 Sudden and powerful weekend storms last weekend felled more than 160 trees, left residents and businesses without power and stranded boaters. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich praised the people who worked tirelessly to help the County recover. He further talks about how the storms and the changing severe weather patterns are strong reminders that the goals in the County’s Climate Action Plan should be achieved. In addition, he addresses the County and State programs that will provide incentives for residents to buy electric vehicles.
The 74th Annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, which calls itself “the nine best days of summer,” returns to the Montgomery County Agricultural Center in Gaithersburg with a full schedule of daily activities from Aug. 11-19. Among the special events are the Chesapeake DockDogs canine aquatics competition on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11 and 12, and truck drag racing on Monday, Aug. 14.
 Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s fall programs and activities will begin at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 14. for County residents. Registration for Bone Builders, Day Trippers and Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation (SOAR) will begin at 9 a.m.
 Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has leveraged its direct import capacity and is now offering eight creative and cutting-edge wines from the Domaine de Galuval winery in the Rhône Valley of France. ABS serves as the exclusive distributor of these wines in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Only a few other U.S. outlets—in California, Puerto Rico and New York City—carry Domaine de Galuval products.
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.
 The music of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa will fill the stage at Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, when Polyphony Marimba performs a free concert.
 Montgomery County will be offering funding support for independently owned and operated businesses with 20 or fewer employees impacted by the Purple Line construction through Phase III of its Purple Line Light rail grants program. Eligible businesses can start submitting applications on Aug. 15.
Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), on Saturday, Aug. 12, will host its annual “Just for the Record–A Vinyl Day,” a celebration of music on vinyl records that will feature popular DJs from around the country and a special celebration of 50 years of hip hop. The free, family-friendly festival will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library located at 900 Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring.
 August starts giving hints that the end of summer could be in sight, so the nature centers of Montgomery Parks are offering many ways to make the most of the month. The schedule includes Family Fire Night and Treasure Hunting in Wheaton Regional Park.
 The fifth episode of the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Podcast, “Urban Farming, Fences, Paving and Zoning,” features useful information for residents who are looking for details about urban farming, putting up a fence and/or paving part of their front yard. The podcast, which is now available, also addresses backyard chickens that are not necessarily on farms.
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 is now open.
 Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has launched a new Ride On Trip Planner app that will make using the Ride On bus service easier and more convenient. The app was created in partnership with Moovit, a mobility and journey provider app. Riders can download the app from the Google Play or Apple app store.
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 hikes in August, designed for ages 8-and-older, will take place from 6-7 p.m.
 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. Bobby Thompson’s Blues City Shakedown will highlight the series on Friday, Aug. 11.
Artist Deirdre Saunder will join Peerless Rockville on-site at one of her art installations at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, to discuss her public art pieces located throughout and near the City of Rockville. The free talk in front of the historic Red Brick Courthouse in Rockville will provide an opportunity to hear about the development of public art from one of the area’s best-known artists.
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