Dear Friends,
The start of a new year is a time full of hope, blessings, and happiness. However, the recent attacks on places of worship around our country are horrifying. It is our responsibility to stand together against fear and hatred, and to stand together in hope and peace.
As a County we must adhere to our values of diversity and inclusion. We do not and will not tolerate violence against any religion. No matter our race, religion, age, creed, or sexual orientation, every person is welcome in Howard County.
At the start of this new year and new decade, we must stamp out the hatred that has continued to fester in our society.
|
|
More Sweet Treats!
I enjoyed attending the grand opening of
Bonheur Patisserie and Deli located in Columbia. Bonheur Patisserie serves sandwiches and pastries and is the first halal deli in Howard County. Thank you to Shiraz and
Nikolaos for your delicious food, sweet treats and continuous community engagement.
|
|
|
|
Let's Reduce Drug Prices
It is unacceptable for Howard County residents having to choose between paying for their prescription drugs or buying groceries. Living healthy is challenging as the cost of needed medications continue to rise. Our residents deserve better and we are doing everything in our power to lower prescription drug costs
I am proud to continue my work with the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative and leaders from around our State to address affordable pricing for life-saving medications.
|
|
|
|
Congratulations to our Musical Gladiators!
Congratulations to Jenny and Max from Glenelg High School for their incredible musical accomplishments this year! Music unites all of us, a common thread that can express how we feel and tell a unique story. Wishing the best of luck to our Gladiators as they embark on this wonderful journey. Read more about them
here.
|
|
|
|
Thank You Rouse Company Foundation
Howard Community College continues to lead by creating initiatives that provide better access and learning for students. The Math Academy is an excellent opportunity for incoming students to be prepared for college-level classes while zero to low-cost textbooks help ensure every student has the means to be successful.
Thank you to the Rouse Company Foundation for supporting this important step and ensuring Howard County remains dedicated to creating ready and successful students. Read more
here.
|
|
|
|
An Artful Shelter
The Elkridge community has a new bus shelter at one of the busiest stops along Route 1, Port Capital Dr/Montevideo Rd. The shelter, which incorporates mosaic art and a Little Free Library, not only provides a cover from inclement weather but is also inviting and provides uplifting messages for waiting passengers. Thank you Erin Cassell for spearheading this effort and taking an innovative approach to addressing a community need in Howard County. Read more about the new bus shelter
here.
|
|
|
|
Lunar New Year Celebration
Lunar New Year is one of the most important traditional holidays in East Asian culture. This Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rat, I invite you to join me and members of our community at our Annual Lunar New Year celebration at the Mall in Columbia.
This celebration features more than a dozen music and dance performances along with cultural demonstrations and ethnic food. The event is free and open to the public. I look forward to seeing you there!
|
|
|
|
Department of
Community Resources and Services
In case you missed it in my last newsletter, renovations on our Department of Community Resources and Services' (DCRS)
Bain 50+ Center
have begun. The Center's multipurpose and meeting spaces, classrooms, lounge, game rooms, offices and existing bathrooms will be renovated, and two new ADA accessible bathrooms and a state-of-the-art fitness and exercise room will be added to the facility. DCRS does intend to keep the center open with modified programming during this project, which, weather permitting, is expected to be completed by late July 2020.
A long time coming, these renovations will help us meet the increasing demand of services from our 50+ centers. To learn more about this project, click
HERE
.
|
This January, the Howard County
Commission for Women
is hosting a “Women’s Empowerment” speaker series featuring local leaders with expertise on issues relevant to the Commission’s mission to promote the economic, social and political equity of women. On January 14
th
, the Commission will host its first topic in the series, “Fair and Equitable Wages,” featuring Kimberly Prescott, President of Prescott HR, Inc., an expert in human resources/employment law compliance and employee relations. Prescott has played an integral part in developing a strong internal management and human resources structure for clients facing organizational change and/or rapid growth.
To register for this FREE event (registration is required to attend), click
HERE
.
|
|
|
|
Department of Fire and Rescue Services
Today marks the five-year anniversary of the passing of Paramedic/Captain Erik Steciak, a paid paramedic with the The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company and a longtime volunteer with the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department (WFVFD). Captain Steciak died in the line of duty while responding to a call when he was struck by a utility vehicle that slid on icy pavement; he was just 29 years old at the time of his death.
