Important October dates to recognize

The event is family friendly, with two veteran owned food businesses, veteran and military musicians, Escape Velocity Academy soccer drone demo, HERO dogs, Blue Star Families, resource tables, the Orioles bird, giveaways and more. Howard Community College and the Howard County Economic Authority/Maryland Innovation Center will offer tours of their space and share information about their programs and services.

Please join us to shop, eat and support our military community, by signing up with our Eventbrite link. The first 25 that register and attend will be guaranteed a swag bag. There will be door prizes as well.

If you are a business interested in participating, the completion of an Interest Form is required of potential vendors. Space is very limited! Once approved by OVMF, the registration fee is $25 per table space which covers a table, 2 chairs and an online directory with your business listed. Custom sponsorship levels are also available.

·     Kind Bars

·     LaraBars

·     Protein Bars of all kinds

·     Granola or Nut Bars

·     Beef Jerky or Slim Jims (individually wrapped small bags)

·     Pringles in small snack size containers

·     Trail Mix, Peanuts, Nut Mixes or Nuts of any kind. 

·     Cheez-its

·     Cheese or Peanut Butter Crackers

·     Tuna Lunches to Go

·     Any Cookies (small school lunch-type sizes: Oreos, Chips Ahoy)

·     Individual Drink mix packets (Crystal Light, Mio, Gatorade, Propel)

·     Word puzzles, crossword puzzles, Sudoku

Join us in November for the 9th annual Howard County Veterans Day Parade & Celebration. Each year, this event is an opportunity to celebrate our county’s Veterans and honor their profound dedication and service to our country. Accepting applications for your group to participate in the parade, More information found here.

The Celebration will take place near the future Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument. See the beautiful monument design here and donate to the cause!

Now – Seeking Howard County veteran owned and military spouse small businesses that have products, books or artwork to sell, as well as business to consumer services. Email lbterry@howardcountymd.gov for more info.

Now – Accepting applications for Howard County Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshall

Now – Veteran Curation Program is now accepting applications for their next session starting November 6th! The VCP is a five month program for veterans who are transitioning out of the military, need help finding a new job, or who are seeking new resume-building skills. The VCP supports veterans with resources, peer-support and a stable paycheck while giving veterans the space to work towards their personal and career goals. We offer positions ranging from 20-40 hours per week based on the needs of the veteran. No experience is necessary to apply, all training will be completed within the first two weeks of the session as a group. Visit www.veteranscurationprogram.org/how-to-apply/  for more information and to send in your application. September 5th, 1 pm EST we will offer a Virtual Showcase with tours of all four labs, alumni interviews, and more. To receive the Zoom link, please email kblanke@newsouthassoc.com.

October 6 – 1st Friday Vetworking: Brunch and Business Card Exchange at Jam Eateries, 12-2pm.

October 6 – 1st Friday Vetworking: Happy Hour Social at Busboys and Poets, 4:30-7:30pm.

October 9 – Voices for Vets 5^th Annual Voiceraiser at 18^th and 21^st/Cured in Columbia, 6:30pm

October 14– Financial Resilience Academy on Zoom, 10:30am – 12:00pm.

October 14 - Thriving Together: A survivors' mental health awareness & wellbeing group, 10am-12pm at HopeWorks of Howard County inside the NonProfit Collaborative - Enter Thru Suite 100 Training Rooms A&B 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive Columbia MD 21046 (in person)

Sessions feature expressive-arts activities, self-care practices, relaxation techniques, education and guest speakers. A free program but registration is required. FUTURE THRIVING TOGETHER SESSIONS:

October 19 - Maryland's Commitment to Veterans Presents “Building a Bridge to Veterans: Mitigating Crisis through Developing Trust”, 1-3pm

October 20- Ft. Meade Resource Fair, 3-6pm. More info to come.

October 21 – Harford County Family Resource Fair, 10am- 1pm at Bel Air Armory. Contact vetcommission@harfordcountymd.gov or 410-638-3213 X1456

October 21 - Ft. Meade Community Resiliency Fair, 10am-3pm at McGlachlin Field .

October 23 thru 27 - Howard County 2023 Business Appreciation Week - Businesses of ALL industries and sizes in Howard County are invited to take part in this year’s Business Appreciation Week from October 23 - 27! During the week, ambassador teams including county department heads, government officials, community organization leaders, and Howard County Economic Development Authority team members will visit local businesses to learn more about their experiences doing business in Howard County. Business Appreciation Week celebrates the important and essential contributions of the businesses that make up Howard County! We hope that you take this opportunity to share your stories and experiences. Registration is now open. Secure your spot today!

October 25 – Children Youth Services Community Hiring Event, 10:30am-2:30pm at Miller Branch Library 9421 Frederick Rd Ellicott City, MD 21042.

Hiring Event begins at 10:30 a.m. with an organization overview and then interviews, so it is crucial that attendees are on time. If selected, you will begin on-boarding with human resources, occupational health, and fingerprinting. Please make sure that you have already applied on usajobs.gov to ensure a seamless process.

