Maryland Tax-Free Shopping Week Continues Through Saturday, Aug. 17

Maryland Tax-Free Shopping Week will continue through Saturday, Aug. 17, allowing families and teachers to save money on many types of back-to-school necessities—or qualifying items to be used for other purposes.

Back-to-school purchases that can be purchased without paying sales tax during the special week include most clothing priced under $100, including sweaters, shirts, slacks, jeans, dresses, robes, underwear, belts, shoes and boots priced at $100 or less. The first $40 of a backpack purchase is also tax-exempt.

Each qualifying article of clothing or footwear selling for $100 less, or the first $40 of a backpack/bookbag purchase, will be exempt, regardless of how many items are sold at the same time. For example, two $60 sweaters sold at the same time are both exempt, even though the total purchase price is more than $100.

The Maryland Comptroller’s Office has a FAQ page to help answer questions about Tax-Free Week.

75th Annual Montgomery Agricultural Fair Will Be Filled with Fun Through Saturday, Aug. 17

The 75th Annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has again brought out the best of the County’s agricultural life and has many modes of entertainment over the past week. The fair, whose final day is Saturday Aug. 17, at the County Agricultural Center in Gaithersburg, includes animals, entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibits.

The Montgomery County Agricultural Center at 501 Perry Parkway in Gaithersburg has been home to the Montgomery County Fair since its creation in 1949. Sitting on 62 acres, the fair has more than 50 buildings that are filled with more than 5,000 animals every year.

The fair will be open 10 a.m.-midnight on Friday, Aug. 16, and Saturday, Aug. 17.

Information on all aspects of the fair can be found at https://mcagfair.com/.

General admission to the fair is $15 on-site and $12 if purchased online. Children 11-and-under are free. Parking at the fairgrounds is $15 per vehicle. There is free shuttle bus service for those who park on the campus of Montgomery College in Rockville (51 Mannakee St.) or at the former Lakeforest Mall property (corner of Lost Knife Road and Odenhal Avenue). Online tickets can be purchased here.

Among the many special events still on the fair line up are the Demolition Derby “Nights of Destruction” on Friday, Aug. 16, and Saturday, Aug. 17. In addition to fair admission, the grandstand event admission will be $18 additional on-site, $15 if purchased online.

Rockville to Hold Gun Buyback Event on Saturday, Aug. 17

The City of Rockville will offer an opportunity for community members to dispose of unwanted, functioning firearms voluntarily, anonymously and safely with a gun buyback event from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at RedGate Park. Gift cards of up to $200 will be presented for turned in firearms, depending upon the type of weapon.

RedGate Park is located at 14500 Avery Road in Rockville.

The Rockville City Police Department, in partnership with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, will sponsor the event. Residents can drive up and drop off firearms with no identification needed and no questions asked.

Residents will receive a $100 Visa gift card for functioning handguns, rifles and shotguns, and $200 in Visa gift cards for functioning assault-style weapons and privately manufactured firearms (ghost guns).

Gift card quantities are limited and subject to availability. RCPD will maintain the ultimate determination on the eligible firearms for gift card issuance.

Non-functioning firearms and ammunition will be accepted with no exchange of compensation.

Rockville has had great success with two previous buyback events, with about 300 firearms turned in during each event.

More information about the event is available at www.rockvillemd.gov/gunbuyback.

Comprehensive AI Action Plan Unveiled to Enhance Public Services

The Montgomery County Government has published its AI Action Plan, a full strategy designed to use artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver new and enhanced services to County residents. This innovative plan, spearheaded by the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS), underscores the County’s commitment to using advanced technology in a responsible, ethical, equitable and strategic manner to better serve County residents.

The AI Action Plan highlights several AI initiatives that are currently underway. As part of its forward-thinking initiatives, TEBS has:

• Established an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AICOE) to ensure the successful evaluation, coordination, implementation and adoption of AI solutions.
• Implemented “Monty 2.0,” a significant upgrade to the County’s MC311 website chatbot aimed at delivering an improved experience for residents seeking information and assistance.
• Focused on updating data and safeguarding sensitive information. These initiatives ensure that data remains secure and accurate, enhancing the effectiveness of innovative tools while maintaining data safety.
• Partnered with academia and other jurisdictions to benchmark, research and establish processes that will best support the usage of AI tools across Montgomery County Government.

