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Dear Friends,
As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant hardship, trauma, and loss among our young people, particularly those between the ages of 10-18. As a result, I announced our Youth Engagement Programming (YEP!) Grants during a rally at the People Tree in Columbia. These grants promote youth activities and engagement in Howard County through free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations.
I remain committed to working alongside our young people to create a safe community where everyone is welcomed, supported, and encouraged to be their best self. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, young people in Howard County need greater access to safe and engaging environments where they can recreate and interact with each other in a positive way. The YEP! program will provide new opportunities for youth to participate in activities and programs outside of school hours.
Read more about YEP! here.
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Recognizing Our Trailblazers
Brandee Ganz serving as Howard County’s Chief Information Officer, worked valiantly to ensure that our government and communities were well-equipped with the technology we needed to modernize and innovate through the pandemic. Most notably, she led the efforts to expand broadband access to many households in the County.
This month, Brandee began her tenure as the county’s Chief Administrative Officer. I am excited as she brings a strong people-centered, innovative and business lens to her new role to increase efficiency and effectiveness for our government, while improving customer service for internal and external customers. During this Women’s History Month, please join me in celebrating, a County leader who has and continues to break ground, Brandee Ganz.
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Here Comes The Sustainable Bridal Gowns
Cherie Sustainable Bridal specializes in creating bridal gowns and accessories affordable and environmentally friendly. It was a pleasure to join Jeanette Kendell and Councilwoman Christiana Rigby to celebrate their new space and expansion in Savage Mill. Socially focused non-profit enterprises such as this benefit our community, and I thank Jeanette for her leadership, including as CEO of Success in Style.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, the expansion of this women-owned business is something to behold! Congratulations, and I wish you and your team ongoing success! Learn more about them here.
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A Treasured Piece of History
In 1949, The Harriet Tubman School opened as the only all-black high school in Howard County and was utilized by the Public School system for over 50 years. Over the last four years, the school has seen record investment and now serves as a historic, educational and cultural space. Our investments reflect our commitment to learning from our past and creating an even brighter future, full of more opportunity for all.
As we honor the legacy left behind by Harriet Tubman, join us for a virtual tour inside the facility that continues to stand as a beacon of unity in our community.
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Celebrating Women
On International Women’s Day, we celebrated the incredible women in our community and take a moment raise awareness for women’s equality. In honor of women around the world, we lit the George Howard Building purple to symbolize our support for the dignity and justice that women everywhere deserve.
We are in solidarity for the rights of girls and women across the globe. Today and every day we continue a journey of educational and social awareness and #EmbraceEquity as a means of achieving it.
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Highest in 11 Years
One of Howard County’s greatest assets is our exceptional school system. It is so humbling to see that our HCPSS Class of 2022 achieved a 94.6% graduation rate. This exemplary achievement is a testament of the collaborative efforts of our educators, parents, and every person who works hard to ensure our students reach success.
This graduated class was a class of resilience and it is evident in receiving this designation which is the highest in 11 years. We still have a great deal of work to do for our students of all abilities and incomes and this accolade is a wonderful reminder of how we can build upon success for all. Read more here.
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Affordable Housing in Robinson Overlook
Currently in Howard County, just 9% of housing is affordable to households making less than 60% of the area median income (AMI), which for a family of four is $74,425. The Robinson Overlook apartment community, a mixed-income rental housing development, will have 43 of its 48 units rented to households that earn at, or below 60% of the AMI.
Learn more about this inclusive community in this video.
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Having Fun, Together
We are so fortunate to have an organization like Camp Attaway in Howard County. In 1996, when Dr. Saul Lieberman and Dr. David Cooper turned their dream camp into a reality, they began to change lives in our community. For over 25 years Camp Attaway has made sure that behavioral and emotional challenges won’t stop children from learning and having fun together.
I was so pleased to join Sue Ann Shafley and their Board for the third annual Gin & Jazz soiree to celebrate the legacy of Camp Attaway. It is so important that we continue to support children with special needs, as well as their families and loved ones.
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Festival of Colors
Holi is the festival colors which welcomes the arrival of Spring after winter. It’s the time to commemorate triumph over evil, to forgive and forget, and to celebrate togetherness. Howard County is so grateful to have a vibrant and diverse South Asian community who help make our county thrive.
