We’re dedicated to ensuring our residents can receive the vaccine as safely, efficiently, and equitably. Because of our partnership with the Governor and First Lady, today we were able to provide 800 vaccine dosages to members of Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church, Bridgeway Community Church, and other residents. Our Mobile Integrated Community Health team, Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, and Howard County Health Department are working tirelessly to deliver vaccinations to our community.

Since vaccine became available, nearly 47% of our residents have received their first dose. To date, our MICH team has held seven clinics at local churches, masjids, and community centers, vaccinating a total of 1756 residents. In Howard County, 89% of residents 65 and older are fully vaccinated, including 99% of our seniors 75 and older.

Still, our job will not be finished until we reach everyone who wants a vaccine.

Currently, residents as young as 16 are approved to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer is the only vaccine, at this time, that can be administered in the United States to people under 18. State Mass Vaccination Clinics are more than likely to administer the Pfizer vaccine. I strongly urge parents and guardians to ensure our youth ages 16 and 17 get vaccinated.

We need to do everything we can to keep our families and community safe. We encourage residents age 16, 17, 18, and older to register for a vaccine TODAY by calling 1 (855) MD-GOVAX or visiting COVIDVax.Maryland.gov. Please note, you must specify your age when creating an appointment.

This Saturday, April 24th, HC DrugFree is hosting their next drive-thru medication and sharps collection from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot. Last year, they collected over 1,200 pounds of medication. Let's beat that amount this year, and dispose of any expired prescriptions and unneeded over-the-counter medication, along with needles, syringes, EpiPens and vaping devices.

For more information, please click here.

Howard County is constantly working towards creating a more inclusive community, for all. I was excited to join Howard County Recreation and Parks and Howard County Autism Society to unveil two innovative nonverbal communication boards at Blandair Regional Park’s new “Play for All” playground.

These communication boards are a welcome addition to this state-of-the-art park and will allow for more of our children of all abilities to have positive experience at our playground. Thank you to the Howard County Autism Society for this contribution, and to our Department of Recreation & Parks for working collaborating with our community to make this site truly a place for all.

The park’s Play for All playground is set to open this Spring.

Since it has become available, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure residents receive COVID-19 vaccines quickly. In Howard County, 99% of our adults older than 75 and 89% of our adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have received a vaccine dose.

In Howard County, we are committed to ensuring our most vulnerable populations, including older adults, receive the COVID-19 vaccine as quickly, safely, and efficiently as possible. Howard County is currently leading the State with 78.2% of residents age 65 and older who are fully vaccinated, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

I’m so grateful for our team at the Howard County Health Department, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services, and the Howard County Public School System for getting shots into arms as we receive them.

We will continue to StayCOVIDSafe by working together. To register with the State, please call 1 (855) MD-GOVAX. To register with the Howard County Health Department, please call (410) 313-6284.

According to the Maryland Department of Health, to date, 45.9% of Howard County residents have received their first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine. This percentage includes those who may have received a first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. the only way we can go back to normal is if we look out for one another and StayCOVIDSafe.

Our Mobile Testing sites are now open from noon through 7:00 p.m. These mobile sites are more accessible to our community, provide quick test results, and improve our ability to contain COVID-19. 15-minute rapid testing and 24-hour PCR testing is available to residents at no cost at each of these five locations:

lease StayCOVIDSafe and get tested!

Shortly after taking office, we were confronted with Health Fund Deficit exceeding $39 million and an adverse audit opinion. We have since worked collaboratively with the Howard County Public School System to address the Health Fund Deficit, creating a multi-year plan to reduce and ultimately eliminate the deficit by 2024.

Last spring, amid the fiscal uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, we were unsure we would still be able to meet our proposed timeline. Now, we are taking the next big step toward meeting this fiscal challenge head on, contributing an additional $10 million in my proposed FY2022 Operating Budget, and putting us on track toward eliminating this deficit once and for all.

