Wow, what wintry weather we’ve been having! Quite a doozy of a snow/sleet storm on January 25 + nine days straight of subfreezing temperatures = mountains of frozen rock hard “snowcrete.” Digging out has certainly been much more challenging than usual. When the county needs to abandon snow plows and bring out the Bobcats to clean the streets and school is closed for over a week, you know it’s serious!
Kudos to all who toiled and labored and nearly broke their backs to clear neighborhood sidewalks. (And if you notice an area that still needs clearing and are able, please help with further ice removal. Many shovelers make light work!)
While stuck at home, some spent this unexpectedly lengthy winter “staycation” discovering the many wintry “humble wonders” to be found right here in the neighborhood, documenting snowy scenes, and creating some unique forms of snow art.
Yes, one needn’t travel far to enjoy the wintry pleasures of sliding down the “Black Diamond” of Grace Church and “Aspen Slopes” of Woodlin, climbing the “Mt Everest” of Luzerne/Glen Ross, and spotting the “polar bear” of Stratton. And many an igloo abound for those looking for some icy lodging.
Check out some more wintry scenes captured by neighbors:
And stay tuned for the 2025 North Woodside Snow Art Awards!
While you wait, how about going on a Snow Art Scavenger Hunt? How many cool creations can you spot? More specifically, how many igloos, snow people, and unique snow sculptures can you find? And can you locate the “Snow Henge” of North Woodside?
This interview conducted by journalist Maria Esther Cáceres aired Sunday December 28th 2025, on El Zol 107.9 FM. Translated from Spanish by Phyllida Paterson. Translation approved by Maria Esther Cáceres.Scroll down to end to listen to the interview.
Host: In this community affairs program, Tu Familia Zol, we regularly feature how members of the Latino community are forging ahead. On this occasion, I have the pleasure of presenting Danny Chavez, a young entrepreneur originally from El Salvador, who has achieved his dream of opening his own restaurant here in the area. His restaurant is named Lime & Cilantro and we were able to see Danny’s pride in the support he receives from his community, (and) his neighbors, and through this program he hopes to share his story, his experience, his restaurant. Welcome, Danny Chavez.
Danny: Thank you, thank you for inviting me, it’s a pleasure to be here with you. I’m from El Salvador, from (the city of) San Miguel. I came here to the US when I was 14. I grew up with my father in Connecticut. My father is a chef as well. Obviously when you immigrate to this country, you do what you have to do and start working. That was my story. I began by washing dishes, and then continued growing (professionally) by opening my mind to exploring other stations in the kitchen, and thankfully I got to where I am today.
Host: Danny, when did you first begin to enjoy cooking?
Danny: I think it was something organic. I saw how my father managed his (restaurant) kitchen, and developed dishes for the menu. I think it was things like that which attracted me. I didn’t know if I was going to support myself this way, but (in fact) that is what happened (laughs). I did three months of internship in one of the culinary schools in New York, called the CIA (Culinary Institute of America). I was there three months and learned some things, the basics, but traveling from Connecticut to New York was a journey of two to three hours, and due to my limited income the commute prevented me from doing what I needed to do (to survive.) My father is still in Connecticut. He works in a restaurant called The Mill on the River. It’s one of those restaurants that everyone knows where it is, it’s a “staple”(breaks into English) as they say, and the food, obviously, is excellent.
When I came here to Washington DC I began by working in hotels; later I worked with chefs who inspired me to take my passion for food a little further. I worked for Michelin restaurants too and that is when I learned to take flight and said okay, let’s go for this 100% because it’s what I’m passionate about doing.
I read lots of cookbooks to help me understand what to use to create a dish, what flavors can I invent to make it taste distinctive; reading and watching other people, watching cooking shows on television, everything together (inspires me). Every day is different and new. When we are dealing with a menu, or a dish, we (often) have to tweak one thing or another, that is to say that I never get bored. I’m always coming up with new ideas.
Host: Danny, when did you decide to begin this culinary adventure? We’ve heard that you now have your own restaurant. Tell us about it.
Danny: Well, I’ve worked for a lot of other chefs, in Michelin restaurants and so on, so one day I said to myself, you know what, if I know how to cook at this level, why don’t I try to find a way to open my own restaurant? That was the idea, at the end of the day, to open a restaurant, so we opened Lime & Cilantro here in Silver Spring and we’ve been here for about two years. I’m grateful for the community around us, because we feel their support daily.
