Best in the State

April 24, 2023

Dear Friends,

In Howard County, we invest in creating the best quality of life for all. Our community is a flourishing hub of arts and culture, jobs and economic vitality, and is an example of increasing energy independence. We are honored to be recognized as the Best County in which to live in the entire state of Maryland. From our education system to housing and everything in between, Howard County is a place where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can live their fullest and best life.

Read more here.

Sweet, Sweet Inclusion

For 62 years, the Arc of Howard County has made a tremendous, positive impact on our community. Through their dedicated efforts, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been able to lead fuller, more rewarding community lives. It was such an honor to join them for the 25th Annual Chocolate Ball Gala to celebrate our commitment to peace, love, and inclusion.

The stories they shared at the Gala and the progress made not only touched many hearts, but reminded us of the positive impact made for people of all abilities in our community and our region. When working together, every person, of every ability, can live their best life.

Supporting Our Peers

You don’t have to go through recovery alone. Howard County has resources to connect you with support either by phone or in person. You can contact Peer Recovery Support Staff at 667-203-1253 or 667-203-1264. You can also speak to someone face-to-face by visiting the Health Department or North Laurel Community Center. No matter where you are on the path to recovery, Peer Recovery Specialists can help. They offer confidential and stigma-free support.

Learn more here.

Rising Above

It was wonderful to join Visit Howard County for a tour of their Rise Above exhibit at the Howard County Welcome Center! This exhibit explores the long history of Howard County’s Black community through art. It includes many works from local artists, including several features on Benjamin Banneker, one of Maryland’s most notable historical figures.

I would especially like to thank artist Jay Durrah for participating in this exhibit and sharing his impactful portraits of Frederick Douglass with our community. Through April 30th, residents and visitors can visit the Rise Above Art Exhibit at the Howard County Welcome Center. Learn more about the exhibit and open hours here.

Inspiring Our Future Leaders

Every year, students from across the county come together at the Howard County Conservancy to present their findings on aspects of local streams and pose thoughtful solutions to environmental challenges. I am incredibly inspired and proud of our student scientists for their commitment to research and dedication to ensuring a clean environment for our current and future generations.

It was a pleasure to not only learn more from these future leaders, but to also celebrate this year’s Green Apple Award Winner, Stephanie Doodigian from Oakland Mills High School. Mrs. Doodigian was selected due to her Countywide work with Science Olympiad, native plant gardening, and her role as a Teacher Leader in the Watershed Reportcard Program.

Thank you to our dedicated professionals and young residents who continue to work hard to ensure a more clean and sustainable world for all.

Making A Greener Future

Earth Day reminds us that we must do our part on making our world cleaner and safer for our current and future generations. In honor of Earth Day, I had a wonderful time joining the Youth Climate Institute at The Howard County Conservancy to plant a tree. We are so fortunate to live in a community where everyone of all ages are passionate about protecting our environment and spending time outdoors.

We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring our environment and community is clean and more energy independent for decades to come. Make your earth day commitment for a greener future for Howard County and beyond. Happy Earth Day!

Modernizing Our Agricultural Systems

I had a great time with the Howard County Farm Bureau for its annual legislative dinner, where we had the chance to celebrate accomplishments while acknowledging the work ahead. It’s imperative that we continue to modernize and innovate through investing in our agricultural infrastructure and community, and my proposed FY24 budget establishes recurring funds for agricultural initiatives that were previously funded by one-time grants, including $200,000 to the Soil Conservation District.

It also includes an increase for food access initiatives and strengthen farm-to-table efforts to support We Are HoCoFresh, the Roving Radish, and fund various educational programs for our young people to learn more about agriculture. Together, we will continue to look for creative ways to ensure that Howard County’s agricultural community thrives.

Connecting in Every Way

In Maryland, we’re connected in every way - from the way to travel to the way we work and live. The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) helps foster these connections by identifying mutual interests and developing collaborative strategies in our region. It was an honor to join BMC for its first 2023 Board of Directors meeting, the first I attended as chair, where we had the opportunity to discuss many of these ideas and initiatives to connect our region.

