Dear Friends,

Howard County remains one of the best places to live, work, play and grow within the nation and we are proud of the progress we’ve made and the future we will shape together. 

I invite you to join me for the 2021 State of the County Address TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 16th, at 6:00 p.m. where we will highlight the progress we’ve made, together. For accessibility, a sign language interpreter will be available. 

Register to watch here.

As of 9:00 a.m. today, our 7-day average positivity rate is 2.63% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 8.9. There are currently 13 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units. Already, as the weather cools and more folks are gathering indoors, we’ve seen our rates creep upward. Please continue to be vigilant with mitigation measures and encourage those who remain unvaccinated to get their shot. If you develop COVID symptoms please stay home and get tested.

As the holiday season approaches, it’s vital to have a highly vaccinated community. We continue to encourage vaccination as other COVID-19 variants continue to be a concern. According to the Maryland Department of Health, Howard County continues to be a leader in the state with our COVID-19 vaccination rates – with 96% of residents 12 and older receiving at least one dose of a vaccine.

 

Vaccines are now available for residents ages 5-11 at local providers including many pediatricians, our health department clinics, and our local pharmacies. 

 

To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you, including those offering booster shots, visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov, call 410-313-6284, or contact your medical provider.  

If you have:

I strongly encourage you to get tested as soon as possible. Please remember that it is possible to have COVID-19 and not have any symptoms.

For more information, please click here.

In light of the demands being placed on school bus drivers that are providing a critical and important service to students and families throughout the County, I am committing $2 million of our County’s American Rescue Plan allocation to provide retention bonuses for existing bus drivers and attendants, and signing bonuses to attract new bus drivers and attendants to address the vacancy and workload issues that have plagued these men and women and the services they provide over the past several months. 

Please watch my full statement and our efforts to address this issue.

Learning our local history can have a profound effect on us. I was honored to join Liz Bobo, Howard County’s first female County Executive, at the Historical Society to unveil a marker for Laura Byrne, one of the first women to lead the fight for Women’s Suffrage in Howard County. The women's suffrage movement continues to impact women's rights today. 

Thank you to the Howard County Historical Society, Maryland Women's Heritage Center, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for highlighting our history and uncovering stories of our past.

Please join me in congratulating my long-time friend, Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary on her new assignment as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee. For the past several years, she has served as the Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee in which her dedication and leadership has helped improve our quality of life.

Delegate Atterbeary’s new assignment makes her the 3rd Chair within the Howard County Delegation, following Delegate Shane Pendergrass, Chair of House Health and Government Operations and Senator Guy Guzzone, Chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. We are so proud of her and all the work our Delegation continues to do in the General Assembly on behalf of Howard County residents and the entire state of Maryland.

On Tuesday, November 16th at 7:30pm, the Howard County Delegation will host a virtual public hearing on proposed legislation for the 2022 Session in the Maryland General Assembly. 

To review the legislation, please visit the State Delegation’s page here.

Residents can submit written testimony via email to hoc1@mlis.state.md.us or sign up to provide oral testimony here.

It was wonderful to spend time with friends and colleagues celebrating 50 years of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus. The caucus has spent decades advocating for the social and economic advancement of communities of color. I’m proud of today’s award winners and their work on behalf of our entire community

As the weather gets cooler, it’s important to look out for our friends and neighbors in need. I was pleased to join the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services to distribute 200 gift cards at the Elkridge 50+ Center and the Long Reach Village Center. 

By working together, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have a wonderful holiday season.

Girl Scouts may be famously known for their cookies, but it’s their service to our community which makes them truly unique. I was thrilled to join Girl Scouts Troop 2036 to discuss how local government helps shape our community and the world around us. 

After our conversations, I remain confident that our next generation of leaders will continue to inspire each other to make a better community for all.

