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Office: 410-313-2001
ojones@howardcountymd.gov
3430 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
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It is with great enthusiasm and pride I was elected to be your Councilmember representing the viewpoints of the amazing people of the Second District of Howard County. I am honored to serve as your Councilmember and looking forward to following in the steps of your prior leaders by continuing their fine legacy of leadership. My focus is on enhancing education, assuring public and personal safety, and championing community vibrancy.
While these are our primary focus areas, my team and I are committed to partnering with you on so many different topics to make District Two the absolute best place to work and live! Working together, we can accomplish a lot and that means listening to your ideas, addressing your concerns, and building on your feedback. I look forward to our journey together!
In service and partnership,
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Racial Equity Task Force
Press Release
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For updates on the Racial Equity Task Force text HOCOEQUITY to 22828
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Upcoming Board Meetings
Interested in learning about what is going on in the Long Reach community? All upcoming board meetings will be held virtually unless noted otherwise. The following are upcoming meeting dates:
- Tuesday, October 6th, 7:30 PM
- Tuesday, October 20th, 7:30 PM
- Tuesday, November 3th, 7:30 PM
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LONG REACH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Long Reach Community Association staff will continue to work both remotely and on-site.
Information regarding upcoming Board and Resident Architectural Committee (RAC) meetings will be posted on the Village Board's website. Please feel free to contact the staff for assistance.
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To stay updated on Long Reach Community events, visit their website and follow Long Reach Community Association on Facebook!
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Flowers & Plants that Thrive in Containers
September 21st · 7 PM
Learn about the variety of containers, types of soil and nutrients, suitable plants, and colorful uses for container gardens. Presentation will be held online only. Visit LRCA.eventbrite.com to register.
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October 10th · 8 AM
Long Reach Village is having a community yard sale. Village residents can register at longreach.org/events. Please adhere to proper distancing practices and Maryland’s mask order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
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Rain Gardening
October 19th · 7 AM
What is a Rain Garden? Why should you have one? Find the answers to these questions and more at this presentation!
Presentation will be held online only
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Long Reach Pumpkin Contest- NEW!
This year Long Reach is taking the Halloween fun online! Community residents will show off their pumpkin carving and decorating skills. Residents of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to participate. Submission deadline is Nov. 1st.
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Roving Radish in Long Reach Village Center
Roving Radish sells healthy meal kits, sourced from local and regional farms, to our communities. These meal kits are made available to all Howard County residents. Meal kits will be available at the Roving Radish Marketplace located at 8775 Cloudleap Court, Suite 2 in the Long Reach Village Center.
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Upcoming Board Meetings
Are you interested in learning about the Oakland Mills community? All upcoming board meetings will be held virtually unless noted otherwise. The following are upcoming meeting dates:
- Tuesday, September 22nd, 7 PM
- Tuesday, October 13th, 7 PM
- Tuesday, October 27th, 7 PM
To stay updated on Oakland Mills community events, visit their website and follow Oakland Mills Community Association on Facebook.
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Oakland Mills Farmer’s Market
October 4th from 9 AM to 1 PM
At this time the market will be open every Sunday until November 22nd until further notice. The market will adhere to CDC social distancing guidelines. Please review important information prior to stopping by the market. The market is operated by the Howard County Economic Development Authority.
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Oakland Mills Mini Virtual
Fall Festival
October 3rd from 9 AM to 1 PM
OM's virtual festival will include a craft and direct sellers fair.
There are three ways to participate as a vendor:
- Give a short, live presentation on the Oakland Mills Festival Facebook Live sales portal (limited to 20 vendors)
- Provide pictures and links to your website or Facebook page and have your own personal page on the Festival website
- Have both a personal page and participate on the Facebook Live event
All vendor requests must be submitted no later than September 25th.
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Connecting with Our Home Owner Associations
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If you are an Executive Board member or member of a Home Owner Association (HOA) please forward your up-to-date officer contact and meeting information to Ashley Alston to update our database when changes occur.
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Community Events and Opportunities
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There's still time to complete the 2020 Census!
The NEW Census Deadline is September 30th
The upcoming 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, D.C. and five territories. It provides critical data used to determine how federal funds are distributed back to the states and local communities every year for services, schools, jobs, health care, and more.
Census takers have been making in-person visits to all households that have not yet completed their Census. The Census can still be completed online, by phone, or by mail.
