Good morning, Rockville.

With Christmas two days away, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service advises residents to avoid leaving cooking, candles, & heating equipment unattended to prevent fires while urging drivers to slow down on slick roads for safety.

A recent report ranks the DC region 19th worst for traffic, where a key I-495 corridor in Montgomery County loses up to 64 hours during peak times and drivers lose about 70 hours overall.

Transportation experts say micromobility + mass transit may help ease the gridlock for commuters.

HCCMC Toy Drive works to bring holiday cheer to children and families in need by collecting new toys with support from local businesses and volunteers.

The campaign, organized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery (HCCMC) in partnership with InterfaithWorks, runs during the holiday season.

Samsung Biologics plans to open its first US-based manufacturing site in Rockville to create over 500 jobs + boost county growth.

Montgomery County school leaders celebrated a $230,000 donation from DARCARS Automotive Group that wiped two years of school lunch debt for many families receiving free or reduced-priced meals, benefiting almost half of the county’s 160,000 students.

At Thomas S. Wootton High School, educators say students are using sports betting apps like Fliff that mimic video game mechanics to wager virtual currency during breaks; the trend persists despite MCPS policies (local teachers express concern over future addictive behavior).

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said Tuesday he is optimistic about funding MCPS’s $3.78B operating budget & $2.7B six-year capital improvements plan for FY27 in Rockville.

The proposals will be reviewed by the school board and then submitted to the County Council by Jan. 15 & March 15.

Families from across the globe are staying at The Children’s Inn at NIH while their kids receive treatment for rare conditions during the holidays.

Local visitors (including Santa and police officers) bring joy to the Bethesda facility as families find hope in tough times.

Grizzy – a rescued 7-month-old Pittie mix who arrived underweight and struggling to walk – now weighs 36 pounds and is learning to run and play.

Her foster caregiver seeks a patient family to adopt her and help build her confidence.

DC United acquired defender Sean Nealis from Red Bull New York for $350,000 in General Allocation Money plus $200,000 in 2026 GAM and $150,000 in 2027 GAM.

Nealis, who played over 187 matches in his seven seasons with Red Bull, ranked second in aerial duels for three straight years.

The Buds Concert

2-4 p.m. — Hank Dietle's Tavern — $10 — Enjoy a mix of roots, blues, rockabilly, country, and power pop from the talented band, The Buds.

Winter Craft Week Camp

8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Rockville Makerspace and Tool Library — Registration required — Enjoy three days of winter crafts, ice skating, and hot chocolate for kids aged 5-12.

Dan Hovey Live Performance

5:30-7 p.m. — Hank Dietle's Tavern — No cover charge — Enjoy finger-style guitar reminiscent of John Fahey during happy hour.