Salutations
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

This is the time of year when we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday through recognition of his inspirational life, remembrance of his moving words, and participation in volunteer activities as a testament to his many good works. The County's celebration, scheduled for this Sunday at 2pm, is carried out by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, which I co-chaired many years ago. The celebration will be held at the Horowitz Center at Howard Community College and volunteer activities are planned for this Monday, January 20. See below for more details.

Mid-January was visited by spring-like weather last weekend. I hope everyone had a chance to go outside and enjoy the natural environment surrounding us in Howard County. I took a hike through Patapsco State Park and loved being by the river and in the woods. My New Year's Resolution: spend more time outside; we are lucky to live in a place where that is easy and fun to do!

Regarding the County Council, we have jumped right back into our legislative business following our December break, holding our first legislative meeting of the year, a Joint Board of Education-Council meeting, and our Monthly Meeting in the last two weeks. As Chair of the Council this year, my goal is to keep things running smoothly and the legislative trains on time. Speaking of legislation, there are two bills that may be of interest to Howard County residents: CB3 allows up to four permits for electric scooter operators in Columbia, and CB1 alters the time period (from four to seven years) that developers have to wait before building residences if the assigned school is over capacity.
I am looking forward to a great year! Let me know if our office can be of any help. China Williams and Ginnie Gick are here to assist our constituents.
Welcome to Howard County's New Hearing Examiners
Howard County Council hired Joyce Nichols and Katherine Taylor who will serve as the new Board of Appeals Hearing Examiners. Joyce Nichols brings over 20 years of professional experience as zoning hearing examiner. Katherine Taylor returns to Howard County government where she previously served as a Senior Assistant County Solicitor in the Office of Law.




Maryland's 7th Congressional District

A special primary to fill the seat of U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D) will be held on February 4 .

Howard County schools will be closed for the special election so that the buildings can be used as polling centers.
County Council Updates
The Council is back in session with its January 6, 2020, legislative session introducing bills. Highlights include the following:
  • CB1 Altering the number of years a project must be retested for school capacity from four to seven years under Adequate Public Facilities Act, introduced by Liz Walsh

Introduced on behalf of the County Executive:
  • CB3 Permitting an electric scooter sharing system in County rights-of-way
  • CB4 Approving the lease agreement for 32,028 square feet at 7031 Columbia Gateway Drive for use by the Department of Police
  • CB5 Approving the lease renewal of space for the Department of Police at 5950 Symphony Woods Drive, Columbia, MD
  • CR12 Conveying 1.56 acres to the State Highway Administration for a stormwater management facility on Route 1
  • CR13 Designating the area around Dorsey MARC Station as a Transit-Oriented Development
  • CR14 Adopting WalkHoward, the Howard County Pedestrian Master Plan
The 2020 Legislative Session of the General Assembly convened in Annapolis starting on January 8, 2020. Click here for more.
FY2021 HCPSS Budget Request
On January 9, the HCPSS Superintendent proposed his FY2021 operating budget. The total request is $964 million with $670.4 million requested from Howard County. This represents a 10.4% increase over last year.

Click here for more.
HCPSS Health & Dental Fund Deficit
On January 7, the HCPSS Superintendent wrote a memo to the Board of Education regarding the Health & Dental Fund. His memo includes the following plan and timeline:

The plan will use one-time funds from the County and HCPSS to eliminate the deficit. The first of these one-time requests was approved by the Board in November by authorizing the use of the $15.2 million in unassigned General Fund balance. The deficit is proposed to be eliminated based on the following:
• FY 2020 use of unassigned fund balance (HCPSS) $15.2 million
• FY 2020 year-end savings (HCPSS) $ 2.5 million
• FY 2021 one-time request from (Howard County) $ 9.0 million
• FY 2021 year-end savings (HCPSS) $ 5.0 million
• FY 2022 year-end savings (HCPSS) $ 4.0 million
• FY 2022 one-time request (Howard County) $ 4.0 million
Total $39.7 million
 
Click here for more.
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.

