 As Montgomery County celebrates the 248th anniversary of its founding, the County Executive talks about the importance of international partnerships and provides a framework for how the County and state can improve our competitiveness in the region with structural changes to the taxing structure. He highlights a new food assistance program for qualified families using a unique partnership with Instacart. The County Executive is also getting ready for the first community conversation on next year's budget, happening Monday, Sept. 9, gearing up for the Silver Spring Jazz Fest on Saturday and next week’s annual Friendship Picnic.
Stories in this issue include:
 The free Silver Spring Jazz Festival returns to Downtown Silver Spring on Saturday, Sept. 7, with great music filling two stages throughout the day. Latin jazz legend, Chucho Valdés, whose career has spanned more than 60 years, will lead his quartet as the headline performance starting around 8:30 p.m. on the main stage.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, will host 11 “Community Conversations” throughout September and October to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Operating Budget. The first conversation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, in the social hall at the White Oak Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring.
 Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) in Derwood has joined NBCUniversal Local’s 2024 “Clear the Shelters” pet adoption campaign and will waive adoption fees on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 7-8. The Clear the Shelters event has led to record numbers of adoptions in past years.
 The Montgomery County Police Department has launched its “community camera sharing program.” MoCoConnect allows residents to register home security cameras, letting the department know they have a camera system and are willing to be contacted by police in the event of a nearby crime. Additionally, it allows for camera integration, where businesses can share live video with the department in real time.
 The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has added to its team of investigators a new home inspector. Matthew Kaufman is part of OCP’s ongoing efforts to ensure quality and safety in the construction of homes and to effectively address consumer disputes against new home builders.
“All Aboard for Kensington,” an exhibition of model trains, will be on display in Kensington Town Hall from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 7-8.
The 10th annual Montgomery County “Friendship Picnic” will again bring people of many cultures and faiths together to celebrate the diversity of the County. The free picnic, whose goal is to enable people to make new friends and to build a stronger community, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, at Wheaton Regional Park.
 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.
 “Nostalgia for Homeland: In the Studio with Kedir Keri Ousman” will explore thoughts of Ethiopia in a free virtual presentation starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Native plant sales, a women’s fire making class and “Etch and Sip: Craft Beers” are among the special programs that will be offered in September by the nature centers of Montgomery Parks.
 The end of summer is often the time homeowners do major cleanups of garages and basements. Often, they find bicycles that need a new home. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is asking for residents to donate bikes to make a difference in their local community.
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, Sept. 13, highlighted by the Latin sounds of the Joe Falero Band.
 The folked up favorites of Jonathan Watkins will headline the Kensington Historical Society’s free morning concert series at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Howard Avenue Park in Kensington.
 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.
 Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has released the third episode of its podcast series Spirited Discussions: A Podcast by Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services. The series helps residents and businesses understand alcohol products, trends and policies in Montgomery County. The third episode, “Control Model for Alcohol Distribution,” examines how and why the County and other jurisdictions include wholesale and retail sales within their systems.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will adjust 23 Ride On bus route service schedules and add two new high frequency limited stop extRa bus routes starting Sunday, Sept. 8. 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.
 Montgomery History will lead “Button Farm Almanac,” a guided tour of the Button Farm Living History Center in Germantown, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. Led by historian and Menare founder Tony Cohen, the tour will be a behind-the-scenes reveal of the Button Farm’s history and environs.
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The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will host a public informational workshop from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, in Silver Spring to provide information and receive feedback on proposals to improve pedestrian access and safety along MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
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 Fall marks the start of back-to-school and a new season of events across Montgomery County. As students return to the classroom, it is time to sharpen eco-friendly actions that will make a lasting impact on the planet. Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be at many events in September to share information and resources on ways an individual can contribute to a more sustainable future.
 The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) selected three artists for its inaugural “Montgomery County Artist Residency” program. Alyscia Cunningham, Jasmine Adams and Liliane Blom will undertake year-long residencies with the goal of supporting civic dialogue within the County’s East County, Mid-County and Upcounty regional services areas.
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