June 22, 2022

Tickets for County Recreation’s Seven Outdoor Pools Now Available for Monday, July 4


Tickets to Montgomery County Recreation’s seven outdoor pools this year are available online for pre-purchase. Tickets for the holiday on Monday, July 4, are now available. Tickets are available at a discounted rate of $5 per person.

Online tickets will be available for purchase through midnight on Friday, July 1. Regular gate admission will be available at full cost on Monday, July 4.

The seven outdoor pools include the following:
  • Bethesda Outdoor Pool, 301-652-1598, 6300 Hillandale Road, Bethesda
  • Germantown Outdoor Pool, 240-777-8067, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
  • Long Branch Outdoor Pool, 301-431-5700, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring
  • Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Outdoor Pool, 240-777-8066, 1201 Jackson Road, Silver Spring
  • Sara E. Auer Western County Outdoor Pool, 301-349-2217, 20151 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville
  • Sergeant Hector I. Ayala Wheaton/Glenmont Outdoor Pool, 301-929-5460, 12621 Dalewood Drive, Wheaton
  • Upper County Outdoor Pool, 301-840-2446, 8211 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg
Outdoor pool hours for July 4 are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Tickets will be valid for the session selected and are nonrefundable. Residents can purchase up to 10 tickets. Tickets will be scanned at the door and a valid photo ID is required. The primary purchaser must present the ticket upon entry for the entire group. Once the ticket is redeemed guest are not allowed re-entry. Buy tickets here.

For additional information about pool passes, amenities and hours of operation at all swimming pools, visit the Montgomery County Recreation website.

‘Brent & Company Band’ Will Highlight ‘Evenings in Olde Towne’ Free Thursday Series in Gaithersburg on June 30


The free, family-friendly “Evenings in Olde Towne” concert series will have performances on Thursday nights in June, July and September at the City Hall Concert Pavilion in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. All concerts will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. The next show will feature the “Brent & Company Band” on Thursday, June 30. 

The concerts offer the opportunity to wind down Thursdays with great music in a casual, outdoor setting. Attendees can bring food and drinks to the concerts. They should also bring a blanket or low-back chair for lawn seating. 

The concert pavilion is located at 31 South Summit Ave. in Gaithersburg. 

The concert lineup schedule: 
  • June 30: Brent & Company Band 
  • July 7: The Breakaways
  • July 14: Moxie Blues Band 
  • July 21: Juliet Lloyd Band 
  • July 28: Billy “T” Wilde Band 
  • Sept. 8: Quimbao Latin Band 
  • Sept. 15: Pebble to Pearl 
Brent & Co. is a Washington, D.C.-based band that performs more than 250 dates a year throughout the Mid-Atlantic. The band combines rock, country, reggae and pop with improvisation to create memorable and refreshing music with heart and soul.

Concerts are weather-dependent. Check the City’s website or social media for updates. 

The Evenings in Olde Towne Concert Series is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). To discover more about MSAC grants and how they impact Maryland's arts sector, visit https://www.msac.org/.

‘Grandreaders’ Program Pairing Seniors Reading to Young Students Will Be Available this Summer Through Montgomery County Public Libraries and Partners

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), in partnership with the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA), Heyman Interages Center, will be offering the “Grandreaders” Program at several branches this summer. The one-on-one program pairs a Grandreader volunteer with a child from kindergarten to third grade to practice reading aloud.

“We are delighted to resume this in-person program at MCPL,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “This program is designed to improve students' ability to read more fluently and with better comprehension and to keep their reading skills sharp during the summer.”

The Grandreaders Program will run for five weeks, from the last week of June until the end of July, at the Aspen Hill, Gaithersburg, Wheaton and White Oak libraries.

No registration is required. Participants can bring their own book or select one from the library.

Older adults interested in volunteering can contact the JCA Heyman Interages Center. For additional information on how to get their children involved, parents or guardians can contact any of the four participating library branches.

The Grandreaders program is scheduled for the following libraries

Racial Equity and Social Justice Virtual Community Forum Will Be Held on Sunday, June 26


The Montgomery County Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee (RESJAC) will host a virtual community forum from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 26. The forum, which will have opening remarks from County Executive Marc Elrich and County Councilmember Nancy Navarro, aims to bring together the community and County leaders to learn more about topics including food insecurity, health justice, housing, and reparations.

The County Government officials and community leaders participating in the forum will engage in a conversation about racial equity and social justice.

Scheduled speakers for the forum include Zola Shaw, RESJAC chair, and Shane Lloyd, RESJAC vice chair.

A special session on reparations will be led by William "Sandy" Darity and A. Kirsten Mullen.

