Salutations

Getting Around: Walking, Biking, and Driving! As the Council representative on the Howard County Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Advisory Group, I had the opportunity to catch up with our local advocates who are pressing for ways to move around Howard County that don’t involve a car, and I'm pleased to report that getting around the County by walking and biking is getting easier. Howard County’s Office of Transportation, in conjunction with the Advisory Group, has been working on a number of initiatives, including installation of wayfinding signs, surveying the residents of Hickory Ridge about bike corridor paths, and celebrating the grand opening of the Hickory Ridge Road bicycle lane. For pedestrians, I am pleased to report that work will begin in earnest on a County-wide Complete Streets Manual following the passage of the County Executive’s Complete Streets Resolution (CR120), which I co-sponsored. This is a big step forward in creating a Howard County that will be walkable and bikeable.  For our drivers, t he State has announced a debt forgiveness program (Fine Fix) for uninsured motorist fines. This state program provides Marylanders an opportunity to reduce their delinquent uninsured motorists' fines by 80%.

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View current legislation here. SeeClickFix Potholes Be Gone  Got potholes and other road and infrastructure repair requests? Report the problem and track the solution through SeeClickFix . Create a login, set your location, and rest assured that the county is working on it for you. Development Tracker Visit the county's interactive   pDox tool for more.   Fall is Tree-Planting Time The Howard Hughes Corporation is providing 300 trees to County residents through the Arbor Day Foundation program. This program is intended to grow the tree canopies of cities and towns across the United States. Click here for more. Howard County Autism Society Recognizes Five Autism-Friendly Organizations Robinson Nature Center Howard County Library System Howard Tech The Children’s Spot Verbal Beginnings   Photos from the event can be found here . FineFix The State has announced a debt forgiveness program for uninsured motorist fines. This state program provides Marylanders an opportunity to reduce their delinquent uninsured motorists' fines by 80%. Eligibility: Uninsured auto fines on or before December 31, 2016 Benefits: Pay off fines Lift uninsured auto fine flags from your MVA record. Register a vehicle. Avoid reductions in state income tax reforms. Click here for more. Happy 150th Anniversary Locust United Methodist Church Mental Health Outreach and Community Engagement The Horizon Foundation is seeking requests for proposals to help increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The Horizon Foundation is providing an opportunity to start the engagement process via two opportunities. Click here for more.

