December 8th Weekly e-Newsletter for the Village of Harper's Choice.
Save The Date!

Rehab. Renew. Replace

Universal Design: Strategies for Aging in Place

 

As Columbia nears its 50th birthday, what are the ways we can honor and build on our city's past by keeping our communities attractive,  livable and responsive to changes in how families live today?
 
Both new and long-time homeowners will be inspired by this 3-hour workshop on possibilities fo r redesigning our homes and communities for aging in place .

  • When: Saturday, January 7, 2017 (Rain/Snow Date - 1/21/17)
  • Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Sponsored by the Oakland Mills Community Association's Board of Directors and the Oakland Mills Neighborhood Enhancement Advisory Committee.
Free and open to the public.

RSVP to Sandy Cedarbaum at manager@oaklandmills.org or call 410-730-4610.
Pizza with Santa

Pizza with Santa will be held on Sat, Dec. 17 from 11am - 1pm at Kahler Hall. This holiday tradition is especially for Harper's Choice residents. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Please register here at Eventbrite.

Guests will enjoy pizza, a special holiday craft and loads of fun. Bring your camera and enjoy a memorable family photo opportunity with Santa!

We encourage attendees to bring one non-perishable food item per person. Donations will be given to the Howard County Food Bank and Hope Works. Below are a few of the most requested items from the charities' wishlist. 

Howard County Food Bank Wishlist:
  • canned meats
  • soups
  • rice
  • cereal
  • baby food
 Hope Works Wishlist:
  • ramen noodles
  • pancake mix
  • peanut butter
  • jelly
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, December 17th! 
Mentoring & Tutoring for the Community

A-OK (Assist Our Kids) Mentoring -Tutoring Inc. 

Make a difference and help enhance the academic and social development of identified Howard County elementary school students in schools near you through a consistent, supportive relationship with a child. Volunteers must be available weekday, daytime hours to meet one-one with an assigned student during the school day or with students in small groups in after-school programs. 

Learn more about A-OK's volunteer opportunities at an Information Session: January 10th at 11AM and February 14th at 1PM at the Hawthorne Center, 6175 Sunny Spring, 20144. 

Please sign up at  aokmentor  or email susan@aolmentoring.org
Police remind residents: Always lock your car. 

Howard County Police are reminding residents to always lock their cars and take the keys with them. Residents should never leave their cars warming up or leave keys in their vehicles for any reason, even for a short while. 

Out of over 200 vehicle thefts so far this year, at least 46 were stolen using the vehicle's keys. In some incidents, vehicles were left running; in others, keys were left inside the vehicle or taken from another vehicle in the same driveway. 

In just the last month, over 150 thefts from vehicles have been reported. In the majority of these incidents, the vehicle had been left unlocked, with many valuables inside. Stolen items included cash, wallets, purses, sunglasses and jewelry, among other items. 
 
Residents should consider registering for "Watch Your Car," a free program administered by Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council (MVTPC) that is designed to deter theft and assist in the apprehension of thieves. Registration is available at HCPD.org
Recycling Tips
FROM THE HOWARD COUNTY DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
 

Residents Ask Us - Can I Swap My Bin For A Smaller Or Larger Recycling Cart Or Bin?

Yes. Call 410-313-6444 to exchange your container for a different size. Place a note on the bin that you want to swap, and please leave your bin/cart out and available until the exchange is made. If you live in a townhome community, please leave your bin/cart by your house for exchange and not in a grouping area. Residents do not need to be home for the swap.
HELP KEEP LEAVES OUT OF OUR STREETS AND STORM DRAINS

Are there leaves and leaf litter in the street and the street curb gutters in front of your house?  Help prevent street flooding, clogged storm drains, and added pollution in our streams and lakes by cleaning up the street in front of your home.  Place the leaves in containers or PAPER bags and place out curbside for pickup on your regular recycling day through the third week in January.
 

Please note that it is a violation of County Code to blow, pile or sweep leaves into the public roadway. "A person may not obstruct, damage, or destroy public property."  [Title 18, Subtitle 2, Section 18.205, subsection (b1).]  

Looking for a way to give back?


Every year at this time,The Baltimore Sun compiles a list of local non-profits who help so many in need throughout our community.  As we stop to count our blessings, this is a great resource, with lists of specific items each organization needs and how we as a community can help.

You'll find the list of these nonprofits, along with their wish lists, in the annual Share Your Blessings article. 
 
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Upcoming Meetings
Architectural Committee Meetings

Changes made to the exterior of homes in Harper's Choice require approval of the Village Architectural Committee (AC). For the month of December , the AC will meet on the 1st 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 which is scheduled for, 12/27/16.

 Beginning in January, we will resume our 2nd and 4th Tuesday meeting schedule. 

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.
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* Term expires 4/30/17
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