May 28, 2019

Dear Friends, During this Memorial Day week, we remember those who gave their life in service of our country. We will never forget those who paid the ultimate cost, so that we might all be free. I was honored to spend my morning with the Harriet Tubman Foundation of Howard County and Maryland Veterans for their 2nd Annual New Flag Raising Ceremony in honor of our fallen heroes. Thank you for your sacrifice and service.

This Week in HoCo

Remembering the Flood of 2018  This past Memorial Day is also the one-year anniversary of the 2018 devastating flood in Ellicott City. On this day we honor all our fallen service members, including one of our own we lost a year ago today. Sgt. Eddison Alexander Hermond, an Air Force Veteran and member of the National Guard, gave his life while attempting to save others in the flood. His final act of heroism will forever be remembered and honored A year removed from that tragedy, we continue to stand strong. Our residents, businesses, and visitors from around the globe will know us for our resilience and, as we heal, how we move forward....together. We will honor our fallen, rebuild what was broken, and build a safer Ellicott City!

Hopeworks Fundraiser My wife Shani was the honorary chair for  Hopeworks  Eat, Drink, & Give fundraiser. Shani, a compassionate nurse, is an amazing leader who is dedicated to ensuring our community has access to our important resources. HopeWorks has served our community for over 40 years by helping people move from crisis to recovery. Their work helps women, men, and children who are impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence in our community.  I'm so proud of Shani for her advocacy. If you haven't checked out how HopeWorks helps victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, please do so by visiting their page .

Ellicott City Awarded one of the "Coolest Suburbs in America 2019" “Ellicott City has the perfect mix of old and new. A funky Main Street offers up brew pubs, upscale restaurants, and locally-owned shops, all housed in unique, historical architecture. Come for the live music and festivals, stay for the outdoor recreations and connected community.” Ellicott City was chosen as one of Apartment Therapy’s Coolest Suburbs in America 2019. Ellicott City has its perfect mix where there is something for everyone to enjoy! I’m so honored for this highlight of the vast diversity Ellicott City has to offer. You can read Apartment Therapy’s article here.

Maximize 2045 Transportation matters and so does your opinion. The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB), who is responsible for approving all highway and transit projects using federal Surface Transportation Funds throughout the Baltimore region, is hosting a series of public meetings to discuss its long-range transportation plan, Maximize2045: A Performance-Based Transportation Plan , and the 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) .   Maximize2045 is a regional long-range transportation plan that seeks to make the best use of the resources that make up and support the Baltimore region’s transportation system. The plan contains a list of major capital transportation projects the region expects to implement from 2024 to 2045. The TIP details proposed federal, state and local money for maintaining, operating and expanding highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian networks over the next four years.   BRTB will host a meeting in Howard County on Tuesday, June 11 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Belmont/Hockley room at Elkridge branch library, located at 6540 Washington Boulevard. The meeting will give attendees the chance to explore these two draft plans and learn more about the region, major projects and funding. Between the two transportation plans, there are more than 200 projects open for public comment.   For more information about these plans or the full public meeting schedule, visit www.maximize2045.com or contact the Baltimore Metropolitan Council at comments@baltometro.org for questions and/or to provide comments regarding the plans.

Congratulations GeoBee Finalist Rishi Kumar Please join me in congratulating Rishi Kumar of  Ellicott Mills Middle School for reaching the final round of the National Geographic GeoBee in Washington DC. We are so proud of you and are wishing you the best of luck in the finals! You can read more about him here.

Legislative Matters

In the County On Thursday, many Howard County residents sought shelter due to a tornado warning that produced severe storms that knocked out power to over 9,000 residents, knocked down trees and debris, and triggered the third clearing of waterways around Ellicott City due to the winds and rain. Immediately following today’s weather event, our Department of Public Works employees were quickly mobilized and immediately dispatched to communities to assess the damage and cleanup the debris. I want to thank all of our first responding employees who constantly and consistently risk their safety to serve our residents and ensure the safety of our families. Recently, the Howard County Council has proposed an amendment that would move $8 million dollars in the proposed FY2020 budget away from the Howard County government despite my proposed budget giving a historic level of funding to our schools. This loss of $8 million from the county government means that we are going to have severely reduce services from departments across this county government - including the Department of Public Works and our first responders. Today’s storms and response is a strong reminder that every dollar counts when we are responsible for the public safety of our residents and I encourage the Howard County Council to stand with me in protecting the services and resources of the county government.

Education News

Class of 2019 It’s graduation season! Please join me in congratulating all our graduates.

Congratulations to our  #Classof2019 at  Cedar Lane. As you begin your next chapter, remember the hard work and courage it took to reach this point. To the family and friends of our graduates, your unwavering support helped our graduates be successful today and for the days to come.

