Per the Maryland Lottery: “A Frederick County resident is no stranger to playing the Maryland Lottery. In fact, he’s no stranger to winning large Lottery prizes, either. In 2008, the lucky man took home a $50,000 Bonus Match 5 top prize. Fast forward to 2023 and he’s back in the Lottery Winner’s Circle. A $20 Bonus Bingo X20 instant ticket earned him a whopping $500,000 payday.

The journey to his big win started when he won a $100 scratch-off prize. To cash in his winning instant ticket, he visited Jefferson BP located at 4607 Lander Road in Jefferson. He then used part of the prize to buy a Bonus Bingo X20 scratch-off. Having no time to play the 10 bingo cards on his instant ticket, he stashed it in his car and went on his way.

It wasn’t until he got home later that day, and had a chance to relax that he remembered the scratch-off. He played the bingo cards and his eyes nearly deceived him, making him at first think he had a non-winning scratch-off. He decided to scan the scratch-off using his Lottery mobile app just in case he had missed a prize and that’s when he saw the “See Lottery” message.

After giving the instant ticket a second look, he realized just how much he had missed. On bingo card number nine, he had four matches in a diamond shape for a $50,000 prize. On top of that, he had missed the x10 multiplier in the upper left corner of the scratch-off. When he realized he won $500,000, the happy man gathered his wife and kids and gave them the great news.  Almost as shocking as the win is the fact that he unknowingly had driven around all day with a scratch-off worth half a million dollars in his possession! The scratch-off fan said he plans to use his winnings to buy a new truck and pay off his home mortgage.

Also celebrating is his lucky Lottery retailer. Jefferson BP in Frederick County will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a winning scratch-off worth $500,000. Bonus Bingo X20 went on sale in August 2020 with eight $500,000 top prizes. There are still two remaining, along with two $50,000 prizes and 28 $10,000 prizes.” Featured image courtesy of Google Maps. 

On Sunday, Nov. 5, our clocks will roll back one hour at 2 a.m marking the end of Daylight Saving Time. With days growing shorter, students and families should be mindful of extra safety measures while traveling to and from school. The time change can also affect our health through disruptions to sleep. This is a good time to review good sleep hygiene and how to prepare for the time change. MCPS has provided the following reminders for adjusting to the changes:

If you’re driving …

• Slow down and obey the speed limit.
• Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
• Be careful when passing buses or stopped vehicles.
• When turning, yield to people walking and biking.

If you’re walking

• Always cross the street at the corner and use marked crosswalks when they’re available.
• Use the pushbuttons to request a signal change.
• Wait for the walk signal to cross the street.
• Watch for turning vehicles.

If you’re biking …

• Obey signs and signals.
• Never ride against traffic.
• Ride in a straight line at least 3 feet from parked cars.
• Use hand signals to tell drivers what you intend to do.
• Use lights at night and when visibility is poor.

Adjusting to the time change…

• For younger children or people with established sleep routines, the time change may cause problems with waking up too early.
  • Before the time change, make a small shift to move dinner and bedtime later. If you or your child sleeps from 9 p.m.- 6 a.m., shift the schedule from 9:30 p.m. -6:30 a.m. for three days before the time change, then go back to 9 p.m.-6 a.m.
  • To shift a schedule after the time change, adjust to an earlier clock time starting Sunday night. Shift to 8:30 p.m.- 5:30 a.m. for three  days if starting after the time change, then shift back to 9 p.m. – 6 a.m.

After a string of 80° degrees, temperatures today have reached the 70s for most of the area (some have made it to the 80s while others are in the mid to upper 60s) with rain possible later this evening. With Halloween will come more seasonable temperatures that may feel even cooler since we’ve been nearly 30° warmer for almost a week.

Temperatures will start off in the low 40s when we wake up on Halloween and will move up to the 50s by about noon before high temperatures in the mid to upper 50s in the afternoon. Temperatures should remain in the 50s by 5pm and could start to dip a few degrees each hour after that on the way to 40° by 10pm on Halloween night. The slightly chilly temperatures may call for a jacket over the costumes.

Wednesday will bring an even colder day with some areas not even making it to the 50s before making it back to the low/mid 50s on Thursday and a warmer Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with temperatures in the 60s for November’s first weekend.

Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is recruiting volunteers to become IRS-certified VITA tax preparers, schedulers, greeters, quality reviewers and site coordinators during the upcoming tax season (January–mid-April). VITA provides free tax help to Montgomery County residents, including ITIN taxpayers, with household incomes of $64,000 or less.

The program links residents to valuable tax credits that can provide critical financial support to lower income households. Last year, volunteers served 2,820 hours, helping Community Action’s VITA program serve 1,946 households. That represented a tax impact of nearly $7 million.

“Ensuring that eligible low-income residents have access to tax preparation from qualified preparers can help them learn about and apply for all tax credits they are eligible for,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Year after year, the VITA program provides beneficial services and I encourage anyone who is interested in providing neighbor to neighbor help to learn more about the volunteer opportunity.”

For the upcoming tax season, there is a significant need for volunteer schedulers. These volunteers are not directly involved in tax preparation, but assist residents by answering phone calls and scheduling appointments using an online scheduling system.

VITA volunteers receive free training and volunteer opportunities are available in Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg or Wheaton. Hours and locations are flexible. High school students may receive SSL hours by volunteering as greeters or schedulers. Bilingual volunteers (English and Spanish) are strongly encouraged to participate as a volunteer. Volunteers should complete the online registration form.

Online information sessions for prospective volunteers will be held from 10:30–11:30 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The sessions will provide an overview of the program and the various volunteer positions available. Please register online for one of the sessions.

Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/CASHBACK or call 240-777-1123 to learn more about volunteering, or email [email protected].”

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, in conjunction with County Executive Marc Elrich, are supporting the “Labor of Love Initiative” benefiting March of Dimes. The campaign will take place Oct. 29-Nov. 19.

All ABS retail stores, including its new Oak Barrel & Vine stores, will be asking customers if they want to make donations to support March of Dimes and the Labor of Love initiative. Customers also will be asked if they want to round up their invoices to the nearest dollar.

ABS and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO have set a goal of raising $60,000 in the initiative, with monies raised to help March of Dimes improve maternal health, help babies be healthy and strong and protect the health of families through programs and advocacy.

“For more than 80 years, the March of Dimes has been improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature births and lowering infant mortality rates,” said County Executive Elrich. “I want to thank ABS and MCGEO for teaming up to support the March of Dimes through their ‘Labor of Love’ campaign. In addition to the health and safety benefits ABS provides Montgomery County through safe alcohol distribution, we are proud of the contributions of ABS employees through volunteering, fundraising and supporting nonprofit partners like the March of Dimes.”

The March of Dimes approach:

• Fund and support innovative research to solve the biggest problems in maternal and infant health.
• Advocate for prioritization our nation’s moms and babies and action to improve their health.
• Educate and help every family have healthy pregnancies regardless of wealth, race, gender, or geography.

“Supporting March of Dimes is a great way for us all to give back to our local community,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “ABS has always been committed to public health and safety, and this campaign is a natural extension of that commitment. Together we can help ensure that every mom and every baby have the best possible start.”

The U.S. remains one of the most dangerous developed countries to give birth. Two women die from pregnancy related issues each day, two babies die every hour in the U.S. and one in 10 is born too soon. Learn more about March of Dimes at www.marchofdimes.org/.

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine and spirits for Montgomery County and operates 27 retail stores throughout the County. In addition, ABS manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, its profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.  Follow ABS on Facebook and Twitter. “

Per MCDOT: “The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has been awarded a $2 million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) program to support the expansion of the Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network in the County through a new research partnership with the University of Maryland. Administered by the USDOT Build America Bureau, RIA provides funding for research of best practices in project planning, studies and analysis, preliminary engineering and design. The project will serve as a blueprint for the region.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are part of a national movement toward upgraded bus systems focused on faster, more convenient and reliable bus services. BRTs are known to have limited-stop bus service implemented along set routes in metropolitan areas across the U.S. and worldwide. Flash is Montgomery County’s BRT system and includes plans for a network of eight fixed routes.

The high-frequency service is designed to get people to their destination faster, and less expensively, than by car. Flash corridors spur development as businesses and housing tend to spring up along BRT routes creating or fortifying vibrant mixed-use communities. The lines will support a high level of mobility, connecting communities throughout the County.

