 In his video this week, County Executive Marc Elrich discusses his personal use of solar energy and gardening. He also shares stories from members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, who recently returned from working as part of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. As a holiday weekend approaches, he offers thoughts on the meaning of Labor Day. And following a devastating hurricane that hit the southern part of the nation this week, he encourages residents to follow the suggestions established by National Preparedness Month.
Stories in this issue include:
 The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will have schedule and program changes for Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 4.
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.
 The 52nd Annual Labor Day Weekend Art Show at Glen Echo Park will be held in the park’s historic Spanish Ballroom from noon-6 p.m. each day starting Saturday, Sept. 2, and running through Monday, Sept. 4. The exhibition features the work of more than 300 artists from the Mid-Atlantic Region. Admission is free.
 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 discussing the challenges of meeting the rapidly growing demand for pickleball in local park systems, comparing the situation in Montgomery County with other areas of the country.
 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 Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) this week launched an all-hands-on-deck litter and debris removal effort aimed at removing litter from its roadsides prior to Labor Day weekend. SHA maintenance shop personnel have been spanning the State to beautify roadsides as part of its “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland” project.
September Nature Center Programs of Montgomery Parks Will Include ‘Hiking with Your Dog’ and ‘Etch and Sip Hard Cider Night’
A variety of hikes including “Hiking with Your Dog,” a native plant sale and “Etch and Sip Hard Cider Night” are among the many special events that will be featured throughout September by Montgomery Parks.
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 The Rockville Victorian Lyric Opera Company is celebrating 45 years of presenting opera locally with a season of three delightful comic operas. The season will include Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville.
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.
Legendary vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, a three-time Grammy® Award winner, will highlight a full day of entertainment on two stages at the free 18th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival in Silver Spring downtown on Saturday, Sept. 9. The festival, which will start at 3 p.m. on Veterans Plaza, will feature performers with various types of traditional and multicultural jazz sounds.
 In recognition of National Preparedness Month in September, the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) and Montgomery County Recreation have teamed up to help educate older adults on the importance of preparing for natural disasters, catastrophic events and other emergency situations. The County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will also participate in the events.
Montgomery County businesses looking to grow through partnerships with organizations overseas could be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 for qualified travel or marketing expenses through the Maryland Department of Commerce’s ExportMD program. Applications to receive grants must be submitted by Thursday, Sept. 7.
The early evolution of the post roads and their impact on the development of Montgomery Country will be the subject of a free online presentation from Montgomery History that will be available Sept. 4-11.
 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 Nighthawks, the legendary blues and roots band now in its fifth decade, will headline the Wheaton TGIF Friday Encore fall concert series on Friday, Sept. 8, at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station.
 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.
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