Dear Friends,

Columbia was named the second happiest city in America, and is the only city on the East Coast in the top 25. This recognition speaks to our concerted efforts to improve the quality of life for all our residents here in Howard County.

People want to live, work, play, and grow here because of our connected green spaces, quality schools, robust businesses, and the strong sense of community. Howard County’s focus on building a diverse and inclusive community makes it a great place to live and thrive.

March is Women’s History Month and an opportunity for us to honor the impact and innovation women have contributed throughout history. To reach a more equal status in our world, women have persisted through prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion. 

Their courage to ensure a better future provides hope and inspiration to so many women and girls around the globe. As we honor the many women in our county, state, and nation this month, let’s recommit to the work that still needs to be done to provide equal rights for all our residents.

With our Transform Howard initiative, we’re investing in public Wi-Fi, expanding broadband, and ensuring reliable internet services to often overlooked areas. Three projects are moving forward that will provide internet access to previously under- or un-served areas:

These transformational projects will cover 85% of households that currently don’t have stable internet access. When we bring reliable, affordable, and fast internet access to every household, we are improving the education, health and economic opportunities for all Howard County residents.

Read more about these projects here.

Supporting small businesses, nonprofits and removing barriers to accessing healthcare is bipartisan, good policy and benefits thousands of Marylanders across the state. I was honored to testify on behalf of my regional colleagues in the 8 largest districts in Maryland. I commend the advocacy of Vinny DeMarco and Senator Hester for introducing Senate Bill 632 which would leverage state and federal funding to provide subsidies to small businesses and nonprofits which would decrease their cost of providing health insurance for their employees. 

This legislation would assist more than 7,400 Howard County businesses with 25 employees or less. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the need for accessible and affordable health care. Concurrently, many businesses and non-profits have struggled to retain employees under the weight of the pandemic, let alone provide them with healthcare. Senate Bill 632 would be another step in the right direction for Maryland families, small businesses, and nonprofits. 

Special thank you to my fellow County Executives - Johnny Olszewski, Steuart Pittman, Jan H. Gardner, Barry Glassman, Marc Elrich, Angela Alsobrooks – Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Maryland State Conference NAACP President Willie Flowers, and Rick Weldon of Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE).

I’m excited to welcome the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to Merriweather Post Pavilion on August 14 for the exciting and family-friendly “Movie with Orchestra.” Music brings us together and the BSO is part of what makes our region great. Howard County has been proud to support the BSO for many years, and we’re thrilled to host them for the 2022-2023 BSO concert season.

Thank you County Executive Olszewski for your partnership. Special thank you to Barry Rosen, Allison Burr-Livingstone, and Tonya Robles for your leadership. Stay tuned for more information on tickets and dates!

Readers who feel included, recognized, and a part of the world are engaged readers. On Dr. Seuss’ birthday and National Read Across America Day, I was thrilled to visit our students across the county to read some inspiring books. I visited Mt View Middle School, our Community Action Council of Howard County’s Bauder Education Center in the Long Reach Village Center, and St. Johns Elementary to read “Change Sings” by Amanda Gorman, “Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You” by Sonia Sotomayor, and “Jabari Jumps” by Gaia Cornwall respectively.

Today and every day, let’s encourage reading among our students to help empower ready and successful students.

I was pleased to join our Wilde Lake High Teen Parenting Program to donate diapers for our student parents. By providing these diapers, we are helping to ensure our young mothers can focus on furthering their education, while being reminded that they aren't alone.

These students have remarkable perseverance, and by working together, we’re helping them maintain hope and ensure they know they have a community to support them.

According to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Howard County’s positivity rate is 2.13% and our 7-day moving average case rate per 100k is 5.6. There are currently 17 COVID-19 patients in both the ICU and Acute Care units at Howard County General Hospital. We’re seeing a steady decline in our COVID-19 metrics.

Howard County has high vaccination rates with 90% of our residents 5+ fully vaccinated. Approximately 34% of our eligible residents have not yet received their booster shot. Please get boosted if you have not yet received a booster shot. Vaccination, including boosters, work by significantly reducing serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

The CDC has released new guidance for determining community transmission and when masking is recommended. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. When the county’s COVID-19 Community Levels are low or moderate, masking is optional. Masking remains a prevention measure at the high level. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should always wear a mask. Howard County is currently in the low category.

Getting vaccinated continues to be the best way to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19. Please get vaccinated and boosted if you have not already. Find a vaccine near you at vaccine.howardcountymd.gov.

We have made incredible progress combatting COVID-19, but we are not completely out of the woods yet. Get tested if you're experiencing any symptoms or may have been recently exposed to COVID-19. All residents can now get tested for free at facilities that were previously limited to government employees and families. Fast, accurate testing is a still a vital tool to keep our community safe.