Howard County is thrilled to have amazing restaurants that contribute to our diverse culinary scene. I was pleased to join the Challa family for the grand opening of Amrutha Bistro in Ellicott City. They serve an authentic Indian cuisine, which includes delicious papri chaat, chicken 65, and chili fry fish. We wish them success for years ahead! 

Learn more about Amrutha here. Please, continue to support our small, local restaurants and businesses.

Every day, I'm reminded of how lucky we are to call Howard County home. We have some of the best parks in the nation, and this time of year as the leaves change colors and the air gets more crisp, let's all take a moment to take it all in.

Check out some of the fall colors at Centennial Park we saw last week.

I was happy to join Hopkins United Methodist Church in Highland for their Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner - Pick Up. Thank you for having this important community event which helps brings family, friends, and neighbors together. 

Through events like this, we can ensure no one feels alone this holiday season.

Progress and transformation are not possible without imagination, and we want to continue to do our part to support and encourage innovative ideas. I'm proud to launch the Transform Howard Innovation Grants, which is $500,000 in grant funding for non-profits to design and implement forward-thinking, emerging, and creative ideas to support the community. These grants will accept applications for five categories focused on students, infrastructure, residents, cybersecurity, and the environment.

Applications close this Friday, November 19th. I encourage residents to apply online here.

Don't miss Consumer Protection Days at Howard County's MultiService Center on Wednesday, November 17 and Wednesday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Presented by the Howard County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP), this free in-person event gives consumers the opportunity to meet with OCP staff, ask questions and get answers about consumer issues, including:

For more information, or to request accommodations to participate, call the MultiService Center at 410-313-0220 or the Office of Consumer Protection at 410-313-6420. 

Open Enrollment for Medicare’s 2022 health and prescription drug plans is now open, running through December 7^th. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries are able to add, drop or switch their plans. Residents who are in need of assistance with reviewing their Medicare Prescription Drug coverage options are encouraged to contact DCRS’ State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) team. To schedule a remote counseling appointment by phone with a certified SHIP counselor, call 410-313-7392 (voice/relay) today. 

Veterans should be wary of any unsolicited callers purporting to be from the VA asking for personal information, offering help to increase benefits or access government programs. For more information, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/scam-alerts.

Coordinated by the Caregiver Action Network, the theme of this year’s National Family Caregivers Month is “#CaregiverAnd.” This year’s theme encourages family caregivers to celebrate all the roles and responsibilities which make their lives complete. Caring for others, while juggling the demands of family, home and work life can be overwhelming, that's why it's oh so important for caregivers to incorporate components of self-care into their daily routines to prevent burnout and depression.

As part of National Family Caregivers Month, DCRS’s Office on Aging & Independence’s (OAI) Caregiver Support Program will present a virtual webinar for caregivers, “Explaining the Process: How OAI Supports Our Caregivers, Our Heroes,” on Tuesday, November 30^th from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn more about caregiver support options offered through OAI's Home and Community-Based Services, including: Caregiver Support Program; Maryland Access Point; Community Living Program; Senior Care; Medicaid Supports Planning Unit; and Assisted Living and Nursing Home Placements. To register for this FREE event, visit https://oaicaregiverwebinar.eventbrite.com.

For more questions and/or more information, please contact DCRS’s OAI Caregiver Support Program Manager Kathy Wehr at 410-313-5955 (voice/relay) or email kwehr@howardcountymd.gov.

DCRS’ Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) is a proud sponsor of the Beacon Virtual 50+EXPO, an online event which features an interactive website with information and resources geared to older adults. Now through January 31^st, visitors can access content on demand 24 hours a day from https://beacon50expo.com/. Log on anytime to visit more than 100 exhibitors and sponsors, including OAI's Bronze-level sponsors, Lorien Health and Maryland Vascular Specialists; engage with speakers; attend online classes; and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment.

In an emergency, every second counts. Fire hydrants that are blocked, concealed or difficult to and/or your business is interested in helping ensure DFRS has quick and easy access to the fire hydrant(s) in your neighborhood, consider adopting a hydrant today.

