 The extreme heat that is gripping the nation also will have a dramatic impact on Montgomery County. Helping those who have limited alternatives to keep cool is an immediate priority of County Executive Marc Elrich, as he also says this why the County must focus on the long-term goals in its Climate Action Plan. He encourages residents thinking of switching to solar energy to consider joining the Capital Area Solar Switch movement. After signing the County’s Rent Stabilization Bill, County Executive Elrich reflects on why it is important for affordable housing.
A spectacle of nature in Montgomery County is nearing its summer peak as the vast sunflower fields of the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area on River Road in Potomac are showing off their best right now. There is no fee or permit required to access the property.
 Neighborhoods throughout Montgomery County, including many in the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville, will join in the celebration of National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Police Chief Marcus Jones will be among those joining police and fire department representatives and local leaders stopping by events that will include block parties, community cookouts and activities for all ages.
Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), in partnership with Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc. (FOLMC), Mid-Atlantic Scratch League (MASL), Levine Music and Classroom 2 Community (C2C) will have a full day of free events on Saturday, Aug. 12, to celebrate music on vinyl records and the DJ culture. Just for the Record—A Vinyl Day, geared toward all ages, will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring.
WSSC Water is extending Get Current temporary water bill amnesty program through Thursday, Aug. 31. This is the second extension of the financial assistance program that helps eligible customers with a delinquent balance as of May 1, 2023, by providing bill credits and waiving 100 percent of late payment charges and turn-on fees.
“RainScapes” projects are landscape or design techniques that help reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties. At times, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection offers rebates for projects to help defray their costs. The portal to apply for the RainScapes Rebate Program will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
21 Organizations Receive Grants Totaling $1,425,000 to Support Adult English Language Learning
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), in partnership with Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council, recently awarded grants totaling $1,425,000 to 21 organizations that provide 27 adult English language learning programs across the County.
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Folklore follows formulas and conventions that govern the folksongs, the folk art and the folktales and legends people share. Many of the personal accounts of being abducted by aliens follow a three-part formulaic structure: captured by aliens; examined by aliens; and then returned to pre-abduction status, often with lasting memories of the encounter. All of these encounters will be the focus of the free online presentation “Captured, Examined & Returned: The Folklore of Alien Abductions” that will be led by Smithsonian Curator Jim Deutsch from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 31.
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‘Road to Sprawl: The Intercounty Connector & the Limits of Mobility, Development and Land Preservation’ Presentation Will Be Available Starting Monday, July 31
The history behind the plan and building of the Inter-County Connector is the focus of a free online presentation from Montgomery History that will be available for a one-week period starting Monday, July 31. John Spiers, a visiting assistant history professor at Boston College, will lead “Road to Sprawl: The Intercounty Connector and the Limits of Mobility, Development and Land Preservation.”
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A series of Summer Shady Hikes organized by Montgomery Parks will help people stay active in August, despite the heat. The hikes will be especially geared to help beginning hikers. The three hikes in August, designed for ages 8-and-older, will take place from 6-7 p.m.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council have announced that $1 million in grants is available through the new Community Projects Fund to assist small, emerging and volunteer-led nonprofits in implementing community focused projects, initiatives and events. The first round of grants, totaling $250,000, is open now. The opportunity will be reopened later in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) with at least $250,000 available in each quarter to support new community needs and opportunities.
 The Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District has teamed up with the iconic Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center for this year’s TGIF Summer Concert Series, offering after-work celebrations on Friday evenings. The world-folk fusion of Project Locrea will highlight the series on Friday, Aug. 4.
 The jazz and swing of the Seth Kibel Quintet with vocalist Flo Anito will be featured at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, as Gaithersburg’s free popular Summer Outdoor Concert Series continues at the Gaithersburg City Hall Concert Pavilion.
 The Emmy award-winning campaign “La Abuelina” is joining the Vision Zero Initiative’s pedestrian safety team to educate residents throughout July and August about how to safely navigate the newly installed pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs) located across the County.
 Montgomery County’s process for reviewing and approving development projects during the Development Review Process Workgroup listening sessions will provide one more opportunity for residents to provide input. Residents can sign up to provide feedback during the workgroup’s third and final listening session that will be held virtually from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
 A community mosaic mural that was created by families living in Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) apartments in Wheaton working with artists from the Wheaton Arts Parade organization was formally dedicated on Thursday, July 27. The mosaic panels were created in 2019, but installation was delayed due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
The Maryland General Assembly, during its 2023 session, approved legalization of recreational use of cannabis for adults 21-and-over. The law went into effect on July 1, but many residents still have questions about details in the law. Among the most common questions refer to being able to use cannabis in public areas and how its use can lead to impaired driving.
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