A local barbecue restaurant is stepping up to support Montgomery County Public Schools employees affected by recent workforce reductions.

Following Thursday’s approval of the MCPS Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget, which includes the elimination of hundreds of positions across the school system, Mackie’s BBQ announced it will provide free meals to impacted employees and their families.

“It’s unfortunate that Montgomery County Public Schools is reducing the workforce for the second time in two years,” Mackie’s BBQ shared in a social media post. “To all the amazing teachers and support staff, if you or your family need a meal on the house, please message us at your convenience so we can schedule a pick up for you. It’s our way of saying thank you for your dedication and hard work.”

The offer comes one day after the Montgomery County Board of Education adopted a $3.72 billion Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget. School officials said the spending plan was necessary to address a $36 million shortfall while protecting classroom instruction, student support services, school safety staffing, and college and career readiness programs.

As part of the budget, MCPS will reduce 415 positions districtwide. Board President Grace Rivera-Oven and Superintendent Thomas Taylor acknowledged the difficult nature of the reductions, noting that every position represents a dedicated employee who has served students, families, and schools.

Mackie’s BBQ’s gesture has already drawn praise online, with community members applauding the restaurant for supporting educators and school staff during a challenging time.

Any MCPS teacher or support staff member affected by the reductions who may need assistance is encouraged to contact Mackie’s BBQ directly to arrange a pickup. Mackie’s is located at 8547 Ziggy Lane in Gaithersburg.

As temperatures rise and ice cream season kicks into high gear, a new study has revealed Marylanders’ favorite frozen treat.

Researchers at Innerbody, a team of scientists, medical professionals, and health researchers, analyzed nationwide search data to determine which states are the most ice-cream-obsessed and which flavors and brands generate the most interest across the country.

According to the study, strawberry is Maryland’s most-searched ice cream flavor, while Talenti earned the title of the state’s most-searched ice cream brand. Maryland also ranked as the 16th most ice-cream-obsessed state in the nation, placing it firmly in the upper half of the rankings as summer begins.

The study found that Maryland’s neighbors have slightly different preferences. Virginia ranked as the 20th most ice-cream-obsessed state, with Cold Stone Creamery serving as its most-searched brand. Washington, D.C., ranked 33rd overall, with Jeni’s earning the title of the district’s most-searched brand.

Nationally, strawberry emerged as the most-searched flavor in the country, beating out longtime favorites such as chocolate and vanilla. The flavor claimed the top spot in several large states, including California, Texas, and Michigan.

The study also found that more indulgent flavors are gaining ground on traditional classics. Chocolate chip ranked second nationwide, followed by cookie dough in third. Plain chocolate and vanilla rounded out the top five.

Researchers noted that regional preferences often reflect local culture and tastes. Blueberry was the top flavor in Maine, coconut led in Hawaii, and peach took the crown in South Carolina. Other states showed more unconventional preferences, including boba ice cream in Florida, lavender in Oregon, and matcha in Kansas.

When it comes to brands, Halo Top ranked as the most-searched ice cream brand nationwide, followed by Cold Stone Creamery. However, regional loyalties remained strong, with states like Texas favoring Blue Bell and Vermont continuing to support hometown favorite Ben & Jerry’s.

The Northeast proved to be America’s strongest ice cream region overall. Led by New Jersey, seven of the nation’s top ten most ice-cream-obsessed states were located in the Northeast, while traditional dairy-producing states such as Wisconsin and Arkansas ranked surprisingly low.

The full article and study can be found here.

The Olney Farmers and Artists Market is embracing all things pickle this weekend with its first-ever Pickle Festival, taking place Sunday, June 7, from 9am to 1pm.

Visitors can sample a wide variety of pickle-inspired creations while exploring the weekly farmers market. Organizers promise plenty of opportunities to answer important questions such as… Will pickle pizza become your new favorite food? Are pickle sandwiches worth the hype? And can you really make delicious pickles at home without all the hassle?

The festival will feature free samples from local vendors competing with their own unique pickle-themed offerings, including pickle smoothies, deep-fried pickles, pickle popcorn, pickle empanadas, pickle moonshine, pickle pizza, pickle bagels, pickle sandwiches, dill pickle cheddar cornbread, French pickle potato salad, and even pickles on a stick.

Participating vendors include:

• PACHA MAMA – Pickle Smoothies
• CREPE SHOPPE – The Cubano
• BE STILL BAKERY – Gluten-Free Pickle Bagels
• LONE OAK – Pickle Moonshine
• SIDE’S BBQ – Surprise Pickle Creation
• PAW POP POPCORN – Pickle Popcorn
• INFO TENT – Pickles on a Stick
• DALAT DELI – Deep Fried Pickles
• PERSONAL CHEF NICK – French Pickle Potato Salad
• LA TABLE DU CHATEAU – Pickle Sandwiches on Sourdough Bread
• DMV EMPANADAS – Pickle Empanadas
• SWEET TEA & CORNBREAD – Dill Pickle & Cheddar Cornbread
• SAN VALENTINO PIZZA – Pickle Pizza

In addition to the pickle-themed food and drinks, attendees can browse the market’s regular lineup of local farmers, food vendors, artisans, and small businesses.

The Pickle Festival will be held at the Olney Farmers and Artists Market (2801 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd.) on Sunday, June 7, from 9am to 1pm. A rain date is scheduled for June 14. Whether you’re a longtime pickle lover or simply pickle-curious, this may be the most dill-icious event in Montgomery County this weekend. 

Male bowerbirds are notorious for their complex mating rituals. They build intricate tunnels out of twigs—the bowers from which they get their name—and then decorate them with random colorful items gleaned from the environment. When a female of the species shows up to check out a male's fancy digs, the male tosses his shiniest objects in her direction and shows off his plumage in hopes of impressing her.

According to a new paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science by University of Exeter scientists, urbanization and the associated growing availability of brightly colored human-made items have had a significant impact on courtship display behavior in Australian male bowerbirds. There are marked differences in the choice of decorations for bowerbirds in urban versus rural environments. This might be because urban birds simply have greater access to the items than their rural counterparts, since birds in both environments show a marked preference for human items.

The University of Exeter researchers monitored the bowers of 61 male great bowerbirds in two sites in Australia's northern Queensland—the rural Dreghorn Cattle Station and the urban Townsville City—during the prime breeding season (September–December 2023). Then they photographed the bower decorations in situ from above in both visible and UV light (bowerbirds can see in the UV range), using an umbrella to create diffuse lighting.

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