Dear Friends,

With our Transform Howard initiative, we’re investing in public Wi-Fi, expanding broadband, and ensuring reliable internet services to often overlooked areas. One of these areas is the Elkridge Mobile Home Park which will receive free public Wi-Fi for 88 households, reaching approximately 225 residents. 

This is only possible due to a partnership with MyBGE, Howard County Library System, our Department of Technology and Communications Resources, and a county investment of $65,000 in CARES Act funding.

Watch more in this video.

Howard County’s students continue to excel is nearly every facet of our life. I was elated to visit Pointers Run Elementary School to celebrate our four Maryland Central Regional Elementary School Champions for the Stock Market Game; Dara Oladapo, Hope Waldman, Mahith Vemuganti and Rida Siddiqui. They have showed their incredible knowledge of the stock market! 

In addition, another Pointer Dog, Humza Nooruddin, won first place in the State of Maryland in the InvestEssay contest. I was thrilled to join his parents, Maryland Council on Economic Education Executive Director Julie Weaver, Principal Julie Schruefer, their wonderful teacher Ms. Amy Cargiulo, and his entire class to surprise him with this news and award. Please, join me in congratulating our exceptional students!

Howard County is a place where we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion, but we celebrate it. I was so excited to join Principal LaRoche, Swetha Thaker, and our entire Dolphin community at Dayton Oaks Elementary School for the annual culture fest. 

From dance performances to creative cultural displays, it was such a vibrant showcase of the diversity which makes our county strong. Celebrations like these make me so proud to call Howard County home.

Our student athletes continue to make us proud as they win State titles. I was so proud to stop by River Hill High School today to congratulate some of our MPSSAA indoor track 2022 State Champions; Janasia Buckner, Larasia Buckner, Sierra Collis, and Araoluwa Omitowoju. It’s always thrilling to see our Hawks soar, and I can’t wait to see what new heights they achieve.

Howard County is hOMe to phenomenal athletes who, not only shine at the State level, but also nationals. I was thrilled to visit Oakland Mills High School to congratulate our Scorpions on securing a rousing nine total State titles in indoor track, and an additional five brought home national titles just this past weekend. These athletes saw their goal and ran towards them, and I couldn’t be more proud!

Our Eagles continue to soar to new heights, as is evident by the wonderful achievements of our State and National indoor track champions from Centennial High School; Liv Ragonese and Antonio Camacho-Bucks. These two athletes are recognized for their accomplishments across the region, and we couldn’t be more proud. Please join me in congratulating them on their success, and I wish them the best in their future endeavors!

Our gallant Gators continue to excel and impress, such as this indoor track group at Reservoir High School. Jalen Booth-Mitchell, Jamie Adams, Mecca Jackson, Sophie Davidson, and Katelyn Herberholz now have their names etched in the swamp by setting five new school records. I couldn’t be more thrilled with all they have accomplished, and I’m certain they will continue to break more records in the future.

Our Howard High School students continue to make our community proud! I was glad to visit our Lions to congratulate them for winning state and national titles for the 2022 indoor track season. Please, join me in congratulating Nimrit Ahuja, Kiley Mann, Hannah Schwab, Elizabeth Holcombe, Jasmine Wilson, Ruth Smith, and Joseph Raudabaugh.

Please join me in congratulating our 2022 Howard County Library System Spelling Bee champion Christian Cherian from Ilchester Elementary School. He will now move on to representing Howard County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in late May. We wish him the best of luck on his spelling journey.

Howard County is a proud home to a diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander community. I invite you to join us on May 1st for our first annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival at the Chrysalis in Downtown Columbia. Let’s come together to celebrate our unique culture which helps Howard County thrive. 

Get your free ticket today here.

It was my pleasure to honor two people that have given so much to Leadership Howard and to our community; Meg Ignacio and Laurie Remer. They have both been a critical force in equipping local leaders with the necessary tools to transform our community. 

As they begin their retirement, I wish them the absolute best, and I’m so grateful for their dedicated service to making Howard County the best place to live, work, play, and grow for all!

Maryland is a vibrant home to millions of residents and businesses. I couldn’t be more proud to call it home. On Friday, we celebrated 388 years since the founding of our great state. 

