 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich opens this week’s newsletter reminding each of us of the remaining opportunities to join his virtual Budget Meetings. Be heard! Your input is key! He then talks about his administration’s continuing efforts to drive down COVID-19 cases including enhanced vaccination and testing opportunities. He goes on to provide an update on Booster shots and his position on vaccine mandates for County employees. The County Executive also addresses I-270/495 and other challenging issues such as Rent Relief, Affordable Childcare, and combatting the upcoming flu season. The County Executive wraps up his letter reminding us that October is both Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month - two issues that are critical to the health, safety, and welfare of our families.
Montgomery County-operated vaccination sites will move to new locations to provide increased capacity for COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccination sites will continue to provide first and second doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccine, as well as providing additional doses and booster shots currently recommended for certain groups and eligible residents who received the Pfizer vaccine. Testing for COVID-19 will also continue.
 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has made available a dashboard of statistics that reflects the number of students and staff members who have contracted COVID-19 and shows the number of students who have been forced to quarantine because of possible exposure to the virus.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the County’s regional services centers will host three additional hybrid forums in October to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget. The next forum will be held Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center. Residents can attend the forums in person or view them via the internet.
 Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The statistics are updated to reflect the most recent reports from the State of Maryland during the health crisis. Among the information available is how many positive cases have been reported in each zip code in the County.
 The Montgomery County Planning Department, which is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will hold a virtual public meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20, on the preliminary transit plan for I-270. Corridor Forward: The I-270 Transit Plan will have planning staff presenting recommendations, including a potential transit network, to serve communities and employment centers along the I-270 corridor.
Fall is filled with special events from Montgomery Parks. The wide range of events will include festive fare at Pumpkins & Pours, riding on the Halloween Eye Spy Trains and experiencing Fall on the Farm. As Halloween nears, costumes can be displayed at Spooktacular activities at the Halloween 5K Haunted Hustle or Nightmare on Elm Street.
Montgomery County Recreation will offer out-of-school programming for elementary school students on Friday, Oct. 8, which is an early release day for Montgomery County Public Schools. Kids Day Out is an afternoon of fun, supervised activities that are planned with an emphasis on kid-friendly, healthy recreation.
 A bicycle donation event sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation on Friday, Oct. 8, will provide bicycles for kids and adults in need. Bikes will be collected from 7 a.m.-2 p.m., outside of the Council Office Building parking garage at the corner of East Jefferson Street and Monroe Street in Rockville.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will adjust Ride On bus schedules to 64 routes starting Sunday, Oct. 10, to increase overall service and improve efficiency. The changes reflect the continuing shift of resources toward schedule patterns prior to the COVID-19 health crisis.
 “Economic Recovery and Workforce Solutions” will be the theme from noon-1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, when Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Economic Revitalization and Recovery program continues its series of virtual town hall meetings to keep businesses informed on strategies for doing business as the health crisis continues.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will join residents and members of the County’s library community for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, to celebrate the reopening of the newly refreshed Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Germantown Branch.
 The Montgomery County Department of General Services’ Office of Planning and Development and Montgomery County Public Libraries are exploring opportunities for the future of the Chevy Chase Library. In October, they will be presenting scenarios to the community and inviting feedback.
 Two upcoming Facebook Live events will help Montgomery County parents learn about how to find quality child care and figure out how to pay for it. The sessions are planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in English, and Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Spanish. Each will feature representatives from the County’s Division of Early Childhood Services, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), answering questions from parents and prospective parents.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the County Council have proclaimed the month of October as “Energy Action Month” to raise awareness of energy efficiency policies and programs to help boost economic opportunities and create jobs. One of the policies the County and its Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will highlight is the proposed Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) that would significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in existing multifamily and commercial buildings.
Free online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs will be available throughout October through a program offered by Montgomery County Public Libraries. All workshops will be offered virtually.
 The Montgomery County Commission for Women will offer five opportunities for women to participate in an evening S.A.F.E. seminar (Self-defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange) for $10 per participant. The introductory self-defense seminar will assist women of all fitness levels with information that may reduce the risk of exposure to violence and introduce the physical aspects of self-defense.
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