 This week the County Executive reacts to more than 2,200 layoff notices issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He talks about his concerns with a plan under consideration by the County Council to waive hundreds of millions of dollars in property tax revenue over the next 20 years. He also discusses a bill he intends to sign strengthening protections for tenants from unfair housing practices. The County Executive details a major appointment to Maryland's Transportation Authority Board. He also celebrates new County grant money to help faith-based and nonprofits protect themselves from hate/bias incidents. The County Executive also talks about Earth Month, a popular Rec event for prom goers and marks Arab American Heritage Month.
Stories in this issue include:
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will deliver his annual “State of the County” address at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the Leggett Executive Office Building (LEOB) in Rockville. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on the terrace level of the LEOB, located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. Light refreshments will be served.
 Montgomery Parks is offering half-price carousel rides at Wheaton Regional Park on Saturday, April 5 to celebrate the opening of a new carousel. The new carousel features colorful, hand-painted, fiberglass horses and zebras, as well as two bench-like chariots, one of which is ADA-accessible. The new carousel is located near the Shorefield Road entrance to Wheaton Regional Park, next to the miniature train station.
 The Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council will host the sixth annual RespectFest from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 6 at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. The Center is located at 11701 Georgia Ave. in Wheaton.
Montgomery County officials and key partners recently launched Mobilize Montgomery, a strategic collaboration aimed at supporting workers and businesses affected by the recent federal budget cuts by providing resources, amplifying outreach efforts from the Montgomery County Government, creating toolkits to support affected businesses and developing new programs such as weekly webinars and new events geared toward employees and employers.
Join the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) throughout April to celebrate Earth Month, with special events promoting sustainability, conservation and eco-friendly action. Highlights include the two-day Montgomery County Energy Summit (April 8-9), Tree Montgomery’s 10th 10th Annual GreenFest and Climate Conversations at County libraries.
 Patrons can delight in five downtown Bethesda galleries and studios at the Bethesda Art Walk from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 11. Art lovers can visit galleries that feature painting, sculpture, photography, pottery and mixed media work.
If you are interested in getting involved with your community and want to have a voice in the programs and services that Montgomery County offers, apply to join one of the more than 90 Boards, Committees and Commissions (BCC). These groups generally advise the County Executive and the County Council, and we want input from all parts of the community.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has begun its semi-annual interior washdown to degrease and clean 21 County-owned parking garages in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton. The cleanings will start with the Bethesda garages and are scheduled to conclude with the Silver Spring garages on Wednesday, June 4.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) welcomes public middle schools across the County to participate in the fourth annual ‘Paint the Plow’ competition. Schools can name and decorate a snowplow for a chance to win cash prizes for their school. Middle schools have until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11 to register online.
 Older adults 65+ can learn how to use public transportation at free Travel Training workshops this month. The workshops, which include a field trip and seminar, offer older adult residents a chance to get to know the County and public transportation options. The seminar includes rides on a Metro train and Ride On bus, and seniors receive hands-on practice loading a fare card and creating an itinerary.
 Montgomery County officials this week announced the expansion of the single-family residential curbside recycling program to include the on-call collection of electronic items and household batteries. This service will be available to all residents who receive County-provided recycling collection services, and it will be fully implemented County-wide by the end of 2025.
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Babies Born Healthy program (BBH), along with the African American Health Program (AAHP), DHHS’ Early Childhood Services (ECS) and the Improved Pregnancy Outcomes program, will host a free community event to provide health support to Black children and families, from preconception through early childhood. The Fifth Annual “Right from the Start” event will take place from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 at Holy Cross Hospital, located at 1500 Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring.
The new Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) podcast episode, “Special Events,” focuses on the permitting process for carnivals, fairs, festivals, fireworks displays, sporting events and more. DPS Customer Support and Outreach (CSO) Division Chief Gail Lucas hosts the podcast, and she is joined by DPS Manager Chris Allen for a conversation about when a special permit is needed for public events. Their discussion covers how the permitting process works from applications to inspections, the role of zoning and why special event permits are important for safety.
 Join the Friends of the Agricultural History Farm Park for the Gas and Steam Engine Show on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 27, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood, MD.
Montgomery County residents are encouraged to participate in the regional Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 15 and online registration is now open. The event is held annually across the nation to celebrate bicycling as a fun, healthy and climate-friendly way to travel. There will be dozens of free pit stop events throughout the region and 14 within Montgomery County. The County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is sponsoring eight pit stops. The first 18,000 bicyclists to register and participate will get a free t-shirt and will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a new bike.
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