Dear Friends, 

It's Howard County Summer Restaurant and Craft Beverage Weeks!

Howard County has one of the best restaurant scenes in the nation because of our diverse community and its high-quality, varied cuisines. From gastro pubs to upscale dining – there is something for everyone to support locally owned and operated businesses during our restaurant weeks. 

We’re also using this time to show our appreciation and gratitude for our hospitality workers who have gone above and beyond to welcome residents and visitors alike to Howard County.

There are nearly 30 participating restaurants, and deals will last through July 24th. See the full list of locations here. 

Turf Valley Elementary School Update

One of my core responsibilities as your Howard County Executive is investing in our public education system, including renovations to existing schools and the construction of new facilities where needed.  

Last December, I announced that we were transferring property for the future Turf Valley Elementary School to our school system. This transaction delivered on our promises, and was the culmination of years of negotiations. We allocated $4 million, since 2019 for the purchase of this property, resolved a dispute over inclusion of a sound berm into the parcel to be acquired, negotiated a signed sales agreement with Turf Valley and settled on the property. 

Acquiring property for the future Turf Valley Elementary School is one of many recent accomplishments in our shared efforts to build new schools and better maintain existing schools in Howard County for all of our children and educators. 

Since the beginning of 2019, we have invested more than $350 million for school construction in Howard County, nearly $80 million more than the previous four-year period. This investment has allowed us to build a new Talbott Springs Elementary School, renovate and expand Hammond High School, and begin construction of High School 13, which will be our County’s first new high school since 2005. These three critical projects will combat school overcrowding by adding capacity for approximately 2,400 additional students by the end of 2023. 

Thank you to everyone in our community who has worked with us, our state partners, school system, board of education, and our educators to make progress on ensuring our education facilities are excellent for all.

Taco-Tuesday, Everyday!

Howard County’s culinary scene reflects the diversity of our community and we’re so glad to continue to expand our pallets. I was so excited to welcome Lime & Salt Taco Bar to Columbia! Inspired by Mexican street food, they use the best ingredients and provide a unique atmosphere. 

Congratulations to Yampier and Taylor, and I wish you much success. See their menu and order today here.

An Indoor Kind of Playground

Howard County is grateful to be home to many thriving businesses which serve residents of all ages. I was so glad to stop by Hyper Kidz Columbia this afternoon. Hyperkidz offers a play space in which children of different age groups can have fun together under one roof. From birthday parties to a fun place to play indoors, this facility offers an array of fun activities for our children between the ages of one to ten. Thank you Chinna and Sangeetha for your continuous commitment to our community. 

They have locations across the DMV. Learn more about their unique indoor playground here. 

Grab a Slice

There’s a new HomeSlyce Pizza Bar in Howard County! 

It’s always exciting to see our Howard County businesses grow and expand within our county. I was so excited to join Haluk Kantar and many of our friends for the grand opening on HomeSlyce in Clarksville. This is their seventh location overall, and second within the County. Thank you for choosing Howard County as your home, again, and I wish you much success. 

Learn more about their mouth-watering pizza here. 

Tax Credits for Seniors

Howard County is a place where residents of all ages and abilities should feel safe and comfortable to live, work, play, grow, and age. to help our older adults continue a sustainable life, Howard County has an array for tax credits for our older adults. 

To learn more and to apply, please click here. 

Free Summer Meals for All

During the school year, many Howard County children take advantage of free or reduced-price meals to meet their needs, but when school is out in the summer, our families still need options. Our community has a tradition of stepping up during challenging times, and as inflation and supply change challenges increases the cost of groceries, the need is greater than ever. We are proud that there are many options to make sure families have the food they need this summer. 

Learn more about the various programs here. 

Approved Vaccines for Infants & Children!

The vaccine for children 6 months to 5 years-old has been approved! However, supply may be limited for the next few weeks.

The Howard County Health Department urges you to speak to your child’s pediatrician first, as we expect doctors’ offices to receive most of the initial vaccine supply. The Health Department is also offering vaccines for our youngest residents. To make an appointment, please click here.

COVID-19 Update

According to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Howard County’s positivity rate, as of Friday, July 7th, is 12.5% and our 7-day moving average case rate per 100k is 28. During the past month, COVID case rates, test positivity, and new hospitalization admissions due to COVID have fluctuated. Howard County's Community Level, according to the CDC, is back to HIGH. There are currently 9 COVID-19 patients in the ICU and Acute Care units at Howard County General Hospital. We’ve sadly lost 363 of our residents to COVID-19 and we continue to keep their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. 

