County Executive Elrich highlights the start of the new 2025-2026 school year, noting U.S. News rankings that place six MCPS high schools among Maryland’s top ten. He acknowledges Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor’s successful first year with MCPS and supports new cell phone policies aimed at improving classroom focus. Elrich also shares concerns about federal job losses and funding cuts that were discussed at the Maryland Association of Counties conference last week, and further discusses why Trump’s takeover of the District's Metropolitan Police Department is an affront to democracy. As restaurants throughout the region have been economically impacted by the President’s actions, Elrich encourages residents to support these local businesses during "Restaurant Week.”
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, will host 12 "Community Conversations" from September through November to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Operating Budget. The first conversation will be from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, in the East-West Room at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Office.
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) will waive adoption fees on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24, as part of NBCUniversal Local’s annual “Clear the Shelters” campaign. Last year, 145 pets found loving homes during the event. Located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Rd. in Derwood, MCASAC will open its doors at 11 a.m. each day. Adoptions will be available by appointment. Walk-ins are welcome based on counselor availability. Adopters should come prepared with a leash and collar for dogs or a carrier for cats and small animals. No holds will be placed, and pets must go home the same day.
 Bring your canine companion for a splashing good time at Montgomery County Recreation's Pooch Pool Party. The event is being held at the Upper County Outdoor Pool (8211 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg) from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, and Sunday, Aug. 24. It's the perfect way for your dog to swim and enjoy the water before the pool is closed and cleaned for the winter. The cost is $10, and registration is required. Please remember to bring written proof of your dog's current rabies vaccination, as it is mandatory for admission. Each dog must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Don't miss out on this pawsome event!
 Whether you're starting pre-K, heading into high school or planning a career change, Montgomery County Public Libraries can help. The new Student Hub is a one-stop destination for free tutoring and test prep, early literacy programs, career tools and job support, college and scholarship resources, and the brand-new mobile app. Visit the Student Hub and start the school year strong!
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will adjust the Ride On Route 41 schedule starting Sunday, Sept. 7, to improve reliability and on-time performance. The updated schedule is available at RideOnBus.com. This change follows larger route adjustments made on June 29, when MCDOT launched a zero-fare policy across all Ride On, Ride On extRa, Ride On Flex and Flash buses, removing cost barriers for riders. For route details, visit RideOnBus.com, download the Ride On Trip Planner app or follow MCDOT @RideOnMCT on social media for real-time updates.
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is offering free back-to-school vaccinations for school-aged children from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade at multiple locations across the County from now through the end of September. These vaccinations are available at no cost to children who live in Montgomery County and are missing any required immunizations to attend school. Vaccination offerings include Tdap, Meningococcal (MCV4), Meningococcal B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Varicella (chickenpox). There are four centers around the County to serve you by appointment.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is hosting an in-person public meeting on the US 29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Phase 2 project at Four Corners Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Silver Spring from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, followed by a Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting from 7-8 p.m. Four Corners Ethiopian Evangelical Church is located at 33 University Boulevard East in Silver Spring.
The first hour of the meeting will be a public meeting focused on bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The second hour of the meeting will be the CAC meeting, which will focus on the preliminary design of the Flash BRT facilities on the corridor. Both portions of the meeting are open to the public and people are encouraged to attend.
 In recognition of National Preparedness Month in September, the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will host a free Ready Montgomery: Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety Fair on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Public Safety Fair will take place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Wheaton Local Park, located at 11729 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring.
Montgomery Parks is bringing fitness-club style classes to neighborhood parks through its Park Academy Series starting in September. Registration is now open for classes designed to help participants make a fresh start this fall by moving, creating and reconnecting with healthy habits. The Park Academy series includes eight different kinds of yoga classes, including yoga for toddlers, runners and adults 55 and older. There are also Pilates classes, STEM classes for youth and tree climbing for teens and adults 55 and older.
