October 7, 2019

Dear Friends,   Did you know one in eight women in the United States will get breast cancer in their lifetime?   Like most community members, I have people in my life who have been affected by cancer. We are a county that wants to do more for early detection, those living with cancer and more research to find a cure.   For instance, the Howard County Health Department's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) is striving to reduce this number, as well as cervical cancer deaths, through education, screening, diagnosis, treatment and patient navigation services. It’s screening program offers clinical breast exams, mammograms, regular pap test and follow up care for abnormal results at no cost to eligible participants. To learn more about the BCCP and its services, I encourage you to check out its website today.    This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I encourage you to be more than pink by joining me October 13 th for the 2019  Susan G. Komen Maryland  "More Than Pink" walk. Let’s more beyond just wearing pink to show our support and raise awareness, let’s get out there and make a difference. To register for this year’s walk, visit https://komenmd.org/marylandwalk .

This Week in HoCo

Small Business Summit Howard County spends an average of $220 million annually on various goods and services. Join me, along with Howard County Economic Development Authority and Howard County Chamber of Commerce, for my 2019 Small Business Summit to learn more about how to bid and win small business contracts. The Summit is October 15th, from 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Columbia East. Register here today: https://bit.ly/2ynbpSe

Recognizing Our Employees I'm so grateful for the talent and commitment of our staff in Howard County. It makes me proud to hear from our residents and business leaders who have high praise for the professionalism of our team. I was excited to honor all our  Howard County Government employees for their hard work and dedication, including our 2019 Employee of the Year, Vicki Rand. She is one example of the many outstanding County employees who devote themselves to public service every day. All of them deserve recognition for making Howard County the very best place to live, work, and play.

Call to Action - Diapers Needed Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services - Office of Children and Families are in immediate need of diapers sizes four, five, and six as part of  The Howard County Diaper Project. One package of diapers can help a family in need for one month. Unopened or opened packages (opened packages are okay as long as the size is clearly marked) can be dropped off at the Food Bank, located 9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J in Columbia, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Or, you can order from the Diaper Project's Amazon wish list. Read more about the important work the Office of Children and Families partake in to make our community better for all our residents.

Supporting STEM As an educator, I understand the importance of encouraging more STEM education. I was glad to join  LUXROBO and  JastinTech Inc for their celebration of the  USRA STEMaction Center where both companies announced a donation of $25,000 to help expand USRA's STEM program. Thanks to community efforts like this, we can continue to engage in enriching STEM educational opportunities.

Age-Friendly Community Howard County is a wonderful home to our residents of all ages. I’m excited to announce that Howard County will officially be designated an Age-Friendly Community by the  World Health Organization (WHO) and AARP. Together, we will ensure our older adults receive the resources and services they need to live well and age with dignity. Read the October edition of  The Beacon Newspapers to find out more:  https://www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/howard-county/

NextGen Update I am pleased to announce a procedural win in one of  Howard County Government's two ongoing cases against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th circuit. This win came in the Midfield Cargo Improvements case, as the Court granted Howard County’s “Motion to Allow Extra-Record Evidence.” Our legal victory will help our case as we fight for all our residents who have suffered from unacceptable aircraft noise over their homes. Now, the evidence will be heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, with the goal of ending this issue once and for all.

Sunflower Season I recently had the opportunity to visit one of the warmest places in Howard County;  Sunflowers of Lisbon. The bright yellow blooms are great for our pollinators as they travel from plant to plant. This is a family run business who opened last year and chose to continue spreading the light. Their only goal is to bring a smile to your face. Visit and enjoy a little piece of sunshine before it starts to get cold! Find out more information by visiting their Facebook page  Sunflowers of Lisbon.

Breaking the Brass Ceiling Our leaders, like  Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Chief Uhlhorn and  Howard County Police Department Chief Myers, not only care about our community, but they share our values of getting us to a place where everyone feels safe. In a world of increasing complexity, I'm grateful to stand by their side as they continue to break the "brass ceiling." Read The Baltimore Sun article here.