It was also a pleasure to congratulate Delegate Tony Bridges on our collective successes during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly, and wish him the absolute best as he prepares for his new role as Assistant Secretary at the Maryland Department of Transportation. This meeting made one thing clear – we will continue to collaborate to advance and improve our overall quality of life for all.

National Library Week!

It’s National Library Week and the perfect time to celebrate all that our public libraries have to offer. Our libraries are hubs where education, the arts, and civic life thrive. We are so grateful to the Howard County Library System for offering such wonderful public spaces for all. I had a great time joining HCLS CEO Tonya Aikens to celebrate all that our libraries are and can do for so many.

Watch more in this video!

A Place for Learning

The Lakefront Library will be another place for learning and growth in Howard County. It will be the hub where education, the arts, and nature all converge to spark creativity, critical thinking, and community connections. My proposed FY24 Capital Budget, which fully funds the Board of Education’s capital budget request of nearly $68 million, this year alone, includes $11 million towards this innovative project. The Lakefront Library project is for the people and will serve as a transformative civic and educational center for all in Howard County.

Finding The Artist Within

Howard County is the center for arts and culture, and Downtown Columbia provides a multitude of avenues to explore the artist within. Many of these venture are do to partnerships, like the ongoing partnership with the Downtown Columbia Partnership and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s collaboration at the Merriweather Post Pavilion.

As we continue to innovate and strengthen our community's education, business, and health resources, we must also center the need to nourish our souls, in a way that only the arts can. I want to give a special thank you to YaoGuang Zhai and Bo Li for their enchanting musical performance, as well as to Ian Kennedy , Candace Dodson-Reed, and Mark Hanson for their dedication to empowering art and performance throughout Howard County.

Tell Us, HoCo!

Tell HoCo is an easy way for anyone in Howard County to report non-emergency issues while on-the-go, such as potholes, damaged street signs, graffiti, street maintenance, street light issues, damaged trees, and more. By working together, we can resolve the small problems before they become big ones.

Submit a report here.

Find Your Buddy!

Just like any goal, financial goals won’t mean anything if you don’t work at it. Consider finding a trusted friend or family member who can hold you accountable to following through with your financial goals. Whether your goal is to save for a down payment on a new home, car, or any other large expense, having someone you trust support you can go a long way!

This Financial Literacy Month, I encourage you to find your buddy who will help you stay financially secure.

Join My Team!

My office is currently looking to fill several vacant positions. To learn more and apply, please click the respective link below.

Administrator of OCS - This position manages the Office of Community Sustainability which has attained the distinction of becoming the first county in the U.S. to be designated LEED Platinum under LEED v4.1 for Cities and Communities. The Administrator coordinates energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable and alternative energy, and climate policies and programs.
Quality Assurance Officer - Under general supervision, coordinates the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) performance data relative to specified quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) programs within the Emergency Services Bureau (ESB) and the Office of the Medical Director (OMD).
Graphic Designer with DRP - The Graphic Designer is part of the Department’s Marketing Team and will assist the Marketing Group in all marketing team initiatives. This position works on a variety of marketing projects simultaneously, including posting daily updates to the website and social media sites and editing the four seasonal activity guides that have strict deadlines.
Engineering Specialist - Performs professional level engineering and/or architectural work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior.
Technical Services Manager - This data architect and analytics manager position is responsible for countywide data architecture, analytics projects and data collection initiatives. This includes all aspects of data governance, including developing the overall data architecture strategy and creating and maintaining standards and best practices for data provisioning and data integration.

I encourage interested persons to apply today! To find a full listing of available positions, please click here.

Government Updates

Department of Community Resources and Services

April Children and Families Workshops Offered for Parents

Our Department of Community Resources and Service’s (DCRS) Office of Children and Families (OCF) will wrap up its free in-person and virtual workshops for the month of April, with its Parenting with Empathy workshop tomorrow, April 25^th at 7:00 p.m. Empathy is the ability to recognize and understand the feelings of others. Geared towards caregivers of children birth to five years old, this virtual workshop will explore empathy and discuss ways you can spark empathy in your child through everyday interactions. To register to participate in this workshop, click HERE.

For more information about these workshops and other programs being offered by OCF this month, check out OCF’s March issue of its Parent Pages monthly publication today.