Host: What types of dishes do you offer in your restaurant?
Danny: We are a Latin American restaurant so we have a little of everything. We have dishesfrom El Salvador, like my mom’s tamales. People come and say “I want those tamales” and this is one of the dishes we sell the most of. We have a short rib too which comes with a mole (sauce) and this is another that when people come (and taste it) they say “Wow.” Our vision is always to be different from the rest, to bring something new, something fresh, so that people will come and say “This is something I haven’t had in other restaurants.” We make the Salvadorean tamales with masa de maiz (maize dough from ground nixtamalized corn). We have the traditional elote (corn) as well as chicken. We serve them with tomato sauce and queso fresco. We also add a sauce with lime zest (lime crema).
Host: Your father also works in a restaurant. Have the two of you shared any culinary secrets?
Danny: Yes. Now he’s the one who calls me to ask how he can make a dish (laughs). Yes, he and I are in touch: we talk about menus, if he needs help with something, if I ask for the favor of helping me develop something new.
Host: Could you highlight some of the features of your restaurant, with regards to the space itself?
Danny: It was something we planned carefully, because obviously at the beginning when we arrived the space wasn’t what it is now. We didn’t want it to be cluttered, but we didn’t want it to be too sparse either. We needed to make it cozy, so that people would come in and say “Wow, yes this restaurant is Latino, it’s elegant, and at the same time it serves food that we haven’t seen elsewhere.” You should enter and not feel pressured, everything should flow organically, from the table service to when the food comes out to the presentation of the food. This is something (that makes us) different because yes, we take the time to develop menu items but at the same time we want this to be a Latino restaurant, but a little elegant. We work with local farmers. All our food is local – the vegetables (for example)…. The vision of our restaurant is always to offer the freshest products to our diners.
Host: Talk to us about the challenges that you have faced?
Danny: Running a restaurant isn’t something about which you can say “This is the easiest thing ever.” Obviously not! The air conditioning can break down. The heating can break down in the winter. A pipe can rupture. And much more. These are the kinds of challenges that you can’t predict, and when they happen all you can do is keep going and figure out the best solution. Patience is the number one necessary quality for being an owner or being a chef. Things are never going to be perfect; there will always be obstacles. The only option is patience and to push forward.
Host: What satisfactions or rewards do you get from your work?
Danny: My reward is that because we are a family restaurant, I have my family around me and we work together, exploring something that we hadn’t expected to do, this is the greatest reward that we have received. Apart from this is that since we opened we’ve had an impactful presence in our neighborhood. We came out on the front page of The Washington Post in our first year. We were also in Tom Sietsema’s guide, which named us as one of the forty best restaurants in Maryland.
Host: What are your future plans?
Danny: Our hopes at least are to open a new restaurant at the beginning or middle of 2026, I think. That’s the idea at the moment – to showcase something different.
Host: You are located in Silver Spring.
Danny: Yes, we are at 1909 Seminary Rd in Silver Spring, sort of in the direction of Wheaton (if coming from DC.)
Host: Do you have enough parking?
Danny: In front of our restaurant we have three or four parking spaces, but across the road there is a parking lot where you have to pay, but I think it’s about 25 cents. There’s plenty of parking there.
To people who are listening to this interview on the radio, visit us! Like I said, we are at 1909 Seminary Rd here in Silver Spring. We are open from Tuesday to Sunday. On Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM – 2 PM we offer brunch. We have tamales with eggs, we have pancakes made with tres leches…. Our menu is varied and you won’t be disappointed. We are here, and hope to remain here for many more years.
Host: Can people find information about your restaurant online?
Danny: Yes, we have our website. You can also follow us at Lime & Cilantro on Instagram or Facebook. We are on all the platforms.
Host: Thank you for informing us about your venture, your restaurant, and we hope things go well for you, Danny.
Danny: Thank you very much for the invitation. Have a good day.
On December 14, 2025, perhaps the coldest, windiest day in NWCA’s long tradition of lighting the holiday tree and menorah on the first night of Hanukkah, 75 neighbors, friends, and pets turned out to join in good cheer, song, hot cider, treats, and an appearance from Santa. A miracle!
At long last, some photos of the event! Many thanks to all the neighbors who contributed to event in a myriad of ways.
