When: Tuesday, September 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Where: Kahler Hall (5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia)

Fee: $10 per person. Supplies and refreshments are included. Pre-registration required.

Registration: Call 410-730-0770 or stop by Kahler Hall.

Join us for a fun and engaging card making workshop! This month, our theme is Thank You, and you will make three projects to take home. Advance registration is required. Fee is $10 and includes supplies and light refreshments. 

Join our Books to Big Screen Readers' Club as we discuss The Martian by Andy Weir. Set for its movie debut starring Matt Damon on October 2, this book tells the tale of a man named Mark Watney who is one of the first people to walk on Mars. Will he also be the first person to die on Mars? This is sure to be a book full of mystery and action! We can't wait to discuss it with you!

Do you have trash or treasure in your home? Join us for an Appraisal Roadshow! We will have a gemologist and a generalist appraiser from Paradigm Experts on hand on Monday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. to offer appraisals of up to two items per person. Items to consider bringing include  jewelry, silver, coins, time pieces, furniture, glass, porcelain, paintings, bronze, toys, documents, and any other items (except stamps). For each item, the entire audience will learn what it is, what it's worth, and what they can do with it. You do not need to bring an item to come and enjoy the show.

• General Admission Tickets are $19 for appraisal of up to two items plus light refreshments.
• Spectator Tickets are $7 to watch the "show" and enjoy light refreshments.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Please arrive in plenty of time to check in and be seated by 7:30 p.m. The show will begin promptly and items can not be added to the show once it has begun. ALL items will be appraised either during the allotted show time or after the session. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance through this link or in person at Kahler Hall to have your item(s) appraised.

Most townhouse developments in Harper's Choice have common area trash collection: a specific location where residents are required to place their trash and recycling for the county to pick-up on collection day. On streets where there is no townhouse association, the residents are expected to clean up the area once the items have been removed. The land, in cases like this, is typically part of the County right of way and is maintained by the adjacent homeowner. That said, all residents who use this area for trash must be responsible to help clean up when there is trash or debris left behind.

Here are some tips to help keep these areas clean:

• Use trash containers with tight-fitting lids; no loose bags or boxes of trash.
• Place recycling in the blue bins provided by the County. Need one? Call 410-313-6444.
• Follow your trash collection schedule - items should not be placed out earlier than 6 p.m. the evening prior to your collection day.
• When you collect your bins and cans, take a moment to pick up any debris that may be left behind.
• Ever hear of the broken window theory? It supports the idea that areas kept clean and debris-free encourage others to pitch in. You can help build a sense of community, one piece of trash at a time.

The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) to promote awareness and reduce the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on the roads will conduct a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location this weekend. The checkpoint is part of the agency's traffic safety initiative to keep county roads safe for residents and travelers. The checkpoint will be clearly marked with signs, lights and uniformed officers.

The department conducts several checkpoints throughout the year, in addition to utilizing special enforcement details specifically targeting drunk and drugged drivers. HCPD arrested 994 drivers in 2014 for driving under the influence. Twenty-seven percent of Howard County's fatal collisions last year were alcohol-related.

Checkpoints conducted by Howard County police are part of the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign and are funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Highway Safety Office. HCPD conducts checkpoints in partnership with Maryland State Police and with support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Traffic crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for Maryland residents. Police urge drivers to always drive sober, obey the speed limit, wear a seat belt and eliminate distractions. If you see an impaired driver on the road, please call 911. 

 

Longfellow

Swansfield

Hobbit's Glen