 County Executive Elrich this week talks about the County’s many achievements during “Economic Development Week.” He also offers an update on the Planning Board’s recommended Growth and Infrastructure Policy and explains why a recent “push poll” regarding attainable housing is not helping with good policy. He reflects on a ceremony held this week in which new Police Chief Marc Yamada and new Fire and Rescue Service Chief Corey Smedley were both officially sworn in. And he encourages residents to take advantage of early voting, which will be available at 14 centers across the County through Thursday, Oct. 31.
Stories in this issue include:
 In-person early voting for the 2024 Presidential general election is underway and will continue through Thursday, Oct. 31, including Saturday and Sunday. There are 14 early voting centers open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. each day.
Author, artist, and paranormal investigator Lennon Gross will lead hair-raising outdoor walking tour through the center of Poolesville on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, telling the tales of dark histories and chilling hauntings associated with some of the town’s oldest historic buildings. There will be two tours each night organized at the historic John Poole House.
 The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now accepting RainScapes Reward Rebate applications for residents and businesses who take measures to reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties. County residents and companies may be eligible for refunds of up to $7,500 for residential properties and $20,000 for businesses. A Rainscape is a landscape or design technique that helps reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties and that prevents pollutants, chemicals, oils and heavy metals from washing directly into the local waterways.
 The National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville will again host its annual family-friendly “Trolley-Ween” even on Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 26-27. Trolley-Ween encourages visitors to get into the spirit of the season and wear a costume to the museum, which has preserved trolleys of lines from around the nation.
The Kentlands Falls Festival will return from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, with live music throughout the day, crafts for kids and trick-or-treating.
Montgomery County’s Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District will host two days of Halloween-themed events for all ages on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27. The annual “HalloWheaton” celebration will kick off with a bar hop for adults (ages 21 and older) from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday followed by a free, family-friendly Halloween festival from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday. All events will begin at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to 2424 Reedie Drive in Wheaton.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s annual one-day event to collect child and adult bikes to help residents in need resulted in a record-breaking 306 bicycles donated on Friday, Oct. 11 in Rockville. The total exceeded last year’s then-record of 297 bikes collected.
Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, in conjunction with County Executive Marc Elrich, are supporting the “Labor of Love” initiative benefiting March of Dimes. The campaign will take place throughout the month of November.
Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s winter classes and programs will begin at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, for County residents. Registration for senior programming (including Bone Builders) will begin at 9 a.m.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is joining County health officials in urging all residents to protect themselves and their families by getting vaccinated against the flu. A number of clinics throughout the County will make available free vaccinations for adults and children in November.
Montgomery County Public Libraries, in partnership with the Gaithersburg Book Festival and Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, will welcome Rachel Renée Russell and Nikki Russell, the author-illustrator mother-daughter team behind the internationally acclaimed Dork Diaries series, to the Gaithersburg Library. The event, celebrating the 16th installment of the book series, will be held from 1:30-6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2.
 “MonsterFlash,” a decorated haunted house-themed bus that pops annually among the Montgomery County Department of Transportation fleet, will return for Halloween events on Saturday, Oct. 26, in Rockville and Sunday, Oct. 27, in Wheaton. Montgomery County residents and visitors can tour the themed bus and learn more about the Flash Bus Rapid Transit system being planned across the County.
Angie Kim, Acclaimed Author of ‘Miracle Creek’ and ‘Happiness Falls,’ Will Speak at Olney Library on Sunday, Oct. 27
Angie Kim, critically acclaimed and bestselling author of "Miracle Creek" and "Happiness Falls," will share how she became a writer after pursuing other successful careers when she speaks at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Olney Library. There is no charge to attend the presentation.
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Marylanders can now order another round of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests that will be delivered directly to their homes. Each household can get four tests through COVIDtests.gov.
The Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery County Public Libraries are presenting a series of free financial seminars in October and November on the ins and outs of "all things money." The seminars, which are open to all, will be led by financial and investment advisors Jamie Lapin and Thiago Glieger. The seminars will take place via Zoom from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights.
Reservations to use school and recreation athletic fields from Dec. 1 through March 14 will open on Friday, Nov. 1. That also will be the first day to reserve use of other outdoor school facilities for that period.
Two ‘floating pumpkin patch” events and a “Candy and Costumes Skate” in White Oak are among the upcoming special events Montgomery County Recreation will be hosting this week.
Advance tickets are now on sale for the annual Montgomery Parks’ “Garden of Lights,” a breathtaking outdoor winter light display at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. This year’s exhibit will feature more than 1.5 million twinkling LED lights.
 The Montgomery County Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming tax season, which runs from January through mid-April. Volunteers can become IRS-certified VITA tax preparers, schedulers, greeters, quality reviewers and site coordinators. The VITA tax program provides free tax help to eligible County residents, including Individual Taxpayer Identification Number holders with household incomes of $67,000 or less.
The Pike District Partnership will host its third annual “Barks, Brews and BBQ Beer Garden” free, dog-friendly event from noon-4 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Pike District Pop-up Park in North Bethesda.
 Residents 18 and older interested in e-scooter lessons can attend the last free scooter clinic for the season from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, at Westfield Montgomery Mall.
 The 16th Annual Tribute to America’s Veterans concert presented by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at Cissel-Saxon American Legion Post 41 in Silver Spring. The concert, which will feature The Patty Reese Band, is free to attend and is open to all.
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