Holiday Schedule for Labor Day

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2:

• County Offices - closed.
• Libraries - closed.
• Alcohol Beverage Services - open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Recreation - aquatics programs and facilities open, however, the Germantown Indoor Swim Center and Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center are closed for annual maintenance. All recreation centers, senior centers, and administrative offices are closed.
• Montgomery Parks - visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
• Ride On - operates on a Sunday schedule.
• Ride On Flex - closed.
• Metrorail and Metrobus - visit www.wmata.com.
• TRiPS Silver Spring Commuter Store - closed.
• TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store - closed.
• County-provided refuse/recycling pickup - No County-provided collection services. After the holiday, County-provided recycling and trash collections will slide one day. The last pickup of the week is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7.
• Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station - facility closed.
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters - free.
• State office and courts - closed.

Montgomery County Executive Elrich Announces Completion of Two-Year Apartment Building Inspection Initiative That is Area’s Most Aggressive for Large Jurisdictions

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich recently said that the County has completed its two-year initiative to inspect 686 apartment buildings – a new protocol that is the most aggressive among large jurisdictions in the Washington area.

Over the two-year period, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs inspected more than 22,000 apartment units, identified more than 31,000 violations and ensured that 96 percent of the violations were corrected, to date.

The initiative marks the first time that the County has inspected so many apartment buildings in this period and makes the County the leader in identifying and focusing resources on the most problematic buildings as well as implementing such a thorough and systematic enforcement regimen.

Among apartment buildings under this initiative, 65 percent were deemed compliant; 16 percent were deemed “at-risk,” and 19 percent were categorized as “Troubled Properties.” Going forward, every unit in troubled property buildings will be inspected annually to identify and address violations. The remaining apartment buildings will continue to be inspected, but far less intensively, i.e., at least one-fourth of units in the building will be inspected at least every three years.

Read more about this initiative here.

Back-to-School Fair Set for Saturday, Aug. 24

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students and their families are invited to Westfield Wheaton for a free MCPS Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Westfield Wheaton is located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road at the intersection of Veirs Mill and University Boulevard in Wheaton. The fair will take place on the lower level throughout the mall, starting near the Dick’s Sporting Goods entrance.

The Back-to-School Fair is a great way to kick off the school year and learn about the school system’s programs and services, along with resources from government agencies and community partners.

There will be free, fun entertainment for the whole family, including children’s activities, health screenings for adults and children, giveaways and more!

Free shuttle bus service to the fair will begin at 9:30 a.m. from Montgomery Blair and John F. Kennedy high schools in Silver Spring, Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Northwest High School in Germantown, Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Watkins Mill High School in Montgomery Village and Carver Educational Services Center at 850 Hungerford Dr. in Rockville.

More information about the fair is available by visiting the website.

Popular Pool Pooch Party Returns to Montgomery County Recreation

Montgomery County Recreation welcomes dogs to the pool for the annual Pool Pooch Party. Our four-legged, canine friends can make a splash at the Sergeant Hector I. Ayala Wheaton-Glenmont Outdoor Pool from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8. The facility is located at 12621 Dalewood Drive in Wheaton.

The pool is closed to humans and open to canines with current proof of rabies vaccinations. Dogs can swim, romp and frolic at the pool before it is closed and cleaned for the winter. Each dog must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 

For more information or to register, visit the website.

Register for Fall Recreation and Parks Classes and Programs

Registration is now underway for Montgomery County Recreation and Montgomery Parks activities, classes and programs that are featured in the fall issue of the Guide.

Inside the Guide you will find a wide variety of classes, programs and activities that help you enjoy an active, healthier lifestyle.

Register at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org.

Meeting at Marriott

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich continued his series of meetings with Washington area business and government leaders when he met with Arne M. Sorenson, the president, and chief executive officer of Bethesda-based Marriott International, Inc. Sorenson presides over one of the world’s largest hospitality companies and some of the most iconic brands in travel. Elrich continues to engage business leaders as he works to elevate the County’s status as Maryland’s economic engine and a leading jurisdiction in the region.

Montgomery County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center Clears the Shelters

Dozens of the homeless animals found permanent homes when Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center participated in NBC and Telemundo owned stations' Clear the Shelters on Aug. 17. This is a nationwide pet adoption effort to find loving homes for animals.  At the end of the day, 89 dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, fish, and even a horse found their forever home.


If you missed the date and are looking for a dog there will be a "Clear the Shelters: The Sequel" offered Sept. 5 through 8, which will waive adoption fees for dogs. The event will be sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals.

The Center opens its doors to all animals in need from dogs and cats to farm animals, wildlife, and exotics but the goal is to find a home for these animals. If you are looking for a pet you will want to stop by to see what animals are looking to be adopted. The shelter is located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood. The facility is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and weekends noon to 5 p.m. To view the adoptable animals or for more information visit the website.

Montgomery County 71st Agricultural Fair

Where in Montgomery County can you find pig races, monster trucks, an alien abduction ride, deep fried candy, beauty queens, a herd of longhorns and decorated toilet and toilet seat contests? If you know it is the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, then you are likely one of the more than 200,000 residents who attended the fair, which took place Aug. 9 through 17.

More than 1,200 volunteers provided in excess of 30,000 hours to make this the region’s largest agricultural fair.

Enjoy this photo slide show of County Executive Marc Elrich’s visit to the fair.

Best Bets for Your Calendar!

Grammy and Emmy winner Arturo Sandoval Headlines 16th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival Saturday, Aug. 24

Grammy award-winning musician Arturo Sandoval will headline the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, which will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 3 to 10 p.m. in Veterans Plaza located at One Veterans Place.   

State-of-the-Art Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center will open on Sunday, Sept. 8
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8.

Grammy and Emmy Winner Arturo Sandoval Headlines 16th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival Saturday, Aug. 24

Grammy award-winning musician Arturo Sandoval will headline the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, which will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 3 to 10 p.m. in Veterans Plaza located at One Veterans Place. 

New this year, the Jazz Festival is scheduled the weekend before the Labor Day holiday to make it the County’s end-of-the-summer celebration.

Arturo Sandoval, a protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, in 1949. Just two years earlier Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of 12 and has evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugel horn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

Sandoval has won four Grammy Awards, six Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country,” which starred Andy Garcia. He recently performed on the Grammy Awards broadcast with pop-phenomenon Justin Timberlake, as well as on the Latin Billboard Awards with the gifted Alicia Keys. At those ceremonies, he was awarded his sixth Billboard Award for “Best Latin Jazz Album.”

Silver Spring has earned a reputation of being one of the most diverse and dynamic communities in the country, where there is always something to do and enjoy. Activities and events embrace the Arts & Entertainment District’s culture of being a welcoming community that values vibrant arts and diverse experiences.