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Dear Friends,
We know that the last few years have been especially hard on our young people, who were unable to engage with each other in community spaces during their most formative years. Young people from every corner of our county have expressed need for more programs, activities, and places to be in community with each other.
Today, I announced the launch of our empowering Summer Youth Program and a new, innovative Esports Initiative, in partnership with Howard Community College. Through these experiences, our young people will have the chance to learn key skills and positively recreate with their peers and our community.
We will continue to work with all our partners and our young people to ensure that Howard County remains a safe, welcoming, and vibrant place for all as we build the very best future, together.
Read more about all the programs available for our young people here.
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Improving Our Beloved Park
Huntington Park has beautifully evolved since 1986 when it first opened. In the years since, it’s become a staple for families from across our region who now call Columbia their home. I had a wonderful time joining Howard County Recreation and Parks and Councilwoman Christiana Rigby to break ground on several improvements at this beloved park. These improvements and expansion will help ensure that every person, of every ability, will have more access to our best amenities and facilities.
Read more about the project here.
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Recognizing Our Trailblazers
It is befitting to highlight our very own Howard Community College President, Dr. Daria Willis during this Women’s History Month. Dr. Willis is an exceptional, brilliant woman who made history in this county when she became the first African American to serve as HCC president. Her ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, while breaking down barriers to learning, is incredibly inspiring.
As we emerge from the pandemic, she is ensuring that our students have pathways to critical jobs and are equipped for their next career. She just finished her first year with the college, and she has already made an incredible impact. Her passion, determination and care show through her work, and I’m grateful to call her a friend as well as a partner in transforming our community to be the best for all. Please join me in celebrating her this Women’s History Month.
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Bringing The Heat
Homelessness is not a permanent situation, nor does it define who a person is. There are many situations that can lead to someone losing their housing, including things beyond their control. That is why the work of Bridges to Housing Stability is vital to the prosperity of our entire community.
I had a wonderful time joining Bridges and many of our community leaders for the 12th annual ChiliFest & Cornhole Tournament. The efforts of Jen Broderick, and the entire team at Bridges, go a long way in making a difference the lives of many.
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Transforming Leaders
I had an incredible time joining our Hawks for the second annual TedxRiverhillhs event. This year’s theme, Developing The Future, reminds us that we can become transformative leaders. We are all leaders and can positively impact our world and future. I’m so proud of Ishaan and the entire planning team who made this event a success!
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Oh, What a Cake!
Howard County is fortunate to have numerous creative entrepreneurs who provide the sweetest treats to our community. One such entity is Oh, What A Cake! A Wilde Lake graduate, Marcia Thibodo brings her passion for baking to our community by providing delicious custom-made cupcakes, cakes, brownies, cake pops, cookies, and more for over 14 years.
We know that small, local owned businesses are the backbone of our economy, and as we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, I encourage us all to support these fantastic establishments. Learn more here.
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Wild Accomplishments
I’m always so pleased to see our students excel, and our Waverly Wildcats are one roaring example! I was so excited to visit Waverly Elementary School to congratulate our Maryland Central Regional Elementary School Champions in the Fall Stock Market Game - Tanisha Singhal, Ellie Huntimer, Gianna Richard and Rina Frankford – and our phenomenal students who took part in the history bowl who qualified for Nationals and Internationals - Caleb Kim, Mike Xu, and Sumukh Malepu.
It is evident that our students will stop at nothing to achieve success, and I’m very excited to see what their future holds. Congratulations!
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Buzzing Words
C-O-N-G-R-A-T-S
It was such a pleasure to join the Howard County Library System for their annual spelling bee at Reservoir High School. Please join me in congratulating Navya from Clarksville Middle School as our 2023 spelling bee champion! She will now move on to represent Howard County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee later this year. I’m so proud of her diligence, and I want to thank all our students who took part in the event this year!
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Three Years
Last week marked three years since Howard County saw its first confirmed case of COVID-19 and our community was forever changed. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we collectively felt pain and tragedy, but we also experienced perseverance and triumph. Our community came together in ways we haven’t seen before, supporting our struggling neighbors and lending a helping hand wherever it was needed.
Three years later, we know we can meet the moment to help our community recover and rise. I encourage us all to reflect on what we’ve lost, think about what we’ve learned, and move forward with purpose and hope.