Celebrating cOMmunity It’s always a beautiful day in Oakland Mills! I was so glad to stop by their 16 th Annual Fall Festival to celebrate the cOMmunity and fellowship. Thank you to  Oakland Mills Village for hosting a wonderful festival. Howard County is also blessed to have one of the best school systems in the nation. Recently, two of our Oakland Mills Elementary Schools were recognized as being a National School of Excellence for their PTA’s; Talbot Springs Elementary and Stevens Forest Elementary. I was so honored to celebrate both these amazing schools with our cOMmunity.

REAL ID Compliance Are you REAL ID compliant? If you haven’t yet heard, federal requirements will soon mandate every resident to have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license in order to board commercial aircraft or gain access to federal facilities. Last week, I went to my appoint with the  Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration – Columbia location, to update my REAL ID. It only took five minutes to complete and the customer service was excellent. All residents need to update their licenses by October 1 st, 2020. Make your appointment today!

Discover Columbia Recently, Money Magazine named Columbia as one of the Best Places to Live in the United States. To highlight all that Columbia has to offer, I was glad to join  Columbia Association, Downtown Columbia Partnership, and The Howard Hughes Corporation for the annual Discover Columbia 5K to cheer on all our runners and walkers!

Hops & Harvest Howard County is home to seven breweries and one distillery. These businesses help fuel our local economy and are an asset to our community. I was excited to join  Visit Howard County for the 4th Annual Hops & Harvest Festival as we welcome this fun festival to Howard County.

Spreading Generosity Howard County Residents are some of the most generous people I know. On Saturday, residents across the county donated bikes to get refurbished by  Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland volunteers and then given to kids in need. I’m so proud to live in such a giving community!  #FB4K

Best Apple Orchard in the U.S. Howard County is grateful for our agricultural diversity. Recently,  Larriland Farm  was ranked as one of the Best Apple Orchards in the United States by  The Baltimore Sun for their pick-your-own produce selection. Congratulations to the Larriland Farm family for receiving this recognition! The first Sunday in November is their last day of the season. Visit the farm today to pick your own produce before the season ends. See the entire list here.

Encouraging Acceptance It’s always a beautiful day to build support for our local autism community. I was glad to join  Howard County Autism Society’s One Step Closer Walk & 5K Run to promote autism acceptance in the community and bring together those touched by autism in a supportive, energizing and fun environment.

Departmental News

Department of Community Resources and Services Coming at you this October 19 th is our Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office on Aging and Independence’s Master Aging: Engage, Educate, Inspire . A reimagination of the County’s 50+EXPO, this conference-style event will feature all day seminars and workshops covering lifelong learning and leisure, technology, exercise and more, vendors, a keynote address by Kerry Hannon , one of the nation’s top experts on careers for older adult, and a performance by the always popular Capitol Steps. Admission is $1.00 and free onsite parking is available. For more information about the event, check out DCRS’ Master Aging website or follow DCRS on Facebook . CONGRATULATION’s to Kathy Wehr, a Caregiver Education Specialist with DCRS’s Office on Aging and Independence, who, along with her teammates: Tracy Novak, Claire Cohen, Dan Demmitt, Rachael Parran and Esther Tenaglio, have been selected as one of nine finalists for the Horizon Foundation and United Way of Central Maryland’s Changemaker Challenge . The Changemaker Challenge is an event focused on sparking innovation and fresh thinking to address some of Howard County’s most pressing issues.   The team’s proposal is to offer in-person/hands-on instructional sessions on practical skills for caregivers in Howard County and provide instructional videos to give caregivers the option of learning on-line at their own pace and time. The instructional videos will utilize Howard County resources, services and experts. Kathy, I wish you and your team the best of luck as you prepare to present your Changemaker Challenge idea at the live event on November 11 th . Our DCRS’ Office on Aging will be kicking off its seven-week “ SteppingON ” program this Thursday, October 10 th . Every 11 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency room for a fall-related injury; g eared towards older adults, this program strives to teach participants how to reduce falls and increase confidence, strength and balance. Held every Thursdays from the 10 th to November 21 st , the program takes place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Elkridge 50+ Center . The total cost to participate is $28. For more information and/or to register, contact Malarie Burgess at 410-313-6073 or email mburgess@howardcountymd.gov . Now through Friday, November 8 th , our Office of Veterans and Military Families is collecting homemade scarves and hats for our military members. Scarves should be four to six inches wide and 48 to 50 inches long (no fringe please), and hats should fit an adult-size head. Items can be dropped off at DCRS’s main office, located at 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, at one of the County’s 50+ Centers or at Postal Xpress N More . Send some love to our service men and women this season with a handmade scarf or hat.   To learn more, click HERE , email veterans@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-0821.  Tickets are now on sale for DCRS’s annual “ Giving Thanks Luncheon and Dance .” Celebrate Thanksgiving with the Department’s Office on Aging and Independence’s on November 14 th with blues, jazz and pop music by Sly 45 and a delicious Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at any County 50+ Center . For questions and/or more information, call 410-313-5440.