Captain Steciak joined WFVFD in November 2005 and rose to the rank of Captain. He will forever be remembered for his compassion, his patience, his willingness to help and his leadership. I ask you all to please join me today in taking a moment to remember Captain Steciak and his dedication to serving others.
|
Start the new year off right by learning some life saving skills with our Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS). Learn how to save the life of someone in cardiac arrest with
Hands-Only CPR and AED training
or how to stop a hemorrhage, which remains the single biggest cause of preventable death among trauma patients, with
Stop the Bleed training
. Check out DFRS’s Community Outreach
website
to learn more about these trainings and other fire prevention and safety programs or call 410-313-6000.
|
|
|
|
Health Department
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 employ 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
Our Department of Housing and Community Development is
now accepting
applications for its January Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program open enrollment period. Through this program, we are creating affordable homeownership opportunities to help families call Howard County home as we foster safe and engaged communities. This program is an investment in people, in socioeconomic diversity and in building a county that cultivates a better quality of life for all. If you are interested in our MIHU program or know anyone who can benefit, I encourage you to attend one of our upcoming workshops to learn more about the program’s eligibility requirements and spread the word. To learn more, visit
www.howardcountymd.gov/MIHU_openenrollment
or call 410-313-6318 (select option two). Remember, applications for this open enrollment period are due by no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 31
st
.
|
|
|
|
In addition to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration on the 19
th
, we will also be honoring Dr. King on Monday, January 20
th
with the County’s annual “Day of Service Across Howard County” project. Volunteer opportunities and trainings include: “The I Can, I Will Create Peace” workshop, Hands-Only CPR and “Stop the Bleed” training and coupon clipping for veterans, among other great opportunities. If interested in volunteering on the 20
th
, I encourage you to visit
www.volunteerhoward.org/hocomlkserve
today to sign-up. All volunteers are invited to attend a kick-off celebration that morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Ascend One Building, 8930 Stanford Boulevard in Columbia.
|
|
|
|
Department of Planning and Zoning
This Thursday, January 9
th
, the Department of Planning and Zoning’s Planning Board will be holding a meeting in the George Howard Building’s Columbia/Ellicott City Room starting at 7:00 p.m. to hear the following items:
- PB-449/Howard County Housing Commission – Site Development plan approval for a Housing Commission Housing Development consisting of 48 apartments contained within five, four-story buildings in the POR (Planned Office Research) zoning district in accordance with Section 128.0.J.2.d. of the Howard County Zoning Regulations.
A five-member board, the Planning Board makes recommendations to the Zoning Board or County Council on matters related to planning and zoning, and renders a final decision on selected development proposals. Before recommendations or decisions are made, the Board holds a public meeting or hearing to provide interested persons the opportunity to provide comment. For details about procedures for testifying at a Planning Board meeting, click
HERE
. To learn more about Howard County’s Planning Board and upcoming meeting dates, click
HERE
.
|
|
|
|
Police Department
Attention all youth groups, scouts and student organizations! Want a behind-the-scenes peak of Howard County Police Department’s (HCPD) police station and 911 center? Contact Sergeant Joseph Brown today at
jebrown@howardcountymd.gov
with your group name, size, contact name, phone number, requested date and time, and any scout badge requirements. In addition to a tour, participants will also learn about fingerprinting and forensics, and how law enforcement operates in Howard County. For questions and/or to speak to someone further, contact HCPD's Community Outreach Division at 410-313-2207 and ask for Youth Services.
|
Join HCPD for its FIRST “Coffee with a Cop” of 2020 this Thursday, January 9
th
from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the
Starbucks at The Mall in Columbia
.
Come meet face-to-face with officers in an informal and neutral place to discuss issues, ask questions and build relationships one cup of coffee at a time. As always, coffee and conversation are on the house. For more information and/or questions, contact HCPD's Community Outreach Division at 410-313-2207.
|
Get a new bike this holiday season? If yes, I encourage you to consider registering it with HCPD. Registering your bike with the department can help police return it to you quickly if its ever lost or stolen. Click
HERE
to register your bike(s) for FREE today.
|
|
|
|
Department of Public Works Construction Report
For a full list of previously announced Capital Projects and/or maintenance projects, please refer to the
December 16, 2019
newsletter.
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.
|
Maryland State Highway Administration
MARK YOUR CALENDARS. The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will be hosting a public informational meeting and open house on Thursday, February 13
th
from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at
Hammond High School
to announce upcoming improvements on US 29 at Rivers Edge Road in Columbia to enhance safety and reduce the potential for serious injury crashes at the intersection.
