 Montgomery County’s efforts to electrify its Ride On bus fleet were cited as a national model by President Biden this week and County Executive Marc Elrich talks about how the County is moving forward with that program. The County Executive also addresses the need to talk to teenagers about their early dating experiences as February is recognized as “Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.” The fentanyl crisis continues to be a major concern of County Executive Elrich and he encourages parents and students to attend special fentanyl awareness meetings. A virtual meeting will be held for Spanish speakers on Tuesday, Feb. 21, and a hybrid meeting will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, with the in-person presentation at Northwood High School in Silver Spring.
 The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will have schedule and program changes for Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 20.
Marylanders either needing or just contemplating replacing appliances could be motivated to shop from Feb. 18-20 when they can save on paying State sales tax on eligible Energy Star-rated appliances during “Shop Maryland Energy Weekend.”
The Montgomery County Food Council has released its interactive, online 2023 Montgomery County Food and Beverage Guide. The sixth edition of the Guide features 75 businesses in total.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich this week was joined by County Councilmember Kate Stewart, Police Chief Marcus Jones, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jane Redicker and entrepreneur Jason Miskiri to provide details on proposed “Late-Night Business Safety Plan” legislation. The bill would establish new rules for businesses that operate between midnight and 6 a.m. in areas that generate high calls for service, requiring them to develop a business safety plan and have it approved by police.
 Registration is now open for the 10th Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit, which will take place in-person on March 28-29, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Hosted by the County Department of Environmental Protection, the Energy Summit brings the private sector, nonprofit groups and local governments together to collaborate on expanding high-performing, sustainable buildings.
 A diverse selection of educational and entertaining programs celebrating Black History Month will be hosted by Montgomery Parks throughout February.
Montgomery County will hold a free flu vaccination clinic for children and adults from 10:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, at the Dennis Avenue Health Center, located at 2000 Dennis Ave. in Silver Spring. Adults and children ages six months and older are eligible to receive vaccinations at the clinic. COVID-19 vaccinations and testing also will be available. The vaccination clinic is free. Appointments are required.
 Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) is holding a fee-waived adoption event for dogs over 40 pounds that is continuing through Friday, Feb. 24. The “More to Love” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA).
 “Montgomery Connects,” Montgomery County’s digital equity and inclusion program, will distribute 10,000 laptops to low-income individuals funded by the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund grant and Maryland Emergency Education Relief grants. The distributions will take place, while supplies last, at numerous events across the County in February, March and April.
The evolution of Bethesda was the subject of a 2022 virtual presentation from Montgomery History that proved to be its most watched presentation of the year. Starting Monday, Feb. 20, and continuing for a one-week period through Sunday, Feb. 26, “A Wide Place in the Road—The Roots of Modern Bethesda” will again be available in a free virtual presentation from Montgomery County’s history organization.
 County residents who are ages 100 and older or will turn 100 in 2023 will be honored in May at a special celebration. Montgomery County Recreation is now seeking to identify those residents so they can be invited to the event.
The annual “GreenScapes” landscape symposium of Brookside Gardens will be held online from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17. The focus of this year’s program is “Designing with Purpose.”
 Montgomery County residents are feeling the love from their local transportation department. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has decorated some of its US 29 Flash buses with pink neon heart-shaped lights in honor of Valentine’s Day. The buses will remain decorated throughout February.
Sheree Renée Thomas, a New York Times best-selling writer and two-time World Fantasy Award-winning author, will be the featured speaker at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, as Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) continues its Contemporary Conversations series with a presentation recognizing February as Black History Month. Ms. Thomas will speak at the free event at the Rockville Memorial Library on “Afrofuturism and Diversity in Sci-Fi.”
 Participants are now being sought to join the 21st Annual Gaithersburg St. Patrick's Day Parade, which will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, at rio in Gaithersburg. The parade meanders down Grand Corner Avenue at rio.
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