November 2 – Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families hybrid monthly meeting, 7-8pm in person. Email veterans@howardcountydmd.gov for Webex link.

Upcoming Workshops from Office of Children and Families

* For assistance with registering, call

410-313-5992 (voice/ relay) or email children@howardcountymd.gov 

or other accommodations to attend, call at least one week in advance.  

Learn how to choose healthy snacks, meals and beverages for children. Discuss common eating concerns such as picky eaters or refusal to eat. Explore nutrition labels and healthy eating on a budget. Learn more about the importance of exercise and how you can keep children active in a variety of fun and easy ways. Thursday, October 12, 7:30 p.m. Free, Register here

Positive Solutions for Families 

Join the Howard County Office of Children and Families for this evidenced-based, virtual parent series to help increase knowledge and understanding of how to promote children’s social and emotional skills, address challenging behaviors and use positive approaches to help children manage big emotions.

In this four session series, you will receive a weekly workshop video to watch to learn on your own schedule and then virtually meet with a group of parents to extend the learning and share successes and struggles. Receive FREE handouts and resources to individualize in your own home. For families with children up to the age of 9.

Virtual sessions: October 25 | November 1, 8, 29 / 7:00 p.m.to 8:30 p.m. / Free, Register here

Father’s play a critical part of early childhood development. Learn benefits of being actively involved with children at different stages of development and gain resources and tips for ways to interact in positive ways. Wednesday, October 18, 1:30 p.m. Free Online Workshop, Register here

Wednesday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. Free Online Workshop, Register here

Welcome home, baby! This interactive two-week early literacy class for parents/caregivers with newborns from birth to 6 months. Learn more about supporting your baby's development through fun songs and activities together. Participants will receive a FREE take-home gift each session.

Thursdays, October 19 and 26 : 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. / 9830 Patuxent Woods Dr, Columbia 21046/

Free Workshop, Register Click Here

Did you know that you could use what you have at home to promote early learning skills with young children? Parents and children infant to five are invited to attend this in-person workshop to make fun DIY toys

using common household items that will keep them engaged and learning.

Tuesday, October 24, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. /9830 Patuxent Woods Dr., Columbia 21046/ Free  Register here

Los nuevos padres quieren proporcionar una base sólida a sus hijos desde el principio. Hay muchas oportunidades para centrarse en interacciones que pueden crear experiencias infantiles positivas. El Programa Lo Básico del condado de Howard proporciona información para ayudar a los padres a aprender a aprovechar al máximo estos primeros cinco años. Sintonice para obtener más información sobre los cinco pilares de las interacciones exitosas y cómo registrarse y compartir el programa gratuito de mensajería de texto Los Principios Basicos/Basics Insights.

Martes 17 de Octubre a la 1pm / Tuesday, October 17, 1:00 p.m. Taller Virtual Gratis/ Free Virtual Workshop, Inscribirse aqui/ Join from the meeting link : https://howardcountymd.webex.com/meet/lrhodes

Join from the meeting link : https://howardcountymd.webex.com/meet/lrhodes

October 28 – First-ever Veteran-Owned Small Business Expo, 10am-2pm at the MD Innovation Center 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive Columbia, MD. If you are a veteran, active duty or military spouse owned small business that would like to sell your products and showcase your services at this family friendly event, please email veterans@howardcountymd.gov. There will be veteran owned food truck, music, activities and giveaways. See above

November 2 - CI or FS Poly Cleared Job Fair, from 2pm – 5.30pm at the Westin Tysons Corner. Whether you’re between contracts, transitioning out of the military / government, or just casually looking around, please join us for this in-person event. Our hiring employers include Accenture Federal Services, Amazon Web Services, Arcfield, BDO, BlueHalo, CACI, Core4ce, Integrity Technology Consultants, IT Availability, Jacobs, KBR, L3Harris Technologies | Space & Airborne Systems, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Marine Corps Cyberspace Warfare Group, Markon, Peraton, QinetiQ, SAIC, Strategic Systems Programs - Dept of the Navy, System High and more! Opportunities for Intel, Program and Project Managers, Data Scientists, Cyber, Geospatial, Malware Analysts, Malware Programmers, Software Engineers and Developers, CNO Engineers and Analysts, Database Administrators, System Administrators, Software and Application Developers, Network Designers and Engineers, Help Desk, Trainers and more.

November 6 - Virtual Veteran Support Group, 5-7pm

November 6 thru Nov 10 – Operation Greenlight in Support of Veterans and Military Families.

November 7 – Breakfast with the Superintendent and HCPSS Showcase, 7:30-10am at The Meeting House in Columbia.

November 10 – Columbia Orchestra Veterans Day Concert: Les Brown & His Band of Renown, 7:30 p.m. at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center. $20 ticket

November 11 – Veterans Day Bash and Grand Opening of Reveille Grounds at Checkerspot Brewery, 2-8

November 12 – Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony, 9:30am kickoff in downtown Columbia.