The forum also will include breakouts sessions. The scheduled sessions are:
  • Health Justice: Panel will feature Michelle LaRue of CASA, Beatrice Miller of the Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, and Sanjana Quasem of the Asian American Health Initiative.
  • Food Insecurity: Panel will feature Grace Rivera-Oven of the Upcounty Consolidation Hub and Jackie DeCarlo of the Manna Food Center.
  • Housing: Featuring Alex Vazquez of CASA.
Click here for event information and registration.

‘Two Montgomery County Cooks: Recipes and Communities’ Will Be Presentation of Montgomery History on Tuesday, June 28

Culinary history—recipes, cookbooks, what we ate and how we ate—can reveal new understandings of community and culture. A talk and slide presentation that will be presented by Montgomery History at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, will explore cookbooks written a generation apart by Elizabeth Ellicott Lea and Maria Brooke Watkins.

“Two Montgomery County Cooks: Recipes and Communities” will be hosted by Claudia Kousoulas and Ellen Letourneau. They will look at how each collection of recipes reflects life in Montgomery County in their time. The talk is drawn from the speakers’ new book, A Culinary History of Montgomery County.

To register for the free event, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o3e_PD5LRj64hCgcDFfCfw.

Pride Month Events Continue with Pride in the Plaza Events


Montgomery County’s celebration of June as Pride Month continues with special events of varying types. The events will include “Pride on the Field” in White Oak on Friday, June 24, and Pride in the Plaza activities on Sunday, June 26, in Silver Spring.

Friday, June 24: Pride on the Field: An LGBTQ+ Field Day.

Montgomery County Recreation Department and Unmatched Athlete will partner for a day of outdoor games and sports from noon-4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24, at the White Oak Recreation Center. No matter your athletic ability, there will be something fun for everybody. Following Pride on the Field, there will be activities at the recreation center’s new LGBTQ+ Safe Zone from 7-10 p.m. Register here.

Friday, June 24: Pride in the Park: Movie Night

Bring a blanket or lawn chair for a cozy outdoor screening of the film Saturday Church in Jesup Blair Park at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 24. Bring your own food and drink or purchase refreshments from Silver Branch Brewing and an on-site food vendor. The movie will begin at sundown. Saturday Church takes the viewer through the story of 14-year-old Ulysses, a boy who is struggling with his gender identity and faith. Ulysses uses music and fantasy to navigate his life in the inner city, meeting many new friends along the way that help him discover his freedom of expression and passions. No tickets are required for this event. Presented by Montgomery Parks. More information here.

Saturday, June 25: MOCO Pride Youth Picnic

MoCo Pride Youth, the LGBTQ+ student advocacy group of Montgomery County Public Schools, has organized an afternoon of food and socializing for LGBTQ+ youth in Downtown Silver Spring’s Woodside Urban Park from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. All LGBTQ+ teens are welcome to attend, regardless of whether they are MCPS students. Get free tickets.

Saturday, June 25: Pride in the Park: Youth Open Mic

Do you have a notebook full of poetry you want to share with the world, or a song that needs an audience? All LGBTQ+ youth and young adults are invited by MoCo Reconnect to spend some time behind the microphone sharing their poetry, stories, songs, and any other creative musings from 3-5 p.m. at Woodside Urban Park on Saturday, June 25. Woodside Urban Park is located at 8800 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. More information here.

SUNDAY, June 26: Pride in the Plaza Festival!

Come out and show your pride in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring for a fun, all-day, outdoor festival celebrating LGBTQ+ community, health, well-being and joy. The festival is free. Get tickets now.

Festival highlights will include:
  • Local LGBTQ+ artists, businesses and supportive nonprofits.
  • Free HIV testing.
  • Drag Queen Story Hour: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
  • LGBTQI Pride Show & Drag Duels Finale: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball: 5-8 p.m

Montgomery Parks Special Events Will Include Skate Night and Pride in the Park Movie Night on Friday, June 24


Montgomery Parks June special events will include two more events highlighting the County’s outstanding parks. The schedule on Friday, June 24, includes Skate Night at the Takoma-Piney Branch Local Park and Pride in the Park Movie Night at Jesup Blair Local Park in Silver Spring.

Details on each event:
  • Skate Night. Friday, June 24. 6-8 p.m. Takoma-Piney Branch Local Park. Open to skaters of all abilities. Free. Food will be available from Steeze Burger.
  • Pride in the Park Movie Night. Friday, June 24. 7 p.m. Free. Movie will begin at sundown. Jesup Blair Local Park. Join Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery County HIV/STI Testing Services for this special screening of Saturday Church on the lawn of Jesup Blair Local Park. Saturday Church takes the viewer through the story of young, 14-year-old Ulysses, a boy who is struggling with his gender identity and faith. Ulysses uses music and fantasy to navigate his life in the inner city, meeting many new friends along the way that help him discover his freedom of expression and passions.
Bring your own food and drink to make the night a picnic or purchase refreshments from Silver Branch Brewing and an onsite food vendor. The movie is intended for mature audiences ages 18 and up and is not recommended for viewers under 18. Viewer discretion is advised.