Celebrating  #Classof2019 with Howard Community College. Congratulations to all our graduates today. I wish you the best of luck on your future endeavors as you strive to get there, from here.

I was honored to celebrate  Reservoir High School’s  #Classof2019. It’s always exciting to see our Gators excel as they learn, achieve, and succeed. Wishing you good luck as you take the next step in your journey.

Congratulations to  Atholton High School’s  #Classof2019. We are so excited to join you as you begin your next step in your journey. No matter where you go, you will always be a part of  #RaiderNation.

Congratulations to  Marriotts Ridge High School’s  #Classof2019. As you start your next stage in life, remember to exemplify excellence in all that you do.  #MustangPride

Departmental News

Department of Community Resources and Services It is with great pleasure that I share some fantastic news! Our East Columbia , Ellicott City and Glenwood 50+ Centers have been named the winners of several Maryland Association of Senior Centers (MASC) “Programs of Excellence” awards. East Columbia’s “Making of a Monarch” won in the educational program category, as did Glenwood’s “Discovering our National Park Series.” East Columbia also took home an award in the community partnership program category with its Repair Café, while Ellicott City’s Try-Athlon Program won in the fitness program category. This is terrific recognition of the innovation and creativity that makes our 50+ Centers a welcoming and enriching environment for our community. The awards will be presented at the MASC annual meeting on June 11 th at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis.

Department of Fire and Rescue Services This past week, I was honored to join our Department of Fire and Rescue Services as it held its annual awards ceremony. The ceremony included the naming of the Department’s Fire Officer of the Year (congratulations Lt. Joshua Burchick) and Firefighter of the Year (congratulations Andrew Hoffman), as well as two announcements regarding the late Lt. Nathan Flynn. In honor of Lt. Flynn, a new street in Marriottsville, “Nathan Flynn Way,” and the department’s new training award, “The Nathan Flynn Excellence in Company Training Award,” have been named after him.   I again would like to congratulate all of our award recipients and thank you for everything that you do to educate, protect and serve the people of Howard County

Department of Fire and Rescue Services' Office of Emergency Management The County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has scheduled its second public meeting to discuss the new Ellicott City Emergency Public Alert System. The meeting will be held Thursday, June 6, at 6:00 p.m. in the Columbia/Ellicott City Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. During the meeting, OEM staff will share information from the initial setup testing conducted May 15 th , the plan for regularly scheduled testing moving forward, procedures for video message boards when under a Flash Flood Watch/Warning, and how people can receive alerts inside their homes and businesses. To learn more, click HERE .

Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits As we wrap up National Building Safety Month, I’d like to take a moment to recognize our Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) and all the great work they do. Just recently DILP received its HIGHEST-EVER Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). With one being the best and 10 the worst, DILP scored a two in both its commercial/residential (2/2) effectiveness; DILP has previously scored a 2/3. The BCEGS looks at a department’s full spectrum of activities to determine how effective it is in assuring safe, strong, resilient and sustainable buildings. Items reviewed include how up-to-date a department’s codes and standards are, the numbers and types of reviews and approvals its performs, the number and types of inspections it conducts, staffing ratios, and the qualifications, education and continuing training its personnel. According to an ISO representative, a rating of 2/2 is virtually unheard of in Maryland!   Speaking of our codes, two weeks ago I send into law the County’s updated Building Code, bringing it up to the most current editions of the International Code Council codes. DILP’s adopted building and related codes can be found online by clicking HERE .

Office of Transportation Multimodal transportation is critical to the future of Howard County, our state and our region. For those interested in improving tragic congestion, reducing emissions and expanding accessibility, I encourage you to apply to serve on the County’s Multimodal Transportation Board. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be a Howard County resident, have an interest in multimodal transportation and be able to attend the Board’s meetings which are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Ellicott Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. DEADLINE to apply is Friday, June 28.

Police Department Get ready! Howard County Police Department’s (HCPD) mobile rec center is coming to a neighborhood near you this summer. As part of HCPD’s Community Athletic Program, school resource officers will be stop by the following locations from June 24 th to August 16 th , 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (expect July 4 th and August 5 th -9 th ) ready to play basketball, baseball, flag football, Xbox or just hang. Mondays – East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia Tuesdays – Talbott Springs Pool, 9660 Basket Ring Road, Columbia Wednesdays – Blandair Park, 5750 Oakland Mills Rd, Columbia Thursdays – Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia and Mayfied Woods Middle School, 7950 Red Barn Way, Elkridge Fridays – North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel   No need to register in advance. Just show up for some good, old fashion fun.

