 County Executive Marc Elrich continues to spotlight the individuals and organizations that helped the County through the COVID-19 health crisis. In his weekly message, he also provides an update on the impact of COVID-19 and how it adversely impacted minority populations in Montgomery County. He advises uninsured individuals that they must quickly take action and urges anyone interested in law enforcement to consider applying for Montgomery’s outstanding police force. He also takes pride that the County continues to be named among the best places to live.
 Streeteries were established as part of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets program, allowing restaurants to establish outdoor dining areas on streets that have been closed to vehicular traffic. First created in response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the pedestrian-friendly program will be extended throughout the summer and at least through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5.
 Montgomery County residents can pick up free at-home polymerase chain reaction COVID-19 test kits at locations throughout the community. The "20/20 GeneSystems" tests are available to County residents while supplies last. Residents can receive a maximum of two test kits per person (each kit contains one test) per visit.
 Sign up opportunities are now underway for residents to offer their views on County Executive Marc Elrich’s proposed $6.3 billion Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget at public hearings that will be held by the County Council on April 19, 20 and 21.
Five seminars on “How to Avoid Scams Targeting Seniors” will be presented at senior communities and centers around Montgomery County in April by John McCarthy, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney, and Eric Friedman, the director of the County’s Office of Consumer Protection. Three of the seminars will be open to all County residents and two will be for residents in specific senior-living communities.
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Residents 18-and-older who are interested in electric scooter lessons will have the opportunity to attend four free clinics in April, May and June sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. Participants will be able take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws.
Downtown Silver Spring will be the beneficiary of a $300,000 Congressional appropriation for economic development to support the Arts & Brewery District. The funding was part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Federal budget agreement and will help strengthen the economy for one of Montgomery County’s critical business centers. The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will receive and administer the funding.
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Registration is now open for the 2022 Maryland Civil Rights Educational Freedom Experience. This annual bus tour retraces the Freedom Trail, the Montgomery (Ala.) Bus Boycott, the Greensboro sit-ins, voting rights and other significant events of the Civil Rights movement. The tour is sponsored by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights.
 Choose Respect Montgomery, which is dedicated to educating students and parents, and raising awareness, about teen dating violence, will host its annual “RespectFest” from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. The free festival is open to middle and high school students, parents and youth-serving providers.
Montgomery County’s month of recognizing and commemorating two years of fighting the COVID-19 health crisis continues this week with “Essential Workers Week” from March 20-26. The County is honoring people who provided important services and support throughout the pandemic.
 County Executive Marc Elrich, Anthony Stahl of the Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center and Katie Rothenberg of The Tower Companies will be among the headline speakers at the 2022 Montgomery County Energy Summit that will be held on Tuesday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 6. The Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Green Building Council National Capital Region are the co-hosts of the ninth annual Summit, which will have its in-person sessions at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
Nearly all of the 74 lift locks along the C&O Canal were accompanied by a lockhouse, where the locktender and his family lived. The stories behind seven revitalized lockhouses will be told in a Montgomery History presentation Canal Quarters: Explore Seven Lockhouses on the C&O Canal that will be available after 10 a.m. on Monday, March 28.
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The Montgomery County Commission for Women is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. In recognition of March as Women’s History Month, the Commission for Women invites residents to participate in its fifth annual “Girl Power Contest.” County residents, ages 5 and up, are encouraged to submit a short story, poem, drawing, or medium of their choice that addresses two key questions. Entries must be submitted by Thursday, March 31.
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 Author Georgia Hunter will join Montgomery County Public Libraries for a free virtual “Meet the Author” event at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30. She will discuss her acclaimed novel, “We Were the Lucky Ones,” which is about her family’s survival during World War II. Ms. Hunter was 15 years old when she learned about her family's history as Holocaust survivors. “We Were the Lucky Ones” was borne out of her desire to learn about her family's extraordinary experience of survival and perseverance.
“World of Glass,” an exhibit featuring works from the Art Glass Center at Glen Echo, will be open through June 5 at the Arts Barn Gallery in Gaithersburg. An artists reception will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7. The exhibit is sponsored by Gaithersburg’s Arts on the Green program.
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If chess interests you—and especially if it does not (at least right now)—an opportunity awaits to learn more about the game by joining the “Bauer Bishops” every Tuesday at the Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center in Rockville.
 Gaithersburg’s Arts on the Green will present an Evening of Jazz featuring TrioVera with special guest Irene Jalenti at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn.
Needwood Golf Course in Derwood, one of nine courses operated by the Montgomery County Revenue Authority has retained its designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. Needwood was first designated by Audubon International as a Certified Cooperative Sanctuary in 2013 and is one of about 900 courses in the world to hold that certification.
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Montgomery County Recreation is hiring part-time seasonal employees to work during the summer season and will have job fairs on Saturday, April 9, in Gaithersburg and Rockville. Numerous positions are available for aquatics and summer day camps. There also are openings in community recreation facilities, senior services, youth development, sports and therapeutic recreation.
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