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On The Horizon
We are constantly working to improve the health of our neighbors, family, and friends, and the Horizon Foundation has been an incredible partner in helping us to make progress. I had a great time sitting down with Horizon’s Board of Directors to discuss the health and well-being of our community, and how we can continue to make positive strides.
We are continually reminded how important every aspect of our personal and community health is, how we can’t take it for granted, and how foundational it is to our collective quality of life. I look forward to our continued partnerships to ensure every member of our community can live their best life.
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Finding Greatness Within
We are fortunate to have phenomenal educators who help foster the best teaching and learning environment for all. One such educator is Guilford Elementary School’s very own Sharon Dudley, who is the Howard County Public School System’s very first blind teacher.
As an educator for 30 years, Sharon reminds us all that there is greatness within and we can all achieve our dreams. As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, please join me in honoring and thanking Sharon for her endless dedication to our students and their families. Learn more about her here.
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Youth Opportunity Fair
The Youth Opportunity Fair is back! Join the Howard County Office of Workforce Development and community partners for a job fair dedicated to our young people on Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 11 am – 2pm at Wilde Lake High School. This event is centered around networking and directly connecting youth and young adults to local community resources, volunteer, internship, and employment opportunities. Help us spread the word and engage youth in the workforce.
Vendors are still being accepted for this event. If your organization or department is interested in participating in this event as a vendor, please sign up here.
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You Talked, We Listened
Howard County is a place where innovation and opportunity thrive due, in part, to our collaborative efforts to ensure our county remains the best place to live, work, play, and grow for all. We continue to make bold decisions and implement transformative programs.
To make this possible, we hosted eight Listening Sessions across the county where my team and I listened to your hopes, dreams, and vision for how we can continue to make progress. With over 600 responses, we are excited for what the next few weeks, months, and years will hold.
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Ask Away
We remain committed to ensuring a responsive government. Our team is ready to help residents navigate the county bureaucracy, respond to questions or concerns, and assist those trying to access County services. If you have a question, but you're not sure who to ask, send us an email at Ask@howardcountymd.gov
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Join the Police Accountability Board
Howard County is home to the safest city in America due to our efforts to prioritize public safety and reinforcing public trust. Our Police Accountability Board ensures transparency and helps us engage residents as partners in accountability. We are currently recruiting applicants from Councilmanic District 5 to serve a three-year term on the County’s Police Accountability Board.
I encourage residents from District Five who want to work with our Board to help ensure that we are safe and feel safe in Howard County to apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 31st. Learn more here.
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Join My Team!
My office is currently looking to fill several vacant positions. To learn more and apply, please click the respective link below.
I encourage interested persons to apply today! To find a full listing of available positions, please click here.
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Department of Community Resources and Services | |
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Applicants Sought for Commission on Disabilities
Our Commission on Disabilities plays a vital role in supporting the needs of persons with disabilities in Howard County by addressing challenges with housing, transportation, recreation, employment and more. If you are interested in taking part in our ongoing efforts to ensure that people of all ages and abilities feel welcome and empowered in our great county, I encourage you to apply today to join our Commission on Disabilities. At this time, we are specifically looking for those who have a disability, are relatives of a person with a disability or are members of the general public to serve on Commission.
To learn more about Howard County’s Commission on Disabilities, including how to apply and eligibility requirements, please click HERE.
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Celebrate Women's History Month
I invite all to come celebrate Women’s History Month with our Commission for Women (CFW) this Saturday, March 25th as it hosts an intergenerational networking brunch, The Power of ONE / RE-INVENT You, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the County’s Bain 50+ Center.
In recognition of this year’s Women’s History Month theme, “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” the event will feature a panel of inspiring Howard County women leaders, who will share their stories of transformation and success. The panel will include Howard County’s First Lady Shani Ball, former Columbia Association President Lakey Boyd and Howard County Council Member Christiana Mercer Rigby. Also, the CFW will announce the winners of its 2023 National Women's History Month Student Essay Contest, who will share their essays during the brunch.
To register to attend this FREE event, visit https://bit.ly/WomensHistoryMonthBrunch today. The event will also be live streamed on the Commission’s Facebook page.
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Maryland Public Television Highlights Importance of Annual PIT Count
Earlier this year, our Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) conducted its annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Howard County's homeless population. Led by DCRS’s Office of Community Partnerships’ Coalition to End Homelessness and with the support of community stakeholders, this annual count enables the County to identify our most vulnerable residents, develop a supportive network and ultimately help them attain the security of permanent housing to live safer and healthier lives. To help further highlight this important initiative, Maryland Public Television recently included a piece (start at 11:15 on the timeline) about our PIT Count during its local public television program, State Circle.
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Cash Refund Available for Eligible Instacart Workers
If you worked for Instacart and made at least one delivery in Washington, D.C. between October 1, 2016 and April 30, 2018, DCRS’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) wants to make sure you are aware that you might be eligible for a minimum cash refund of $150 as the result of an Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) lawsuit. The OAG believes there are more than 10,000 individuals in the DMV region who are eligible.
For more information and/or to submit a claim form, visit instacartworkerrefundsdc.com. Please note, the DEADLINE to file a claim and submit all proof documents is March 25, 2023.
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March Children and Families Workshops Offered for Parents
This month, DCRS’s Office of Children and Families (OCF) will offer the following free in-person and virtual workshops focused on “Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Storytime” and “Managing Parenting Anger and Frustration”.
Biting is a typical behavior often seen in infants, toddlers and two-year-olds. As children mature, gain self-control and develop problem-solving skills, they usually outgrow this behavior. To help parents/guardians learn how to better understand why their child bites and how to prevent/address this challenging behavior, OCF will host a virtual workshop, “Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite,” next Tuesday, March 28th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. To register for this workshop, click HERE.
Calling all hungry caterpillars ages two to five, I invite you to join OCF’s Parents as Teachers team next Wednesday, March 29th at 10:30 a.m. at 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, for a The Very Hungry Caterpillar Storytime event. In addition to reading Eric Carle’s classic children’s book, participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy a hands-on parent-child arts and crafts activity and a snack. To register for this free event, click HERE.
OCF will wrap up the month with its “Managing Parenting Anger and Frustration” workshop next Thursday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. Parenting is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it does come with its challenges, especially when our children don’t listen or have meltdowns. Through this workshop, participants will learn tools to navigate their child’s anger and frustration, as well as coping strategies when feeling elevated. To learn more about and to register for this virtual 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.
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It’s National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month and a great time to discover how a balanced, healthy diet provides "Fuel for the Future" for older adults and others.
To ensure our older residents have access to nutrient-rich meals, DCRS’s Office on Aging & Independence’s (OAI) nutrition team offers a variety of meal options, including congregate meals and home delivered meals for homebound individuals. In 2022 alone, the team served more than 14,000 nutritious lunches to older county residents.
To learn more about OAI’s nutrition services, check out its "Health Promotion & Nutrition Services" website. On this site, visitors will find this month’s 50+ Center meal menus, as well as details about scheduling a free one-one consultation with a registered dietician.
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AARP Income Tax Preparation Appointments Now Available at a 50+ Center Near You
Income tax preparation at our 50+ centers across the county. Offered by appointment only, this service is available to middle- and low-income taxpayers with special emphasis on those 60 and older. Self-employment returns with more than $5,000 in expenses and complex returns are not eligible for this service. Also, please keep in mind, each appointment is for one single or joint return.
Appointments will be available on the following days, times and 50+ center locations:
To schedule a tax prep appointment, please call 443-741-2373; do NOT call a 50+ center directly. To your appointment, participants will need to bring the Social Security card for anyone listed on their personal return, their 2021 state and federal tax returns, all 2022 tax records and the purchase cost of investment transactions during 2022 (if any).
All preparers and volunteers have received IRS-approved training and are certified in tax preparation.
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Office of Emergency Management | |
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This month, our Office of Emergency Management will host two public meetings (in-person this Wednesday, March 22nd at Recreation and Parks' Harriet Tubman Cultural Center and virtually next Wednesday, March 29th) to gather public input and discuss the County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and Flood Mitigation Plan update. These two plans define goals and actions that can be taken to mitigate impacts from a variety of hazards, including flooding, within the county. The County is required to update these plans every five years.
To learn more about these meetings and how to participate, click HERE.