Testing remains an important tool in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and keeping our community safe. Don’t hesitate to use it! Find a testing location near you here.

Howard County is where businesses are born, where businesses can get access to capital, and where businesses grow. Howard County is where businesses are in the ideal location for success, home to a highly skilled workforce, and overcoming the challenges of the pandemic. Howard County is where businesses thrive and where advancing business advances our community! 

Please listen to some of our amazing business owners to hear more about their experiences. This has been a challenging time for everyone and we are on the road to recovery. Please keep supporting our small businesses.

In December, we were one of the first in the region to take action to address our bus driver shortage. We took aggressive steps by offering employees $4,500 in recruitment and retention bonuses. We also ensured that we invested in securing our future- by offering free CDL license training to our new drivers. 

I recently visited the class at RTA and was thrilled to meet so many dedicated employees who are helping to connect our residents to the places important to them by increasing access to transportation.

This Women’s History Month, I am thrilled to recognize my friend and colleague, Courtney Watson - State Delegate! She is no stranger to serving our community, starting with her service on the Board of Education where she also served as Chair for two years. Following that position, she served two terms on the Howard County Council through 2014. These days you can find her representing our community at the Maryland General Assembly, where she represents our residents in District 9B. 

Through the years, we have worked collaboratively to ensure the prosperity of all our residents, and today we continue to partner to ensure Ellicott City remains safe and sound. As a remarkable partner in the State, she helped spearhead money from the State to help our community. We applaud Delegate Watson for her brilliance and ongoing commitment to public service. This is #HERstory

Every family is affected by mental health challenges, whether temporary or long-term. Unfortunately, prolonged and untreated issues can result in tragedy, most of which can be prevented

You are not alone and help is available. Chat services are available 24/7. Start by texting 211 today! With help, comes hope.

March Issue of The 50+ Connection Now Available

Our Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office on Aging and Independence’s (OAI) The 50+ Connection newsletter is now available online. Published monthly as a two-page insert in the Howard County Beacon, this newsletter provides valuable information regarding programs, services and events of interest to older adults. You can find the current and past issues on OAI’s “Publications & Reports” website or join OAI’s email subscriber list to receive the current issue each month straight to your inbox. Subscribe today to ensure you are among the first to hear about upcoming OAI special events and informative programs.

Every night in Maryland, thousands of youths are living in cars, vacant buildings or couch surfing with family or friends. That’s why, as I announced this past week, DCRS is once again participating in the annual Youth REACH (Reach out, Engage, Assist, and Count to end Homelessness) Count. This Count is a statewide effort to address – and ultimately prevent – youth homelessness in Howard County and across Maryland. To best identify this hidden population, Howard County Youth REACH activities will take place across the county during the first two weeks of March. These activities will strive to obtain information on the number, characteristics and needs of youth ages 25 and under who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Once such activity is a brief and confidential survey to help identify housing needs and services for youth and young adults who are on their own because everyone should have a safe, reliable place to sleep. If you are under 25, on your own and stay with friends or couch surfing, we encourage you to take a brief moment to participate in this survey. Again, your answers will remain completely confidential.

For questions or more information, visit www.youthreachmd.com or contact Candace Ball with DCRS’ Office of the Local Children’s Board at 410-313-6552 or cmball@howardcountymd.gov. 

If you or someone you know is caring for a family member or friend with dementia, we encourage you to check out DCRS’s OAI’s Dementia Live®. This virtual interactive experience that immerses participants into life with dementia to create a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with a cognitive impairment and sensory changes. If interested in participating, OAI’s next upcoming sessions are today, March 7^th and April 11^th, both at 6:00 p.m. As space is limited, I encourage you to call 410-313-5917 today to register.

This week, March 6^th through the 12^th, is National Consumer Protection Week and to mark the occasion, DCRS’ Office of Consumer Protection has planned two informative webinars to discuss “Debt Collection, Credit and Your Credit Score” (on March 8^th) and “How to Safely Use Payment Apps” (on March 10^th). Both webinars will take place at 7:00 p.m. and can be viewed live on DCRS’ Facebook page.

The first webinar will take an in-depth look at debt collection and credit topics, including how to build, maintain and improve your credit; how FICO® scores are calculated; your rights under debt collection, and how to deal with debt collectors; and avoid debt workout scams. To register to take part in this FREE seminar, visit https://ocpdebtandcredit.eventbrite.com.

The second webinar will explain your rights under the law; how payment apps have become a favorite of criminals; and what you can do to avoid being scammed. To register for this FREE seminar, visit https://ocppaymentapps.eventbrite.com.

