Good Morning MoCo MD

Garden of Lights tickets at Brookside Gardens go on sale this morning at 10 a.m., a family-run haunted house in Damascus collects canned goods for Manna Food Center on three October nights, Porky the Litter Eater at Cabin John Park gets a fresh makeover, and Ro Sushi Co. opens Thursday in Chevy Chase. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Garden of Lights tickets on sale today at 10 a.m.: https://montgomeryparks.org/montgomery-parks-will-open-ticket-sales-on-october-13-for-its-annual-garden-of-lights-winter-display-at-brookside-gardens/
• Free Haunted Manor returns to Damascus: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/12/family-run-haunted-manor-returns-for-2025/
• Porky the Litter Eater gets a makeover: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/12/porky-the-litter-eater-gets-a-makeover-at-cabin-john-regional-park/
• Ro Sushi Co. opening Thursday: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/12/ro-sushi-co-to-officially-open-thursday-october-16th/

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The Washington Post’s #1 burger teams up with PhoWheelz for a limited-time taco starting Oct 24, Germantown’s Rei Ami performs on the Tonight Show and celebrates a platinum soundtrack, BabyCat Brewery opens in Bethesda with a Halloween grand opening, Sixty Vines wine bar debuts Sunday in Gaithersburg, RisuCon Comic Con takes over the fairgrounds, and a D.C. woman wins $50,000 on a Bethesda scratch-off. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Steezeburger and PhoWheelz taco collaboration: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/09/the-washington-posts-1-burger-in-d-c-maryland-virginia-gets-a-vietnamese-twist-in-phowheelz-collab/
• Rei Ami on the Tonight Show: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/09/montgomery-countys-own-rei-ami-joins-ejae-audrey-nuna-on-tonight-show-stage-for-full-length-golden-debut/
• BabyCat Brewery opening in Bethesda: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/09/babycat-brewery-bethesda-october-opening/
• Sixty Vines opening in Gaithersburg: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/09/marylands-first-sixty-vines-opens-october-13-in-gaithersburg/
• RisuCon Comic Convention: https://www.mymcmedia.org/risucon-comic-convention-takes-over-fairgrounds-in-gaithersburg/
• $50,000 lottery win in Bethesda: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/09/d-c-woman-wins-50000-on-scratch-off-lottery-ticket-in-bethesda/

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Rockville Town Square’s outdoor ice rink reopens this Sunday for the season, Montgomery County breaks donation record with 334 bikes collected for residents in need, La Baguette Antojitos brings a pastry-and-taco combo to downtown Rockville, Oktoberfest returns to Gaithersburg’s Kentlands this Sunday with free Bavarian fun, Marriott trains eight MCPS culinary teachers at their Test Kitchen, and Bethesda Magazine spotlights five school support staffers making a difference. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ice Rink at The Square reopens Oct. 12
• Record 334 bikes collected for residents
• La Baguette Antojitos coming to Rockville
• Oktoberfest in Gaithersburg this weekend
• Marriott trains MCPS culinary teachers
• 5 school support staffers making a difference

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Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Song Dog Farm Distillery holds its grand opening this Sunday in Boyds with award-winning bourbon and free tastings, Gaithersburg’s 32nd Oktoberfest takes over the Kentlands with 30,000 expected attendees, Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang soup dumpling restaurant opens at Montgomery Mall, three Montgomery County schools earn Blue Ribbon honors, and Olney Boys & Girls Club heads toward record enrollment in its 56-year history. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Song Dog Farm Distillery Grand Opening
• Gaithersburg’s 32nd Annual Oktoberfest
• Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings Opens in Bethesda
• Three MoCo Schools Named Blue Ribbon Schools
• Olney Boys & Girls Club Record Enrollment

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Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

A Kentlands bar crawl raised nearly $1,500 for foster kids over the weekend, Chicken Basket celebrates 47 years in Olde Towne Gaithersburg this Thursday, Falafel Inc brings its award-winning falafel and refugee support mission to downtown Silver Spring, and Quince Orchard football extends their winning streak to 18 games with a dominant victory over Churchill. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Kentlands Bar Crawl fundraiser success: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/06/kentlands-bar-crawl-draws-record-150-participants-raises-nearly-1500-for-charity/
• Chicken Basket’s 47th anniversary: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/06/best-hole-in-the-wall-fried-chicken-spot-celebrates-47th-anniversary/
• Falafel Inc expanding to Silver Spring: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/06/falafel-inc-expanding-to-silver-spring/
• Quince Orchard football victory: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/07/game-of-the-week-recap-quince-orchard-keeps-command-downs-churchill-34-13-in-battle-of-the-unbeatens/

