Local News and Events

Eighth Annual Women in the Arts PanelJoin Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. for the Eighth Annual Women in the Arts Panel at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 28 at the Silver Spring Civic Building, located at 1 Veteran Place in Silver Spring. The event is free. The panel will feature women of many talents and will be hosted by Silver Spring-based chef Beth Yohannes from Lemon Slice Cafe. The event will feature actor and playwright Jeanne M. Adams, artist Nadya Babich, artist Liliane Blom, author Chana Brissett-Shinegba, dancer and choreographer Nilimma Devi, musical artist Anisha Moon Newbill, author Jody Olsen and actor Mita Paul.RSVP to lisa@silverspringtowncenter.com. Visit the SSTCI website for more information.This is a Montgomery County, Maryland announcement. Dahlias, National Capital Dahli... 03/23/2025

Gaithersburg Community Services NewsletterDon’t miss out on important announcements, upcoming events, and valuable resources from Community Services. The Division implements and supports assistance programs encompassing interim case management, community outreach, and education, housing counseling, financial wellness, emergency assistance and safety net services, and provides resources and referrals to City residents in need. Click here to view newsletter options.This is a City of Gaithersburg, Maryland announcement. Dahlia, Kenora Lisa, National Capital Dahlia Society Show,Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, Maryland USA IMG 3090Canon PowerShot G11 CameraPhotograph by Roy KelleyRoy and Dolores Kelley Photographs  03/20/2025

I know it’s Saint Patrick’s Day and with all the activities today at Spanish Springs probably not a good day to visit Amerikanos.  But why not share a great place to enjoy some Greek Food and other menu choices!  The other night Michelle I needed to get out of the house and find food, her choice we went to Amerikanos and sat outside and loved it!  Michelle had the Mediterranean Salmon Salad,Mediterranean seasoned salmon over garden fresh greens with roasted tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and crumbled feta cheese.  Me I had the Spanakopita,A special blend of spinach and feta cheese, baked in a flaky phyllo dough. Served with house made tzatziki sauce.  I also had the Greek Salad, Garden fresh greens served with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, kalamata olives and sl... 03/17/2025

Parade, Party, & Plenty of Green: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Charlotte! 🍀March 15, 2025 In Uptown Charlotte The Queen City's beloved St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back this Saturday, March 15th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM! Kicking off at North Tryon and 9th Street in Uptown Charlotte, the parade will feature vibrant floats, energetic marching bands, and talented Irish dancers. The celebration continues with Charlotte’s Going Green Festival, where you can enjoy live Irish music, Celtic arts and crafts, delicious food, and a variety of vendors. Charlotte's St. Patrick's Day Parade tradition began in 1996 with a small group of people, accompanied by a bagpiper, walking down Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte to mark the day. Since 1996, it has grown into an all-day extravaganza when Charlo... 03/14/2025

Lost Your Job? Use Maryland Health ConnectionRecently lost your job? You have 60 days from the date of losing your job to enroll in a health plan through Maryland Connect.Visit http://MarylandHealthConnection.gov or call 240-777-1815 to get started so you can get access to health care and stay healthy.This is a Montgomery County, Maryland announcement. Billbergia, 'Hallehujah', Longwood Gardens Conservatory,Kennett Square, Pennsylvania USA IMG 5936Canon PowerShot G11 CameraPhotograph by Roy KelleyRoy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 03/22/2025

Citizens Advisory Board 'Community Conversations’Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will hold six Community Conversations, one with each of the County’s five regional Citizen Advisory Boards, throughout March, April and May, to discuss long-term priorities and how he will address the Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. All meetings are open to the public and encourage community participation.The first event will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, March 31 at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center, located at 11701 Georgia Ave. in Wheaton.Five of the Citizens Advisory Board CIP Community Conversations will be in-person events, while the community conversation scheduled for May 6 will be a virtual-only event.The CIP refers to items such as land, buildings, equipm... 03/21/2025

Photo Journalism and Wordsby Patricia Feager A rainbow of colors awaits visitors at The Tulip Farm in Pilot Point, Texas. Spring has officially begun to bloom in Denton, County. Thursday, March 13, 2025, was the perfect day to pick, but then again, isn't every day when there are opportunities to pick Tulips a perfect day?Color in landscape creates a mood but a vase or pitcher of Tulips to wake up to in the morning makes the day even brighter. As of now, the sun did not rise. But Tulips makes me feel happy. Joy to the world! Spring has sprung. For other parts of the country, I hope it won't be long.  No day, nor tulip can ever be taken for granted is what I was thinking. What does it feel like to be walking through the Tulip groves at the Tulip Farm located in Pilot Point? Hmmm... To me ... 03/14/2025

