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

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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:

• 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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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:

• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/30/michelin-recommended-nan-xiang-soup-dumplings-celebrates-grand-opening-at-westfield-montgomery-mall/
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/29/takoma-park-takoma-kicks-off-the-holiday-season-with-markets-cocoa-crawl-and-more/
• https://wtop.com/player-of-the-week/2025/10/player-of-the-week-gonzagas-walker-littleton/
• https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcm-welcomes-veteran-sports-reporter-frank-hanrahan/

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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:

• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/28/golden-fig-cafe-bakery-to-hold-grand-opening-this-weekend-in-bethesda/
• https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/gaithersburg-winter-lights-festival-tickets-now-on-sale/article_0f85fd46-4a69-40fb-ace8-0bee4f6090c1.html
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/28/montgomery-countys-largest-flea-market-returns-for-final-event-of-the-season-this-saturday/

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Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com—I read every message.

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:

• https://www.mymcmedia.org/after-six-year-closure-olney-ale-house-reopens-tuesday/
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/27/ten-local-child-care-professionals-recognized-for-excellence-in-early-education/
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/27/recap-quince-orchard-defeats-northwest-in-rivalry-showdown-35-16/
• https://mocofeed.com/montgomery-county-to-participate-in-operation-green-light-to-honor-veterans-mocofeed/

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Into true crime? Check out TrueCrimeUnheard.com

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.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sunday Morning Bakehouse named one of Best Bakeries Around DC: https://mocoshow.com/2025/07/17/one-maryland-bakery-makes-list-of-the-best-bakeries-around-d-c/
• Sweeteria Dessert Café expanding to Bethesda: https://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/10/sweeteria-cafe-opening-bethesda-location.html

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

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:

• Olney Ale House Reopening After 6 Years: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/23/tasty-tidbits-olney-ale-house-reopening/
• Social Squad Program by Speech Pathologist: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/23/speech-language-pathologist-social-squad/
• Walnut Hill Shopping Center Getting EV Chargers: http://www.rockvillenights.com/2025/10/walnut-hill-shopping-center-adding.html

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

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