To adopt a hydrant or to learn more about this program, email DFRS to outreach@hcdfrs.org with your name, address, email and the tag number for the hydrant you’d like to adopt.

DFRS would love to take it off your hands as the Department is currently looking for donations of unwanted cars. These donations help our firefighters train and prepare for incidents involving motor vehicles. Benefits of donating your old car include: a tax deduction; DFRS will tow your car for free; and the knowledge that you are providing an invaluable training opportunity for our first responders. To learn more, click HERE.

Calling all members of the general public, if you are interested in serving on the County’s Board of Health – who is responsible for the health and sanitary interests of the people of Howard County, I implore you to apply today. Comprised of 11 members, the Board must include: one environmental health professional; three health professionals, one which may be a veterinarian; and seven members from the general public. Those representing the general public must meet one of the following qualifications provided that not more than three meet the same qualification: 

If interested in apply, please send your resume and brief letter explaining why you want to serve on the Board to Kimberly Pruim either by email to kpruim@howardcountymd.gov or by mail to: Howard County Government, Office of the County Executive, Attn: Kimberly Pruim, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. The names of eligible applicants will be submitted to the County Executive for approval and then to the County Council for confirmation. The deadline to apply is next Wednesday, November 24^th.

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.

If you are in need of rent relief and utility assistance, the County has received an additional $7.7 million in grant funding from the U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Assistance is available for Howard County residents experiencing a loss of income, reduction in earnings, medical illness or had to care for family due to COVID-19. The funding can be used to pay past due rent and utility expenses for up to 18 months. Residents that have received assistance previously are eligible to apply for additional assistance from this funding up to a total of 18 months assistance. Our Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is encouraging all residents with COVID-related household income losses to contact one of the non-profit providers as soon as possible to bring rent and utility accounts current and avoid eviction. For details on how to apply, visit DHCD’s "COVID-19 Housing Information" website.

This latest funding is in addition to the previous $9.7 million in grants from the ERAP I announced back in March, which as of October 1^st, has assisted 719 households in need.

For homeowners, while this additional funding only supports rental and utility assistance, last month I announced $2 million in American Rescue Plan funding to assist struggling homeowners and prevent foreclosures in Howard County. Homeowners that have fallen behind on their mortgage payments are also encouraged to visit DHCD’s "COVID-19 Housing Information" website for details and an application.

OHRE Book Club’s Native American Heritage Month Book Discussion

November is Native American Heritage Month (NAHM) and our Office of Human Rights and Equity’s (OHRE), Howard County Library System (HCLS), local business Nava Be Diné and I have partnered together to recognize the culture, traditions and history of American Indians and Alaska Natives. I invite residents of all ages and backgrounds to take part in a variety of activities being offered this month to celebrate NAHM.

Next Thursday, November 18^th, OHRE and HCLS will also be hosting a book discussion group on the 2021 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Night Watchmen, by Louise Erdrich. Come travel back to 1953 with OHRE and HCLS, as a night watchman fights against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C. A bestseller based on the extraordinary life of Louise Erdrich’s grandfather, this is a masterpiece and conversation you do not want to miss. Set take place HCLS’s Central Branch starting at 6:30 p.m., to register to participate, click HERE to place a hold request using your HCLS library card.

 NAHM Lunch & Learn: “Two Spirits: Native & Black Intersectionality”

Finally, in continuation of its series exploring intersectionality, OHRE will wrap up its celebration of NAHM with a virtual Lunch & Learn: “Two Spirits: Native & Black Intersectionality,” featuring Karelle Hall, a Black and Native American PhD Candidate studying Anthropology at Rutgers University. Hall will present on the history and experience of those who racially and ethnically identify as Native and Black American. Hall’s presentation will be feature on OHRE’s Facebook page and the County’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, November 24^th. 

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.