If you’d like to make an online donation to support the event go to our Simpli Dues page, and choose “Holiday Fund.” For information on how to donate by check go to our dues and donations page.
And many thanks also to the neighbors who kept the menorah lit over the course of the next week.
The annual Holiday Tree Lighting* and Hanukkah Celebration will be on Sunday, December 14, 4:45 pm, at the Luzerne/Glen Ross island. Note: Rain date is Monday, December 15, 6:00 pm.
The celebration begins at sundown with the lighting of the menorah, a holiday singalong and tree lighting, visit from Santa Claus, and refreshments, including latkes (potato pancakes) and hot cider. Scroll down for the program and song sheet.
The first night of Hanukkah this year is December 14, so the first candle of the neighborhood menorah will be lit that evening and lighting the remaining candles will continue for eight nights. If you would like to help with setting up or cleaning up, preparing refreshments, posting street closure signs, or any other aspect of this event, please contact Melinda Frederick, program coordinator.
SSL service hours will be available to MCPS students who volunteer for this event.
The NWCA community will be notified via the listserv of any event updates. Donations to defray the costs will be gratefully received at the event or online.
Singers Wanted: Our Tree Singers group performs holiday music at the above event, and we’re always looking for new members. It is a cappella four-part harmony, so some choral experience and music reading skill is helpful. I can give you music in advance. We usually have two rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the event. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me. Thank you! – Julie Lees
* Recent historic newspaper research suggests that this year is the 99th anniversary of the first community holiday tree lighting in 1926. Wow, the tradition is much older than we realized!
On Thursday, September 4, state and local leaders gathered in Montgomery Hills to announce that the project to make long-awaited improvements to Georgia Avenue is now fully funded.
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Draft Fiscal Year 2026–2031 Consolidated Transportation Program allocates funds needed to complete the $50.8 million Georgia Avenue project. Final design is complete, right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations are underway, and construction will begin in spring 2028.
In announcing funding for the project, State Highway Administrator William Pines said, “[The State Highway Administration] is excited to see this important safety project advance, bringing improvements that will enhance safety, connectivity, and accessibility for all highway users. The partnership with the community has been critical to moving this project forward and we look forward to coming back to celebrate its completion.”
For more than 40 years, plans have circulated to transform Georgia Ave. in Montgomery Hills into a tree-lined boulevard that feels like a neighborhood street, not a highway cutting through the middle of the surrounding neighborhoods. For decades, those plans stalled. The heart of Montgomery Hills is too often treated as a place to drive through rather than a destination to walk, bike, gather, and shop.
When complete, the reimagined Georgia Avenue corridor will:
link to community assets—improved walking and biking access will make it easier for residents to connect with local businesses, Forest Glen Metro, downtown Silver Spring, nearby schools, and eventually the Purple Line.
be safer for everyone—replacement of the reversible lane with a median, improved sidewalks, and protected
cycle lane will make traveling along the corridor easier and safer whether you’re on foot, on a bike, in a wheel
chair, or in a car.
support local businesses—a more attractive, walkable environment invites people to stop, linger, and shop locally.
space for a community park—realigning southbound 16th St. will make room to develop a new neighborhood park.
create a sense of place—with trees, wider sidewalks, and space for people, Georgia Avenue will become the kind of main street that strengthens neighborhood identity.
This is a landmark moment for Montgomery Hills. After decades of waiting, the vision of a tree-lined boulevard that connects rather than divides is finally within reach. The progress we have seen on this project is due in large part to community input and activism, including strong support from residents of North Woodside and the North Woodside Citizens’ Association.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, September 14, as seen on NASA’s livestream.
By Leticia Barr
It’s up! North Woodside’s own SilverSat CubeSat launched into space Sunday, September 14, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX rocket to begin its mission to tweet pictures to order from space.
Persistence paid off for SilverSat’s team of student engineers, who started out as a small group of local middle and high schoolers in 2017.
But the effort started three years earlier as a labor of love launched by North Woodside resident Dave Copeland, himself an aerospace engineer, along with his wife Cheryl Guerin Copeland, fellow North Woodside residents Leticia Barr and Jim Barr, and Woodside Forest neighbors Noelle Kurtin and Chris Rutledge. Their plan: Gather a group of middle and high school students to build and launch a miniature satellite known as a CubeSat.
