Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Which Gaithersburg leader just joined the 2026 county council race?
Coming up: Free Comedy Open Mic on the Gaithersburg Patch calendar

Hello Gaithersburg! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Which Gaithersburg leader just joined the 2026 county council race?
- Could Crown High open without serving most Gaithersburg and Crown students?
- What Gaithersburg’s Amtrak board member is pushing for riders with disabilities
Also on today's calendar: Le Voyage D'hiver: Gaithersburg Chorus FREE Winter Concert and 5 more events.
Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Gaithersburg? Post it to Gaithersburg photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 45 and low of 28 degrees.
- Thursday: A little afternoon rain, temps: high: 46, low: 40.
- Friday: Windy; cooler in the p.m., with a high of 51 and low of 24 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. McNulty Enters Council At-Large Race (mymcmedia.org) — Gaithersburg residents just saw one of their own, City Councilmember Jim McNulty, jump into the 2026 race for an at-large Montgomery County Council seat. Recently reelected in Gaithersburg, he’s pitching a “common sense” platform focused on smart growth, pedestrian safety, transportation, jobs, affordable housing, and tighter county budgeting, joining Mayor Jud Ashman and other local figures in a crowded District 3 field.
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2. New boundary study option H moves Wootton to Crown (thesentinel.com) — Gaithersburg families are watching closely as a new “Option H” could shift the planned Crown High School away from serving Gaithersburg and Crown communities and instead become a rebuilt Wootton High School by 2027. The Board of Education outlined this and other options at a meeting held at Gaithersburg High, with a final redistricting decision expected in February 2026.
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3. Amtrak Board: ‘We're Just Getting Better, Year After Year' (railwayage.com) — A Gaithersburg resident, David Capozzi, is now a visible voice on Amtrak’s board, bringing disability-access expertise to a system hitting record ridership and revenue. At its year-end meeting, Amtrak leaders detailed financial gains, big Northeast Corridor projects, equipment challenges, and ongoing efforts to make stations and onboard information fully accessible by 2029.
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4. New Report Reveals Evidence Handlers' Common Practices, Makes Recommendations (nist.gov) — Gaithersburg’s own National Institute of Standards and Technology has released a major multi-part report detailing how evidence is handled nationwide, from collection through final disposition. The publications outline current practices, highlight inconsistencies across agencies, and recommend quality management systems, audits, and better use of technology and performance metrics to strengthen evidence integrity in law enforcement, healthcare, and court settings.
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📸 Around Gaithersburg
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Gaithersburg
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Free Comedy Open Mic
Give a hoot comedy Club, 16143 Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg
8:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Le Voyage D'hiver: Gaithersburg Chorus FREE Winter Concert
Gaithersburg High School , 101 Education Blvd , Gaithersburg
7:30 pm - So you think you are funny semi final 2
Give a hoot comedy Club , 16143 Shady Grove Rd , Gaithersburg
7:00 pm - The Maryland Opera Presents: Puppets & Papageno
Gaithersburg Library , 18330 Montgomery Village Ave , Gaithersburg
11:00 am - Mini Bookcases (for all ages!) craft workshop in Montgomery County, Md.
Locally Crafted Workshop , 35 Grand Corner Ave , Gaithersburg
1:00 pm - Hepcat Hoodie: HCH @ Brews & Barrels
Brews & Barrels , 625 Center Point Way , Gaithersburg
7:00 pm - Gaithersburg Sports Card Pokémon Collectibles Show December 21
Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center , 9751 Washingtonian Blvd , Gaithersburg
9:00 am - Gaithersburg Library Writing Group
Gaithersburg Library , 18330 Montgomery Village Ave , Gaithersburg
4:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
Thursday December 18
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
📣 Gaithersburg Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- RMS Open House
Redland Middle School Derwood, MD 20855
8:00 am - Toddler Storytime at Quince Orchard
Quince Orchard Library , 15831 Quince Orchard Rd , Gaithersburg
10:30 am - Tranquil Moments Sensory Space - In-person
Germantown Library , 19840 Century Blvd , Germantown
12:30 pm - Teen Lounge
Rockville Memorial Library , 21 Maryland Ave , Rockville
4:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Gaithersburg PatchAM possible:
- NVHomes — (202) 931-5230
Luxury Main Level Living Throughout Maryland by NVHomes - Summer At Sandy Spring — (301) 774-7455
Your Kids Can Have An AWESOME FUN Summer! - Dogtopia of White Flint — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- CCACC Health Center Opens Registration for "Building Better Caregivers" Free Online Workshop —CCACC Read on Patch
- All, I just wanted to give a shout out to the early morning dog walkers this morning.
Chill temperatures were between 10 degrees and 20 degrees....but....we had 6 volunteers walking all the dogs in Red, Yellow and Green. I am… (Nextdoor Whetstone Run) - GERMANTOWN LOST DOG!!!
It's so cold...please help!!! My mom’s friend’s Dog got away from her on Father Hurley this afternoon. Name Miley but she usually doesn’t answer to… (Nextdoor Quince Orchard Manor)
- Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Gaithersburg. Apply here.
- Montgomery County Schools posted a job opening for Immediate: Long Term Substitute Teacher, Grade 4, Brown Station ES (full time) in Gaithersburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gaithersburg here.
Ok Gaithersburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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