Dear Friends,

Please, join me in congratulating our Mt. Hebron High School Viking Aiden Interrante for winning the 2022 U.S. Army Blues Solo Competition! His love for music shines through and I am so proud of all that he has accomplished. He will now have the opportunity to perform with The Army Blues at a concert this May.

Joining Principal Joelle Miller and his Band Director Joe Fischer, we wish him the absolute best on his impending graduation and future endeavors!

I was thrilled to join MakingChange, Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, and our Money Matters Planning Team to kick off Money Matters Month in Howard County. I often hear from residents facing financial struggles who are not sure where to turn. This month, during Financial Literacy Month, we’re offering FREE webinars on budgeting and managing your finances, credit, wills and estate planning, cryptocurrency and avoiding scams, homebuyer readiness and more. I'm so thankful for our Money Matters planning team and my Director of Constituent Services and Community Partnerships Kim Pruim for helping to bring this event into fruition.

A year into my service on the County Council in 2007, I started Howard County’s Financial Literacy Fair, which we later recognized as our Money Matters Fair. During the pandemic, we evolved from a one-day fair to provide webinars and meet our families in the comfort of their homes. 

 With the economic challenges of the past two years, many of our residents are struggling financially and it's important to provide adequate resources so every member of our community can thrive. Learn more and register today here.

Howard County’s educators aren’t just recognized locally, but also nationally. I was so excited to join Bollman Bridge Elementary School Principal Connie Fowlkes to recognize Kate Sandoval who was named a finalist for the 2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for K-6th grade. STEM is one of the fastest growing industries, and we know that many of tomorrow's challenges will be solved by our STEM students of today. 

Ms. Sandoval helps create opportunity and increase growth in our students. She is only one of six Maryland educators in the running to be selected for the honor by President Biden and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Congratulations!

A recent survey of Howard County residents showed us that their use of internet connected computers and other devices for school and education went from 36% to 59%. Our goal is to continue our expansion of digital inclusion and increase community access to broadband. When we bring reliable, affordable, and fast internet access to every household, we are improving the education, health and economic opportunities for all Howard County residents. That is why we worked to include 12 homes from Norris Lane in Elkridge, who were previously underserved, in our Transform Howard Initiative.

As one resident, Marisa McCurdy notes, access to internet is not a luxury, but rather a necessity. I’m so grateful for our partnership with BGE, the Office of Statewide Broadband, and Verizon to help bring these projects into fruition.

In Howard County, we strive to create a community where all our residents- of all abilities have the resources they need to not only survive, but thrive. Laura’s Place at Blandair Regional Park set the standard for our region, and we’re continuing our efforts to make more of our community inclusive. Since its opening, we have heard so many amazing, inclusive stories from residents and visitors of all ages and abilities who had the chance to spend time there.

As Autism Acceptance Month begins, we are reminded of the progress we have made to ensure an inclusive community and continue our work to help it grow. Thank you to the Howard County Autism Society and Howard County Recreation and Parks for their continuous advocacy, commitment, and partnership in building a better, more inclusive community for all.

For 60 years, The Arc of Howard County has had a positive, meaningful impact on our community. They help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lead full community lives and has worked tirelessly to provide vital resources and services to our community, even when there was no road map for how to operate in a pandemic. The stories they share and the everyday support they provide to our community has proved to be integral to our community. Shani and I were so pleased to join them for their 24th annual Chocolate Ball Gala. 

Thank you to Cindy Parr and her entire team for your ongoing commitment to serving those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is due to your efforts that we can ensure every person, of any ability, has access to the best quality of life possible throughout our county and beyond.

Our school counselors design and deliver imperative programs to help all our students are ready and successful. I was so glad to join Mayfield Woods Middle School Principal Monica Stevens and her two Assistant Principals Sabrina Cunningham and Kimberly Mahle to congratulate Susan Bradley for being named the School Counselor of the Year! For over 21 years, Ms. Bradley has lead, advocated, and collaborated with our students to help ensure they can reach their academic mission and goals. We’re so pleased to have phenomenal educators who help our students advance in their academic endeavors!

