Originally published in 2021. Courtesy Susan Soderberg of The Germantown Historical Society

It was a sad day in September 1990 when the last of the artist residents said goodbye to their commune home on Frederick Road in Germantown. They left behind their gardens, their lap swimming pool, their treehouse with the triple-chair zipline, their annual masquerade balls; and they took with them their art, their music and their joie de vivre. But the house, the magnificent 125 year-old house with its wrap-around porch and huge fireplace, was not to be torn down– it would be reborn in another location.


This weekend in Montgomery County is shaping up to be one of the busiest of the fall, with festivals, parades, live music, food, and community celebrations taking place across the area. From family-friendly activities and cultural performances to beer gardens, bar crawls, and long-standing neighborhood traditions, there will be no shortage of ways for residents to enjoy the season and come together with their communities.

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In early September, we shared the news of Gaithersburg Rental Center’s plan to close later in the month. The business, located at 219 E Diamond Avenue, closed on September 23rd after nearly nine decades as a trusted local business and community staple following the sale of the property it operated on. The community said goodbye on the business’s last Facebook last and some of the comments can be seen below.

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Montgomery County Councilmembers Kate Stewart and Evan Glass urged MCPS and the Board of Education to improve the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) process, citing inefficiencies, unreliable cost projections, and poor community engagement. They pointed to the $40 million Silver Spring International Middle School project, which failed to address key concerns, as an example of the need for better planning, transparency, and incorporation of community feedback to ensure future school facility upgrades meet actual needs.

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On Wednesday, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce President Angela Franco issued a statement warning that the federal government shutdown starting today will place significant strain on local businesses, particularly government contractors. She emphasized that the shutdown compounds recent losses in federal funding and job postings, creating additional financial pressure on companies and residents across the County.

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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and partners will host 12 “Community Conversations” through November to gather input on the FY27 operating budget, with the next meeting for East County on Monday, Oct. 6 from 7–8:30 p.m. at the White Oak Community Recreation Center (1700 April Lane, Silver Spring).

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The midway point of the Montgomery County (MCPS) football season is here, and the hierarchy is starting to take shape. Quince Orchard continues to sit atop the mountain, but challengers like Sherwood and Churchill are circling, looking for a chance to shake the county’s balance of power. Meanwhile, traditional powers are scrambling to stay relevant, and a few upstarts are knocking at the door. Here’s this week’s Top 10 countdown:

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Long before television became a staple in every American home, one of the most groundbreaking broadcasts in U.S. history was sent from right here in Montgomery County. On July 2, 1928, Charles Francis Jenkins, a prolific inventor with more than 400 patents, launched W3XK, the nation’s first licensed commercial television station, from Wheaton, Maryland (Library of Congress; National Museum of American History).

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