This week, the County Executive reacts to a pair of cruel Supreme Court decisions that run counter to policies established in Montgomery County to welcome immigrants. He discusses this week's primary election and new laws that begin July 1. He honors a community advocate whose dedication to the Lyttonsville community is now remembered forever. The County Executive thanks a special animal services officer who is in the spotlight and reminds readers about Independence Day coming up next Saturday.
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Heritage Days return this weekend to highlight historic, cultural, and outdoor recreation sites in Montgomery County. You can find free events across the County from noon – 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28.
This year (the County’s 250th) marks the 27th Heritage Days weekend, an opportunity to enjoy many small sites that are not regularly open to the public. Special programs are in store, including exhibits and demonstrations, live music, and activities for children. In addition to Civil War and agricultural history, the stories of local railroads and trolleys, African American communities, and life along the C&O Canal are featured.
More than 30 museums, parks, and historic sites will offer free admission, special exhibits, and demonstrations that show how the County has changed over the past 250 years.
Celebrate America’s independence a bit early with friends and family at SummerFest, Gaithersburg’s illuminating summer festival held on the grounds of Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm on Frederick Rd. The event is free and will run from 6 – 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. Enjoy live music, food trucks, local breweries, and family-friendly activities—culminating in a spectacular fireworks display and the SummerGlo After-Party.
“Pride in the Plaza” returns Sunday, June 28, from noon–8 p.m. at Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring. Presented by Live in Your Truth, the annual celebration brings residents together to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community with live entertainment, community resources, local vendors, activities, and opportunities to connect.
The free, family-friendly event will celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the many voices that make Montgomery County a welcoming community. Veterans Plaza is located at 1 Veterans Place in Silver Spring.
Montgomery County’s minimum wage will increase on July 1, as required by County law to keep pace with inflation. The new hourly rates will be $18.00 for large employers (51 or more employees), $16.50 for mid-size employers (11–50 employees), and $15.95 for small employers (10 or fewer employees). The adjustments are based on a 2% rise in the regional consumer price index.
These changes mean additional annual earnings for workers across all employer categories, thereby continuing the County’s commitment to fair pay and a stable, predictable wage structure.
Montgomery County is set to celebrate Independence Day with two events full of fireworks, live music, and other family-friendly activities.
“Montgomery County 250th: Shine Together” will take place on Friday, July 3, at Albert Einstein High School (11135 Newport Mill Road, Kensington). This event will help kick off Montgomery County’s 250th summer of memories and celebration. The celebration begins at 7 p.m. with live music from The Nighthawks.
“Germantown Glory” will be held on Saturday, July 4, at South Germantown Recreational Park (18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds). The event starts at 7 p.m. with the TFC band set to perform. Parking is available on-site.
The Montgomery County Government and programs that impact County residents will follow a holiday schedule with changes for the observance of Independence Day on the federally designated holiday, Friday, July 3. Some programs also have schedule changes for Saturday, July 4.
In Montgomery County, most fireworks are illegal to possess or discharge. The only exceptions are snap-and-pop noise makers, snakes, and party poppers. This law is in place to protect children and adults from serious and sometimes fatal injuries associated with fireworks.
Nationwide, the irresponsible use of fireworks is blamed for an average of 12 deaths, 2,000 serious eye injuries, and 5,000 other injuries like amputated fingers annually.
Unfortunately, nothing stops people from bringing fireworks across state lines and using them here. Even though many people are told items like sparklers are safe, they burn at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s nearly hot enough to melt gold and not something children or pets need to be around.
Maryland is moving forward with a new requirement for owners of publicly accessible, paid electric vehicle chargers to register their units with the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The new requirement goes into effect on Wednesday, July 1.
Owners of publicly available chargers that expect payment for connecting to the power supply are required to register the devices with the State. Private home chargers and free‑to‑use stations are exempt, but chargers at apartments, condos, and workplaces must be restricted from public access to avoid the registration requirement.
Following stakeholder feedback from Montgomery County and others, the annual fee has been reduced from $150 to $75 per charging port. The State’s Department of Agriculture will use this program to ensure charger accuracy and identify inoperable units, similar to existing inspections of gas pumps and commercial scales. The fee reduction is made possible by renewable energy funds to help reduce costs while maintaining a reliable statewide charging network.
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The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are hosting a virtual community meeting from 7 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1 to continue informing the public about the PFAS contamination and health advisory in the area near Great Seneca Highway and Key West Avenue.
Montgomery County recently notified residents about elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” that were detected by the Maryland Department of the Environment in a small stream and stormwater pond near Great Seneca Highway and Key West Avenue in North Potomac.
Out of an abundance of caution, DHHS issued a localized Public Health Advisory for the affected stream and pond areas.
This virtual meeting is intended for people who were unable to attend the recent in-person meeting or who would like to ask additional questions. The Zoom link is available if you’d like to sign up for the meeting now.
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DEP Director Jennifer Macedonia
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DEP Watershed Division Chief, Amy Stevens
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Montgomery County Health Officer, Dr. Kisha Davis
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WSSC Water, PFAS Program Manager, Laura O’Donnell
Register here for the Zoom meeting.
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is installing 7.5 lane-miles of dedicated bus lanes along portions of MD 355/Rockville Pike to support Metro’s planned summer Red Line closure between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights from Monday, July 6, through Sunday, Sept. 6.