Please continue to utilize the many strategies available to mitigate the impact of severe disease. When our community level is HIGH, all residents should strongly consider wearing a high-quality mask indoors in public, especially those at high risk for complications from COVID. Have a plan for rapid testing if needed. If high risk, consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed.

Vaccination remains the most effective strategy and now our residents 6 months and older are eligible. Staying up to date with vaccine continues to be the best way to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19. Howard County is a state leader with 91.6% of our residents 5+ fully vaccinated. However, 33% of our eligible residents have not yet received a first booster shot.

Find a vaccine near you, and give yourself the best protection against COVID-19 at vaccine.howardcountymd.gov

 How to Safely Use Payment Apps

This month (July 21^st to be exact), our Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) a presentation on “How to Safely Use Payment Apps” at the Ellicott City 50+ Center at 11:00 a.m. The presentation will highlight how to choose and begin using payment apps, your rights and responsibilities as a consumer, and how criminals are using apps to get your money.

OCP strives to protect county consumers by investigating complaints and mediating disputes, taking enforcement action and providing presentations on consumer issues and tenants' rights. To register to participate in this FREE presentation, call 410-313-1400 today.

Department of Fire and Rescue Services and Police Department

Never Leave a Child or Pet Alone in a Car

With summer upon us, our Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) and Police Department (HCPD) is reminding parents and caregivers of the importance of taking the necessary steps to make sure no child – or pet, is ever left in a vehicle alone. While it may seem hard to believe that a caregiver could forget a child is in the car, a majority of child hyperthermia fatalities in vehicles occur due to a change in the driver’s routine, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Even with the windows rolled down or the air conditioning on, the temperature inside a vehicle can quickly rise. When parked in direct sunlight, the inside of a car can reach up to 131° to 172°F when outside temperatures are 80° to 100°F. Even with the windows rolled down or the air conditioning on, the temperature inside a vehicle can quickly rise.

REMEMBER, a child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's, and a body temperature of 107 degrees is fatal. Children overheat easily, and those under four are among those at greatest risk for heat-related illness and death.

As for pets, pets can sustain organ damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes when left in an unattended vehicle. Beating the heat for dogs is especially tough because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.

To ensure this unthinkable tragedy does not occur, DFRS and HCPD is offering up these tips:

• Place something that you’ll need at your next stop – such as a purse or briefcase – near the child safety seat. This simple act could help prevent you from accidentally forgetting a child.
• If you are dropping your child off at childcare, and normally it’s another parent or caregiver your spouse or partner who drops them off, have the caregiver, your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan. Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare.
• Teach children not to play in, on or around vehicles.
• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open. A vehicle can heat to dangerous, life-threatening levels in only 10 minutes.
• Always lock a vehicle’s doors and trunk. Keep keys and remote entry devices out of children’s reach.

The COVID-19 vaccine for children six months to five-years-old has been approved; however, the supply may be limited for the next few weeks. While the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) is offering the vaccine to our youngest residents, HCHD urges parents and guardians to speak to their child’s pediatrician first as the department expect doctors’ offices to receive most of the initial vaccine supply.

To learn more about HCHD COVID-19 vaccine clinics and/or to make an appointment, visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov.

Department of Housing and Community Development

Our Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is now accepting applications for its Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program July open enrollment period. Held quarterly, DHCD’s MIHU is an inclusionary zoning program that offers quality new homes at reduced sale prices and rents to income eligible families.

To purchase an MIHU home, individuals must apply to DHCD during an open enrollment period to be placed in the database. To qualify, an applicant’s household income may not exceed 80 percent of Howard County’s median income (example: maximum $96,928 for a four-person household to as much as $127,945 for an eight-person household). Applicants must meet credit score requirements and household income must be sufficient to qualify for a mortgage based on industry standards. Sale prices for available MIHU homes, currently range from $267,544 for a new condo to $386,938 for a new townhouse. Actual sale prices may vary depending on the size and amenities of the unit. More details regarding our MIHU homeownership program will be available HERE or contact DHCD at 410-313-6318 (select option two) or email housing@howardcountymd.gov.

To rent an MIHU unit, a qualified applicant’s household income may not exceed 60 percent of the Howard County median income (example: maximum $50,887 for a one-person household and $72,696 for a four-person household). MIHUs are rented on a first-come, first-served basis, are interspersed throughout each community and residents enjoy the same amenities of community life as market rate tenants. Visit DHCD’s MIHU rental website for more information.

