 The first severe weather of winter has County Executive Marc Elrich addressing how the County is preparing for the storm conditions that will be ahead—while also talking about the need to protect the most vulnerable residents. Winter also has brought increases in COVID-19 and flu cases, leading the County Executive to encourage everyone to get vaccines. A good way to do that will be at the “Boosterama” event at Westfield Wheaton mall on Saturday, where vaccines will be available for free. County Executive Elrich also tells residents to take advantage of the Montgomery County Recreation initiative that will make passes for residents to recreation centers available for free in 2023.
 The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection will be helping residents find discounts on electric vehicles (EVs) with the launch of its new “EV Purchasing Co-op Dealership Incentives” web page. The program is the first in Maryland where a local jurisdiction is partnering directly with local automobile dealerships to provide incentives and discounts for EV purchases.
 The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will have the following schedule and program changes for the Christmas Weekend, Saturday, Dec. 24, through Monday, Dec. 26.
 Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center is holding a fee-waived adoption event for all animals through Saturday, Dec. 24. The “Home for the Holidays” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals.
 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.
 With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the National Capitol Region, Montgomery County officials are offering precautionary recommendations to prevent further community spread of the virus. The County’s COVID-19 case rate has risen steadily over the last month and is now more than double the recent rate low on Nov. 28.
 Montgomery Parks is modifying its “open parkways schedule” to reopen portions of Beach Drive to vehicles on Fridays. Beach Drive will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists (closed to vehicles) on Saturdays and Sundays. The change will go into effect on Friday, Dec. 16. The modification is being made in response to an analysis of traffic data showing a substantial increase in vehicle traffic on neighborhood streets on Fridays.
 The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation and WSSC Water are urging homeowners to be “Salt Wise” and use less salt on sidewalks and driveways during winter storms.
 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.
 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.
 Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has started construction on a new Gaithersburg retail store, which will be the third in its enhanced “Oak Barrel & Vine” retail line. The store is located in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center at 512 N. Frederick Ave. The full-service store is expected to open in spring 2023.
 Montgomery County’s annual “Point-In-Time (PIT) Street Count is scheduled for the overnight hours of Wednesday, Jan. 25, and volunteers are needed to help survey unsheltered individuals and households. The County Continuum of Care, the County’s local planning body that coordinates housing, services and funding for homeless families and individuals, organizes the effort in partnership with service providers in the community.
 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.
 The Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District will have many holiday and winter-themed programs to keep all ages entertained through the New Year. In addition, the outdoor ice skating rink at Veterans Plaza is now open seven days a week.
Current and potential future owners of electric vehicles generally have many questions as the mobile technology evolves. In the latest episode of the What’s Happening MoCo podcast, host Derrick Kenny learns about electric cars, benefits to owners and an incentive program that will involve Montgomery County to make electric vehicle ownership easier.
The Gaithersburg Arts Barn and Alex & Olmsted Puppetry will present Milo the Magnificent at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at The Arts Barn. The performance is suitable for all ages.
 Durward Center, the restorer and caretaker of Glen Echo's Wurlitzer 165 Band Organ for the last 50 years, will explore the journey of the organ at the historic park in a free online presentation from Montgomery History. The presentation will be available for a one-week period starting Monday, Dec. 19.
 Montgomery Parks is seeking input from community members about facility hours and the types of programs they would like to see at Montgomery Parks nature centers. The department has launched a nature center community input survey for people to provide feedback. The survey can be accessed online through the end of January.
 Four local individuals and organizations were presented with Solidarity for Health Equity awards at the World AIDS Day breakfast held Dec. 1. The County’s Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to sponsor the awards and reviewed nominations.
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