To date in Howard County, we’ve had 19, 497 cases of COVID-19 and 252 deaths. As of 9:00am today, our 7-day average positivity rate is 0.51% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is at 1.23. The vast majority of cases are among unvaccinated persons. There are currently 3 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units. 

According to the Maryland Department of Health, 83.7% of Howard County residents 12+ have received at least one dose and 78.5% are fully vaccinated. Howard County continues to lead the state with our vaccination progress, but we are still working to ensure everyone who wants a vaccine can receive one.

If you haven't already received your shot - now's the time. During the month of June, the only COVID-19 deaths in Maryland were among the unvaccinated. Encourage your family and friends to visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov to find a clinic nearby.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department member Jeff Rizzo. He was a dedicated volunteer who put in many hours serving and protecting our community, in addition to serving as a career firefighter/paramedic since 2017 in Loudon County, Virginia.

We send our condolences to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

It was my pleasure to join Naresh Das and the Jagannath Temple of North America (Joga) for the Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival) to express my best wishes on this auspicious celebration. It brings me great joy to see this Jagannath temple as the first Hindu temple in Howard County.

Jay Jagannath!

Mumbai Boutique specializes in high end Indo-Western fashion for all occasions, and is a great champion and advocate for Indian culture, filling a need for authentic garments and accessories in our community. I was so thrilled to join Nisha Sheth to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of her storefront. As our businesses continue to get back on their feet, please continue to support local! 

Learn more about the boutique here.

Sowell, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services’ accelerant detection canine, is one of Maryland's three finalists for American Humane’s 2021 American Hero Dog award. This is the highest honor in the canine world, and Sowell needs your help to win. Residents can vote every day through July 15th. 

In 2019, K-9 Sowell met HCDFRS Captain Craig Matthews and they bonded instantly. Since then, Sowell has responded to more than 70 fire scenes a year across Maryland. We’re so grateful for the work of Captain Matthews, Sowell, and the entire Fire Department for their dedication to keeping our community safe. 

Read more here and vote here.

Howard County is a leader in forward thinking, innovative solutions to keep our community clean and sustainable for decades to come. I was glad to join Governor Hogan and Bioenergy Devco for the ribbon cutting of their newest anaerobic digestion facility in Jessup, the largest in Maryland. This state-of-the-art facility will allow Howard County to dramatically reduce the impact waste has on greenhouse gas emissions. 

We look forward to the continued collaboration with Bioenergy Devco, Maryland Dept. Of The Environment, Maryland Environmental Service, Howard County Economic Development Authority, and Coastal Sunbelt to offer smart organic recycling solutions to our local businesses and a more sustainable future for our community. This is the type of innovation that will drive economic growth today and help protect our environment tomorrow.

For more than a year, our business community has faced shutdowns, capacity restrictions, and the obstacles of operating during a deadly pandemic. It was my pleasure to visit a couple of our resilient businesses to present them with their round four HoCo RISE Business grant checks, including Lib's Grill, Galliano Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, Decadent Dessert Bar, Sunset Raw Juice Bar, Dandelion Bistro, Ten Oaks Tavern, Subway, and Best Western Plus (BWI Airport). 

Please join me in supporting our local, small business so that together we can beat COVID 19 and help every part of our community thrive.

Applications are now available for Howard County's Agricultural Innovation Grant!

This grant encourages Howard County’s agricultural producers to expand or diversify their business operations. Grant values range from $1,000 up to $10,000 for research and development, production buildings, major fixtures, processing facilities, and other permissible expenses.

This is a competitive grant program and awards are given on the basis of project impact to grow and diversify the business. Applications are due July 15th, but I strongly encourage agricultural producers to apply today!

For more information, please click here.

Howard County leads the State with 83.7% of eligible residents 12+ who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 78.5% are fully vaccinated, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Howard County continues to lead the state with our vaccination progress, but we will continue to reach out to those who have not yet received a vaccine.

If you haven't already received your shot - now's the time. Recent data shows 90% of cases are among unvaccinated persons and 100% of deaths are among unvaccinated residents. Encourage your family and friends to visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov to find a clinic nearby.

If you have any questions about the survey and/or wish to speak to someone further, please feel free to contact our Office of Cable Administration at 410-313-3021 or email internetsurvey@howardcountymd.gov.

Howard County older residents, for the latest news, programs, events and services geared towards you, be sure to check Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services' Office on Aging and Independence's (OAI) latest issue of its The 50+ Connection. From details regarding the reopening of the County's 50+ centers and the Summer Kindness Challenge, to an update on OAI's Cycle2Health program, OAI's July edition is chock full of what you need to know to keep you active and connected all month long. Check it out today!

Misplaced your COVID-19 Vaccination Card? Never fear! You can easily request your vaccination records 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.