On the 1^st, MIHU homeownership applications will be available online and completed applications can be either submitted online, mailed to 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD, 21046, or dropped off at DHCD’s Patuxent Woods Drive office by appointment only. Applications are being accepted through Friday, July 29, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

The Shadow Pandemic: Disproportionate Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic



Our Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) invites you to join them next Tuesday, July 19^th at noon for a two-hour interactive virtual presentation on the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, the presentation will detail the disparate impact of the pandemic on women, with an emphasis on the longstanding economic, social and gender-based disparities that have intensified systemic and structural barriers to equality. Topics to be covered include: the history of inequality and gender stereotyping underscoring women’s access to credit; employment and housing; the exacerbation of incidences of domestic violence against women and girls; the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Women of Color, as well as low-wage workers; and the vulnerability of women with children to housing insecurity and harassment during the pandemic. To register for this FREE presentation, click HERE.

Reading Human Rights: The Color of Law

Reading Human Rights is an award-winning monthly book discussion group hosted by OHRE and the Howard County Library System (HCLS) that encourages literary exploration and community dialogue around a variety of human rights concerns.

For the month of July, OHRE and HCLS will be discussing Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. Through is book, Rothstein aims to expose how federal, state and local governments gave rise to and reinforced racial segregation on metropolitan neighborhoods nationwide, To secure your seat for this event, set to take place next Tuesday, July 19^th at 6:30 p.m. at HCLS’ East Columbia branch, click HERE.

Nominations Sought for 2022 Human Rights Award

The Howard County Human Rights Commission is now seeking nominations for its 2022 Jim Henson and Jean Toomer Individual, the Dr. Murray Simon Student, and the Colette Roberts Organization awards. Presented annually, these awards honor individuals and community organizations who have made significant contributions to human and civil rights in Howard County.

The nomination form can be found online or a hard copy can be requested by contacting the Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) by calling 410-313-6430 or emailing hrc@howardcountymd.gov. Self-nominations are accepted. The nomination deadline is August 14, 2022.

Winners will be recognized at the 2022 Human Rights Commission Awards Ceremony on October 19th at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center.

For questions and/or more information about this year’s award, contact OHRE at 410-313-6430 or email hrc@howardcountymd.gov. To learn more about the Human Rights Commission, check out the OHRE’s Commissions and Workgroups website.

Department of Planning and Zoning

Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board

Tomorrow, July 12^th at 10:00 a.m., our Department of Planning and Zoning’s (DPZ) Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board will hold a hybrid meeting, in person at 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City and virtually via WebEx. To pre-register to attend tomorrow’s meeting, please click HERE. Once registered, further instructions and a call-in attendee number will be provided via email. For those wishing to join the meeting via telephone only, i.e., those who only want to listen to the meeting and are not providing testimony, should call 1-650-479-3207 at the meeting time. When prompted, enter 2311 477 8525 as the event access code.

The agenda for tomorrow’s meeting can be found online.

Police Department

HCPD’s Community Athletic Program is BACK!

HCPD’s Community Athletic Program (CAP) is back! Coming to a community area near you this summer, CAP consists of a traveling trailer filled with sports gear, games and video game equipment and staffed by school resource officers. Activities include basketball, baseball, flag football, floor hockey, tennis, board games and video games. Open to all ages, activities run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and participation is free.

This week, residents can find the CAP traveling trailer at Blandair Regional Park on July 5^th, Centennial Park on July 6^th, the East Columbia branch library on July 7^th and the North Laurel Community Center on July 8^th.

For a complete summer CAP schedule, check out www.howardcountymd.gov/police/community-athletic-program.

National Night Out 2022 Registration Now Open!

Community/neighborhood registration is NOW open for HCPD’s 2022 National Night Out (NNO) celebration. Set to take place Tuesday, August 2^nd, HCPD and residents will once again join communities across the U.S. as they come together to celebrate police-community partnerships. If your community or neighborhood is planning a NNO block party for this year and would like HCPD or Department of Fire and Rescue Services resources in attendance, or for elected officials to stop by, please visit HERE today to register your party by July 15^th. Parties registered by the 15^th will receive priority for HCPD attendance.

Department of Public Works

Centre Park Drive/Columbia 100 Parkway Intersection Traffic Signal to be Activated

To alert motorists of the new signal at the intersection of Centre Park Drive/Columbia 100 Parkway in Ellicott City, the signal will be set to temporarily flash yellow for traffic on Centre Park Drive and flash red for traffic on Columbia 100 Parkway and 8850 Centre Park Drive business entrance. Motorists approaching the flashing yellow signal should proceed with caution through the intersection, while those with flashing red should stop before proceeding through intersection when clear. The flash operation will switch to full color (green, yellow and red) on Thursday, July 21^st around 11:00 a.m.

