An Olney neighbor received a police award for a life-saving act that happened back in May, Hollister is making its nostalgic return to Montgomery Mall tomorrow, and a Haitian restaurant is about to bring island flavors back to Silver Spring. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links to today's stories:
Hollister Returns to Montgomery Mall: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/13/hollister-makes-its-comeback-at-montgomery-mall/
Haitian Restaurant Chez Aviole Opening in Silver Spring: https://www.sourceofthespring.com/silver-spring-news/2887403/haitian-restaurant-chez-aviole-coming-soon-to-downtown-silver-spring/
Montgomery County Police Awards Honor Civilians: https://www.mymcmedia.org/75-officers-and-two-civilians-honored-for-valor-at-county-police-awards/
Holiday Light Shows Around Montgomery County: https://bethesdamagazine.com/article/holiday-lights-shows/
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Your Wednesday dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode. Today: A magical light festival starting Friday, the Northern Lights dancing over Olney, a basketball phenom's big decision, and new dining options coming to Rockville.
Links:
Winter Lights Festival opens Friday in Gaithersburg: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/12/winter-lights-festival-returns-this-week-to-gaithersburg/
Northern Lights visible over Montgomery County: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/11/11/marylanders-see-northern-lights-amid-solar-storm/
Baba Oladotun announces college decision Nov 19: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/12/blake-hs-star-baba-oladotun-ready-to-make-his-pick-one-of-the-biggest-decisions-in-county-hoops-history/
Brazilian steakhouse and Japanese restaurant coming to Rockville: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/12/brazilian-steakhouse-japanese-restaurant-twinbrook-quarter/
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Bob Stromberg walked into a draft board in 1943 and volunteered for World War II when everyone else was trying to avoid it—then spent his life learning what peace really means after caring for dying soldiers and concentration camp survivors. Also: a month-long tribute to veterans rolling through Montgomery County on buses, and community events packed across the calendar.
Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Stories: Operation Green Light buses throughout November: https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=47886
Bob Stromberg, 100-year-old WWII veteran: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/11/stromberg-veteran-world-war-2-reflections/
More about Bob Stromberg's service: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/world-war-ii-veteran-reflects-on-treating-wounded-seeing-horror-of-concentration-camps/3206795/
15 things to do this week: https://bethesdamagazine.com/article/things-to-do-montgomery-county/
Police awards ceremony: https://mocofeed.com/media-advisory-montgomery-county-department-of-police-awards-ceremony/
County Council agritourism briefing: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/11/council-schedules-closed-session-vote-and-joint-committee-briefing-on-maryland-agritourism-report/
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Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode. Today: A beloved Christmas tree tradition celebrates its 55th season, a baseball player who overcame impossible odds to reach the majors, Clarksburg girls win back-to-back state championships, and a Bethesda native excels at Yale.
LINKS: North Star setting up for 55th Christmas tree season: http://eastmoco.blogspot.com/2025/11/north-star-setting-up-for-55th.html
Otto Kemp Overcomes Odds to Make Major Leagues: https://viewpoint.pointloma.edu/otto-kemp-overcomes-odds-to-make-major-leagues-in-2025/
Clarksburg girls flag football state championship: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/10/clarksburg-coyotes-flag-football-state-championship-win/
Bethesda's Josh Pitsenberger at Yale: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/10/bethesdas-josh-pitsenberger-rushes-for-career-high-173-yards-in-yales-win-over-brown/
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Robert McKay fought cancer for 14 years, lost both parents, and never stopped playing guitar. His story proves what refusing to quit actually looks like. Also: Perry Hall's girls soccer team wins the wildest shootout to reach the state championship, Bob's Shanghai brings soup dumplings to Bethesda, and a local pizza chain gives a veteran a free franchise.
Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links: Perry Hall girls soccer reaches state final: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/11/08/perry-hall-girls-soccer-leonardtown-class-4a-state-semifinals/
Bob's Shanghai opening in Bethesda: http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/11/bobs-shanghai-opening-soon-in-bethesda.html
Robert McKay's "Against All the Odds" book: https://www.pr.com/press-release/952787
Paisano's Pizza veteran franchise giveaway: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/09/local-pizza-chain-launches-free-franchise-giveaway-for-veterans/
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From bar trivia losses to Jeopardy! victory—Joe Evans' comeback win on national TV. Plus: free seafood in Rockville this week and half a million lights turning Kensington into holiday magic. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Story Links:
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Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode. Today: Maryland's largest winter lights experience returns to Olney, Bob's Shanghai brings legendary soup dumplings to Bethesda, a Walt Whitman High School junior runs her own nonprofit fighting poverty, and the Thanksgiving Parade returns to Silver Spring.
