 In this week’s newsletter, County Executive Marc Elrich highlights a visit from Governor Wes Moore to see the County’s EV charging infrastructure. He highlights WSSC’s new Piscataway Bioenergy Facility, which will take biosolids and turn them into methane gas to help fuel our Ride On buses. He also reminds residents about Remembrance and Reconciliation Month and urges everyone to attend one of the events focused on learning more about the County’s history that included slavery throughout Maryland and lynchings here in our community. The County Executive recaps voting turnout to date, reminds residents to return mail-in ballots and discusses County preparations for Election Day, including opening the Emergency Operations Center in order to be able to respond to issues related to safety, security and the ability to vote. He also reminds residents about events happening in November to commemorate Veterans Day. Happy Diwali!
Stories in this issue include:
 The Presidential General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. To vote in person on election day, vote at your assigned polling place.
Daylight Savings Time, which is observed in spring and summer months throughout most of the U.S. and much of the Northern Hemisphere, will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, as the nation returns to Standard Time. Clocks must be turned back one hour on Sunday. The annual twice yearly time changes are also good reminders to check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
 The City of Rockville, in partnership with the Montgomery County Road Runners Club, will again host the fall running tradition of the Rockville 10k/5k run on Sunday morning, Nov. 3. The event, which welcomes runners of all abilities, will happen along the streets of the King Farm community.
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.
 Montgomery County will join in the celebration of “Maryland Emancipation Day” on Saturday, Nov. 2, with several special events sponsored by Montgomery Parks.
 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.
As Veterans Day approaches on Monday, Nov. 11, Montgomery County will again join the national “Operation Green Light” salute to veterans and the County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs is seeking additions to its virtual tribute to County veterans. For those who want to attend ceremonies on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, several will be held around the County.
The newest Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) podcast episode, “A New Direction for Permitting,” features a discussion with County Executive Marc Elrich about recent improvements to streamline the permitting process, future code changes to ensure buildings are greener and safer, how innovation and technology are adding transparency, and the department’s focus on customer service.
The annual “Speak Up, Save a Life” student video contest will have increased prize money for the top selections as the County Office of the State’s Attorney has partnered with the “Good Samaritan Fund” to make the intriguing contest even more inspiring. The contest challenges teenagers to create an original video to promote awareness about the dangers of illicit opioids, fentanyl and the risk of overdose. Videos must be submitted by Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Larger than life inflatable turkeys and penguins, glittering floats, marching bands, dancing groups and Santa and his elves will be featured from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Nov. 16, when the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade rolls through Downtown Silver Spring. It will be the only Thanksgiving Parade in the Metropolitan Washington Region.
 Fall is in full mode, with afternoons of shorter daylight and chilly temperatures. However, Montgomery Parks has an exciting lineup of events and activities to brighten November including the opening of the Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, the return of Acoustics and Ales and the annual Urban Wood Sale.
 An adult scavenger hunt at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, an afternoon pontoon boat ride at Black Hills Park in Boyds and a treasure hunt in Wheaton Regional Park are among the variety of special events Montgomery Parks will host in November at Montgomery County nature centers.
 Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) 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.
 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 (MCPL) will celebrate Native American Heritage Month and Military Family Month in November with two special events. The Rockville Memorial Library will host a musical storytelling program featuring Mwalim “DaPhunkee Professor” Peters, highlighting cultural intersections between African and First Nations people, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14. The Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library will present a discussion with Alexandra N. Harris from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian on the history of Native American military service at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
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.
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.
The Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery County Public Libraries are presenting a free financial seminar on divorce and money. The seminar is open to all and will be led by financial and investment advisors Jamie Lapin and Thiago Glieger. The seminar is part of a series on the ins and outs of “all things money.” The seminar will take place via Zoom from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
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.
Friday, Nov. 15, will be the first day for the general public to request use of a meeting room in a Montgomery County Government building for use Jan. 1 through June 30.
 “How Taking the Road Less Travelled Can Lead to Your Best Life” will be the focus of the next in the free series of “Follow Your Bliss” events at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The series is presented by of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
 Visit Montgomery has launched the “2025 MoCo Eats Food and Beverage Showcase” that will be held March 30 and 31, at the Hilton Rockville
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