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Department of Fire and Rescue Services | |
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Brush Fire Prevention
Just as Smokey Bear says, “Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires,” our Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) is reminding residents that “Only YOU can help prevent brush fires!” While wildfires occur in every month in Maryland, they tend to peak in the spring and fall. With spring officially underway, DFRS reminds us to:
- Make sure they discard of smoking materials properly in a deep, sturdy ash tray away from anything flammable;
- NEVER toss cigarette butts out of your car; and
- Always make sure that nothing is dragging from your vehicle as sparks from a vehicle can cause brush fires.
If you come upon a brush fire, move safely away from the area and then call 911 with your location and the location of the fire.
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Department of Housing and Community Development | |
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Proposals Sought from Community Partners for Housing Opportunities Trust Fund
As our Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and I shared the other week, we are currently seeking proposals from community partners for homeownership and neighborhood initiatives, as well as rehabilitation and multifamily rental housing projects, that are eligible for funding from the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund (HOTF) Notice of Funding Availability. The HOTF is the first financial tool to help implement the actions identified in the Housing Opportunities Master Plan and received an initial allocation of $5 million in my Fiscal Year 2023 budget. DHCD is seeking proposals for initiatives that are bold and impactful to help address Howard County’s affordable housing needs and gaps.
The application is available on DHCD’s website and is due by no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday, April 14th.
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Office of Human Rights and Equity | |
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Reading Human Rights
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 March book discussion – to be held in person at HCLS Miller branch in Ellicott City tomorrow, March 21st at 6:30 p.m., OHRE and HCLS will discuss Valarie Kaur’s See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. A Sikh civil rights activist, lawyer, filmmaker, innovator and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, Kaur takes readers through her own journey as a brown girl growing up Sikh in California post-9/11. See No Stranger helps readers imagine new ways of being with each other and with ourselves, so that together we can begin to build the world we want to see.
To secure your seat for this month’s event, click HERE today to register.
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Howard County’s Unsung (S)Heroes
As we wrap up Women’s History Month, I invite you to join OHRE and Dr. Anita Pandey, Director of the Howard County Historical Society’s Howard County African American History Project, for a virtual presentation next Thursday, March 30th honoring the voices and experiences of African American women in Howard County. During her presentation, Dr. Pandey will share her findings from her research, particularly stories of African American women in Howard County from the 1960s and earlier. Following Dr. Pandey’s presentation will be a short discussion and Q&A before OHRE wraps up this virtual event.
The event will take place from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. and will be livestreamed on the County’s YouTube channel.
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Bystander Intervention and Cultural Awareness Training
Held quarterly, OHRE’s Bystander Intervention and Cultural Awareness (BICA) certification training helps participants learn how to protect and promote the humanity of those who are being targeted or harassed in their presence because of their race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender or sexual orientation. This quarter’s BICA training will take place virtually on Tuesday, April 4th at 5:00 p.m. To reserve you spot before 5:00, click HERE.
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MLK Pop Up Pantry
If you or someone you know is in need of fresh produce and/or non-perishable food items, I encourage you to stop by the Ridgely Run Community Center in Jessup from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 10th for a pop-up food pantry. Hosted by the Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and the Harriet Tubman Foundation of Howard County, this pop-up food pantry is open to all. Registration is not required to attend.
For those interested in volunteering to help with food distribution, the Commission and Foundation ask that you please arrive by 8:30 a.m. on the 10th.
For questions and/or more information about this event, please call 443-386-0405 or 443-280-1935.
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Department of Planning and Zoning | |
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Planning Board Unanimously Approves HoCo By Design
The Howard County Planning Board has unanimously approved the County's new General Plan, HoCo By Design. HoCo By Design provides a long-term vision for how Howard County will develop and grow alongside our evolving economic, environmental and social conditions over the next 20 years. Many Board members recognized the importance of continued residential growth that complements the county’s neighborhood character and offers affordable housing options. The Planning Board's vote follows a thorough three-year process which yielded extensive community input and data analysis.
Following its vote, the Planning Board has submitted its recommendation to the Howard County Council for adoption. The Council will hold multiple work sessions, the first two to be held this month on March 22nd and March 29th and can be watched live here (see the Council’s calendar for additional dates) on HoCo By Design, beginning this spring, before voting on the plan in the fall of 2023.
For more information about HoCo By Design, visit www.hocobydesign.com or contact our Department of Planning and Zoning’s (DPZ) Community Planners Kate Bolinger at kbolinger@howardcountymd.gov or Sarah Latimer at slatimer@howardcountymd.gov.