Join the Electric Vehicle Association of Greater DC (EVADC) for its monthly “Ask an EV Owner” online event, held the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30- 8:30 p.m. Whether you're shopping for your first electric vehicle, have questions about a new EV or are simply curious, this open forum is a chance to speak directly with experienced EV owners.
The Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood will host "Bluegrass on the Farm" from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6. The event promises live music, talented artists and an unforgettable atmosphere, featuring top local bluegrass musicians. Located at 18400 Muncaster Road in Derwood, the Agricultural History Farm Park, with its lush green fields, trees and rustic farm buildings, provides the perfect backdrop for this bluegrass musical extravaganza. The event is rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, the bands will perform inside the large barn; however, no refunds will be issued.
 Montgomery Parks’ summer amenities remain open through Labor Day weekend. There is still time to enjoy boating at Lake Needwood in Rock Creek Regional Park, and Little Seneca Lake at Black Hill Regional Park; and SplashPark and Mini Golf at South Germantown Recreational Park.
 Montgomery County has announced the complete multi-stage schedule for the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, which will be held from 3-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Veterans Plaza in the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District. The festival, which is free to the public, will feature two stages with a wide range of jazz genres, including samba and Latin jazz, straight-ahead jazz, New Orleans-style jazz and elements of go-go, funk and jazz-influenced blues and folk. This year’s headliner is the renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
 Silver Spring Town Center Inc. will host the 12th Annual Harvest Moon Festival from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, at Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring. The event will feature live entertainment, cultural performances and seasonal festivities. The event is free.
Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s fall programs is now open for most activities. To prepare, residents are encouraged to explore the Fall GUIDE, a comprehensive digital catalog featuring hundreds of programs, classes, sports leagues, trips, events and other activities. Offerings include aquatics, fitness, sports, education, health and wellness, art, music, therapeutic recreation and programming for adults 55 and over.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will offer low-cost adult bike classes and free e-scooter drop-in sessions throughout September, October and November. The lineup includes 11 Learn to Ride classes, one Basic Skills class and two walk-up e-scooter classes. Bike classes are $10 for County residents and free for WABA and Capital Bikeshare for all members, though registration is required. Bikes and helmets are provided. Classes are open to adults 18 and older and fill up quickly. E-scooter classes will follow bike sessions on Sept. 7 and Nov. 2. No registration is needed for scooters—just bring a valid ID.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is installing real-time bus arrival displays at high-ridership bus stops and transit centers across the County. The technology, referred to as ePaper and supplied by Connectpoint, is a digital display presenting real-time bus arrival information with an audio readout and text-to-speech button known as Falcon. The MCDOT Division of Transit is currently implementing the screens at 100 bus stops across the County. Approximately 50 screens have been installed as of mid-July.
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The Town of Kensington will host its 58th Annual Labor Day Parade and Festival from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1, rain or shine. The parade will begin on Plyers Mill Road and proceed to the Noyes Library, featuring dance groups, marching bands, equestrian groups, floats and fire trucks from the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department. As the parade makes its way through town, Armory Avenue will come alive with the festival, offering food vendors, beer and wine, live music and a bounce house for children.
The City of Gaithersburg will celebrate the unofficial end of summer with the 87th Annual Labor Day Parade at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 1 in Olde Towne. Presented by the City of Gaithersburg and the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department, the parade will feature high school marching bands, dance groups, costumed characters, antique cars and fire engines, equestrian units, clowns and more as they travel down East Diamond and Russell avenues. Food vendors will be available at Olde Towne Plaza and in the parking lot next to the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Station.
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The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is hosting a series of public outreach events to provide information and gather feedback about a planned pilot program of a security robot in the Town Square Parking Garage in Silver Spring. The five-foot-tall security robot, named "Parker," is equipped with 360-degree security cameras and can navigate the garage’s parking decks using lidar, a sensor that detects objects in its path. MCDOT is planning a one-year pilot program to bolster the growing security effort that has been adding cameras to County parking garages over the last three years. The pilot program will help measure whether the robot’s presence deters crime.
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