Dear Friends,

Even before the pandemic exacerbated the mental health crisis, we recognized the gap in these services, especially for our students and young residents. Connecting our students to the care they need is vital, and we are investing in wraparound services to ensure our students have the academic, social and emotional support they need to be healthy and successful. Our commitment of more than $2 million to provide student mental health services for all our students can make a difference — and save lives.

Every Howard County student - which means nearly 58,000 kids in every school - will now have access to mental health services. Additionally, with this funding we’re filling the gap for children and families who historically have difficulty accessing this critical, live-saving mental health care. Everyone deserves the same access to mental health services.

Read more here.

Our community has lost one of its most enduring and brightest lights. Today, we are all mourning the passing of my dear friend Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey. She loved her country, she loved her community, and she taught us all so many lessons about service and giving back to our community. Millie was one of the first African American officers in the a Women’s Army Corps and served as a commander of the Women's Colored Detachment. 

For more than half a century she collected, packed, and shipped CARE packages for U.S. Military service members. She was a huge supporter of our Police Citizens Advisory Council. She was a fierce advocate and fundraiser for Running Brook Elementary School, where she often raised more than 10,000 annually for the students there. Her laughter, her smile, and her can do attitude were infectious. 

Her legacy surrounds us, from the children’s park named after her alongside Lake Kittamaqundi to the student food pantry at Howard Community College. She lived a tremendously impactful 104-years. Please pause with me today to remember her amazing life. Like she always would remind many of us, in her memory, let's do a little more to help others.

To honor the life and legacy of our beloved Millie Bailey, I ordered that the Howard County flag at all County buildings be flown at half-staff through Monday, May 9th, 2022. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 7, 2022 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Witzke Funeral Home, 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 9, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, Columbia, MD 21045. 

Our educators have worked tirelessly through difficult circumstances to engage our students and encourage growth and learning. Their leadership and dedication to our students, especially as we all navigated this pandemic, are the reasons we have the best schools in the world. This Teacher Appreciation Week, I encourage you to join me in expressing your thanks to all our incredible educators for their efforts to create ready and successful students!

We are excited about a new renovation and expansion of Hammond High School, which, when completed in December 2023, will add capacity for an additional 200 students, increasing the size of the school by 235,000 square feet, and helping to address overcrowding. We are so excited for this project, and how it will serve our Golden Bears. Watch this video for a sneak peak of the renovations!

Education will always be our top priority in Howard County, and we understand the importance of ensuring our students have an optimal place to learn and grow. That is why my FY23 Capital Budget contains more than $105.9 million for school construction, the most in at least 20 years. I’m especially grateful for the partnership of the Howard County Public School System, the Board of Education, our state and council electeds, and all the advocates who helped make this project move to fruition.

It’s always a great time at Atholton Elementary School, where I was so pleased to join our Panthers for their Guest Reader Day. I joined Ms. Fishman’s first grade class where we read Trudy Ludwig’s book, “The Invisible Boy.” This story reminds us the importance of compassion and inclusion – two important elements of our community. Special thank you to Ms. Volz and Dr. Holden for having me!

All our students, of all abilities, deserve the best opportunity to learn in an environment which is nourishing for their growth. That is why I am seeking a $13.2 million increase in special education funding in my proposed FY23 operating budget. This funding will help address current staffing and resource needs in this critical area for our Howard County Public School System. 

Please note, this funding is currently pending County Council and Board of Education approval.

I was thrilled to mark the beginning of Asian American and Pacific Islander Month by hosting the County’s first ever AAPI Heritage Festival. Twenty percent of Howard County residents can proudly claim AAPI heritage, the highest proportion of any county in Maryland, and this celebration was a remarkable snapshot of our cultural vibrancy. Diversity is a hallmark of Howard County, and our AAPI community contributes to the vitality that makes our County one of the most attractive locations to live, work, grow, and play in the country.

From the delicious food to the exciting performances and talented vendors, this event could not be possible without the efforts of my Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Chief Innovation Officer Angela Cabellon, Community Liaison Safa Hira, Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity, and all our phenomenal partners who helped make this event a success. Together, we can achieve great heights and celebrate our incredible diversity.

Last week, I was joined by state and local officials to announce a historic $25.7 million investment in state and county funding for parks improvements in Fiscal Year 2023. This brings the total investment in Howard County parks to $56.7 million since 2018, a 50% increase over the previous four-year period.