We are so grateful to have an incredible team at the Howard County Police Department who are working on behalf of our entire community. An example is PFC Stella Dieu, our Asian Liaison whose primary role is to connect the county’s Asian population with the police department.

Learn more about our Community Outreach Division by calling (410) 313-2207 or emailing HCPDOutreach@howardcountymd.gov

On bi-weekly calls with the White House, we're discussing and coordinating the quick distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine with all levels of government.

We're joined by three officials, Intergovernmental Affairs Senior Advisor Luke McGowan, COVID-19 Intergovernmental Affairs Director Eduardo Cisneros, and White House Vaccine Coordinator Dr. Bechara Choucair.

I encourage residents to send questions for the White House Vaccination Team to cball@howardcountymd.gov that I can direct to officials during these calls. Residents should put “Question for White House Vax Team” in the subject line of their emails. The next call is Thursday, April 15, at 2:00 p.m.

While there continues to be limited vaccine allocated to County Health Departments, we encourage ALL residents 16+ to visit one of many available locations to receive their vaccines. The State has implemented several Mass Vaccine sites to administer vaccines to residents. Pre-registration is now available to residents in all phases and all residents 16+ are eligible to receive the vaccine.

How to Register:

For more information and to register at any mass vaccination sites or pharmacy, please visit COVIDVax.Maryland.gov or call 1 (855) 634-6829.

Our Howard County Health Department is working to ensure every resident can receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Once you register, the Health Department will reach out to you within seven days to confirm your registration. If you have received your vaccine elsewhere, you may unsubscribe using the link in your confirmation email.

For more information, please visit Vaccine.howardcountymd.gov or call (410) 313-6284.

Our residents still have significant needs as they manage utility bills, rent payments and mortgage payments during this challenging time. Rental delinquency data from the Maryland Multi-Housing Association and the Housing Commission estimates that 1 in 4 of the 23,000 renter households in Howard County are past due on rent.

Residents can apply to one of our four nonprofit partners to receive assistance to pay past due rent and utility expenses for up to 12 months. Residents who have applied for previous assistance are also able to apply. For more information, please click here.

We are proud to announce a new foreclosure prevention program with $1.4 million supported through pandemic assistance funding. Residents impacted by COVID and not able to pay their mortgage payments should contact the Department of Housing and Community Development to complete an application for mortgage assistance. Applications are available here.

Residents with pending or approved forbearance plans with their mortgage lender are eligible to apply for assistance. Please note, the moratorium on filing of Notices of Intent to Foreclose also ends on 3/31.

Homeowners can use the county's Credit Eligibility Calculator to explore all available tax credits and relevant information regarding the application and screening processes. The Credit Eligibility Calculator can be found here.

Please, share this information with an older adult in your life. For more information, you can also call the Department of Finance at (410) 313-2195.

Additionally, remember to NEVER post pictures of your vaccination card on social media as it contains your name and date of birth. This information can be used to commit identity theft and other frauds against you. For more helpful consumer protection tips from OCP, click HERE.

If you receive an email phishing scam, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting https://Reportfraud.FTC.gov.

DCRS’ Office of Veterans and Military Families has partnered with the County’s Office of Workforce Development and the Maryland Department of Labor to host a virtual recruitment event this Thursday, April 22^nd from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. While the event targets veterans, it is open to the public. There will be participating businesses from Howard County, including Ecology Services; Traffic Engineering Services; Centimark; Coffman Engineering; Keystone Quality Transport/LifeStar Response; 2nd Avenue Stores; High's; the County’s Department of Public Works; Mosaic Technologies Group; Seko Logistics and more. To register for this virtual event, click HERE.

Howard County older residents, if you are looking for something to keep you active and engaged, check out OAI’s monthly Virtual Offering Guides! Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, OAI has been working hard to provide older residents with various activities, from exercise and cooking classes to social engagement and lifelong learning classes, to help keep you moving, cooking and staying social while at home. To learn about the virtual offerings OAI has going on this month, check out its the April Virtual Offering Guide, available online now. for a list of this month’s offerings. For questions, contact OAI at aging@howardcountymd.gov.