In honor of Maryland Day, we picked up a delicious Smith Island cake from our very own Decadent Dessert Bar Maple Lawn. Thank you so much to Lori and Jim for making this sweet, delightful dessert to help my team celebrate.

Our community strives to be inclusive and innovative – and the Patuxent Commons project checks both of those boxes. This new housing was designed in partnership with Howard County Autism Society and will support residents with disabilities and of all ages. In Howard County we recognized that providing this resource to people with disabilities can lead to more enriching and independent lives, and we are committed to building on this progress.

Read more here.

According to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Howard County’s positivity rate today is 1.97% and our 7-day moving average case rate per 100k is 4.43. There are currently no COVID-19 patients in the ICU and Acute Care units at Howard County General Hospital. We’ve sadly lost 351 of our residents to COVID-19 and we continue to keep their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.

Howard County is a state leader with 91% of our residents 5+ fully vaccinated. However, nearly 33% of our eligible residents have not yet received a booster or third shot. Being up to date with COVID vaccines is critical to reducing the severity of COVID-19 disease, including preventing hospitalization and death. Please get boosted to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination.

Viruses constantly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in a new dominant variant of the virus. As we begin to see more reports regarding a new COVID-19 variant, it’s important to keep getting tested. Howard County has dozens of testing locations. Find one near you here. 

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.

As part of our Women's History Month celebrations, we are thrilled to honor Reverend Dr. Ruteena Blake, a grandmother, caregiver, and cherished community activist. She has developed various projects within the county throughout the years, including starting a travel club for young people, putting on two plays in the 70s, and establishing a Little Theater Movement chapter in Columbia. Little Movements Theater is a group that aims to help students foster a strong sense of self and personal value through their creative expression. 

Blake also boasts 50 years of business experience. Some of her projects include owning a high-fashioned boutique for professional women in the 80s and 90s and her current owning and running of Angels Alert, an assisted living facility here in Howard County. Her multifaceted efforts to empower the community are most appreciated, just as we appreciate Dr. Blake. This is #HERstory

Our local entrepreneurs bring fresh ideas and energy to our community, and we are nurturing them here in Howard County like never before. Due to our strong commitment to creating a business-friendly community where we expand opportunity, more people want to open their businesses here. One such example is with Shiraz and Munir Ahmed who are bringing Cozy's BakeryCafe to Historic Ellicott City. 

When our small, local businesses win, we all win. Read more here.

 Peddling and Door-to-Door Soliciting in Howard County

Spring is finally here and with its warmer weather also comes an increase in door-to-door sales. For those door-to-door sales, our Department of Community Resources and Services' Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is reminding residents to ALWAYS ask to see their Howard County issued peddler-solicitor identification (ID) card. Anyone who goes door-to-door in Howard County to offer or sell goods and services, take orders for the future delivery of goods and services, sell subscriptions to newspapers, magazines or other publications, or request donations on behalf of charities or non-profit organizations is REQUIRED to register with OCP. Solicitors are required to carry this ID card on them at all times and are required to show it to anyone who asks to see it. To learn more about peddling and door-to-door soliciting in Howard County, visit OCP’s “Peddling & Soliciting” website.

To report an unregistered sales person, contact OCP at 410-313-6420 (voice/relay) or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer-protection.

 Tax Credit Overview Offered at 50+ Centers

This coming April, our Department of Finance will be visiting three of the County’s DCRS Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) 50+ Centers to discuss the many tax credits available to residents. The dates are as follows: Tuesday, April 19^th from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Bain 50+ Center, Thursday, April 21^st from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Ellicott City 50+ Center and Monday, April 25^th from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the North Laurel 50+ Center.

In addition to spring weather bringing out more door-to-door sales, with warmer weather also comes and increase in home improvement projects. If you have a home improvement project you would like to start this spring, be sure to check out these tips from OCP before hiring a home improvement contractor.

For more information or to obtain this fact sheet in an alternative format, please contact OCP at 410-313-6420 or email consumer@howardcounymd.gov.

