 Montgomery County is home to one of the world’s best-known biotech corridors and a new world-impacting COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Novavax in Gaithersburg has cleared a final regulatory hurdle for potential availability this fall. County Executive Marc Elrich this week talks about the importance of the many companies in the County’s science community. He also discusses the overwhelming attendance at a recent County career fair and ways the County is streamlining its hiring process to ensure top candidates can more easily get County jobs. He also introduced the new County’s new Climate Change Officer and talks about the historic Scotland AME Zion Church.
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 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 Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, is hosting a series of 10 “Community Conversations” 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.
 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 Latin pop rock of Ocho de Bastros will headline the Wheaton TGIF Friday Encore fall concert series on Friday, Oct. 6, 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.
 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 seventh episode of the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Podcast focuses on “Public Right-of-Way” information. It provides tips about how to know where a property ends and where the public right-of-way begins; who maintains it; what can be located in the public right-of-way; and when a permit is needed.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is partnering with the State to celebrate “Walktober,” a month-long series of activities in October promoting Maryland’s official exercise: walking. Maryland named walking as the official State exercise in 2008.
 A variety of fall harvest festivals and Halloween-themed happenings highlight Montgomery County Recreation’s calendar of special family-friendly events in October. The events will include “Glow-in-the-Dark” pickleball, swimming with pumpkins and haunted houses.
 Montgomery Parks will have a full month of special events in October, including “Eye Spy Train Rides,” Sunday Serenades and a “Frakenskate.”
 Learning how to make apple cider using a traditional hand-crank press and a costumed “witchy paddle” on Little Seneca Lake are among the special activities that will be hosted by the nature centers of Montgomery Parks in October.
 Community-based artists and arts collectives in Montgomery County are invited to submit applications for “Healing Art,” a sustainability-themed artist-In-residence six-month project. The selected artist/team will engage DHHS staff and clients through hands-on art making activities with a focus on building community resilience among residents most vulnerable to the impacts from climate change; facilitating social support and healing in difficult times; and promoting a sense of agency on the part of DHHS clients.
 The Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association Fall Art and Harvest Block Party will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8. In addition to family fun, games, exhibits and art activities, the annual event this year will also celebrate the activation of two new park amenities: the Serenity Community Gardens and the Gathering Tree public art projects.
 The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services has removed permitting barriers to allow produce growers to build high tunnel-type greenhouses on urban and suburban properties, a benefit previously reserved for land designated as agricultural.
 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.
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.
 The 18th Montgomery County History Conference will return as an in-person event for the first time since 2020, with the full day of activities on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Montgomery College in Rockville including a keynote address on “Black Chevy Chase” and breakout sessions “The Du-Drop Inn of Emory Grove” and the “Historic Homes and Barns of the Agricultural Reserve.”
 Residents 18-and-older who are interested in electric scooter lessons will have the opportunity to attend free clinics sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation on Sunday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 28. Participants will be able to take a test ride, learn safety tips and get details on basic scooter laws.
 To combat the harrowing issue of human trafficking, the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee is introducing its inaugural education and awareness campaign. Montgomery County residents will soon encounter powerful anti-human trafficking messages displayed on buses, bus stops and various social media platforms. The ads will be placed on 12 buses in English and Spanish and be displayed at five bus transit shelters. The campaign will run through October.
Making Birding Accessible for All Will Be Focus of Latest Montgomery Parks Virtual Speaker Series on Tuesday, Oct. 17
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