 County Executive Marc Elrich helps conclude Women’s History Month by paying tribute Rachel Carson and Maria Gomez, each of whom had a dramatic impact on residents of the County and beyond. He talks about the importance of those eligible getting a second COVID-19 booster shot. He offers thanks who work hard to provide food security to others and addresses the current status of the Community Engagement Officer program in schools. He also thanks Montgomery County’s elected State leaders for their efforts to gain funding for County programs.
 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have approved giving a second booster dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for certain groups. Montgomery County-operated clinics are now providing the second booster dose to eligible residents.
 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.
 Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services will welcome the spring season with a limited availability whiskey lottery that provides opportunities to purchase highly sought spirits. The lottery is free to enter, but has varying residency requirements.
 Montgomery Executive Marc Elrich will be the featured guest during the 500th episode of “Montgomery al Día” (“Montgomery Today”), Montgomery County’s National Association of Counties award-winning Spanish-language radio show on Radio America WACA 900AM.
 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.
|
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.
 During the month of March, as Montgomery County marks two years of fighting the COVID-19 health crisis, the County is highlighting the sacrifices, dedication and efforts of individuals and partners in the community. During “Food Security Week” (March 27-April 2), the County is recognizing individuals and organizations who provided food and other vital necessities to individuals and families in need throughout the pandemic.
County Executive Marc Elrich has presented his $6.3 billion recommended Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget to the County Council for its review. The budget included significant investments in efforts to combat climate change. The County Executive, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, will discuss those efforts and answer questions from residents in an online climate change budget forum.
|
 April will have a lot of opportunities to dust off the winter cobwebs and get moving with a month of special events from Montgomery Parks, including the Cherry Blossom Fun Run/ Walk, Sunset Yoga and Salsa in the Park. There also will be Chess in the Park. The special events calendar also will include music, locally crafted beer and food with the return of Acoustics & Ales.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will be among the featured speakers at the 2022 Montgomery County Energy Summit, which will be held from Tuesday, April 5, through Wednesday, April 6, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. This year’s Summit will focus on innovation in the areas of Technology Implementation, Policy and Program Design and Creativity in Financing Projects.
“The Country Doctor in the 1800s: The Life and Times of Dr. Edward Stonestreet of Rockville” will be theme at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, in an online presentation from Montgomery History.
|
 The Seventh Annual Montgomery County “GreenFest” will return as a free in-person festival celebrating Earth Day from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. The theme for Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in Our Planet.”
 Gaithersburg’s Arts on the Green will hold its 2nd “Walking with Shakespeare” adventure from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at Observatory Park in Gaithersburg.
The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) has been selected by the International Economic Development Council for its inaugural “Equity Communities” initiative. MCEDC is one of five economic development organizations nationally participating in the year-long program to further local and regional efforts to promote equitable practices and standards in economic development. In addition, the program will help develop frameworks for local models and national best practices.
|
 Free online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs will be held throughout April. The workshops are sponsored by Montgomery County Public Libraries.
|
