June 2025 Newsletter

Margery,

June is Pride Month! 🌈

Pride Month serves as a reminder for us to honor the history, struggles, and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community, and to recommit ourselves to building a more inclusive and affirming future.

Earlier this month, I joined County Executive Ball and other local leaders as we celebrated Pride Month with the third annual Pride Flag Raising at the George Howard Building. The Pride Flag proudly flying over our County is the visible symbol of our collective support and solidarity. The work of creating a community where everyone feels safe, seen, and celebrated is ongoing and it calls on all of us. Now more than ever, as LGBTQIA+ rights face challenges across the Country, it’s essential that we continue to uplift and advocate for our LGBTQIA+ friends, family, neighbors, and community.

Pride is more than a celebration; it’s a call to action. Whether it’s standing up against discrimination, supporting inclusive policies, or creating safe spaces in our schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods, we each have a role to play. As a community, we have made progress towards equality, and there is still more to do. Let this month serve not just as a reminder of how far we’ve come, but as a recommitment to the work ahead. Together, we can ensure that Howard County is a place where everyone, regardless of who they are or who they love, can thrive.

Yours in service,

Christiana Rigby (she/her)

Councilwoman, District 3

June 12, 2025

May Legislation Wrap-Up

On June 2nd, the County Council convened for our June Legislative Session. The Council voted on several pieces of legislation, including the following:

CB45-2025: An act to modify the restriction on the use of excess surplus revenue pursuant to Section 615B of the Howard County Charter in order to use excess surplus revenue from prior years to further support the Operating Budget request of the Board of Education in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget; providing that this act shall be temporary and shall expire by June 30, 2026; and declaring that this Act is an Emergency Bill necessary to meet an immediate emergency affecting public health, safety or welfare. This bill passed in a 5-0 vote during the Special Legislative Session on May 21st. Introduced by the Chair at the request of the County Executive.

May Legislation

On June 2nd, the County Council convened for our June Legislative Session. Several new pieces of legislation were introduced, including the following:

CR116-2025: A resolution approving a schedule of fines and penalties for violations of and administrative costs related to the enforcement of Howard County’s parking laws, specifically increasing fines for parking citations for commercial motor vehicle parking in residential areas violations; allowing the Department of Police to embark on a public education campaign about the increased fines for commercial motor vehicles parking on residential areas violations; and generally relating to increased fines for commercial motor vehicles parking in residential area violations. Introduced by Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones.

CB46-2025: An act reestablishing a tax credit against the County tax imposed on certain commercial or industrial real property located adjacent to Route 1 that is renovated, upgraded, or rehabilitated, under certain conditions; establishing the amount, terms, conditions, and duration of the credit; providing for an application procedure and administration of the credit; establishing a sunset provision; and generally relating to property tax credits. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.

CB51-2025: An act amending the Howard County Code to remove the limit on the number of Speed Monitoring Systems permitted within a designated school zone and generally related to Speed Monitoring Systems in Howard County. Introduced by Councilmember Liz Walsh.

CB52-2025: An act to revise the penalties for parking commercial motor vehicles in residential areas and generally relating to parking of commercial motor vehicles. Introduced by Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones.

Residents can offer testimony on the legislation at the upcoming Public Hearing on Monday, June 16th at 7:00 PM. This legislation will be up for a vote on Monday, July 7th at 7:00 PM.

VIEW COUNCIL LEGISLATION

TESTIFY AT A PUBLIC HEARING

VIEW COUNCIL CALENDAR

Community News, Events, and Updates

Donations Needed - Howard County Food Bank!

The Howard County Food Bank at Community Action Council of Howard County needs your help to continue supporting residents! As a result of the Trump Administration's policies and executive orders, the Food Bank is seeing both an increased demand for service and a decreased supply of food.

You can help by donating much-needed food and essential supplies including rice, pasta, soup, tuna, diapers, feminine hygiene products, cereal, and more. All items can be dropped off at the Howard County Food Bank.

Together, we can support our neighbors! Learn more at the Community Action Council Website.