The funding supports several projects around the County, including additional pickleball courts, basketball courts, the largest skatepark in Howard County, a renovated equestrian ring, new bridges for hiking trails, and more. Of the total $25.7 million, $14 million is county funding and $11.7 million will be provided by the State.

This funding will be used to improve and maintain our parks throughout Howard County, from our eight regional parks to our 29 neighborhood parks and will create everything from new fields and lighting to bridges and stairways that help us access beloved trails. Our residents will see improvements and renovations in every corner of the county, and our quality of life will grow. We are truly making historic investments today - for a better tomorrow.

Read more here.

I had the privilege of joining TeamWorx Security for the opening of their new office at the Innovation Center. As one of our prior Maryland Innovation Center residents, this Veteran-owned business fostered important cybersecurity developments have enabled teams and missions to integrate more efficiently. I’m so happy for their continued growth and innovation and cannot wait to see what fascinating things they do in the future. Special thanks to Chris Anthony and Laura Nolan, who together founded TeamWorx Security.

As we recognize Drug and Alcohol Awareness Month, I’m grateful for the work HC DrugFree does in our community. Their semi-annual Drug Take Back allows the community to safely dispose of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as sharps. New this year, adults were invited to tour the Hidden in Plain Sight experience, a simulated bedroom and bathroom which illustrates how drugs can and are often hidden, and learn potential signs of drug use we often may overlook in our loved ones.

Thank you, again, to Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree, and the Howard County Police Department for their unwavering support of our youth and keeping our community safe.

I was delighted to spend time with the young entrepreneurs at Biz Kidz and congratulate them on all their accomplishments. Dr. Marlene Jackson and Ashley Jackson started Biz Kidz Academy with the goal of inspiring business-minded kids to embrace their innovative spirt and think both critically and creatively. That’s why I was happy to celebrate these students who participated in the creative writing and video competitions. Please join me in praising them for their spirit and amazing performances!

Our students at Howard Community College continue to excel and achieve great heights. I recently had the opportunity to join Dr. Daria Willis for insightful conversations with HCC’s Student Government Association, Howard PRIDE, and Ambiciones where we discussed finding our paths and overcoming barriers to success. I’m confident that these students are going to continue to make Howard County, our State, and our Country proud, and I wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavors!

As the only higher education institution in Howard County, Howard Community College remains an incredible institution to ensure all our students can succeed. My proposed budget increases operating support for HCC by $2.9 million, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲. To help build on their growth, my FY23 Capital Budget includes $14.8 million for a new Mathematics and Athletic complex, matched by state funding.

With this historic funding across all levels, we’re ensuring our students can get there, from here. Read more in my proposed Operating Budget and my proposed capital budget.

As the weather gets warmer, it’s the perfect time to gather with friends and enjoy the great tastes of Howard County. This week, we were so excited to launch Food Truck Thursdays at the Long Reach Village Center. Come out to support our local favorites every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. 

Food trucks will come to the village center every week, with a variety of vendors to satisfy our every craving. Be sure to check it out! #longreachrising

It was great to spend time at Waterloo Elementary School for their spring carnival. For the first time in two years, students, staff, and community members were able to have fun and partake in dozens of carnival games and activities, enjoy some of our best food trucks and soak up this lovely weather. I’d like to give a special thanks to Principal Sean Martin, Assistant Principal Janet Yarn, the entire Waterloo staff, and dedicated community volunteers who helped make this carnival a success - Go Wildcats!

It was a beautiful Saturday to help kick off the AFCEA Central Maryland (CMD) 5K & Family Fun Run/Walk Race for Excellence! Thank you to the AFCEA-CMD chapter for supporting the education of future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and through scholarships, endowments, and grants. And a special thanks goes to Leidos, a terrific corporate partner, for hosting this event.

It was so great to be back in person at the 2022 Battle of the Books! After two years of participating in the competition virtually, it was energizing to see everyone’s happy faces together again. Over the years, I’ve been a coach and a judge and I’m so proud that Howard County offers such great opportunities to encourage reading and celebrate the achievements of our young people.

Congratulations to all the winners and participants! Thank you to Howard County Library System, Merriweather Post Pavilion, and Howard County Public School System and all of our spectacular sponsors for making such a fantastic event a reality!

Howard County is home to a premiere library system that helps provided needed resources for all our residents and visitors. To help build on their efforts, our Howard County Library System will be receiving an additional $1.6 million in my proposed FY23 operating budget, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲. In addition, we proposed $1.7 million to begin design of a new library branch in Downtown Columbia in my FY23 Capital budget, with the anticipation that construction of a new state-of-the-art Central Library will begin in FY24.

