November 5: Weekly e-Newsletter for the Village of Harper's Choice.
Keeping You Informed
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.
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Harper's Choice Happenings
FREE Conversational English Classes

The Harper's Choice Community Association, in partnership with FIRN, will offer FREE conversational English classes at Kahler Hall (5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia) on Mondays from 6:30-8:30pm beginning on October 19. Classes are family friendly and appropriate for children in 2nd grade through adults. Children and adults will work in separate groups with FIRN volunteers. For more information, please contact Roslyn
at volunteer@firnonline.org or call FIRN's office at 410-992-1923.
Pizza with Santa
 
Pizza with Santa will be held on Sat, Dec. 19 from 11am - 1pm at Kahler Hall. This holiday tradition is especially for Harper's Choice residents. Space is limited. Tickets are required. Tickets are available beginning Mon, Nov. 9 at Kahler Hall.

Guests will enjoy pizza, special holiday crafts, and hearing Santa read Twas the Night Before Christmas. Bring your camera and enjoy a special family photo opportunity with Santa!

We encourage attendees to bring one non-perishable food item per ticket on December 19. Donations will be given to the Howard County Food Bank.
Did You Know...
You Can Recycle Fats, Oils, and Greases at the Landfill?

FOGs are fats, oils and greases that can clog pipes and sewer systems. You can avoid the expense and hassle of clogs by taking used cooking oil to the Alpha Ridge Landfill for recycling Mon-Sat from 8am-4pm.  

Learn more about FOGs and ways to 
 
 
HCCA Sponsors Cub Scout Pack 61?

The Harper's Choice Community Association is a proud sponsor of Cub Scout Pack 61. At their November 1 meeting, the village board signed the charter to help the group continue as an established organization. Pack meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at Longfellow Elementary School from 6:30-8pm.

The individual Den Meetings are usually held on the first and second Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 or 8pm, but they tend to fluctuate depending on the Den Leaders and the f amilies' schedules. The Den names and grades include:
  • Tigers (First Grade)
  • Wolves (Second Grade)
  • Bears (Third Grade)
  • Webelos (Fourth Grade)
  • Arrow of Light (Fifth Grade)
Major Pack events throughout the year include the Pinewood Derby, Scouting for Food, Columbia Clean-up Day, Family Camping, and We Remember Flag Placement.

For more information, please contact James Smith, Pack Committee Chair. 
 
Scam Alert
New Chip Card Scam

If you have a credit or debit card, you have or soon will receive a replacement card equipped with new security feature - a small square metallic chip on the front. The chip is designed to reduce fraud, including counterfeiting.

Unfortunately, scammers are trying to take advantage of this nationwide shift to chip cards.

Here's how the scam works: You receive an e-mail or phone call from someone who claims to be your card issuer. The scammer says that in order to issue a new chip card, you need to update your account by "confirming" some personal information or clicking on a link to continue the process. If you provide that personal information, the scammer can use it to commit identity theft. If you click on a link in an email request, you may unknowingly install malware on your device. Malware programs can cause your device to crash, monitor your online activity, send spam, or steal personal information.

To avoid this scam, remember:
  • Your card issuer may let you know that your new chip card is on its way but will not ask you to provide the card number or other personal information to "confirm" your account before sending the new card.
  • If your issuer suspects that your card has been used fraudulently, it will not ask you to provide your card number. Rather, it will provide you with specific information about your card (e.g. the last four digits of the card number) and the transaction so that you can confirm whether you made the purchase or withdrawal.
  • If you're not sure if a call or email is a scam, contact your card issuer using the number listed on the card.

Bottom line - Don't respond to an email, phone call or letter that asks you to provide your card number.

 

Confused about how to use your new chip card?

 

Instead of going to a register and swiping your card, you will, "dip" your card - that is, insert your card into a terminal slot and follow the prompts on the screen. This process isn't as quick as a magnetic-stripe swipe. If you insert and immediately remove the card, the transaction will likely be denied. So, a little bit of patience is required.

 

You may need to enter a PIN or sign to authorize the transaction, depending on the card issuer and type of transaction. You will receive a confirmation receipt as usual. For more information, contact your card issuer.

 

Visit Howard County's Scam Alert website for more information on this and other scams. 

