January 12th Weekly e-Newsletter for the Village of Harper's Choice.
Offices will be closed on
 Monday, January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Wintry Mix Headed to Maryland this Weekend
      

 
Here's a timeline of what we could expect from Thursday through Monday. 
  • Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Southwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
  • Thursday night: A slight chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
  • Friday night: A chance of snow and sleet after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Saturday: Snow, freezing rain, and sleet. High near 32. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
  • Saturday night: A chance of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 50%
  • Sunday: A chance of freezing rain and sleet before 1pm, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 50%
  • Sunday night: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • M.L.King Day: A chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37
Will you join The Columbia Smart Energy Challenge? 
 
 
January 1st - June 30th
Save money on energy audits. Reduce your electricity bills and make your home more comfortable! 

Reduce cold drafts, health hazards and energy costs in your home. See how energy costs are being wasted or lost and ways to save energy through small improvements.

Through this program:
  • Home energy audits are $100 (a $400 value)
  • Residents receive a rebate of 50 percent of the improvement cost with a $2,000 maximum.
  • Earn $50 when you refer a friend who completes an energy audit.
  • Help your neighbors: Any village that completes at least 10 energy audits during the challenge will get 100 free LED light bulbs for it's residents.

To sign up for an energy audit visit retrofit.com/columbia.

For more information on the Columbia Smart Energy Challenge,  

contact Allie Busching at 410-929-6139 or ABusching@retrofitbaltimore.org 

 MASTER GARDENER EVENTS 
To be held at Amherst House in Kings Contrivance.
Come in out of the cold and enjoy these informative presentations by the Howard County Master Gardeners.
All sessions begin at 7:30 p.m.

January 24 - Starting a Vegetable Garden
February 28 - Deterring Deer and Other Critters
March 14 - Pruning 
Please call 410-381-9600 to register.
Haiti Fest! Sunday, January 22nd

Columbia Association invites the community to HaitiFest, an event being held in celebration of the cultures of the Caribbean Island, as well as the establishment of a sister city relationship between the communities of Columbia and Cap-Haitien.

HaitiFest will take place on Sunday, Jan. 22nd from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane in the Wilde Lake Village Center. The event is being held in collaboration with The Build Haiti Foundation and CA's Cap-Haitien Sister City Committee. All are welcome at this free event. Haitian and Caribbean dress is encouraged. The program will include Haitian music, dance and drum performances, art displays, book signings, and information on The Build Haiti Foundation's Global Leadership Program, which will send teens and adults to Haiti in July 2017.

For additional information visit, Columbia Association or email  International@ColumbiaAssociation.org 

A Friendly Reminder
 
We regularly receive calls and emails about pet waste and dog walkers not following Howard County Leash Laws. Below is a summary of the most common laws along with the contact information for Animal Control, the County Division that handles these complaints.  
 
HOWARD COUNTY ANIMAL
CONTROL LAWS 
All animal owners in Columbia are subject to the Howard County Animal Control Laws.
Here are a few summarized requirements under Section 17.300 of the Howard County Animal Control Law:
  • A pet must be on a leash and under the control of a responsible person when not on an owner's property.  This person must be capable of immediate and effective restraint.
  • Owners are responsible for immediately removing pet defecation when off their own property.
  • Owners are responsible for preventing their dogs from barking to the extent that it disturbs neighbors.
Residents who have concerns about animal behavior or the care and control of animals are urged to call Animal Control for more information: 410-313-2780.
Merry Mulch Your Tree Program & January Recycling 
  
 
Merry Mulch:  
Curbside Tree Recycling through January 21st, 2017 for Columbia residents.  Remove all tinsel, garland, ornaments, lights, tree stands, plastic bags, etc. and set out curbside on your recycling day.  Trees WILL NOT BE COLLECTED ON TRASH COLLECTION DAYS before January 21st.

Trees are taken to a compost facility and recycled into compost and mulch. Your participation in the Merry Mulch program keeps thousands of trees out of the landfill.    
 
January Recycling:
Curbside yard trim collection ends the third week in January! 
Once a week, curbside collection of UNLIMITED amounts of grass, leaves and light brush is available through the third week in January and will not resume until after April 1.  Last call for bags and bundles of leaves and yard waste!   
   
Don't worry if it's past January 21st!
Trees collected as trash are taken to the landfill for disposal. To conserve landfill space, we ask that you only use this option as a last resort.  You can still recycle your tree at the Alpha Ridge Wood Waste Area, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (No plastic bags) 


Have questions?  Call 410-313-6444, visit us online   
NEW AND IMPROVED! HOWARD COUNTY SNOW PLOW TRACKER

Howard County has replaced the old tracking software with an improved system; it has lots of new and useful features.  

The tracker is found at  Howard County's online portal  and there is a helpful video tutorial.
Have you visited us on Facebook lately?
 
Please join us on Facebook for up-to-date information about what's happening in and around the Harper's Choice Community.

Upcoming Meetings
Architectural Committee Meetings

Changes made to the exterior of homes in Harper's Choice require approval of the Village Architectural Committee (AC).
 
The AC will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 PM to review applications. 

The deadline to submit applications for approval is two weeks prior to the next meeting date.
Village Board Meetings

The next meeting of the Village Board is scheduled for January 3rd at 7PM. Approved Agendas and Meeting Minutes are/will be available on our website.
Keeping You Informed
This weekly e-Newsletter serves as a recap of news and events we share with our community throughout the week via other social media channels. Connect with us on Facebook  and  Twitter  to receive more regular announcements and information from us.
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* Term expires 4/30/17
** Term expires 4/30/18

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