 This week, the County Executive celebrates Einstein High School graduates and shares part of his message to grads 59 years after walking across the stage. He examines what we know about the budget cuts announced by Montgomery County Public Schools on Thursday. He highlights a new water conservation warning and shares tips on saving water. He focuses on the upcoming primary election and shares information about replacement mail-in ballots from the state board of elections. The County Executive discusses new state grants to help pay for 20 clean energy and efficiency projects, provides an update on new greenhouse gas emissions data, and talks about the next step in the County's Early Child Care Loan Program. He honors the 35 people who died while experiencing homelessness in the past year, stresses the importance of signing four new laws to better protect immigrants, celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month, and welcomes the Taste of Wheaton this Sunday.
Story Keys:
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmember Evan Glass were joined by LGBTQ+ community leaders, elected officials, and community members for the eighth annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony to kick off Pride Month.
The event’s keynote speakers included Karen Holmes, veteran and transgender advocate, and Valeria Carranza, senior director of government relations at MomsRising.
Speakers, councilmembers, and LGBTQ+ community leaders arrived in the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s #RideWithPride Ride On bus. The bus will be serving residents on routes across the County throughout the month of June. This is the fourth year Montgomery County has supported a Pride bus.
This is the eighth annual formal recognition of June as Pride Month in Montgomery County, an initiative spearheaded by Councilmember Glass, the Council’s first openly LGBTQ+ member.
The Montgomery County Board of Elections is encouraging residents to take advantage of early voting in the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election, as a convenient way to cast a ballot ahead of Election Day. Early voting will take place June 11-18, including Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The County will operate 14 early voting centers to provide accessible options for voters across Montgomery County. Residents can also vote by mail or in person on Election Day, Tuesday, June 23. To find an early voting location, voters can text “EV” and their ZIP code to 77788.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is reminding residents that Ride On and Metrobus have several routes available to transport voters to the County’s early voting centers. Early voting for the 2026 Primary Election will be held from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. from June 11 through June 18, including Saturday and Sunday.
All Ride On buses are zero-fare for all riders. Metrobus offers various free and reduced fare programs, including the Senior SmarTrip Card for seniors 65 or older and persons with disabilities, and the Youth Cruiser card for students 18 and under.
Montgomery County Recreation will host the 14th Annual White Oak Day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center, located at 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring. This free community event will feature food, games, inflatables, music, vendors, and family-friendly activities for all ages.
 Montgomery County has been awarded more than $8.3 million through the Maryland Energy Administration’s FY26 Local Government Energy Modernization Program to support 20 clean energy and energy efficiency projects across County facilities. The funding will help modernize public infrastructure, reduce energy costs, strengthen emergency preparedness, and advance Montgomery County’s climate and sustainability goals. Combined with County cost-share investments, the projects are expected to save taxpayers an estimated $439,000 annually and generate more than $11 million in lifetime savings.
Celebrate the flavors, culture, and community that make Wheaton unique during the Taste of Wheaton 2026, Maryland’s Culinary and Cultural Festival, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, located at 2424 Reedie Drive in Wheaton.
The free event will feature local food vendors, live music, dance performances, family-friendly activities, and community vendors throughout the day.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has announced the expansion of the County’s interactive flood risk map, the Flood Risk Explorer, adding two additional watersheds as the Atlantic Hurricane season has begun. The Flood Risk Explorer now includes newly completed flood‑risk mapping for the Middle Rock Creek and Lower Rock Creek watersheds. These areas add to the Sligo Creek watershed, which was the first to be mapped when the tool launched in December.
The Flood Risk Explorer highlights areas in each watershed that face elevated flood risks during extreme rainstorms under current climate conditions and projected future scenarios. It is available on the County’s Flooding webpage.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is expanding Flash Bus Rapid Transit to provide faster, more reliable transit along key corridors. The Veirs Mill Road Flash will connect Wheaton and Rockville with 12 modern stations and targeted safety improvements along Veirs Mill Road and MD 355.
Flash on Veirs Mill Road will offer frequent, dependable service that connects riders to homes, jobs, schools, the MARC train, and the Metrorail Red Line, making everyday trips more efficient and predictable. The project also includes investments in safer streets for everyone, with 3.8 miles of new and improved sidewalks and paths, four new traffic signals, and upgraded pedestrian lighting to support people walking, rolling, and biking along the corridor.
