Did you know that one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime? The past year many people missed cancer screenings and other important preventative healthcare. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s time to rise to the challenge and ensure all the women in our lives have the resources and access to get tested and the preventative care they need. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Ball Bulletin will turn pink to help raise awareness and encourage our residents to utilize preventative care.

 

Like many of our neighbors, I have people in my life who have been affected by cancer. 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.

 

Be sure to share this information and remind family and friends to understand their risk and get screened.

It has been a little over 18 months since Howard County saw its first case of COVID-19. Since then, we have made incredible progress with our vaccination rates and our community has done exceptional in slowing the spread. As of 9:00am, our 7-day average positivity rate is 2.84% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 11.9. There are currently 11 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.

We are seeing a fewer number of cases in vaccinated residents. Residents who have been fully vaccinated and tested positive are more likely to have less severe symptoms. It’s important to remember, vaccines don’t eliminate virus, but instead protect us from mild to severe infections.

As we head towards cooler weather, it’s more important than ever to get vaccinated. We have an abundant supply of vaccine available and getting vaccinated is the single most effective way to prevent hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

Howard County Health Department clinics also administer the Pfizer booster shots for those eligible. Encourage your family and friends to visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov to find a clinic nearby.

If you have:

I strongly encourage you to get tested as soon as possible. As we see the rise of the Delta variant, please remember that it is possible to have COVID-19 and not have any symptoms.

Additionally, in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19, it’s important that residents who have tested positive work cooperatively with our contact tracers to keep our community safe. We've slowed the spread before, and we can do it again by working together, and taking the precautions we know are effective.

For more information, please click here.

Domestic Violence harms nearly a third of women and nearly 20% of children. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and an important time for us to celebrate the stories of survivors, bring together advocates who work to end the cycle of violence and grieve those we’ve lost.

Prevention takes an entire community working together; changing the beliefs, attitudes, and culture that allow them to exist. To learn more about domestic violence, what you can do to help, or if you wish to seek help, visit Hopeworks or call them at (410) 997-2272.

There’s a new restaurant in EC! We helped celebrate the opening of Over Rice, a Hawaiian poke bowl & mochi donut shop. Owners Emily & Michael are HoCo residents & excited to bring a taste of Hawaii & Korea to more of our community.

Check out their menu.

Our community is so fortunate to have rich diversity in culture, including food. 

 

Taqueria La Padrona is one of Howard County’s amazing local latino owned businesses. If you’re in the mood for traditional Mexican food, look no further. This family owned restaurant has serviced Howard County residents for the past three years! 

 

This Hispanic Heritage Month, consider supporting Taqueria Los Primos by ordering delivery or pick up today! Learn more about them here.

It was great to join the MD-VA Agriculture Development Conference. Ag has played a vital role in HoCo's growth & development, and we were able to highlight programs and policies in place to ensure ag success, including our rich and diverse industry of more than 300 farms.

I would like to thank the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) for attending and funding agriculture projects in Howard County and Maryland.

Our agriculture and farm community are vital economic engines in Howard County, and we will continue to work together for their sustainability and success.

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Ellicott City, Lisa Scarbath is creating a large-scale community sourced mosaic to be displayed in the spring of 2022. This important project celebrates the history, personality, and culture of our historic town. Recently, I contributed a piece of the old Ellicott City Court House which was destroyed in the 2018 flood to this project.

Be a pART of our history and join the celebration! Read more here.

I was grateful to join Tonya Aikens and the Howard County Library System for the grand opening of the new Equity Resource Center, located at our Central Library. For more than a year, many in our community have been calling for spaces to gather and learn about people different than themselves.

This new center, which is so timely and critical, provides this space for ideation and for people to discuss how to build a better Howard County. It's my hope that this Center builds upon the foundations for a healthy and thriving community that enjoys this new space for years.

We are dedicated to ensuring all our students are ready and successful, and one program that helps us achieve that is Ambiciones. 

This Howard Community College program is dedicated to supporting Latino students thrive in both their academic and personal lives. We had the opportunity to visit Ambiciones with President Hetherington, VP of Administration & Finance Lynn Coleman, VP of Student Services Cindy Peterka, and Assistant Director of Ambiciones Sandy Cos to congratulate them on becoming a 2021 Examples of Excelencia finalist.

It was a pleasure to meet a few of their students and the staff who help make this impactful program possible. We wish them all success now and for years to come. Ambiciones is a shining example of our community’s commitment to current and future generations of Latino residents.

