 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich talks about how the climate change is causing radical weather patterns around the world—and may be responsible for the tornadoes that struck the County earlier this week. He also addresses the closure of five Red Line Metrorail stations in the County for much of the summer due to construction related to the future Purple Line—and the transit alternatives that will be available to Red Line riders. He discusses the donation to and efforts to restore the historic Scotland AME Zion church in Potomac. He also reflects on the importance of celebrating June as Pride Month and how the County will have ceremonies on June 10 in Rockville to raise the Pride Flag.
Stories in this issue include:
Montgomery County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs will join in the Maryland celebration of Women Veterans Day on Wednesday, June 12, with a virtual tribute to the County’s female veterans and a tribute display set up at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Downtown Silver Spring.
Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has expanded its “Highly Allocated Products” program to include quarterly releases on Sundays. The program is comprised of special releases of products, including sought-after bourbons, whiskeys and other small-batch spirits. The program ensures that access to rare products is distributed fairly among retail customers and license holders across the County.
 The 15th Annual “Silver Spring Blues Week” will turn Downtown Silver Spring into a week-long party of music from June 9-15, with legendary Daryl Davis and Angela Hill kicking off the festivities on Sunday, June 9. The week will conclude with the free all-day festival from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, on the stages on Ellsworth Drive.
Tenor and area resident Michael Hayes will perform songs from Broadway and opera in a free performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, at the Olney branch of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). Mr. Hayes recently retired from a 35-year opera/musical theater career, where he earned a reputation as one of the world’s most versatile and charismatic tenors.
A virtual community meeting about the future of the Bethesda Market Park will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. The future park site is adjacent to the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in Downtown Bethesda.
 Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Recycling and Resource Management Division has launched its “Backyard Food Scraps Compost Bin Bulk Discount Sale” with pickup dates on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23. Through the bulk discount sale, residents can purchase the Earth Machine and HotFrog Dual Chamber Tumbler at a reduced cost.
 The Montgomery Office of Human Rights, the Montgomery County Chapter of the NAACP and the Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church will host a free seminar for first-time homebuyers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, in Gaithersburg.
Montgomery County’s digital equity and inclusion program, “Montgomery Connects,” which is operated by the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS), will be distributing approximately 25,000 computers at no charge to eligible residents. The computers will be given out at events through June. Upcoming events include Tuesday, June 11, in Silver Spring; Wednesday, June 12, in Germantown and Thursday, June 13, in Rockville.
 High school graduates in the Class of 2024 and other recent graduates can consider entering a special state program that will enhance their job skills and possibly introduce them to people who could help with the eventual careers. They could apply for the Service Year Option Program established by Governor Wes Moore last year. The next opportunity will begin this September, but applications must be submitted by Saturday, June 15.
Metro, along with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is offering a range of travel options for customers affected by the summer closure Metro Red Line stations at Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring through Saturday, Aug. 31. The Takoma Park station will be closed through June 29.
The 250th anniversary of the “Hungerford Resolves,” when 10 men from the area that became Montgomery County signed a set of historic agreements at Hungerford’s Tavern in the tiny crossroads village now called Rockville, will be celebrated with a free online presentation of Montgomery History at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11. That is the actual anniversary of the historic event.
The “Adventure Starts Here” themed Summer Reading Challenge for children and teens will begin on Friday, June 14, and will run through Saturday, Aug. 31. Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will hold six celebratory kickoff events will in June at various library branches. Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc. and the Washington Nationals baseball team are sponsors of the program.
 Due to the closure and rebuilding of the Spring Street Bridge in Silver Spring, Ride On routes 1, 5, 11, 18, and 28 are experiencing detours that are expected to continue through January 2025.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has again wrapped a Ride On bus to become the Pride Bus that will operate over routes throughout the County through June is celebrated as Pride Month.
 The 23rd Annual “Paws in the Park Dog Walk and Fest” will return from noon- 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. The event is sponsored by the Montgomery County Humane Society.
The Make a Difference broadcast highlights how volunteers can make a difference in the lives of their fellow Montgomery County residents. The newest episode, which can be viewed on County Cable Montgomery and online, looks at the work volunteers are doing with the “Girls on the Run of Montgomery County” program.
The TAPP Consortium of local performing arts companies including the Kentlands Community Players, Rockville Little Theatre, Rockville Musical Theatre and Victorian Lyric Opera Company will combine their talents to present the Pride Month musical revue “Love Is Love Is Love” on June 29 and 30 in Gaithersburg.
Young Montgomery County entrepreneurs will again have a chance to show their creativity, business sense and sales ability by developing and displaying products for the Fourth Annual Montgomery County Children's Business Fair that will be held on Aug. 10 in Rockville Town Square. The event is open to youngsters ages 6-15.
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