Residents are invited to attend upcoming pop-up events to learn more:
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 7, Taste of Wheaton, Marian Fryer Town Plaza, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 20, Aspen Hill Shopping Center, 13661 Connecticut Ave., Silver Spring
- 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, Rockville Metro Station
 Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently celebrated the inaugural awardees of the County’s Early Care and Education (ECE) Facility Loan Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to expand access to high-quality child care for Montgomery County families. Program investments are expended to help create nearly 200 new child care openings across the County.
The event recognized child care providers leading facility improvement and expansion projects through the program and highlighted the County’s continued commitment to strengthening the local child care system and supporting working families.
 The County’s Be Cool, Save Lives campaign is helping residents, workers, and employers understand the warning signs of heat illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The campaign encourages everyone who lives and works in Montgomery County, especially those exposed to extreme heat conditions, to recognize the dangers of high temperatures and understand workers’ rights to water, shade, and rest. As part of the campaign, the County will host a virtual “Extreme Heat Safety Standards Briefing: Compliance, Best Practices, and Protections” from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, June 11. The briefing will be conducted in English, with Spanish interpretation available, and will provide information on protecting family members, friends, and workers from extreme heat, as well as guidance for employers on complying with Maryland’s heat stress standards.
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The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is making safety upgrades along key corridors across the County to improve pedestrian safety and curb dangerous driving behaviors. The projects are expected to be completed this fall. MCDOT is introducing a range of traffic-calming and pedestrian-friendly features along Bel Pre Road in Silver Spring and Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg. These safety improvements will include traffic control signals and beacons, pedestrian islands, reduced lane widths, and curb bump-outs.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has released a series of updated design guidelines for infrastructure construction projects. The new standards will apply to new construction projects, as well as infrastructure that is reconstructed or replaced. The updates include current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requirements for driveways, curbs, ramps, wider sidewalks, bike paths, and permeable pavement.
The guidelines will be used by County agencies when developing and approving future plans, and by developers and utility companies when designing plans, to ensure that all new roadway and right-of-way construction meets federal, state, and local regulations and accessibility guidelines.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is offering a free electric scooter class from noon - 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, at Westfield Montgomery (former Sears parking lot), located at 7101 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda. Participants can take a test ride, learn safety tips, and get details on basic e-scooter laws. No registration is required.
Scooters will be provided free of charge. Individuals must be 18 years old or older and have a valid driver’s license or ID.
 Montgomery Parks will host Jazz at Josiah Henson, a free evening of live music, food, and museum tours from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park, located at 11410 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature live jazz music, food offerings, and guided opportunities to tour the museum and explore the historic grounds.
Set on the grounds of the former plantation where the Rev. Josiah Henson was enslaved, the event provides an opportunity for the community to gather while learning about a site that preserves an important chapter of American history. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the performance.
Downtown Silver Spring will host a week of live music, dining, and community celebrations leading up to the 17th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival on Saturday, June 20.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, with the Silver Spring Blues Week Kickoff Party featuring TNT at American Legion Post 41, located at 905 Sligo Ave. TNT, the twin-guitar duo of Linwood Taylor and Michael Tash, will perform with Dean Dalton on bass and Joe Wells on drums. Advance tickets are $17, and proceeds will benefit the Silver Spring Blues Festival.
On Sunday, June 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., J. Hollinger’s Waterman’s Chophouse will host a Blues Sunday Supper featuring internationally acclaimed pianist and entertainer Daryl Davis, saxophonist Seth Kibel, and vocalist Deletta Gillespie. Reservations are required.
The week will conclude with the free 17th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, in Downtown Silver Spring. The festival lineup includes Mud Morganfield, son of Muddy Waters, Daryl Davis, Tommy Lepson & Soul Crackers, and many other performers. Advance registration is encouraged.
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Montgomery County residents are encouraged to watch the latest episode of “50+ in Montgomery County,” featuring host Katie Smith in a conversation about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, observed on Wednesday, June 17. Guests include Mario Wawrzusin, senior administrator for Assessment, APS, and Care Management Services with Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services, and Debbie Feinstein, chief of the Special Victims’ Division with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. The discussion highlights the signs of elder abuse, available community resources, and ways residents can help protect older adults. For more information about senior services in Montgomery County, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/senior
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Job seekers are invited to participate in the Virtual 50+ Employment Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16. The free online event will connect participants with age-friendly employers throughout the region and provide information about new tools and strategies for finding employment opportunities. Each Expo features employers seeking full-time and part-time employees, and employers with at least three job openings are encouraged to participate. Morning workshops will include “Creating a Resume to Reach a Human — Moving Your Resume Beyond Applicant Tracking Systems,” presented by Debra Steppel, president and founder of Essays Plus More, and “Your Message Matters: A Purpose-Driven Approach to Career Transition,” presented by Kimberly Murphy of Coaching and Consulting, LLC. Afternoon sessions will feature local employers discussing their companies and available positions, and answering questions via the online chat. Although the Expo is scheduled to end at 4 p.m., organizers may extend the event to accommodate all participants. The next Expo is scheduled for September 2026.
