 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the first 11-member County Council were sworn in to new terms at inauguration ceremonies this week. It provides a prime opportunity for the County Executive to look back at what was accomplished in his first four years in office and what he considers priorities for the next four years. He also looks at immediate issues—such as local hospitals having their beds filled by the “tridemic” of flu, RSV and COVID-19. He advocates for residents to get flu shots and COVID booster shots, noting that the County will be distributing free vaccines at its next “Boosterama” event at Westfield Wheaton mall on Saturday, Dec. 17.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was sworn in to his second term and the members of the County’s first 11-member County Council also wore sworn in at the Montgomery County Inaugural Ceremonies on Dec. 5 at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda.
 Montgomery County Recreation Center membership passes will be free for County residents in 2023. Starting Jan. 3, a free pass will provide access to fully equipped fitness rooms, open gym (drop-in) activities and game rooms at any community recreation center during regularly scheduled hours.
 The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and M&T Bank are partnering for the second year to offer a free 10-week “Small Business Accelerator Program” to assist small businesses—both emerging ones and those trying to rebuild from the impacts the COVID health crisis. The program will teach early-stage and minority entrepreneurs the essentials of business planning, operations, credit building, digital communication and financial management. It also could provide access to capital.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, the County’s regional services offices and community partners are hosting hybrid forums to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget. The next forum, emphasizing priorities of the senior community, will be conducted from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown.
 As the holiday season coincides with a rise in respiratory virus cases, Montgomery County, in partnership with Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar and Westfield Wheaton, will provide free COVID bivalent boosters and flu shots during the second holiday “Boosterama” vaccine event. COVID booster shots will be available to anyone age 5 and older who had their last dose at least two months ago. The event will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at Westfield Wheaton mall.
 Local community members representing the diversity of European heritage will gather to share their food memories and culinary traditions from across Europe in a free online discussion that is open to all from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15. “Culinary Traditions of Europe,” which will be hosted by Carol Lite and will be presented by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., will include some holiday food traditions in a wide discussion.
 The Montgomery County “Design for Life” program provides property tax incentives to make homes accessible for all ages and stages of life. Information about the program is now available from the Department of Permitting Services (DPS), which issues permits and certifies Design for Life projects.
 Haley McClanahan and Elizabeth Harnett from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy will be the main speakers at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, as Montgomery Parks continues its free online Parks Speaker Series. The forum will focus on the Brooklyn Bridge Park TIDES (Teens Interested and Dedicated in Environmental Stewardship) program.
 Montgomery County Recreation is hosting holiday-themed, family-friendly events for everyone to enjoy this winter. From cocoa and crafts to photos with Santa, December events will be hosted at community recreation centers, senior centers and aquatic facilities across the County.
 Montgomery County Recreation will begin accepting applications for 2023 Rec Assist, the department’s financial assistance program, on Monday, Dec. 12. Rec Assist provides County residents who receive eligible public assistance with an opportunity to receive a scholarship toward most Recreation activities and memberships.
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Gene Meyer has spent decades exploring every nook and cranny of Maryland from the Eastern Shore to Appalachia—first for The Washington Post and then for Maryland Life magazine. History is always an essential ingredient of his work, and people and places in Montgomery County are part of the mix. He will bring those experiences to the Montgomery History free online presentation Hidden Maryland: In search of America in Miniature at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
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The “Garden of Lights” display, which annually transforms Brookside Gardens in Wheaton into a magical winter wonderland, is now open for the 2022 winter season. The exhibit will be open from 5:30-9:30 p.m. every night through Jan. 1, except Dec. 24-25.
 The Rockville Civic Ballet will present three additional performances of the holiday favorite The Nutcracker on Dec. 10 and 11. Eleanor Simpson and Erin Kwong will direct the classic that follows Clara on her magical journey.
 Michael W. Twitty, an award-winning culinary historian, food writer, teacher and author, will join the free, online “Contemporary Conversations” series of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. Mr. Twitty will be discussing the connection between the foods and traditions of the African Atlantic and the global Jewish diaspora.
 The Arts and Social Justice Fellowship (ASJF), presented by Strathmore with Core Partner Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, is looking toward its second year of identifying a next generation of artists with activism. The application deadline for the 2023 program has been extended to Monday, Jan. 2.
 Online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs will be available free throughout December through a program sponsored by Montgomery County Public Libraries.
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