For questions and/or more information or assistance with a consumer issue, contact the Howard Office of Consumer Protection at 410-313-6420 or email consumer@howardcountymd.gov.

Last week, I announced that a total of $76 million Public Improvement (CPI) and Metropolitan District bonds were sold via a competitive bid process. True Interest Cost (TIC) for CPI and Metro Bonds came in at 2.20 and 2.64 respectively. These bonds are highly valued in the marketplace in large part due to the County’s AAA credit rating, which was affirmed by all three credit rating agencies last month.

Reading Human Rights Monthly Book Discussion Group, Featuring The Island of Sea Women

In conjunction with Women’s History Month, this month’s book discussion on March 22^nd at 6:30 p.m. at HCLS’ Central branch will feature The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. The Island of Sea Women explores the complexities of female friendship and introduces readers to the remarkably strong and spirited female divers of Jeju Island. It’s also an eye-opening portrait of a country ravaged by decades of conflict and unrest, and a searing examination of the effects that foreign intervention can have on the evolution of a nation and of course individual lives. As spacing is limited, I encourage you to reserve your virtual seat today!

In celebration of Women’s History Month, I invite you to join OHRE and OAI’s North Laurel 50+ Center on March 29^th for trivia game event! Come test your knowledge on and showcase what you know about the contributions of important women in history. The fun will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will take place at the 50+ Center located within Recreation & Parks’ North Laurel Community Center at 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road. To register for this event, either call 410-313-0380 or sign-up at the 50+ Center’s front desk.

ORHE offers a quarterly certification training in Bystander Intervention and Cultural Awareness (BICA). This is an excellent training that will help participants learn how to protect and promote the humanity of those who are being targeted or harassed in their presence. This quarter’s upcoming BICA training will take place virtually on April 5^th. As space is limited, reserve you spot today by clicking HERE. 

Tomorrow, March 8^th at 10:00 a.m. our Department of Planning and Zoning’s (DPZ) Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board will hold a hybrid meeting, in-person at the County’s George Howard Building (3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City) and via WebEx. To pre-register to attend tomorrow’s meeting, please click HERE. Once registered, further instructions and a call-in attendee number will be provided via email. For those wishing to join the meeting via telephone only, i.e. those who only want to listen to the meeting and not provide testimony, should call 1-650-479-3207 at the meeting time. When prompted, enter 2317 494 0995 as the event access code.

The agenda for tomorrow’s meeting can be found online.

DPZ’s Design Advisory Panel (DAP) will hold a meeting this Wednesday, March 9^th starting at 7:00 p.m. VIRTUALLY to hear the following items:

To register in advance to participate in this meeting, click HERE. If you only want to listen to the meeting, call 1-650-479-3207 at the meeting time. When prompted, enter 2303 157 4080 as the event access code.

The DAP process encourages excellence in project architecture and site design to improve design compatibility with surrounding development, to promote revitalization and to enhance property values. You can use DPZ’s DAP interactive map to see which properties may be subject to DAP review. For DAP’s Rules of Procedure, click HERE. For questions and/or more information about DAP, contact the DPZ at 410-313-2350 or email dap@howardcountymd.gov.

Please remember, HCPD and HCSO will NEVER demand payment over the phone. If you receive a call like this, IT IS A SCAM. Hang up and do not provide any personal information.

For questions, to learn more about this program and/or to request a flag of your address, visit HERE or contact HCPD's Community Outreach Division at 410-313-2207 or HCPDOutreach@howardcountymd.gov.

Our Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Stormwater Management Division will hold a virtual public meeting tomorrow, March 8^th at 7:00 p.m., to present plans for a stormwater management pond repair project near 15036 Scottswood Court in Woodbine. The pond’s infrastructure is deteriorating and DPW’s Stormwater Management Division plans to replace the existing principal spillway and riser with a concrete principal spillway pipe and riser structure to repair the facility. Riprap will also be placed at the outfall to reduce erosive velocities. This project is expected to begin construction in June 2023.

The informal meeting will include an overview of the project 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. To participate in the meeting by computer, go to www.webex.com and click “join;” the meeting number is 2308 546 3817 and “stormwater” is the password. To participate by phone, call 1-650-479-3207 (note, fees may apply) and enter the access code 2308 546 3817.

Those unable to participate in the virtual meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions, should contact Ms. Michele Monde with DPW’s Stormwater Management Division at 410-313-0844 or email mmonde@howardcountymd.gov.

To learn about Department of Public Works (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.

Beginning Monday, March 28^th, DPW’s Bureau of Environmental Services’ curbside yard trim collection will resume for the season for residents in yard trim collection areas. Please keep in mind, during our curbside yard trim season, the Bureau will only collect your yard trim items on your scheduled yard trim collection days. To find out your yard trim collection day, click HERE. To review the Bureau’s yard trim collection guidelines, including what is and is not collected and how to prepare your items for collection, click HERE.

