October marks the return of the Montgomery County Office of Public Health’s annual no-cost flu vaccination clinics. Seven events are scheduled and open to anyone 6 months of age or older who lives, works or goes to school in our County. Appointments are recommended and will be prioritized.

The schedule this year includes both indoor and drive-thru options. Take a look to find a date, time and type of clinic that works for you. Events will be offered in Pottstown, Blue Bell, Lansdale, Norristown, Abington, and King of Prussia.

The new Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster will also be available all all of our indoor clinics to those 12 years of age and older who would like it. It will not be offered at our drive-thru clinic on Saturday, October 8.

The Montgomery County Correctional Facility and the Montgomery County Department of Human Resources are inviting candidates interested in the role of correctional officer to a walk-up hiring event on Saturday, October 15. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Eagleville.

No pre-registration is needed to attend and job applications will be available on site. Free parking is available at the facility. All visitors must check-in with security at the main gate. Attendees should bring their resume and a valid driver’s license.

Upon successful hire, correctional officers receive generous benefits through Montgomery County that include competitive wages starting at $44,151 per year, tuition reimbursement, excellent health care benefits, County pension, and paid time off. Newly hired correctional officers are eligible to receive a sign-on bonus equaling $4,415.10.

For those unable to make the hiring event, applications are available online or in person at the Montgomery County Department of Human Resources located at One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede Street, 7th Floor, Norristown, PA 19401. All applications must be emailed to Barry Martin, [email protected] or returned in person to the Human Resources Office.

The Montgomery County Commissioners recently took action to allocate an additional $1.2 million dollars in funding to support the county’s unhoused population through increased street outreach and emergency hoteling services.

Rising rents, the lack of affordable housing, impacts of Hurricane Ida, and the ongoing economic impacts of COVID-19 have all contributed to worsening housing instability and homelessness in Montgomery County.

To learn more how you can get involved, visit Your Way Home’s website and subscribe to their newsletter.

·     October 13, 20, 27: The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review. This course is essential for planning commissioners and elected officials. This three-session course reviews the subdivision and land development process from pre-application meetings through the completion of a project.

·     October 25: Investing in Open Space: Montco’s Return on Environment Study. This free event will highlight and celebrate Montgomery County’s recently published Return on Environment: The Economic Impact of Protected Open Space in Montgomery County. Event participants will learn about how protected open space—public parks and trails, preserved farmland, and private conserved lands—provides tremendous economic value in terms of savings, earnings, and avoided costs.

Looking for ways to support those in need here in Montgomery County?

One way is through the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ Winter Coat Drive.

Only new coats can be donated and the greatest need is for adult men’s sizes as well as infant and children sizes up to 5T. Donations can be dropped off at our Human Services Center located at 1430 DeKalb Street in Norristown. Please use the building’s main entrance off of Green Street. The drive runs through December 30.

Additionally, the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board recently kicked off its 8th Annual Freedom from Hunger Food Drive.

The food drive will end on October 31. This year’s fundraiser – once again held exclusively online – has a goal of collecting 40,000 pounds of food to support local food pantries and soup kitchens struggling to feed more in the community with fewer funds. Doing so would bring the Freedom from Hunger Food Drive’s lifetime contribution to 100,000 pounds of food.

Montgomery County has received an allocation of $5,080,650 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act specifically dedicated for housing services, called HOME-ARP.

The County is sponsoring a town hall on Tuesday, October 11 to hear from members of the public, developers, nonprofit professionals, and others about how these funds should be used to meet the needs of residents who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or at risk of housing instability.

This virtual session will begin at 6 p.m. and will include a brief overview of the funding parameters and then provide attendees with the opportunity to share their priorities for this funding source.

AHA Heartsaver CPR/AED training can give you the tools necessary to save a life in a crisis.

On the first Tuesday of each month, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services will hold this essential training at the Human Services Center in Norristown. The next session will take place on October 5 at 9 a.m.

To book a separate small group or private session, please contact Laura  at [email protected].

Mark your calendars now for the Montgomery County Office of Public Health’s 4th annual Trick or Trails event at the Norristown Farm Park on October 22.

Trick or Trails serves as a fun, healthy way to connect families with nature and have a not-so scary Halloween experience. Trick or Treat stations will be set up along a paved trail where participants can do an activity, pick up a prize, and learn something about healthy eating, nature, Halloween safety, or parks and trails. Costumes are welcome.

Trick or Trails is open to the public although registration is preferred. Interested parties can email [email protected] and report how many children and adults will be attending.

MontcoWorks fall job fair and business expo coming soon to the Plymouth Meeting Mall

MontcoWorks and PA CareerLink Montgomery County are partnering with the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Montgomery County to hold a job fair and business expo at the Plymouth Meeting Mall on Tuesday, October 11 from noon to 5 p.m.

Job-seekers will be able to meet with hiring managers from a variety of industries. In addition to connecting with potential new hires, employers in attendance will have an opportunity to speak to representatives from PA CareerLink Montgomery County’s Business Services Team to learn more about free ongoing recruitment support as well as access to on-the-job training and incumbent worker training funds.

There’s always so much to do and learn at Montgomery County’s Parks, Trails and Historic Sites.

Here’s what they have in store for you this October:

·     Full Moon and Folklore. Friday, October 7 at 7:15 p.m. Peter Wentz Farmstead in Lansdale. Join us under the (almost) full moon for a night of lunar folklore and spooky stories! Bring your own s’mores supplies to make a sweet treat as we sit around the campfire. Lawn chairs or blankets are recommended.