Month of the Young Child and Month of the Military Child

April is Month of the Military Child and calls upon us to recognize the important role military children play in our armed forces community. This month, DCRS’s Office of Veterans and Military Families reminds us that military children serve right alongside their active-duty parents, and the importance of acknowledging and celebrating their sacrifices and service to our country too. If you know of a military family in your neighborhood or school, please reach out to them and help them feel connected to their community. You can also learn more about the resources available to our military children and families, by visiting HERE.

Moving Tips and Tricks: How to Choose a Moving Company

The process of choosing a moving company, packing and moving can be overwhelming. To help consumers learn how to make their move a smooth one and avoid falling victim to moving scams and fraud, DCRS’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has joined forces with the Howard County Library System with the Maryland Motor Truck Association to host a “Moving Tips and Tricks: How to Choose a Moving Company” webinar.

Set to take place next Tuesday, May 2^nd at 7:00 p.m., participants will receive tips on hiring a reputable moving company, discuss the services movers provide and what the contract should include, learn how to spot and how to avoid common moving scams and fraud, and find out what you can do if you are the victim of a moving scam.

While this webinar is FREE, advance registration is required. To register, visit https://bit.ly/HoCoMoving or call OCP at 410-313-6420 for more information.

Veterans, Need Help Filing VA Claims or Applying for Health Care?

Howard County Veterans, DCRS’s Office on Aging and Independence and Office of Veterans and Military Families invites you to stop by the Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville on Wednesday, May 3^rd for a PACT Act Veterans Claims Clinic & VA Health Care Eligibility Fair.

The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA benefits and health care for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. It is one of the largest expansions in VA’s history and could impact generations of Veterans and their survivors. If you served during the Vietnam, Gulf War or Post-9/11 eras, I encourage you to register for this free event to find out how the PACT Act affects you. Even if you have been denied VA benefits or health care in the past, you may now qualify under this new law.

To learn more information about this event and/or to schedule an appointment to meet one-on-one with a VA claims processor to file or follow up on a claim or to get help applying for VA health care if you are new to the VA health system, click HERE.

Explore Aging Unbound During Older Americans Month this May

Join our Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) this May for a month-long celebration of Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is "Aging Unbound" and offers us an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and change how people think, talk and act about aging.

This May, I encourage our county residents, age 50 and older, to check out all the great activities, workshops and events OAI has planned to celebrate Older Americans Month. To find out more, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/aging/OAM23.

Office of Community Sustainability

Celebrate Earth Month with a 20 Minute Cleanup

This Earth Month, take part in the County’s annual spring “20 Minute Cleanup” project. Participating is easy, simply grab your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues or classmates, pick a location, date and time, and head outside to pick-up litter to see what a difference just 20 minutes can make in beautifying our environment. Once you’ve completed your cleanup, be sure to email our Office of Community Sustainability (OCS) at ocs@howardcountymd.gov with the number of people who participated and how many bags of trash and recycling were collected. Pictures are always encouraged and appreciated too.

To learn more about our 20 Minute Cleanup, visit https://livegreenhoward.com/recycling-waste/litter-cleanups/ or contact OCS at 410-313-0700 or email ocs@howardcountymd.gov.

Howard County Health Department

Members Sought for Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board

Our County’s Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board (LBHAB) plays a vital role in monitoring and improving behavioral health outcomes for members of our community. If you share our of expanding behavioral health resources and strengthening our system of care, I encourage you to apply today to become a member of the LBHAB. We are currently seeking consumer, family member and professional applicants interested in serving on the Board.

To learn how, include additional eligibility requirements and how to apply, click HERE. Please note, the deadline to apply is Friday, May 5^th.

Interactive Food Connection Map

According to the Howard County Health Department’s (HCHD) 2021 Howard County Health Assessment Survey, nearly one in six Howard County residents reported concern about running out of food before they could afford more. As a result, HCHD’s Local Health Improvement Coalition (LHIC) and Epidemiology teams created an interactive food resources map – Howard Food Connection Map. Created as part of the Howard County Food Security Committee's goal to increase access to and awareness of culturally appropriate, accessible, affordable and nutritious food to decrease food and nutrition insecurity among Howard County residents, this map assists users with finding the locations of local food pantries, farmers markets and more throughout the county.

