 County Executive Marc Elrich this week reflects on decisions made by the County Council as it works toward adopting the County’s 2024 Fiscal Year Operating Budget next week. He also talks about two new members named to the County Planning Board, including the new chair. He is enthused by the plan to build a new clean hydrogen microgrid that will power County hydrogen buses. County Executive Elrich also expresses his optimism that a new Late Night Safety Bill will make areas safer around businesses that operate late into the evening.
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting mattresses and box springs at the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center in Derwood. The new recycling program provides an opportunity for community members to responsibly dispose of old mattresses and box springs and will greatly reduce waste.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will kick off “Public Works Week” on Saturday, May 20, with Truck Day at the MCDOT Depot and Salt Barn in Gaithersburg. Truck Day is a free, family-friendly event that invites members of the community to touch, climb and explore the many first-response, construction and transportation vehicles that make the county run.
 Montgomery County is again joining the “Capital Area Solar Switch,” an innovative program that leverages the power of groups to help residents and businesses throughout the Washington metropolitan area learn about and install rooftop solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicle charging stations.
The Gaithersburg Book Festival, which since its inception in 2010 has evolved into one of the nation’s premier book festivals, will offer the opportunity to hear more than 135 authors for free from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. Among this year’s feature authors will be humorist Dave Barry.
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center will hold a fee-waived adoption event for all dogs starting Thursday, May 18, and running through Sunday, May 28. The “Love is Blooming” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals.
 Warm weather is settling in and Wheaton is ready to welcome it. From noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, the Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Downtown Wheaton will turn into a ”Spring Fling” free community picnic scene with music, food and drinks from local merchants, lawn games and arts and crafts.
 The Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs is honoring many “Fallen Hometown Heroes” with County connections dating back to World War I with detailed tributes displayed on a special website created by the commission. The tribute is especially notable as the County prepares to commemorate Memorial Day on Monday, May 29.
‘Not in My Neighborhood: Legal Housing Discrimination in Montgomery County’ Will Be Online Presentation of Montgomery History on Tuesday, May 23
In recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month, Montgomery History is teaming up with the American Jewish Committee to host a Zoom conversation at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, to examine legal housing discrimination—known as racial restrictive covenants—that prohibited Jews, Blacks, Asians and others to own or rent homes in some Montgomery County neighborhoods in the first three quarters of the 20th Century.
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 The Montgomery County Office of Community Partnership and the Asian American Health Initiative will host the second annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown. The event is free and registration is not required to attend.
‘Asian American Pacific Islander Culinary Traditions’ with Chef Kaimana Chee Will Be Focus of Online Discussion on Mon., May 22
“Asian American Pacific Islander Culinary Traditions” will be the topic from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, May 22, when Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., continues its year-long focus spotlighting food traditions of the diverse cultural communities in Montgomery County. Chef Kaimana Chee will host the Zoom presentation.
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 “Discover MoCo Month” special week-long programs in May sponsored by Visit Montgomery to celebrate the County’s small businesses and entrepreneurial spirit are continuing. Throughout the month, visitors and local residents will be able to access deals, discounts and special events at a selection of the County’s hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail businesses and craft beverage producers. “MoCo Eats Week” is continuing this weekend.
 Peerless Rockville, the city’s historic preservation organization, will be hosting a family friendly history tour and scavenger hunt that will explore how the coming of the railroad changed Rockville forever. Those wanting a fun way to learn about the area’s evolution can participate between Thursday, May 25, and Monday, May 29.
The nature centers operated by Montgomery Parks have an exciting and fun array of programs and activities in May, including the annual native plant sales, nature hikes to “parks unknown” and a waterfest.
 Montgomery County’s 26th Juneteenth Celebration will be held from noon-10 p.m. at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown on Saturday, June 17. This year’s theme, “Journey to Freedom: Acknowledge, Educate, and Celebrate” will showcase tracing the African American struggle for freedom through education, art, dance, music and honoring elders.
 Four Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services programs are joining efforts to host the first-ever “Growing Up Healthy Child Safety and Resource Fair” from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the Wheaton Regional Park. This free event was created to connect families to community resources and services that will help their children grow up healthy.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Manna Food Center are once again asking Montgomery County residents to help fight hunger in Montgomery County.
 The third annual Montgomery County Children's Business Fair will return in August after a three-year hiatus due to the health crisis. Applications are now being accepted for the event that will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Aug. 19. The fair, which will be held in Rockville Town Square, is open to ages 6-15.
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