With these efforts, we’re closing the gap on educational barriers to ensure all our students thrive. Read more in my proposed Capital Budget and my proposed Operating budget.

I was honored to help cut the ribbon for the new Food Care for All facility in Ellicott City, which will serve as an office for FCFA to continue their critical work around food insecurity. I’m always inspired by nonprofits that not only help our local but the larger global community. Food Care for All achieves its mission by providing access to food for marginalized populations in our area and sub-Saharan Africa. These efforts help end cycles of poverty and promote access to health services.

Special thanks to Dr. Olateju, Dr. Adejumo, and all the inspirational professionals at FCFA for making Howard County your home.

As we reflect upon Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are reminded of the importance of standing together as a community to condemn all forms of child abuse and neglect, stress the importance of supporting families to prevent neglect, and work together as a community to ensure the best for our children. Earlier this month, Howard County’s Child Advocacy Center: The Listening Place was reaccredited by the National Children’s Alliance.

Serving approximately 182 children per year, The Listening Place provides services to child victims of physical and sexual abuse; bringing together in collaboration and cooperation medical, mental health expertise, law enforcement, prosecution, forensic interviewers, family advocate- all with the single goal of connecting victims, their siblings, and extended family to important resources that promote healing, one child, one victim at a time.

I recently attended SOS Global’s “Creating Visual Noise Around Climate Change” event. I marvel at the creative ways that our young people are engaging around climate change and energy independence.

There were also informative panel discussions led by two exceptional Howard County Public School System students, Jasmine Kwok and Naomie Njetchou, and I’m in awe of their dedication and drive.

Congratulations to the art contest winners, Anjali Vallabhaneni, Gabrielle Cunningham, and Sasha D’Amore. Thank you to the Maryland Innovation Center and Howard County Economic Development Authority for hosting this fantastic event!

After finding a need for more early learning opportunities for our youngest residents, Falgun Patel and his wife Krishna were inspired to open the Primrose School of Ellicott City. They not only provided a much-desired service, but also created around 50 jobs for our childcare specialists in return. At Primrose, they believe in a nurturing balance among mind, body, and heart for our children from 6-weeks old to pre-kindergarten age.

Thank you Falgun, Krishna, Viral, and Karen for your efforts to ensure all our students are ready and successful! Learn more here.

Howard County is a proud home to nourishing learning environments for our students of all ages. I was excited to visit Aya Montessori School in Columbia to celebrate Ramadan. This week, the students are learning about service and the importance of giving back to our community. Thank you Sister Salam and all our wonderful students and educators for hosting such an incredible visit.

Learn more about Aya Montessori here.

The Howard County Office of Workforce Development is NOW accepting applications for the annual Summer Youth Employment Program. This is a six-week program from July 5 – August 12 that aims to teach, hone, and develop practical workforce readiness skills in residents between the ages of 14 and 24. The program offers a structured learning environment composed of virtual learning platforms and in-person worksites to foster a true work experience.

This program gives the tools and resources to explore interests, gain mentorship and establish a professional network. Workshops may include resume and cover letter writing, financial literacy, conflict mediation, mental health awareness and resources, and social media safety. For the duration of the program, participants become contingent employees of Howard County Government or private sector businesses, are offered competitive pay and may work up to 25 hours per week.

I encourage you to join us for another summer of fun!

We are conducting an online survey of County residents. We want everyone to have an opportunity to share their opinions with County Government on the services we provide. This survey is one way for us to assess how we are doing and identify areas for improvement. The survey will be open until 11:59 p.m. on May 31st.

The survey is available here.

According to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Howard County’s positivity rate is 8.33% and our 7-day moving average case rate per 100k is 20.8. This steady increase is related to the BA2 subvariant which is highly transmissible. Residents, especially those with at high risk for complications from COVID, should consider wearing a high-quality mask indoors when physical distancing is not possible.

Residents with symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested and isolate if possible, per CDC guidelines. There are currently 6 COVID-19 patients 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, 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 cases increase, it’s important to keep getting tested if you are displaying symptoms or have been exposed. 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.