“This plan, led by the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology in a responsible, ethical and equitable manner,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “By leveraging AI responsibly, we aim to improve public services and drive innovation throughout our community. I encourage residents to engage with us, provide feedback and help shape the future of AI-enabled public services in the County."

The AI Action Plan outlines a series of initiatives that the County will implement over the next several months to tie innovation solutions into various aspects of public service. These initiatives focus on engagement and communication, governance and ethics, education and awareness, strategic planning and management, evaluation and implementation, partnerships and resources and staffing.

Collaboration with key stakeholders across the County has been instrumental in developing the AI Action Plan to ensure the work aligns with the needs and values of residents. The plan also addresses privacy and security considerations, so all AI applications adhere to the highest ethical standards.

Residents are encouraged to read the full AI Action Plan, which is available on the County’s website. As Montgomery County Government learns and experiences this new technology with residents, challenges and unknowns may be presented.

Residents are invited to provide feedback to improve AI-enabled services. TEBS plans to host focus groups and incorporate feedback on County websites and within the AI tools used by residents, such as MC311’s Monty chatbot.

Registration for Recreation Fall Programs and Activities Now Underway

Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s fall programs and activities is now underway.

The fall digital guide is now available online. The department offers hundreds of programs and activities to promote an active and healthier lifestyle. Those include aquatics, fitness, sports, visual and performance arts, therapeutic recreation, adult 55+ programming and more.

Applications for Rec Assist, the department’s financial aid program, are still being accepted. County residents who meet program requirements can receive $400 per family member to supplement program costs.

Registration support is available, in-person, at all Montgomery County Recreation facilities during regular business hours.

For more information about registration, visit the website or call the customer service team at 240-777-6840.

Department of Transportation Ride On Trip Planner App Marks One Year, One Million Trips

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Ride On Trip Planner is celebrating one year, and more than one million public transit trips planned, with the popular app. The app launched in the summer of 2023 to make planning public transportation easier and more convenient.

Ride On Trip Planner allows for trip planning across multiple modes including Montgomery County Ride On buses, Metrorail and Metrobuses, electric scooters and Bikeshare. Additionally, the app gives live reports on wait times and ridership levels for Ride On buses through a crowdsourcing information feature.

"We are building out a transportation network that incorporates faster, more frequent bus service, including express bus lines. Making our public transit system easy to navigate will encourage ridership," said County Executive Elrich. "Public transit is good for the environment, and it is good for health. It eliminates the need to find parking and deal with traffic congestion. We’ve begun adding dedicated lanes and traffic light priority which helps make the ride more efficient."

Through the app, residents can compare routes, estimated travel times and cost comparisons for suggested routes. It also provides features to guide riders along their chosen route, including “first mile, last mile” directions to a selected bus stop and sending push notifications to their mobile device when it is time to exit the bus.

The app was created as a pilot project in partnership with Moovit, a mobility and journey application provider. Riders can download the app from the Google Play or Apple app store. A web-based version of the app also is available.

"We have seen a steady increase in ridership on Ride On buses, and are currently at 89 percent of pre-pandemic ridership levels," said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. "Last month we saw a 27 percent increase over last year and carried an average of 67,000 riders a day during weekdays. We are working to revolutionize public transit in Montgomery County through faster, more frequent bus service. If you haven’t tried riding the bus lately, I encourage you to download the Ride On trip planner app and give it a try. With Wi-Fi and bike racks, our buses offer a hassle-free way to get around."

MCDOT recently completed a full-scale reassessment of the Ride On transit network. Ride On Reimagined proposes updated routes and bus services to improve and upgrade the County’s transit system with more frequent and reliable service, better cross-county connections and more flexible service. MCDOT has advanced a number of initiatives in support of the program, including the Flash Bus Rapid Transit Network, limited stop, express service line Ride On extRa and an expansion of Flex, an on-demand bus service. MCDOT has also taken measures to improve the speed and reliability of bus services with the addition of red dedicated bus lanes and transit signal priority at intersections, through the Bus Priority Project.

Learn more about the Ride On Trip Planner or download the app from the Google Play or Apple app store. A web-based version of the app also is available.