 
Employment Opportunity
Covenant Advisors Needed in Oakland Mills

Village of Oakland Mills, Columbia, MD seeks two part-time Covenant Advisors: one to handle Covenant Violations and one to handle Applications for Exterior Alterations and to conduct Resident Education.  Strong oral and written communication skills required. Familiarity with Columbia's covenant process preferred. Applicants should request job descriptions from, and submit resume to, manager@oaklandmills.org . Due to high volume of inquiries, only qualified candidates will be contacted. No walk-ins please. Application deadline: Nov. 16, 2015
Covenant Corner
Tell HoCo: an Online Reporting System for Howard County

This is a great new way to inform Howard County about issues in our community such as faded or damaged street signs, issues with street trees, pedestrian crossings, traffic signals - anything related to Public Works.In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

Visit the TellHoco website or download the app for your preferred Apple or Android mobile device! 
Help Keep Columbia's Open Space Beautiful
 
Columbia Association Open Space is:
  • One of Columbia's most valuable assets; a leading factor in our consistently high property values.
  • Used by residents for outdoor recreation and environmental education.
  • Home and refuge to thousands of plants and animals.
  • An asset to treasure and care about 
Columbia's woods, streams and meadows need your help! Please do not dump yard debris or allow your contractors to dump yard debris in natural areas.  It damages the land and is a violation of the Columbia Covenants. 
 
To ensure that these areas survive as healthy parts of our community, we need everyone's cooperation in disposing of yard waste and debris responsibly.  Please note that the county is transitioning away from collecting yard waste in plastic bags.  Use paper bags, open containers and the "green" bins the county provides for yard waste.
Events Around Town
Yoga Salutes Nonviolence Charity Event Benefits HopeWorks
 
Where: Columbia Yoga Center
(8950 Route 108, Suite 109, Columbia)
When:  Sat, Nov. 14 
Time: 2-3:30pm

Join the Columbia Yoga Center for "Yoga Salutes Nonviolence," an annual charity event to benefit HopeWorks
 
Novices, students and practitioners will gather together and participate in doing 108 Sun Salutations (or as many as they can!). Participants are sponsored by family, friends and students. Local businesses can offer gift baskets or gift certificates for raffle. 

Click here for more information and to register. 
Howard County Historical Society Meeting
 
 
Where: Bain Center
(5470 Ruth Keaton Way, Columbia)
When: Tue, Nov. 10    
Time: 7pm

This month's lecture topic, Ancestors In The US Military Online and in Military Archives, will be presented by guest speaker Dr. Margaret McMahon. Join us to learn how to use online resources to locate information about your ancestor's US Military Service. The discussion will include how to use military archives in your research. Dr. McMahon has a PhD in computer science and engineering. She has worked as an engineer and was a professor of undergraduate and graduate students. She is an experienced presenter at national and international technical conferences and a guest speaker at genealogical societies in the metropolitan area and at Anne Arundel County Public Libraries.  She is the author of A Week of Genealogy and A Weekend of Genealogy.

Out time together begins at 7pm with social time and FREE refreshments. Members will share their research stories at 7:15pm. The meeting begins at 7:30pm and is followed by the lecture at 8pm.

HCGH meetings are FREE and everyone is welcome. If senior centers are closed, the meeting will be cancelled. 
Energy, Health & Climate Town Hall Meeting
 
Where: East Columbia Library
(6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
)
When: Tue, Nov. 17     
Time: 7-9pm

Join the League of Women Voters for this Town Hall event to learn about clean renewable energy, climate change, its impact on health and what this all means for Marylanders. Interact with energy leaders, local legislators and nonprofit and advocacy groups and clean energy businesses.

Hear from Delegate Clarence Lam, D-12, Environment and Transportation Committee in the Maryland Legislature, and Mike Tidwell, Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, on what the state is doing to help address climate change and grow Maryland's clean energy economy. Find out what you can do to get clean, renewable energy for your home or business and the importance of acting on climate in Maryland.

Brought to you by the League of Women Voters Howard County, the Maryland Climate Coalition, HoCo Climate Change, Transition Howard County, Sierra Club and Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Refreshments will be provided.

Free and open to the public. For more information contact Betsy Singer at betsysing@gmail.com. To RSVP, email HoCoClimateChange@gmail.com or LWVHC at info@howard.lwvmd.org. 
Upcoming Meetings
Architectural Committee Meetings

Changes made to the exterior of homes in Harper's Choice require approval of the Village Architectural Committee (AC). The AC meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm to review applications. The deadline to submit applications for approval is two weeks prior to the next meeting date. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for: 11/10, 11/24, 12/8
Village Board Meetings

The next meeting of the Village Board is scheduled for December 1 at 7pm. Agendas and Meeting Minutes are/will be available on our website.
Stay Connected
Village Manager
Facility Manager
Covenant Advisor
Community Outreach Coordinator

Your Village Board
Village Board Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Village Board Member
Village Board Member
Village Board Member
Columbia Council Rep
Jamilla Brown***
Student Board Member
* Term expires 4/30/16
** Term expires 4/30/17
*** Term expires 3/30/16

5440 Old Tucker Row  Columbia, MD | 410.730.0770 | Email | Website
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