Office of Emergency Management The Howard County Comprehensive Emergency Response and Recovery Plan (CERRP) establishes the necessary framework to ensure Howard County is adequately prepared to respond to, recover from and mitigate any hazard that threatens lives and property. The CERRP serves as the County’s Emergency Operations Plan and Disaster Recovery Plan and outlines the responsibilities and coordination mechanisms of County departments and external partner organizations in the response and recovery to an emergency or disaster. Our Office of Emergency Management (OEM) recently released the County's CERRP, which replaces our 2015 Emergency Operations Plan EOP and incorporates lessons learned from both the 2016 and 2018 Ellicott City floods.   If you have questions and/or for more information about our CERRP, please contact OEM at 410-313-6030 or email emergencymanagement@howardcountymd.gov .   To learn more about the hazards that affect our area and how to prepare for them, check out OEM's "ReadyHoCo" website .

Health Department My vision for Howard County is to be a model community in which behavioral health wellness is accessible for all who live, work and visit here. Howard County Health Department's Local Behavioral Health Authority Board is helping us attain my vision by addressing the social determinants of health, fostering innovation and initiating improvements. If you are interested in helping us achieve the highest quality of life for all, I encourage you to apply today for the Board. For details on how to do so and eligibility requirements, click HERE . The deadline to apply is Friday, October 18, 2019 Join in the fight against the opioid epidemic by learning how you can help save someone’s life from an opioid overdose. The first Tuesday and last Thursday of each month, the Howard County Health Department offers FREE Opioid Overdose Response Program (Narcan) trainings between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., on a drop-in basis, at Department’s headquarters in Columbia. Simply show up and a Health department employee will teach you how to administer Narcan, the opioid reversing medicine. To learn more on how you can get trained, click HERE .

Department of Housing and Community Development Looking to call Howard County home? Our Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is now accepting applications for its Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program. An inclusionary zoning program, MIHU offers quality new homes at reduced sale prices and rents to income eligible families. Applications will be accepted through Thursday, October 31, 2019.   During this open enrollment period, Housing will host four MIHU workshops to explain the program’s eligibility requirements and the application process. The workshops are free and open to the public; however, registration is required. For a list of workshops and more information about homeownership opportunities through the MIHU program, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/MIHU_openenrollment . For information about MIHU rental opportunities, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/MIHU_rental .

