October 25th  Weekly e-Newsletter for the Village of Harper's Choice.
Community Forum on the Opioid Health Crisis


Save the Date: Drive-Thru Medication and Sharps Collection

The next drive-thru medication and sharps (needles, syringes, and EpiPens) collection will be held on Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  in the Wilde Lake Village Center. 
 
As we get closer, visit http://www.hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1 for more information, email Admin@hcdrugfree.org or call 443-325-0004. 

Hurry to Register for HC DrugFree's Teen Advisory Council

All Howard County high school students are invited to participate in HC DrugFree's Teen Advisory Council (TAC). TAC meets once a month throughout the school year. Community service hours available for all meetings/events. 
 
School year 2018-19 registration forms are being accepted. Hurry to email or mail signed registration form and photo.
 
Forms can be found on our website at http://www.hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council-1.
 
Next 2 meeting dates :
Monday, September 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Monday, October 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
 
Unless otherwise notified, all meetings will be held at The Barn/Teen Center in the Oakland Mills Village Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please email Admin@hcdrugfree.org




Community Service Hours Available
 
Does your student need community service hours? Or are you an adult looking for a fun and worthwhile community project for your family (or friends of all ages)?
 
HC DrugFree will award community service hours to student volunteers at our drive-thru medication and sharps collection to be held on Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to  2:00 p.m. 
 
Adult volunteers are rewarded with plenty of laughs and hugs. 
 
If you are under 18, please complete the teen registration form (even if you don't plan to attend other events/meetings) so we have emergency contact information. Click here to download the registration form. 
 
Bring the form. Be sure to sign in at the Volunteer Table. Go have fun with other volunteers. Return to the table before you leave. Simple! Fun!
Columbia Association - Board to Discuss Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods Study on October 27th 



MERRIWEATHER PARK -SYMPHONY WOODS INVENTORY, ASSESSMENT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
 
The CA staff will be discussing their progress on studying the 36 acres of the  Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. We on your CA Board asked for this study because there is a problem with the deterioration of the Park due to excessive use and perhaps the need for a path system, study the health of the trees, and other items.
 
The goal is that based on a thorough understanding of the site, CA will propose to develop and implement
Management Guidelines - best management practices to help protect
Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods from the negative impacts of intensive use
and to improve routine land management of this precious resource.
 
Click here for the full report beginning on page 105:
Harper's Choice Community Association's Shredding Event  
Saturday, November 17th
10AM - 1PM
Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row

Early Voting Festival in Harper's Choice, Sunday, October 28th, 1pm - 5pm


Early Voting Festival will be Sunday, Oct 28, 1-5 PM at Harper's Choice Middle School. It is being organized by four religious congregations:

Columbia Jewish Congregation
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Columbia Baptist Fellowship
Columbia United Christian Church

Harper's Choice Middle School is within sight of the Bain Senior Center, where folks will be able to vote early. You don't even need to be pre-registered; You can register on site.
Columbia International Folk Dancers 50th Anniversary Party
The Columbia International Folk Dancers will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary on November  3, 2018 in the Kahler Hall Ballroom from 8:15 to 11:45 PM. We have been meeting every  Wednesday night in Kahler Hall since Kahler Hall opened. At the party, there will be live music  by Ajde from Philadelphia supplemented by recorded music, and we will take requests. We will  be providing snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. The cost to attend the party is $20 at the door, and  $15 if paid in advance. If you want to pay in advance, contact Judithweintraub@gmail.com .
Volunteers Needed
 

Apply Now: Scholarships From Columbia Association Reward Teens For Community Service Efforts


Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Maggie J. Brown Spirit of Columbia Scholarship Award.

Columbia Association's scholarship program offers up to six $2,500 education awards to graduating high school seniors who exhibit exceptional efforts in providing community service to benefit Columbia residents and those in the Columbia area.


