Montgomery County residents should mark their calendars, as Presidents Day will bring changes to the usual hustle and bustle on Monday, February 17. County offices, state offices and courts, along with the Department of Permitting Services will be taking a breather, as they'll all be closed for the day, giving many a well-deserved pause from their daily grind.
Getting around might need a bit more planning, the Ride On, Ride On Flex, and Ride On extRa bus services are sliding into a holiday schedule, and the Flash is only flashing its Orange Route service; the Blue Route, however, will take a day off, according to a statement from the Montgomery County press release. MARC Train riders are in for a slight tweak to their transit routine, with "R" schedule operations on all three lines — but don’t worry, selected late-night Penn Line trains will still cut through the quiet of the evening.
If you're planning on hitting the books or need to return a few, you're out of luck, libraries across Montgomery County will close their doors not just Monday, Feb.17, but also the previous Sunday, giving us a chance to find other sources of leisure and learning over the long weekend. In a twist of convenience, public parking garages, lots, and curbside meters are offering their spaces for free, a small but significant reprieve for those scouring the streets for a spot to settle their vehicles in and around the county.
For those looking for a libation to toast the presidents past, Montgomery's Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has got your back, with all stores uncorking their services from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., whereas the TRiPS Silver Spring commuter store will provide a truncated workday open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; the TRiPS mobile commuter store, on the other hand, won't be on the move, deciding to close up shop for the day. As for Metrorail and Metrobus, commuters can expect a Saturday Holiday schedule and Saturday Supplemental service, respectively allowing for the transport arteries of the county to maintain a modified flow of circulation amidst the commemorations.
Trash and recycling collection will hit the snooze button on Monday, simply pushing the remainder of the week's pickups one day later, which means the collections will wrap on Saturday, Feb. 22, as outlined in the Montgomery County announcement. While the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center will be echoing silence, closed entirely, Montgomery Parks' aquatic and recreation centers are inviting all to dive in or play, remaining open. Yet the Montgomery Parks headquarters, permits offices, Brookside Gardens visitor center and conservatory, and the public information and customer service office will step back from services, perhaps whispering to us the intrinsic value of taking a moment to commemorate those who’ve led this nation.