The project will modify the intersection to only permit right turns to and from southbound US 29 at Rivers Edge Road. The traffic signal will be removed, and the US 29 median crossover will be closed to traffic. Motorists on Rivers Edge Road with destinations to the north will be directed to use the Johns Hopkins Road/to Gorman Road exit to access northbound US 29, and motorists traveling on northbound US 29 destined for Rivers Edge Road will be directed to use the MD 32 interchange to access Rivers Edge Road from southbound US 29. These improvements are scheduled to begin in April 2020.
This informational meeting will familiarize the public with the project and provide attendees an opportunity to discuss project details. Maps and displays will depict the proposed improvements and SHA representatives will be available to discuss project issues and answer questions. There will be a formal presentation starting at 6:30 p.m.; however, those interested in attending may arrive at any time during the meeting hours and walk through the display area at their own pace.
For questions or assistance, contact Elizabeth Harris, SHA District 7 Community Liaison at (301) 624-8157 or email
eharris8@mdot.maryland.gov
.
|
Department of Public Works' Bureau of Environmental Services
While Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off days at the Alpha Ridge Landfill won’t resume until April, our Bureau of Environmental Services is hosting three SPECIAL drop-off events this first Saturday of January, February and March. The Bureau’s next special HHW drop-off day will take place Saturday, February 1
st
, followed by Saturday, March 7
th
. To learn about the County’s HHW program and what items are and are not accepted, visit
www.howardcountymd.gov/HHW
.
|
Help keep thousands of holiday trees out of our landfill, by participating in the County's FREE holiday tree recycling program, "
Merry Mulch
." Now through next Saturday, January 18
th
, County residents can drop-off their
holiday trees for recycling seven days a week, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the
drop-off sites
throughout the County (look for the Merry Mulch sign). In addition, County residents with curbside yard trim collection can set their holiday tree out on their
yard trim day
for collection through Friday, January 17
th
. Trees will not be picked up on trash collection days during this time for residents with yard trim collection. All decorations, including tinsel, garland, ornaments, lights, tree stands, plastic bags, etc. must be removed. Trees must also be cut into less than four-foot lengths and tied; they should not be bagged. Each bundle must weigh less than 40 pounds.
For questions and/or more information about this program, visit the Merry Mulch
website
or call 410-313-6444.
|
|
|
|
Department of Recreation & Parks
|
If you are looking for a “cool” weekend activity for the whole family, check out Recreation & Parks’
Frozen Fest
on January 19
th
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the
Robinson Nature Center
. At this frozen festival celebrating science and nature, participants will take a virtual tour through chilly locales, enjoy a guided nature trail walk, witness out-of-this-world temperature experiments and meet some of Robinson’s cold-blooded inhabitants. There will also be an ice cream sandwich bar! Get your
tickets
today as space for this event is limited.
|
Float on in to the
Gary J. Arthur Community Center
this Saturday, January 11
th
for Recreation & Park’s annual
Snowflake Ball for Dads & Daughters
. Featuring a DJ, dancing, games, crafts and an ice cream sundae bar, the ball offers young girls (ages four to 12) the opportunity to enjoy some special bonding time with their dad or that special adult in their life. Best of all, each adorable couple will get a special commemorative photo to take home. To register for this event, call 410-313-4840.
|
There are just a couple spots left for Recreation & Parks’s January 11
th
Trips & Tours to the Kennedy Center for a once-in-a-lifetime evening with Diana Ross and the National Symphony Orchestra. From her early days as the leader of The Supremes to her landmark solo career, Ross shaped the sound of popular music and has inspired countless celebrities, musicians, artists and young dreamers. Click
HERE
to purchase your tickets today.
|
REMINDER: The gates to
Cedar Lane Park’s east area
, located off MD 108, are currently CLOSED as the sports field undergoes renovations. While the gate to the east area will be closed, park goers may still utilize the playground, basketball court and tennis courts, accessible from pathway from the park’s west area. Weather permitting, the work is expected to be completed and east area gates reopened on or about March 15, 2020.
