🌱 Patch AM: How Purple Line work will reshape your Silver Spring commute in 2026

Hello Silver Spring! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Purple Line work will reshape your Silver Spring commute in 2026
• How a Silver Spring principal’s DJ side gig boosts his school
• Could your favorite Silver Spring chain store be on the 2026 chopping block?

Also on today's calendar: New Year’s Day $14 Million Great Falls Luxury Online Auction and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Cloudy and cold with a flurry, with a high of 34 and low of 22 degrees.
• Friday: Considerable cloudiness, temps: high: 37, low: 25.
• Saturday: Mainly cloudy, with a high of 37 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Café via Roma Extends Late Evening Hours as Purple Line Work Eases (sourceofthespring.com) — Purple Line construction is still disrupting key Silver Spring streets and Metro access, with Red Line station closures, lane reductions, and bridge work stretching into spring 2026, but Café via Roma on Bonifant Street has fully restored late-evening hours. Expect ongoing detours around Sligo Creek Trail, Spring Street, Wayne Avenue, and Bonifant Street as crews push toward a Winter 2027 Purple Line opening.
   

2. Principal by Day, DJ by Night: What School Leaders Learn From Their Side Hustles (edweek.org) — Argyle Middle School principal James Allrich in Silver Spring spends his days running a busy school and some evenings DJing, even spinning tracks during student “Turntable Thursdays.” His story, alongside principals in Iowa and Massachusetts, shows how side gigs can sharpen leadership, communication, and culture-building skills that ultimately benefit their schools.
   

3. Multiple MD Retailers Planning 2026 Closures: See List (patch.com) — Silver Spring shoppers could be affected as national chains like Foot Locker, Macy’s, Walgreens, and others plan widespread store closures through 2026, though specific local locations haven’t been named. The article rounds up which big retailers operate nearby and how many Maryland stores each has, so residents can watch for possible changes to their favorite shopping spots.
   

4. Social Security ends year in turmoil as record backlogs delay services (adn.com) — Silver Spring residents relying on the local Social Security field office are facing long waits, backlogs, and confusing new rules for everything from Medicare sign-ups to fixing name errors. The agency, strained by staff cuts and policy shifts under the second Trump administration, is struggling nationwide, but local examples in Silver Spring show how delays can threaten driver’s licenses, benefits access, and everyday financial stability.
   

📸 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 ★

Thursday January 1

• New Year’s Day $14 Million Great Falls Luxury Online Auction
  McLean
  1:00 pm

Thursday January 22

• Streamline Your Workflow with Outlook Automation
  7:30 pm

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

Tuesday January 13

• Time Management Strategies to Take Back Your Day
  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

Thursday January 1

• Berwyn Ballet School
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
  3:45 pm

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
• College Park Arts Exchange - Youth Orchestra Rehearsals
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
  3:00 pm

Monday January 5

• Ready 2 Read Storytime: Ages 02
  Hyattsville Branch Library Hyattsville -
  10:30 am
• English Conversation Club
  Mount Rainier Branch Library Mount Rainier -
  11:00 am

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:

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

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

• ****Important Update on Our Missing Dogs****
  As of today, all signs point to our dogs having been picked up by someone since the day they escaped. They were last sighted at the intersection of… (Nextdoor Longmead Crossing)
• Found this cute cat on Georgian Woods Pl.
  Unsure if it is a street cat or belongs to someone. Is friendly & let me bring them in to feed & keep warm. Please contact me if this is your cat! (Nextdoor Wheaton Park)

• Giant Food posted a job opening for PT Service Clerk - Bake Off - 0366 in Silver Spring. Apply here.
• Sweetgreen, Inc. posted a job opening for Silver Spring - Shift Leader in Silver Spring. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Silver Spring 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 just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook