Seven of the 10 conversations will be conducted in English, including one focusing on issues for older residents and the one focusing on issues of importance to PTA organizations. For a County first, one of the forums will be conducted in Amharic (Oct. 18). Two other non-English language forums were on the schedule. The Sept. 21 forum was conducted in Spanish and the Nov. 27 forum will be in Chinese. A select number of Community Conversations will be held online so that residents have the option to participate remotely.
The County is in the early stages of formulating the FY25 operating budget. County Executive Elrich is required to submit a recommended budget to the County Council by March 15, 2024. The Council then will have two months to review the budget. It must adopt a final budget no later than June 1. The FY25 operating budget will go into effect on July 1.
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!
Per Montgomery County: The Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association (GFNCA) Fall Art and Harvest Block Party will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8. In addition to family fun, games, exhibits and art activities, the annual event this year will also celebrate the activation of two new park amenities: the Serenity Community Gardens and the Gathering Tree public art projects.
The new park and pavilion is located at the corner of Randolph Road and Georgia Avenue adjacent to Fire Station No. 18 in Wheaton-Glenmont. There is no charge to attend the block party. There is limited parking on Grandview Avenue. The event will take place rain or shine.
Per Montgomery County: The 18th Montgomery County History Conference will return as an in-person event for the first time since 2020, with the full day of activities on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Montgomery College in Rockville including a keynote address on “Black Chevy Chase” and breakout sessions “The Du-Drop Inn of Emory Grove” and the “Historic Homes and Barns of the Agricultural Reserve.”
In addition to breakout sessions on the Du-Drop Inn and the historic homes and barns of the Ag Reserve, breakout sessions will focus on the families of the Agricultural History Farm Park, Sentinel publisher Rebecca Fields, a history of enslavement in Kensington, the County’s Poor Farm, the seven enslavers who have public schools named for them and new techniques for indigenous archaeological research.
A Bison Celebration is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The Bison Celebration will be a full day event that brings together organizations, scholars, scientists and filmmakers to celebrate the past, present, and future of North America’s largest land mammal. Through captivating films and thought-provoking panel discussions, the museum will explore the bison’s vital role in restoring grassland ecosystems and its deep spiritual connection to Tribal nations.
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.
Per Montgomery College: Residents 18-and-older who are interested in electric scooter lessons will have the opportunity to attend free clinics sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation on Sunday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 28. Participants will be able to take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws.
As recently as this past May, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) maintained its deleveraging progress with U.S. asset sales with the sale of Westfield Brandon Shopping Center (located in Brandon, Florida) in the US for $220 million. It was reported in 2021 that Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) planned to sell all of it’s US holdings in 2022. Last year, then-Chief Executive Jean-Marie Tritant told investors that Unibail wants to shed most of its U.S. properties by the end of 2023,which pushed things back about a year, but things appear to have changed according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
“Unibail is also investing in its top properties.” the report stated. “Unibail is also moving forward with development projects at properties in Illinois, northern New Jersey and Bethesda, Md., including adding apartments and open-air retail and restaurants.” According to development information posted by Westfield, this will include “reimagining the Westfield Montgomery experience by creating a mid-rise multi-family and amenity-rich community with architecture that reflects the seasonal, wooded quality of the community, combined with a modern, urbane feel. And all within easy walking distance from everything you enjoy.” This will include:
Wisdom Martin, a Montgomery County resident, joined the FOX 5 News team in 2003. 20 years later, this past June, he celebrated his last broadcast with FOX 5 with the network where he has recently been the morning anchor, starting the day at 4 a.m. through 6 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Good Day DC. As of Mid-September, the award-winning anchor took on a new assignment by joining the Get Up DC team on WUSA9 (video below).
Per FOX 5: His career started while he was a sophomore at Jackson State University. His first job in TV news was running the teleprompter on the weekends at WAPT news. From there he worked his way up to news photographer, editor and sports reporter for the weekend shows, before graduating. After leaving Jackson, he became a news and sports reporter/anchor at KSEE in Fresno, California; WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina (Go Tar Heels!), weekend anchor at CNN in Atlanta; and anchor/reporter at WKRN in Nashville Tennessee.
Per the State of Maryland: “Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of the Build Our Future grant program, a financial resource for innovation infrastructure projects to support eligible technology sectors. Funded at $10 million, the pilot program will provide matching grants of up to $2 million to projects that demonstrate a transformative impact in accelerating growth and innovation in the state’s strategic industry sectors.
“From cybersecurity and manufacturing, to quantum and drug discovery, we believe the Build Our Future pilot program will grow our innovative industries throughout the state,” said Gov. Moore. “While building a more competitive and equitable Maryland, we need to ensure we’re looking toward the jobs of the future and supporting the progressive technology sectors. This program will help us invest in the tech-advanced facilities that tomorrow’s workforce depends on.”
Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 13 Attorneys General supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to strengthen dust-lead hazard standards and post-abatement clearance levels, as authorized by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
In a comment letter, Attorney General Brown and the coalition strongly support the EPA’s efforts to strengthen its dust-lead hazard standards and clearance levels, two important regulations that help to protect the public against dangerous dust-lead and lead paint exposures. The EPA’s proposed regulations are based upon several scientific studies that found that there is no safe level of lead exposure. Even very low levels of lead exposure can lead to serious health effects. For example, lead exposure is associated with delayed growth and lower academic performance in young children.
Northwest (5-0) at Paint Branch (3-2): Northwest looked very mortal against BCC and the Panthers, who were looking like distant longshots last week, may just have a shot if they can find a way to apply the film. One might think the Panthers’ defense, which has been performing consistently well in spite of the gloom, might be able to do what the Barons defense did. Could this, of all years, be the year PB gets that long sought after first ever win vs. the Jags? WJ was able to gash PB on the ground, and NW’s offense has the personnel to run a similar attack between dual threat QB David Davis, a plethora of speedy rushers and a huge O-Line. Prediction: Northwest by 15
Seneca Valley (3-2) at Quince Orchard (5-0): SV’s got a little mojo back after boat racing RM. Unfortunately, handling the Rockets in the trenches is not a particularly notable accomplishment and SV will likely be in for a world of hurt against QO. Prediction: QO by 35