As we celebrate this beautiful festival of colors, may you be gifted with all the colors of life, colors of joy, colors of happiness, colors of friendship, colors of love and all other colors you want to paint your life with.
Happy Holi!
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Ask Away
We remain committed to ensuring a responsive government. Our team is ready to help residents navigate the county bureaucracy, respond to questions or concerns, and assist those trying to access County services. If you have a question, but you're not sure who to ask, send us an email at Ask@howardcountymd.gov
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Join the Police Accountability Board
Howard County is home to the safest city in America due to our efforts to prioritize public safety and reinforcing public trust. Our Police Accountability Board ensures transparency and helps us engage residents as partners in accountability. We are currently recruiting applicants from Councilmanic District 5 to serve a three-year term on the County’s Police Accountability Board.
I encourage residents from District Five who want to work with our Board to help ensure that we are safe and feel safe in Howard County to apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 31st. Learn more here.
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Join the Planning Board
We are currently seeking applicants from Council District 1 interested in serving on the Planning Board. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be Howard County residents residing in Councilmanic District 1, 18 years of age or older, have an interest in planning and zoning, and be able to attend the Board’s meetings, which are typically held the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Interested applicants should email Paul Thompson at ApplyBC@howardcountymd.gov with the name of the board or commission for which they seek appointment, their home address and contact information. Included with the email, applicants should attach their resume and a brief letter explaining why they want to serve on the board or commission.
Applicants are asked not to include their contact information, i.e., home address, phone number(s) and email address, on their resume and cover letter. The names of eligible applicants will be submitted to the County Executive for consideration. If approved, the appointment will be forwarded to the County Council for confirmation.
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Join My Team!
My office is currently looking to fill several vacant positions. To learn more and apply, please click the respective link below.
I encourage interested persons to apply today! To find a full listing of available positions, please click here.
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Department of Community Resources and Services | |
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Cash Refund Available for Eligible Instacart Workers
If you worked for Instacart and made at least one delivery in Washington, D.C. between October 1, 2016 and April 30, 2018, our Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) wants to make sure you are aware that you might be eligible for a minimum cash refund of $150 as the result of an Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) lawsuit. The OAG believes there are more than 10,000 individuals in the DMV region who are eligible.
For more information and/or to submit a claim form, visit instacartworkerrefundsdc.com. Please note, the DEADLINE to file a claim and submit all proof documents is March 25, 2023.
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March Children and Families Workshops Offered for Parents
This month, DCRS’s Office of Children and Families (OCF) will offer the following free in-person and virtual workshops focused on “Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite”, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Storytime” and “Managing Parenting Anger and Frustration”.
Biting is a typical behavior often seen in infants, toddlers and two-year-olds. As children mature, gain self-control and develop problem-solving skills, they usually outgrow this behavior. To help parents/guardians learn how to better understand why their child bites and how to prevent/address this challenging behavior, OCF will host a virtual workshop, “Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite”, on Tuesday, March 28th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. To register for this workshop, click HERE.
Calling all hungry caterpillars ages two to five, I invite you to join OCF’s Parents as Teachers team on Wednesday, March 29th at 10:30 a.m. at 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, for a The Very Hungry Caterpillar Storytime event. In addition to reading Eric Carle’s classic children’s book, participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy a hands-on parent-child arts and crafts activity and a snack. To register for this free event, click HERE.
OCF will wrap up the month with its “Managing Parenting Anger and Frustration workshop on Thursday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. Parenting is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it does come with its challenges, especially when our children don’t listen or have meltdowns. Through this workshop, participants will learn tools to navigate their child’s anger and frustration, as well as coping strategies when feeling elevated. To learn more about and to register for this virtual workshop, click HERE.
For more information about these workshops and other programs being offered by OCF this month, check out OCF’s March issue of its Parent Pages monthly publication today.
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It’s National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month and a great time to discover how a balanced, healthy diet provides "Fuel for the Future" for older adults and others.
To ensure our older residents have access to nutrient-rich meals, DCRS’s Office on Aging & Independence’s (OAI) nutrition team offers a variety of meal options, including congregate meals and home delivered meals for homebound individuals. In 2022 alone, the team served more than 14,000 nutritious lunches to older county residents.
To learn more about OAI’s nutrition services, check out its "Health Promotion & Nutrition Services" website. On this site, visitors will find this month’s 50+ Center meal menus, as well as details about scheduling a free one-one consultation with a registered dietician.
