A dispensary next to Jimmie Cone?

📰 TOP STORIES

Dispensary Sign Goes Up, and Neighbors Aren’t Happy

If you’ve driven past Jimmie Cone this weekend, you’ve probably noticed the new Uma Flowers sign next door at 26400 Ridge Road, in the old Peruvian chicken building. Uma Flowers, a cannabis dispensary chain with stores in Massachusetts and New Jersey, lists the Damascus location as “Coming Soon” on its website. It would be the first licensed dispensary in Damascus, a town that was Maryland’s last dry town until voters approved beer and wine sales in 2013. Plenty of neighbors have made it clear this isn’t what they want on Ridge Road, especially right next to a family ice cream spot that just wrapped its 64th season. No opening date has been announced. We’ll keep you posted.

Ridge Road Apartments: Neighbors Leave With More Questions Than Answers

Thursday’s community meeting on the proposed apartment building at 26134 Ridge Road drew a big crowd of Damascus residents, and many of them aren’t sold. The current plan calls for 94 units and is moving through the county’s faster review track for mixed-income housing. Neighbors have raised concerns about the plan’s limited parking and green space, and the neighbor group Damascus Residents for Responsible Development argues the project is denser than Damascus’s master plan allows.

If you have concerns, now is the time to share them. Send comments to county planner Phillip Estes at [email protected] or 301-495-2176, and you can follow the case on the county’s development record.

The Library and Senior Center Reopen in 2 Weeks

Mark your calendar: the ribbon cutting and reopening ceremony for the Damascus Library is Saturday, November 14, at 10am at 9701 Main Street. The Senior Center in the same building reopens too, according to the county’s announcement. In its latest update, the library said new furniture was arriving and most of the books were in the building, boxed up and waiting to be reshelved. Details here.

New Damascus High Design Narrows to Two Options

At Wednesday’s community meeting, the architects behind the new Damascus High showed two updated site layouts: a “Corner” option and a “Middle” option, plus a version of “Middle” with the field in front. According to the meeting presentation, MCPS has heard from 394 people so far between the meetings and an online survey. Of the online respondents who named a favorite, 20 of 36 picked the “Corner” layout.

The parent page Damascus Cluster says a five-year construction timeline was mentioned verbally at the meeting, with the stadium finished after year five instead of year four. It notes this wasn’t in the presentation, and MCPS hasn’t published it. The page also says there’s no online feedback form for this round and encourages people to email the MCPS project team directly.

The third and final meeting is Monday, November 9, at 6pm in the DHS cafeteria. Project page here.

Last Call: Election Day Is Tuesday

Polls are open Tuesday, November 3, from 7am to 8pm, and same-day registration is available. Mail-in ballots can go in a drop box until 8pm (state voting guide). As a reminder, there’s no MCPS school Monday or Tuesday.

Damascus Winery Brings Home Governor’s Cup Medals

Congrats to 61 Vineyard here in Damascus, which won multiple silver and bronze medals at the 2026 Maryland Governor’s Cup wine competition (MoCo Show).

🏆 HORNETS SPORTS

Hornets Football Shut Out Magruder 42-0, Playoffs Next

The Hornets closed out the regular season Friday with a 42-0 home win over Magruder to finish 6-3 (MaxPreps). Damascus heads into the playoffs as one of the top seeds in the 3A West region, and High School on SI expects a first-round matchup with Watkins Mill. Official pairings come out Monday, and first-round games are November 5 to 7. We’ll have the details next week.

Payton Wallace Wins Player of the Week

Last week we told you QB Payton Wallace was up for Sports Illustrated’s Maryland Girls Flag Football Player of the Week, and she won (High School on SI).

DHS Swimmer Viona Sunjaya Commits to Navy

Damascus High senior Viona Sunjaya has committed to swim for the U.S. Naval Academy starting in fall 2027. She’s been on the Hornets’ varsity swim and dive team since freshman year, is a ten-time Maryland high school state champion, and is the three-time defending state champ in both the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. She also trains year-round with Rockville Montgomery Swim Club. Full story here.

📆 UPCOMING EVENTS

Red Cross Blood Drive at the Legion, Nov. 6

Friday, November 6, starting at 10am at American Legion Post 171, 10201 Lewis Drive.

Mount Airy Fire Company Turns 100, Nov. 7

The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company is celebrating 100 years of service on Saturday, November 7, at the carnival grounds. It’s free, with lots of activities for kids.

Last Call: Rise Against Hunger Meal Pack, Nov. 8

Damascus United Methodist Church still needs volunteers to help pack more than 10,000 meals this Sunday, November 8. Volunteers gather around 10:15am, and kids in 3rd grade and up are welcome. Contact Marcia Hofman at 301-455-2960 or [email protected].

Last Call: Final DHS Design Meeting, Nov. 9

Monday, November 9, at 6pm in the DHS cafeteria (see Top Stories).

Holiday Shopping Saturday, Nov. 14

Two craft fairs share the same Saturday as the library reopening:

Damascus YW Women Holiday Market Auction, Nov. 17

Tuesday, November 17, at Damascus United Methodist Church. Doors open at 9:30am and bidding starts at 10am. Cash or check only.

❤️ SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Brown Cow Creamery

Brown Cow Creamery is a multi-generational family farm in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, owned by Kevin and Laurie Savage and family. The farm store at 28600 Ridge Road, between Damascus and Mount Airy, is open year-round and sells milk, cheese, ice cream, beef, lamb, eggs and more. They’re also taking holiday turkey orders at browncowcreamery.shop.