May is Older Americans Month and this year’s the theme, Age My Way, is encouraging adults to reframe aging and explore the many ways to stay active, connected and involved in their community. In celebration of Older Americans Month, our Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) invites you to share your story with them on how you are aging YOUR way. Maybe you are turning your hobby into a new business, planning travel adventures with friends of family, or just spending time doing what you want to do. OAI would love to hear from you and share your story on DCRS’ social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) to help inspire others.

While our Commission for Women has made progress to ensure women's voices are heard in our community, there is still work to be done. If you are interested in playing a part in empowering women in Howard County and beyond, I encourage you apply today for Commission for Women.

If interested in learning more about the Commission for Women, eligibility requirements and how to apply, click HERE. The deadline to apply is this Friday, May 6^th.

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.

Howard County Health Department’s (HCHD) CAREAPP connects Howard County residents directly to more than 1,900 service providers, for support with food, health, housing, transportation, education, employment and more. find programs and services for food, housing, work, health care, financial assistance, and more right here in Howard County. For help in finding Howard County programs and services through CAREAPP, visit https://findhcresources.org/ today.

For a demo on how to use CAREAPP, click HERE. If you are looking for more information on how to become a CAREAPP partner, email askhealth@howardcountymd.gov.

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.

HCHD and the NAACP of Howard County collaborated on a public service announcement about colorectal cancer prevention and the importance of getting screened at age 45. According to the American Cancer Society, Colorectal Cancer occurs at a higher rate in Black Americans than any other racial or ethnic group. Take a look at the video to learn more about colorectal cancer prevention and screenings.

Conversations about race in America tend to focus on White Americans and African Americans to the exclusion of the racialized experiences of Asians, Hispanics or Latinos, Jews and other ethnic groups. That is why I invite you to join OHRE this Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish-American Heritage Month for a historical, cultural, and legislative exploration of the racialization of Asians, Latinos or Hispanics, and Jews. Set to take place Thursday, May 12^th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Recreation & Parks’ North Laurel Community Center, come learn more about these groups’ experience with race and racism in America. To register for this event, click HERE.

Reading Human Rights Featuring Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning

For its May Reading Human Rights monthly book discussion and in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, OHRE and HCLS will discuss Cathy Park Hong’s autobiographical book of essays, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning. To secure your seat for this event, set to take place Tuesday, May 24^th at 6:30 p.m. at HCLS’ Miller branch, click HERE.

Also, this Thursday, May 5^th, our Department of Planning and Zoning’s (DPZ) 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 5^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 May 5^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 5^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 May 5^th meeting may participate in the proceedings by asking questions and giving testimony.

As I shared back in March, as part of its process to create a new General Plan, called HoCo By Design, DPZ’s HoCo By Design project team is releasing draft HoCo By Design planning theme chapters one at a time throughout this year for community review and feedback. The policies presented in each chapter are draft statements based on data, best practices and community feedback DPZ has received to date. Feedback we receive from you, our community, will further be used by DPZ to refine the draft policies.

As part of the HoCo By Design process, DPZ will host two hybrid meetings next week to offer participants an opportunity to learn more about the Quality By Design draft chapter. Each meeting will be offered in-person (in the Columbia-Ellicott Room at the George Howard Building, located at 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City) and virtually. The first meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 10^th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and the second on Thursday, May 12^th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. To register to participate in a meeting, please click HERE. Please note, as space is limited for the in-person meetings, registration for these meetings is required by noon the day before the scheduled meeting date.

For more information on DPZ’s HoCo By Design’s Draft Chapter Release: Quality By Design, 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.

While this past Saturday, April 30^th was National Drug Take Back Day, did you know you can safely and anonymously dispose of unwanted/expired prescription and over-the-counter medications all year long? Throughout the county, Howard County Police Department (HCPD) has permanent medication disposal box set up. Locations include:

While sharps cannot be disposed of at any of these police run locations, our Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Environmental Services’ “Know Before You Throw” website, does include information on how to properly dispose of sharps.

In emergency situations, children and adults with autism may experience challenges with communication, social interactions and sensory regulation. To assist officers and mobile crisis teams in situations involving people with autism or related disabilities, last week I joined HCPD Chief Gregory Der to accept a donation of 250 sensory kits from the Hussman Institute for Autism. The kits include items that will be helpful to officers, including tips on how to assist a person with autism, communication boards and other items that may be comforting to the person with autism. In addition to noise-cancelling headphones and sunglasses, each kit also includes fidget gadgets such as a rainbow bubble POP, liquid motion timer, stress relief ball and plush toy.

To help make yourself less likely to be victimized, HCPD is offering up these tips to prevent auto theft or theft from your automobile.