Click here for Howard County, MD Census 2020 Self-Response Rates
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November Election Update
We want to ensure our residents are informed and empowered on the many options they have to vote this November. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and we must ensure that we are providing safe and easy methods to make sure that all Howard County residents are engaged and aware of how to vote in the general election this November.
Early voting begins October 26th through November 2nd, and election day is November 3rd. To see the full list of early voting sites, click here, and click here to see election day voting sites.
Unlike the 2020 Primary Elections, voters will NOT automatically receive a mail-in ballot. Instead, voters will receive an application to receive their ballot through the mail. Voters MUST submit a request in order to receive their ballot by mail.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Howard County voters are urged to cast their vote by mail. To request your ballot right now, please click here. The deadline to request your mail-in ballot is October 20th.
Please note, mail-in ballots can also be returned to a ballot drop box which will be located at the Howard County Board of Elections Office, Meadowbrook Athletic Center, Marriotts Ridge High School, Reservoir High School, Long Reach High School, and Wilde Lake High School.
To update your voter registration, register to vote, or check your voting status, please visit the State Board of Elections website here.
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Virtual Law Enforcement Torch Run
October 12th – October 17th
The Virtual Torch Run will be a week-long event that supports the thousands of Special Olympic athletes in Maryland and Howard County.
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The National Federation
of the Blind
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The Howard County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is pleased to receive a Resolution from the Howard County Council proclaiming October 15th as White Cane Awareness Day in Howard County. This event is celebrated throughout the country to recognize and promote public understanding that the White Cane enables blind people to travel independently.
Councilman Jones will present the Resolution on October 10th at the Lake Kittamaqundi fountain at about 11:30 AM, after the group completes a White Cane Awareness Walk around the Lake.
For more information on the National Federation of the Blind Click here.
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Columbia Association Childcare
CA offers full day childcare at the following schools: Clarksville, Centennial, Clemens Crossing, Cradlerock, Hammond, Northfield, Phelps Luck, Swansfield, Waterloo and Worthington.
Space is limited at all sites and the program may be canceled or sites combined if there are not enough participants at one site. For details and FAQs regarding childcare during distance learning, click here.
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Howard County Child Care
For information on child care options in
#AtHomeWithHoCoRec
As we continue to keep our community centers and facilities closed with public safety in mind, we are bringing some of our favorite classes to your household as online programs!
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HoCo By Design
Every 10 years, Howard County updates its general plan, a long-range, visionary document that guides land use decisions. The County’s current general plan, PlanHoward2030, was adopted in 2012. The HoCo By Design effort, led by the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) and its consultant team, will result in a new general plan to reflect shifting demographics, regional growth, and changes to priorities and community goals.
DPZ invites you to visit this dynamic website often to receive HoCo By Design status updates and learn about and provide input into the planning process. Given the unprecedented way social interaction has changed due to COVID-19, virtual engagement in the planning process is perhaps more important now than ever before. This website will feature interactive tools so you can provide your feedback and stay connected even while physically distant. To learn more or to sign up to participate click here.
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Blood Drives in Harper's Choice
Harper's Choice will host blood drives until the end of the year.
Drives are scheduled for:
September 29th
October 6th
October 22nd
November 11th
November 24th
Drives are held at Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia
Click the link below to schedule your life saving donation:
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Community COVID-19 Testing
Howard County General Hospital with support from the Howard County Health Department will offer COVID-19 community testing in places of worship throughout Howard County this fall at no cost to patients. Both adults and children can be tested, and a physician order is not required for testing events listed below.
- Saturday, Sept. 26th from 8 AM to 11 AM at Oakland Mills Interfaith Center at 5885 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia
- Saturday, Oct. 3rd from 8 AM to 11 AM at First Baptist Church of Guilford at 7504 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia
- Saturday, Oct. 10th from 8 AM to 11 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4100 St. John's Lane in Ellicott City
- Sunday, Oct. 25th from 8 AM to 11 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 6020 Ten Oaks Road in Clarksville
- Saturday, Oct. 31st from 10 AM to 1 PM at Celebration Church at 7101 Riverwood Drive in Columbia
Advance registration is encouraged. Dates and times are subject to change, pending inclement weather.
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Empowering Parents as Partners Conference
Save the Date: September 29th and October 1st
The HCPSS Department of Special Education will host a free virtual conference that will focus on assisting and supporting your child throughout the IEP process.
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HopeWorks
The Purple Challenge
October 1st – 31st
Funds raised will be donated to HopeWorks of Howard County to support life-changing services offered to survivors and their families, so they can break free and stay free from physical, emotional, and financial abuse.
