Sno Cones (Hawaiian shaved ice), and funnel cake. The Urbana VFD requests that pets and coolers stay off the carnival grounds.
The Jolly Shows Carnival will be at the Clarksburg Outlets (22705 Clarksburg Road Clarksburg, MD 20871) from April 19 to April 30. There will be over 30 attractions, including carnival rides, games, and food wagons. According to their website, “We are a new generation of carnival operators who strive to be more progressive and professional. We realize that we must produce a premium product for our customer’s hard earned money. We won’t forget our proud traditions, but we are committed to overcoming the stigmas which have hindered our industry for far too long.” Tickets can be purchased here.
Unlimited Ride Specials Pre-Sale Information (ends April 19 at 5 pm): 1 Wristband: $25 (save up to $5); 4-Pack: $85 (save up to $35); 50 Ride Tickets: $45 (save $15)
Unlimited Ride Specials Information after April 19: Weekday Wristband (Tuesday-Thursday): $27; Weekend Wristband (Friday-Sunday): $30; 4-Pack: $100 (save up to $20); 50 Ride Tickets: $55 (save $5)
Hours: Weekdays 5 pm – 11 pm; Saturday 1 pm – 11 pm; Sunday 3 pm – 11 pm
This Saturday, October 29, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington are once again hosting their annual Halloween Movie Night. “Hotel Transylvania” will be shown at dusk in St. Paul Park on the big screen. Costumes are encouraged for all attendees.
The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington will have refreshments available for purchase in the Park, including pizza, popcorn, and candy.
https://www.facebook.com/KensingtonVFD/posts/pfbid02ZeJXoeDAzboepkMYZ52AJiB9QgbA6t7wyfisRmXpDcSpo8iP9sbLmVFM9img7Mtal
We have complied a list of the tallest slides in and around MoCo for your thrill seekers. They are listed below in no particular order.
- Cabin John Park, 1 slide temporarily out of order (7400 Tuckerman Lane Bethesda, MD 20817)
- Butler’s Orchard (22222 Davis Mill Road Germantown, MD 20876)
photo by Butler’s - Greenbriar Local Park (12525 Glen Road Travilah, MD 20854)
photo by Greenbriar - Damascus Recreational Park (23723 Kings Valley Road Damascus, MD 20787)
- RIO Washingtonian Center Playground (231 Rio Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878)
- Kemp Mill Urban Park (1200 Arcola Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902)
photo by Kemp Mill Urban Park - Wheaton Regional Park (2000 Shorefield Road Wheaton, Maryland 20902)
photo by Wheaton Regional Park - Beyond MoCo: Lafayette-Pointer Park and Recreation Center (5900 33rd St., NW, Quesada St NW, Washington, DC 20015)
photo by dc.gov - Beyond MoCo: The Big Slide Mount Tabor Park At Rocky Ridge (13616 Motters Station Road Rocky Bridge, MD 21778)
photo by Visit Frederick - Beyond MoCo: Blandair Regional Park (5750 Oakland Mills Rd Columbia, MD 21045)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ4Nz9IhtSP/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Per Zero Deaths Maryland, “In April 2022, Maryland lawmakers passed SB 176, a bill that will upgrade the state’s law that protects children traveling on our roadways. The new law goes into effect on October 1, 2022, and states that children must be kept rear-facing until at least two years of age, unless the child meets or exceeds the height and weight on the seat’s guidelines. Having a seat that properly fits the child is also another important consideration. SB 176 brought Maryland in line with laws in 16 other states (CA, CT, IL, LA, ME, NE, NJ, NY, NV, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, VA, WA) and the District of Columbia.”
In April 2022, Maryland lawmakers passed SB 176, a bill that will upgrade the state’s law that protects children traveling on our roadways. The new law goes into effect on October 1, 2022, and states that children must be kept rear-facing until at least two years of age, unless the child meets or exceeds the height and weight on the seat’s guidelines. Having a seat that properly fits the child is also another important consideration. SB 176 brought Maryland in line with laws in 16 other states (CA, CT, IL, LA, ME, NE, NJ, NY, NV, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, VA, WA) and the District of Columbia.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) state that children should ride rear-facing for as long as possible. Rear-facing child seats do a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, and the back of the seat takes most of the impact energy. When children ride forward-facing, their heads are thrown forward in a crash, possibly resulting in serious injuries. Before SB 176, Maryland law only required a child to ride in a car seat until reaching at least 4’ 9” in height. The Maryland Department of Transportation supported the revision of the law to help guide parents on keeping a child rear-facing, something that was not addressed by the prior law.