It took a lot longer to pull off than they ever dreamed. “I thought it would launch by 2019,” Dave said. Their own children aged out of the project and graduated from high school, as have numerous students in the project. But others signed up to replace those who moved on, and successive teams plowed through the pandemic and other hardships to bring the project to reality.
The students packed the 10-cubic cm (about 4-cubic inch) satellite with a camera, radio transmitter and receiver, computer, solar panels, electronics, antenna, guidance systems, and other equipment needed for its mission to tweet from orbit.
Guided by Dave and a few other dedicated parents with the needed expertise, they tested and retested the satellite to make sure it worked and could withstand the rigors of space. They learned how to operate a radio transmitter, earned amateur radio licenses, and demonstrated their expertise to NASA’s strict standards.
North Woodside and Woodside Forest neighbors and founding Board members of SilverSat Leticia Barr, Jim Barr, Chris Rutledge, Cheryl Copeland, and Noelle Kurtin celebrate the launch at a home in Montgomery Hills. SilverSat President, Dave Copeland, attended the launch in Cape Canaveral.
“The goal of SilverSat has always been to provide area kids with an opportunity to learn something outside what they learn inside a classroom,” said Leticia, a former Montgomery County Public Schools teacher. Some of the students have chosen to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees and careers, and more than a few have come back to act as mentors to the team. Leticia’s daughter, Emily, was one of the founding participants. Now majoring in engineering as a senior at Harvey Mudd College in California, Emily watched the livestream of the launch from her dorm room and texted a photo of the rocket launch to the family group chat.
Anyone can visit SilverSat’s websiteat Silversat.org/operations to request a photo. If it’s feasible, when the little satellite is orbiting over the right spot in the Northern Hemisphere, it can take a picture of that spot and then send it out over X (formerly Twitter) from its account @silversatorg for anyone to see.
Before we turn the calendar page from November to December, enjoy some photos of the community event that kicked off the month…
On November 1, 2025, the Linden and North Woodside civic associations came together once again to host a festive neighborhood Halloween celebration filled with fun and seasonal cheer. Families, kids, and pets showed off their costumes in lively parades, while live music set the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of relaxed, community-centered fun, with great food, happy neighbors, and plenty of chill vibes. At a time when togetherness matters more than ever, the event was a great reminder of the importance of the strength that comes from being united and supporting one another. Thank you to everyone who participated in the event and made it a memorable time. — Mona Alzate, NWCA event volunteer
And a gallery of some of the costumed canines (and other furry friends) who attended:
The North Woodside Civil Resistance Group is teaming up with the Capital Area Food Bank to provide healthy food to families in need. One in three people in our region struggled with hunger last year. Job instability for furloughed and fired federal workers, inflation, and rising food costs are compounding the problem for many families in our area. None of our neighbors should face hunger, especially during the holidays.
Together, we can make a difference for our neighbors. For every dollar we raise, the Capital Area Food Bank can provide two healthy meals. That’s good food today for a bright future tomorrow.
Lime & Cilantro has faced an unexpected and challenging situation that has deeply affected their business and the community they serve. Danny Chavez, the chef and owner, had a dream of creating a welcoming space where friends and family could enjoy great food. Unfortunately, they were forced to close their doors in October 2025 due to circumstances beyond their control. The sudden eviction left them with no time to gather their belongings, and the financial strain has been overwhelming.
Despite these hardships, they managed to reopen on November 18, but the road ahead remains difficult. The loss of income for Danny and his family, who are all employees, has been significant. The legal fees and lost inventory have drained their savings, and they are now working hard to rebuild. Your support can make a real difference in helping Lime & Cilantro get back on their feet.
Every visit to their restaurant and every contribution counts. Let’s come together to support this small business that has given so much to our community. Thank you for considering a donation to help them overcome this adversity.
– Excerpted from email circulating to local listservs
Jeff Weintraub, a vocalist and guitar player from the North Woodside neighborhood, will be performing at the Urban Winery on Thursday, November 20, from 7 to 9 pm. Joining him will be Jack Gruber on keyboards, Percy White on bass. They will play a wide sampling of jazz, blues and folk tunes.
The Urban Winery is located at 2315 Stewart Ave. in Silver Spring. For more information, go to www.weintraubmusic.com.
Welcome to North Woodside 