If you do fall victim to any theft from your vehicle, including if your vehicle has been tampered with but nothing has been stolen, HCPD encourages you to report this to police. This helps HCPD track trends and identify suspects. You can file a report online or call the County’s non-emergency number at 410-313-2200. However, for thefts in progress, please call 911. 

·        Highways Mayfield Facility Stormwater Management (Capital Project C-0313) – Project to install new storm drains, curb and gutter, stabilize the outfalls and repave the pavement at DPW’s Bureau of Highways Mayfield facility at 7551 Mayfield Avenue. A series of water quality features known as Stormceptors will also be installed to provide treatment of surface water runoff from the Mayfield facility.

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.

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.

An important reminder from our Bureau of Environmental Services following this this past Friday morning’s recycling truck fire, please remember, flammable materials, including batteries, electronics, compressed gas tanks and non-empty aerosol containers should NEVER be set out for curbside collection. To ensure proper disposal, these items should be taken directly to the County’s Alpha Ridge Landfill in Marriottsivlle, open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For specific disposal information or questions, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/public-works/residents-convenience-center or contact the Bureau at 410-313-6444 or help@howardcountyrecycles.org.

Our Department of Recreation & Parks invites you to join Chef Ravi for its popular bread making class on Wednesday, May 11^th from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at The Arc of Howard County in Ellicott City. During this hand-on cooking class, participants will learn how to make garlic naan (fermented bread), mint, roasted cumin and potato paratha (whole wheat stuffed bread with mint and potatoes) and Pori (a deep-fried whole-wheat bread). Cost to participate is $25 and registration is required. To register, click HERE. 

While you shop and dine along Historic Ellicott City’s Main Street to celebrate Girls Night Out on May 19^th, consider dropping your kids off from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Recreation & Parks’ Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum for “Kids Night at the Museum”. Geared towards kids five to 10 years old, participants will have a blast doing historic crafts and exploring the hidden history of the station. Cost is $20 and registration is required. To register, click HERE.  

Set to run the weekend of May 21^st and 22^nd at Symphony Woods in Columbia, this year’s Wine in the Woods event will not only feature around 20 wineries, 22 specialty food vendors, 30 artisans/crafters and 12 musical acts, but NEW THIS YEAR, will also feature a selection of Maryland breweries on tap, including Oliver Brewing Co., Heavy Seas Beer, Pub Dog, Sapwood Cellars, and Hysteria Brewing Co. Beer will be available for purchase only, no samples. Also, when purchasing your ticket, be sure to check out Recreation & Parks special Explorer Tent pass, which gives passholders exclusive access to premium wine samples from wineries around the state.

To learn more about this year’s event and/or to purchase your tickets, visit www.wineinthewoods.com.

For up-to-date information on this event, please refer to Recreation & Parks' Wine in the Woods website: www.wineinthewoods.com.

May is Bike Month and this month our Office of Transportation will be participating in a number of bike related events starting with the 3^rd annual BikeAround Downtown on Saturday, May 14^th. On the 14^th, join the Office for a Block Party at Color Burst Park in Downtown Columbia from 9:00 a.m. to noon to learn how to make cycling a bigger part of your transportation, fitness and recreation routine. Come enjoy the trails and pathways of Downtown Columbia and Oakland Mills starting at Color Burst Park, rolling around Lake Kittamaqundi and over to Oakland Mills and Blandair Regional Park, then circling back and joining the multi-use parkway to wend back to Color Burst. Participants are encouraged to ride the course to or from the Block Party; the course will be open and marked from 9:00 a.m. on the 14^th to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 15^th. Registration and waiver completion are required for participation, with the first 300 registrants are guaranteed a BikeAround 2022 t-shirt and other great treats. For more information about this year’s event, click HERE.

Following the BikeAround Downtown weekend, this year’s annual Bike to Work Central Maryland week celebration will take place Monday, May 16^th through Sunday, May 23^rd with our Office of Transportation’s in-person event on Friday, May 20^th from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Color Burst Park in Downtown Columbia. This year’s registered participants will qualify for free t-shirts (limited to the first 1,500 riders), giveaways and prizes, all while discovering the advantages of a cleaner and healthier commuting option. Participants may ride any time during the week to anywhere and pick up their event shirt at any participating bike shop (Patapsco Bicycles and Trek Bicycles) or our Office of Transportation’s pit stop on the 20^th. To register for this year’s event, click HERE.