|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The e-Newsletter for the Village of Harper's Choice
|
|
This weekly e-newsletter serves as a recap of news and events we share with our community throughout the week via other social media channels. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter to receive more regular announcements and information from us. |
|
Subscribe to Our e-Newsletter
|
Was this message forwarded to you from a friend? You can subscribe to this newsletter directly so that you can receive it straight to your inbox from us! |
|
Red Ribbon Community Yard Sale
|
|
Last Chance to Register Your Street!
|
The Harper's Choice Community-Wide Yard Sale is scheduled for October 4 from 8AM - 12PM. Call 410-730-0770 or email us to register your street.
Streets must be registered by noon on Monday, September 29 to be included in printed advertisements!
Stop by Kahler Hall for a Red Ribbon that you can use to notify eager buyers that at least one resident on your street is participating. The following streets are registered: - Gloucester Road
- Woodcutter Way
- Eliots Oak Road
- Cedar Lane
- Hesperus Drive
- Rock Coast Road
- Hildebrand Court
- Silver Tree Place
- Fallriver Row Court
- Open Window
- Wood Elves Way
|
|
Letter Writing Campaign to Thank Our Overseas Service Members
|
Thanksgiving is a treasured American tradition that provides an opportunity for us to spend special time with loved ones and give thanks for our blessings. For many of the men and women serving our country overseas, Thanksgiving can be a difficult time.
Harper's Choice is collecting letters to send overseas to honor and appreciate the men and women who are not able to spend Thanksgiving Day with their families. Letters will be collected at Kahler Hall through October 17, 2014. On October 17, you are invited to Kahler Hall between 10AM - 2PM to write your letter and help prepare the letters for shipment. Materials and supplies will be provided. Letters from all ages are encouraged.
Here is a clip from a 2011 interview with First Lady Michelle Obama, who discusses the impact these letters have on the men and women serving our country.
The Harper's Choice Community is proud to participate in this endeavor. Let's join together as a community and send our appreciation to our troops.
Letter Guidelines  Each letter should be heartfelt, handwritten, original, and free of any political statements. The purpose of the letter is to express thanks to military personnel currently deployed outside the United States. We reserve the right to eliminate those messages that are political in nature and do not reflect a positive message in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
- All letters must be on 8.5" x 11" paper or smaller
- No glue, tape, staples, cardboard, glitter or anything attached to the paper
- No construction paper
- Decorate using crayons, markers, pens or pencils
- Use both sides if you like, but use one page per letter only
- Do not send greeting cards or photographs
- Feel free to include your mailing and email address
- Individual letters should not be sealed in envelopes
- Do not send anything except letters
Please contact Susan at 410-730-0770 for more information.
|
|
The HoCo Food Bank Supports 23,000 Men, Women, and Children?
|
 Please remember our neighbors in need by donating to the Howard County Food Bank. Run by the Community Action Council of Howard County, the Food Bank provides emergency food grants to over 23,000 residents to ensure our neighbors in need have adequate, nutritious food. Eligibility is based on income. Donations are accepted Monday-Friday, 9AM - 4PM at 8920 Route 108, Columbia 21045. You may also donate online.
|
Mulching Leaves Helps Your Lawn Stay Healthy
|
Did you know that soils with mulched leaves show increased microbial activity and better water filtration? Studies show that when leaves are mulched into established turf, the grass becomes greener earlier and has fewer dandelions in the spring!
If you want to know more about the health of your lawn, have the soil tested. Soil testing kits may be picked up and dropped off here at Kahler Hall and the Columbia Association will take care of the rest. CA will contact you with your results.
 Mulching your leaves is a great way to recycle nutrients and add organic matter to your turf. Keep these tips in mind when mulching your leaves:
- Make sure your mower has sharp blades.
- Set your mower height as high as it will go.
- Mow at your normal speed.
- Don't mow when the leaves are really wet.
- Mow leaf piles up to 3 to 4 inches deep.