“This RIA grant will enable the County to speed the delivery of its ambitious bus rapid transit system and establish a regional model for moving projects forward more quickly and efficiently using innovative methods of project delivery and financing,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich.

Funding from the grant will be used to research and establish best practices in financing and project planning for the expansion of the Flash BRT corridors in Montgomery County. In a new partnership between Montgomery County and University of Maryland, MCDOT will partner with the Build America Center at the University of Maryland to create AccelerateMC, an essential transportation planning research center, to conduct these studies.

Findings from the AccerateMC studies will be used to establish a blueprint for implementing bus rapid transit systems throughout the region.

The Flash BRT network will serve as an innovative and economical way to meet the growing transportation needs of County residents, help reduce reliance on automobiles and move people around the County faster. Plans for the eight-route bus service network will connect Montgomery County transit hubs, commercial centers and public services.

“MCDOT envisions a 102-mile Flash BRT network to serve the transportation needs of its over 1 million residents, provide equitable access to jobs and educational opportunities, and help eliminate transportation-generated carbon emissions by 2035,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “This grant will allow us work to closely with the University of Maryland’s Build America Center to accelerate this important project. I am grateful for the partnership MCDOT has with our state, regional and municipal partners and our labor representatives that helped support this project.”

AccelerateMC will focus on developing strategies to further the development of the BRT projects already in progress along Veirs Mill Road, MD 355 and US 29. The first Flash corridor, on Route 29, is currently in service with advancements such as portions of dedicated bus lanes planned. Flash 355 is in the implementation phase and Flash Veirs Mill is in the final design phase. AccelerateMC also will assist in the buildout of a new bus depot to support the County’s expanded fleet of zero-emission buses. The bus depot will include charging stations for electric buses and on-site hydrogen production.

“I want to thank U.S. Senator Ben Cardin; U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen; the Maryland Congressional Delegation; Paul Wiedefeld and the Maryland Department of Transportation; Randy Clarke and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Reuben Collins and the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board; Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass; D. Wade Yost, the town manager of Poolesville; Qingbin Cui and the University of Maryland Build America Center; Gino Renne and UFCW Local 1994; and Bill Tompkins and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation for their unwavering support of this project,” County Executive Elrich said.

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Facebook, and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.”

Update per Montgomery County Police: Rashawn Williams has been located safe and unharmed. Per Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrator Dr. Earl Stoddard, “Officer Jon Greene, who specializes in finding missing persons as the MCPD Search Manager, located Mr. Williams and helped return him to his family.”

NBC Washington assignment editor Tom Lynch tweeted that Rashawn Williams was found inside of a room at Glenmont Metro station, where he was since Saturday without food or water. He is recovering at a Montgomery County hospital.

Original Report: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Missing Person/Cold Case Unit continues to ask for the public’s assistance in locating Rashawn Williams, a 31-year-old non-verbal male. Williams was last seen boarding a bus at the intersection of Plum Orchard Drive and Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring.  He is 5′ 05,” 150lbs with black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing:

• Blue Long Sleeve Shirt
• Blue Denim Jeans
• Black Shoes

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Rashawn Williams is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has expedited $311,700 in Nonprofit Security Grant funding to Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities in Montgomery County to enhance security measures. Since the outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza, concern has risen that these communities have been, or will be, threatened by violence and other crimes motivated by hate and bias. These awards will provide immediate assistance to the organizations that are receiving funding to invest in various security measures to protect their communities and facilities.

“The conflict in the Middle East has created a heightened level of security concern in the Muslim and Jewish communities in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Elrich. “I have spoken with religious and community groups about the challenges they are facing, and the need to enhance security is paramount. As a result, I am expediting additional security funding. We will not tolerate acts of hate by anyone. I hope all of us can grieve as we need to, but that we can also restrain ourselves from lashing out at our neighbors and friends. What has happened abroad should not change how we interact with people here at home. I want to thank the community organizations, especially Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), for working with us to move this quickly. I am determined do everything in my power to make sure that Montgomery County remains a safe place for all.”

To view the full list of the organizations receiving funds, click here. Allocation of these funds will be in accordance with the existing Nonprofit Security Grant Program already approved by the Montgomery County Council.