The inclusion of age for rear-facing child seats helps law enforcement officers educate drivers on proper child passenger safety and gives clearer guidance for caregivers. Under the prior law, no guidance was provided for rear facing. This new bill helps bring attention to the fact that children under two are better protected in a crash when riding rear facing. Under SB 176, only a written warning may be issued for the first violation, supporting law enforcement’s request to use the new law as a teaching moment for drivers rather than a fine.
The October 1 start date gives partners time to build strong campaigns as well as caregivers time to prepare for the change in law. Some who currently have a child in a forward-facing-only seat will find that a convertible seat – one that can be used forward- and rear-facing – may better protect their child. Such seats may also prove to be easier to use and more cost-effective.
Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) supports a volunteer network that offers Car Seat Assistance Programs (CSAP) to the community. A CSAP offers low-cost options (convertible or combination seats) to the public for those in need. Referrals to the programs are made primarily through the KISS Helpline or email.
For more information on selecting the right car seat, please visit NHTSA’s website at:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#car-seat-types
Featured image by Zero Deaths MD
For those moms whose children are fascinated with all things dinosaurs, read on to find out where you can take your littles to learn more and explore their curiosities. They are listed by distance from the approximate middle of Montgomery County.
The Path to the Past in the outdoor Nature Exploration Area located in the Locust Grove Nature Center (7777 Democracy Blvd. Bethesda, MD) lets you “Take a journey back through time, starting from present day to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of years ago. As you walk, learn about the different periods of geologic time. When did the first plants and mammals appear? Have temperatures changed over time? How have our continents changed? You’ll end your journey at a dig site, where you’ll discover a life size replica of a dinosaur fossil. Become a paleontologist; find your tools in the workbox at the dig site and see which dinosaur fossil you unearth.” More information available on their site.
Dinosaur Park (13100 Mid-Atlantic Boulevard Laurel, MD 20708) is an outdoor park with a fenced fossil site and playground. You can “Walk the same ground the dinosaurs did millions of years ago in Laurel, Maryland! Discover secrets of Prince George’s County’s prehistoric past at Dinosaur Park. The park is a unique site which preserves a rare deposit of fossils from the early Cretaceous period, about 115 million years ago.” The park is open to the public on the first and third Saturdays of each month with varying hours and the playground is open daily. More information available on their site.
Beginning in October, Dinos Alive is a temporary dinosaur exhibit in an immersive Jurassic venue at the Rhode Island Center (524 Rhode Island Ave NE, 20002). It features over 80 life-size animated replicas of species such as the T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Velociraptor, and Suchomimus. The fully immersive VR experience is suitable for ages 4+. Estimated duration is 60-75 minutes, all ages are welcome, and tickets start at $20. More information available on their site.
The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington, DC 20560) located on the first floor is described as a “massive, 31,000-square-foot exhibition will inspire a new generation of dinosaur lovers and scientists.” Admission is free and the museum is open every day 10 am-5:30 pm except December 25. More information available on their site.
The Dinosaur Mysteries exhibit at the Maryland Science Center (601 Light St Baltimore, MD 21230) is one where “you’re the paleontologist. Over a dozen full size dinosaurs roam this exhibit hall. Walk under, over, and through a landscape filled with dig pits, a field lab, excavation sites, and other areas of discovery.” This exhibit is particularly great as it allows littles to see over a dozen dinosaurs on display, work in a field lap and dig pits, and walk in a trackway of dinosaur footsteps. “Full size skeletons and casts of fossilized remains are on display and everything is hands-on. Touch a triceratops skull. Grab a brush and work side by side with other dinosaur hunters. Pick up a set of calipers and measure the length of dinosaur leg bones or sit in a nest of eggs. Stand in a footprint in the dinosaur trackway. Listen for the roar of a lumbering giant.” More information available on their site.