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Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) presents
Ask a Pharmacist
October 1st from 1 PM – 2 PM
The Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) Office on Aging and Independence’s (OAI) invites residents to join this virtual event. To learn more about medication safety, prescription drug interactions, considerations pertaining to COVID-19, and other pharmaceutical topics and concerns.
To register for this FREE event, please call Malarie Burgess at (410) 313-6073 or visit https://bit.ly/3eMwwjo.
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Truck or Treat
October 24th
The Department of Recreation & Parks is happy to announce that tickets are available for its annual "Truck or Treat." This year's event has been modified to incorporate physical distancing and all CDC, State and local guidelines. Children will receive a pre-filled treat bag. participate in an "I Spy" scavenger hunt and have their picture taken in front of trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, and more.
Tickets are $5 per child and adults are free. Each member of your party must register in advance for a one-hour time slot to attend.
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In Need of Crisis Intervention?
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Grassroots is a private, non-profit agency that empowers people in crisis to make positive changes by offering professional 24-hour crisis intervention, shelter, and outreach services. They provide programs and services including 24-hour crisis intervention hotline, Maryland Crisis Hotline, Walk-in Counseling, Mobile Crisis Team, Suicide Prevention, Outreach and Education, a 33-bed Family Shelter, an 18-bed Men's Shelter, a Motel Shelter, Cold Weather Shelter, and a Day Resource Center. The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Inc. is located at 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD For more information, please call (410) 531-6006 or visit the Grassroots website. The 24-hour hotline is (410) 531-6677 and the MD Crisis Hotline is 1(800)422-0009.
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Howard County COVID-19 Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention
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Community Action Council
of Howard County
The Howard County Food Bank, run by the Community Action Council of Howard County, has been able to meet that challenge during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Alpha Ridge Landfill (ARL)
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See the landfill like never before--from your couch!
To learn more about the Transfer Station or how the Composting Facility operates
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HoCo Donation Collection Map
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Howard County launched an online tool for residents to find locations and organizations to drop-off product donations including groceries, toiletries, and cleaning products.
The listings represent the most current information provided to us and are subject to change. The listings are managed by Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD). Organizations wishing to be listed and/or join as COAD members can email Katie Canady at kcanady@howardcountymd.gov.
If individuals or groups have homemade masks to donate, please email Masks.HoCOAD@gmail.com and include quantity, date of availability, location for pick-up, contact information, and any other relevant details.
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New Family Resource Guide Available
A new family resource guide has been developed by the Howard County Library System and the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services. The guide has selected resources in the areas of food, housing help, financial counseling, childcare information and free activities for kids.
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The Howard County Child Advocacy Center
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The Howard County Child Advocacy Center is open to help kids in need. If you suspect possible child mistreatment or abuse, Please call the Department of Social Services at (410) 872-4203 during business hours. After hours, call (410) 313-2200 or email HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.
If you have urgent information, please call 911.
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Chronicling Columbia’s Resilience
in a Pandemic
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We are living through history in the making.
Share your personal writing and testimony, artist renderings, photograph or brief video testimony with the Columbia Archives project. Columbia residents, family, and individual submissions are encouraged.
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Need to Talk? Call 211, Press 1
Experiencing challenges with depression? Anxiety? Thoughts of suicide? Drugs or Alcohol? Call Maryland's helpline: Call 211, press 1 or text your zip code to 898-211 (TXT-211).
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Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a 501c3 charity that uses donations and volunteers to build and deliver beds to Howard County children ages 3-17 years old. The local Howard County Chapter has built over 200 beds thus far.
All beds are delivered with new sheets and comforters. Sleep in Heavenly Peace accepts donated sheet set, comforter, or both. All bedding MUST be NEW and TWIN size.
If you don’t have time to shop, but would like to help, you can make a monetary donation here.
NO KID SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN!
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HC DrugFree depends upon the generosity of individuals, PTSAs/PTAs, organizations and businesses in the community to support our free services to the community. Please donate today! Consider contacting HC DrugFree to sponsor an event or make a one-time or monthly donation.
HC DrugFree is a 501(c)(3). Donate online or mail checks to HC DrugFree, 5305 Village Center Drive, Suite 206, Columbia, MD 21044.
For more information, contact HC DrugFree's Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi by email or call (443) 325-0040.
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Report Non-Emergency Issues Online
Report water main breaks, broken street signs, and more on Howard County's mobile app and website Tell HoCo.
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