In case you missed it, last month I announced a major expansion to our DPW Bureau of Environmental Services’ “Feed the Green Bin” food scrap curbside collection program. Starting this spring, 5,635 households in the county’s Wilde Lake and Centennial Lane areas will be eligible to sign up for curbside food scrap collection. Households in the expansion areas will receive information about the program in the mail in the coming weeks or can sign-up online at www.FeedtheGreenBin.org through March 18^th. New program participants will be able to choose between three green bin sizes – 12, 35 or 65 gallons, which will be delivered to their homes in early April.

Howard County’s curbside food scrap collection program was the first and the largest of its kind in Maryland. Since the program’s start in 2013, more than 34,000 households have food scrap collections available with curbside collections service. Additionally, seven Howard County public schools have joined curbside collections for food scraps. The collected material is transported to the County’s Alpha Ridge Landfill’s state-of-the-art Composting Facility, where it is turned into compost, a valuable soil amendment. 

Howard County’s 2022 GreenFest celebration will be returning to Howard Community College’s Dwight A. Burrill Galleria this year, on Saturday, April 9^th to be exact. Howard County's largest celebration of Earth Day, our annual event aims to connect residents with the resources that local businesses, non-profits and government provide to help anyone be a good steward to the environment. From a native plant sale to rain barrel and compost bin giveaway’s and the oh-so-ever-popular document shredding event, this environmentally friendly event is sure to get you in the green spirit. To learn more about this year’s event, visit www.hcgreenfest.org.

In case you missed it, Recreation and Parks' 2022 Spring/Summer Activity Guide is NOW AVAILABLE online. Online registration for Howard County residents begins Wednesday, March 2^nd at 6:00 p.m., with mail-in, over-the-phone and in-person beginning the following morning, March 3^rd at 8:00 a.m.

For non-Howard County residents, online registration begins March 9^th at 6:00 p.m., with all other registration methods beginning the following morning.

Join members of the Howard Astronomical League (HAL) on March 12^th from 6:15 to 11:00 p.m. for its upcoming Public Star Party at the observatory at Alpha Ridge Park in Marriottsville. Participants will have the chance to take in telescopic views and programming, while mingling and asking questions with HAL members. All ages are welcome to participate in this FREE event and registration is not required; however, pets are not allowed. Before heading out on the 12^th, be sure to check HAL’s website for weather or health updates before coming out.

For more information about this event, please contact Danielle Bassett at 410-313-4634 or email dbassett@howardcountymd.gov.

The fun begins the weekend of April 9^th, with Recreation & Parks’ Spring Eggstravaganza for Tots (April 9^th and April 10^th) at the Robinson Nature Center. Geared towards residents age one and older, come out and enjoy a basket full of tot-friendly activities speckled throughout Robinson Nature Center's indoor exhibits and outdoor, paved trail (weather-permitting). Participants will enjoy crafts, games and spring sensory fun, as well as egg hunts for toddlers and egg hunts for children four years and older held throughout the day. Cost is $7.00 for members and $10 for nonmembers; children under one are free. To register for this event, please call the Robinson Nature Center at 410-313-0400.

Also, on April 9^th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. is Recreation & Park’s Spring Egg Hunt at Rockburn Elementary School. Co-sponsored by the Elkridge Adult Athletic Association, children age two to 10 are invited to grab their basket and join in the family fun of collecting eggs, prizes and games. The cost per child is $4.00 for this event and preregistration is required to participate. (Rain date is April 16.)

Finally, Kids Fest is back at Meadowbrook Park on Saturday, April 16^th from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Geared towards kids age two to 12 and back for its seventh year, this year’s event will feature an egg hunt, sports instruction, games, activities, arts and crafts, food and more. The cost is $12 per person and preregistration is required. For questions and/or more information about this annual event, contact Brian Wyman at 410-313-4706 or email bwyman@howardcountymd.gov.

If you are a looking for activities for your child to participate in when schools are closed, I encourage you to check out the variety of one-day camps our Department of Recreation & Parks offers that your child is sure to love. For the Howard County Public School System’s upcoming spring break (April 11th to April 15th and April 18th), be sure to check out these camp offerings.

Our Department of Recreation & Parks is now hiring, with job openings ranging from adventure to childcare to camp counselors to score keepers to park maintenance workers and more. For a full list of openings and how to apply, click HERE.

Reminder, the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA) has implemented planned service adjustments affecting routes: 301, 403, 404, 405, 406 and 503. For details regarding these adjustments, please visit www.transitrta.com/february2022/. RTA Mobility Services are NOT affected by any of these adjustments.