Be the difference this Earth Day (and really, all year long), by participating in one of two projects (or why not both!) that our Office of Community Sustainability encourages residents to partake in this month. The first project, planting native plants, can help provide essential habitat for bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds and other pollinators, helping increase the number of pollinators in our area. Pollinators are vital to our farms and ecosystems and are essential to a healthy environment and ensuring a sustainable food supply. To learn more about planting a native pollinator garden in your yard, click HERE.

Also, there is the County’s annual 20 Minute Cleanup initiative, which invites residents, businesses, families and so on, to step outside for just 20 minutes in the month of April to pick up litter around their neighborhood, place of business and so on. You’d be surprised what a difference just 20 minutes makes! To learn more about this year’s 20 Minute Cleanup event, click HERE.

If you are interested in finding out other ways you can “green” your life and be a good steward to the environment, check out our Office of Community Sustainability’s LiveGreenHoward website at www.livegreenhoward.com or follow the Office on social media (Facebook and Twitter).

Please help HCDFRS share this large recall notice, Verizon has recalled 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack Mobile Hotspots imported by Franklin Wireless due to fire and burn hazards. The recalled Jetpacks are dark navy plastic oval devices that are about 3.5 inches wide and 2.25 inches tall and “verizon” is printed below the digital display window on the front of the device. The charger provided with the recalled Jetpacks has a sticker on the wire that states: Compatible: FWC MHS900L, Model: FWCR900TVL, DC151030. Consumers can reduce the risk of hazard by powering the unit off, unplugging it from its power source and storing it in a place away from children, on top a hard surface with adequate ventilation around the unit and away from combustibles until it can be properly returned to Verizon.

Now through May 6^th, help us share our love and appreciation for HCDFRS’ accelerant detection canine Sowell, by voting for him for American Humane's 2021 American Hero Dog award. This is the highest honor in all the canine world, and we’d love to be able to recognize Sowell for a job well done. In case you need a little convincing on why Sowell deserves this awesome honor, here's a little background information on our four-legged co-worker. 

To date, the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) has administered 400 J&J vaccine doses here in Howard County. HCHD is not aware of any reports of blood clots or other serious side effects from J&J or any other vaccine that it has administered. If you received the J&J vaccine and develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination, please contact your healthcare provider immediately as this is a treatable condition. Healthcare providers should report adverse events to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

If you have questions or concerns about possible blood clotting or other side effects following any vaccine, please contact your healthcare provider. For the latest on HCHD’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov.

Misplaced your COVID-19 Vaccination Card? Never fear! You can easily request your vaccination records on the Maryland Department of Health’s “Maryland MyIR” website. Maryland MyIR is a free website service that allows residents to view and print copies of their official vaccination records directly from ImmuNet, Maryland's immunization information system. ImmuNet is used by healthcare providers to securely maintain vaccination records for Maryland residents of all ages.

If you or a loved one believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please get tested today. to book your appointment for this location, visit https://howardcounty.azova.com

Howard County teens and adults, I invite you to join HCHD and Howard County Sources of Strength Peer Leaders this Wednesday, April 21^st at 7:00 p.m. for an intergenerational opportunity to share stories of resilience, strength, and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this Community Sharing Session, participants will have the opportunity to share the unique challenges they’ve faced over the last year. During the session, participants will also stories of strength and coping, with the aim of reducing stigma and opening a dialogue about mental health in our community.

This event is open to Howard County middle and high school students, parents, teachers and community members. Register today and join us to learn ways that you can promote connection with neighbors, family and friends. 