12/13 - Firefighter Retirement Party
12/13 - Downtown Columbia Festive Friday Cocktail Crawl
12/23 - Chanukah Menorah lighting
12/26 - Kwanzaa Celebration
1/7 - Howard County Environmental Sustainability Breakfast
1/10 - Year of the Howard County Woman Kick-off
1/11 - League of Women Voters Annual Howard County Annapolis Delegation Legislative Brunch
1/12 - 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Breakfast 
1/14 - Community Connector
1/16 - Bright Minds Foundation State of the Howard County Public Schools
Left: Firefighter Retirement Party,
Kwanzaa Celebration; Community Connector; Bright Minds Foundation

Right: Environmental Sustainability Legislative Breakfast; Year of the Howard County Woman Kick-off;
With Delegate Terri Hill at MLK Jr. Breakfast hosted by the Alpha Foundation of Howard County
Community Affairs
January 20 Holiday Schedule
CLOSED
County Government Offices
Courts
Animal Shelter
Senior Centers
Robinson Nature Center
Historic Sites
Ellicott City Colored School Restored

OPEN
Alpha Ridge Landfill
All trash, recycling and food scrap services
County Parks
Community Centers
Cedar Lane Activity Room
Schooley Mill Activity Room
Meadowbrook Athletic Complex
RTA regular weekday schedule
All parking regulations and fees will be in effect.
Six Degree Singers
January 18, 7.30pm
St. Louis Chapel, Clarksville
Tickets can be purchased here .

A “Celebration of Water” features the Six Degree Singers of young professionals in a repertory spanning contemporary to jazz in the historic 1889 St. Louis Chapel, Clarksville.
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration & Day of Service
January 19, reception at 2pm, program at 3pm
Howard Community College
Horowitz Center Smith Theatre
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
 
Day of Service Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 20, 9am
Ascend One Building
8930 Stanford Boulevard, Columbia
 
Join Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Howard County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission for its annual celebration of the life and legacy of civil rights leader.
 
The celebration will culminate with a Day of Service event that will take place on the following day, Monday, January 20. Both events are free to the public. Attendees to both events are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or diapers for donation to the Howard County Food Bank.
Howard County Restaurant Week
January 20 to February 2

Support local restaurants, breweries, and distilleries across Howard County. Participating locations will be offering unique menus for every taste and budget.
Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU)
Applications Workshops
January 23, & 27
9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, Room 211
Free

MIHU Homeownership Workshop
January 23, 6-8pm; click here to register.

MIHU Renters Workshop 
January 27, 6-7:30pm; click here to register. 

The Department of Housing and Community Development is hosting public workshops to explain the MIHU eligibility and application process. The MIHU program has two components: homeownership and rental opportunities with different income-qualifying requirements. 
Leadership Howard County Information Sessions
January 27, 7-8pm, Miller Library
February 13, 7-8pm, Central Library
March 1, 3-4 pm, Miller Library
Leadership Howard County conducts Leadership U, a four-month program for high school juniors. Students apply as sophomores and participate in the fall of their junior year. Students in 9th and 10th graders and their parents to attend an information session.

Click here for more.
Preschool/Child Care Information Fair
February 1, 1-4pm
Ten Oaks Ballroom
5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville

Howard County’s Department of Community Resources and Services will host its annual Preschool/Child Care Information Fair. Admission is free; however, attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items or an unopened pack of diapers to donate to the Howard County Food Bank. The Fair provides caretakers and child care personnel with a “one-stop shop” for information on child care, pre-school and summer programs, as well as the opportunity for personal contact with teachers and program directors.

Click here for more. 
HoCoPoLitSo’s 42nd Annual Irish Evening of Music & Poetry
February 21, 7:30pm
Smith Theatre, Horowitz Center
Howard Community College
Tickets can be purchased here.

HoCoPoLitSo’s annual Irish Evening will feature three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and National Book Award winning author Alice McDermott, Celtic rock band O’Malley’s March fronted by former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and step dancers from the Teelin Irish Dance Company. Irish coffee, Guinness, other beverages.
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