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The Path Home Progress Report 2022 Now Available
DCRS’s Office of Community Partnership’s Coalition to End Homelessness’ “The Path Home Progress Report 2022” is now available online. This report highlights the efforts of Coalition and its community partners during the 2022 calendar year to make homelessness rare, brief and a one-time experience.
Comprised of 23 members representing Howard County Government, Howard County Public School System, non-profit agencies, the business
and faith communities, citizen advocates and individuals with lived experience, the Coalition strives to create a system of housing and care that responds to the needs of homeless individuals and families in Howard County.
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AARP Income Tax Preparation Appointments Now Available at a 50+ Center Near You
Now through April 13th, AARP and the IRS are offering FREE personal Federal and Maryland income tax preparation at our 50+ centers across the county. Offered by appointment only, this service is available to middle- and low-income taxpayers with special emphasis on those 60 and older. Self-employment returns with more than $5,000 in expenses and complex returns are not eligible for this service. Also, please keep in mind, each appointment is for one single or joint return.
Appointments will be available on the following days, times and 50+ center locations:
To schedule a tax prep appointment, please call 443-741-2373; do NOT call a 50+ center directly. To your appointment, participants will need to bring the Social Security card for anyone listed on their personal return, their 2021 state and federal tax returns, all 2022 tax records and the purchase cost of investment transactions during 2022 (if any).
All preparers and volunteers have received IRS-approved training and are certified in tax preparation.
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Office of Emergency Management | |
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This month, our Office of Emergency Management will host two public meetings (in-person on March 22nd at Recreation and Parks' Harriet Tubman Cultural Center and virtually on March 29th) to gather public input and discuss the County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and Flood Mitigation Plan update. These two plans define goals and actions that can be taken to mitigate impacts from a variety of hazards, including flooding, within the county. The County is required to update these plans every five years.
To learn more about these meetings and how to participate, click HERE.
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Department of Fire and Rescue Services | |
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When Springing Your Clocks Forward, Be Sure to Also Check Your Smoke Alarms
With the start of daylight saving time yesterday, our Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) is reminding residents to be sure to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are in working order. As DFRS reminds us, our first line of defense against a house fire is a working smoke alarm. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 65 percent of home fire deaths happen in homes without smoke alarms or with smoke alarms that do not work. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out.
So, whether you have the sealed-in, 10-year/long-life battery-operated smoke alarms or hardwired smoke alarms (with battery backups), remember, it is always a good idea to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning properly.
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Brush Fire Prevention
Just as Smokey Bear says, “Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires", DFRS is reminding residents that “Only YOU can help prevent brush fires!” While wildfires occur in every month in Maryland, they tend to peak in the spring and fall. With the first day of spring a week away, DFRS is reminding residents to:
- Make sure they discard of smoking materials properly in a deep, sturdy ash tray away from anything flammable;
- NEVER toss cigarette butts out of your car; and
- Always make sure that nothing is dragging from your vehicle as sparks from a vehicle can cause brush fires.
If you come upon a brush fire, move safely away from the area and then call 911 with your location and the location of the fire.
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Department of Housing and Community Development | |
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Grant Funding Public Hearings and Public Comment Period this March
This week, our Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be hosting two public hearings regarding grant funding.
The first public hearing will take place today, March 13th at 6:00 p.m. in Room 211 at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia and will discuss the County’s award of $1,757,012.00 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program – American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Allocation Plan funds through a one-time allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HOME-ARP Allocation Plan outlines how funding will be used to assist individuals or households who are: 1) homeless; 2) at risk of homelessness; 3) fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; or 4) other families requiring services or housing assistance to prevent homelessness or those at greatest risk of housing instability. HOME-ARP funding can be used to assist these populations by providing affordable housing, rental assistance, supportive services and non-congregate shelter.
Residents can view a copy of the proposed HOME-ARP Allocation Plan online and have until 11:59 p.m. this Wednesday, March 15th to submit public comments about it to DHCD either via email (to emeadows@howardcountymd.gov or macarnegie@howardcountymd.gov), mail (Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development, 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046) or fax (410-313-5960).
Also, this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room 211 at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, DHCD will also hold a public hearing to obtain public comments regarding the development of the FFY2023 Annual Action Plan (AAP) Draft and proposed Budget. The AAP is the County’s yearly application for funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). The CDBG and HOME programs provide funds for a variety of housing and community development activities that principally benefit low and moderate-income residents.