We’re committed to ensuring that Howard County is an age-friendly community – where residents of all ages can live, work, grow and play in harmony. In just a few weeks, we will officially submit our Age-Friendly Action Plan to AARP for approval, and once approved, we can begin implementing all the important recommendations developed by our workgroups.

Learn more about our commitment to older adults, the age-friendly initiatives we already have in place, and what’s on the horizon to make Howard County the very best place – no matter your age.  

It was amazing to visit our friends at Luminus and thank them for their dedication to New Americans and the Latino community in Howard County. The Luminus Network for New Americans (formerly FIRN) provides legal, social, and language services to the immigrant community, including the Latino community.

Luminus is a shining example of an organization that goes above and beyond to help make Howard County welcoming to all, thank you. Learn more here.

I enjoyed joining our Howard County Library System at their 5-Star Showcase at the East Columbia Branch. HCLS has earned the prestigious honor of being ranked as a Five Star Library by Library Journal for excellence because of its excellent services, initiatives, and community engagement. Thank you to Tonya Aikens and our amazing library team for their leadership in expanding access to learning and growth for all. Be sure to learn more about all our libraries have to offer here. 

Howard County has been allocated $63.2 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan. We invite Howard County residents to provide input on how this funding should be used. The survey should take less than 5 minutes.

I had the chance to stop by the African-American Community Roundtable picnic. It was great to see friends and neighbors gathered together, having important conversations, and enjoying each other's company after a tough 18 months.

Thank you to the AACR Board and members for your commitment to the community through advocacy around education, economic development, health housing, public safety, social justice, and volunteerism. 

Howard County is a proud home to the Zaching Against Cancer, and I was excited to join them in person for the Zaching 5K in Downtown Columbia. The Foundation improves the quality of life for cancer patients and their caregivers through direct patient services and programs, scholarships and grants. 

 

Zach's legacy lives on in the amazing support of this community. Learn more about Zaching Against Cancer at https://www.zachingagainstcancer.org/

It was a perfect autumn day to celebrate our cOMmunity at the Oakland Mills Fall Festival! After a year apart, it’s so wonderful to gather in person, and I’m so grateful for the Oakland Mills Village for hosting this amazing event where we enjoyed live music, festival food, community and craft vendors, free native plant sharing, children’s crafts, and so much more!

I’m grateful to live in a community that is so giving to members in need. On Saturday, residents across the County donated their bikes to get refurbished by Free Bikes for Kidz Maryland volunteers.

After getting spruced up, these bikes will be given to children in need later this year. Thank you to Ted Cochran and all the FB4K volunteers for organizing and leading this important endeavor.

Howard County is home to seven breweries and one distillery! These businesses help fuel our local economy and are an important asset to our community. I was thrilled to join Visit Howard County for the 5th Annual Hops & Harvest Festival to celebrate these special businesses and their contributions to Howard County.

As one of Columbia's oldest and largest Village Centers, we're thrilled to help Long Reach celebrate their 50th year. While the Village Center has changed over the past five decades, it’s an exciting central hub for art, education, entrepreneurs and economic empowerment.

I invite you to join me for an outdoor festival to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Long Reach Village on Friday, October 15 from 5 pm to 9 pm and Saturday, October 16 from 11 am to 9 pm in the Long Reach Village Center. This not-to-be-missed weekend celebration will bring together acclaimed music and performing arts entertainment, an arts and crafts show and sale, food trucks, family friendly programming, and more. Learn more about the celebration here.

Howard County is one of the best places to live, work, play, and grow for all, and it’s no surprise that many want to move to or remain in the County. The latest housing sales data show that Howard County is a place that offers its residents prosperity and an opportunity for economic growth. Although these are positive benefits for many, rising home prices make it more difficult for our growing workforce of all income levels to afford to live here.

Open enrollment in the County’s Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) Homeownership program is underway. Please use this link to access the open enrollment application.

In preparation for colder weather, our Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) is hosting a cold weather gear collection drive to collect new and gently used coats, gloves, mittens and scarves to help county residents in need. Items can be dropped off at the County's MultiService Center, located at 9900 Washington Boulevard, Suite I in Laurel, tomorrow, October 5^th and Thursday, October 7^th from 2:00 to 6:30 p.m. For questions and/or more information about the drive, contact the MultiService Center at 410-313-0220.

Collected items will be distributed on Saturday, October 16^th at the North Laurel Community Center to those in need.

