High school students from across Montgomery County, Maryland, are invited to create an original artwork to be considered for the featured image on the Gaithersburg Book Festival’s 15th Anniversary Program Cover. The artwork should reflect the theme: Celebrating 15 Years of Books, Writers & Literary Excellence.

The program will be used for the 2024 Festival, taking place Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm. The GBF program is available to thousands of festival attendees, including more than 100 authors from across the globe. The rules and regulations included here apply to the 2024 Gaithersburg Book Festival Program Cover Art Competition.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Only one submission per artist.
• Artist must Be a high school student – grades 9-12, public, private or homeschooled, in the 2023-2024 school year – in Montgomery County, Md., at the time of entry.

Note: The following people, and their family members, are prohibited from participation in this contest: Employees of the City of Gaithersburg, City Council Members and all volunteers associated with the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

Submitted artwork* must:

• Be on the theme “celebrating 15 years of books, writers and literary excellence”
• Be the creation of a single student.
  • Students may NOT collaborate on an entry.
• Be two-dimensional, no larger than 11 inches high and 6 inches wide.
• Be done in accepted mediums:
  • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
  • Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
  • Computer-generated art
  • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums listed above, such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
• Be wholly the original work of the entrant.
• Not be copied from any other source.
• Not have been previously used or otherwise distributed or disseminated in any media or format.
• Not be in the public domain.
• Not be in violation of trademark, copyright, or publicity right
• Not include content that is inappropriate, offensive, pornographic, or otherwise unfit for dissemination or broadcast, as determined by the City of Gaithersburg in its sole discretion.
• Be submitted by or before the stated deadline (December 1, 2023, Noon ET)

* Entries not satisfying these criteria in any respect will be disqualified. If the City of Gaithersburg, in its sole discretion, has reason to believe that any entry violates any law or any right, the City of Gaithersburg may immediately disqualify such entry and take any other measures the City of Gaithersburg may deem appropriate or necessary.

Judging will be based on the following criteria:

• Originality
• Creativity
• Overall effect

Key deadlines:

• Friday, December 1, 2023: Submissions must be received by Noon ET. All submissions must be done online. Submit here.
• Friday, January 5, 2024: Notification of selection will be sent to students via email.
• Friday, April 26, 2024: Original artwork due to the Activity Center at Bohrer Park by 5 p.m., along with signed agreement.

GRANT OF RIGHTS

By submitting artwork, the entrant grants to the City of Gaithersburg: A non-exclusive, assignable, perpetual, license to produce, publish, distribute, transmit, exhibit, exploit, and license the artwork and any portions thereof in any format (collectively “distribute” or “distribution,” as applicable) by any and all means, uses and media, whether print, audiovisual or otherwise, now or hereafter known, throughout the universe in all languages without financial compensation.

PRIZES

Up to 12 pieces of art will be selected as finalists. The finalists will have their artwork posted on the Gaithersburg Book Festival website prior to the Festival and will be displayed at the 15th Anniversary Gaithersburg Book Festival.

The winning artist will:

• Have their artwork printed on the cover art on over 2,500 printed GBF programs, distributed at the Festival
• Be credited by name and and artwork title anywhere the program cover image is used.
• Receive an invitation to the pre-Festival author reception for them and their family.
• Have the original piece of artwork exhibited at the 15th Anniversary Gaithersburg Book Festival.

Submit your entry here. Questions? Please email Kathleen Benson at [email protected].

According to Montgomery County Police, a 17-year-old Walter Johnson High School student has been arrested and charged as an adult for possession of a firearm. The student, who is a Bethesda resident, was arrested after a witness reported to school security that the student had a gun.  Montgomery County Public Schools security team members located the student, conducted a search and located a loaded 9 mm handgun.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., on Monday, October 23, 2023, Montgomery County Department of Police Community Engagement Officers were dispatched to the school, located in the 6400 block of Rock Spring Drive.  Based on the information provided and evidence of the gun, officers arrested the student.

The student was been transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he awaits a bond hearing. He has been charged with underage possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded handgun and possession of a dangerous weapon on school property.

This Saturday, October 28th, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington are once again hosting their annual Halloween Movie Night. This year, “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” will be shown at dusk in St. Paul Park on the big screen. Costumes are encouraged for all attendees. The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington will have refreshments available for purchase in the Park, including pizza, popcorn, and candy. Glowsticks will be available as well!

This year, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department will also be visiting BabyCat Brewery’s 1st Halloween-iversary party. According to the Department’s Instagram story, they’ll bring one of their Fire Engines to the Brewery from 12PM-3PM.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=350012294088962

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.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire at Target (25 Grand Corner Ave) in Gaithersburg on Monday, October 23rd around 2:45pm. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, firefighters responded for multiple plastic shopping carts on fire near the front entrance. The fire did not extend to the inside of the building and there are no injuries reported.

We will provide an update when additional information becomes available. Image courtesy of @achernin on Instagram.

Per Montgomery College: “Montgomery College is hosting Harvest Fest, a free event for residents of all ages, this Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., in the Mannakee Building at the Rockville Campus. There will be fun for all ages such as an art show, dancing, a coding demonstration, a DJ, ice cream, and a raffle. Kids can also enjoy face painting, pumpkin decoration, games, and say hi to or pose for a photo with Monty, Montgomery College’s raptor mascot.

It will be a great opportunity to learn more about Montgomery College classes, offerings, scholarships and financial assistance programs. There will be information available about WDCE (Workforce Development and Continuing Education) offerings, such as information technology, cosmetology, real estate, youth programs, early childhood education, automotive technology and building trades, and more.

For residents seeking information in Spanish, the College’s Hispanic Business Institute and the Early Childhood Education program will have Spanish-speaking representatives on site to answer questions.

The whole family is welcome at this free event. Held rain or shine.
When: This Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Mannakee Building Parking Lot. 900 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD.”

Pieology Pizzeria at 15780 Shady Grove Rd in Gaithersburg has closed. Pieology was located in the 270 Center, which is also home to anchors Home Depot and Best Buy. The restaurant offered individual, fast-casual style pizzas where customers would order toppings in an “assembly-line” similar to Chipotle. Pieology was listed as “becoming available” on the shopping center’s leading website, but management could not confirm any closure as recently as earlier this month. Now, the windows are papered and the store is no longer listed on the Pieology website (Photo below courtesy of @imbr1anna on Instagram). A previous Montgomery County location in Bethesda closed about four years ago.

Per Pieology: “The freshest pizza starts with fresh ingredients, including our house-made dough and red sauce, made daily for you. You shouldn’t be stuck with set pizza recipes. We give you over forty toppings, afterbakes, and sauces to create your perfect flavor combination. There’s a place for Pieology in every lifestyle. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian. We have you covered.”

Update: According to Montgomery County Police, “On Monday, October 23, 2023, at approximately 12:05 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the area of Columbia Pike and Blackburn Rd. for the report of a traffic collision involving two vehicles.  The preliminary investigation has determined that a white Ford Escape and a black Toyota Corolla collided in the intersection of southbound Columbia Pike and Blackburn Rd. The adult female passenger, of the Toyota, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The drivers of both vehicles were transported to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.  The Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating this fatality. More information will be released when it becomes available, including the name of the deceased, following proper notification of next of kin.”

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision on Monday, October 23 in Burtonsville. According to @MCFRSNews on Twitter, “MCFRS AND MCPD working a Serious Personal Injury Collision – Columbia Pike/Blackburn Lane. Intersection Closed (along with Nearby Metro Kiss and Ride) for an extended period of time.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.