“Montgomery County leaders are committed to doing everything we can to keep our residents safe and secure, especially in community gathering spaces and places of worship,” said County Council President Evan Glass. “Given the escalating tensions across the world related to the ongoing violence in the Middle East, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a critical part of our efforts to keep residents safe. Hate has no home in Montgomery County. Our community continues its steadfast commitment to acceptance, equity and inclusion. As one of the most diverse communities in the nation, we are united in our efforts to ensure that all our residents feel welcome, safe and seen.”

JCRC Executive Director Halber noted how quickly the County moved to free up this money.

“The JCRC of Greater Washington is grateful to County Executive Elrich and the Montgomery County Council for expediting the allocation of security dollars to institutions that are at even greater risk because of the war in Israel and Gaza,” said Mr. Halber. “We are fortunate to be in a County where our elected leadership strongly prioritizes the safety of all its citizens.”

A statement from the Montgomery County Muslim Council (MCMC) Board of Directors also expressed gratitude for the assistance.

“In response to the disturbing rise in hate crimes, including Islamophobia, we appreciate the decisive and proactive measures taken by County Executive Marc Elrich and the County Council for recognizing the need for immediate funding to help protect faith-based institutions and other vulnerable groups,” said the statement from MCMC. “It is imperative to ensure the safety and security of these spaces, where individuals come together to worship, find solace, and build community. We are hearing from too many in our community who have experienced first-hand bigotry and are afraid to be visible as Muslims for fear of physical or verbal abuse. MCMC and the Muslim community appreciate Montgomery County’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all communities.”

For more information on the Montgomery County Nonprofit Security Grant program, please visit https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/prog/FY24NonprofitSecurity/“

Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 9 a.m. and will begin with three proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmember Sidney Katz and County Executive Marc Elrich will recognize Fire Prevention Month. The second, presented by Council President Evan Glass, will recognize White Cane Awareness Day. The third, presented by Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, will commemorate Stop Bullying Day.

At 1:15 p.m. two additional proclamations will be presented. The first, presented by Councilmembers Will Jawando, Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink, will recognize National Principals Month. The second, presented by Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, will recognize National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

Report of State Development Review Process Workgroup

Briefing: At 9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a briefing on the final report issued by the State Development Review Workgroup. The Development Review Process Workgroup, chaired by Maryland State Delegate Lesley Lopez, was made up of representatives from the County Executive’s office, the Planning Department, County Council, executive agencies, community representatives, developers and utilities. The workgroup examined the County’s development review process and focused on finding opportunities to improve economic competitiveness. The workgroup met nine times between June and Sept. 2023 and held three listening sessions. The workgroup reached a consensus on 22 recommendations, which are covered in detail in the final report.

State Legislative Priorities

Review: At 10:35 a.m., the Council will meet to review state legislative proposals in advance of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly Session. The Council will review state legislation and FY25 state funding requests proposed by the Executive branch.

District Council Session

ZTA 23-07, Bethesda (B) Overlay Zone and Downtown Silver Spring (DDS) Overlay Zone – Park Improvement Payments and Civic Improvement Funds

Introduction: The Council president, at the request of the County Executive, will introduce Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 23-07, Bethesda (B) Overlay Zone and Downtown Silver Spring (DDS) Overlay Zone – Park Improvement Payments and Civic Improvement Funds. The zoning measure would modify the method the biennial adjustments are calculated and set an inflation limit in the Bethesda Overlay Zone’s Park Improvement Payment and the Downtown Silver Spring Overlay Zone’s Civic Improvement Fund.

In June 2023, the Council enacted Expedited Bill 25-23, Taxation – Development Impact Taxes for Transportation and Public School Improvements – Amendments, along with an accompanying resolution that modified the calculation for the biennial adjustments for school and transportation taxes. The purpose of ZTA 23-07, as recommended by the Planning Board, is to mirror and adopt the changes made to the impact tax calculation in the County Code. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 28.

WSSC Water Spending Control Limits

Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on spending control limits for WSSC Water’s FY25 Budget. WSSC Water’s spending control limits process was established in April 1994 by both the Montgomery County Council and Prince George’s County Council. The goal of the spending control limits process is to reconcile both Council’s actions by Nov. 1 of each year so that WSSC Water can build the approved limits into its upcoming operating budget public hearing draft document, which will be released for public comment by Jan. 15, 2024. WSSC Water’s operating budget request will be formally transmitted to both counties by March 1.