Residents can also submit comments about the AAP through 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, March 22nd to DHCD either via email to kcimino@howardcountymd.gov or emeadows@howardcountymd.gov or by mail to DHCD, Attn: Kelly Cimino OR Elizabeth Meadows, 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046.
To learn more about the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan and corresponding public hearings, including the date, time, location and details surrounding the second event, and the public comment period, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/DHCD-Grants.
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Proposals Sought from Community Partners for Housing Opportunities Trust Fund
As DHCD and I shared last week, we are currently seeking proposals from community partners for homeownership and neighborhood initiatives, as well as rehabilitation and multifamily rental housing projects, that are eligible for funding from the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund (HOTF) Notice of Funding Availability. The HOTF is the first financial tool to help implement the actions identified in the Housing Opportunities Master Plan and received an initial allocation of $5 million in my Fiscal Year 2023 budget. DHCD is seeking proposals for initiatives that are bold and impactful to help address Howard County’s affordable housing needs and gaps.
The application is available on DHCD’s website and is due by no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday, April 14th.
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Office of Human Rights and Equity | |
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Reading Human Rights
Reading Human Rights is an award-winning monthly book discussion group hosted by our Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) and Howard County Library System (HCLS) that encourages literary exploration and community dialogue around a variety of human rights concerns. It explores works of fiction and non-fiction to teach community members the various ways individuals, cultures and communities celebrate their identities and combat injustice.
For its March book discussion – to be held in person at HCLS Miller branch in Ellicott City next Tuesday, March 21st at 6:30 p.m., OHRE and HCLS will discuss Valarie Kaur’s See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. A Sikh civil rights activist, lawyer, filmmaker, innovator and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, Kaur takes readers through her own journey as a brown girl growing up Sikh in California post-9/11. See No Stranger helps readers imagine new ways of being with each other and with ourselves, so that together we can begin to build the world we want to see.
To secure your seat for this month’s event, click HERE today to register.
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Department of Planning and Zoning | |
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DPZNotify
This past December, our Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) launched DPZNotify, a one-stop notification platform that keeps you informed and updated on pre-submission meetings, capital budget hearings and other planning-related initiatives. With DPZNotify, residents can register to receive relevant DPZ updates and other DPZ information of their choosing. To sign up to receive DPZNotify, click HERE.
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Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board
Tomorrow, March 14th at 10:00 a.m., DPZ’s 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.
The agenda for tomorrow’s meeting can be found online.
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Join Howard County Police Department, Apply Today!
Interested in joining the ranks of Howard County Police Department (HCPD)? HCPD is currently recruiting lateral and entry-level officers with laterals able to test on their own personal schedules for a spring class and entry-level applicants who test by Saturday, April 1st, can be fast-tracked into HCPD's June academy!
To learn more about HCPD's application process, qualifications, pay and benefits (including a $10,000 hiring bonus), click HERE. To subscribe to receive text updates about testing dates and the hiring process, as well as the option to text with an HCPD recruiter, visit https://slkt.io/Xq8w today.
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Howard County youth, HCPD is NOW accepting applications for its BEARTRAX, Youth Police Academy and P.L.E.D.G.E. (Pride, Leadership, Education, Diversity, Growth, Evaluation) Summer Leadership Camp programs.
Geared towards rising Howard County sixth graders, BEARTRAX is a FREE overnight camp featuring fishing, rock climbing, swimming, hiking, archery, zip lining and more, all while building leadership skills, confidence, team building, life skills and self-esteem.
HCPD's Youth Police Academy (YPA) offers 15 to18 years old a one-of-a-kind experience. Through this FREE one-week overnight-camp, campers train and learn like those in the police academy, while exploring career and leadership opportunities and building life skills.
Finally, HCPD's P.L.E.D.G.E. Summer Leadership Camp is for graduating 8th graders, helping participants develop leadership skills prior to entering high school this fall. During this FREE, one-week day-camp, campers will be challenged to make critical decisions, focus on core beliefs and values, recognize diversity and work toward a common goal.
To learn more about each of these camps, including summer camp dates and for an application, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/police/youth-programs. Applications are due by April 15th.
