TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT POISONING….…….......1 ISSUE 42 VOLUME 5 UPCOMING EVENTS HOSTED BY COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION …….........2 HOWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT NEWS…...........3 Community notes Greeting Support Grassroots This Weekend Lengthening days and warmer temperatures, call us out to the garden and to the many activities where we can support Howard County Police Department recruits will participate this our friends and neighbors. Enjoy the first weekend of spring! evening in Sleep Out to End Homelessness to raise money for Grassroots, the County’s only 24-hour crisis intervention center and shelter for the homeless. Organized by Academy Class 39, Sleep Out to End Homelessness will begin today, at 5 p.m. at Glen Mar United Methodist Church, 4701 New Cut Road, Ellicott City, and conclude at 7 a.m. on Friday, March 20. The event is It’s National Poison Prevention Week the first in a series of community service projects aimed at The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services linking HCPD police recruits with local organizations in need of (HCDFRS) is spreading the word with an informational video assistance. that focuses on how residents can avoid poison emergencies. The song is a parody version of Bell Biv DeVoe’s hit, “Poison.” An area in the parking lot has been designated as a donation The video features field personnel, civilian employees, hazmat site where the public is encouraged to drop off items to assist special operations crews, a dancing Sparky the Fire Dog, and Grassroots or make a monetary donation. Donations may also more. be made online. Residents are encouraged to follow these safety measures: Grassroots is in particular need of the following: Keep household cleaners, medicines, and chemicals in • Microwavable and ready-to-eat meals such as hearty soups, locked cabinets or out of the reach of children. beef stew, macaroni and cheese, chili, Chef Boyardee pasta, etc. Never mix chemical products together. This may create • Snack foods such as pudding cups, individual bags of chips, poisonous toxins. apple sauce, cupcakes, granola bars, fruit snacks. • Kid-friendly breakfast cereals Cosmetics and other personal care items should be placed • Coffee, creamer, sugar out of the reach of children. Do not share prescription medicines. Grassroots is unable to accept used clothing, coats, shoes, toys For additional information call the Maryland Poison or books; stuffed animals; furniture and appliances. Control Center: 1-800-222-1222. You may also help Grassroots on Sunday, March 22 at Soup’r For additional tips and information please visit Sundae, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Wilde Lake High School. Enjoy www.Facebook.com/HCDFRS throughout Poison Prevention soup, bread and ice cream in an afternoon of fun for the whole Week. family. Tickets are $20 per person, $5 for children 12 and under. CA News Community Meeting on Education The Columbia Association will host two open houses on its Are you interested in what is happening in your local schools? summer camp programs on Saturday, March 21, 12:00 – 3:00 What are the schools’ roles in the community? p.m. at Columbia Athletic Club, 5435 Beaverkill Road; and Wednesday, May 13, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Columbia SportsPark, Hickory Ridge, Wilde Lake and Town Center Community 5453 Harpers Farm Road. For more information, visit Associations are co-sponsoring a “Community Meeting on ColumbiaCamps.org. Education” on March 25, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Slayton House located at 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, MD 21044. All Columbia Cleanup Day will take place on Saturday, March 21, residents are welcome to attend. with volunteers simultaneously picking up trash that has accumulated at open space locations in all 10 villages. Special guests are Howard County Superintendent, Dr. Renee Participants should arrive at any of the following the meeting Foose; Kelley Hough, Principal, Bryant Woods Elementary locations: School; David Larner, Principal, Clemens Crossing Elementary Dorsey’s Search (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at Dorsey School; Troy Todd, Principal, Running Brook Elementary Hall Pool (4649 Columbia Road). Clean at the open space School; Lisa Smithson, Principal, Wilde Lake Middle School; behind Dorsey Hall Pool and the playground area. Jennifer Clements, Principal, Atholton High School and James Harper’s Choice (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at LeMon, Principal, Wilde Lake High School. Each guest will give Swansfield Neighborhood Center (5659 Cedar Lane). Clean at an overview of his/her school and answer questions from the the open space area behind Green Dory Lane and Berrypick community members. For more information contact Hickory Lane, ending at Harpers Farm Road. Ridge at (410) 730-7327, Wilde Lake at (410) 730-3987 or Hickory Ridge (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at Clary’s Town Center at (410) 730-4744. Forest Pool (11615 Little Patuxent