Department of Housing and Community Development

Moderate Income Housing Unit Applications Now Being Accepted

Looking to call Howard County home? This is your last week to apply for Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program April open enrollment period for homeownership. Held quarterly throughout the year, this inclusionary zoning program provides individuals and families the opportunity to purchase quality new homes at reduced sale prices and rents to those eligible. Applications are now available online and completed applications can be submitted either 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. The DEADLINE to apply is 4:00 p.m. this Friday, April 28^th.

If you missed DHCD’s MIHU Homeownership informational workshop, held this past Thursday, April 13^th, no fret, you can find presentations from previous homeownership and rental informational workshops, as well as frequently asked questions and answers explaining the program’s eligibility requirements and application process on DHCD’s “Open Enrollment” website. If you have questions about any of these presentations, eligibility requirements or application process, contact DHCD at moderateincomehousing@howardcountymd.gov.

Please keep in mind, if you are interested in DHCD’s MIHU rental program, prospective renters may apply directly to a participating rental community at any time during the year. For more information on the MIHU rental program, including a list of participating communities, visit DHCD’s MIHU rental website.

For questions and/or more information about the MIHU program, contact DHCD’s Housing Opportunities Programs Division at 410-313-6318 and select option two, email moderateincomehousing@howardcountymd.gov or visit DHCD’s open enrollment website.

Office of Human Resources

Howard County Government Open House

Calling all utility workers, motor/heavy equipment operators, wastewater operators, mechanics and correctional officers, our Departments of Public Works and Corrections are currently hiring! If you are interested in one of these jobs with Howard County Government, I encourage you to stop by our Open House event this Wednesday, April 26^th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 8250 Old Montgomery Road in Columbia. Representatives from both departments will be on hand to speak with attendees about the various positions, answer any questions and assist with the application process.

To learn more or for questions about this Open House event, contact Ms. Elexis Lawson at 410-313-1072 or email elawson@howardcountymd.gov. You can also learn more about career opportunities with the County by visiting www.howardcountymd.gov/careers.

Office of Human Rights and Equity

Reading Human Rights: The Other Black Girl

Reading Human Rights is an award-winning monthly book discussion group hosted by our Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) and Howard County Library System (HCLS) that encourages literary exploration and community dialogue around a variety of human rights concerns. It explores works of fiction and non-fiction to teach community members the various ways individuals, cultures and communities celebrate their identities and combat injustice.

For its April book discussion – to be held in person at HCLS Miller branch in Ellicott City tomorrow, April 25^th at 6:30 p.m., OHRE and HCLS will discuss Zakiya Dalila Harris’ The Other Black Girl. The Other Black Girl explores a young African American woman’s experience with workplace discrimination, microaggressions and inter-racial relations. Harris’ novel is described as “the perfect read for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace.”

To secure your seat for this month’s event, click HERE today to register.

Police Department

Free Steering Wheel Locks Still Available

County residents, if you own a 2016-2021 Hyundai or a 2011-2021 Kia with no proximity key (key fob) and are still in need of a steering wheel lock, Howard County Police Department (HCPD) has extra locks still available at its Northern (3410 Court House Drive, Ellicott City) and Southern (11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel) District Stations. Available while supplies last, to pick up your FREE steering wheel lock, simply bring your Maryland driver's license and vehicle registration to the lobby of either District Station today.

A special thank you to the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council for providing grant funding to HCPD so it could purchase these wheel locks.

Department of Public Works

Our Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Stormwater Management Division will hold a public meeting next Wednesday, May 3^rd at 6:30 p.m., in The Linden Hall at 4765 Dorsey Hall Drive in Ellicott City, to present plans for the Woodland Road stream restoration project. The project will include stabilizing a section of a stream near the 4000 block of Woodland Road in Ellicott City, using wood and rock structures. Bio-engineered plantings will also be used to re-establish a more natural stream, reduce instream erosion, improve water quality and protect the newly upgraded forced main sewer and the existing gravity sewer main from future erosion. The project is estimated to begin in the summer of 2023 and weather permitting, is expected to take five months to complete.

The informal meeting will include an overview of the project followed by an open discussion. County staff and representatives from the project’s design consultant will be on hand to answer any questions and gather public comments. Those unable to attend the meeting and/or have questions, should contact Mr. Avinash Dewani at 410-313-6417 or email adewani@howardcountymd.gov.

