In Brief

Residents are asked to empty and rinse all containers. Labels and plastic rings on bottle necks are permitted, as are plastic bottle caps. Residents should not recycle plastic wrap or bags or plastic containers that held hazardous automotive or garden products such as motor oil, antifreeze and pesticides.

For program information, call 301-258-6370 or go to http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov and click on the Public Works section listed under "Departments."

Rockville Approves 15-Year Agreement With Verizon for Cable Television Services

Rockville Mayor Susan Hoffmann and the City Council approved a 15-year franchise agreement with Verizon Maryland last week that permits the company to provide cable TV services in the city. Previously, only Comcast could provide cable services in Rockville, city officials said.

Verizon's cable services will become available to residents in two phases. The first phase will include most of the city served by Verizon's Rockville and Montrose wire centers; the second will include sections served by the Gaithersburg wire center, primarily the King Farm area.

Verizon will market its services to potential customers and announce when services will be available in particular neighborhoods, officials said.

The agreement, which will be enforced by the county government, applies exclusively to cable TV services and not high-speed Internet or telephone services.

For information, call the council's office at 240-314-8290 or go to http://www.rockvillemd.gov.

More Than a Dozen Montgomery Agencies To Take Part in 60th Annual County Fair

More than a dozen county government departments and agencies will participate in the 60th annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. The county's information booths will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, through Aug. 16.

Representatives from county offices will be at the "Montgomery Corner" across from the Community Square and will provide information about various county services in one location. The site will be marked by a school bus, open to visitors, and a bank-shot basketball trailer where fairgoers can test their shooting skills.

The following county departments will participate: the Board of Elections, Office of Consumer Protection, Department of Environmental Protection, Treasury Division (Department of Finance), Montgomery County Historical Society, Montgomery County Public Libraries, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Permitting Services, Public Information Office, Department of Recreation and Montgomery County public schools.

Other county programs will be represented throughout the fairgrounds, including the Division of Solid Waste Services/Recycling; Housing Opportunities Commission; Agricultural Services Division (Economic Development); Ride, Fire and Rescue Service; and the police department.

The fairgrounds are at 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg. Fair admission is $8; ages 2 to 7, $3; children younger than 2, free. A season pass. including parking is $65. Parking is $5 per car at the fairgrounds but free with shuttle service from Lakeforest Mall at Lost Knife Road and Odendhal Avenue in Gaithersburg. For more about the fair, call 301-926-3100, 301-963-3247 or visit http://www.mcagfair.com.