Every day we owe a debt of gratitude and appreciation to all veterans for ensuring our freedom and liberty. I was glad to join the Yingling-Ridgely VFW & Auxiliary Post 7472 for their first Family Freedom Festival to honor our veteran and military families. As a proud son and grandson of veterans, I understand firsthand the powerful impact they have to preserve and uphold our liberty and freedoms. 

Let’s give thanks to the veterans and their families in our lives for their continuous commitment to serving and protecting our community. Thank you to Sandi Kreibel for organizing this phenomenal event!

It was a beautiful day in Ellicott City to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for Flower Barn - Ellicott City, MD’s new location on Main Street! This women-owned small business has been a main stay in Ellicott City since 2019 and we are excited to see their continued growth and success in their new location. Congratulations!

Lear more about them here.

Ramadan is the holiest and most anticipated month in the Islamic Calendar. I was honored to join the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives Director Steve McAdams and the CAIR Office in Maryland to officially welcome Ramadan in Howard County and Maryland. After two years of observing this month apart from one another, it was refreshing to join together for this event. 

Thank you CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry, Sheikh Walid from Dar Al-Taqwa, and all our community members for hosting this powerful event. May this Ramadan bring you great peace and prosperity!

Our Howard County Public School System educators continue to make a remarkable difference in the lives of our students. One educator who continues to go above and beyond for our students is Lime Kiln Middle School's own Tracy Spillman. She was recently named the Howard County History Day Teacher of the Year! 

It’s vital to ensure our students have a full and thorough understanding of our shared history to help create a better future, and Ms. Spillman helps instill a love of learning in all her students. Her dedicated commitment to our students is evident as one of the original LMKS staff members. Congratulations!

It was so great to be back at the Blossoms of Hope for their 13th Annual Pretty in Pink Champagne Ladies Luncheon after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, and the benefits from this event will go toward the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center.

I enjoyed hearing the heartfelt stories from our models, some who courageously fought cancer and our healthcare heroes. I was especially pleased to cheer on my favorite model, my wife Shani, as she took the stage this afternoon and was recognized for her work as a healthcare professional.

Thank you to Pete Mangione and his entire team at Turf Valley Resort, Joe Barbera, Howard County General Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine President Dr. Shafeeq Ahmed, and many members of our community for this great cause. To learn more about Blossoms of Hope, please click here.

I enjoyed joining Chicken + Whiskey for the soft opening of their newest location on Restaurant Row at The Mall in Columbia. Chicken + Whiskey combines delicious Peruvian chicken with sides, sandwiches, and a variety of beverages. This is the third location for this innovative, affordable food concept and we are so glad they chose to call Howard County home! 

They are now officially open! Learn more about them here.

Howard County is so grateful to have phenomenal educators who work tirelessly to ensure our students can be ready and successful. One such educator is Hanover Hills Elementary’s own Jeff Leard. He was recently recognized as the School Psychologist of the Year by the Howard County School Psychologists Association! 

It’s vital to have psychologists in our schools who help our students better manage their emotions and feelings from a young age. It was exciting to join Principal Troy Todd and our second grade Huskies to recognize him for his spectacular honor.

Howard County has become a ground-breaking leader in environmental protection because of our commitment to bold solutions backed by science to sustain our resources and combat climate change. Together, we have planted trees, supported our local food systems, nurtured pollinators, improved our local water quality, conserved energy, and harvested clean and renewable energy so we can protect our future. 

As Earth Month begins, we should all reaffirm our commitment to a clean and sustainable future. Throughout the month, we will be highlighting our bold initiatives that are leading toward environmental justice, sustainability, and climate solutions.

With prom season upon us, I know how important it can be to have the perfect dress. I had the joy of donating some prom dresses to our students at Oakland Mills High School and Atholton High School. In addition, I stopped by the Bauder Educational Center in the Long Reach Village Center and connected with our friends with St John Baptist Church - Columbia, MD to provide donations of children’s clothing for their upcoming giveaways.  

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.