An interpreter for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be available if requested seven working days prior to the meeting. Please call DPW at 410-313-3440 (voice) or use Relay at 7-1-1, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Bureau of Environmental Services

“Business Recycling and Waste Reduction” and “Green Community Leadership” Award Winners

CONGRATS again to this year’s “Business Recycling and Waste Reduction” and “Green Community Leadership” award winners, who were recognized last Saturday at the County’s 16^th annual GreenFest. This year, The Loan Closet of Howard County, DTM Fitness, Howard Community College and Upcycled, Inc. took home the coveted “Business Recycling and Waste Reduction” award, which recognizes Howard County businesses for their recycling and waste reduction efforts. While Howard County Library System’s Enchanted Garden, the Savage Community Association and The Community Ecology Institute were honored with the County’s Green Community Leadership Award, which recognizes groups and organizations that demonstrate efforts, projects or programs that help protect Howard County’s natural environment and preserve its resources.

Award winners received handmade trophies crafted by a local sculptor, using recycled metal components and will also become certified through the County’s Work Green Howard program.

To learn about this year’s winner, click HERE.

Bureau of Highways

Caution, WET PAINT!

Every spring and summer, as weather permits, the County's Department of Public Works (DPW) refreshes lane line marking paint to ensure that street markings are highly visible and our roadways are safe.

As DPW gets ready to launch its 2023 painting season this month, the department is reminding motorists to show caution and patience when they come upon a paint truck convoy driving slowly in the roadway. To avoid wet paint:

NEVER pass the paint truck or trail vehicle;
NEVER change lanes behind the striping truck or trail vehicles;
DO NOT swerve back and forth to see around the paint truck or trail vehicle; and
If parked, wait five minutes before driving on the painted areas.

If you have questions and/or for more information, please contact DPW's Bureau of Highways at 410-313-7450 or email highways@howardcountymd.gov.

Department of Public Works Construction Report

Below are details regarding new, upcoming, completed and/or delayed Capital Projects and/or maintenance project(s) that have been announced.

Columbia

Hickory Ridge Road/Campus Drive Intersection Traffic Signal Activation – A newly installed traffic signal at the intersection of Hickory Ridge Road and Campus Drive is scheduled to be activated around 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 8^th. To alert motorists of the new signal, the signal will be set to temporarily flash yellow for traffic on Hickory Ridge Road and flash red for traffic on Campus Drive. 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, May 11^th around 11:00 a.m.

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.

Department of Recreation and Parks

New Cultural Arts Showcase

Join us this Friday, April 28^th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the County’s Harriet Tubman Cultural Center for a cultural arts showcase, celebrating our county’s cultural diversity through the arts. The event will feature traditional performances, interactive art galleries, food, music, vendors and more. Registration is required to attend and children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $5 per person; however, those five and under are free. To register to attend this new event, click HERE today.

To learn more about this year’s performers, be sure to follow Recreation & Parks’ Facebook “The Cultural Arts Showcase at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center” event page.

City Nature Challenge

This Saturday, April 29^th, I invite you to join our Department of Recreation & Parks’ team at Robinson Nature Center (RNC) as they host its new event “City Nature Challenge.” From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., RNC educators will be joined by Master Naturalists and Maryland Biodiversity Project contributors to share their international community science efforts to discover and document plants and wildlife across the globe. Participants will take part in guided hikes and discussions surrounding birding, forestry, macroinvertebrates, fungi and their own findings. Who knows, you might just discover a new native species!

Participations is free with general admission to RNC; however, preregistration is recommended. For questions about this program, please feel free to contact RNC at 410-313-0400 and they will be able to assist you further.

May the 4^th Family Parade

May the 4th be with you! Join Recreation and Parks for a free pet-friendly, family-themed Star Wars invasion of Old Ellicott City next Thursday, May 4^th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The parade will start at the Thomas Isaac Log Cabin on Ellicott City’s Main Street and finishes at the Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum. After the parade, participants are invited to come enjoy light refreshments at our Admiral Ackbar snack bar and participate in the Yoda best costume contest. Participants can also earn raffle tickets by stopping by specially marked stores to be entered for a chance to win prizes! Pre-registration is required to participate.

