Per Montgomery College: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced five winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge. The five student teams received a total of $15,000 for their innovative market assessments for new technologies developed by EPA researchers. Four of the five winners are Montgomery College students. The 2023 winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge: Esther Soon, first place ($6,000);  Rasheevan Nair, second place ($3,000); and third place was shared by two MC students: Miguel Granados and Sena Hordoffa ($1,500 each).

When EPA researchers invent new technologies, EPA’s Federal Technology Transfer Act program assists with patenting these new technologies and finding companies that are interested in licensing EPA’s products to put federally funded technology to use in real-word applications. EPA launched the Make a Market Tech Challenge to solicit innovative strategies for market assessments of patented and unlicensed EPA-developed technologies.


According to the Maryland Lottery, winning lottery tickets sold last week in Montgomery County worth $20,000 and $50,000 remain unclaimed as of Monday, September 25. The $50,000 winning Bonus Match 5 ticket was sold at the Citgo located at 8333 Fenton St in Silver Spring and the $20,000 winning Mega Millions ticket was sold at Ollie’s Beer, Wine and Deli located at 2011 Veirs Mill Rd in Rockville. Lottery winners have 182 days from the date of a drawing to claim their prizes.

The Powerball drawing scheduled to take place tonight has an estimated jackpot of $785 million, with an estimated cash option of $367 million. Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9.


Trip Advisor is a popular American online travel company that offers ratings of restaurants primarily from those who have traveled to the area, rather than locals. If you’re interested in seeing the opinions of those who have traveled to the area, you’re in luck, as today we’ll be sharing the top 10 restaurants according to Trip Advisor.

10. Silver Diner (12276 Rockville Pike, Rockville): With a 4 out of 5 rating after 639 reviews, Silver Diner comes in #10 overall in the county and #2 in Rockville. The restaurant has an additional MoCo location at Gaithersburg’s Rio.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to Georgia Avenue, near International Drive, for the report of a vehicle fire on Sunday, September 24, around 11am. Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piring reports that northbound Georgia Avenue is blocked off at Rossmoor Drive, near Leisure World. Drivers should expect delays. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available. Featured photo courtesy of @izzy.g5451 on Instagram. 

Georgia Avenue near International drive, @mcfrs PE725, AT740, PE740 responding, vehicle fire, some lanes blocked


Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of Animal Services will host a free animal welfare presentation from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the County Executive Office Building Auditorium in Rockville. Noted animal welfare advocate and author Sara Pizano, founder of Team Shelter USA, will talk about best practices for shelters.

Dr. Pizano is also affiliated with Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge, which fosters community-centered programs and outreach efforts to ensure optimal outcomes for every pet by offering consultations and mentoring services. The program will provide the County with a complimentary shelter consultation.


Per Taiwan Sister Cities: “Dear Friends, After our board meeting tonight, our board has decided that rain or shine go forward. This festival still will be hosted on this Saturday. 風雨生信心。-TSC Team”

The 2023 Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival will take place this Saturday, September 23rd from 10am until 4pm at Rockville Town Square. The event is being held by Taiwan Sister Cities, an organization “dedicated to promoting, educating, and fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation among the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan.”


Hard Times Cafe at 1117 Nelson St in Rockville has temporarily closed. While signage on the front door states, “Hard Times will be closed for the remainder of the week for extensive repairs, we will open ASAP, please call before coming,” the restaurant has apparently been closed for a few weeks now and there is no current timeframe on reopening.  Hard Times is known best for its chili, and variations include Texas, Cincinnati, Terlingua, and vegetarian. Menu items include the Chili Bubba (chili over corn bread), Chili Mac (over spaghetti), Frito Chili Mac, chili dogs, chili burgers, and chili fries. The restaurant also serves non-chili dishes, such as salads, wraps, and chicken tenders.

According to its website, “The Hard Times Cafes are designed to recall a southern depression era chili parlor. Its design is simple and honest, making use of polished red oak and terra-cotta tile. Photographs of day-to-day western life, circa 1930, are featured on the sand textured walls.” The first Hard Times Cafe opened in Alexandria, VA in 1980 and the Rockville location opened in 1984. There was previously a Hard Times Cafe at 13032 Middlebrook Rd in Germantown, which closed in 2014. There are currently additional Hard Times locations in Alexandria, Fredericksburg, and Springfield, VA.


The planned Spirit Halloween locations at 12940 Middlebrook Rd. (formerly Bed Bath & Beyond) in Germantown and 2210 Veirs Mill Rd., (formerly CVS) in Rockville will not be opening, according to a representative from Spirit.  We’re told the upcoming Spirit store at 30 Grand Corner Ave. in Gaithersburg’s Rio will be the only Montgomery County location for 2023.

New at Spirit this year will be a buy online/pickup in-store option, as well as delivery through DoorDash. A sneak peak of the Rio location can be seen below. The store hopes to open within the next week.


Akira Ramen & Izakaya, located at 1800 Rockville Pike h1 at the Galvan in Rockville, is temporarily closed. The restaurant closed on Tuesday as they undergo a change in management, according to a sign on the door of the restaurant. Though a reopening date has not been provided, the restaurant does plan to open again (full note left on the door available below).

Akira Ramen & Izakaya will also open a new location next to Ela Mesa Taste of Greece (109 Paramount Park Drive) in the Spectrum Town Center in Gaithersburg. It opened its Rockville restaurant in 2017.


Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and Dill Dinkers will hold the grand opening of its second Montgomery County location in Rockville, just six miles away from its recently opened North Bethesda location, on Monday, September 25th. The Rockville facility is located at 40-C Southlawn Court, next to ZavaZone and near the Sportsplex and Ice Arena.

As part of its grand opening, Dill Dinkers will offer free open play from 9am-9pm from September 25th through September 29th. Dill Dinkers offers a wide array of options for getting out on the courts to play, including court reservations for members and non-members, clinics, leagues, and lessons for new and experienced players looking to improve their game. Dill Dinkers will also offer advertising opportunities within the facility for businesses and organizations looking to reach a large, active audience focused on healthy living.


Per Montgomery County: Bicycles that are no longer being used by some can make a big difference for others. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s annual Bicycle Donation Drive will be held on Friday, Oct. 20. The event will make it easy to donate previously owned bikes and ensure they will have a continued impact. From 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 20, bikes will be collected (rain or shine) outside of the Montgomery County Council Office Building Garage at East Jefferson and Monroe Street in Rockville.

Bicycles should be in good working condition or in need of only minor repairs. Donations will be refurbished and MCDOT will match the bikes with residents in need through the Bike Match program. Community members are welcome to organize a bike collection at their school, place of worship or within their neighborhood and bring the bikes to Rockville on Oct. 20. For drives that collect 10 or more bikes, MCDOT will arrange to pick them up at a prearranged location.


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