Links: Maryland's Largest Winter Lights Experience: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/04/marylands-largest-winter-lights-festival-returns-nov-28th/
Bob's Shanghai Expanding to Bethesda: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/04/bobs-shanghai-expanding-to-bethesda-targeting-spring-2026-opening/
Aarna Gundeti's Helping Hands for Humanity: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/awards/
Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/04/montgomery-county-thanksgiving-parade-returns-on-saturday-november-22nd/
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Stephanie Mitchell was just named Montgomery County's 2024 Volunteer of the Year for delivering over 150 beds to children since February through Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Plus, a massive 475-acre conservation park just opened in Poolesville, Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg is getting a restaurant renaissance, and a new West African spot in Silver Spring will serve you jollof rice until 3 AM.
Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Stories in this episode:
Stephanie Mitchell named 2024 Volunteer of the Year: https://www.mymcmedia.org/14th-annual-montgomery-serves-awards-honors-outstanding-service-and-volunteerism/
Montgomery Serves Awards 2025 honorees: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/awards/
475-Acre Royce Hanson Conservation Park opens: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/02/475-acre-royce-hanson-conservation-park-now-open-in-montgomery-county/
New restaurants at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/02/new-coming-soon-at-downtown-crown-in-gaithersburg/
Hot Spot opening in Silver Spring: http://eastmoco.blogspot.com/2025/11/hot-spot-opening-in-downtown-silver.html
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Start your Monday with proof that good people are doing good work! A TikTok-famous chef is bringing his viral food truck back to his old middle school for a fundraiser, a Bethesda Olympic fencer competed at an international tournament with borrowed gear after the airline lost all his equipment, a local mom is opening a nature-inspired play cafe for families, and Montgomery County writers are getting their first-ever showcase. That's the MoCo resilience and creativity we love.
Stories in this episode:
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Westfield Montgomery Mall just landed Nan Xiang, a Michelin-recommended soup dumpling spot that's been packed since opening, Takoma Park is kicking off the holiday season with festive markets and a cocoa crawl, Gonzaga's Walker Littleton earned Player of the Week honors and he's Naval Academy-bound, and veteran sports broadcaster Frank Hanrahan is bringing his big-league voice home to spotlight Montgomery County teams. Starting your day with stories like these reminds you that good things are happening right in your backyard - world-class food, community celebrations, hardworking student-athletes, and hometown pride.
Stories in this episode:
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Bethesda's getting a new Mediterranean bakery with Algerian flavors this Sunday when Golden Fig Café holds its grand opening, Gaithersburg's beloved 30-year Winter Lights Festival tickets are on sale now (and selling fast), and Saturday's your last chance to hit Montgomery County's biggest flea market before it closes until spring. Three signs the season's changing in all the best ways.
Stories in this episode:
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Retry
Great way to start your Tuesday! A beloved Olney restaurant is back after six years (same burgers, same spot), ten local child care educators just got the recognition they deserve for shaping our youngest learners, Quince Orchard football reminded everyone why they've won 85 out of their last 88 games, and Montgomery County's lighting up green to honor our veterans.
Starting your day with good news isn't just nice - it actually sets the tone for everything that follows. That's why we do this.
Stories in this episode:
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Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - I read every message.
A Wootton High grad who started selling croissants at a farmers market just earned recognition as one of Eater DC's Best Bakeries Around D.C. Plus, beloved Silver Spring Thai dessert spot Sweeteria is expanding to downtown Bethesda. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
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The historic Olney Ale House is finally reopening Tuesday after six years, a local speech pathologist created the Social Squad to help kids build social skills, and Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg is getting high-speed EV charging stations. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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A brewery named after a tiny cat opens in Bethesda with actual food this time, Paris-meets-Maryland crêpes land in Gaithersburg, and two massive Halloween events taking over Silver Spring and Takoma Park this Saturday. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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Forty young entrepreneurs run real businesses at Saturday's FOXES Children's Business Fair in Gaithersburg, Total Wine opens Thursday bringing new life to Friendship Heights, BabyCat Brewery adds outdoor seating in Bethesda, and Insomnia Cookies brings late-night delivery to Silver Spring. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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A bedazzled dachshund named Leo wins his third straight racing title in Mount Airy, Boll & Branch brings high-end organic bedding to Bethesda Row, and the Hilton Rockville completes a multimillion-dollar renovation. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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The Crêpe Shoppe opens its first brick-and-mortar location in Downtown Crown this Wednesday, Clarksburg's Burnt Hill Farm is named one of America's most stunning vineyards, Don Bosco Cristo Rey's soccer teams win their fourth straight championship undefeated, Andy's Pizza expands to Montgomery Mall, and Rockville's Ritchie Center becomes an international food destination. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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Celebrity chef Pati Jinich is bringing a burrito pop-up to Bethesda in early November, a new VR gaming experience just opened at Montgomery Mall, Kabob Zone is coming to downtown Bethesda, and Takoma Park's Monster Bash returns October 25th with parades and trunk-or-treat fun. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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Three Montgomery County restaurants make Eater DC's essential list, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad hosts a free family event Saturday, MINISO opens in Rockville with grand opening deals, a new Middle Eastern-pizza fusion spot debuts in Bethesda, and MoCo-based Kusshi Sushi expands to its 8th location. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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