MAY 2018
Greetings

It is time to get out and enjoy the wonders of nature as the landscape transforms into beautiful colors. 
Check out the many outdoor events happening around our county.

Greg
US 40 RAMP/BRIDGE OVER I-70
One Lane on the Bridge/Ramp will be Closed Throughout the Project

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is starting a project to replace the bridge deck (driving surface) on the westbound US 40 (Baltimore National Pike) ramp/bridge over I-70. This $2.7 million project is expected to be completed late-spring 2019. 
     
The nearly 50-year-old bridge is safe, but the bridge deck has outlived its useful life and needs to be replaced. Other work on the project includes cleaning and painting the structural steel, repairing concrete and paving the bridge approaches.

Currently, this is a two-lane ramp that spans I-70. During construction, one lane will be closed, and traffic shifted to enable crews to perform the project safely and efficiently. Motorists should provide extra commuting time during the project. MDOT SHA's contractor, Six-M Co., Inc. of Delta, PA, will use temporary barrier wall, cones, barrels, and message boards to guide the nearly 16,000 vehicles per day safely through the work zone.  

This project will keep this bridge from becoming deficient and add decades of life to the structure. Proactively addressing bridges that are nearing deficiency enables MDOT SHA to stay ahead of aging structures and maintain a world-class highway system.

While MDOT SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don't follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands. For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects,  click on Road Ready, MDOT SHA's electronic construction brochure. For a look at real-time commute conditions, log onto  www.md511.org.
PREAKNESS HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
May 11-13, 2018
Howard County MD Fairgrounds

WCBM and WQLL present the annual Preakness Balloon Festival with over 15 hot air balloons, tethered balloon rides, a large kid zone, a beer and wine garden, Maryland's finest vendors, the Baltimore area's best food, a balloon glow after dusk, live music on the main stage by Pressing Strings, Higher Education, Spencer Joyce, Rhett Repko, Shiftwork and many more!

For more information, visit their website by  clicking here.
SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL 2018
May 5 & 6, 2018
8:30AM - 6PM Saturday
8:30AM - 5PM Sunday
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, MD
Admission: $5.00

More sheep and wool than you can imagine!
Discover the beauty of sheep, the warmth of wool and the delicious taste of lamb during a fun-filled weekend celebrating all things wool, from hoof to handwoven. 

For more information, visit their website by clicking here.

No pets...please leave your dogs at home.

Featuring:
  • Over 275 Vendors
  • Over 700 Sheep
  • Sheep Breeds Display and Parade of Breeds
  • Sheep Shows
  • Working Sheepdog Demonstrations Fleece Show & Sale 
  • All Breeds Sheep Sale
  • Sheep Shearing Demonstrations 
  • Fiber Arts Demonstrations 
  • Special Family Activities
  • Sheep-to-Shawl Contest
  • Food Vendors
  • Musical Entertainment
     
  • Contests and Competitions: Skein & Garment, Fine Arts, Photography, Poster, Junior Spinning, Lead Line, Club Lamb, Grand Lamb Cook-Off
  • Auctions of Spinning and Weaving Equipment, Sheep Equipment, and Handspun, Handwoven Shawls from the Sheep-to-Shawl Contest
  • Maryland Lamb & Wool Queen Contest
  • Farm-to-Fork Local Foods to take home
  •  ...and much, much more!
WINE IN THE WOODS 2018
Advanced ticket purchasers may enter at 10:30am each day so that you have time to come in and find your perfect spot before the festival officially opens at 11am. (sales and wine pouring will begin at 11am.) The event runs rain or shine. Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable and can only be used for the day you purchased them.

Saturday, May 19, 11am-6pm Sunday, May 20, 11am-5pm
Wine Taster: $32 advanced purchase; $44 at gate Wine Taster: $27 advanced purchase; $39 at gate
*Non-Taster: $30 *Non-Taster: $25
Under 3: Free Under 3: Free

For more information/details, visit their website by clicking here.
BUDGET CALENDAR
The Howard County Council welcomes your participation in the budget process for Fiscal Year 2019. The schedule below lists the public meetings at which the Council will consider the County Executive's proposed budget. All meetings will be held at the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City. Public hearings and legislative sessions will be held in the Banneker Room, and work sessions will be held in the C. Vernon Gray Room.

