 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich this week joined County Police in expressing anger at the incident on I-270 earlier this week that left Sgt. Patrick Kepp severely injured and expressed hopes for the recovery of the nine-year veteran officer. County Executive Elrich also talked about how renovation of a 96-unit apartment complex in Takoma Park will continue efforts to increase affordable housing in the County. Additionally, he addressed the results of a County survey of the LGBTQ+ community.
Stories in this issue include:
 One of the highlights of the fall season is watching the leaves on the trees change from the vibrant green of summer to an array of red, orange and yellow splendor. Visit Montgomery wants people to know that a trip to New England or through the Shenandoah Mountains is not necessary because a day trip around the County will provide a season’s worth of great sights.
 The Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2023 class of six new members on Sunday, Oct. 29, at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Downtown Silver Spring. The fifth class for the Hall of Fame includes legendary figures in their respective fields in Georgetown Prep football coach Jim Fegan, the late Gaithersburg High School football coach John Harvill, Paint Branch basketball star Tracy Jackson, Springbrook High and U.S. national team soccer player Joanna Lohman, tennis player Harold Solomon and television sportscaster Scott Van Pelt, who attended Sherwood High School.
 The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center is holding a fee-waived adoption event for dogs 40 pounds and over through Oct. 31. The “Find Your Boo” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals.
 As Veterans Day approaches on Saturday, Nov. 11, Montgomery County has joined the national “Operation Green Light” salute to veterans and the County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs is seeking additions to its virtual tribute to County veterans. For those who want to attend ceremonies on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, several will be held around the County.
Montgomery County’s Office of Grants Management is accepting applications from qualified nonprofit organizations providing direct services to or advocacy for County community members. An amount totaling $250,000 is available through the County’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Quarter 2 Community Projects Fund Grants Program. Applications can be submitted by eligible nonprofits until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
 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.
 Whether to provide lights on two ballpark diamond fields and a future rectangular field at Damascus Regional Park will be the focus of a meeting Montgomery Parks will be holding at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg. The meeting also will be available virtually.
 Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center, in partnership with Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services, will host a town hall on Thursday, Nov. 2, to hear ideas from residents on how Maryland can address the opioid crisis. The event will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. in the third floor hearing room of the Montgomery County Council Office Building, which is located at 100 Maryland Ave in Rockville.
 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, Nov. 13 at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
The City of Rockville Police will be hosting their first free Halloween “Boo-Vie” Night with a double feature of the family friendly It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown followed by Hocus Pocus shown on a big movie screen starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27. The special event, which will include complimentary food and treats, will be held at Fallsgrove Park at the Thomas Farm Community Center.
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Tickets are now on sale for the annual winter “Garden of Lights” display at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. Garden of Lights is a half-mile, walk-through, outdoor exhibit featuring more than a million twinkling lights formed into tunnels, flowers, animals and other natural elements.
 The City of Gaithersburg’s 28th Annual Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park now has tickets available for purchase. The spectacular drive-through event, which is open most evenings between Nov. 24 and Dec. 31, requires advance purchase of tickets.
 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.
 Nocturnal Animal Days on Oct. 27-29 at the Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda and the “Witchy Paddle” adventure on Little Seneca Lake on Saturday, Oct. 28, are among the special activities that will be hosted by the nature centers of Montgomery Parks in October.
A months-long selection process and a public vote coordinated by Montgomery Parks have resulted in "Synesthesia" by Baltimore artist Becky Borlan being selected as the artwork that will be among the highlights of Gene Lynch Urban Park in Silver Spring. The winning entry was selected among four finalists and will be permanently installed in summer 2024.
‘Canavest: A Final Piscataway Outpost in Colonial Maryland’ Will Be Online Presentation of Montgomery History on Tuesday, Oct. 24
Canavest, which was located on Heater’s Island in the Potomac River, was the last permanent village of the Piscataway Indians in Maryland. Various aspects of the site—which was occupied from 1699 to at least 1712—are vividly described in a series of colonial documents from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. “Canavest: A Final Piscataway Outpost in Colonial Maryland” will be a free, live online presentation of Montgomery History at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24.
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 Montgomery County’s Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District will celebrate Halloween with themed events for adults, children and families on Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29. “HalloWheaton” kicks off with Wheaton’s first-ever trick-or-treating themed bar hop for adults (ages 21 and older) from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday. The festivities continue from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday with family events at Marian Fryer Town Plaza.
 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.
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