An official proclamation designating February 2026 as Black History Month in the City of Gaithersburg will be presented at the February 2 Mayor and City Council meeting. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at City Hall, with options to attend in person or watch remotely.
Vibe Restaurant and Lounge is set to officially open at 8081 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, taking over the former Sky Blue Lounge space and bringing an Afro fusion, Afro futuristic upscale dining concept to the Georgia Avenue corridor.
Behind the concept is Nicolette Orji, professionally known as Nikki The Jeanius, a DMV-based cultural creator, fashion designer, stylist, and creative director of Nigerian-American descent. Orji is the founder of All Things Ankara, a platform she launched in 2012 that has since grown into a leading voice in African fashion, media, and cultural storytelling. With Vibe, she serves as co-founder, CEO, and chief creative officer, leading the project from concept to execution.
This October, Craftmark Homes opened the decorated model of their new townhome community, Watkins Mill Station, just north of RIO in Gaithersburg, MD. If you’ve been watching this corner of Montgomery County for what comes next, now’s the time to visit this exciting new townhome opportunity. For a limited time, Craftmark is offering up to $40,000 in Closing Costs/Rate Buy-Down to celebrate their Grand Opening.
Craftmark has brought their local area expertise to Watkins Mill Station, where they’re offering two townhome plans from the Upper $800s: The Seneca II, their award-winning, elevator-ready plan with 3-5 bedrooms and up to 3,039 square feet; and The Blueridge, a new design that’s available with a covered deck, private rear yard and up to 2,795 square feet. Both showcase designer-selected finishes, oversized kitchen islands, open layouts, and a two-car garage.
Residents of Watkins Mill Station will enjoy a community pool and bathhouse with an outdoor pavilion (currently slated to open spring/summer 2027), a tot lot, and a community pocket park with an art installation. In the meantime, Seneca Creek State Park and the Muddy Branch Greenway Trail are close by for walks, runs and time on the water.
Uniquely, and especially important for area professionals, Watkins Mill Station features an on-site MARC station, so residents commuting into D.C. can relax or get a head start on their morning rather than driving. The Brunswick Line serves the station on weekdays with commuter trains to and from Union Station, and Rockville is one stop away for riders who need to transfer to the Red Line Metro or Amtrak.
Drivers will enjoy immediate access to I-270 and the Biotech Corridor, and Downtown Crown, Kentlands, RIO, and Olde Towne Gaithersburg are just a short trip for dinner and errands.
If you’re looking to settle into a new home and host the holidays in style, Craftmark has Move-In Ready homes available in their model row. Or, do you prefer to select your own finishes? Now’s the time to act to make personal selections for spring move-ins!
Craftmark’s model home is open daily 11 AM – 5 PM, and buyers should call or email Bethany (details below!) to schedule a personal appointment to learn more about available homes and how to personalize a floor plan. Don’t forget to ask about limited-time incentives like up to $40,000 in Closing Costs/Rate Buy-Down assistance!
Craftmark Homes at Watkins Mill Station
MHBR #451
Montgomery County Public Schools has clarified why it is not shifting to virtual learning during weather related school closures, despite ongoing questions from families.
The Montgomery County Department of Police 3rd District reported significant results following its Holiday Crime Suppression Task Force, which operated from December 2025 through January 2026 in Downtown Silver Spring and nearby areas.
“This little composition…is, alas, the final mortal sin of my old age. A little technique, a little heart, that is all.”
Gioachino Rossini’s "Petite Messe Solennelle" is neither little nor entirely solemn. Yet beneath the wit and irony of its title lies one of Rossini’s most personal creations, which blends the theatrical brilliance and unforgettable melodies of his comic operas—including extraordinary and virtuosic arias—with an almost uncharacteristic tenderness and spiritual depth.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing efforts by the Trump administration to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, a 1997 court agreement that governs the treatment of children in immigration custody.
Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Rebeca Romero, a missing 22-year-old. (more…)
A powerful winter storm is expected to intensify rapidly along the Southeast coast this weekend, bringing major impacts to parts of the Carolinas and southern Virginia, but it now appears likely to largely miss the DC Metro area and much of Maryland.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision involving a trash truck on Thursday afternoon on Woodfield Road near Watkins Road in Gaithersburg. (more…)
The Montgomery County Department of Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal pedestrian collision that resulted in the death of 87-year-old Vipa Sankanung of Rockville.
Montgomery County Public Schools has announced a Code Red closure for Friday, January 30, as cleanup efforts from the recent winter storm continue across the county. The school system also announced a delay is likely for Monday, February 2nd.
A Silver Spring man recently purchased a $50,000-winning lottery scratch-off ticket at the Sunoco gas station at 10550 Connecticut Avenue in Kensington. (more…)