Looking to call Howard County home, our Department of Housing and Community Development is now accepting applications for its Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program July open enrollment period. Held quarterly, MIHU is an inclusionary zoning program that offers quality new homes at reduced sale prices and rents to income eligible families. As part of its open enrollment period, Housing will host a virtual MIHU Homeownership informational workshop on Thursday, July 15^th.

For many of our residents, purchasing your first home may feel out of reach, but our MIHU program is an incredible opportunity to make homeownership a reality. To learn more about the MIHU program and/or to register for Housing’s informational workshop, click HERE. Applications are being accepted through Saturday, July 31^st.

For more information, to request a paper application and/or to schedule an appointment to drop-off your completed application, contact DHCD’s Housing Opportunities Programs Division at 410-313-6318 and select option two, email housing@howardcountymd.gov.

During days of extreme heat, it’s vital to restrict strenuous outdoor activities. During episodes of extreme heat, our body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to death. In fact, extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards. To prevent heat related illness and/or death, below are just some of the precautions you should take during an extreme heat day:

For more safety tips and precautions to take when it’s extremely hot out, visit www.ready.gov/heat.

Mark your calendars and join us next Tuesday, July 20^th at 6:00 p.m., for a public meeting to discuss the potential redevelopment of the Historic Ellicott City Courthouse and associated properties. The properties to be discussed include the courthouse located at 8360 Court Avenue, the former jailhouse located at 3709 Park Avenue, the office building located at 3716 Court Place and the parking lot next to the courthouse.

To register for the meeting, click HERE. Following the meeting, the County will issue an online survey to solicit additional community input.

National Night Out 2021 Set for August 3^rd

Mark your calendars and join Howard County Police Department (HCPD), your neighbors and the thousands of communities across America on August 3^rd for the 38^th annual National Night Out. This annual community-building campaign promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie in an effort to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live.

For more information and/or to register your neighborhood event or block party, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/police/community-outreach.

In a past The Ball Bulletin, I shared HCPD’s warning about the rise in catalytic converters thefts and how to prevent such thefts. I’m pleased to report that HCPD has arrested a suspect in a catalytic converter theft and are investigating him for dozens of additional catalytic converter thefts that have occurred in the county recently. The individual was arrested on July 3^rd and charged him with theft and destruction of property.

For more information on catalytic converter thefts and some precautions you can take to make your car less likely to be victimized, click HERE.

Our Department of Public Works (DPW) will hold a virtual public meeting next Wednesday, July 21st, starting at 7:00 p.m., to discuss the future construction of a full single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Old Montgomery Road and Tamar Drive, near the Jeffers Hill pool at 6031 Tamar Drive in Columbia. The informal virtual meeting will include an overview of the design, followed by a question and answer session. County staff and the project’s design consultant will be on hand to answer any questions and gather public comments.

To participate in the meeting by computer, go to Webex to register. To join the meeting, click on the attendee link and click “Join Event Now.” To participate by phone, call 1-650-479-3207 (note, fees may apply) and enter the access code 172 982 7705. Those unable to participate in the virtual meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions, should contact Ms. Yan Zhang with DPW’s Traffic Engineering Division at 410-313-2430 or email yzhang@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.

To play our Park and Recreation Month Bingo game, click HERE to download and print the official game sheet or stop by our Gary J. Arthur, North Laurel or Roger Carter community centers to pick up a game sheet. Just complete five activities across, vertical or diagonal and turn it in at one of our three community centers to receive a prize (while supplies last).  

To play our Once Upon a Park story scavenger hunt, head on over to the main entrance of the North Laurel Community Center and start your search for word clues revealed via unique QR code videos. Fill in the blanks on our Park and Recreation Month story and be sure to submit your answers for your chance to win cool prizes. Click HERE to learn more!

You can also find out more information about Park and Recreation Month on NRPA’s website at www.nrpa.org/events/july/.

It’s not too late to sign up for Schoolhouse Theater Camps! These unique camps emphasize art and performance skills, while encouraging fun and creativity. Programs are geared toward children as young as three and as old as 17. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/STCHCRPJuly.

Congratulations to the winners of the June edition of the Howard’s Hunt scavenger hunt, “In .04 Miles Turn Right.” They were our Grand Prize winners with a total of 855 points … earning extra points for originality, creativity and humor! Join our Department of Recreation & Parks for its next scavenger hunt on August 13^th. Sign up today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/HowardsHuntAugust. 

REMINDER: The Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA) is holding a virtual public meeting this Thursday, July 15^th, starting at 6:00 p.m., to discuss proposed service changes this fall. The RTA is proposing adjustments and modifications to certain routes in order to improve reliability, expand travel options and service connectivity, and decrease transfer times between core routes.

If approved, the proposed changes would take effect on Sunday, September 5, 2021. For more information, including how to attend and/or to submit written testimony, visit www.transitrta.com/fall2021/.