·     Homeschool – Natural Dyes. Friday, October 7 at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. Peter Wentz Farmstead in Lansdale. Come learn how colored clothes were made back in colonial times. Discover what plants make different color dyes. Bring along a cotton white shirt to dye with all the natural dyes! Children ages 7-16 with adult. $5 donation recommended.

·     Haunted Hayride. Saturday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m. Green Lane Park in Green Lane. Bring the family out to experience a “Haunted Hayride” through our “spooktacular” campground. In addition to the hayride, this free event will feature kids’ crafts, refreshments and more.”

·     Skulls, Skins and Skeletons. Saturday, October 8 at 11 a.m. Norristown Farm Park in Norristown. It’s that time of year where everything is getting spooky. Discover skulls, skins, and skeletons of different types of animal artifacts.

·     They Passed this Way Campfire Program. Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. Peter Wentz Farmstead in Lansdale. Did you know that George Washington and the Continental army traveled along the same routes in Montgomery County that we often drive on today? Come to this campfire program to hear about the places that Washington and his men visited including the Peter Wentz house and Methacton Hill.

·     Homeschool – Orienteering. Wednesday, October 12 at 11 a.m. Norristown Farm Park in Norristown. Orienteering is a outdoor navigation sport where you use a compass and map to locate check points. Join the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association to learn what orienteering is and how to do it. Once you learn the basicst, try a course that is set through the park. Children ages 7 – 16 with adult.

·     All Hallows Eve Fall Festival. Saturday, October 15 at 1 p.m. Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville. Spend a beautiful fall day at the Mills, where kids can paint a pumpkin, make fall kid-crafts, press apples to make cider and corn shucking. The whole family can also enjoy a hayride around the meadow.

·     Fall Decoration. Saturday, October 15 at 11 a.m. Norristown Farm Park in Norristown. Join us to create a fall pumpkin decoration! Choose a small pumpkin and add paint, stickers, fall flowers or leaves. Also create pipe cleaner and bead ears of corn! This is an indoor program. $5 craft fee.

·     Morning Bird Walk. Tuesday, October 18 at 8:30 a.m. Peter Wentz Farmstead in Lansdale. As we are in the peak season for warblers and other songbird’s migration, this will be a walk you won’t want to miss! Many of these species are passing through as they finish their migration. Join park staff to observe these amazing birds that are only stopping by. Bring binoculars or borrow ours!

·     Nature Explorer – Owls. Wednesday, October 19 at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. Norristown Farm Park in Norristown. Come learn about “hoo” lives in our forests at night. Discover how many species of owls live in PA. Also get to see some neat animal artifacts. You will also hear a story and create a craft to take home. Children ages 3 – 6 with adult. $3 fee.

·     Homeschool – Fishing 101. Friday, October 21 at 1 p.m. Lorimer Park in Huntingdon Valley. Come discover how to fish! Learn the parts of the rod, how to cast and fish safety. Then get a chance to throw a line in the water and see if you can catch anything. Limited rods are available or bring your own. Children ages 7 – 16 with adult.

·     Pottsgrove Manor’s Autumn History Adventures- A Digital Program. Friday, October 21 at 12 p.m. Pottsgrove Manor in Pottstown. Join us from anywhere in the world to “Choose Your Own Adventure” at Pottsgrove Manor. This program will be available at noon on social media, our website, and YouTube.

·     Farm Park’s Most Wanted (Adult Only Program). Saturday, October 22 at 6:15 p.m. Norristown Farm Park in Norristown. What connection does Norristown have to America’s first serial killer? Which Norristown State Hospital patient was the subject of an Oscar-nominated film? Before its grounds were converted into the Norristown Farm Park, the Norristown State Hospital had a long history of playing host to some of Pennsylvania’s most notorious individuals. Join us around the campfire for a night of true crime stories you’ll never forget. Adults only.

·     Upper Schuylkill Valley Park presents It’s the Wolf! Saturday, October 22 at 11 a.m. Upper Schuylkill Valley Park in Royersford. Bring the family and join us at the park for a puppet show. Tucker’s Tales puppet theatre will be performing “It’s The Wolf.” Suggested donation $2 per person.

·     Spooky Hike. Thursday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. Norristown Farm Park in Norristown. It is almost Halloween. Come get spooked by nature. Take a hike and learn about some creepy sounding animals. Also experience some chilling stories about the Farm Park. Wear sturdy shoes for hiking.

·     Fall Foliage Ramble. Saturday, October 29 at 1 p.m. Green Lane Park in Green Lane. Join us for a stroll on the beautiful Blue Trail as we investigate the wonders of fall leaves and their seasonal transformation. While we learn about how and why leaves change colors, we will cover some basic tree ID and other fun facts about forest ecology. Ages 8 to adult.

·     Saturday Bird Walk. Saturday, October 29 at 8:30 a.m. Norristown Farm Park in Norristown. Join park staff for a Saturday Morning bird walk. Come observe some amazing birds that are only stopping by. Bring binoculars if you have them. Wear sturdy shoes for hiking.

Please note, registration is required for many of our events. Click on the links to learn more!

On October 25, the Montgomery County Commerce Department and MontcoWorks will host Careers of Tomorrow, a multi-industry career expo for Montgomery County students in grades 8 through 12.

Attendees will be introduced to, and have the opportunity to learn about, a wide variety of career paths spanning manufacturing, healthcare, energy, social assistance, information technology and more. The common thread through all of the spotlighted industries is each represents a well-paying, in-demand field projected to play a critical role in our region’s economic future.

This event is “career-awareness” focused and is an excellent opportunity for students, parents, and educators to connect with local employers, experience activities, see product demonstrations, and learn about different career paths in various industries.

Careers of Tomorrow will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center located at 100 Station Avenue in Oaks.