 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich this week, notes the election of new County Council leadership and congratulates former County Executive Ike Leggett as the Executive Office Building is renamed to honor him. He discusses regional concerns about the economy and transit, and he announces a new digital portal for reporting incidents of hate and bias. He provides an overview of the County’s winter plan for helping those who are unhoused and urges residents to look out for individuals who may need assistance with overnight shelter. And he celebrates the brave act of resistance by Rosa Parks and discusses the importance of that history.
Stories in this issue include:
The Montgomery County Council and County Executive Marc Elrich invite community service providers and residents to join the United in Service and Support Community Resource Fair from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. at the Executive Office Building in Rockville. In light of changes coming at the federal level, Montgomery County is committed to ensuring that all residents have access to information about essential community services.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced a new hate-bias incident complaint portal and a telephone hotline to simplify reporting hate-bias incidents to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). Residents can report a hate-bias incident by visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/report-hate. Read the press release.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) are warning residents that the "Holiday Task Force" to detect impaired drivers has begun and will continue through the New Year’s holiday period, ending Jan. 11.
 Montgomery County Recreation will begin accepting applications for 2025 Rec Assist, the department’s financial assistance program, on Monday, Dec. 9. Rec Assist provides County residents who receive eligible public assistance an opportunity to receive a scholarship to use toward most Recreation classes, activities and memberships that have a cost associated with them.
 County Executive Marc Elrich, County Councilmembers and other state and federal elected officials joined the Distinguished Flying Cross Society (DFCS) on Thursday, Dec. 5, for a ceremony to unveil a memorial honoring the late combat veteran Brigadier General Charles E. McGee. The event took place at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee branch of the Montgomery County Public Libraries in Silver Spring. Brigadier General McGee, a proud resident of Montgomery County who passed away in 2022, is being remembered just days before what would have been his 104th birthday on Saturday, Dec. 7.
 Montgomery County’s Commission on Aging (COA) will host two free events in December to showcase programs and resources that support older adults in living active, healthy and independent lives. The events will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, in Silver Spring and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, in Bethesda.
 The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announces the launch of its annual Gift Outside the Box campaign, encouraging people to "gift-greener" this holiday season. DEP has partnered with local businesses and organizations to challenge residents to reduce waste by thinking differently about how they shop for gifts.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has announced the return of “Flash Lights” buses for the 2024 holiday season. The buses feature colorful winter lights around the bus windows and a neon sign reading “Happy Holidays” along the side. Residents can ride on one of the five decorated Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses running along Colesville Road/U.S. 29 throughout December.
 The annual exhibit of model trains at Brookside Gardens, an adventure searching for the world’s rarest species and winter skating shows at the Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena are among the special events and programs that will be sponsored by Montgomery Parks in December.
The annual Montgomery Parks’ “Garden of Lights,” a breathtaking outdoor winter light display at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, is now open. This year’s exhibit features more than 1.5 million twinkling LED lights.
The City of Gaithersburg’s 29th Annual Winter Lights Festival, featuring 3.5 miles of enchanted woodland with more than 450 illuminated displays and spectacularly lit trees that brighten the evening sky is now open. The display in Seneca Creek State Park will have seasonal scenes like Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Toyland, Victorian Village and the North Pole.
 Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) will hold a waived-fee adoption event for all pets Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and Dec. 15. The ‘Home for the Holidays’ event aims to clear the shelter for the holidays.
 Two new podcast episodes are now available from the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) and the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP).
The nomination deadline for the Montgomery County Commission for Women’s 2025 Montgomery County “Women Making History Award” has been extended to Thursday, Dec. 12. In collaboration with Montgomery Women, the Commission for Women presents the annual award to recognize outstanding women who are making significant contributions to their vocation and to the community.
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