Salt Lake City — Tax season is here, and if you're feeling like you're caught in a whirlwind of confusion, you’re not alone. Between President Trump, Elon Musk, and the IRS making headlines, it’s hard to know where to look. Add in changes to tax laws and, well, you might feel like you need a seatbelt just to survive filing this year. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the lowdown on the chaos and how to handle it.What’s All the Fuss About?Let’s start with the basics: The IRS has been dealing with a lot. Between ever-changing tax laws, mounting firing of IRS employees, and DOGE the agency has had its hands full. Toss in the fact that some pandemic-era tax credits have expired, and now tax refunds are down by about $1,000 per taxpayer, and things are looking a little chaotic.I... 03/13/2025

The single pane cartoons I feature by Timmothy Timm are strips that are actually submitted and printed in The Northern Sentry Newspaper (official newspaper of the Minot AFB). Timmothy basis these cartoons on something he read in the previous weeks paper.The Amtrak Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle daily and is the only Amtrak service Minot offers. The Timm family has made good use of this service to visit Tina Timm when she attended The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD).With the many choices of ways to travel the Empire Builder is often a good choice. I think what I liked best is that you can carry a lot of luggage but in addition to that the seats are comfortable and the rates are reasonable.If you are considering a trip I encourage you to consider Amtrak. I wish M... 03/15/2025

Activities Coming in 55+ Leisure World of Maryland March 13 - 23, 2025NUTRITION AND BREAST CANCER Thursday, March 13, at 10:30 a.m., Clubhouse I My Active Senior, in partnership with Montgomery County, hosts a rescheduled breast cancer awareness discussion featuring a two-time breast cancer survivor who will share nutritional tips, educational resources, and free gifts. This presentation aims to educate and support seniors affected by breast cancer. Free, but registration is required at the Lifestyle office in either clubhouse.  MOVIE: ‘’IRISH WISH’’ Friday, March. 14, at 1:30 p.m., Clubhouse II Auditorium In this charming romantic comedy, a woman makes a spontaneous wish while attending a wedding in Ireland, only to find herself in an unexpected twist of fate that challenges her views ... 03/13/2025

HEY MOM, I'M IN THE NEWS!Well, sort of…Imagine scrolling through CNBC’s latest article on the mortgage market and—BAM!—there it is: a beautiful photo of a home from our very own listing. No heads-up, no tag, no "Hey, can we borrow this?"—just our hard work being showcased for the world to see. Flattered? Absolutely. Surprised? A little. Ready to turn this into a marketing win? You bet!CNBC, We Appreciate the Free Advertising!We know real estate is a competitive game, and let’s be honest—great photos sell homes. So it’s no wonder that CNBC saw our listing and thought, Yep, that’s the one! We take pride in making homes look their absolute best, and clearly, our efforts are making waves—even in national news.Of course, we wouldn’t mind a little credit. A simple “Photo courtesy of Matt Helg... 03/13/2025

Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities Expire March 31Medicare in-home telehealth coverage that was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic is set to end on March 31, 2025. Starting April 1, 2025, people with Medicare must be in an office or medical facility for covered telehealth services, with some exceptions for in-home telehealth appointments due to mental health, acute stroke, and end-stage renal disease. Visit medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth to learn more.Medicare Enrollment Deadlines ApproachingIf you missed your initial Medicare Enrollment Period or want to switch your Medicare Advantage Plan, you have until March 31st to: Enroll in Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Part B (Medical Insurance) as part of the Medicare General Enrollment Period; or Switch to a different Medicar... 03/16/2025

Gaithersburg Community MuseumAll aboard for local history at the Gaithersburg Community Museum! Located in the historic B&O Rail complex in Olde Towne, the museum offers engaging indoor and outdoor exhibits that bring Gaithersburg’s past to life. Interactive learning spaces spark curiosity in children while changing activities and monthly programs provide a dynamic experience for visitors of all ages.The museum’s collection includes the 1884 Freight House, History Park, and historic railcars such as a 1918 steam engine, a 1982 caboose, and a 1953 RDC. Visitors can also explore the 1884 Train Station, which houses a waiting room, restrooms, and Java Junction deli. Exhibits like the General Store, One Room School, and Railroad Learning Center showcase the city’s heritage and invite guests... 03/17/2025