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Taste of Bethesda drew huge crowds with perfect weather this past Saturday, Palacio De Perú brings authentic Peruvian cuisine to Montgomery Village, Eden West opens soon in Silver Spring with West African flavors, Gaithersburg native Jordan Addison catches game-winning touchdown for the Vikings in London, and Active Aging Week offers classes and events through Sunday at county rec centers. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Taste of Bethesda 2025 Photo Gallery
• Palacio De Perú Opens First Montgomery County Location
• Eden West Opening Soon in Silver Spring
• Gaithersburg’s Jordan Addison Catches Game-Winning Touchdown in London
• Active Aging Week – 5 Things to Know Today

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Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Montgomery County has a packed weekend ahead with Taste of Bethesda Saturday, Takoma Park Street Festival Sunday, plus Leech Woods Haunted Trail opens Friday night. Two new food spots are opening—Ba Le Sandwiches in Rockville and Falafel Inc. in Silver Spring—a local biotech just scored $50 million for cancer research, and a Montgomery College student’s “Eric’s ID Law” is now helping people with hidden disabilities stay safe. Plus, the Kelly Clarkson Show surprised the B-CC Rescue Squad with $10,000. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Taste of Bethesda
• Takoma Park Street Festival
• Leech Woods Haunted Trail
• Ba Le Sandwiches opens in Rockville
• Falafel Inc. coming to Downtown Silver Spring
• Rockville biotech secures $50M for cancer research
• Eric’s ID Law: Butterflies on Maryland IDs
• Kelly Clarkson Show gifts B-CC Rescue Squad $10,000

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Wheaton’s Arts Festival celebrated diversity last weekend, Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang soup dumplings opened at Westfield Montgomery, Fire & Rescue hosts Trunk or Treat October 29th in Gaithersburg, Call Your Mother Deli construction begins in Bethesda, Diamond and Wilson Wims Elementary named Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools, plus the fun history of America’s first TV broadcast from Wheaton in 1928. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Wheaton Arts Festival: https://www.mymcmedia.org/wheaton-celebrates-diversity-during-annual-arts-festival-parade/
• Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/01/first-look-at-michelin-recommended-nan-xiang-soup-dumplings-only-maryland-location-now-open-in-montgomery-county/
• MCFRS Trunk or Treat: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/01/mcfrs-to-host-public-safety-trunk-or-treat-in-gaithersburg-oct-29/
• Call Your Mother Deli: http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/10/call-your-mother-deli-construction.html
• Blue Ribbon Schools: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/10/01/maryland-blue-ribbon/
• First TV broadcast from Wheaton: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/01/did-you-know-the-first-u-s-tv-broadcast-came-from-montgomery-county/

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Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

RetryClaude can make mistakes. 
Please double-check cited sources.

Maryland’s oldest active EMT appears on Kelly Clarkson Show today, Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang opens at Westfield Montgomery today, Taste of Bethesda returns Saturday, two Wootton High grads star in CBS’s hit show Ghosts, Montgomery County high schools dominate state rankings with Poolesville at #1, Commas Food Hall opens in Silver Spring, three MoCo cities ranked best in America, and Potomac High’s quarterback named Player of the Week. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ed Levien on Kelly Clarkson Show: https://mocoshow.com/2025/09/30/the-oldest-active-emt-in-maryland-ed-levien-aka-pops-to-appear-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show-on-wednesday/
• Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings opening: https://mocoshow.com/2025/09/30/michelin-recommended-nan-xiang-soup-dumplings-to-open-october-1-at-westfield-montgomery/
• Taste of Bethesda: https://mocoshow.com/2025/09/30/several-road-closures-announced-ahead-of-taste-of-bethesda/
• Wootton grads in CBS Ghosts: https://mocoshow.com/2025/09/30/rockvilles-very-own-shine-as-ghosts-becomes-11th-highest-rated-network-series/
• Top Maryland high schools: https://mocoshow.com/2025/09/30/top-25-high-schools-in-maryland-according-to-niche/
• Commas Food Hall opens: https://www.mymcmedia.org/commas-food-hall-opens-in-downtown-silver-spring/
• Best small cities rankings: https://mocoshow.com/2025/09/30/five-maryland-cities-rank-in-top-8-of-best-small-cities-in-america-list/
• Damarion Baxter Player of the Week: https://wtop.com/player-of-the-week/2025/10/player-of-the-week-potomacs-damarion-baxter/

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Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Friday brings major childcare support that sets kids up for lifelong success, plus beloved local spots reopening and weekend events worth your time. Research shows early education investments pay dividends for decades. Your daily dose of what’s getting better in Montgomery County. Sign up for episode notifications and contact me at TapYourNews.com