 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, a former elementary school teacher, this week offers his thoughts after Montgomery County Public Schools placed on leave a principal accused in multiple incidents of sexual harassment. The County Executive also encourages shoppers to take advantage of the final days of Maryland’s Tax-Free shopping week. And he talks about how members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, who are part of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, are assisting in Hawaii after the devastating fires on Maui.
Stories in this issue include:
 Shoppers in Maryland can continue to save by not paying the State sales tax of six percent on qualifying clothing and footwear priced $100 or less through midnight on Saturday, Aug. 19. The first $40 of back/bookbag sales also qualify.
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center in Derwood has reached a dangerous capacity for animals of all types. Despite the recent support in a campaign to have large dogs adopted, the over-population situation remains critical and has extended to all types of animals. To help inspire adoptions, the shelter is waiving adoption fees for the next 100 pets adopted by Thursday, Aug. 24.
Unprecedented Three-Pronged Approach to Funding Neighborhood Revitalization Launched With $3.7 Million for White Oak Façade Improvement Initiative
The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) has launched a unique, three-pronged approach to neighborhood revitalization by combining State and County funding, along with a financial commitment from local businesses and property owners, to kick-off a community improvement initiative in White Oak.
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Derwood is a large zip code area today, but few Montgomery County residents would be able to say exactly where is the locality originally called “Deerwood.” In a Montgomery History online presentation at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, historian Ralph Buglass will provide much of the information that GPS cannot address.
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 a class on how to make citronella candles that can ward off mosquitoes and a walk through the wildflowers of the Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda.
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Three-time Grammy® Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will headline the 18th annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring. The free festival will take place from 3-10 p.m. Bridgewater will take the mainstage at 8:30 p.m.
The Third Annual Montgomery County Children’s Business Fair will return to Rockville Town Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, to display the works and ideas of more than 55 young entrepreneurs. The event is free to attend and open to the public.
A new school year is about to start, and for some low-income residents without computers or the ability to pay for home or mobile internet, Montgomery County is trying to provide help through its continued program of giving away free computers and subsidized internet service. The next distribution of free computers will be from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the East County Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), in collaboration with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), is offering adult bike classes in September, October and November. The classes include both Learn to Ride and Basic Skills classes. MCDOT also will offer four free, walk-up scooter classes following select bike classes.
 The reggae music of Jah Works will conclude the Wheaton TGIF Friday summer concert series on Friday, Aug. 25, at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station.
 The “American rock ‘n roll” of The Billy Coulter Band will be featured at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, in Gaithersburg’s free popular Summer Outdoor Concert Series at the Gaithersburg City Hall Concert Pavilion.
 The 16th Annual “Bluegrass on the Farm” festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, will feature a hayride full of top entertainers at the Montgomery County Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. Top performers scheduled include Big Howdy, the Red Line Ramblers and Karen Collins and the Back Roads Band.
 Montgomery County nonprofit organizations including local watershed groups, homeowner and community associations, faith-based organizations, service and civic groups may be eligible for grants ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 via the “Clean Water Montgomery Grant” Program.
 Americorps, which has been helping recent high school graduates build confidence and skills to advance to their next steps in life, is seeking to recruit recent graduates who are wondering about their future. As part of “Project Change,” Americorps volunteers would be placed in a variety of positions, earning stipends for their work
 Montgomery County will host a remembrance ceremony and candlelight vigil on Thursday, Aug. 31, in Downtown Rockville to memorialize lives lost to overdose and substance use. The event will commemorate “International Overdose Awareness Day,” a global event aimed at raising awareness of overdoses and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths. The event also will recognize September as International Recovery Month.
 An amendment to Montgomery County Code Chapter 8-27 regarding the demolition or removal of buildings will go into effect on Monday, Aug. 21, to ensure that when a residential building is demolished or substantially demolished, a demolition permit will be required. The law also will require any new home rebuilt on that site have a new home building permit. The County’s Department of Permitting Services issues the permits.
 Montgomery Parks is seeking input on its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2025-30. Community suggestions for the upcoming CIP can be submitted online, via email, U.S. mail or in person at a public forum that will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Wheaton Headquarters of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
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