Just two weeks left to submit your application for our Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program April open enrollment period. Held quarterly throughout the year, this inclusionary zoning program provides individuals and families the opportunity to purchase quality new homes at reduced sale prices and rents to those eligible. Applications will be available online and completed applications can be submitted either online, mailed to 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD, 21046, or dropped off at DHCD’s Patuxent Woods Drive office by appointment only. The DEADLINE to apply is 5:00 p.m. next Friday, April 30^th.

If you missed DHCD’s MIHU Homeownership informational workshop earlier this month and are interested in learning more about this program, check out DHCD’s “Open Enrollment” website for presentations from previous homeownership and rental informational workshops and frequently asked questions and answers explaining the program’s eligibility requirements and application process.

Keep in mind, if you are interested in DHCD’s MIHU rental program, prospective renters may apply directly to a participating rental community at any time during the year. For more information on the MIHU rental program, including a list of participating communities, visit DHCD’s MIHU rental website.

For questions and/or more information about the MIHU program, contact DHCD’s Housing Opportunities Programs Division at 410-313-6318 and select option two, email housing@howardcountymd.gov or visit DHCD’s open enrollment website.   

If you have not had a chance to participate in DPZ’s HoCo By Design process, there will be plenty of opportunities coming up this spring, including the New Town/Columbia Design Sessions. To learn more, visit www.hocobydesign.com.

Geared towards 15- to 18-year-old who are looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, YPA is a FREE, one-week day-camp that gives participants an introduction into what it’s like to be a police officer. Campers train and learn like those in the police academy while exploring career and leadership opportunities and building life skills. This year’s camp will fun from June 27^th through July 2^nd and applications are due by no later than May 1^st. To apply, click HERE.

HCPD’s P.L.E.D.G.E (Pride, Leadership, Education, Diversity, Growth, Evaluation) Summer Leadership Camp is a FREE, one-week day-camp that helps rising 9^th graders develop leadership skills prior to entering high school. Lessons and activities challenge campers’ ability to make critical decisions, focus on core beliefs and values, recognize diversity and work toward a common goal. This year’s P.L.E.D.G.E. Leadership Camp will run July 19^th through July 23^rd and July 26^th through July 30^th. To apply, click HERE; applications are due by June 1^st.

HCPD is seeking public help to identify the suspect in the destruction of property/hate-bias incident that occurred on March 12^th around 7:49 p.m. at Glenwood Middle School. The suspect spray painted over the word “Black” on the school marquee that read “Black Lives Matter at GMS.” The suspect vehicle, seen in this video, is believed to be a gray SUV. Anyone with information is asked to contact HCPD at 410-313-STOP or email HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov.

My team and I are seeking responses from qualified firms with experience and successful completion of a rock tunnel, as our Office of Procurement and Contract Administration issues Expression of Interest (EOI) for the final design of the Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan's North Tunnel. The extended North Tunnel is one of the most impactful projects in our Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan, keeping floodwater off the street and preserving the history of our town. Even as we deal with the challenges of a global pandemic, we continue to make progress to protect Ellicott City from flooding for generations to come.

Of note, firms will also be required to demonstrate success in construction cost estimating and scheduling. To view the EOI and/or more information, click HERE.

This Thursday, April 8^th, our Department of Public Works (DPW) will hold a virtual public meeting starting at 6:00 p.m., to discuss plans to stabilize an eroding stream bank located on Howard County open space west of Bonnie Branch Road (just opposite 4615 Bonnie Branch Road) and south of College Avenue. The informal meeting will include an overview of the design, followed by an open discussion. County staff and the project’s design consultant will be on hand to answer any questions and gather public comments. The project is expected to begin in July 2022.

To participate in the meeting by computer, go to www.webex.com and click “join;” the meeting number is 160 280 4509 and “Stormwater” is the password. To participate by phone, call 1-650-479-3207 (note, fees may apply) and enter the access code 160 280 4509.

Those unable to participate in the virtual meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions, should contact Ms. Christine Lowe with DPW’s Stormwater Management Division at 410-313-0522 or email cslowe@howardcountymd.gov.