Citizens' Election Fund Commission

Passionate about fair elections and civic engagement? Apply to serve on the Citizens’ Election Fund Commission!

Howard County’s Citizens’ Election Fund (CEF) empowers candidates to run for office without relying on large or corporate donors, supporting transparency, equity, and integrity in our local elections.

The Citizens’ Election Fund Commission oversees this public campaign financing system, helping to ensure its accessible, effective, and aligned with our community’s democratic values.

I am looking for Howard County residents who are:

✅ Registered voters

✅ Not lobbyists or tied to active campaign accounts

✅ Committed to public service and fair elections

As a member of the Commission, you’ll help administer and improve the CEF and advance transparency and integrity in Howard County elections.

Apply by June 16th by sending your resume and interest to crigby@howardcountymd.gov and help shape the future of local democracy!

Juneteenth Day of Freedom Celebration

Celebrate Juneteenth at Carroll Baldwin Hall and with Leona's Sewing Studio on Thursday, June 19th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Join the festivities for an evening of activities, music, education, and inspiration to revisit the many groundbreaking contributions the Black and

African American communities have made to our society. Bring your dinner or purchase food from a participating food truck, enjoy music from DJ DrewQue, get a health screening, play games, and more!

Juneteenth Block Party & Community Day

Celebrate Juneteenth with Howard County Government at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center on Saturday, June 21st from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for a Juneteenth Community Day and Block Party.

This event will feature a community yard sale, block party, and community day featuring youth activities, a vendor hall, film screenings, line dancing, food trucks and more! Gather together with neighbors as we build community while honoring and embracing the history, impact, and importance of Juneteenth.

Bystander Intervention and Cultural Awareness Training

Join the Office of Human Rights and Equity on Thursday, June 26th from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM for Bystander Intervention and Cultural Awareness (BICA) Training. This is a virtual, interactive training where you will learn how to protect and promote the humanity of those being targeted or harassed because of their personal or cultural identity.

In this training, participants explore:

How to recognize and overcome common barriers to intervention.
The profound impact of bystander behavior and how to center the needs of the targeted person.
The crucial role of cultural awareness in successful intervention.
Practical intervention strategies that you can add to your Bystander Intervention Toolkit.
The importance of self and community care in sustaining your commitment to creating a safer, more inclusive environment.

Free Summer Concert

Free summer concerts are back at Glen Mar Church! On Friday, June 27th from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Glen Mar Church is hosting Ensemble132 to present a new chamber music version of Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka as well as Johannes Brahms’ timeless Piano Quintet.

Ensemble132 is a world-class collective of chamber musicians of the highest caliber with the shared mission of reimagining the chamber music landscape. For more information visit the Glen Mar Church website.

Age-Friendly Howard County's Guide to Creating Readable Materials

If you create or edit educational and marketing materials, make sure they are accessible by using Age-Friendly Howard County's free guide to creating readable materials. This guide helps ensure your content is accessible to people of all ages and abilities so they can better understand and act on your messages. Whether you are a business owner, a government agency, or a non-profit, faith-based or community organization, these guidelines can help you create more age-friendly and ADA compliant messaging

Download the free guide at this link!

Feed the Green Bin Survey

The Department of Public Works's Bureau of Environmental Services is researching how best to expand its Feed the Green Bin curbside food scrap collection program to condominium communities in the county. To help the Bureau gauge the level of program interest in these areas, the Bureau is seeking feedback from county residents currently residing in a condominium community through this quick online survey.

Teen Summer Kick Backs

Calling all Howard County tweens and teens, age 11 to 17. Are you looking for a fun way to spend your free time this summer? Check out Recreation & Parks’ Teen Kick Backs program coming to the County’s Gary J. Arthur, North Laurel, and Roger Carter community centers and Harriet Tubman Cultural Center and Howard County Public School System’s Thomas Viaduct Middle School and Wilde Lake High School this June through August. This free drop-in program features free pizza and snacks, sports, video games, and lots of fun.

To learn more about this program, including this summer's kick back schedule, check out Recreation & Parks’ Teen Kick Backs website.