This Thursday, October 7^th, DCRS Consumer Protection Advisory Board will be hosting a virtual forum, “Navigating the Landlord /Tenant Relationship,” to educate and inform those who own or rent properties in Howard County. The forum will feature a panel of experts from Howard County Government agencies and community partners, who will discuss landlord/tenant laws, eviction prevention, discriminatory practices, housing voucher programs and the responsibilities of both tenants and landlords. The forum will take place via Webex from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on the 7^th and is free. To register to participate, click HERE and/or for more information, contact the Office of Consumer Protection at 410-313-6420 or email consumer@howardcountymd.gov. 

Now through Friday, November 5^th, OVMF is collecting handmade scarves and hats to send with care packages to our deployed military members. Scarves should be four to six inches wide and 48 to 50 inches long without fringe and hats should fit an adult-size head, and can be made from wool, acrylic or non-flammable fleece, in shades of blues, browns, olive, grays, maroon, black or red/white/blue combinations. Please be sure to pin a note to each scarf or hat with the yarn fiber contents listed, and feel free to include a personal note for a military member as well. Handmade items can be dropped off at one of 10 locations in Howard County by the 5^th at the latest.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Ms. Lisa Terry with OVMF at 410-313-0821 or lbterry@howardcountymd.gov.

The Howard County Veterans Foundation is NOW accepting nominations of Howard County first responders for the Howard County Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal. This year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal theme is Veterans Supporting First Response. The Grand Marshal is an honorary title bestowed upon an individual who represents the values and moral fiber of what it means to be a member of the Howard County community of Veterans and military families. The Grand Marshal is recognized at the parade and lakefront ceremony and participates in the parade, whenever possible, riding or walking with the designated Grand Marshal float. To learn more about the qualifications and nomination process, click HERE.

October 3^rd to 9^th is Fire Prevention Week

Is that your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm chirping or beeping? What does it mean? Knowing the difference between an alarm with a low battery or an alarm that is activated for an emergency can save you, your home and your family. In coordination with Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!”, our Department of Fire and Rescue Services all week long will be sharing helpful tips, facts and information on its social media pages (Facebook and Twitter) to make sure you are in the know about the different sounds smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. The Department has also put together a helpful Fire Prevention Week guide full of safety resources. Remember, when an alarm makes a noise, whether it’s a beeping or a chirping sound, it means it is time to take action!

The Howard County Health Department (HCHD) is encouraging residents to join the Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition and other local partners this October for a month of walk/move events called Walktober2021. Walktober is a celebration of Maryland’s official exercise and a call to action to promote walking for improved health for residents of all ages and abilities. For a list of events, including several webinars focused on walking and moving ,visit the Walktober2021 webpage.

HCHD is now administering third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to those considered moderately to severely immunocompromised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine to certain adult populations at all of its COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

While a complete list of those currently eligible for a third dose and those that the booster shot is recommended for can be found on the CDC's website, all individuals are encouraged to talk with their healthcare provider first about whether an additional dose/booster is appropriate for them. If your healthcare provider recommends the third dose or booster shot, a list of upcoming HCHD vaccine clinics and links to schedule an appointment can be found online or by calling 410-313-6284.

Please note, with regard to third doses and those that received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC have not yet authorized this vaccine for an additional dose as there is not enough data at this time to determine whether immunocompromised people who received this vaccine also have an improved antibody response following an additional dose of the same vaccine as noted on HCHD's website. Additionally, the CDC and FDA have not yet authorized a booster shot of the Moderna vaccine.

Misplaced you 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.

Our Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is now accepting applications for its Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) homeownership program’s October open enrollment period. This program is designed to make homeownership a reality for more individuals and families, enable economic mobility, and ensure people of all incomes can call Howard County home. I encourage all who are interested in purchasing their first home to apply today. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 29^th.  

From DHCD’s “Open Enrollment” website, you’ll find presentations from previous homeownership and rental informational workshops, as well as frequently asked questions and answers explaining the program’s eligibility requirements and application process. Downpayment and closing cost assistance is available through DHCD’s Settlement Downpayment Loan Program, making homeownership even more affordable for first-time homebuyers. DCHD is also be hosting a first-time Homebuyer Class on October 9^th to learn next steps to owning your own home.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month to our Hispanic, Latino/a, and Spanish speaking community members. This month-long celebration, which runs from September 15^th to October 15^th provides us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the cultural contributions and triumphs of Latin people across the diaspora, but particularly within the United States. I encourage all residents to take join our Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) this month to explore Hispanic and Latino history, music, art, food, literature and more. For a list of events and activities OHRE is offering this Hispanic Heritage Month, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE today. All month long, OHRE will also be sharing a variety of things on its social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and I invite you to follow them along!

email OHRoutreach@howardcountymd.gov.

Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana a los miembros de nuestra comunidad hispana, latina y hispanohablante. Esta celebración de un mes, que se celebra del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, nos da una maravillosa oportunidad para celebrar y aprender más sobre las contribuciones culturales y los triunfos de los latinos en todo el hemisferio, pero particularmente los dentro de los Estados Unidos. Aliento a todos los residentes a acompañar nuestra Oficina de Derechos Humanos y Equidad (OHRE) este mes para explorar la historia, la música, el arte, la gastronomía, la literatura hispana y latina y más. Para obtener una lista de eventos y actividades que ofrece la OHRE este Mes de la Herencia Hispana, visite www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE. Durante todo el mes, la OHRE también compartirá una variedad de cosas en sus cuentas de redes sociales (Facebook, Twitter e Instagram) y les invito a seguirlas.

Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day from noon to 1:00 p.m. on October 11^th with OHRE. This virtual celebration will feature award-winning Howard County poet, Edgar Silex, and a discussion on the meaning and significance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Native American Howard County resident artist, community organizer and activist, Ani Begay Auld. The event will be live streamed on OHRE’s Facebook page and the County’s YouTube channel.

Join OHRE for a virtual lunch and learn on October 14^th to explore the cultural diversity within Latin American cultures. Set to begin at noon, this hour-long event will include a presentation on the African roots of various Latin American cultures and conversation between Afro-Latinos about their experience within the United States as persons with dual ethnicities. To learn more and/or to register for this event, click HERE.

The Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission is seeking nominations for the Commission’s 2022 “Living the Dream” Award. This annual award recognizes an individual or organization (community, civic or religious) who has promoted the teaching and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through community involvement. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 15^th and the award winners will be recognized at the Commission’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, scheduled to take place Sunday, January 16, 2022. 

In addition to its “Living the Dream Award,” the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission is also seeking entries from Howard County students for its essay, oratory and poster contests. For its three contests, the Commission is calling upon students to reflect upon Dr. King’s statement, and this year’s contest theme, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” For the essay and oratory contests, middle and high school students must discuss what can be done to foster an inclusive culture in your school, community or organization and give an example of what they have done or experienced that illustrates this. For the essay contest, students with disabilities may submit entries using other media and/or visual presentation. For the poster contest, elementary and middle school students must compose an original piece of artwork using a medium of their choosing that shows their interpretation of this year’s theme.

For complete essay, oratory and poster contest rules and details on how to submit your entry and application, visit OHRE’s “Human Rights Contest and Awards” website . Contest winners will receive a cash prize. The DEADLINE for all contests is 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 15^th.

On Tuesday, October 19^th, join OHRE and the Howard County Human Rights Commission for an evening celebrating the individuals, students and organizations who have had a significant impact in Howard County in the areas of human rights, social justice, and community uplift. The evening will being with a light reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Human Rights Commission Awards Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. To learn more about this year’s FREE event and/or register, click HERE.

Join OHRE for a virtual lunch and learn on October 20^th from noon to 1:00 p.m. to explore how embracing the complexity of human diversity fosters equitable environments. Participants will learn more about intersectionality and its role in creating equitable spaces. To register for this event, click HERE.

OHRE’s Outreach Unit’s Humanity Matters Dialogue Series is set to return Wednesday, October 20^th (please note this new start date from what was previously announced). Through this award-winning series, participants learn how to authentically interact with people from different races and cultures through the sharing of dialogue, historical and socio-economic data, all while gaining effective communication skills with the intention of creating a more inclusive and supportive community. To register for this five-part series, click HERE. For questions and/or more information about this or future workshops and training opportunities, please contact OHRE at 410-313-6430 or email OHRoutreach@howardcountymd.gov.

This Diversity Awareness Month, OHRE has partnered with Mount Hebron High School (MHHS) to put on a youth-led speaker series on diversity, inclusion and cultural awareness. The series will feature students of a variety of different racial, ethnic, gender and religious backgrounds from six of Howard County’s high schools. These students will tackle some of diversity and inclusion’s most difficult topics, such as the racialized experience of Asian Americans, the importance of diversity in the classroom, religious diversity and acceptance, and the liminality of race and the biracial experience. The event will take place Thursday, October 26^th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at MHHS, located at 9440 Old Frederick Road in Ellicott City, and masks are required. For more information and/or register for this event, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE today.