Consent Calendar

Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Oct. 24, which is available on the Council website.

Legislative Session

Bill 32-23, Police – Policing Advisory Commission – Amendments

Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 32-23, Police – Policing Advisory Commission – Amendments. The bill would rename the Policing Advisory Commission so that it will now be known as the Community Advisory Commission on Public Safety; amend the law regarding the Policing Advisory Commission, the appointment of members and scope of the commission; and generally, amend the law regarding policing, public safety and law enforcement. The lead sponsor is Councilmember Luedtke.

Executive Director Recruitment Committee

Proposed Closed Session: The ad hoc Executive Director Recruitment Committee intends to meet in closed session at 3 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of appointees, employees or officials over whom it has jurisdiction, under Maryland Code, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1)(i); and to discuss, before a contract is awarded, a matter directly related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal under Maryland Code, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(14). The topics will be the appointment of an employee over whom the Council has jurisdiction and the consideration of bid proposals for professional services before a contract is made.

The purpose of this ad hoc Council committee is to evaluate the role and responsibilities of the Council’s executive director position and make decisions about the recruitment process. The work of this temporary committee coincides with Council Executive Director Marlene Michaelson’s decision to leave her post in February 2024.

1. Quince Orchard Cougars (Last Week: 1) – Perfect at 8-0: The Cougars added another thrilling chapter to their rivalry with a resounding 34-21 victory over Northwest. In a game that had fans on the edge of their seats, Wide Receiver Tavahri Groves stole the show with 155 yards of total offense and 2 touchdowns. With an unblemished record, Quince Orchard has its sights set on securing home field advantage for the playoffs as they gear up to face Sherwood in the regular season finale this Friday.

2. Blake Bengals (Last Week: 3) – Chasing Perfection at 8-0: The Bengals maintained their unprecedented run, delivering a shutout performance with a commanding 40-0 win over Northwood. Quarterback Stephen Gyermeh showcased his skills, passing for 205 yards and securing 3 touchdowns. Blake is now on the cusp of an undefeated season as they head to Silver Spring to take on Blair.

3. Churchill Bulldogs (Last Week: 4) – Surviving a Shootout at 7-1: In a high-scoring showdown, the Bulldogs narrowly survived a fierce challenge from Richard Montgomery, emerging with a 64-50 victory. Running Back David Avit was the standout of the night, amassing a staggering 480 yards of total offense and notching 6 touchdowns. As the regular season concludes, Churchill sets its sights on a critical matchup against Walter Johnson, where playoff seeding and the Congressional Cup are up for grabs.

4. Gaithersburg Trojans (Last Week: 6) – Charging Ahead at 7-1: The Trojans continued their impressive run, overcoming Rockville with a convincing 48-21 victory. Gaithersburg now braces for a season-defining clash against Richard Montgomery this Thursday, with the possibility of securing a 2 seed in the playoffs hanging in the balance.

5. Walter Johnson Wildcats (Last Week: 2) – Defensive Battle at 7-1: In a hard-fought contest, the Wildcats fell short against Sherwood in a defensive showdown, finishing with a score of 14-10. Walter Johnson is eager to bounce back as they take on Churchill, with playoff seeding and the Congressional Cup on the line in this pivotal Friday night clash in Bethesda.

6. Northwest Jaguars (Last Week: 5) – Tough Loss at 6-2: The Jaguars suffered a setback in their clash with Quince Orchard, culminating in a challenging 34-21 defeat. Running back Tony Berry showed his mettle with 3 touchdowns in the loss. As the regular season concludes, Northwest readies to host Einstein.

7. Sherwood Warriors (Last Week: 7) – Giant Killers at 6-2: Sherwood earned a monumental victory, halting Walter Johnson’s undefeated run with a tenacious 14-10 win. The Warriors now set their sights on a season-defining clash against Quince Orchard, where playoff implications are on the line.

8. Damascus Swarmin’ Hornets (Last Week: 8) – Defensive Dominance at 6-2: The Swarmin’ Hornets pitched another shutout, blanking Seneca Valley with a 21-0 victory. Damascus is on the path to securing the #1 seed in 2A West as they prepare to host Wootton this Friday night.