Department of Public Works Construction Report Below are details regarding new, upcoming, completed and/or delayed Capital Projects and/or maintenance projects. For a full list of previously announced projects, please refer to the  September 30, 2019  newsletter.   Ellicott City Rogers Avenue Storm Drain Improvement (Capital Project C-0337) – Project improve a storm drain along Rogers Avenue from Frederick Road to Rusty Rim. During the project, the southbound right turn lane of Rogers Avenue at Frederick Road will be closed for approximately two weeks for the construction of the storm drain. Additionally, northbound Rogers Avenue shoulder will also close at some point during the project from approximately two weeks to allow for the installation of the inlets and storm drain. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by late December.   Past Project Updates – Completion Date Change   Laurel Whiskey Bottom Road Pump Station (Capital Project W-8320) – Utility project to construct a new water pump station at 9799 Whiskey Bottom Road. Originally expected to be completed by mid-July, weather permitting, this project is now expected to be completed by late November.   Past Project Updates – Completed   Sykesville River Road Retaining Wall Rehabilitation (Capital Project B-3853) – Project replaced a retaining wall, located 0.4 miles north of 560 River Road, that was damaged by the May 2018 flood. The project also included stabilization of the wall and drainage improvements.   To learn more about DPW Capital 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  website  and search by “County” to learn more about State road projects in Howard County.   Also, be sure to follow the County’s  Facebook  and  Twitter  pages every Monday morning for upcoming maintenance projects happening that week, weather permitting. On these social media pages, you’ll also find information regarding the county’s  street sweeping  schedule, which generally begin in the months of January, April, July and September. Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Environmental Services   REMINDER! While Howard County Government offices will be CLOSED next Monday, October 14 th for the Columbus Day holiday, the County’s holiday slide schedule for curbside collection will NOT be in effect that week. There will be regular curbside trash, recycling, food scrap and yard trim collection the week of October 14 th through October 19 th . Columbus Day is NOT one of the six holidays that affects curbside collection. The six holidays that do affect curbside collection are: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. To learn more about the County's holiday slide schedule, check out www.howardcountymd.gov/holidayschedule . This Saturday, October 12 th , DPW’s Bureau of Environmental Services will host its first of two County-sponsored paper shredding events this fall. The event on the 12 th will take place at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center , rain or shine, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR UNTIL the trucks are full). The following Saturday, October 19 th , the Bureau will host its second fall paper shredding event at the Long Gate Park & Ride, 5000 Meadowbrook Lane in Ellicott City. Again, the event will be held rain or shine from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR UNTIL the trucks are full).   For each date, residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded. Residents are asked to ONLY bring items that contain personal information. Junk mail, catalogs and office paper can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin. To learn more, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/papershredding .

Department of Recreation & Parks CONGRATULATIONS to Robinson Nature Center program manager Meagan Downey, who received the Programmatic Accessibility Award from the Howard County Commission on Disabilities during the Commission’s 25 th annual Awards Program this past Thursday. Meagan was recognized for her leadership and commitment to providing a welcoming, accessible and sensory-friendly recreation environment at our Nature Center that meets the needs of all visitors. Great job Meagan! There is just a little more than a week to go to sign-up for your FREE tree. Limited to one tree per household, each tree is approximately five to eight feet in height, comes in a five-gallon container and includes planting instructions. The trees will be available for pick-up October 17 th and October 19 th and residents are responsible for loading the trees into their vehicles at pickup and for planting and caring for the trees.   Help me reach my 44 th birthday goal of planting 44,000 native trees in Howard County this year, by reserving your FREE tree today at  https://livegreenhoward.com/treegiveaway/ . REMINDER, the Oakland Mills pedestrian tunnel is CLOSED until mid-October, weather permitting. Located under the roadway between Dasher Court and Downdale Place, the Oakland Mills pedestrian tunnel is currently CLOSED as Department of Recreation and Parks’ crews make drainage repairs. During construction hours, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the tunnel will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists. Informational signage and detour maps will be posted and available south of Summer Rambo Court on the pathway and north of the tunnel entrance on Oakland Mills Road by the sidewalk. On Wednesday, October 16 th , the Recreation & Parks Advisory Board will hold a public hearing to gather public comment regarding Recreation & Parks’ plans to create pickleball courts in place of the current handball court at Atholton Park , the current skate spot at Centennial Park and the east basketball court at Rockburn Branch Park . The hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Recreation & Parks headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia. Residents interested in speaking at the hearing, may sign-up to do so at www.howardcountymd.gov/advisoryboard ; scroll down to the “Public Comment” tab. From the same link, residents will have the option to provide online testimony. Residents are reminded that internet testimony is considered public information and is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act . Monster Mash Murders at Belmont Manor. With Halloween just around the corner, come enjoy a spooktacular night out at Belmont Manor & Historic Park with Ovation Dinner Theater’s production of “The Monster Mash Murders.” On October 30 th , enjoy an evening of comedy and frights at this audience-interactive “BOOdunit”, which features a pre-show cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, two complimentary drink tickets and a three-course meal. To purchase your tickets, click HERE .