Our Age-Friendly Howard County Action Plan spells out more than 80 action steps to create a more inclusive, accessible, safer and healthier community for all. To implement these steps, DCRS needs your help. Whether you are in school, working full- or part-time, or retired, your skills and input are invaluable to help to make the 80 action steps a reality. To find out how you can be involved, as well as receive news and updates straight to your inbox, click HERE to register for DCRS emails.

In the meantime, to learn more about the County's Age-Friendly Action Plan, check out www.howardcountymd.gov/agefriendly.

If you or someone you know is caring for a family member or friend with dementia, I encourage you to check out DCRS’s OAI’s Dementia Live®. This interactive experience 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 in this FREE program, OAI’s next upcoming sessions are Monday, April 11^th at 2:00 p.m. (virtually) and Wednesday, May 11^th at 6:00 p.m. at OAI’s office at 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia. For more information or to register for either event (please note, space is limited), please call 410-313-5917 today

Minimum Wage Increase to Begin April 1^st

Effective this Friday, April 1^st, the minimum wage in Howard County will increase to $14.00 for employers and $12.50 for small employers. Introduced by the Howard County Council this past November and signed by me in December, Council Bill (CB) No. 82-2021 establishes a series of local minimum wage increases for employees working in Howard County beginning on the 1^st. This bill calls for the minimum wage in Howard County to rise (see table below) to $16.00 per hour by July 1, 2026, with increases set after that by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) starting in January 2027.

To learn more about this minimum wage increase, including who it applies to, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/finance/minimum-wage.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, I invite you to join our Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) and Department of Community Resources and Services’ Office of Aging and Independence at the North Laurel 50+ Center tomorrow, 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. 

While communities like Howard County are made up of residents from a variety of cultural, educational, socio-economic and religious backgrounds, conscious and unconscious biases can still be held against one’s neighbor Join OHRE for a “Neighborhood Narrative” discussion on April 14^th is it explores how the stories we tell influence the biases we hold. Led by OHRE’s Community Outreach Supervisor Claudia Allen, the discussion will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Recreation & Parks’ North Laurel Community Center and will expose the ways in which media and our lived experiences influence the biases we hold about each other. Diving into the intersectionality of culture and the neuropsychology behind bias, Claudia will give audience members tools on how to remove implicit bias at the root encouraging attendees to psychologically write new narratives about their neighbors. No registration is required.

This month’s Reading Human Rights event, scheduled to take place April 26^th at 6:30 p.m. at HCLS’ Miller branch, will discuss Anita Hill’s Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence and is co-sponsored by HopeWorks and DCRS’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention. To register for this month’s event, click HERE.

As part of its HoCo By Design development process, our Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) is seeking public feedback on the policies and implementing actions of its first draft theme chapter – “Dynamic Neighborhoods: Maintaining and Supporting Vibrant Living for a More Equitable Future”. This draft chapter contains draft housing policies to address the needs of current and future residents and create more equitable neighborhoods for all. To read the chapter, click HERE.

To share your feedback, I encourage you to participate in DPZ’s Dynamic Neighborhoods SURVEY, available now through 11:59 p.m., April 10^th. All responses are optional, so feel free to answer as few or as many questions as you like as we appreciate any and all feedback.

For more information on DPZ’s HoCo By Design’s Draft Chapter Release: Dynamic Neighborhoods, visit www.hocobydesign.com/dynamic-neighborhoods, or contact DPZ’s Community Planner’s Kate Bolinger at kbolinger@howardcountymd.gov or Sarah Latimer at slatimer@howardcountymd.gov.

Next month, assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will review the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) to examine all aspects of police policy, procedures, management, operations and support services. As part of the assessment, which occurs every four years, members of the community are invited to offer comments in a variety of ways.

On Tuesday, April 12^th, a public information session will be held virtually from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Anyone wishing to give testimony must pre-register at least two hours prior to the session. To register to participate, click HERE.

Community members who are unable to attend the virtual session but would still like to provide comments to the CALEA Assessment Team may do so on April 11^th between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. by calling 410-313-3259. Comments will be taken directly by the Assessment Team.