County Council Updates The Council's September session has been an ambitious one. Several additional public hearings and work sessions were held to accommodate the work load and public input. Here are some of the bills that have generated the most interest. CB 38 -- Provides increased environmental controls on building in the Patapsco Lower North Branch Watershed. CB39 -- Repeals the Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreements and replaces a provision for amending and terminating existing agreements. Councilmembers Mercer Rigby and Walsh are co-sponsors of this bill. CB42 -- Alters the school facilities surcharge. This bill has support from all four Democratic members of the Council and raises the school facilities surcharge on new residential construction to $6.80/square foot. Click here for the press release on this important measure to meet critical school construction needs and address our overcrowding crisis. CR112 -- Requests the Howard County Public School System to draft, approve, and implement a lawful multi-year Integration Plan to ensure that Howard County Public Schools are integrated by socioeconomic factors. I introduced this resolution along with Councilmembers Mercer Rigby and Jones. I have sponsored an amendment to CR112 to address many of the issues that were discussed during the public hearings and work sessions. The amendment will be posted here once available. Boundary Review Process Update HCPSS Superintendent has revealed his recommendations for boundary adjustments. District 4 schools have significant impacts. Click here for more. Public Input From August 21 to November 19, the Board of Education will  receive written testimony  via mail or email ( redistricting@hcpss.org ). Final Decision On Thursday, November 21, the Board will make a decision on redistricting for the 2020-2021 school year. Online resources Boundary Review page School Boundary Review Feasibility Study Redistricting Questions I've heard from many of you about redistricting and I recognize your concerns and anxiety. I took many of your questions to the Board of Education--County Council Quarterly Meeting on September 23.  Watch the session here . Howard County is a “Bee City” Howard County has joined other localities to protect pollinators. Pollinator protections include the following:  Create 55 acres of meadow habitats on County parkland. Establish Monarch Way-Stations that will provide nectar plants and shelter for monarch butterflies Engage professional researchers from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to conduct Bee Surveys at Centennial Park. Work with conservation partners to preserve pollinator habitat and support education and outreach activities.   Create and adopt an integrated pest management plan and expand the use of non-chemical pest management methods. Establish a policy in the County’s General Plan to acknowledge and commit to the Bee City USA designation. School Capital Funding Declining capital appropriation for HCPSS has dipped from $77.3 million in FY2017 to $54.6 million in FY2020. The primary driver of the declining capital appropriation for HCPSS is a significant drop in State aid for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). As noted below, the $6.1 million in State aid received in FY2020 for the HCPSS CIP was the lowest amount in over a decade. Preparing for the 2020 Census   The County has assembled a Census Count Committee to work on the goal of getting a complete count of residents.   The “Complete Count Committee” will be a group of community leaders and organizations from public, private, non-profit and faith communities, whose sole purpose will be to get a complete count of Howard County. Many thanks to Carole Ball for volunteering to be our District 4 Census Ambassador. Howard County First Responders Deployed In Advance of Hurricane Dorian   Two Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services personnel, Firefighter Dain Yakich and Firefighter Barry Griffin, and Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) Director Bob Frances, were deployed to Florida as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Urban Search & Rescue team, Maryland Task Force 1 to assist with preparedness for Hurricane Dorian. Welcome Busboys & Poets The Washington, DC-based restaurant, bookstore, and event space, Busboys & Poets, will construct a 10,700-square-foot, two-story location in the  Merriweather District of Downtown Columbia . Busboys & Poets currently has seven locations across the Washington Metropolitan area and is a cultural hub for artists and activists. The groundbreaking ceremony featured a  HoCoPoLitSo   spoken word performance from Lady Brion and elected officials. The grand opening of the Merriweather District is scheduled for 2020. Spirit of Community Award Students in 5th through 12th grades exemplifying community contributions through volunteerism are encouraged to apply for a 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Click here for more.

Winter Guides

View the 2019 Fall Guide Register/Access Account

View the Robinson Nature Center 2019 Guide

View the 2019 Winter Guide

Keeping Up with Deb Below are some of the events and meetings I have recently attended. Let me know about your community activities so I can stop by, if my schedule allows.  09|03 - Reservoir HS First Day of School Visit 09|03 - Fulton ES First Day of School Visit 09|03 - Lime Kiln First Day of School Visit 09|07 - Festival of India 09|10 - State of Equity in Education with John King 09|11 - September 11th Ceremony 9|14 - Jane Dembner Celebration of Life Ceremony 09|12 - Merriweather Post Pavilion Noise Abatement Community Meeting 09|17 - Bicycle Advisory Group Meeting 09|17 - Happy Hour with Speaker Jones, Maryland House of Delegates 09|18 - MACo Interim Legislative Committee Meeting 09|21 - Harriet Tubman Day 09|21 - Wilde Lake High School Homecoming 09|21 - Locust United Methodist Church, 150th Anniversary Gala 09|23 - Joint Meeting with BOE 09|24 - Technical Committee-MAA Exec Roundtable First Look Meeting 09|25 - Howard County Diversity Awareness Day 09|25 - Groundbreaking for Busboys & Poets 09|25 - Community Partners Kick-off 09|27 - A Vintage Affair 9|30 Rosh Hashanah with Temple Isiah 10|02 - Vantage Point Arts & Culture Event 10|03 - HC Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony

Left: Indian Festival; Happy Hour with Speaker Jones ; Right: First Day of School, Fulton ES & Reservoir HS; Harriet Tubman Day; Wilde Lake HS Homecoming; Rosh Hashanah with Temple Isiah

Community Affairs

St. Louis Church Announces 14th Season of Six Classical and Pops Concerts October 4th, 8pm St. Louis Church - Social Hall 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville   Series features Jazz, seasonal music, Water Celebration, Dueling Pianos plus choirs, orchestra, guest artists   The 2019-20 season of community concerts is in its 14 th and features D.C. jazz vocalist Lena Seikaly and her Quartet performing 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Seating is limited and $20 ticket is required for this season’s fund-raising event -- including reception with wine, cheese and light refreshments plus Season Sneak Preview.  Click here for more.