To learn about DPW 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 (SHA) “Project Portal” website.

This spring, our Department of Recreation & Parks’ is launching its first-ever Spring Festive Photo Contest. Send the department your favorite photos of you, your family and friends and even your pets enjoying the spring sunshine at one of our parks and/or facilities. Extra consideration given for creativity and demonstrating environmental sustainability. All entries are due by April 23rd and winners will be featured on Recreation & Parks’ social media channels and will receive a gift certificate. To enter, visit https://tinyurl.com/SpringFestivePhotoContest. 

Have you found the roaming gnome? This April, Recreation & Parks’ has launched its Roaming Gnomes scavenger hunt. Each week, residents can find clues on Recreation & Parks’ Facebook page that will guide them to one of four Roaming Gnomes. Find the gnome, scan the special QR code and submit your entry form to be entered in a weekly prize drawing. Prizes are awarded each week with a special grand prize to be awarded to the person or team who finds all four gnomes by the end of the month!

If you enjoy Recreation & Parks’ scavenger hunts, but sure to join the department of its first-ever HCRP digital scavenger hunt April 23^rd through April 25^th. Gather a team of two to six adults for this fun, sustainable adventure that relies on teamwork, planning and problem-solving skills. Each team will receive instructions by 7:00 p.m. on April 23 and have until midnight the following Sunday to submit their entry. To register and for contest rules, visit https://tinyurl.com/HowardsHuntApr. 

Recreation & Parks is here to help you make Mother’s Day special this year with its take-home Family Fun Kit. Fun for all ages, this kit is perfect for a fun day at home with mom, grandma or another special lady in your child’s life. Each kit includes supplies for a tea party for two, sugar cookies and decorating supplies from Goodies Sweets & Treats, a teapot planter craft and more. Kits will be available for pick up from the North Laurel, Roger Carter or the Gary J. Arthur Community Centers on May 7^th between noon and 2:00 p.m. or 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/MothersDayKits2021.

During the current road resurfacing effort along Centre Park Drive and Columbia 100 Parkway, our Office of Transportation is proposing to implement the recommendations of the County’s Bicycle Master Plan, Bike Howard, for bike lanes on segments of these roadways. Transportation is proposing adding newly painted bike lanes on Centre Park Drive from MD 108 to Columbia 100 Parkway and along Columbia 100 Parkway from Centre Park Drive to Executive Park Drive. As part of its effort, Transportation invites the public to join them on April 21^st at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual public meeting to learn more about and provide feedback regarding these proposed roadway additions. To register for the meeting, click HERE. In addition to the meeting, residents can also submit feedback to the Office of Transportation, now through May 5^th, transportation@howardcountymd.gov.

In addition to the proposed bike lanes along Centre Park Drive and Columbia 100 Parkway, our Office of Transportation is also proposing to implement the recommendations of BikeHoward, for bike lanes on segments of Warwick Way and Birmingham Way in Marriottsville during current road resurfacing efforts. Transportation is proposing adding newly painted bike lanes on Warwick Way from Marriottsville Road to Birmingham Way and along Birmingham Way from Warwick Way to Dorchester Way. As part of its effort, Transportation invites the public to join them next Wednesday, April 28^th at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual public meeting to learn more about and provide feedback regarding these proposed roadway additions. To register for the meeting, 

Our Office of Transportation is looking for ways to improve Howard County’s Bikeshare system and is seeking to gather public feedback through a short survey. Your feedback will help Transportation improve its system now and in the future. To learn more about Howard County Bikeshare, visit https://howardcountybikeshare.com/.

As part of the development of its Transportation Demand Management Plan for Downtown Columbia (DTC), Transportation is working with the Downtown Columbia Partnership to survey those who work in DTC to better understand their transportation needs and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their travel patterns. To complete the survey, click HERE. Your responses will help us design new transportation options and strategies to address current needs, as well as serve commuters to Downtown Columbia into the post-COVID period.