I was excited to stop by Columbia Squash & Athletic Club to welcome them to our community! Howard County remains committed to helping our businesses grow and thrive, which is why many small businesses are opening here. This new facility combines the best features of a squash court, with the latest gym and fitness equipment. I wish them the best in their future endeavors!

Learn more about them here.

Patuxent Commons will make Howard County a leader in providing supportive housing for adults and families with disabilities, filling a critical need in our community. Thank you to the many advocates who have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life, and we have been proud to support this project through critical gap financing and tax assistance, as well as assisting with the Howard County Autism Society Task Force. We will be proud to welcome this project – and the people who will call it home – into our community!

Read more here.

According to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Howard County’s positivity rate today is 2.69% and our 7-day moving average case rate per 100k is 6.54. There is currently 1 COVID-19 patient in the ICU and Acute Care units at Howard County General Hospital.  

 

We’ve sadly lost 352 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.  

I was honored to join Kimberly Prescott and the Prescott HR team for the opening of their new office in Columbia. Kimberly and her team have been developing and implementing real-time customized HR solutions since 2014. Their new office is another milestone for this small business and we are so glad they call Howard County home. I wish them growth and success for many years to come!

This week (April 4^th to April 8^th) is the Week of the Young Child. In celebration of the week, our Department of Community Resources and Services' (DCRS) Office of Children and Families (OCF) has a full schedule of suggested activities for parents and children to participate in, with a different theme assigned to each day, starting with Music Monday. 

In addition to the parent/child activities, OCF’s Parents Institute will also be hosting two virtual workshops for parents this week. From noon to 1:00 p.m. on April 5^th, the Parents Institute will host its first workshop, “Car Seat Safety from Birth to Booster”. The workshop will feature Terri Taylor, Coordinator for Safe Kids Howard County and a Certified Car Seat Technician, who will discuss the do's and don’ts of car seat safety. Participants can also schedule an in-person car seat check with Terri for FREE. To register for this workshop, click HERE.

The Parents Institute second workshop, “Nothing I Do Works: A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors” on April 6^th from noon to 1:00 p.m., will explain the Pyramid Model, a research-based approach that considers factors that impact children and families related to a child's behavior. Participants will learn how to help decrease negative behaviors from happening and what to do when they occur. Participants will leave the workshop with skills and resources they can use immediately to help them feel more confident in their parenting. Please note, this workshop is geared towards parents of children ages two to eight. To register, click HERE.

For questions about this weeks activities and workshops or for assistance with registering, please feel free to call 410-313-5992 (voice/ relay) or email children@howardcountymd.gov.

 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

This past Friday, April 1^st, our Office of Community Sustainability residential CleanScapes program's site visit requests opened up. As a Howard County resident, you can make a big impact on reducing stormwater pollution by increasing the amount of surfaces on your property that absorb stormwater runoff. In addition to protecting the environment, property owners can also reduce their Watershed Protection Fee and be reimbursed for their projects.

For more information or if you are interested in a project on your property, visit www.cleanwaterhoward.com/what-is-your-role/residential-properties/cleanscapes. Please note, the site visit request will remain open until all 75 spots have been reserved.

15^th Annual GreenFest

This Saturday, April 9^th, the County's annual GreenFest returns for its 15^th year. As Howard County’s largest Earth Day celebration, this annual event aims to connect residents with the resources that our local businesses, nonprofits and government provide to help anyone be a good steward of the environment. This year's event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Howard Community College's Burrill Galleria and will feature exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, outdoor activities and practical tips for easy ways to “green” your home, workplace and lifestyle.

Finally, the Repair Café is also back on site, offering visitors the opportunity to bring in broken items from home, such as toasters, lamps, clothes, bicycles, toys or electronics to be evaluated and fixed for free by repair specialists. To register beforehand to let the Repair Café gurus know what items you plan to bring, visit www.HCGreenFest.org.

To learn more about this year's event, including the day's event schedule, visit www.HCGreenFest.org.

Did you know that flooding is the number one hazard in Maryland and that the risk of flooding extends to all Marylanders, no matter where you live. This April, during Maryland Flood Awareness Month, our Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is reminding residents of the importance of flood safety awareness, understanding the risks and being prepared and ready to take action should the need arise. To learn more about floods and how to prepare, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready “Flood” website at www.ready.gov/floods.

