 County Executive Marc Elrich this week addresses how an approved phaseout on the use of gas-power leaf blowers will improve the quality of life around the County. He also talks about the Safe Streets Act of 2023 and efforts to make our streets and roads safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. The County Executive also continues his push to have prescription drugs made more affordable.
Stories in this issue include:
 Every U.S. household can place an order to receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home from the U.S. Government.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program, which encourages students who have a safe path and live near their elementary school to walk to school, will join in the national recognition of “Walk and Roll to School Day” on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Most County elementary schools will participate, with a special event starting at 8:15 a.m. that day at Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, is hosting a series of 10 “Community Conversations” from September through December to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. The next conversation, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16, at the County Executive Office Building in Rockville and viewable online, will focus on priority issues for Parent-Teacher Associations.
Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s youth basketball programs will open at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2.
The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month will take a delicious turn from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, when Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., presents the free online adventure Culinary Traditions of the Diáspora Latinoamericana. It will be hosted by Omar Lazo, owner of Los Chorros Restaurant in Wheaton. Community members representing the diversity of the Latin American Diaspora will join the program to share their own food memories and culinary traditions from across the Americas.
 Montgomery County Recreation, in partnership with the Montgomery County Public Schools Out of School Time program, will offer free out-of-school programming for students throughout the 2023-24 school year.
 The Montgomery County Commission for Women is sponsoring two free programs that can help residents get themselves better organized. A series of “Financial Health and Wellness Seminars” will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Seminars on “Separation and Divorce: What Do I Need to Know?” will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
In joining the celebration of International Music Day on Oct. 1, Montgomery History will be making available its free online presentation “Old Time Music in Montgomery County: Will Adams and Beyond.” Jake Blount will lead the presentation, which will be available for a one-week period starting Monday, Oct. 2.
 The energetic Quimbao Latin Band will headline the Wheaton TGIF Friday Encore fall concert series on Friday, Sept. 29, at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station. The performance is part of a month of Friday concerts that join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
 The 29th Annual Montgomery Parks Harvest Festival will be a day of fall activities and opportunities to meet farm animals up close. The festival will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Montgomery County Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood.
 The City of Gaithersburg’s 30th annual free celebration of Oktoberfest from noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, will provide an opportunity to experience a wide variety of German traditions, food, beer and entertainment.
 Montgomery County Public Libraries will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with author Tony Medina as its featured “Contemporary Conversations” series speaker from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Mr. Medina, a professor of creative writing at Howard University, will talk about the Latino identity/culture and his professional career journey during the free event at the Rockville Memorial Library.
 The Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) is urging residents to “Know the Signs” of domestic violence. That is the theme as October will be recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
 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.
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) has launched its new podcast, Something to Talk About. Hosted by award-winning journalist Bob Levey and business leader Kelly Leonard, the podcast will feature top Montgomery County business leaders sharing their successes, advice for other businesses, County resources and reasons why thousands of businesses call Montgomery County home.
The Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival, a showcase of creative marching art preceding a day of food, fun and entertainment, will return to Downtown Wheaton on Sunday, Oct. 15. The parade annually features exhibits that can be pushed, pulled, carried, worn or performed—but none that is powered by motors of any kind.
 Montgomery Parks is conducting an online survey, seeking community input on the renovation of Jesup Blair Park. At 15 acres, Jesup Blair Park is the largest park in Downtown Silver Spring.
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