9. BCC Barons (Last Week: 9) – Rivalry Triumph at 5-3: The Barons left no room for doubt as they defeated Whitman with a commanding 42-7 score. Running Back Nelson Smith played a pivotal role with 109 yards of total offense, 2 touchdowns, and even a sack on defense. BCC is ready for another showdown, hosting Paint Branch in a potential playoff preview.

10. Magruder Colonels (Last Week: 10) – Earning Victories at 5-3: The Colonels demonstrated their mettle with a hard-fought 20-13 win over Wootton. Running Back Marcus McCritty emerged as a key contributor, rushing for 105 yards and securing 1 touchdown. Magruder closes out the season with a home game against Seneca Valley, aiming to finish on a high note.

Below are five things to do in Montgomery County, MD the weekend of October 20-22, 2023:
1. Rocktoberfest
Saturday, October 21: 2-6pm
Whelan Commons, Poolesville
RocktoberFest will take place at the Whelan Commons (19701 Fisher Avenue) in Poolesville on Saturday, October 21st and will consist of a day of fun fall activities for the whole family. The events will include pumpkin painting, a costume parade, scarecrow making, smores stations, and bounce houses for kids.  For adults there will be a beer and wine tent featuring Manor Hill, Landmade and Rockwell Breweries.  There will also be an assortment of wines. The bandshell lineup includes No Stop Light from 2 – 3:30 and the Front Page Band from 4 – 6 pm. Additional information can be found on the Town of Poolesville website.

2. Fall Makers Market & Pumpkin Fest
Saturday, October 21: 11am-5pm
Rio Lakefront, Gaithersburg
The Fall Makers Market & Pumpkin Fest is taking place at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg on Saturday, October 21st from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. The Fall Makers Market is curated by Locally Crafted on Grand Corner Avenue and will feature m handmade products from 80+ local artisans, cocktails by California Pizza Kitchen, fall activities for all ages. There will also be a Fall DIY Workshop that is free with $50+ purchase. The workshop will allow participants to decorate their own set of fall-themed burlap napkin rings. “Make a purchase of $50+ from rio shops or restaurants on Saturday, October 21^stand show your same day receipt(s) at the RIO tent near Dick’s Sporting Goods.” While supplies last. Receipts exclude Target, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

3. MCPS Girl’s Summit 
Saturday, October 21: 9am-1pm
Clarksburg High School
Montgomery County Public Schools is inviting all MCPS families to the Girls’ Summit on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Clarksburg High School. This event will provide informative workshops geared towards middle and high school girls on a variety of current topics. Join us for a chance to network, participate in fun activities, learn valuable skills and enjoy a fashion show presented by White House Black Market celebrating diverse body types! Sessions will be provided in English and Spanish, and will be organized by grade level. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours will be available for students. Topics and activities will include:

• Healthy relationships/dating violence
• Social media use and mental health, including cyberbullying
• Self-esteem
• Identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Healthy eating and body image
• Music therapy, Zumba and Kaiser Permanente spin bikes for art therapy
• Narcan kits will be distributed and training will also be available.

4. Chevy Chase Art Walk
Saturday, October 21-Sunday, October 22
“Come discover 77 local artists showing their work in 31 homes / studios around Chevy Chase, MD and DC. Stroll, bike, or drive around to see the art, and meet friends at the most talked about event in the area! Check out the Passport on our map to win great prizes!! Ch/Art artists offer work in a wide range of media: painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, ceramic art, photography, fabric art, & mixed media. An Art Walk ’23 Maps with the artist’s names/media and a map will be available at local businesses soon, or on the map here — click a house icon to see the featured artists names and their social media handles/website urls.

5. Fall Festival & Pumpkin Derby
Sunday, October 22
Ross Boddy Community Center, Sandy Spring
A Fall Festival & Pumpkin Derby will take place on Saturday, October 22nd from 11am-2pm at the Ross Boddy Community Center in Sandy Spring (Ross Body Neighborhood Recreation Center, 18529 Brooke Road, Sandy Spring, MD). This event, brought to you by Montgomery County Recreation, will feature crafts, games, snacks, and a pumpkin derby race! The registration fee for the derby is $20 and includes materials and instructions (pumpkin not included). Contact Ross Boddy CRC for Pumpkin Derby registration and rules at 240-777-8050.