Rockville Free Outdoor Summer Movies Series Will Conclude with ‘Matilda’ on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park

The City of Rockville’s summer of free outdoor “Movies in the Parks” on big screens in neighborhood parks will conclude at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, with the screening of “Matilda” at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park is located at 1800 Piccard Dr. in Rockville. Matilda is rated PG.

Attendees are advised to bring chairs, blankets, food and nonalcoholic beverages.

Learn more at www.rockvillemd.gov/moviesintheparks.

Camping Will Be Allowed in Certain Agricultural and Rural Zones

The Montgomery County Council has approved Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA 24-02) to allow camping in certain agricultural and rural zones with specific conditions. The new zoning measure expands campgrounds use to the Agricultural Reserve and Rural Cluster zones on properties that meet the requirements for farming in the zoning ordinance.

Some of the requirements in the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance include minimum acreage, maximum number of nights per guest, limitations on sanitation facilities and more. The new ZTA goes into effect on Aug. 19.

Under the previous zoning law, campgrounds were only permitted in Rural and Residential Estate 2C zones. The amendment to the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance allows overnight stays in certain zones and amends the use standards for campgrounds.

Questions about the amendments to the zoning ordinance can be directed to the County’s Department of Permitting Services Zoning and Code Compliance team by calling MC 311 or 240-777-0311.

Bluegrass of ‘Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road’ Will Conclude ‘Live from the Lawn’ Free Outdoor Concert Series at Strathmore on Wednesday, Aug. 21

The bluegrass of Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road will highlight the final show this summer of the free Wednesday night outdoor music series at Strathmore, Montgomery County’s finest performing arts venue, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The “Live from the Lawn” show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane in Bethesda. Although the concerts are free, attendees are asked to RSVP in advance at Summer at Strathmore. By sending in an RSVP, audiences will be able to receive weather or performance updates.

Rapidly rising on the bluegrass scene, Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road have garnered industry awards and captivated fans worldwide with their dynamic performances. Led by Purcell, the band infuses traditional bluegrass with bold originality, earning recognition as the “2019 Momentum Band of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

The band’s latest album, “Roots,” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album Charts. In 2022, Purcell made history by winning the RockyGrass Music Competition on guitar, mandolin and banjo.

The band features Purcell on mandolin, Ella Jordan on fiddle, Colton Kerchner on banjo, Rob McCormac on guitar and Jacob Smith on bass.

Attendees can bring low-rise chairs or blankets for their lawn experiences. The use of higher chairs is discouraged, but concert goers with those types of chairs are asked to sit toward the back of the lawn. The Strathmore team will ask those in higher chairs to move back if seated in a location that will block others’ view of the stage. Pets and comfort/emotional support animals are not permitted at Live from the Lawn events. Trained service animals are permitted.

Strathmore Culinary Arts will be serving a variety of barbeque-style food and drinks for purchase on site. View the menu here. Ben & Jerry’s will have ice cream options available for purchase. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Outside alcohol is not permitted on property.

Parking suggestions:

• Parking is in the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro garage off Tuckerman Lane and is payable by SmarTrip or credit card.
• Members at the Two Star level and above can park in the Mansion lot when attending Live from the Lawn events. Upon entry, display your VIP Parking Pass on your dashboard and follow the instructions from security personnel. View more detailed information here.
• Valet parking is not available.
• See more directions and parking information.

Community Input for Future New Mural on Glenmont Local Park Activity Building

Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery Parks Foundation, which will commission a mural for the park activity building at Glenmont Local Park, are seeking design ideas for the mural from community members to ensure it reflects the history, values, stories and aspirations of the diverse neighborhood. Community members can provide their input via an online survey open through Aug. 30.

The mural project is made possible by a grant from the Montgomery Parks Foundation.

“We are excited to support this project to bring art to this park while also showcasing the values and culture that are part of this community,” said Katie Rictor, executive director of the Montgomery Parks Foundation. “We are eager for input from the community so we can develop something everyone will love.”

Following analysis of the survey results, Montgomery Parks will issue a call to artists to submit proposals. More details will be available on the park project page.

The Glenmont Local Park activity building is one of 19 park activity buildings in the Montgomery Parks system. Park activity buildings offer convenient and affordable options for residents to host gatherings. The Glenmont Park building, a mid-20th Century modern design, was constructed in 1954 and renovated in 2018.

The mural will be visible from Randolph Road.