DPZ’s Planning Board will be holding a VIRTUAL meeting this Thursday, October 7^th at 7:00 p.m. to hear the following agenda items:

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. To register for Thursday’s virtual meeting, visit HERE prior to 7:00 p.m., tomorrow Wednesday, October 6^th.

Additionally, this Thursday, October 7^th, DPZ’s Historic Preservation Commission will be holding a VIRTUAL meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. The meeting agenda and instructions on how to join/participate in Thursday’s meeting can be found on the Commission’s website. To register to join Thursday’s meeting through your computer to view and hear the presentations, you will need to register prior. Once registered, further instructions and a call-in attendee number will be provided via email.

Those who wish to provide oral testimony are required to sign up online by noon on October 7^th. Please follow the instructions for registering on the “Registering or Joining by Telephone” tab, where there will be an option to sign-up to testify. After you register through WebEx, please email preservation@howardcountymd.gov by noon on the 7^th with the case information that you wish to testify on. Per HPC Rule of Procedure 102.B, only those parties who registered in advance of the October 7, 2021 meeting may participate in the proceedings by asking questions and giving testimony.  

Our Department of Public Works (DPW) will hold an informational public meeting next Wednesday, October 13^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Patapsco Room of the Miller Branch Library (masks are required) located at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City, to present plans for a stream stabilization project in Columbia. The project will restore and stabilize approximately 700 linear feet of an existing stream bed owned by the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks and located behind the properties from 2713 Thornbrook Road to 2665 Thornbrook Road. The stream is a perennial headwater stream that drains into an unnamed tributary to the Patapsco River. The project will receive Total Maximum Daily Load credits for the County’s National Pollutant Elimination System permit. The project is expected to begin in late January 2022.

The meeting will include a presentation and discussion of the project plans. County staff and the project’s design consultant, Stantec/Straughan, will be on hand to answer any questions and gather public comments. Those unable to attend the meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions, should contact Mr. Charles Dammers with DPW’s Stormwater Management Division at 410-313-6416 or email cdammers@howardcountymd.gov.

Past Project Updates – Completion Date Change) – Project to

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.

In collaboration with the County, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is launching a project to enhance bicycle safety and access along nearly five miles of Ten Oaks Road in Clarksville. This stretch of Ten Oaks Road runs parallel to MD 32 and was selected as a new alternative bicycle route as the result of SHA’s 2020 feasibility study in partnership with the County. Currently in the design phase, the project will widen portions of the roadway to create better, safer access for bicyclists. To learn more, click HERE.

BGE -Purple Streetlights?

Have you noticed a streetlight in your neighborhood shining a little purple these days? If yes, BGE is looking for your help to identify these lights. A manufacturer defect in the LED light bulbs used by utility companies across the nation, including BGE, is causing streetlights containing the bulb to gradually turn purple or blue. If you notice a streetlight producing a purple low, please report it to BGE at https://bge.streetlightoutages.com.

Our Bureau of Environmental Services will host TWO document shredding events next month, with the first shredding event schedule to take place Saturday, October 9^th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR until the trucks are full) at our Gary J Arthur Community Center, 2400 MD 97 in Cooksville. The second event will take place on Saturday, October 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR until the trucks are full) at the Long Gate Park & Ride, located off MD 100 Exit 1A in Ellicott City.

Held rain or shine, Howard County residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded onsite. For more information and/or questions, contact the Bureau at 410-313-6444 or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/documentshredding.

Reminder, next Monday’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday is NOT one of the six holidays that affects the County’s curbside trash, recycling, yard trim and food scrap collection services. So, while County Government offices, courts, animal shelter and 50+ centers will be closed on Monday, October 11^th in observance of the holiday, there will be REGULAR curbside collection that day and all week long. The County’s holiday slide schedule will NOT be in effect next week. Also, the Alpha Ridge Landfill will be open on the 11^th.

Our Bureau of Highways is responsible for approximately 3,650 roadways. In its continual effort to maintain these County roads, every two years, the Bureau brings in a special vehicle to do an assessment of the County's roadway surfaces. The data is collected and the roads are given a score, helping the Bureau prioritize its limited resources for road resurfacing, repair and replacement. Now underway, the Bureau will be conducting its latest roadways assessment over the next two to three weeks. To learn more about this assessment, click HERE or contact the Bureau at 410-313-7450 and/or email highways@howardcountymd.gov.