May 2018

Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 p.m.
Public Hearing - Operating Budget
  • All departments except Board of Education, Howard Community College, and Libraries
Friday, May 4, 8:30 a.m.
Work Session - Operating Budget, including revenue, fees, and funds specific to each department:
  • Legislative and Judicial
  • Public Safety 
Monday, May 7, 7:00 p.m.
Constant Yield Hearing
Followed by Legislative Session - Introduction of Budget Bills
Monday, May 14
8:30 a.m. - Work Session - Operating Budget, including revenue, fees, and funds specific to each department:
  • Community Services
  • Non-Departmental Fees, Funds, and Expenses
1:00 p.m. - Public Hearing - Capital and Operating Budget
 
Friday, May 18, 8:30 a.m.
Work Session (if needed)
  • Pending issues - Capital and/or Operating Budget
Wednesday, May 22, 2:00 p.m.
Budget Amendment Prefile
Wednesday, May 9, 8:30 a.m.
Work Session - Operating Budget, including revenue, fees, and funds specific to each department:
  • Public Facilities
  • General Government

Friday, May 24, 1:00 p.m.
Work Session - Capital and Operating Budget
  • Budget Amendments
  • Pending issues
Wednesday, May 31, 8:30 a.m.
Legislative Session - Adoption of Budget Bills

Copies of the proposed budgets will be available on the Council's website ( cc.howardcountymd.gov ) as they are received.

Members of the public are invited to testify in person at public hearings or to submit written testimony at any time during the budget process. If you choose to testify at a public hearing, please sign up to testify before the hearing. You can do so online at https://apps.howardcountymd.gov/otestimony/. Written testimony may be emailed to the entire Council at councilmail@howardcountymd.gov.

Legislative sessions and work sessions are open to the public; however, the public does not participate unless specifically asked by the Council.

Persons needing accommodations to fully participate in a meeting, please contact the Council Office at 410-313-2001 at least eight working days in advance.
MOTHER'S DAY TEA N' SCONES GARDEN WALK
May 12, 2018 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Howard County Conservancy
$5.00 - $10.00

Enjoy a beautiful and delicious morning with your mother, daughter, grandmother or friends on Mothers Day weekend.  Stroll through the many niche gardens at the Conservancy and learn about their design and plantings from members of the Howard County garden clubs who created and maintain them.  Extend your walk through the Master Gardeners' Demonstration Garden, the "Sisters Garden" of herbs and perennials, and the large Community Garden. Refresh yourself with "bottomless cups" of tea and freshly baked Scottish scones in the restored Brown sisters' historic farmhouse parlor. Take home heritage and native plants for your garden from the Master Gardener plant sale. 

Advance registration recommended. 

In case of rain, check  website.
IN THIS ISSUE:

US 40 Ramp/Bridge over I-70

Preakness Hot Air Balloon Festival
 

Sheep and Wool Festival 2018

Wine in the Woods 2018
 
Budget Calendar

Mother's Day Tea N' Scones Garden Walk

COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING SCHEDULE
2018

May 7
Legislative Session
7 p.m.  (following the Constant Yield Hearing)
Banneker Room

May 14
Monthly Meeting
8:30 a.m.  (following a Budget Work Session)
C. Vernon Gray Room

May 21
Legislative Public Hearing
7 p.m.
Banneker Room

May 31
Special Legislative Session - Adoption of the Budget
8:30 a.m.
Banneker Room


For more information
click below  for:
COLLISION AVOIDANCE TRAINING
The Collision Avoidance Training (C.A.T.) program is an advanced defensive driving and vehicle control program for licensed teenage drivers ages 16-20 years old. The one-day program (8.5 hours) is designed to provide young drivers with the knowledge and understanding of vehicle dynamics.

The cost of the program is $95 and registration must be done in advance.

For further information or to register, please email C.A.T. Coordinator Jessica Beram by
  clicking here. Note there is no online registration for the C.A.T. program.

2018 dates (all Saturdays): 
May 12, June 9, 
July 21, August 18, September 22, October 20, November 17, December 8 

LISBON VFD MOTHER'S DAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Lisbon VFC Banquet Hall
Sunday, May 13, 2018

7:30-11:30 a.m.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! All you can eat breakfast buffet including pancakes, scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, toast, chipped beef, and sausage gravy.

Ages 5 & under: free; Ages 6-10: $4;
 Adults: $8

For more information, click here.
LIVING FREE PARENT SEMINAR ON OPIOIDS
May 19, 2018
9am - 12pm
Free

The Living Free Opioid Crisis Parent Seminar seeks to provide information, resources, support and encouragement for those concerned about the impact of drug use among our youth. Parents will have an opportunity to hear from special speakers on the topic followed by Q & A and an informal info booth gallery staffed by representatives from various community organizations. 

For more information or to register, 
Click the image to access the Spring/Summer Guide
Click the image to access the Summer Camp Guide
Howard County Council District 5 | | gfox@howardcountymd.gov | http://cc.howardcountymd.gov/Districts/District-5
3430 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043