 County Executive Marc Elrich is encouraged by various indicators that show Montgomery County is ending 2023 headed in a positive economic direction. He looks beyond County borders and hopes creative ways can be explored to fund the Washington Region’s transportation needs. And he offers his first thoughts on the Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget request of Montgomery County Public Schools.
Stories in this issue include:
 The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will have schedule and program changes for Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Weekend, Sunday, Dec. 31, and Monday, Jan. 1.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Andrew Friedson and Council Vice President Kate Stewart joined with United Therapeutics Corporation last week to announce a partnership, valued at more than $100 million, for future growth and long-term vision for Downtown Silver Spring. The partnership includes a general development agreement between the County and United Therapeutics that will allow for the company’s future growth in Silver Spring and provide significant benefits to the County.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Andrew Friedson, Maryland State Senator Will Smith, State Delegates Lorig Charkoudian, David Moon and Jheanelle Wilkins and Montgomery Parks Director Mike Riley joined community leaders this week for the presentation of two checks totaling $805,600 to fund improvements at the Long Branch Library and Long Branch Parks. The ceremony took place at the library.
 Registration for ice time and reservations for tennis courts is now open for Montgomery Parks’ Winter Term I ice and tennis court availability.
The “Garden Railway Exhibit” at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, a winter show at the Wheaton Ice Rink and the Garden of Lights at Brookside are among the highlights of the special programs and events being offered by Montgomery Parks in December.
Metro has shutdown Red Line service at four stations to perform critical safety repairs to the tunnel and track infrastructure, upgrade signal and communications systems, and install new platform edge lights. Service is scheduled to resume at the stations by Dec. 31.
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 The sounds of the season, photos with Santa and screenings of holiday classics at the AFI Silver Theatre are keeping the festive spirit throughout December in the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District.
The Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District and surrounding areas will have a full schedule of winter events and holiday celebrations for all ages. The events will include the Wheaton Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 23, at Marian Fryer Town Plaza.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration has started a project to maintain pavement and improve ride quality on I-495 (the Capital Beltway) that will impact Montgomery County drivers through the end of the year. The work will be done five nights a week between MD 191 (Bradley Boulevard) and east of Linden Lane and between east of Northwest Branch Anacostia River and US 29 (Colesville Road).
 A book swap for seniors at Argyle Local Park in Silver Spring on Jan. 7 and a winter tour of Brookside Gardens in Wheaton on Jan. 26 are among the special events that will be sponsored by Montgomery Parks in January.
 Montgomery County Recreation is hosting two free summer camp fairs in January to help families plan for their children’s summer activities.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will adjust 25 Ride On bus route schedules starting Sunday, Jan. 14, to improve efficiency and on-time performance. Although service levels are staying relatively the same, the changes reflect a shift of resources to allow for more reliable service where there is higher demand.
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