 The new approach from Maryland Governor Wes Moore to address the future of the American Legion Bridge and traffic on I-495 and I-270 is the main focus of County Executive Marc Elrich’s thoughts this week. The idea to start with the bridge gets his support. The County Executive also updates the role of members of the County Fire and Rescue Service in assisting in the fire recovery efforts in Hawaii. With the start of school approaching, County Executive Elrich emphasizes the need for all children to be current with required vaccines before opening day.
Stories in this issue include:
 The Rockville City Police Department (RCPD), in partnership with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County Public Schools, will hold a “gun buyback” event from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, (rain or shine) at RedGate Park in Rockville. The event is open to all and no ID is required. Gift cards of $100 or $200 will be presented to participants for functioning weapons, depending upon the type of weapon brought for exchange.
 The competition for court space between tennis players and players of pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., will be the topic starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, in the next event in the Montgomery Parks’ Virtual Speaker Series. The online discussion, which is free to join and open to all, will feature a panel of experts talking about the rapidly growing demand for pickleball in local park systems, comparing the situation in Montgomery County with other areas of the country.
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center has joined NBCUniversal Local’s 2023 “Clear The Shelters” pet adoption campaign by waiving adoption fees on all animals on Aug. 26 and 27. Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center is struggling with critical population levels. The Clear the Shelters event has led to record numbers of adoptions in past years and the shelter hopes to see the same results this year.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners will host 10 Community Conversations from September through December to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. The first conversation will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Mid-County Recreation Center in Layhill.
The 85th Annual Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade will return to the streets of Olde Towne at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 4. This rain or shine event includes dance groups, antique cars and fire trucks, clowns and high school marching bands. It also will feature an assortment of community groups and equestrian units. County Executive Marc Elrich is scheduled to be in the parade.
 The 56th Annual Town of Kensington Labor Day Parade and Festival will start off the holiday early, with the parade kicking off at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4. The parade will include marching bands, equestrian show groups, dance units, floats and ambassadors. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is scheduled to participate in the parade.
Bicycles that are no longer being used by some can make a big difference for others. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s annual Bicycle Donation Drive will be held on Friday, Oct. 20. The event will make it easy to donate previously owned bikes and ensure they will have a continued impact.
Nature Centers of Montgomery Parks Will Close August with an ‘End of Summer Night Hike’ and Play Day at Clarkmont Local Park
The nature centers of Montgomery Parks will close August with two special events. The “End of Summer Night Hike” will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Maydale Nature Center and the Play Day at Clarkmont Local Park in Boyds will start at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31.
|
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.
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. 26, 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.
 Paul Carr’s Jazz Academy of Music will kick off the Wheaton TGIF Friday fall concert series on Friday, Sept. 1, at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station.
 The western swing and rockabilly of Kiti Gartner and the Drifting Valentines will be featured at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, as Gaithersburg concludes its free Evenings in Olde Towne 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’s Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Resident and Community Food Gardening Grant Program recently presented 10 awards totaling $100,000 in funding to expand resident and community food production capacity. The awards, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, represent partnerships in the faith community, urban agriculture, neighborhood associations, academic institutions and community health services.
 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 Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Child Care Support Services (CCSS) is seeking nominees for its first-ever presentation of the Montgomery County Early Care and Education Excellence Awards. Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Self-nominations are encouraged.
|
