With the Montgomery County Fair, Shark Week and tax-free shopping over, it can only mean one thing: It's the end of August in Montgomery County.

But for those of us who are still in town, there's a lot to lord over our vacationing friends and coworkers.

For example, did you know that Gov. Martin O'Malley got involved in a Montgomery County dispute last week? Or that police are looking for a serial hugger/groper in Bethesda? Also, school superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr is reportedly shaking things up in MCPS as we countdown to the start of school.

Fried Green Patch Editor

But first, a proper farewell to the county's paean to all things homegrown, local, fried, churned and bovine. Check out Gaithersburg local editor Greg Cohen's Man-vs.-AgFair food challenge at the Montgomery County Fair, and these captivating images of the majesty of, yep, monster trucks.

Get Out Your Skinny Jeans

With all this talk about food, you might be glad to know we're pretty slim in Montgomery County. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently ranked Maryland as the 22nd most obese state in the nation, with Montgomery County having the lowest obesity rate in the state, at 18.1 percent. To put that in perspective, Colorado ranked the lowest among states, with 20.7 percent of adults considered obese, while Mississippi was highest at 34.9 percent.

Brickbats for Brickyard

One long-standing testament to healthy locally grown food in Montgomery County has been Nick's Organic Farm in Potomac. The county has been trying to take back the land after 30 years and turn it into soccer fields but after a slew of court cases and challenges, Gov. Martin O'Malley weighed in last week, calling the county's plan a bad idea. Shortly thereafter, a circuit court judge nullified a lease agreement for the Brickyard Soccer Field project, sparking organic joy among the farm's supporters.

It Had to Happen

You may not be ready to think about back-to-school but it's a week away for Montgomery County public schools, which kick off the 2012-2013 school year Monday, Aug. 27. To be prepared, check out the county's back to school fair Saturday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. And, remember, the first holiday is Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3.

Starr Power

Schools Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr starts his second full year as superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools and he is reportedly making changes. In April, former Northeast Consortium community superintendent Beth Schiavino-Narvaez was picked to head the newly created Office of School Support and Improvement. She will report directly to Starr, the Gazette reports, which is a shift from the previous position that served under a deputy superintendent. Starr told the newspaper that he wants to build a better relationship between schools and the central office. 

In Other News

--Looking for work? Westfield Mall Wheaton has announced via Twitter that Costco is accepting job applications in anticipation of the store's opening at the regional mall in October. What kind of employees is Costco looking to hire? The list includes cashiers, forklift drivers, meat cutters, pharmacy sales assistants, photo lab clerks and more. See photos of the Costco warehouse under construction.

--Rockville Town Square is apparently officially cool. It just celebrated its fifth anniversary and Rockville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrea Jolly says its restaurants, stores and the county’s flagship Rockville Memorial Library make the town center a bonafide success. Following at least two failed previous attempts at creating such a center, this one is a success because "it’s helping make Rockville a destination,” said Jolly. It was built for $360 million as a public-private partnership of the City of Rockville, Montgomery County and Federal Realty Investment Trust.

--Silent Spring, a book that questioned the use of pesticides and is widely credited with stirring a focus on environmentalism in the United States, is about to turn 50. The book was penned by former marine biologist Rachel Carson in her home in the White Oak area of Silver Spring. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) called it "startling and inflammatory," but in a good way.

Check Out

--Our "What a Zoo!" photo caption contest for a chance to win Patch swag and bragging rights.

--Our "Indie Kicks" music events column by Takoma Park local editor Ryan McDermott, and get Raditude.

--This groovy car spotted at Brookside Gardens and featured on Wheaton Patch.