Please keep in mind, for questions and/or concerns about numbered roadways in Howard County, such as MD 175, US 1, US 29 and MD 103, you'll want to contact the Maryland State Highway Administration and they will be able to assist you further with regards to these roadways.

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Saturday to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of our Robinson Nature Center during its special open house event featuring outdoor puppet shows, live animal presentations, full-dome shows in the planetarium and the unveiling of a unique ephemeral sculpture.

Throughout the month of October, I invite you to enjoy the health benefits of nature during Howard County’s Great Outdoors Initiative! During this free, self-guided activity, I encourage you to challenge yourself to do at least 15 minutes of outdoor activity a day. From hiking one of our trails or taking a leisurely walk in one of our parks, to fishing, kayaking or geocaching, the options to explore Howard County’s great outdoors are endless. To sign up to participate, visit https://tinyurl.com/HCGreatOutdoors. Participants who complete the challenge are automatically entered to win prizes!

Join our Department of Recreation & Parks on Saturday, October 30^th for its first-ever Halloween Pet Parade and Costume Contest at East Columbia Library Park! Dress your furry, feathered or scaled family member in their favorite costume and show them off between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Participants will judged on costume, presentation, behavior and use of props – and off course there will be the opportunity to score some extra points for special skills or tricks. Pets must be on leash or otherwise contained and non-aggressive. 

The contest is open to pet owners age 18 and older, but the event is free for spectators of all ages! The entry free is $10 per pet and contestants must register by no later than October 25^th. To register for this spooktacular event, visit https://tinyurl.com/HCRPPetParade today.

This week, October 4^th through October 10^th, is Active Aging Week and to celebrate, Recreation & Parks is once again hosting its “Encore Showcase.” Join Recreation & Parks’ Active Aging team and extraordinary instructors from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday October 5^th at Blandair Regional Park, for a fun-filled, free event geared towards keeping your mind and body active. Come try your hand at yoga, bocce, croquet, pickleball and square dancing, take part in a mini fitness session, complete a quick art project, and so much more. While pre-registration is not required, it is recommended for event updates. For questions and/or more information, please contact Ruth Coleman at 410-313-4723 or email rucoleman@howardcountymd.gov. The event rain date is October 7^th.

A Recreation & Parks project to improve the lower restroom facility, boat rental area and pathway section in Centennial Park South in Ellicott City, is expected to begin on or about Monday, October 18^th. The project will include the construction of an ADA-accessible parking facility near the lower boat rental/restroom area and the replacement of deteriorating wooden retaining walls. An existing pedestrian pathway will also be reconstructed to meet ADA-accessible standards and widened to allow for emergency access. The pathway will also connect the new parking area to existing pathways, boat ramp, restrooms and the outdoor F. Leonard Dunn Amphitheater. Finally, a micro-bioretention facility with native plants will be constructed to improve water quality within the construction area.

The County’s Belmont Manor is now accepting weddings for summer 2022. Enjoy in the rich history and breathtaking garden views of this historical gem and one of Howard County’s truly unique rental venues on your special day. For more information, call 410-313-0200 or email belmontmanormd@howardcountymd.gov.

Join our Office of Transportation as it helps kick off this fall’s Bike Around Downtown with a BikeAround Block Party this Friday, October 8^th from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Merriweather District’s Color Burst Park in Columbia. This is a chance to get outside, chat with friends, family and co-workers, enjoy delicious refreshments, learn more about what’s happening in Downtown Columbia, and get tips and tools for making biking, walking and other active transportation a bigger part of your daily routine.

If you are interested in participating, but don’t have a bike, no worries! Howard County Bikeshare is offering a special Bike Around Downtown Membership – a 60-minute ride at no cost and then it’s $0.15 per extra minute. The membership is available on the app only and will be available from Friday, October 8^th to Monday, October 11^th.

This October, Transportation will host two virtual Complete Streets Design Manual Workshops. The first workshop, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on October 14^th, will provide attendees with an introduction to the County's Complete Streets Design Manual and a better understanding on how the Complete Streets policy translates into the design of future roads for cars, transit, bicycles, pedestrians and others. The second workshop will take place on October 21^st at 2:00 p.m. and will provide a technical overview of the Design Manual. Please note, while this second workshop is geared towards technical professionals and others who use the Design Manual on a regular basis, the general public is welcome to attend. To register for either workshop and/or for more information about the Complete Streets Design Manual, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/DM-updates.