November 12 – Baltimore County Veterans Celebration and Resource Event, 10am-5pm at Towson University Union 21 University Drive Towson, MD. For more info: veteransaffairs@baltimorecountymd.gov

November 16-20 - National Buddy Check Week

Poetic Record: Resilience Workshop for Healthcare Workers with Laura Van Prooyen, Writing workshop for healthcare workers that blends poetry, community, and the science of resilience. Every Tuesday, 7 PM EDT

Comedy Workshop with Amelia Bane in Partnership with Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals  Writing workshop for all interested to learn and practice comedy writing skills. 2nd Tuesday, 12 PM EDT

Poetry Workshop with Ben Weakley in Partnership with Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals  Creative writing workshop for all. 4th Tuesday, 12 PM EDT

Visual Art Workshop with Veteran Artists Val Acosta, Shaun Smith, and Joe Merritt Hang out in a collaborative group setting, learn new art techniques, and create a masterpiece. No experience necessary. Every Wednesday, 7 PM EDT

Writing Workshop for Military, Veterans, Caregivers and Spouseswith Laura Van Prooyen in Partnership w/ Blue Star Families Creative writing workshop where we'll consider writing as a tool for communication, expression, and relief from holding it all together. 1st & 3rd Thursday, 3:30 PM EDT

Writing Workshop with Seema Reza No experience required! If you can think, you can write. Bring some paper and a pen! Every Friday, 12 PM EDT

Writing Workshop in Partnership with Strathmore featuring a Special Guest each month Creative writing workshop where you can put your personal stories on paper in a supportive environment. 3rd Thursday, 7 PM EDT

Virtual Tai Chi for Veterans, 1st Tuesday of every month - 12-1pm.  

Virtual Toastmasters for Veterans and Military Communities 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm & 4th Saturdays of every month at 11:30 am. Please register with Bernadette Garrett at tmspeakerleaderdtm20@gmail.com

Virtual Mindfulness and Gentle Yoga, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month 5-6pm.

Every Day – Veterans Yoga Project Livestreaming classes.  

Now – Honor Flights Maryland seeking WWII, Korean and Vietnam Veterans who may be interested in visiting DC Memorials next year, volunteers and guardians to help!

Now - Howard County Fallen Heroes Tribute. To honor Howard County residents who died while in service to our country, the Office of Veteran and Military Families is proud to announce the creation of the Fallen Heroes Tribute page

 

As a nod to National Financial Planning Month this October, King Tide Advisors sharede four money moves that align nicely with this time of year. 

Howard online application to heighten constituent engagement - Howard County has launched an online application system that transforms the way constituents connect with their local government and apply to become members of the County’s boards and commissions.

USVA Newsletter – Sept 29 

The new state Department of Service & Civic Innovation is launching unprecedented opportunities to serve throughout Maryland starting in October. These exciting paid year of service programs provide pathways to education and career opportunities for those who have recently completed high school - or people of any age looking to make a pivot in their lives. If you or someone you know is interested in giving back to the community as they explore next steps in their professional development, please apply ASAP by visiting https://dsci.maryland.gov or text the word “Maryland” to 21000. Send questions to dsci.gov@maryland.gov

Are you looking for a paid, full-time job opportunity to make a difference? Please visit https://dsci.maryland.gov for more information and apply quickly to be considered for the program starting in October.

Howard County Government Employment Opportunities

Maryland Workforce Exchange

Military Community Connections - Military Career Connections assists eligible transitioning service members, military spouses, and veterans with enhanced one-on-one career services. These career services include a combination of resume assistance, employment assistance, no cost industry training, licensing, certifications, work and learn opportunities, and barrier remediation with the goal of employment.

Women Veterans Inclusion Program - Women Veterans/Inclusion Program - The MDVA Women Veterans/Inclusion Program was established in August 2021 to collaborate with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, state and local governments, and community organizations to coordinate events to raise awareness of the needs of Maryland’s women, minority, and underserved veteran populations. A statewide advisory group has convened to identify resources to support and advocate on behalf of this group of veterans. 

TALMAR offers a Veterans Affairs Farming and Recovery Mental Health Services (VA FARMS) program to veterans enrolled in services at the VA Maryland Health Care System. TALMAR’s VA FARMS program is a hands-on work therapy program where participants learn on a vegetable & cut flower farm in central Maryland. Baltimore, MD

Research Participation Opportunity - VA’s National Center for PTSD and the Coaching Into Care program have partnered to study telephone coaching methods to help spouses and intimate partners of Veterans with untreated PTSD get their Veteran into mental health care. The study will provide free telephone coaching and, if assigned, access to online educational materials. Participants will be compensated up to $170 for participating.

Visit: https://www.familycoachingstudy.org to learn more about the study and complete a brief screening quiz to see if you are eligible to participate. For participant’s rights questions, contact 1-866-680-2906.