Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight sent a message to MCPS staff on Wednesday, October 11, announcing that deputy superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy was no longer employed by the district. The message, provided to us by MCPS Communications Director Chris Cram, also states that two members of the MCPS Office of School Support and Well-Being (OSSWB), Dr. Donna Redmond Jones and Dr. Eugenia (Jeanie) Dawson are currently on leave.
Dr. Patrick Murphy was appointed as the MCPS deputy superintendent in 2022, a position previously held by Dr. McKnight. He was recently superintendent of Berkeley County Schools in West Virginia until 2022 and previously superintendent of Arlington Public Schools and in various instructional leadership positions in Fairfax County Public Schools. The message sent to staff can be seen below (note: We have been told by several MCPS staff members that they have not received this message):
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has transmitted a request to the Montgomery County Council to approve a supplemental budget appropriation for $22,784,400 to purchase 60,000 Dell Chromebook laptops for residents who do not have a computer. The budget request is funded by a Federal Communications Commission Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) grant secured by the County Department of Technology & Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) and Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), with the support of Congressman David Trone. The new computer distribution program requires Council action to proceed, but could launch as early as next month.
“We are closing the digital divide in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Elrich. “Over the last year, our County has been spearheading efforts to get more computers into the hands of children and adults who need them. While the need continues to be out there, our computer distribution efforts are having an impact. As a result, most low-income families in our County will have digital access for homework, for remote work or to find a job. It is a way of helping end the poverty cycle and it doesn’t require anything but a library card. Computer and internet access are key equity issues. I appreciate the Montgomery County Libraries and TEBS for securing this grant and am grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation for this funding.”
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival is coming to Montgomery County on November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland. Get ready to sip, sample, shop, and enjoy a full weekend of family-friendly fun!
Sip, Sample & Shop
Get ready to explore a festival floor filled with top chocolate makers, coffee roasters, bakeries, specialty food vendors, artisan brands and small businesses from across the region and beyond. Sample new flavors, meet the people behind the products and shop directly from the talented makers and businesses who created them.
Experience Chocolate History
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is a large-scale chocolate sculpture of George Washington on horseback, created by award-winning chocolate artist Paul Joachim.
The sculpture will be part of a special exhibit exploring chocolate’s place in early American history. Guests can see the sculpture up close, sample colonial-style drinking chocolate, and shop the exclusive Collector’s Heritage Box inspired by the historic drink. It’s a unique opportunity to experience chocolate through art, history, and taste all in one place.
Seminars, Demonstrations & More
Visit the Sip & Share Seminar Classroom for educational sessions and demonstrations throughout the weekend, all included with your festival admission. Explore topics ranging from ancestral cacao in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the realities of starting a coffee business to craft chocolate and festival trivia. Learn directly from experts and makers as they share their knowledge, demonstrate their craft and offer a closer look at how their products are made.
Fun for All Ages
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival offers an experience the whole family can enjoy. Kids under 12 receive free admission with a ticketed adult and can get creative at our complimentary kids’ craft tables. Festival mascots Chunk & Bean will also be on-site for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities throughout the weekend. Families can even shop for Chunk & Bean plushies, children’s books and other kid-friendly items.
Whether you’re a serious chocolate lover, a coffee enthusiast, a foodie or simply looking for a fun fall outing, there’s something for everyone to see, taste, shop and enjoy.
Save on Tickets
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival Maryland Edition takes place November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland.
MoCo Show readers can use code MOCO10 at checkout to save 10% on online festival tickets. Grab your tickets and get ready to sip, sample and shop at one of the sweetest weekends of the fall!
Gaithersburg Police tweeted the following on Wednesday, October 11: “Missing Person 🚨 Asking for the public’s assistance in locating, Asoke Mukherjee, a missing 73-year-old from Gaithersburg. Please call (301) 279-8000 […]
People of all abilities are invited to participate in the popular hobby, October 15-22, 2023
Montgomery Parks is calling all experienced and novice birders to participate in its Birdability Week events October 15-21. This is the fourth annual Birdability Week, a national event designed to celebrate the beauty of birds and promote the accessibility of the hobby for everyone, including those with disabilities and or health concerns.
We ❤️ Teachers 5K celebrates educators through movement. On race day, runners and walkers across the country will participate in host city races, school celebrations, and virtual events — all in support of teachers and educator wellness. We'll be in beautiful Wheaton Regional Park, Join Us!
Walk it. Run it. Move for the teacher who moved you.
Yelp’s “Yelp MD Burbs” released its list of “Top 25 Places to Eat in MD Burbs” and 18 of the 25 restaurants on the list are in Montgomery County, including four of the top five. Yelp is a popular company that publishes crowd-sourced reviews about businesses with a major focus on restaurants. According to Yelp, “The MD Burbs knows how to eat, and these locally-loved spots are proof of that! We’re excited to announce the MD Burbs’ Top 25 Places to Eat (2023), backed by Yelp data and approved by taste buds everywhere!”
According to a report by ABC 7, 38-year-old Daniyom Tesfaye was arrested by Montgomery County Police and charged with assault in connection with a stabbing that occurred Wednesday, October 11 in Silver Spring. Around 5:20pm a Metro contractor was stabbed in front of the Silver Spring Metro Station. Metro Transit Police reported that the victim was stabbed in the arm and sustained serious injuries. According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, “Montgomery County 3rd District Officers radioed that the victim had experienced “significant” blood loss and the Officers were able to further control the bleeding when they applied one of their tourniquets.” A suspect is not in custody at this time.
We will provide an update when additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.
This Friday will be a showdown between the undefeated 6-0 DeMatha Stags and the 5-1 Good Counsel Falcons. Going into last year’s meeting between these two teams, Good Counsel was […]
Last night’s drawing was the 2nd largest in lottery history. 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. Additional details below courtesy of MD Lottery:
Kimora Neal was last seen on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at approximately 8 p.m., driving a blue Hyundai Tucson, bearing Maryland license plate 1FA6234, northbound on New Hampshire Ave. at Heartsfields Dr. in Silver Spring. She is 5’6″, 130 Ibs., with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black crop top and grey leggings.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Kimora Neal is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
WSSC Water lifted the recreational water contact health advisory for the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir, which was issued earlier this summer due to high levels of blue-green algae. The end of the health advisory follows two consecutive weeks of extensive monitoring and testing showing algal concentrations and potential toxins well below advisory thresholds. Recreational users can safely resume allowable activities at the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir only. The contact health advisory remains in effect for the Triadelphia Reservoir.
The Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett reservoirs, located along the Patuxent River in Montgomery, Prince George’s & Howard counties, serve as drinking water sources for WSSC Water and as a recreational area for hiking, fishing and boating. It is important to note that WSSC Water’s drinking water was not affected and continues to meet all Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