The Dinosaurs exhibit at the Maryland Zoo (1 Safari Place Baltimore, MD 21217) is available until November 30, 2022 and was named a 2022 Best of Baltimore winner for Best Kids’ Exhibit. “Travel through a prehistoric forest of roaring, rustling dinosaurs deep in the heart of the Zoo. You’ll take a winding path through our Maryland Wilderness to experience up-close encounters with life-size, animatronic dinosaurs like velociraptors, triceratops, tyrannosaurus rex, and more, created by Dino Don Inc. The fully robotic creatures move their heads, arms, tails, and even spit water! Along your journey, we’ll help you spot the connections between animals at the Zoo and these prehistoric beasts. Learn how these fascinating creatures moved, hunted, and reared their young in many of the same ways our animals do today.” The exhibit is open from 10 am – 4 pm with last entry at 3:45 pm. You can buy a ticket with or without zoo admission. More information available on their site.
Dinosaur Land (3848 Stonewall Jackson Highway White Post, VA 22663) is an outdoor walkable theme park It is a roadside attraction park with over 50 life size dinosaurs, “inviting visitors to step into the world of the prehistoric past, turning back the pages of time to the Mesozoic era, when dinosaurs were the only creatures that roamed the earth.” They also have a gift shop with a variety of dinosaur items. Beginning September 8, Dinosaur Land will be closed every Thursday through December. Tickets are $6 for ages 2-10, $8 for 11 and up. Their hours vary by the season and can be found on their site.
Featured photo courtesy of Maryland Science Center
Target’s car seat trade-in event will run from September 11-September 24. The popular event provides a 20% off coupon for a new seat, stroller, or select baby gear when you trade in a car seat or base.
Drop your trade-in item in the designated box inside the store, use your Target app to scan the code on the box and you’ll find the offer in your “ Baby category + more contactless savings”. Save the offer by clicking the red “+” and you can use it online or in store. More details can be found on Target’s site.
There are Montgomery County Target locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, and Wheaton.
Bounce The Mall, a giant inflatable park, will be at Arundel Mills Mall (7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD) from September 3-25. Bounce the Mall is an inflatable festival that that consists of eight bouncy attractions, including some of the largest ball pits in the world, that can provide fun for the whole family.
Per Bounce The Mall: “Bounce, slide and dance your way through a surreal, candy-colored wonderland featuring the largest ball pit on the planet, a 600ft long obstacle course, giant slides, a huge birthday cake bouncer, silent disco dome, inflatable sports arena & more. With colorful characters & instagrammable moments to be discovered at every turn, the mall is literally brought to life in this immersive, one of a kind experience that can be enjoyed by both the young, and the young at heart.”
Tickets are $23 for participants and free for spectators. Children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult with a paying ticket. Additional information below:
SO WHAT TO EXPECT?
🤩 The Largest Ball Pit On The Planet 🤩
This 10,000-square foot party features live DJs and entertainment to dance and play the day away in this one-of-a-kind, immersive party experience. Are you ready to go balls to the wall?
💪 600ft Obstacle Course 💪
Our 600ft Obstacle Course is not for the faint of heart. Filled with a whole load of unique obstacles, you can get your heart rate up racing your friends & family or take a leisurely bounce through our incredibly colorful inflatable wonderland. This is the perfect challenge for all aspiring Ninja Warriors!
🎧 The Silent Disco Dome 🎧
Grab some headphones and get your groove on as our live DJs spin the hottest party tracks! The best part? A silent disco means there are 3 channels to choose from so you can soundtrack your Bounce The Mall experience with the tracks that you love the most.
🏀 The Inflatable Sports Zone 🏀
Can you dunk like LeBron, throw like Brady or strike like Ronaldo? This championship inflatable sports arena filled with balls of every size and type you could imagine for dodgeball, basketball, soccer and many other bouncy challenges. Everyone can be a sports star at Bounce The Mall!
This 4 week inflatable pop-up experience is sure to blow your mind whether you’re young or just young at heart. This event will sell out so grab those tickets before they’re gone out and get ready to make memories that last a lifetime. Who knew the mall could be this cool?