Department of Public Works Howard County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, June 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the media center at Patuxent Valley Middle School to discuss the detour related to Phase 2 of the Guilford Road and Vollmerhausen Road improvement project. Phase 2 of the project will widen, add a sidewalk and storm drain to Guilford Road, and will improve sight distance for motorists approaching the intersection of Guilford and Vollmerhausen roads from Carroll Heights Avenue. The traffic signal will also be modified to improve the operation of the intersection. Mary Lane will be widened at the bridge over the Middle Patuxent River tributary and the sidewalk along Mary Lane will be extended over the bridge and connected to the intersection, where two bus stops will be added. Construction of Phase 2 is expected to begin in fall 2019. For more information about this public meeting, click HERE . Department of Public Works Bureau of Environmental Services Keep in mind, the County’s holiday slide schedule is in effect this week as there was no curbside trash, recycling, food scrap or yard trim collection on Monday, May 27 th due to the Memorial Day holiday. Monday pick-up will slide to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday and so forth. To learn more about the holiday slide schedule and those other five holidays, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/holidayschedule . REMINDER : Effective Saturday, June 15, 2019 , the County’s Bureau of Environmental Services will no longer accept curbside recycling placed out in plastic bags. Items placed out for recycling, should be placed loose in your county assigned recycling bin/cart. As of this date, items placed out for curbside recycling collection in plastic bags will not be collected. Those looking to recycle their clean plastic bags, can do so at participating local grocery stores, big box stores and other retailers who have plastic bag collection bins set up, normally inside the store’s front entrance. Check out the Bureau’s “Know Before You Throw” website for a map participating locations. To learn more about this coming change to curbside recycling, click HERE . Residents will be receiving a postcard in the mail alerting them of this change. For questions and/or more information about curbside recycling, please contact the Bureau of Environmental Services at 410-313-6444 or email help@howardcountyrecycles.org . Department of Public Works Construction Report No new Capital Projects were announced this past week. For a full list of previously announced projects, please refer to the May 20, 2019 newsletter.   To learn more about DPW Capital Projects currently underway, visit https://bit.ly/2V6K5B6 . 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 website and search by “County” to learn more about State road projects.   Also, be sure to follow the county’s Facebook and Twitter pages every Monday morning for upcoming maintenance projects happening that week, weather permitting. On these social media pages, you’ll also find information regarding the county’s street sweeping schedule, which generally begin in the months of January, April, July and September.

Office of Purchasing Local businesses in Howard County are pivotal to our local economy. Whenever possible, Howard County Government strives towards supporting local businesses through our procurement efforts. Local businesses interested in doing business with Howard County are encourages to attend our Office of Purchasing’s Local Business Certification Workshop on Tuesday, June 4 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Ellicott Room at Howard County Library System’s Miller branch, 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. Representatives from the Office of Purchasing and Howard County Economic Development Authority will share information and resources beneficial to the growth of your business. Participants will also learn about Howard County’s Equal Business Opportunity Program, Local Business Initiative Program and more. The workshop is free; however, space is limited, so advance registration is recommended. To register and/or more information, contact the Office of Purchasing at 410-313-6370 or email purchasing@howardcountymd.gov.

Department of Recreation & Parks Centennial Park visitors, the Park’s east area (located at 4800 Woodland Road, Ellicott City) will be closed this Wednesday, May 29 and Thursday, May 30 as crews patching the parking lot and roadway. The entrance gate to this section of the park will be closed and signs posted to alert visitors of the closure. The Department of Recreation & Parks, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Maryland, began this month the next phase of a study launched back in January 2017 to evaluate integrated tick control strategies on public lands in Howard County adjacent to residential communities. The goal of the study is to identify the most effective way to control ticks in residential areas and to reduce the overall tick population density in suburban landscapes across the county and the state. Over the last two years, the study has included tick sampling, deer collaring and mouse trapping. Data collected thus far has provided valuable information on tick population density and pathogen infection status in both the deer tick and white-footed mice. A first in Maryland, the study is part of a larger, five-year Integrated Tick Management Project of the USDA-ARS. To learn more, click HERE . Looking for some great activities this June, be sure to check out these:  June 1st – National Road Yard Sale at the Roger Carter Community Center (3000 Milltowne Drive in Ellicott City) from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The area’s longest continuous yard sale stretching from rom downtown Baltimore to St. Louis. June 7th – North Laurel Community Center’s Birthday Bash from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road. Come celebrate the North Laurel Community Center's 8th anniversary featuring music, snowballs and birthday cake! June 13th – Spirits of the Patapsco River Valley at the Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum (3711 Maryland Avenue) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Come hear the stories of ghostly happenings from Ellicott City through the river valley to Catonsville. In the realm of the unexplained, various visitors to the region claim to have seen UFO's, Bigfoot type creatures, gnomes and ghosts. To register for this event (cost is $15 per person and you must be 21 years and older to participate), contact Emily Mosher at 410-313-0419 or email emosher@howardcountymd.gov.  June 15th – Roger Carter Community Center’s 6th Anniversary Celebration from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 3000 Milltowne Drive in Ellicott City. Come celebrate Roger Carter’s 6th birthday with music, snowballs, giveaways and birthday cake.