|
|
|
|
In 2019, our Office of Transportation launched a public outreach campaign to gather resident and transient bicyclists opinion about the road segments in the Hickory Ridge Bike Corridor. Part of the County’s BikeHoward Master Plan, the goal of the Hickory Ridge Bike Corridor study is to develop a preferred route for continuous bicycle facilities to connect existing bike lanes on Grace Drive (providing access from River Hill and points west) to Hickory Ridge, Downtown Columbia and the rest of the Columbia pathway system and bike network. As part of the study, the Office of Transportation will be hosting an
OPEN HOUSE
event on Wednesday, January 15
th
from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the media center at
Atholton High School
to present concept plans. While there will be no formal presentation, staff will be on hand to discuss the concept proposals on display. Written comment forms will be provided at the open house. The displays will also be available
online
after the open house, and comments can be emailed to
transportation@howardcountymd.gov
until January 31
st
.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events and Meetings
|
|
January 7 - Drop-In Opioid Overdose Response (Narcan) Training
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 Health Department offers FREE Opioid Overdose Response Program (Narcan) trainings between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., on a drop-in basis, at Health headquarters. Simply show up and a Health department employee will teach you how to administer Narcan, the opioid reversing medicine. Click
HERE
to learn more.
|
|
January 8 - 2020 Census Maryland Job Informational Fair
The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting to fill hundreds of thousands of temporary positions across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count. If you are looking to help, join our Department of Community Resources and Services and Census2020 staff for an information job fair on January 8
th
from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the
Howard County Multiservice Center
in Laurel. For questions and/or more information, call 410-313-0220 or visit
https://2020census.gov/jobs
.
|
|
January 9 - Coffee with a Cop
Join HCPD for its FIRST “Coffee with a Cop” of 2020 this Thursday, January 9
th
from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the
Starbucks at The Mall in Columbia
.
Come meet face-to-face with officers in an informal and neutral place to discuss issues, ask questions and build relationships one cup of coffee at a time. As always, coffee and conversation are on the house. For more information and/or questions, contact HCPD's Community Outreach Division at 410-313-2207.
|
|
January 10 - Year of the Howard County Woman Kick-off Event
Join Visit Howard County and the Howard County Historical Society as they host a kick-off event for "
The Year of the Howard County Woman
" at the
Howard County Welcome Center
at 3:00 p.m. on January 10
th
. The event will feature remarks by Liz Bobo, Howard County's first Woman County Executive who, is the honorary spokesperson for the Historical Society for this yearlong celebration.
|
|
January 10 - February 21 -
HoCo Open
Art Exhibit
HoCo Open
, Howard County Arts Council annual non-juried exhibit celebrating artists who live, work or study in Howard County.
HoCo Open
will run from January 10
th
through February 21, 2020, with a free reception on January 17
th
from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A highlight of the reception will be the presentation of the Covington Emerging Artist Award, sponsored by HorseSpirit Arts Gallery, to an emerging artist participating in
HoCo Open
.
|
|
January 11 - 2020 Snowflake Ball for Dads and Daughters
Dads (or special adults) and daughters (ages 4-12) come shake, rock and roll those winter blues away with refreshments, live DJ, dancing, games, crafts and an ice cream sundae bar. Admission includes a professional photo of each couple to take home. Pre-registration is required, call 410-313-4840; cost is $40 for one child/one adult for center members and $50 for one child/one adult for non-center members). Each additional daughter is $20. The inclement weather date is Saturday, January 25
th
.
|
|
January 14 - Howard County Commission for Women's Empowerment Speaker Series: Fair and Equitable Wages
First in a series of events to promote and inspire women's empowerment, this event fosters conversation on how to promote the economic equality of women through salary and earnings. The featured speaker is Kimberly Prescott, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, President, Prescott HR, Inc, an expert in human resources/employment law compliance and employee relations. Prescott has played an integral part in developing a strong internal management and human resources structure for clients facing organizational change and/or rapid growth. To register for this FREE event, visit
https://cfwspeakerseries.eventbrite.com
or call 410-313-6400 for more information.
|
|
January 15 - Hickory Ridge Bike Corridor Study Open House
Join the County’s Office of Transportation for an
open house event
, where the office will present concepts developed through the Hickory Ridge Bike Corridor study. While there will be no formal presentation, staff will be on hand to discuss the concept proposals on display. Written comment forms will be provided at the open house. The displays will also be available
online
after the open house, and comments can be emailed to
transportation@howardcountymd.gov
until January 31
st
.
|
|
January 16 - Health Department Rabies Vaccine Clinic
Howard County Health Department, in cooperation with the Animal Control and Adoption Center, to host its monthly local vaccination clinic to protect your pet from the rabies virus. County residents are invited to bring their dog, cat or ferret for a discounted vaccination the 3
rd
Thursday of each month. Click
HERE
to learn more.
|
|
January 19 - Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
