 This week, County Executive Marc Elrich mourns the loss of Ride On bus operator Ruiz Bell, who died of a heart attack while working a shift early this week. He celebrates the restoration of the Scotland AME Zion Church, an important landmark for the residents of the historically black community of Scotland. He voices opposition to the County Council's veto override of Bill 2-25, which provides an unnecessary waiver of property taxes for 20 years, costing the County millions of dollars. Finally, he looks back at the first 100 days of the new Trump administration and illustrates the serious harm done to the scientific community.
Stories in this issue include:
 Montgomery County held its 50th Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast on Monday, April 28. The event, co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery County Government, recognized outstanding service across County public safety agencies.
 Join Montgomery Parks for an afternoon of fun, music, and entertainment at the second annual Sligo Creek Fest on Saturday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event transforms Sligo Creek Open Parkway into a one-mile street festival featuring musical performers on three stages, as well as nature activities, kids activities, and a variety of local food and brewery options. This year's attendees can park their bikes at the free Bike Valet sponsored by the Montgomery Parks Foundation.
 The fourth annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown. Hosted by the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) and the County’s Office of Community Partnerships, this free, family-friendly event honors the rich history, cultures and contributions of AAPI communities. No registration is required to attend.
The Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame will add six legends from its sports history and some of its newest accomplished stars when it inducts its Class of 2025 at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Downtown Silver Spring.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), Police Department (MCPD) and Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) are urging residents who choose to celebrate with alcohol during the upcoming Cinco de Mayo weekend to drink responsibly and to plan ahead for a safe ride home.
 Check your deck! Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) inspectors will offer free residential deck maintenance inspections during May as part of the County’s annual “Building Safety Month” outreach campaign. The DPS deck inspection program is limited to 300 appointments.
Farmers markets are now open across Montgomery County, offering residents access to fresh, locally grown produce and other goods. Markets are located throughout the County, including in Bethesda, Clarksburg, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Silver Spring and Takoma Park, with several operating year-round and others open seasonally through the fall. Many markets participate in nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, FMNP and SFMNP, with some offering matching dollar programs to increase purchasing power. Several sites also collect food scraps for composting through a partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection.
Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) will open its new Oak Barrel & Vine store in White Oak at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6. Elected officials and alcohol industry representatives plan to attend the opening. The store is in the White Oak Town Center shopping center, located at 12259 Prosperity Dr. in Silver Spring.
 The Montgomery County Commission for Women, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Libraries, will offer a free virtual Financial Health and Wellness seminar series throughout May. The four-part series, designed to help residents take control of their finances, will be held on Zoom from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, beginning May 6.
 The Office of Food Systems Resilience has a new resource for residents seeking food assistance in Montgomery County. This user-friendly flow chart helps connect residents with the necessary support, whether they have immediate needs, need short-term food assistance or are looking into longer-term nutrition program options at the federal, state or local levels. This tool is currently being translated into additional languages for ease of use across diverse communities in Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Office of Procurement will host a free Vendor Connection Summit from 9 am.-noon on Thursday, May 8, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The event provides businesses with the opportunity to make connections with prime contractors, County departments and local resource organizations. This expo-style networking event features 50 exhibit tables and three hours of networking. Attendees can also attend the Registration/Certification Workshop to get registered in the County Vendor Registration System.
 In recognition of Homeschool Awareness Month, Montgomery Parks is offering a special lineup of weekly Homeschool Days, designed to educate and inspire students in grades 2–8. Every Friday in May, homeschool families are invited to explore local history, agricultural innovation and environmental science through hands-on activities and interactive experiences at parks across the County.
 Job seekers 50 and older could benefit from a free virtual job fair planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13. Age-friendly employers are also being sought to participate in the event, which is co-sponsored by Montgomery County Government and the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington. To learn more about the job fair and to register to participate, click here. Participants can join, exit and rejoin the Expo as their schedule permits.
 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.
 Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host a free forum, “Effective Communication Strategies for Substance Use and Mental Health,” from 8:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday, May 17, in Silver Spring. The event is open to the public and will offer practical tools to help individuals and families navigate conversations around mental health and substance use, connect with local resources and support loved ones through prevention, crisis and recovery.
Join book lovers at the annual Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday, May 17, at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. The Festival is a free annual celebration of great books and great writing and it has made its mark as one of the nation’s top literary events. More than 100 featured best-selling and award-winning authors will participate in presentations and panel discussions. The Festival also includes interactive writing workshops, a Children’s Village, book sales and author signings.
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The Montgomery County Commission on Aging (CoA) will hold its annual public policy forum on Wednesday, May 21, at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. This year’s event, "Revaluing Care: Building Policies, Programs and Connections to Support Caregiving in Our Community," will highlight the essential role and contributions of unpaid caregivers. The forum aims to strengthen support for caregivers through public policy, services and community engagement. Family caregivers—who are disproportionately women and often women of color—frequently provide care without compensation, reinforcing existing economic and social inequities.
 After a five-year hiatus, the Butterfly Experience at Brookside Gardens is back and on view through September 21, 2025. The display features live butterflies from North America, Costa Rica, Africa and Asia. Hundreds of these enchanting insects will delight and amaze visitors with their intricate patterns and delicate aerial flight paths. The exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through June 30. Additional hours are listed on the website.
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