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Department of Public Works | |
Bureau of Environmental Services | |
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Yard Trim Collection to Resume April 3rd
Our Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Bureau of Environmental Services new curbside yard trim collection program season will begin Monday, April 3rd. Until the season reopens on the 3rd, residents can drop their yard trim off at the County’s Alpha Ridge Landfill’s Wood Waste Area (open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to be recycled into compost or set it out on their trash day for trash collection.
County residents who reside in a Feed The Green Bin area are reminded that they receive year-round yard trim collection with your food scrap collection.
For questions and/or more information about the County’s curbside trash, recycling, food scrap and yard trim collection programs, please contact DPW’s Bureau of Environmental Services at 410-313-6444 or email help@howardcountyrecycles.org.
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GreenFest is Back for its 16th Year
Mark your calendars and be sure to join our Bureau of Environmental Services and Office of Community Sustainability on Saturday, April 15th for the County’s 16th annual GreenFest celebration at Howard Community College’s Science, Engineering and Technology Building. This year’s event will feature a compost bin demonstration and giveaways, native plant sale, recognition of this year’s Green awards winners, used sports equipment collection workshops and much more.
The event will also feature the County’s first County-sponsored document shredding event of 2023, held rain or shine in parking lot A from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (OR UNTIL the trucks are full). County residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded and are asked to ONLY bring items that contain personal information. Junk mail, catalogs and office paper should be recycled with your curbside recycling collection.
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Know Before You Throw – Mulch
Mulch is a great material for weed suppression and water retention. By adding mulch to your garden, you can improve the soil and your plant's root systems. If you added layers of mulch in preparation for winter and are wondering to do with your old mulch … reuse it! Unless your plants experienced any disease issues last year, that mulch is perfectly usable this spring. When applying compost, simply rake the old mulch to the side and then put it back on top. For best practices, check out the Master Gardener's guide to mulching trees and shrubs. If you have an excess of mulch, consider offering it to your neighbors.
Remember, mulch is not acceptable in curbside yard trim collection.
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Currently underway, DPW’s Bureau of Utilities annual Fire Hydrant Inspection program aims to inspect and ensure all 10,111 fire hydrants located throughout the county are fully operational. Launched in 2012, the Bureau’s annual Fire Hydrant Inspection program effectively identifies out-of-service hydrants, low pressure areas, verifies water system reliability, freshens the water supply and identifies needed repairs.
In addition, the County also gearing up for its Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) audit, which measures water supply for fire suppression and ability of our Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) to serve our community. The ISO is used by insurance companies to evaluate fire departments for the purpose of establishing insurance premiums in the local areas. The Bureau of Utilities annual Fire Hydrant Inspection program helps ensure DFRS has reliable access to water sources so its personnel can effectively do their jobs and in turn, helps the department receive a lower Public Protection Classification (PPC). A higher PPC can result in increased home insurance rates in a community.
To learn more this program and audit, click HERE.
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Department of Public Works Construction Report | |
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To learn about Department of Public Works (DPW) projects currently underway, click HERE. 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.
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Maryland State Highway Administration | |
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Operation Clean Sweep Maryland
In its ongoing efforts to remove litter from State owned roadways (numbered roadways), the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has launched “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland.”
Starting this week, SHA teams will be out conducting initial sweeps along highly traveled areas to perform litter pickup and will continue to do so throughout the year. SHA’s local shop in Dayton will be specifically targeting I-95, I-70, US 29, MD 32, MD 100 and US 1, as well as other State-maintained roadways. If you know of a problem area along a State roadway that you would like to see SHA address, you can report it to SHA via its online “Service Request Form.”
If you or you belong to a group that is interested in assisting SHA with keeping our State roadways clean, considering taking part in SHA’s Adopt-a-Highway program. To learn more about the State’s program in Howard County, contact Dayton Shop at 410-531-5533.
Finally, as SHA launches its “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland” program to address litter along State roadways, DPW’s Bureau of Highways continues to address litter on/along County maintained (named) roadways. If you know of a trash problem area that you’d like Highways to look into, simply submit a service request via the County’s “Tell HoCo” web-based and mobile application. And just like the SHA’s Adopt-a-Road program, you can also adopt a County maintained roadway. To learn how, check you the Bureau’s “Adopt-a-Road Program” website.
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Department of Recreation and Parks | |
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Community Sports Hall of Fame Nominations Now Being Accepted!