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Join Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) for a series of inspiring author talks and book signings featuring Maryland writers and storytellers Jason G. Green, D. Watkins, and Devin Allen. Through memoir, journalism, literature, and photography, these acclaimed speakers explore themes of resilience, community, identity, social justice, and activism. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear firsthand about their creative journeys, public service, and award-winning work, while engaging with powerful stories that illuminate history, culture, and the experiences that shape our communities.
 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has launched a countywide effort to ensure pedestrian signals are functioning properly. MCDOT began the proactive effort with a “Pedestrian Signal Repair Blitz” this spring. At the end of May, crews completed inspections of crosswalk signals at roughly 100 intersections in high-traffic downtown areas, completed 17 crosswalk audio repairs, and replaced 60 faded signs. The approximately 800 remaining County-maintained intersections will be assessed by the end of the year.
Downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Wheaton were selected as starting points due to their high pedestrian volumes.
Heavy snowfall and subsequent freezing temperatures over this past winter created large snow piles at street corners across the Washington metropolitan area, damaging some crosswalk signals and toppling several pedestrian signal poles.
 Montgomery Parks will host MudFest from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, at Woodstock Equestrian Special Park, located at 20207 Darnestown Road in Beallsville. Families are invited to enjoy a giant mud slide, mud pies, a mud volcano, and other messy outdoor activities during one of the County’s muddiest events of the year.
Admission is $20 per car and carpooling is encouraged. Advance tickets are available online, but attendees may also pay with cash at the event.
The MoCo Pride Center is now accepting sign-ups for its “Open Hearts Open Mic” event taking place Saturday, June 20. Local performers ages 14 and older are invited to showcase their talents, including poetry, music, comedy, and dance.
Performances will be divided into two age groups: ages 14-21 and ages 21 and older. Audience members will vote for top performers in each category, with winners receiving prizes.
Each performer will have approximately five minutes to perform.
 The Pike District Partnership has announced the return of its “Summer in the Park” event series at the Pike District Pop-Up Park in North Bethesda, offering an expanded lineup of free community programming from June through September. The annual series will feature live entertainment, fitness classes, family-friendly activities, and community events designed to bring residents together throughout the summer. New additions this year include a family fun night with games and activities for children on July 2, a cornhole tournament with prizes for competing teams, and a music trivia night. Additional programming will include live music and entertainment, the Dog Days of Summer event, interactive games and community activities, Saturday morning yoga sessions, and Salsa in the Park every Friday in September.
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The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services' Mobile Health Clinic works to reduce health disparities and expand access to care by traveling throughout the County to provide integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, and human services to underserved and vulnerable communities. The Mobile Health Clinic operates on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis, and no appointments are required. Patients are seen in the order they arrive, based on service availability and clinical capacity, and wait times may vary.
Montgomery County residents, with or without health insurance, are eligible for services. Patients should bring a photo ID and proof of Montgomery County residency, such as a government-issued ID, a recent mailing with a current address, or a lease or landlord affidavit. The clinic provides services at multiple locations throughout the county, including Montgomery County Service Consolidation Hubs, with dates, times, and locations varying weekly. To view the June 2026 Mobile Health Clinic schedule, visit the County website for the latest information.
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Montgomery Parks is offering Indigo in the Park, a hands-on workshop series where participants can create custom scarves and bandanas using natural indigo dye. Beginning Monday, June 22, and continuing throughout the summer, the one-day workshops will explore a traditional Japanese dyeing technique while highlighting how cultures around the world have used indigo for centuries. Sessions will be held outdoors and inside the activity building at Sligo Avenue Neighborhood Park, located at 500 Sligo Ave. in Silver Spring. The $140 registration fee includes all materials, including a scarf, bandana, and indigo dye. Registration is now open through ActiveMontgomery.
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Explore local history and culture during the 27th Annual Heritage Days weekend from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. More than 30 museums, parks, and historic sites will offer free admission, exhibits, live music, demonstrations, and family‑friendly activities highlighting the people and places that shaped Montgomery County.
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