Please note, appearances at the public information session and telephone comments are generally limited to five minutes and must address HCPD’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. The standards may be reviewed at HCPD headquarters. The local HCPD contact is Tami Bulla, who can be reached at 410-313-3229 or by email at tbulla@howardcountymd.gov.

Finally, anyone wishing to offer written comments about HCPD’s ability to meet the standards for Accreditation may: write to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, VA, 20155 OR email calea@calea.org with “Howard County Police” in the subject line.

Geared towards Howard County students heading into the 9^th grade, HCPD’s P.L.E.D.G.E. (Pride, Leadership, Education, Diversity, Growth, Evaluation) Leadership Camp is a FREE, one-week day-camp that helps participants develop leadership skills prior to entering high school. Lessons and activities challenge campers’ ability to make critical decisions, focus on core beliefs and values, recognize diversity, and work toward a common goal. This year’s P.L.E.D.G.E. Leadership Camp will offer two sessions, the first from June 27^th to July 1^st and the second from July 25^th to July 29^th.

For residents age 15 to 18 who are looking for a one-of-a-kind experience this summer, HCPD’s YPA is for you. YPA is a FREE, one-week overnight-camp (July 10^th to July 15^th) that introduces campers to what it’s like to be a police officer. Campers will train and learn like HCPD’s Police Academy recruits, while exploring career and leadership opportunities and building life skills.

For more information about either program and/or to submit an application, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/police/youth-programs today. Please note, applications are DUE by April 15^th.

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.

If you are interested in serving on the County's Animal Matters Hearing Board, I encourage you to apply today as we are currently seeking applicants. Comprised of seven voting members, the Board is responsible for ruling on appeals for animal control law violations, issued orders and declarations related to the enforcement of animal control laws. Members also make recommendations to the County’s animal control facility and review the facility’s proposed budget. To learn more about this Board, eligibility requirements and how to apply, click HERE. Please note, the deadline to apply is Friday, April 1st.

The County’s Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Stormwater Management Division will hold a public meeting next Monday, April 4^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Columbia/Ellicott City Room of the George Howard Building, located at 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City, to present plans for a pond decommissioning, a pond retrofit and a stream stabilization and restoration project.

The three project sites are located south of MD 103 between Chatsworth Way and Wheatfield Way. The Manors of Oakwood Pond, located in the open space behind 4618 Chatsworth Way, will be removed and the area restored to a natural vegetated state. The Brampton Hills pond at 4715 Widdup Court will be retrofitted to accommodate the removal of the upstream pond and to bring the pond into compliance with current standards. The unnamed stream, located in an open space extending downstream approximately 800 feet behind several lots and beginning adjacent to 8504 Autumn Harvest, will be stabilized and restored to provide safe conveyance of the runoff. This project is expected to begin by winter 2022.

Those unable to attend this meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions regarding Capital Project D-1159 (Manors of Oakwood Pond Decommissioning/Brampton Hills Retrofit) and/or Capital Project D-1158 (Autumn Forest Stream Stabilization and Restoration), should contact Mr. Brian Cleary with the DPW’s Stormwater Management Division at 410-313-6455 or email bcleary@howardcountymd.gov.

As a reminder, the County's Department of Public Works, Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission together will hold a virtual public meeting this Thursday, March 31^st at 6:30 p.m. to discuss a project to rehabilitate of Brighton Dam Road Bridge No. M-0229 over Brighton Dam. The existing Brighton Dam Road Bridge superstructure is in need of repair to enhance the safety of the traveling public and the integrity of the dam.

Led by MCDOT, pre-registration is required to participate in this meeting; to pre-register, click HERE. If you require special accommodations to participate in the meeting or to view materials, contact the MCDOT’s Project Manager Greg Hwang at Greg.Hwang@montgomerycountymd.gov.

More information about this project can be found on MCDOT's project website at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-dte/projects/BrightonDamRd/Index.html.

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.

Alternatively, you can also sign up online at FeedTheGreenBin.org or by contacting the Bureau at 410-313-6444 or emailing help@howardcountyrecycles.org.

DPW’s Bureau of Environmental Services’ curbside yard trim collection resumed today, March 28^th 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.

To learn more, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/documentshredding.

