🌱 Patch AM: How investigators traced a missing Kentucky teen to Silver Spring

Morning Silver Spring! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How investigators traced a missing Kentucky teen to Silver Spring
• Could your kitchen compost really start a house fire?
• Why Pokémon hunters are skipping Target for a Silver Spring card show

Also on today's calendar: Feast & Fettle Brings a New Standard of Home Dining to Silver Spring and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: I got fired from the M&M factory. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Some sun, then clouds, with a high of 35 and low of 27 degrees.
• Sunday: Partly sunny and breezy, temps: high: 39, low: 23.
• Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 37 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Silver Spring kidnapping suspect met 13-year-old girl online, according to news reports. (thebanner.com) — Authorities say a Silver Spring man is accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old Kentucky girl he allegedly met online and later found with him at his Silver Spring home. The teen was recovered safely, and the suspect now faces kidnapping charges in Kentucky, with investigators expected to release more details soon.
   

2. Spontaneous combustion of organic material causes fire in Silver Spring on New Year's (dcnewsnow.com) — A New Year’s Day fire in a Silver Spring home on Lowlander Lane displaced four residents Thursday afternoon, though everyone escaped safely. Fire officials say decomposing organic material in a kitchen container likely self-heated and ignited, causing about $6,000 in damage and prompting a reminder that compostable materials can sometimes spontaneously combust.
   

3. < Hunting for Pokemon cards? Maybe skip stores and try a card show (npr.org) — A popular Beltway Card Show in Silver Spring is drawing young and adult collectors hunting for hard-to-find Pokémon cards as store shelves stay bare. Local kids, parents, and vendors describe the fun, face-to-face trading scene and why in-person shows feel fairer and more community-oriented than buying online or chasing scarce packs at big-box stores.
   

4. 2026 financial resolutions: Experts weigh in on how to achieve your goals (abc15.com) — A Silver Spring resident shares how taking small, steady steps has helped him stick to financial goals, anchoring a broader look at 2026 money resolutions. Experts recommend specific savings targets, simple budgeting methods, and building an emergency fund so families can feel more secure despite economic uncertainty and lingering holiday debt.
   

📸 Around Silver Spring

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 Silver Spring

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 31

• Feast & Fettle Brings a New Standard of Home Dining to Silver Spring
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday January 6

• Financial Incentives for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program - Q&A Session #1
  Montgomery Preservation Inc , 8100 Georgia Ave , Silver Spring
  1:00 pm
• Palmetto Bay Food Truck is at The Fenwick
  Fenwick Apartments , 8616 2nd Ave , Silver Spring
  5:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• First Time Homebuyer Seminar (FREE!)
  Virtual/Online
  10:00 am
• Introduction to Inner Engineering
  14315 Fairdale Rd , Silver Spring
  11:00 am

Tuesday January 13

• Time Management Strategies to Take Back Your Day
  7:30 pm

Thursday January 15

• Beltway Bistro is at The Fenwick!
  Fenwick Apartments , 8616 2nd Ave , Silver Spring
  5:00 pm
• Excel Essentials: A Crash Course Series
  7:30 pm

Thursday January 22

• Streamline Your Workflow with Outlook Automation
  7:30 pm

📣 Silver Spring 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

Saturday January 3

• Berwyn Ballet School at The Old Parish House
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
  8:45 am
• Ready 2 Read Storytime: Ages 35
  Hyattsville Branch Library Hyattsville -
  10:30 am
• CPAE Workshop
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
  2:00 pm

Sunday January 4

• Girl Scout Troop 23031
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4601 Calvert Road , College Park
  2:30 pm

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 Silver Spring PatchAM possible:

• Nemi Medical + Wellness — (301) 494-3130
  Accepting new patients now. Prioritize your health today.
• Greenbelt SITY Stars — (301) 679-5100
  35% Off - Jump Rope Classes
• MidAtlantic Mold and Water Damage — (888) 412-5228
  Water Damage Restoration, Mold Testing and Remediation
• Dogtopia of Bethesda — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness
• Summer At Sandy Spring — (301) 774-7455
  Your Kids Can Have An AWESOME FUN Summer!
• Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community of Greater Washington — (301) 770-4648
  Meeting the unmet needs of the community
• Hulk and friends junk removal — (240) 758-1781
  Local junk removal - fully licensed and insured
• Eisa Gouredou — (202) 438-9661
  Silver Spring Author Working on Debut Novel
• VivaVets Animal Hospital — (443) 542-2938
  Bringing Trusted Care Back To The Former Pet+ER Location
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• V's Healing Touch Massage
  Massage Therapy assists the body in healing

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

• Riderwood Offers Impressive Amenities, Predictable Finances, and Lasting Value —Elizabeth Fabiano Read on Patch

• Please support All Set Restaurant and Bar located at 8630 Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring.
  They have been in business for ten years and have great food and friendly service. Due to our economic times, they have stopped serving lunch during… (Nextdoor Linden)
• Been pretty cold for chainsawing so I have been catching up on finishing my new trailer.
  This one is half U.S and half Australian. Have another week or two to finish. (Nextdoor Capitol View Park)

• Target posted a job opening for 4am Inbound (Stocking) (T1415) in Silver Spring. Apply here.

Ok Silver Spring! 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 kept throwing out all the W’s.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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