You can also find helpful information about Howard County’s Hazards and resources on OEM’s “ReadyHoCo” website or on the County’s Department of Public Works’ Stormwater Management Division’s “Flood Protection” website (from this page, residents can look up whether their property is in or near a flood zone).

Minimum Wage Increase to Begin April 1^st

Effective 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.

Aged 50+? It's second booster time and Howard County Health Departments (HCHD) clinics are officially approved and prepared to offer second COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to those recommended by the CDC. To determine whether you are eligible, I encourage you to check out the CDC’s full announcement. In general, second boosters are available to certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago.

If you are eligible for a second booster, visit an HCHD vaccine clinic today. For a list of upcoming clinic dates and location, click 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 our Office of Human Rights and Equity (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 April, Easter, Passover and Ramadan converge (April 15^th to April 17^th) causing Christians, Jews and Muslims to all be in a state of fasting, prayer or worship simultaneously. In honor of this special moment in the calendar, OHRE invites you to join them for virtual lunch and learn on Friday, April 15^th at 12:00 p.m. where clergy persons from various faith communities will speak, pray and discuss the significance of each religious observance, what we can learn from the convergence of these observances, the value of celebrating religious diversity, and the importance of protecting religious freedom. This virtual event will be shown on OHRE's Facebook page and on the County’s YouTube channel.

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.

Our Department of Planning and Zoning’s (DPZ) Planning Board will be holding a VIRTUAL meeting this Thursday, April 7^th at 7:00 p.m. to hear the following agenda item:

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., on Wednesday, April 6^th.

Also, this Thursday, April 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 by noon on the 7^th. 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 April 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 April 7^th meeting may participate in the proceedings by asking questions and giving testimony.

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.

The County’s Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Stormwater Management Division will hold a public meeting today, 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.

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.

While Howard County Government offices will be CLOSED on Friday, April 15^th in observance of the Good Friday holiday, there will be REGULAR Friday curbside trash, recycling, yard trim and food scrap collection on the 15^th. The County’s holiday slide schedule will NOT be in effect as Good Friday is not one of the six holidays that affect curbside collection. Those six holidays are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. To learn more about the County’s holiday slide schedule, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/holidayschedule. 

In case you missed it, DPW’s Bureau of Environmental Services’ curbside yard trim collection resumed last Monday, 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.

Our Bureau of Environmental Services is pleased to announce the Master Gardeners are back with its backyard compost demonstrations! This year, demonstrations will be held at Miller branch library, Robinson Nature Center, Alpha Ridge Landfill and Savage branch library. Attendees will receive a FREE backyard compost bin as well as helpful tips and tricks to creating this valuable soil amendment. For the 2022 schedule, click HERE and/or for more information about backyard composting, 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 have ever wanted to fish Centennial Lake at night, now is your chance! Join Recreation & Parks this spring and summer season for an opportunity to fish the lake after hours with its Nite Bite Fishing. The after-hour fun kicks off this Friday, April 8^th. For more information, a full list of fishing dates or to register click HERE.

From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on April 9^th and 10^th, Recreation & Parks will host a Spring Eggstravaganza for Tots at its Robinson Nature Center. Enjoy tot-friendly activities throughout the indoor exhibits and outdoor, paved trail (weather-permitting), crafts, puppet shows, games, and spring sensory fun. Friends of Rabbits, a rescue organization, will also be on hand with bunnies available for adoption. All adults and children one year of age and older must register to participate. To register, call Robinson Nature Center at 410-313-0400 or stop by the front desk to register in person. 

However, if you are looking for something a little less traditional, try hunting for eggs in the heated pool at Roger Carter Community Center from noon to 1:30 p.m. on April 9^th. Geared toward children age two to 10, plastic eggs filled with surprises will float in the pool for participants to collect in their own basket. Preregistration is required as space is limited.

For more information on this eggspectacular events, visit to https://tinyurl.com/HoCo-egg-hunts.

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.