The bus lanes will be used by free Metro shuttle buses serving riders during the closure and are intended to reduce travel times and improve reliability. MDOT, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will monitor traffic conditions and bus operations throughout the summer and adjust as needed.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is adjusting parking days, hours, and rates for Montgomery County-operated garages, parking lots, and street meters in Downtown Wheaton, beginning Wednesday, July 1. The changes will allow free parking on Saturdays and after 6 p.m. on weekdays. Parking on Sundays remains free.
The Montgomery County Council approved the changes as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process. They reflect recommendations from the Wheaton Urban District, following a community survey in which the adopted option was preferred in more than 60% of responses.
Under the updated pricing structure, Downtown Wheaton’s weekday hourly parking rates will increase to $1.75 an hour for County-maintained garages, $2 for lots, and $2.50 for street meters.
Parking rates and hours effective Wednesday, July 1 in Downtown Wheaton will be:
County Garages
County Lots
On-Street Parking Meters
Parking rates in Downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring remain unchanged.
Customers who regularly park in the Downtown Wheaton Parking District can purchase a Wheaton Parking District Parking Convenience Sticker (PCS) Monthly Permit, which remains available for $132 per month. Additional information about the PCS Monthly Permit and other parking programs is available on the Division of Parking Management webpage.
Interested parties are invited to attend an informational community meeting focused on the VIVA White Oak development. The meeting will address three site plan applications for the project.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center, located at 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring.
Montgomery Parks will now allow the use of Class 1 pedal-assist electric bicycles and adaptive mountain bikes on natural surface trails. The new rule took effect June 18 and is intended to expand recreational access while protecting natural resources and promoting trail safety for all users.
Under the new directive, only Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes — which provide motor assistance only while the rider is pedaling and stop assisting at 20 mph — will be permitted on Montgomery Parks’ natural surface trails. Adaptive mountain bikes designed to improve trail accessibility for individuals with disabilities are also permitted.
Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are already permitted on Montgomery Parks’ paved trails. Motorbikes, mopeds, and e-bikes that are throttle-controlled or provide motor assistance when the rider is not pedaling (Class 2) and e-bikes that provide assistance at speeds over 20 mph (Class 3) remain prohibited on all Montgomery Parks trails due to concerns about trail damage, speed, and public safety.
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division, will enforce the new policy. Riders using prohibited Class 2 or Class 3 e-bikes on trails may be subject to warnings, citations, removal from park property, or having their e-bikes impounded.
The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland announced this week that Maryland Tax Connect, the agency’s secure self-service tax portal, will expand to serve individual taxpayers beginning in September. It marks the first system-wide modernization of Maryland’s tax infrastructure in more than 30 years.
The portal is a tool that allows taxpayers to find their complete filing history and expands self-service tools that are already being used by those paying business taxes. Through the portal users will be able to file income tax returns, make estimated payments, set up payment plans, and more.
Because all of the data currently housed in Maryland’s mainframe system must be transitioned to the new cloud-based system, most services will be temporarily unavailable beginning in late July, because August tends to be when tax activity is at its lowest.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is seeking applicants to fill one alternate member vacancy on the Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board.
The Board reviews appeals of property assessments, tax credits, and exemptions, and requires strong analytical skills and general knowledge of real estate. Anyone with experience with both residential and commercial real estate in the County is encouraged to apply. Members serve five-year terms and are compensated $30 per hour while in session.
Applications, including a resume and letter of interest, are due by Wednesday, July 8.
Bridge construction over Mill Creek on Redland Road in Derwood is impacting two Ride On bus routes from now through Tuesday, Aug. 25.
This closure will impact the trip to Glenmont Station on Route 53. Stops at Crabbs Branch Way, Needwood Road, Baederwood Lane, and Grande Vista Drive will be bypassed for several weeks. Stops along Briardale, Founders Mill, and Garret Roads will also be inaccessible.
Route 57 to Lakeforest along Redland Road and Crabbs Branch Way will also be impacted over the next several weeks, including regular stops on Roslyn Avenue, Mill Run Drive, Millcrest Drive, and Muncaster Road.
As soccer fans gather to watch FIFA World Cup matches at restaurants, sports bars, community events, and watch parties, Montgomery County's Vision Zero initiative is encouraging residents to plan safe transportation before heading out to celebrate.
Large sporting events often bring friends and families together to enjoy food, drinks, and team spirit. Whether traveling across the County to watch a match or gathering locally with fellow fans, making transportation plans in advance can help prevent impaired driving and keep roadways safe for everyone.
Vision Zero's Safe Ride Home program provides information about transportation options available throughout Montgomery County, including rideshare services, taxis, and public transit. The program also highlights resources such as the Washington Regional Alcohol Program's SoberRide service, which offers free Lyft ride credits during select holidays and special events.
Residents attending World Cup watch parties and other celebrations are encouraged to designate a sober driver, use public transportation, arrange a rideshare, or call a taxi if alcohol is involved.
Enjoy a day of showing and spectating in the heart of Montgomery County horse country at the 2026 Hunter Classic Horse Show on Saturday, June 27 at Brooke Grove Farm in Olney. The event will begin no earlier than 1 p.m. The annual show features a large show wing and a jump competition.
Registration on-site is available. You can find a schedule for the competition on the Goshen Hounds website.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 2, for the first-ever family fun event at the Pike District Pop-Up Park in North Bethesda. It is part of a series of free outdoor events happening on Saturdays and Thursdays throughout the summer.
Kids and Family Day will run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and feature a DJ, inflatables, games, and more. Food, music, and raffles are also staples of the Thursdays in the Park events that continue on Thursday, July 9, with a concert by Cole Larravide. You can find the park at the intersection of Grand Park Avenue and Banneker Street, behind the parking garage of the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel.
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