Wine in the Woods Tickets are NOW on Sale!

Tickets for Recreation & Parks’ 2023 Wine in the Woods are NOW on sale! Set to return to Symphony Woods this May, the year’s two-day event (May 20^th and May 21^st) will feature a bigger and better Explorer Village. This year’s Maryland Wine Explored Village area features a curated selection of Maryland-grown wines and allows wine enthusiasts to enjoy fine, local wines in an exclusive section of the festival with a larger glass, food options for purchase, music and separate bathrooms. This year’s Maryland Wine Explorer Pass wristband (please note, there are a limited number of these tickets available), will include everything the Taster Ticket provides PLUS exclusive access to premium wine samples from wineries around the state.

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are ONLY being sold at www.wineinthewoods.com and Recreation & Parks headquarters in Columbia. Any third-party sales are not authorized and are likely a scam.

Office of Transportation

RTA Driver Places 3rd in “Roadeo”

Earlier this month, the Transportation Association of Maryland (TAM) hosted its 18^th statewide “Roadeo,” a transit driver competition. Twenty-eight of the best transit drivers representing 12 transit agencies from across Maryland came out to compete in this annual event, including our very own Michelle Joyner from our Regional Transportation Agency (RTA). Michelle competed in a variety of safety and driving skills tests, including a pre-trip inspection, wheelchair securement and a driving obstacle course, to imitate the daily challenges of transit service, placing third overall. CONGRATULATIONS Michelle on your 3^rd place win and I wish you the best of luck as you go on to compete in the Community Transportation Association of America’s National Roadeo this coming month in Oklahoma.

If you are interested in joining RTA’s team so you too can one day compete in the Roadeo, I encourage you to check our RTA’s current employment opportunities. RTA’s application process for CDL and Non-CDL operators is ongoing with training and signing bonuses available. And as Michelle will tell you, “I genuinely love my job, which makes it so easy to get behind the wheel. But it's more than just driving; I enjoy helping people, especially those who can't drive, by providing them with a comfortable and safe ride to their destinations. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that I have a great group of people I work with.”

May is Bike Month

May is Bike Month and this May, our Office of Transportation has once again teamed up with the Downtown Columbia Partnership to offer some amazing biking events.

For starters, starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 6^th through 6:00 p.m., Sunday, May 7^th, Transportation will cohost the annual BikeAround Downtown. This year’s course will start off a at Color Burst Park in Downtown Columbia (DTC), roll around Wilde Lake and over through Harper’s Choice, before circling back and joining the multi-use parkway to wind back to Color Burst Park. This slightly more than five-mile course is perfect for the family or novice cyclists, as well as those with more miles under their wheels. The event will kick on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. till noon with a BikeAround Block Party at the Azlon Plaza in DTC. To learn more about this year’s event, including to register for free, click HERE.

In addition, Transportation will also once again join the Baltimore Metropolitan Council’s statewide Bike to Work Central Maryland Week celebration, which runs from May 15^th to May 21^st, by hosting an in-person Bike to Work Day event on Friday, May 19^th. The day will begin with a kick-off event at 7:00 a.m. till 9:00 a.m. at the Azlon Plaza in DTC to celebrate cycling as a healthy, green and FUN commute mode. There will be shirts, swag, prizes and more. To register for this year’s kick-off Bike to Work Day event, click HERE.

Of course, participants can ride any time during the week to anywhere and pick up their event shirt at any participating bike shop or at our pit stop (the registration location for the pitstop is 6100 Merriweather Drive) on the 19^th.

Office of Workforce Development

Summer Youth Employment Program

Calling all Howard County youth and young adults, age 14 to 24, applications are now being accepted for our Office of Workforce Development's Summer Youth Employment Program. This six-week PAID program allows young people to explore interests, gain mentorship and establish a professional network, while learning and developing practical job readiness skills.

Participants will have the opportunity to work up to 25 hours per work as either a contingent employee with County Government or a private sector business in Howard County, all while earning a competitive wage. To learn more about this program, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/youth-services today.

Please note, while the application deadline is Friday, May 19^th, due to limited positions, those interested in participating in this program are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.