Know Your Rights

All immigrants, documented or not, have constitutional protections. Knowing these rights are a crucial tool for self-protection, dignity, and equality.

Learn more by visiting the Luminus website.

Christiana's Climate Corner

Welcome to Christiana's Climate Corner, where I will be sharing updates on environmental and sustainability efforts in Howard County, including information on legislation, events, and opportunities for you to support sustainability efforts in our community!

The Buzz

June 16th through 22nd is Pollinator Week! Pollinator week reminds us just how vital these tiny creatures, like bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, beetles, and more are to our food systems and the natural beauty around us. Yet, many native pollinators are in decline due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and fragmented urban environments. In Howard County alone, around 137 native bee species persist, including sweat bees, mason bees, miner bees, and bumblebees. There are many actions you can take, right in your backyard, to help these species thrive. I’ve been working on this in my own yard by planting native species and creating a pollinator garden to provide food and shelter for these essential insects.

Plant Natives

The heart of pollinator-friendly landscaping is native plants. Live Green Howard, along with the Howard County Bee City, offers pollinator garden design templates tailored to different conditions in your backyard, whether that be sunny, shady, dry, moist, or wet. These templates guide gardeners in creating multi-season habitats that bloom from spring through fall. Notable plants include milkweeds for monarchs, black-eyed Susans, goldenrod, asters, wild bergamot, and purple coneflower.

Avoid Pesticides

Eliminating pesticides and synthetic fertilizers helps to maintain a healthy pollinator population. Rather than harmful chemicals, use something natural, like compost, leaf litter, or organic mulch. Using chemical pesticides in your yard results in more harm than good. These chemicals kill beneficial insects, including pollinators.

Join Howard County Bee City

Once your garden, no matter how big or small, is blooming with native plants, register it with Howard County Bee City. After completing registration, you can pick up a free habitat sign to display in your yard. Every registered garden adds to Howard County’s collective pollinator habitat, reinforcing support from the ground up.

By taking these steps, especially during Pollinator Week, we can all contribute to a healthier ecosystem and a more colorful, vibrant community. Howard County Bee City is hosting numerous activities and events all month long, learn more by visiting their website. Let’s grow with the pollinators this June and all year long!

Get Involved!

There are many opportunities to volunteer and serve in your community. Read below for upcoming and ongoing volunteer opportunities.

Carroll Baldwin Hall Work Nights

Carroll Baldwin Hall hosts monthly Volunteer Work Nights every third Thursday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. There are always tons of projects for volunteers with all skills and abilities to work on - cleaning, painting, and more. They also provide food and the opportunity to meet or catch up with your neighbors in Savage.

Howard County Boards and Commissions

The County is seeking members to serve on numerous Boards and Commissions. Below is a list of current openings:

Asian American Pacific Islander Commission – seeks one college/trade student commissioner and one high school commissioner to host public bi-monthly meetings, advise the Howard County Executive on policy initiatives, and advocate for issues that impact the AAPI community.
Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board – seeks up to three adult applicants who represent or work in the development-building industry, religious, or special interest in historic preservation or genealogy to review newly discovered cemeteries for County adoption and advise on historic cemetery resources. Two applicants may live outside Howard County.
Historic Preservation Commission – seeks two adult applicants who live or own property in the Lawyers Hill Historic District or who have architectural experience or professional experience in the architectural field to review applications for alterations to historic structures, provide advice on historical resources and review applications for historic tax credits.
La Alianza Latina Commission – seeks one adult commissioner, one college/trade school commissioner, and one high school commissioner to promote diversity, civility and address the concerns of Latino and immigrant communities.
LGBTQIA+ Commission – seeks one adult commissioner, one college/trade school commissioner, and one high school commissioner to advance policy and systemic change for all persons who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Non-binary, and other capacities along the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission – seeks four adult commissioners and two high school commissioners to encourage and coordinate appropriate ceremonies and activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Planning Board – seeks one applicant who resides in Councilmanic District 5 and the Rural Conservation District or the Rural Residential District and has an interest in planning and zoning.