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📰 TOP STORIES
Celebrate Damascus Days, In the Books
Hope you made it out for the parade, the fireworks, and everything else this weekend! From the Fire Department's Fried Chicken Dinner to the Cruise In Car Show at Carquest, it was a full weekend of hometown pride. It was amazing to see. Shout out to everyone who came out, volunteered, and made it happen!
Coming This Fall: A Pumpkin Patch Is Moving In
Sophie Felts Floral Co., the team that's been designing wedding flowers out of Damascus for a decade, picked up the Two Story Chimney Ciderworks property and is turning it into Daphne Hill, a fall gathering spot opening this year. Think pumpkin picking, sunflower fields, live music, food trucks, and a nature playground. They're also bringing back Porch Pumpkins (their florists will style your front porch for fall) and continuing their Damascus High School internship program. We'll share opening dates as soon as we have them!
Damascus Livestock Club Reps Us on the National Mall
The club was selected to participate in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations, sharing their animals and story with visitors from across the country. We love seeing Damascus represented on the national stage!! Catch the club and their animals in person at the Damascus Community Fair, September 11–13.
P.S. more info to come on the fair in next week’s newsletter.
A New Little Free Library, Built By Damascus's Own Girl Scouts
There's a new spot for books, games, and puzzles in town: Girl Scout Troop 32079 designed, fundraised for, and built a two-box Little Free Library, now set up in the grassy area across from the Jimmie Cone parking lot. It's actually two libraries in one, the top box is the "Activity Library" for swapping puzzles and games, and the bottom box is for books, and the whole thing was the girls' Bronze Award project, Girl Scouts' first big service project milestone that requires troops to research a need in their community and build something to address it. It's open to anyone, 24/7, take something or leave something. A great reminder of what a small group of motivated kids can pull off around here!
Around Town
The flower stand off Annapolis Rock Rd just restocked for the week. They sold out fast last week!
Say hi to Jackson Webb, a 20-year-old Damascus local who started a shed, garage, and property cleanout business this summer with some friends. Give him a call at 240-284-9550 if you need a hand.
👮 PUBLIC SAFETY
Health Alert: Bat Exposure at Mount Airy Fireworks
If you were at the Mount Airy fireworks show on the 4th, health officials are asking anyone who may have had contact with a bat to reach out. Bats were seen flying through the crowd, and rabies exposure is the concern. Check the alert from Mount Airy's government for details on what to look for and who to call.
❤ SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Say Vrai - Gluten-Free Bakery
Right in town at 9899 Main Street #135, Say Vrai bakes and cooks everything gluten-free out of their own dedicated facility. We ordered their gluten-free lasagna and ravioli and it did not disappoint. And the scones? Amazing. If you or someone you love is gluten-free, this is the spot. They're open Thursday–Saturday, 10:30am–6pm, and you can also catch them at farmers markets across the DMV.
Please respond with feedback and any ideas you have for this newsletter! And thank you for reading!