Variable message sign boards will be deployed in the area to alert motorists of the upcoming change to the intersection. Additional signage will be posted to advise motorists of the revised traffic pattern once it is in place.

For questions or concerns about this traffic signal, contact Public Works Customer Service at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.

Department of Public Works - Construction Report

To learn about DPW projects currently underway, click HERE. Searchable by project category and street name, from this site you’ll find additional project details, including news releases about the project. You can also contact DPW’s Customer Service Office at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov for further assistance.

If you have questions or are interested in finding out about a State road (numbered roadway) project in your area, visit the Maryland State Highway Administration’s (SHA) “Project Portal” website.

Backyard Composting Demonstrations

The Master Gardeners are back with backyard composting demonstrations! This year, demonstrations will be held at Howard County Library System’s Miller and Savage branches, Recreation & Parks’ Robinson Nature Center and the County’s Alpha Ridge Landfill. Attendees will receive a FREE backyard compost bin, as well as helpful tips and tricks to creating this valuable soil amendment. To view this year’s schedule, click HERE. To learn more about backyard composting, click HERE.

How Can We Improve Recycling at the Landfill?

Our Bureau of Environmental Services wants to hear from you on how it can improve recycling at the County’s Alpha Ridge Landfill. Let the Bureau know what you think by completing this quick and easy survey today!

Summer Concert Series Returns

In case you missed it, our Department of Recreation & Parks’ summer concert series is back for another sensational musical summer. This July, Recreation & Parks will host three summer concerts at Centennial Park. This Wednesday, July 13^th, Back To Rock – Music School showcase will take the stage, followed by country/pop artist (and Howard High School graduate) Risa Binder on July 20^th and Howard County native Damon Foreman & Blue Funk on July 27^th. For more information about this summer concert series and performers, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/summerconcerts.

Food Trucks and Backyard Games

July is the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) “Park and Recreation Month”. Throughout this month, our Department of Recreation & Parks will be celebrating with a variety of fun activities, such as Food Trucks and Backyard Games this Thursday, July 14^th from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Blandair Regional Park – North. Individuals, friends and families are invited to come enjoy an evening of games, ranging from pony hop to corn hole and Jenga, and delicious food from Mardi Gras Tyme and Mailks Ice Cream Mobile food trucks.

To learn more about this event, as well as other events taking place this “Park and Recreation Month”, click HERE. 

Cupcake-Making Class with Kupcakes & Co. Cake Designer

Join Recreation & Parks next Saturday, July 23^rd from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. for a hands-on cupcake decorating class at Kupcakes & Co. in Elkridge. Led by Kupcakes & Co. talented cake designer (who helped them win two cake decorating contests for The Cooking Channel), participants will learn how to decorate six delicious cupcakes – three designs will go along with the summertime theme and receive a goodie bag filled with a few decorating tools and a yummy cupcake to grab from shop case on the way out. Participants will also take home all of the extra supplies used during the class. This class is intended for individuals age 13+ and costs $95.00 per participant. For more information, including how to register, click HERE.

Office of Transportation

Public Meeting on Columbia and Ellicott City Bike Howard and Complete Streets Improvements

This Wednesday, July 13^th, our Office of Transportation will host a virtual public meeting to present proposed improvements to various road segments in Columbia and Ellicott City. As part of an upcoming County road resurfacing effort, Transportation is proposing to implementation of various Howard County Bike Master Plan, Bike Howard, and the Howard County Complete Streets Policy recommendations. The proposed changes will provide new, painted bike lanes along road segments in Columbia and Ellicott City and Columbia. The road segments being considered are:

• Hickory Ridge Road from Little Patuxent Parkway to Cedar Lane in Columbia;
• Thunder Hill Road from Lightning View Road to MD 108 in Columbia;
• Twin Rivers Road from Harpers Farm Rd to Jason Lane in Columbia; and
• Old Montgomery Road from MD 108 to University Blvd in Ellicott City.

The addition of bike lanes to the shoulder area of these sections of roadway could effect on-street parking and some of the proposals being considered include converting existing travel lanes to bicycle lanes.

The meeting will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and will be held via WebEx; click HERE to register for this meeting. During meeting, Transportation will present the proposal and then gather feedback from the community. Community members can also provide feedback via a brief online comment form that will be posted to the project webpage, available through July 27, 2022.

After the meeting, Transportation and DPW will consider all feedback received and determine whether to move forward with the proposals. For more information about this proposed project and meeting, click HERE.