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Design Advisory Panel Meeting
This Wednesday, March 22nd, DPZ Design Advisory Panel (DAP) will hold a meeting VIRTUALLY starting at 7:00 p.m. to hear the following item:
To register in advance to participate in this meeting, click HERE. If you only want to listen to the meeting, call 1-650-479-3207 at the meeting time. When prompted, enter 2300 170 4618 as the event access code.
The DAP process encourages excellence in project architecture and site design to improve design compatibility with surrounding development, to promote revitalization and to enhance property values. You can use DPZ’s DAP interactive map to see which properties may be subject to DAP review. For DAP’s Rules of Procedure, click HERE. For questions and/or more information about DAP, contact the DPZ at 410-313-2350 or email dap@howardcountymd.gov.
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DPZNotify
This past December, our Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) launched DPZNotify, a one-stop notification platform that keeps you informed and updated on pre-submission meetings, capital budget hearings and other planning-related initiatives. With DPZNotify, residents can register to receive relevant DPZ updates and other DPZ information of their choosing. To sign up to receive DPZNotify, click HERE.
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Join Howard County Police Department, Apply Today!
Interested in joining the ranks of Howard County Police Department (HCPD)? HCPD is currently recruiting lateral and entry-level officers with laterals able to test on their own personal schedules for a spring class and entry-level applicants who test by Saturday, April 1st, can be fast-tracked into HCPD's June academy!
To learn more about HCPD's application process, qualifications, pay and benefits (including a $10,000 hiring bonus), click HERE. To subscribe to receive text updates about testing dates and the hiring process, as well as the option to text with an HCPD recruiter, visit https://slkt.io/Xq8w today.
Again, please remember that next Saturday, April 1st is the FINAL day to test for HCPD’s June entry-level academy; laterals are currently being accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Howard County youth, HCPD is NOW accepting applications for its BEARTRAX, Youth Police Academy and P.L.E.D.G.E. (Pride, Leadership, Education, Diversity, Growth, Evaluation) Summer Leadership Camp programs.
Geared towards rising Howard County sixth graders, BEARTRAX is a FREE overnight camp featuring fishing, rock climbing, swimming, hiking, archery, zip lining and more, all while building leadership skills, confidence, team building, life skills and self-esteem.
HCPD's Youth Police Academy (YPA) offers 15 to18 years old a one-of-a-kind experience. Through this FREE one-week overnight-camp, campers train and learn like those in the police academy, while exploring career and leadership opportunities and building life skills.
Finally, HCPD's P.L.E.D.G.E. Summer Leadership Camp is for graduating 8th graders, helping participants develop leadership skills prior to entering high school this fall. During this FREE, one-week day-camp, campers will be challenged to make critical decisions, focus on core beliefs and values, recognize diversity and work toward a common goal.
To learn more about each of these camps, including summer camp dates and for an application, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/police/youth-programs. Applications are due by April 15th.
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Sleep Deprived is No Way to Drive
As we continue to adjust to daylight saving time with one week now under our belts, HCPD is encouraging motorists to be mindful of drowsy driving, especially during those early morning hours. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving is estimated to contribute to as many as 1.2 million collisions annually, resulting in potentially 5,000 to 8,000 fatalities per year.
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Department of Public Works | |
Bureau of Environmental Services | |
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Yard Trim Collection to Resume April 3rd
Our Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Bureau of Environmental Services new curbside yard trim collection program season will begin Monday, April 3rd. Until the season reopens on the 3rd, residents can drop their yard trim off at the County’s Alpha Ridge Landfill’s Wood Waste Area (open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to be recycled into compost or set it out on their trash day for trash collection.
County residents who reside in a Feed The Green Bin area are reminded that they receive year-round yard trim collection with your food scrap collection.
For questions and/or more information about the County’s curbside trash, recycling, food scrap and yard trim collection programs, please contact DPW’s Bureau of Environmental Services at 410-313-6444 or email help@howardcountyrecycles.org.
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GreenFest is Back for its 16th Year
Mark your calendars and be sure to join our Bureau of Environmental Services and Office of Community Sustainability on Saturday, April 15th for the County’s 16th annual GreenFest celebration at Howard Community College’s Science, Engineering and Technology Building. This year’s event will feature a compost bin demonstration and giveaways, native plant sale, recognition of this year’s Green awards winners, used sports equipment collection workshops and much more.