Upcoming Events and Meetings

Now through November 30 - Historic Savage Mill Ghost Tours Fridays and Saturdays, now through November 30 th , come brave an hour-long ghost tour of Historic Savage Mill in your date with costumed tour guide and mill historian Marty Schoppert. Created for fans of history and the paranormal, this tour is not for the faint of heart. For more information or to book tour, click HERE . Cost is $15.00 per person.

September through October - Ye Haunted History of Olde Ellicott City Ghost Tours I double dare you to walk the streets and learn more about the past inhabitants of Historic Ellicott City, one of the oldest and most haunted locales in America, with Howard County Historical Society. The lady in white of Tonge Row, the Civil War soldier who stalks the lower end of Main Street, the vigilant firefighter of Station 2, the Oak Lawn "Cooking Ghost" and the Girl Ghosts of the Ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute invite you to hear their stories during our frightfully fun ghost tours. Tours are held Fridays and Saturdays through the end of October and are not recommended for children under 6. Reservations are required, as space is limited. To learn more, visit http://hchsmd.org/events-tours/ .

September 21 through October 8 - Howard County Farm-City Celebration Sixteen days of farm fun, come learn and discover all that our farms have to offer. Now through October 6 th , local farms have opened their doors to visitors, offering fall harvest festivals, activities and more, while the Howard County Library System is also hosting a number of agricultural-centered events. To learn more about this year’s celebration and for a complete schedule of events, visit www.farmheritage.org/farm-city-a.html .

October 9 - Howard County General Hospital’s Living Well with Chronic Disease This six-week workshop (Wednesdays, October 9 th to November 13 th ) is designed for those living with or at risk for chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, arthritis, lung disease or other long-lasting health concerns. Participants will learn techniques to cope with feelings of frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, develop skills to communicate more effectively about their health and learn exercises and healthy eating habits to maintain and improve well-being. To register, caregivers are welcome to register as well, visit www.hcgh.org/livingwell .

October 10 - Howard County General Hospital’s Cancer Self-Management This six-week workshop (Thursdays, October 10 th to November 14 th ) that provides information and practical tools to help individuals self-manage symptoms, challenges and day-to-day tasks in a small, supportive group setting. Participants include those living with cancer, those who have been affected by cancer and caregivers. To register, click HERE

October 12 and October 13 - National Fire Prevention Month Fire Station Open Houses October is “National Fire Prevention Month.” In honor of the month, Howard County’s volunteer fire departments are hosting a number of open houses throughout the month. Dates and times are as follows: Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department Open House, 4150 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, Saturday, October 12th, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department Open House, 12535 Old Frederick Rd, Sykesville, Sunday, October 13th, noon to 4:00 p.m.

October 12 - County-Sponsored Shredding Event Held rain or shine, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR until the trucks are full) at the Gary J Arthur Community Center , Howard County residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded onsite . For more information, contact the Bureau of Environmental Services at 410-313-6444 or check out the B Bureau’s “Paper Shredding” website

October 13 - 2019 Komen Maryland MORE THAN PINK WALK Formally the Race for the Cure, the 2019 Komen Maryland MORE THAN PINK WALK is back with a new fresh look to communicate Komen’s work beyond breast cancer awareness. As a community of people who want to do more; more for our communities, more for those living with breast cancer and more for research to find the cures – We are MORE THAN PINK! For more information about this year’s event, click HERE .

October 13 - Downtown Columbia Mini Maker Faire The Downtown Columbia Mini Maker Faire returns to the Chrysalis in Merriweather Park! From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments and projects. Come discover cool experiments, projects, hobbies and more at this family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. To learn more and/or for tickets, click HERE .