Nomination forms are now being accepted for our Department of Recreation & Parks’ 2023 “Community Sports Hall of Fame”. If you know a coach, manager, league official, commissioner or even a behind-the-scene contributor who has gained prominence in or made substantial contributions to community recreational sports in Howard County, I encourage you to nominate them today. Keep in mind, nominees must be either residents of Howard County or their community sports contributions have been made primarily in Howard County.
Available online, nominations are due (postmarked) by Saturday, April 15th and can be submitted either via email to bwyman@howardcountymd.gov or mailed to Howard County Community Sports Hall of Fame, Attn: Brian Wyman, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046. You can also request a nomination form be mailed to you by calling Recreation & Parks at 410-313-4711.
Individuals chosen for this year’s class will be inducted into the Community Sports Hall of Fame at the department’s annual Celebration of Sports banquet in October. Established in 2005, a list of past Howard County Community Sports Hall of Fame inductees can be found online.
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Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention
Join us on March 31st at 6:00 p.m. (race to begin at 7:00 p.m.) for Howard County’s 2nd Annual Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention. Recreation & Parks has partnered with the Howard County Health Department, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Maryland Chapter and Bullseye Running to help host this year’s event at Oakland Mills High School. This annual event more than just a race, it serves as a county-wide acknowledgment that we support and care for those impacted by suicide. Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention provides activities for non-runners, suicide prevention resource packets, and take-home items such as bracelets and keychains. Learn more and register HERE.
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Wine in the Woods Tickets are NOW on Sale!
Tickets for Recreation & Parks’ 2023 Wine in the Woods are NOW on sale!. Set to return to Symphony Woods this May, the year’s two day event (May 20th and May 21st) will feature a bigger and better Explorer Village. This year’s Maryland Wine Explored Village area features a curated selection of Maryland-grown wines and allows wine enthusiasts to enjoy fine, local wines in an exclusive section of the festival with a larger glass, food options for purchase, music and separate bathrooms. This year’s Maryland Wine Explorer Pass wristband (please note, there are a limited number of these tickets available), will include everything the Taster Ticket provides PLUS exclusive access to premium wine samples from wineries around the state.
To learn more about this year’s event and/to purchase your tickets, visit www.wineinthewoods.com.
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Spring/Summer Activity Guide Now Online
All methods of registration for Recreation & Parks’ 2023 Spring/Summer Activity Guide are NOW OEPN for Howard County and non-Howard County residents. With more than 500 programs, activities, classes, sports and more found inside of this year's Spring/Summer Activity Guide, there's something to help everyone "Get Up, Get Out, Get Active!” with Howard County this spring and summer.
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Now Hiring!
If you are or someone you know is looking for a job or interested in a career change, I encourage you to check out our Recreation & Parks’ current full-time job opportunities (click the link/title below for more information and to apply):
All Recreation & Parks job listings can be found HERE.
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Howard County Sheriff's Office | |
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Gun Locks Available
Thanks to Project Childsafe, the Howard County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has gun locks available FREE of charge to residents in need of one. Project ChildSafe’s Safety Kit includes a cable-style gun lock and safety instructions. This gun locking device renders a firearm inoperable and can be used in addition to locked storage. Ideally, the cable-style gun lock found in the Project ChildSafe Safety Kit, should be used in addition to primary storage system like a gun safe or vault.
To pick up your FREE cable-style gun lock, simply stop by the HCSO’s Command Center, located on the first floor of the Howard County Circuit Courthouse at 9250 Judicial Way in Ellicott City, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No advance reservation required.
For questions and/or more information about this program, please Ms. Meaghan McKelvey with HCSO at 410-313-4201.
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Opportunities for Public Input on the Transit Development Plan Continue
If you weren’t able to attend one of our Office of Transportation public meetings about its Transit Development Plan (TDP) update, you can still submit feedback through one of our three surveys: 1) Community, 2) RTA Fixed-Route Rider or (3) RTA Mobility Rider. Available now through this Wednesday, March 15th, these surveys will help Transportation with updating its TDP, which is a short-term plan to guide transit system development and funding requests. The TDP process reviews and assesses current transit services, identifies unmet transit needs and develops a recommended plan for improvements (with phased implementation), including capital and operating budget projections, in the short‐range future, typically a five‐year horizon. Once completed, the TDP will serve as a guide for our local transit system, providing a roadmap for implementing service improvements, and/or potential expansion during the five‐year period. To learn more about this plan, click HERE.
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