Upcoming Events and Meetings

May 28 - Howard County Complete Streets Policy Stakeholder Meeting Join the county’s Office of Transportation and Complete Streets Implementation Team on at 7:00 p.m. in the George Howard Building’s Columbia/Ellicott City Room, to learn more about and discuss the Howard County Complete Streets Policy. Complete Streets are streets for everyone. Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. To learn more about Howard County Complete Streets, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/completestreets .

May 30 - Community Foundation of Howard County Annual Spring Party The Community Foundation of Howard County, which raises, manages and distributes funds to support Howard County nonprofits, will hold its 37 th annual Spring Party on Thursday, May 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College. The Spring Party will kick off the Community Foundation’s celebrations this year recognizing 50 years since the organization was founded in 1969. Proceeds from the event will benefit the foundation’s programs and services promoting local philanthropy and providing grant funding to nonprofit organizations serving Howard County. To learn more, visit https://cfhoco.org/ .

June 1 - Savage Fest 2019 The 32 nd annual Savage Fest promises a day of fun for all ages and a chance to meet friends old and new. Originating in Savage Days festivities from the 1920’s, Savage Fest conveys the charm and vibrancy of the small town of Savage. The celebration takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Baldwin Common with live music, dance performances, pony rides, a petting zoo, an antique car show, a photo booth, games, crafts, vendors, food and more. For more information, visit www.savagecommunityassociation.com/savagefest .

June 1 - Maryland Student Film Festival The annual Maryland Student Film Festival at Howard Community College’s Monteabaro Recital Hall, is an opportunity for local student filmmakers and videographers (high school, college or other) to submit and showcase their independent films for a juried venue. Click HERE to learn more.

June 2 - Books In Bloom Book Festival The Downtown Columbia Partnership proudly announces the 3 rd annual Books In Bloom book festival, Columbia’s ultimate celebration of the joys of books and reading. Books In Bloom will bring together some of the country’s best and brightest authors for a daylong festival featuring readings, panel discussions, children’s activities, live music, a pop-up bookstore and more. For more information, click HERE .

June 2 - Family Wellness Day A Get Active Howard County initiative, this fun free event for the whole family will feature wellness and health screenings, alternative medicine, active senior and community areas, and a kid’s action zone. Also, the County’s Department of Fire and Rescue Services will be back, hosting its 8 th annual Pumpathon, where participants will learn how they can save a life using Hands-Only CPR . Stop on by Centennial Park, 10000 MD 108 in Ellicott City anytime from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, click HERE .

June 3 - Pride Month Recognition Ceremony All are invited to join myself and LGBTQ+ advocates at 8:00 p.m. out front the County’s George Howard Building, located at 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City, as we light the building purple in recognition of Pride Month.

June 5 - Guilford Road, Vollmerhausen Road Improvement Project Detour Public Meeting Public meeting to discuss the detour related to Phase 2 of the Guilford Road and Vollmerhausen Road improvement project. Construction of Phase 2 is expected to begin in fall 2019. For details, click HERE .

June 7 thru June 9 - 27 th Annual Capital Jazz Fest Each year in early June, tens of thousands of music lovers from throughout the country flock to Merriweather Post Pavilion to attend what is described as “the jazz festival with soul,” The Capital Jazz Fest. Started in 1993, this multi-day, multi-stage outdoor music festival, which attracts music lovers nationwide, is more than just a concert, it's an event! It's a place to people-watch, eat, drink, shop, mingle, relax, soak in the rays, make new friends, and of course hear some cool jazz and soul music. To learn more, visit www.capitaljazz.com/fest/2019/ .

June 8 - KidsDay 2019 KidsDay, the fun, annual welcome-to-summer event for kids hosted by Columbia Association, returns on Saturday, June 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Columbia SportsPark, 5453 Harpers Farm Road in Columbia. To learn more, visit www.columbiaassociation.org/kidsday .

June 8 - Star Party at Alpha Ridge Park Come enjoy the night sky at dusk (sundown) through telescopes set up by The Howard Astronomical League (HAL). At this relaxed, casual, family event, view live images on a big screen as seen through the Watson Telescope in HAL’s observatory at Alpha Ridge Park, 1165 Old Frederick Road in Marriottsvile. For more information, visit www.howardastro.org .

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