- Continue mowing your lawn as long as your
grass is growing. - Once the lawn stops growing, lower the blade
height for your final mowing. - Test your soil - fall is a great time to have your
soil tested.
|
|
Drug Take-Back Day: September 27, 2014
|
 Got unused or expired medications you are looking to dispose of safely? If so, stop by one of the nine drop-off locations the Howard County Police Department will have set up this Saturday, September 27 from 10AM - 2PM as part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Take Back Initiative. The program offers the opportunity to reduce instances of prescription drug poisonings, misuse, abuse and theft, and an environmentally safe disposal method.
Drop-off locations are: - Northern District Police Station, 3410 Court House Drive, Ellicott City
- Southern District Police Station, 11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel
- HC DrugFree, 10451 Twin Rivers Road, Suite 206, Columbia
- Harper's Choice Community Policing Office, 5485 Harpers Farm Road, Columbia
- Oakland Mills Community Policing Office, 5820 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
- Long Reach Community Policing Office, 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia
- Owen Brown Community Policing Office, 7154 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
- North Laurel Community Policing Office, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel
- Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville
Prescriptions, both controlled and non-controlled, and over-the-counter medication will be accepted. However, intravenous solutions and injectable medications cannot be accepted.
Needles, syringes and EpiPens can ONLY be accepted at the HC DrugFree office at 10451 Twin Rivers Road, Suite 206 in Columbia. For more information about the National Take Back Initiative and additional drop-off locations, visit www.dea.gov.
|
State of Our Schools in Harper's Choice
|
Do you wonder about the schools in Harper's Choice? How do our schools compare to other schools throughout the county, state, and country? What challenges do our schools face? Where are we succeeding? What needs improvement?
Join us at Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia, MD 21044 on October 6 at 7PM for a forum to get those questions answered and more.
Participants include Superintendent Dr. Renee Foose, members of the Administrative Team at HCPSS Central Office, and principals from Longfellow Elementary, Swansfield Elementary, and Harper's Choice Middle School.
|
Columbia Speaks, CA Listens
|
 Columbia Association wants to hear more from you - and from more of you. That's why the External Relations Committee of the CA Board of Directors will be hosting Columbia Speaks, CA Listens, a community input meeting on Saturday, October 18 from 9:30AM - 12PM at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center at 10431 Twin Rivers Road in Columbia. Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. Child care will be available. Email Columbia Speaks if you need assistance with transportation to this meeting. For more info, please call 410-715-3121. |
Save the date! October 18, 2014 (rain or shine) from 9AM - 1PM at the Long Gate Park & Ride near Meadowbrook Park. Residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded onsite. Please visit the County's Shredding webpage for guidelines - they've answered your questions!
|
|
Enjoying the Creative Arts Group Begins in October 2014
|
 Are you interested in the arts? Knowing more about the music you hear, the drama you watch or the art you see? "Enjoying the Creative Arts" is a new, short-term group starting in October. Each month, a different genre of the creative arts will be discussed and enjoyed. October will focus on the creative arts in its many forms; Suzanne Beal, Co-Producing Artistic Director of Rep Stage at HCC's Horowitz Center, is the featured guest. In November, the group will focus on the applied arts and in December will highlight drama. The group typically meets three times a month. The first is a pre-event meeting to share and gain insight about the art experience; the next meeting will be an art experience (some may have a cost and transportation is not usually included); and at the last or "post" session, reflections on the art experience are shared. Pre-registration required; limited group size. Interested? Please contact Karen Hull at 410-313-7466 or Elaine Widom at 410-313-7353 for more information or to register. |
|
Bereavement Group at the Bain Center
|
 Find comfort in this short-term group for anyone mourning the loss of a loved one. The group provides a supportive time to explore the process of mourning, coping strategies, and how to reconnect with life after loss. A nominal fee applies for the series; partial scholarships are available. Commitment to all seven weeks is essential. Pre-registration is required. For more details, contact Karen Hull at 410-313-7466. |
|
|
|
Architectural Committee Meetings
Changes made to the exterior of homes in Harper's Choice require the approval of the Village Architectural Committee. The AC meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM to review applications. The deadline to submit applications for approval is two weeks prior to the next meeting date. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
10/14, 10/28, 11/11.
|
Village Board Meetings
The Village Board meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at Kahler Hall. The next meeting is scheduled for October 7 at 7PM. Agendas and Meeting Minutes can be found on our website.
|
|
|
|
Village Manager
|
| |
|
Community Outreach Coordinator
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
