Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will this $210,000 grant change Gaithersburg neighborhoods?
Be sure to catch Erin Ash Sullivan on the Gaithersburg Patch calendar

Morning Gaithersburg! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How will this $210,000 grant change Gaithersburg neighborhoods?
- How Gaithersburg's new "wind phone" helps residents process grief
- Why this Rio sushi spot belongs in your regular dining rotation
Also on today's calendar: Erin Ash Sullivan and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why was the scarecrow given an award? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Sunday: Rain most of the time, with a high of 64 and low of 56 degrees.
- Monday: Partly sunny and warmer, temps: high: 73, low: 43.
- Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 66 and low of 43 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Identity, Inc. Awarded Nearly $210,000 to Support Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village Communities (mocoshow.com) — Families in central Gaithersburg could see new support for kids and economic stability thanks to a nearly $210,000 state grant awarded to Identity, Inc. The yearlong ENOUGH GMV initiative will focus on six high-need census tracts served by Gaithersburg-area schools, bringing together the city, MCPS, community groups, and residents to tackle child poverty and improve economic mobility.
![]()
2. 'Wind Phones' Let People Say Things to Lost Loved Ones (washingtonian.com) — Gaithersburg now hosts a "wind phone," a quiet outdoor kiosk with a disconnected handset where people can speak unshared thoughts to loved ones who have died. Created through the Little Wind Phone Project, which also serves Silver Spring, it offers residents a free, reflective space for grief and remembrance while inspiring similar projects in nearby communities like Falls Church.
![]()
3. From Bethesda Magazine: Why Koi Sushi deserves a spot in your going-out rotation (bethesdamagazine.com) — Koi Sushi in Gaithersburg's Rio shopping center is praised as a reliable, everyday sushi option if you skip the fancier, pricier creations and focus on simple nigiri and classic rolls. The reviewer highlights generous fish-to-rice ratios, carefully prepared fillings, and a cozy, Tokyo-style interior that makes the suburban spot feel like an intimate city hideaway.
![]()
4. IKEA to Close Locations in Maryland, DC, and Virginia (mocoshow.com) — If you rely on the IKEA Plan and Order store at Rio in Gaithersburg, it's staying open even as several smaller locations in the region shut down this fall. The Boardwalk Place site will continue offering design and ordering help for kitchens, bedrooms, and more, though you still can't buy products or food on the spot.
![]()
📸 Around Gaithersburg
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 Gaithersburg
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Erin Ash Sullivan →
Darnestown Presbyterian Church, 15120 Turkey Foot Rd, Gaithersburg
2:00 pm - St. Raphael School Double Open House | K–8: 9–10 a.m. • Nursery: 10:30–11:30 a.m. →
St. Raphael School, 1513 Dunster Rd, Potomac
10:00 am - Frederick Ski Swap →
Frederick Fairgrounds - Home of The Great Frederick Fair, 797 E Patrick St, Frederick
9:00 am - Party in Pink →
61 Vineyard, 28712 Kemptown Rd, Damascus
4:00 pm
Sunday October 4
Monday October 5
Saturday October 10
Wednesday October 14
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Voter Hotline open Sept 28 through November 3! →
League of Women Voters of Montgomery County
10:00 am - Free Mindfulness Meditation Class at Gaithersburg Library Continues →
18330 Montgomery Village Ave, Gaithersburg
6:00 pm - Arts Barn Stage Adventures: Magic Ben and the World of Wonder →
Gaithersburg Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Rd, Gaithersburg
11:00 am - The Kennedys SMOKETREE CD Release Tour! →
Island Pride Oasis, 617 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877
7:30 pm - November Ballot Questions - Got Questions About The Questions? →
Multiple times and locations
10:30 am - Brewing Bliss, Blend Your Own Tea →
Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Rd, Gaithersburg
6:30 pm - Board of Education Candidate Forum →
Montgomery Community Television 7548 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855 and online
7:00 pm - BOOs & Brews →
The Comus Inn, 23900 Old Hundred Rd, Dickerson
4:00 pm
Monday October 5
Saturday October 10
Wednesday October 14
Sunday October 18
📣 Gaithersburg Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Gaithersburg PatchAM possible:
- Kielbasa Factory — 2404539090
- Summer At Sandy Spring — (301) 774-7455
- All Dwelling Solutions LLC — (301) 301-9488
- Blackbird Health — (301) 276-7031
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
- Looking to get my house aluminum siding painted.
Anyone that knows a reliable person please let me know. (Nextdoor Flower Hill) - Looking for a fast, inexpensive painter.
We had a handyman fill in nail holes and paint over the spackle and he just slopped the paint all over the walls—not on the tiny nail holes and the… (Nextdoor Goshen Maryland)
- Sheetz, Inc posted a job opening for Lead Team Member in Gaithersburg. Apply here.
- Michaels posted a job opening for Seasonal PT service team member in Gaithersburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gaithersburg here.
Ok Gaithersburg! 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: "Why was the scarecrow given an award?" — Because he was outstanding in his field! (Thank you Teresa M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 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.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.