Parkway). Clean down the pathway to Bright Passage and Watch Chain Way. Town Hall Meeting Kings Contrivance (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Park at Howard County Executive Kittleman will hold a Town Hall Amherst House (7251 Eden Brook Drive). Clean at the open meeting on Tuesday, March 31 at The Other Barn, 5851 Robert space and natural areas behind Amherst House and near Oliver Place in Oakland Mills beginning at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 Dickinson Pool. Please note that Kings Contrivance’s cleanup p.m. Attendees may begin signing in on March 31 at 6:00 will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. p.m. Long Reach, location 1 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at Jeffers Hill Neighborhood Center (6030 Tamar Drive). Clean at Kittleman will discuss any subject and field questions from Dannon Garth Pond. residents, as a way to encourage dialogue on matters of interest. Town Hall meetings are free and open to the Long Reach, location 2 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at the public. After this meeting in east Columbia, Kittleman will end of Tamar Drive in Jeffers Hill. Clean the open space at the schedule others in different parts of the county. end of Tamar Drive. Oakland Mills (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at Oakland Mills Village Center (5851 Robert Oliver Place). Clean along the Spring Environmental Events pathway from Stevens Forest Road going toward Route 29. The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area will host a tree Owen Brown (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at Lake Elkhorn planting on Saturday, March 21, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. to replant at the Dockside Lane lot off Cradlerock Way. Clean around Lake many of the areas that were cleared of Multiflora Rose and Elkhorn and the Forebay area. Japanese Barberry over the past year. Interested participants should meet the group at 5795 Trotter Rd. Clarksville. The River Hill (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at Claret Hall in the trees to be planted are sponsored by The Howard County River Hill Village Center (6020 Daybreak Circle). Clean along the Forestry Board and are specimens native to Maryland. pathway behind Columbia Gym and the pathway loop at Linden Linthicum Lane. The Patapsco Heritage Greenway hosts a series of events to Town Center (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park at the help the environment in the Patapsco Valley. Visit their Downtown Columbia Lakefront (10227 Wincopin Circle). Clean website for more information. Click on the link to see around Lake Kittamaqundi. upcoming events such as the Stream Watcher Training Wilde Lake (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Park on Hyla Brook Road. Workshop scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 9:30 – 11:00 Clean around Wilde Lake Park. a.m. at Benjamin Banneker Park & Museum's Conference Room. 300 Oella Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228. Reminders Howard County FY2016 Budget Recollections of the Civil Rights Movement The Howard County Council will begin its work on the fiscal The Village in Howard presents the film, “SELMA”, on Tuesday, year 2016 budget beginning April 1. The Council has posted its March 24, 6:30 p.m. at Slayton House in Wilde Lake, 10400 budget calendar and related documents on its website. Cross Fox Lane, Columbia. This event is part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the second successful March in In addition, you may wish to review the recommendations of Selma, Alabama. The movie is preceded by recollections of the County’s Spending Affordability Committee. Click here for local resident and Selma marcher Sherman Howell. the report. Admission is $6 at the door. Transition Team Report and Recommendations IT Job Fair Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman has received the Howard County Office of Workforce Development, the report of the Transition Team he appointed to evaluate county Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the government. Newly elected county executives traditionally ask Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland community representatives to meet with leaders and Workforce Exchange hosts an IT Job Fair on Wednesday, employees in government, as well as the citizens they serve, to March 25, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at University of Maryland review the strengths and weaknesses of the current University College, 6865 Deerpath Road, Elkridge. Registration government structure and to help define the challenges and is required; register online today! opportunities for going forward. Eleven committees prepared assessments which highlighted current practices and offered Council Members to Visit Columbia Villages suggestions to improve them, as well as new initiatives the Howard County Council members continue their visits to the county should consider. The full report may be reviewed villages of Columbia. The Columbia Listening Tour gives County online at the County’s website.