BIKE COLLECTION DAY October 5th, 9am - 1pm @ HC Firestations Free Bikes 4 Kidz is a nonprofit organization geared toward helping all kids ride into a happier, healthier childhood by providing bikes to those most in need. We collect Bikes in October, refurbish them for ten weeks with dozens of volunteers,and give them away to kids in need in December. Our launch partners here are Howard County and The Howard Hughes Corporation. Do you have an outgrown bike in your house? Drop it off at Any Howard County fire station on and we’ll refurbish it and give it to a kid in need, with a new helmet, on December 14. More details  here !

Hops and Harvest Festival What: 80+ Maryland artisans, breweries, distilleries, & wineries - unlimited tastings, live entertainment, games & more. When: October 5th, 12-5pm Where: Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, Columbia Tickets: General admission, $40 in advance; $50 at the door District 4 constituents can receive $5 off by using this custom code: DISTRICT 4. Click here for more.

A Harlem Renaissance Speakeasy: October 5th, 7:30pm RCF Building, Room 400, Howard Community College Featuring Live Jazz and Poetry from the 1920s. Explore the power of words from writers such as Langston Hughes and live jazz by such greats as Duke Ellington in a not-to-be-missed speakeasy atmosphere evocative of the era. Admission ($45) includes a variety of speakeasy-inspired small bites. Cash bar available, serving two signature cocktails, beer and wine. Period attire is encouraged. More information and tickets click here

Trick or Treat Costume Party October 6th, 12:00pm – 5:00pm Main Event Columbia 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite #1615, Columbia Bring your family in costume to Trick Or Treat at Main Event Entertainment! Come in costume to Main Event Entertainment Columbia to receive free candy* (while supplies last) and enter the costume contest to win free prizes! This event will be hosted every Sunday in October and Halloween day. Click here for more information.

Camp Fire October 12th, 3:30pm - 6pm Wilde Lake Barn 10027 Hyla Brook Road, Columbia Join CA's camp team for a fun-filled evening of games, arts and crafts, s'mores and more with prizing drawings for free camp sessions and discounted registration! Click here for more information. Free for all families Space is limited; for more information, call 410-715-3165

Downtown Columbia Mini Maker Faire 2019 October 13th, 10am - 6pm Merriweather 10431 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments, and projects.

Click here for more information. Click here for tickets. Glimpse the future and get inspired!

 Sensory -Friendly Sundays October 13th, 11am - 12:30pm Robinson Nature Center 6692 Cedar Ln, Columbia  This monthly event is designed for families with kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disabilities. The Center opens early, allowing visitors to enjoy a calm environment. Explore the exhibits, Discovery Room, nature trails and/or outdoor NaturePlace play area. Sensory alert maps, sensory backpacks and quiet areas are available. While walk-ins are welcome, we encourage you to reserve your space ahead of time. Click here for more information.

Closed on Monday, October 14        County Government Offices                Courts                                    Animal Shelter                          50+ Centers                            Robinson Nature Center                    Open on Monday, October 14 All trash, recycling and food scrap services Alpha Ridge Landfill County Parks Community Centers County Historic Sites Kiwanis-Wallas Hall Meadowbrook Athletic Center Cedar Lane and Schooley Mill Activity Rooms (use by permit only) RTA will operate on a regular weekday schedule

Master Aging October 19th, 10am - 3pm HCC 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia Presented by the Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) and coordinated by the Office on Aging and Independence (OAI), Master Aging is a reimagination of the 50+EXPO, which has been the premier event for older adults in Howard County for 20 years. Click here for more information.

Because each film will run at the same time and space is limited, please register for ONLY ONE film Attend one of four film screenings, each followed by a panel discussion. The films are: Boy Interrupted Dark Side of the Full Moon Not Alone We Are Not Done Yet Click here for more information. 2019 Mental Health Film Festival October 23rd, 6:00pm – 9:00pm Regal UA Snowden Square 9161 Commerce Center Drive, Columbia Join the Horizon Foundation for the 2019 Mental Health Film Festival, an event to build awareness and compassion for members of our community living with mental health challenges. ~FREE EVENT~ Learn more about the films and watch trailers here .

Merriweather Post Pavilion Concert season Check out the full 2019 calendar of live music for an endearing Howard County tradition. Click here for the calendar.

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