Fur-ever Friends, Emmy Winner, Kids' Book: MOCO Good News 2021

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — As the year comes to a close, take a look at some of the good new to come out of Montgomery County. Gaithersburg table tennis players saw success, a local mother wrote a children's book to help children with illnesses and their families, and a chocolatier captured the public's attention with her unique creations.

Here is some of the best news of 2021:

A Ruff Year Turns Around At The Montgomery County Adoption Center
More cats, dogs and more were taken to their forever homes when the adoption center reopened without appointments. Fifteen pets were taken home the very first day.

All MOCO Libraries Now Reopened, With Final Six Debuting Tuesday
Browsers were able to head back inside Montgomery County Public Libraries this summer.

Trike My Way Lets Adults Of All Ages Ride Like Kids Again
Wayne Hayward is a professional biker turned entrepreneur who operates a recumbent trike touring service in Chevy Chase and the DMV.

'Cicada Mania': Chocolate-Covered Bugs The Craze In Gaithersburg
When cicadas began to swarm in Maryland, one Montgomery County chocolatier saw an opportunity to make something both salty and sweet.

'Chess At Light Speed': 3 MD Kids Make National Table Tennis Team
Stanley Hsu, 12; Ryan Lin, 11; and Mu Du, 13, all made it onto the National Table Tennis team this summer. They train at the Maryland Table Tennis Center in Gaithersburg.

Maryland Olympians Competing In The 2021 Tokyo Games
Montgomery County sent several athletes to the Olympic Games this year.

Gaithersburg Activist, 8, Appears On Biden's Inauguration Special
Cavanaugh Bell, who started a food pantry during COVID-19, was invited onto Biden's 'Celebrating America' inauguration special in January.

Hunting Adventure Of A Lifetime Won By Maryland Union Member
The "Brotherhood Outdoors" hunt was aired on the Sportsman Channel.

Emmy Goes To Silver Spring Film Group For 'Secrets Of The Whales'
Silver Spring-based film company Red Rock Films won an Emmy for its documentary mini-series "Secrets of the Whales."

Silver Spring Is Third Most Generous City In The Country: GoFundMe
Silver Spring had the third most donations per capita on GoFundMe in the country. It was the only Maryland town on the list.

'Cotton Candy Clouds' Book Sales Support Sick Children, Families
Kristena Kitchen’s daughter died in 2016 after being diagnosed with leukemia. Kitchen decided this year that she would write a children’s book that tells the story that Kitchen told her own daughter in the last days of her life to lift her spirits.