A Fatal Crash on Ridge Road, and Pumpkin Season Is Coming to Damascus

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Fatal Crash Closes Ridge Road Saturday Morning

A two-vehicle crash on Ridge Road Saturday morning, August 8, left one person dead. The collision happened around 7:22am in the 24000 block of Ridge Road near Hawks Road and Cedar Grove Elementary, just outside Damascus, and involved a silver Ford Transit van and a black Chrysler Pacifica minivan. An adult male passenger in the Chrysler died at the scene. His name hasn't been released yet, as police work to notify next of kin. The van's driver and four people in the Chrysler, three adults and a child, were taken to hospitals with injuries that aren't considered life-threatening. The road was closed for several hours and reopened by about 11:25am. Montgomery County's Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating, and the cause hasn't been released yet.

A New Fall Farm Is Coming to Town

Daphne Hill, a new 30-acre fall destination, opens August 29 on the former Two Story Chimney Ciderworks property at 7115 Damascus Road, in the Agricultural Reserve just outside town (Two Story Chimney closed for good back in December). Expect pick-your-own pumpkins, sunflower gardens, a farm shop, a kids' natural play garden, food trucks, and live music, with weekend hours from 10am to 6pm once it opens. It's run by the team behind Sophie Felts Floral Co., a DC floral design house.

The Lanternflies Are Back, Ugh

Montgomery County named Damascus and Brookeville as hot spots for the lanternfly boom last year, and officials expect the population to stay high for another few years before it levels off, so this wasn’t just a one-summer thing. The bugs don't bite or sting, but they leave behind a sticky "honeydew" that causes a sooty mold on decks, cars, and plants. The PSA: squish or vacuum what you can reach, set up a circle trap on host trees, and scrape off egg masses when you see them. Skip glue or sticky traps, they catch birds too.

🏆HORNETS SPORTS

Bresee's ACL Surgery Now Confirmed

Quick update on last week's story: Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed on August 2 that Bryan Bresee will have season-ending surgery for his torn ACL. Recovery is typically around nine months, so he's expected back for the 2027 season, the final year of his rookie contract.

📆 UPCOMING EVENTS

Women's and Teens Self Defense Class, Aug. 12

Damascus Health & Fitness is hosting a Women's and Teens Self Defense Class on Wednesday, August 12, from 7 to 9:30pm. It's aimed at teens and women ages 14 to early 20s (a class for older participants is being planned for later), and covers situational awareness, risk avoidance, and basic defensive tactics. It's taught by Robert Eisenberg, a 5th degree black belt in Uechi Ryu Karate with more than 40 years of teaching experience. Details linked below:

Community Yard Sale, Sept. 5

Damascus United Methodist Church is hosting a community yard sale on Saturday, September 5, from 8am to 2pm (setup at 7am) at 9700 New Church Road. Reserve a spot for $20, or rent a table for $5, through the church office.

Red Cross Blood Drive, Sept. 4

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive on Friday, September 4, at American Legion Post 171, 1201 Lewis Drive. All blood types are needed. Register at redcrossblood.org, Sponsor ID ALP171 Damascus.

❤️ SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Kirby Plumbing, LLC

A new plumbing business is getting started in the area: Kirby Plumbing, LLC, run by Jimmy Kirby, a licensed and insured Master Plumber with more than 10 years of experience. He's still finalizing things before an official launch but is already taking on small jobs. He shared that starting the business is tied to his family's last two years: his wife has been living with a serious injury from a childbirth complication, and he left his full-time job for the flexibility to help care for her and their three kids while still doing the work he's trained in. If you need a plumber, call or text 240-537-8276.