Reminder, the County’s holiday slide schedule WILL BE in effect next week as the Thanksgiving Day holiday is one of the six holidays that affects the County’s curbside trash, recycling, yard trim and food scrap collection services. As a result, there will be NO curbside collection on Thursday, November 25^th and Thursday’s collection will slide to Friday and Friday to Saturday.

Household Hazardous Waste Season Ends November 27^th

REMINDER: The Bureau’s final Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) day for the 2021 is on Saturday, November 27^th. While the HHW season normally runs from April through November, the Bureau does plan to offer special Saturday collections during the winter off-season. Stay tuned to the Bureau’s HHW website for details. The 2022 HHW season will reopen on the first Saturday in April.

In case you missed it, last week I celebrated the opening of Howard County Recreation and Parks' Centennial Park North’s new Sensory-Friendly Play Experience playground. The first PlayCore National Demonstration Site in Howard County, our newest playground was designed in line with PlayCore’s principles of fairness, inclusion, independence, comfort and safety. Featuring a lower overhead ladder, two expression swings, a Zero-G swing chair, a Merry-Go-All, a nonverbal communication board and musical instruments, the new playground is a testament to our commitment to ensuring our public spaces meet the needs of everyone in our community, no matter their age or ability.

If you enjoy working with people in a recreation setting and are you interested in supporting individuals in their recreation pursuits, I encourage you to stop by during one of Recreation & Parks’ walk-up times for the opportunity to interview for the following positions: Childcare, Lifeguard, Inclusion Companion, Sports Coach, Tournament Supervisor, Community Facility Leader, Swim Instructor, Therapeutic Recreation Leader and Adaptive Swim Instructor. You can also email howardcountyrecandparksjobs@gmail.com to schedule a specific time to interview in-person or virtually.

If you would rather “opt outside” for your holiday shopping this year, check out our Recreation & Parks Mistletoe at Midday Makers Mart” next Saturday, November 20^th from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the Robinson Nature Center (RNC) in Columbia. This FREE sustainable shopping event will feature local artisans showcasing their handmade, nature-inspired and eco-friendly wares at tables outside and inside the Center.

During the event, participants can also take advantage of a special 10 percent discount off purchases from RNC’s gift shop. The Center will also offer science, space and nature-themed children’s gifts and limited-edition holiday gift kits. For more information and/or to register, click HERE.

Families come join Recreation & Parks’ for its first-ever Reindeer Games on Friday, December 10th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Roger Carter Community Center. Geared towards children six to 11 years old, come play games, dance, create a craft, drink hot chocolate and maybe even win a prize during this enchanting evening. While the event is FREE, preregistration is required to participate. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a canned food to donate to the local food bank.

Finally, mark your calendar and join Recreation & Parks on December 19^th, as its Trips and Tours team travels by bus to The Kennedy Center for “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations.” This electrifying new musical follows The Temptations' extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal is set to the beat of the group's well-known hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and so many more. Tickets are $159 and can be purchased by clicking HERE. The Kennedy Center now requires that patrons present their vaccination card for admittance.

Our Office of Transportation is still seeking public comment on its proposed bike lanes on Guilford Road, Gerwig Lane and Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia. Improvements include bike lanes and sharrows along segments of these roadways. To learn more about this project and/or to share your feedback with Transportation via a short survey, visit the project webpage today. Please note, the deadline for public comment is next Wednesday, November 24^th.

If you have questions or require reasonable accommodations to participate in this event, please email Transportation at transportation@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-4312. Accommodations requests must be made at least five business days before the event.

As part of the development of its Transportation Demand Management Plan for Downtown Columbia (DTC), the Office of Transportation is working with the Downtown Columbia Partnership to survey those who live, work and play in DTC. The purpose of the survey to develop a better understanding of the transportation needs and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel patterns of those who live, work and play and this area. Your responses will help Transportation design new transportation options and strategies to address current needs as well as into the post-COVID period. To take the survey, click HERE.