Montgomery is a spectacular city!  Its warmth, Southern hospitality, high quality of life, and low cost of living make it an ideal place to work and live. While it is a mid-sized city, it has a small-town feel, giving you the best of both worlds!Midtown Montgomery is home to the city’s most diverse area. The people living there encompass all socioeconomic levels and include residents of varying ages, races, and orientations. In fact, people living in Midtown not only tolerate diversity; they welcome it and celebrate it!You will find everything you want from a big city in Midtown Montgomery; from world-class arts and theater to excellent health care facilities, to a bustling restaurant and retail area, and while every city has its own unique history, Montgomery is home to some of the mos... 03/12/2025

State Wide RealtyFarmville, VA 23901Celebrates St. Patrick's Day 2025The history behind St. Patrick’s Day is a bit different from the traditions that are done today in America. St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, is known for converting numerous Irish to Christianity. St. Patrick died on March 15, 431 and the Irish started a St. Patrick’s Day feast and religious festival to honor the day.          Irish emigrants in the U.S. began using St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate all things Irish, making it more of a secular event than a religious one. The traditions of wearing green, shamrocks, leprechauns and pots of gold have all evolved over the years as symbols of St. Patrick’s Day. Restaurants will dye beer green and some cities will even color a river green. It is said that if you don’t... 03/12/2025

SoberRide Free Ride HomeIf you are planning to celebrate with alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) remind residents not to drink and drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half of all traffic deaths on St. Patrick’s Day involve drunk drivers.MCDOT urges residents who choose to celebrate with alcohol to plan ahead for a safe ride home.Residents are urged to make plans before heading out to celebrate and to consider using one of the following safe ride options: SoberRide is a free ride home program offered by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, in partnership with Lyft. A limited number of promotional codes for Lyft will be... 03/15/2025

This is a big deal for Spanish Springs starting at 3:00 pm with the parade.  If you never attended you need to come early, the parade is highlighted by the decorated golf carts, yes retired people have too much time on their hands, got to love it!  Strolling stilt walkers, bag pipers, clowns (the real ones) and thousands of people dressed for the occasion.  Seven food vendors, 36 market vendors, free photo booth so you can share with those not living here yet (rub it in).Playing from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm is Cleghorn, the musical engine of CLEGHORN is renowned fiddler Dylan Cleghorn and his father, the legendary Texas guitarist John Cleghorn. CLEGHORN’s unique brand of “Celtic rock” mixes their original songwriting with high-energy fiddle and bagpipe tunes.  I sure all the beverage shac... 03/16/2025

Denver had enjoyed temps into the low 70's, and to see these in late February and early March are HEAVENLY.    I have been washing comforters and washable mats and sure it making everything smell so good indoors! HOWEVER, living in Colorado, we know a dry warm early spring could mean fire danger in the near future.   We have had some storms bringing snow, but not that much.When we have warmer temperatures early in the year, the trees, bushes and plants all get confused, and when the next snowstorm coming through can kill them.   If we get too many leaves on the trees, and get wet/heavy snowstorms, it breaks branches.SO, we have to be careful what we wish for.   (Still enjoying this warm weather!)  03/13/2025

Here’s one of my predictions for the next few years—thanks to recent IRS layoffs and ongoing staffing shortages, more Offers in Compromise (OICs) are going to slip through the cracks. And when that happens, some taxpayers might see their tax debt automatically settled without the IRS ever reviewing their case.Sound too good to be true? It’s not. There’s a little-known rule that works in your favor:The Two-Year Rule: A Potential Loophole for TaxpayersUnder IRC § 7122(f), it's automatically approved if the IRS doesn’t accept, reject, or return your OIC within 24 months. If they miss the deadline, your tax debt is settled, no questions asked.Here’s why I think this will be happening more often: The IRS recently laid off all probationary employees, meaning fewer people are handling OICs. IR... 03/13/2025

After 11+ years with the same mortgage company, I've made a move!  It's never easy to do this, but I'm excited about the opportunity to share Sammamish Mortgage products and services with my clients and referral partners.  Please reach out to me if you have any questions, or if there is anything I can do to serve you! 03/11/2025