 Incidents in Bethesda have County Executive Marc Elrich again declaring that hate-based vandalism must not be tolerated in Montgomery County. He also addresses how law enforcement agencies are combining efforts to investigate a rash of crimes in which fraudsters convinced residents to convert assets into gold bars, which were then stolen. He applauds the County Council’s approval of a Tenant Fire Safety Law dedicated to the Melanie Diaz. The County Executive announced the September-October schedule for his “Community Conversations” regarding the Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget. And he remembers longtime educator and Board of Education member Judith Docca, who passed away recently.
Stories in this issue include:
 Maryland Tax-Free Shopping Week will continue through Saturday, Aug. 17, allowing families and teachers to save money on many types of back-to-school necessities—or qualifying items to be used for other purposes.
The 75th Annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has again brought out the best of the County’s agricultural life and has many modes of entertainment over the past week. The fair, whose final day is Saturday Aug. 17, at the County Agricultural Center in Gaithersburg, includes animals, entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibits.
The City of Rockville will offer an opportunity for community members to dispose of unwanted, functioning firearms voluntarily, anonymously and safely with a gun buyback event from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at RedGate Park. Gift cards of up to $200 will be presented for turned in firearms, depending upon the type of weapon.
 The Montgomery County Government has published its AI Action Plan, a full strategy designed to use artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver new and enhanced services to County residents. This innovative plan, spearheaded by the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS), underscores the County’s commitment to using advanced technology in a responsible, ethical, equitable and strategic manner to better serve County residents.
Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s fall programs and activities is now underway.
The Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, which already has inducted some of the most notable people in sports history—from the County and in the sports world overall—is now looking for nominees for its next class of inductees. Anyone can submit a nomination and addition to others who have excelled in their respective sports, the nonprofit organization is seeking nominations of people who have contributed to sports in other ways.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Ride On Trip Planner is celebrating one year, and more than one million public transit trips planned with the popular app. The app launched in the summer of 2023 to make planning public transportation easier and more convenient.
 The end of summer is often the time homeowners do major cleanups of garages and basements. Often, they find unused bicycles that need a new home. Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation wants to help.
 The legendary Nighthawks will highlight the music as the Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District’s TGIF Summer Friday Concert Series at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, at Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Downtown Wheaton.
 The City of Rockville’s summer of free outdoor “Movies in the Parks” on big screens in neighborhood parks will conclude at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, with the screening of “Matilda” at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park.
 The Montgomery County Council has approved Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA 24-02) to allow camping in certain agricultural and rural zones with specific conditions. The new zoning measure expands campgrounds use to the Agricultural Reserve and Rural Cluster zones on properties that meet the requirements for farming in the zoning ordinance.
 Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services has introduced a new podcast series, Spirited Discussions: A Podcast by Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services, to help residents and businesses understand alcohol products, trends and policies in Montgomery County. The first episode, “Welcome to Alcohol Beverage Services,” is available now.
 The bluegrass of Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road will highlight the final show this summer of the free Wednesday night outdoor music series at Strathmore, Montgomery County’s finest performing arts venue, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The “Live from the Lawn” show begins at 7:30 p.m.
 Free summer concerts continue in Rockville Town Square from 6-9 p.m. most Friday nights through Sept. 20. The series will feature a variety of performers, with the next performance, on Friday, Aug. 23, highlighted by the pop rock of The Rockets.
 The newest Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Podcast episode, “Plans Submission Made Easier,” highlights how the department is upgrading its “ePlans” software system in phases to make the permitting workflows more efficient for customers and staff.
A campfire at Black Hill Park, “Never Grow Up Camp” and an early morning pontoon cruise are among the special events that will be offered by the nature centers of Montgomery Parks in August.
Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery Parks Foundation, which will commission a mural for the park activity building at Glenmont Local Park, are seeking design ideas for the mural from community members to ensure it reflects the history, values, stories and aspirations of the diverse neighborhood. Community members can provide their input via an online survey open through Aug. 30.
 The Montgomery Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood will be filled with music from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, for the 17th Annual “Bluegrass on the Farm” festival. King Street Bluegrass, the Shannon Bielski Duo and the Poor Ellen Smith Band will be the headline performers.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer adult bike classes in September, October and November at various sites around the County. The classes are taught by experienced Washington Area Bicyclist Association instructors and include Learn to Ride and Basic Skills classes. MCDOT also will offer four free, walk-up e-scooter classes following select bike classes.
Before it was a Montgomery County park and wedding destination, Rockwood Manor Special Park in Potomac was a national Girl Scout camp. Its long and involved history is the subject of a Montgomery History virtual presentation, which will be available for viewing for a one-week period starting Monday, Aug. 19.
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