Visit the Summer 2022 Montgomery Parks Program Guide or the Montgomery Parks event calendar to view a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery.

Board of Elections Launches Recruitment Program of Students Grades 6-12 for Its Award-Winning ‘Future Vote’ Program

The Montgomery County Board of Elections is seeking school-age students, grades 6-12, to participate in its “Future Vote” program. Interested students can choose to serve as Future Vote ambassadors or as election poll workers.

The Future Vote program is available to County students grades 6-12. U.S. citizenship is not a pre-requisite, but students must be able to speak, read and write the English language. Students with bilingual and American Sign Language skills are encouraged to apply.

The initiative combines civic participation and the opportunity to observe democracy in action. Volunteers will earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their service. Training is required for both students and guardians. Details and volunteer expectations are provided at training.

Interested guardians must register their children by June 29. To apply online, or for more information, visit 777vote.org and select the “Future Vote” tab.

Students 16 years old or older are eligible to register to vote and serve as election poll workers. To serve as an election poll worker, minors must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Maryland State Board of Elections, that they meet all qualifications for registration in the State. Depending on the number of days served, volunteers may choose to earn up to 185 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours or to receive a stipend of up to $1,650.

To serve in the paid volunteer position, election poll workers must be U.S. citizens; registered to vote in Maryland; able to speak, read and write the English language; and they cannot hold, or be a candidate for, public or party office. In addition, election workers may not serve as a campaign manager for a candidate or as treasurer for any campaign finance entity.

Training is required and will be provided to all election poll workers. This includes an online quiz, and in-person classroom training. Volunteers will be paid for completing training and working during Early Voting and/or Election Day. The Board of Elections offers several different positions, all-day and part-day. Information is available at 777vote.org. On the site, select the Election Workers tab, then the Position Description/Payment tab.

To apply, text SERVE to 77788 or go online to 777vote.org and select the Election Workers tab. Then select the Getting Started tab. For high school poll worker information, visit 777vote.org. Select the Election Workers’ tab and then the High School Poll Worker tab. More information also is available via email at election.judge@montgomerycountymd.gov.

For election-related information, call 240-777-8500 or visit www.777vote.org.

Children’s Summer Concert Free Series Continues in Olde Towne Gaithersburg with Hip Hop Music of ‘Christylez Bacon’ on Wednesday, June 29


Gaithersburg’s Children’s Summer Concert Series continues at the City Hall Concert Pavilion on Wednesdays in June and July, with free performances from 10:30-11:15 a.m. The next performance will feature the hip hop music of “Christylez Bacon” on June 29.

The concert pavilion is located at 31 South Summit Ave. in Gaithersburg. 

The lineup for the Wednesday series will include: 
  • June 29: Christylez Bacon (hip hop music) 
  • July 6: The Bubbas (music) 
  • July 13: Marsha and the Positrons (kindie rock band) 
  • July 20: Rocknoceros (music) 
  • July 27: The Rainbow Rock Band (music) 
Christylez Bacon (pronounced: chris-styles) is a GRAMMY® nominated progressive hip-hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Southeast Washington, D.C. Christylez multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African djembe drum, acoustic guitar and the human beat-box (oral percussion), all while continuing the tradition of storytelling through his lyrics.

With a mission toward cultural acceptance and unification through music, Christylez has performed at the National Cathedral and became the first Hip-Hop artist to be featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. He has composed and orchestrated an entire concert for a 12-piece orchestra commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institute. Additionally, he has recorded a folk/hip hop children’s album. He is the recipient of multiple honors awarded by the Washington Area Music Association including the 2013 Artist of the Year. He has been honored with a Montgomery County Executive Award for Excellence in the Arts. a 2012 “Library Superhero” by Friends of the Library, Montgomery

Parking in Olde Towne is free. Limited spaces are available at City Hall, the upper parking lot by Wells/Robertson House and at the Community Museum across the train tracks. Limited free parking is also available in the Parking Garage located across Summit Avenue at 112 Olde Towne Ave. A list of additional short-term parking locations in Olde Towne can be found here. 

For more information about the children’s summer concert series, call 301-258-6350 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov. 

The Children's Summer Concert Series is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). To discover more about MSAC grants and how they impact Maryland's arts sector, visit https://www.msac.org/.

Germantown Community Recreation Center Closes for Summer So Roof Can Be Replaced



The Germantown Community Recreation Center, located at 18905 Kingsview Rd., has closed for the summer to allow for a roof replacement project. The center closed on June 22 and is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, Aug. 18.

All programming scheduled to take place at the center throughout the closure will take place at alternate locations, with the exception of early voting. The Center will remain open as an Early Voting location from July 7-14.

For additional information, call the Montgomery County Recreation Customer Service line at 240-777-6840.