Good Morning Montgomery County, MD - Your Local MoCo Good News Podcast

From a first-generation college graduate who refused to give up, to a billion-dollar tech unicorn hiding in Clarksburg, plus new ways to get outside and kick off the holidays—here's your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County.

Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links:

Maryland's Newest 18-Hole Disc Golf Course Opens: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/14/marylands-newest-18-hole-disc-golf-course-is-now-open/

Montgomery County Holiday Market Roundup: https://www.mymcmedia.org/montgomery-county-holiday-market-roundup/

Forterra Hits $1B Valuation: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/14/clarksburgs-forterra-now-valued-at-over-1-billion-after-major-funding-round/

Paola Benitez-Marquez Graduates College: https://sasn.rutgers.edu/news/class-2024-paola-benitez-marquez-overcomes-long-odds-earn-college-degree-and-help-immigrants

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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:

• California Fish Grill opening with free food in Rockville: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/05/marylands-first-california-fish-grill-opens-this-weekend-with-free-food/
• Joseph Evans wins Jeopardy!: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/04/mcps-teacher-joseph-evans-wins-on-jeopardy-after-thrilling-finish/
• Joe Evans watch party and details: https://www.thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/joe-evans-teacher-jeopardy-takoma-park-middle-school-QS6TDCW62RH7NOCZU66C4M2VL4/
• Festival of Lights at Kensington temple: https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/05/48th-annual-festival-of-lights-returns-to-kensingtons-washington-d-c-temple-this-holiday-season/

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Got a good news story or completed today's challenge? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com

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/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com https://TapYourNews.com

Got a good news story or completed today's challenge? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com

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

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com https://TapYourNews.com

Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com

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:

• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/30/viral-food-truck-flavor-hive-coming-to-martin-luther-king-jr-middle-in-germantown/
• https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/10/30/sykesville-mom-of-3-to-open-nature-inspired-play-cafe/
• https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/10/what-losing-his-luggage-taught-an-olympic-hopeful-from-montgomery-county/
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/31/montgomery-county-public-libraries-to-host-first-local-author-showcase/

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