October 14 - Columbus Day Office Closures Howard County Government offices, courts, animal shelter, 50+ centers and the Robinson Nature Center will be closed in observance of the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, October 14 th . The Alpha Ridge Landfill will however be open and there will be regular Monday trash, recycling, yard trim and food scrap collection on the 14 th . For a full list of what’s open and closed on Columbus Day, click HERE .

October 16 - Howard County General Hospital’s Living Well with Chronic Disease This six-week workshop (Wednesdays, October 9 th to November 13 th ) is designed for those living with or at risk for chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, arthritis, lung disease or other long-lasting health concerns. Participants will learn techniques to cope with feelings of frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, develop skills to communicate more effectively about their health and learn exercises and healthy eating habits to maintain and improve well-being. To register, caregivers are welcome to register as well, visit www.hcgh.org/livingwell .

October 16 - Recreation & Parks Advisory Board Public Hearing Recreation & Parks Advisory Board will hold a public hearing to gather public comment regarding Recreation and Parks’ plans to create pickleball courts in place of the current handball court at Atholton Park , the current skate spot at Centennial Park and the east basketball court at Rockburn Branch Park . The hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Recreation & Parks headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia. To learn about signing up to speak, providing online testimony and more, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/advisoryboard and scroll down to the “Public Comment” tab.

October 17 - Howard County General Hospital’s Cancer Self-Management Recreation & Parks Advisory Board will hold a public hearing to gather public comment regarding Recreation and Parks’ plans to create pickleball courts in place of the current handball court at Atholton Park , the current skate spot at Centennial Park and the east basketball court at Rockburn Branch Park . The hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Recreation & Parks headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia. To learn about signing up to speak, providing online testimony and more, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/advisoryboard and scroll down to the “Public Comment” tab.

October 18 - Howard County General Hospital’s Youth Mental Health First Aid Youth Mental Health First Aid will teach parents, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers and other citizens in a daylong course how to help adolescents ages 12 to 18 experiencing mental health challenges, addictions and crises. To register, click HERE .

October 18 & 19 - The Haunted Experience Join our Department of Recreation & Parks and the Elkridge Adult Athletic Association for “ The Haunted Experience ” at Rockburn Branch Park . Come embark on an eerie evening hayride deep into the woods and enter a ghostly dwelling as you enjoy haunting tales and spooky thrills. If you are looking to volunteer at this event, visit https://tinyurl.com/HauntedExperienceVolunteers .

October 19 - County-Sponsored Shredding Event Held rain or shine, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR until the trucks are full) at the Long Gate Park & Ride, 5000 Meadowbrook Lane in Ellicott City, Howard County residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded onsite . For more information, contact the Bureau of Environmental Services at 410-313-6444 or check out the Bureau’s “Paper Shredding” website .

October 19 - Master Aging: Engage, Educate and Inspire A reimagination of the County’s 50+EXPO, this conference-style event will feature all day seminars and workshops covering lifelong learning and leisure, technology, exercise and more, vendors and a performance by the always popular Capitol Steps. Presented by the Office on Aging and Independence, the event will kick off with a free keynote address by Kerry Hannon, one of the nation’s top experts on careers for older adult. For an event schedule or more information about Master Aging, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/MasterAging .

October 20 - The Made Marketplace: Elkridge Fall Festival Cluster & Vine, the Town of Elkridge and Visit Howard County are proud to showcase Maryland at the 2 nd annual “ Made Marketplace: Fall Festival in Elkridge .” The event welcomes people of all ages to come celebrate Maryland products and will feature an open-air market, artisan, crafts, fine arts, live music and food.

October 20 - Happy Haunted Hayride It’s cute, it’s friendly and not so scary, this hayride is for fun and not fright. Hosted by our Department of Recreation & Parks, this year’s Happy Haunted Hayride at Rockburn Branch Park will feature fire prevention demonstrations, fire trucks and a chance to meet first responders from HCDFRS (October 20 th only). Geared to children, ages two to seven, the cost is $5.00 per person at the gate (cash only).

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