The event will also feature the County’s first County-sponsored document shredding event of 2023, held rain or shine in parking lot A from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (OR UNTIL the trucks are full). County residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded and are asked to ONLY bring items that contain personal information. Junk mail, catalogs and office paper should be recycled with your curbside recycling collection.
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Department of Public Works Construction Report | |
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To learn about Department of Public Works (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.
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Department of Recreation and Parks | |
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Community Sports Hall of Fame Nominations Now Being Accepted!
Nomination forms are now being accepted for our Department of Recreation & Parks’ 2023 “Community Sports Hall of Fame.” If you know a coach, manager, league official, commissioner or even a behind-the-scene contributor who has gained prominence in or made substantial contributions to community recreational sports in Howard County, I encourage you to nominate them today. Keep in mind, nominees must be either residents of Howard County or their community sports contributions have been made primarily in Howard County.
Available online, nominations are due (postmarked) by Saturday, April 15th and can be submitted either via email to bwyman@howardcountymd.gov or mailed to Howard County Community Sports Hall of Fame, Attn: Brian Wyman, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046. You can also request a nomination form be mailed to you by calling Recreation & Parks at 410-313-4711.
Individuals chosen for this year’s class will be inducted into the Community Sports Hall of Fame at the department’s annual Celebration of Sports banquet in October. Established in 2005, a list of past Howard County Community Sports Hall of Fame inductees can be found online.
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Egg Hunt at Roger Carter Pool
Celebrate spring by hunting for eggs in the indoor pool at our Roger Carter Community Center on Saturday, April 2nd from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. (the hunt will begin 15 minutes after the event start time). Geared toward children aged two to 10, plastic eggs will be filled with surprises (no food or candy of course) will be let loose in the pool for children to hunt and collect. Please note, all children must be accompanied by an adult in the water and are to bring their own basket and swimwear.
The cost is $10 for center members and $12 for non-members, and pre-registration is required. To register for this event, click HERE.
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Kid’s Fest
Come experience all that our Department of Recreation & Parks has to offer county youth at this year’s Kid's Fest at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City. Set to take place Saturday, April 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., this exciting event features an egg hunt, sports instruction, games, activities, arts and crafts, food, and much more. Bring the whole family and enjoy fun for all ages. While pre-registration is encouraged, it is not required.
To register and/or to learn more about this year's event, check out www.howardcountymd.gov/kids-fest.
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Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention
Join us on March 31st at 6:00 p.m. (race to begin at 7:00 p.m.) for Howard County’s 2nd Annual Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention. Recreation & Parks has partnered with the Howard County Health Department, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Maryland Chapter and Bullseye Running to help host this year’s event at Oakland Mills High School. This annual event more than just a race, it serves as a county-wide acknowledgment that we support and care for those impacted by suicide. Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention provides activities for non-runners, suicide prevention resource packets, and take-home items such as bracelets and keychains. Learn more and register HERE.
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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 20th and May 21st) 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.
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Howard County Sheriff's Office | |
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SCAM ALERT!
The Howard County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is WARNING residents of a phone scam currently being investigated by HCPD, in which the caller pretends to be from HCSO, using the name of a REAL deputy and in recent cases, Sheriff Harris' name, to make the call seem more legitimate. Many of the reports received by HCPD are from older residents who say the caller told them there is a warrant out for their arrest for missed grand jury duty. Victims were told they must pay a fine over the phone and are directed to use Green Dot or ReLoadIt prepaid cards.
HCSO is REMINDING residents, its office, as well as HCPD, will NEVER demand payment over the phone. Similar scams have also involved impostors claiming to be with the IRS and BGE. Please keep in mind to ALWAYS be on guard if you don’t know the call, NEVER feel pressured to make a decision on the spot and NEVER, EVER give out personal or financial information over the phone.
If you believe you have been a victim of a telephone scam and lost money as a result of it, please contact HCPD’s non-emergency number at 410-313-2200 or visit HCPD’s website to file an online police report. You can also file a report with the FBI at www.ic3.gov.
If you provided any personal information as the result of a scam, visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website and follow the step-by-step instructions on what to do next.
To learn more about other scams targeting older residents and how to spot/avoid a scam, check out DCRS’s Office of Consumer Protection “Scam Alerts” website.
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