The students must live on CA-assessed property or have a parent/guardian who works full-time on or owns CA-assessed property. Applicants must be graduating in May/June 2019 from an accredited public, private or parochial high school, or be home-schooled in accordance with COMAR 13A.10.01. The students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.


Applications are available online at
ColumbiaAssociation.org/scholarship. Completed applications must be submitted by March 15, 2019. For more information, call 410-715-3161 or email SpiritofColumbia@ColumbiaAssociation.org.

The scholarship is not available to full-time CA employees or their family members, members of CA's Board of Directors or their family members, or members of CA's senior management team or their family members.

Howard County Library System is Hosting An Interactive Exhibit, Undesign The Redline, at its Central Branch through December 31


The Harper's Choice Community Association (HCCA) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the Howard County Health Department to become the first Columbia Village to maintain Narcan in an effort to combat opioid overdose.

Learn how to use naloxone and you could save a life! 
Using prescription opioids such as oxycodone, morphine, or drugs such as heroin and fentanyl can lead to an overdose. Naloxone is a prescription medication that reverses an opioid overdose by restoring breathing. With naloxone on hand, you will be equipped to respond and prevent death from an overdose. Obtain free naloxone medication and learn to save a life through Howard County Health Department's Overdose Response Program. For more information, or to register for an upcoming class, contact  orpresponse@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-6202.
Auto Theft Prevention Tips From Howard County Police Department

Covenant Corner

FREE SOIL TESTING



The Columbia Association (CA) has delivered soil test bags to each of the Village offices. LAWN areas only and return the bag to the Village office. CA will collect the bag, test the soil and return the test results to the residents, FREE of charge. Stop by Kahler Hall during business hours to ask for a soil testing bag.

RAIN GARDEN COST SHARE PROGRAM 

The Columbia Association (CA) continues to offer the Rain Garden Cost Share Program as a cost-effective way to help residents who reside on the Little Patuxent Watershed to install rain gardens on their property and help SLOW THE FLOW into our watershed. CA, via a grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, will pay 75 percent of the rain garden installation cost, with the remaining 25 percent paid by the resident. CA also has a landscape firm on contract for installation.

Residents need to apply to their village architectural committee for approval. Once the rain garden application is approved, the resident pays the 25 percent share to CA. The maintenance agreement is signed and the installation will be scheduled.  

Click here for a short video that helps explain the benefits of a rain garden. Contact John McCoy for more about this valuable program or call to schedule a consultation. 410-312-6336.



DO YOU WANT TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START?



If you have a desire to have a positive impact in Harper's Choice, this could be the opportunity for you. We are seeking interested individuals who are available the second and fourth Tuesday evening each month to serve on the Architectural Committee. The AC meets twice monthly at 7:30 p.m. to review architectural change applications, discuss covenant violations and keep the guidelines current. Note: persons wishing to serve on the AC must be able to obtain a Letter of Compliance from this office stating that their property is free of covenant violations.  Contact the Covenant Advisor for more information.    

Upcoming Architectural Committee Meeting Dates:10/9, 10/23. Applications for exterior alterations must be complete, including any applicable items from the list at the bottom of the application, and must be submitted at least two weeks ahead of the meeting where they will be reviewed. For your convenience, applications and guidelines can be downloaded or reviewed online.
Have you visited us on Facebook lately?
 
Please join us on Facebook for up-to-date information about what's happening in and around the Harper's Choice Community.

Architectural Committee Meetings

Please check the calendar on our website for the latest meeting dates.
 
Changes made to the exterior of homes in Harper's Choice require approval of the Village Architectural Committee (AC).
 
The AC will meet on Tuesday, 23rd at 7:30 PM to review applications. 

The deadline to submit applications for approval is two weeks prior to the next meeting date.
Village Board Meetings

The next meeting of the Village Board is scheduled for November 6th at 7PM. Approved Agendas and Meeting Minutes are/will be available on our website.
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* Term expires 4/30/19
** Term expires 4/30/20

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