Saturday, April 2nd is World Autism Acceptance Day. To help spread kindness, increase autism awareness and celebrate the day, Recreation & Parks is co-sponsoring "Autism in the Park", along with HCPD, the County’s Department of Fire and Rescue Services, the Howard County Autism Society and Equipment Connections for Children. This FREE event will feature interactive play, entertainers, face painting, music, ice cream, opportunities to visit with first responders and a chance for residents to learn more about our amazing autism community. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Blandair Regional Park’s Laura’s Place Playground (north area) in Columbia.

Opened last year, Laura’s Place “play-for-all” playground was designed from the ground up to encourage children of all ability levels to be able to play together and boasts unique features designed to accommodate cognitive, communicative, social/emotional and sensory disabilities. These include a fence that surrounds the playground, non-verbal communication boards donated by the Howard County Autism Society, and other Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant accessibility items.

To learn more about "Autism in the Park, click HERE. For more information about Blandair Regional Park, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/blandairpark.

Also on April 2^nd, Recreation & Parks will be hosting an afternoon of nature exploration and campfire fun geared towards Howard County’s deaf and hard of hearing community (age nine to 14) at its Robinson Nature Center. Held in partnership with Howard County’s Therapeutic Recreation (TR) program, Robinson Nature Center naturalists will be assisted by ASL interpreters and TR staff to take participants on a guided hike through the grounds. Afterwards, participants will roast marshmallows over the campfire and have a chance to socialize. Tickets are $10. For more information and/or to purchase your ticket, click HERE.

Join Recreation & Parks, Howard County Health Department (HCHD), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Maryland Chapter (AFSP) and Bullseye Running on Friday, April 8^th for Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention Run/Walk. More than just a race, this event will serve as a county-wide acknowledgment that we support and care for those impacted by suicide. Between 2014 and 2016, suicide was the leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 19 in Howard County and in 2018, HCHD reported that one in six high school students seriously considered attempting suicide. To note, this data was gathered before the pandemic and does not depict the effects of isolation-related depression and financial stressors on families.

For more information and/or to register for this event, visit https://tinyurl.com/lightthenight5k.

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.

Kid’s Fest is Just Around the Corner

Come experience all that our Department of Recreation & Parks has to offer our Howard County youth by taking part in its 7^th annual Kid's Fest on April 16^th at Meadowbrook Park. From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30p.m., this always popular and ever-so-exciting event will feature sports instruction, games, activities, arts and crafts, food and much more. While geared towards children, age two to 12, the whole family is invited.

Pre-registration is encouraged; however, it is not required as on-site registration will be available the day of the event. To register for this event in advance (note, the cost per child age two to 12 is $12 a ticket) or for more information, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/kids-fest today. The cost to purchase a ticket in person the day of the event and to pay by cash or check is $15 per child.

In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, Recreation & Parks’ Robinson Nature Center is pleased to host a FREE outdoor extravaganza on April 24^th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. for families with members on the autism spectrum (all ages). Participants will enjoy a variety of guided and self-paced activities with Nature Center, Therapeutic Recreation, Park Ranger and Heritage staff. Activities will include sensory pathways, historical demonstrations, scavenger hunts, nature exploration and crafts. To preregister for this event in order to receive the event schedule in advance, visit tinyurl.com/Autism-Acceptance or call 410-313-0400. 

Embark on a nighttime, nature-based scavenger hunt at Recreation & Parks’ Robinson Nature Center on April 29^th from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Using the GooseChase app, participants will complete a series of missions, learning about spring-time natural phenomena, including constellations, migrating animals and evening wildlife rituals, along the way. The evening will end with a program in Robinson Nature Center’s planetarium.

Participants must be 18 and older to participate and singles, couples and teams of up to five people are welcome. Tickets are $20 a person and preregistration is required as space is limited.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS, Recreation & Parks’ sponsored Wine in the Woods is back! Scheduled to take place the weekend of May 21^st and 22^nd at Symphony Woods in Columbia, this year’s two-day event will feature around 20 wineries, 22 specialty food vendors, 30 artisans/crafters and 12 musical acts. For more information and/or to purchase your tickets for this year’s tasting extravaganza, visit www.wineinthewoods.com.