 In his letter this week, County Executive Marc Elrich recaps the FY26 operating budget that will receive final County Council approval in the coming week. He discusses the increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness as reported in the annual Council of Governments Point in Time survey and lays out issues contributing to the rise in family homelessness in the community. He highlights Powersolv, a technology services company, and their move to new headquarters in the County. Finally, he notes an important event held to remember two victims of lynching that occurred in Montgomery County and the efforts to memorialize and recognize the County's history.
Stories in this issue include:
Viva White Oak Project Will Deliver More Than 9,000 Jobs, Nearly 5,000 Homes and Long-Awaited Infrastructure to East County
Montgomery County recently announced the first-ever Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposal to support the $2.8 billion Viva White Oak project -- a transformative mixed-use development that will bring thousands of jobs, housing units and new infrastructure to East County.
 Montgomery County is seeking nominations for its African American Living Legends Awards, which recognize residents age 75 and older who have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness to their community. Nominations are due by June 1. The awards will be presented during the County’s 28th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, which will be held at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. This year’s theme is “Juneteenth: Pushing Back...the Fight for Freedom Is Not Over.”
 Check your deck! Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) inspectors is offering 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.
 The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently hosted the 2025 Students’ Waste Reduction-Reuse-Recycling Poster Contest Recognition Ceremony in Rockville. The event honored K–12 students who participated in the annual art contest, which encourages youth to creatively explore environmental themes. Originally launched decades ago as a recycling poster contest, the initiative has since expanded to highlight waste reduction and reuse—key components of the County’s zero-waste strategy.
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.
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Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will launch its annual Summer Reading Challenge on Saturday, June 14, inviting children, teens and adults to “Color Our World” through books, music, theater and art. The program will run through Sunday, Aug. 31, offering opportunities for all ages to engage in reading and creative activities that celebrate imagination and self-expression. Early registration is now online and at all MCPL branches.
 Stay busy this summer and make it memorable with Montgomery County Recreation. Summer program registration for County residents is now open for most programs and activities.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will kick off “Public Works Week” from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, with a free, family-friendly “Truck Day” event. The event will be held at the MCDOT Truck Depot and Salt Barn at 17000 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville. Truck Day invites members of the community to touch, climb and explore the many first-response, construction and transportation vehicles used by public works employees who keep the County running.
 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 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 Commission for Women, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Libraries, will continue 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, through May 27.
 The Wheaton Urban District is excited to announce the launch of the Wheaton Streetery Block Party Series, a monthly open-streets event taking place on the third Saturday of each month through October. This series will activate the heart of downtown Wheaton with outdoor dining, live entertainment and family-friendly programming in a safe, walkable environment. The first event will be Saturday, May 17, with a live DJ from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., street closures, and programming and dining opportunities until 8 p.m. There will also be free ice cream and face painting from 2-5 p.m.
 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.
 The Senior PGA Championship, the most historic and prestigious major championship in senior golf, will be played at Congressional Country Club May 22-25. The iconic Blue Course at Congressional will host its third PGA of America event in the last four years.
 The latest episode of the Commission on Aging’s cable television program, 50+ in Montgomery, features a discussion about upcoming employment expos sponsored by the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). Host Katie Smith also talks to JCA’s Jodie Rasch about other services they offer. For more information about services for older adults, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior
Montgomery County’s Aging and Disability Services—part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)—in partnership with Montgomery County Recreation, will host a community celebration to mark “Older Americans Month” from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, May 30, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center, located at 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring. The free event is open to residents ages 55 and over and will feature fitness demonstrations, music, caregiver resources, informational vendor tables and giveaways.
Wheaton's signature event, attracting thousands of attendees to downtown Wheaton, is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 1 at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza. The event is free to attend and will take place rain or shine. Come get a "taste" of all Wheaton has to offer. Enjoy delicious food from diverse ethnic restaurants, live entertainment and dance from local performers, local artisans and business vendors and art activities, face painting and balloon animals for the kids.
 Montgomery County's Bethesda–Chevy Chase Regional Services is partnering with KID Museum to present the "Invent the Future Expo" family event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. Hosted at KID Museum—a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to building STEM and creative problem-solving skills through hands-on learning experiences—the event will offer free indoor and outdoor activities, including free admission to the museum.
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