NewsFlash October 17

October 17 NewsFlash

FREE Registration Here: Prizes For Best Costume

Click Here to Register

Cranksgiving: Nov. 2; 10AM - 1:00 PM: The Plaza at the Columbia Mall

The Howard County Office of Transportation and the Downtown Columbia Partnership are joining together to present Cranksgiving 2024, a local food drive and family biking event, on November 2, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Cranksgiving is a national initiative dubbed “a food drive on two wheels.”

The event is designed to provide active recreation for local residents, raise awareness about the county’s bikable pathway system and generate food items for individuals and families served by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Howard County’s 24-hour crisis intervention center and shelter for people who are homeless.

Lake Kittamaquandi Dredging Project Update

Columbia Association (CA) will be dredging sediment from Lake Kittamaquandi starting in November and running through February 15. Dredging has been done many times in prior years with great success.

CA will attend the October 23 Town Center Community Association Board Meeting to give an update on the project. The area being dredged can be seen HERE.

To view CA's Large Lake Management Plan Click HERE.

Learn How to Recycle & Live Organically

Feed your garden organically, recycle kitchen scraps and yard trim and improve your soil's health!

The Howard County Master Gardeners are here to help educate residents and answer any gardening questions. Attend a composting demonstration and get started marking your own valuable soil amendment.

October Demonstration Dates

Saturday, October 19, 10:30am - 12:30pm at Savage Branch Library

Download the 2024 Schedule

Excellent article on the status of the Town Center Library: Click HERE

Activities With Parks & Rec!

Online registration for Recreation & Parks' 2024 Fall Activity Guide began August 7th for Howard County residents. With a plethora of sports, activities and seasonal events scheduled this upcoming season, there is something to keep everyone active and entertained in this Fall Activity Guide.

Merriweather District Fall Activities; Fun For All Ages

Check out the Fall calendar at the Merriweather District and get in the FUN MOOD! Fun for the whole family. New restaurants opening soon!

Click Here for the full schedule.

Check out what new restaurants are open in the Merriweather District by CLICKING HERE.

Video Highlight Of The Week

Nature Healing Society:

Click Here for video.

Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods

Join in the fun and visit the Chrysalis! The new season starts this weekend.

Get tickets to events HERE.

Also, check out the Howard County Arts Council calendar is a great resource as you plan your arts outings.

What is Up With Town Center's CA Board Rep?

I'm eager to keep you updated on CA news and look forward to hearing your valuable input on how we can enhance our neighborhood together. Follow my adventures on the board through my blog:

https://medium.com/@csullivan.columbia

I am a huge coffee drinker — I’m always up for a cup and a chat! Feel free to reach me at: collin.sullivan@ca-board.org

Little Free Pantry: Open Every Day

Vantage Point Park

Help your fellow neighbors in need by donating when you are able. Located in Vantage Point Park just off the main street at 5440 Vantage Point Road.

A few tips, reminders and needed items......

No FRESH FRUIT as it spoils quickly in the heat.
Stay COVID safe and wipe down supplies, knobs and door handles
Do NOT donate items in GLASS containers (could break when removing items from Pantry)
Check expiration dates and make sure they are CURRENT and NOT expired
Soups (pop top preferred)
Mac and cheese, Granola and Protein bars
Packs of crackers and cheese
Toiletries
Juice boxes, Tuna or canned meats

The story of the Pantry from Joel Broida: Click HERE.

neighbors helping neighbors

Town Center Community Association Needs Volunteers!

What is your expertise or passion? We need volunteers to assist in many different areas including the below:

Young People Events
Elections
Senior Events
Gardening Experts
Safety Patrols

Interested? Send an email to:

covenants@columbiatowncenter.org

See Something, Say Something

Top Safety Tips: Add AirTags or Tiles To Your Car To Track Your Vehicles!

Resident safety is critical. A few tips from the Howard County Police Department (HCPD):

1) By dialing 911 for emergencies and in progress incidents, or to have an Officer dispatched to a location.

2) By dialing 410-313-2200, this is the HCPD (non-emergency) dispatch number. 410-290-Drug (Drug tip line) and 410-313-STOP (Anonymous Tip Line).

3) www.hcpd.org, There is a section of the website near the bottom where you can file an on-line report. Details for filing a report are explained on the website. If you do NOT report it, then HCPD can not investigate it.

4) Lock your cars, homes, garage doors and apartments as a lot of crime involves "crimes of opportunity" where thieves test for unlocked doors.

5) Tools for community associations, groups and residents CLICK HERE for Community Outreach.

6) Put an Apple AirTag or Tile (for Andriod phones) in your car to track your car if it is ever stolen.

ALERT: Report non-emergencies to:

410-313-2200.

Things To Do In Howard County

Howard County is full of exciting entertainment, a vibrant arts community and great family fun. Fun awaits around every corner!

Learn More

Check out the Digital Visitors Guide

Courtesy of Wikipedia

This week's Fun Facts is about the Holiday Season....

Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863.

Black Friday is the busiest day for retailers and plumbers. Reminder your garbage disposal is "not a wood chipper" so don't try to put turkey bones or hot oils down the drain.

A survey by Harris Poll found that 69% of Americans would prefer to skip the gift-giving aspect of the Holiday Season, suggesting financial concerns are the main reason.

The tradition with mistletoe suggests that not kissing a person while standing under one is bad luck. After each kiss, a berry is removed from the mistletoe, and the kisses conclude when all the berries are gone. Stock up Columbia!!!!!

30 sets of LEGO are sold every second during the holiday season.

December 26 is National Candy Cane Day.

Gravy is the top ranked Thanksgiving item, not Turkey, according to a recent survey.

Cyber Monday in 2023 (the Monday after Thanksgiving) hit a record of $12.4 billion in sales in the United States ONLY up 9% from the previous year. 2024 is expected to shatter that record by more than a 10% increase year over year.

Howard County Food Bank

Is Here To Help

Give the Gift of HOPE!

To better serve the local community and improve ease of accessibility, the Community Action Council of

Howard County (CAC) will have community service workers stationed at the following locations during the following extended times:

Howard County Food Bank

Tuesdays, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Wednesdays, 1:00 am - 7:00 pm

Thursdays, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

ADDRESS:

9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J

Columbia, MD 21046

410-313-6185

Laurel MultiService Center*

Wednesdays, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Thursdays, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

*The Laurel MultiService Center is included along the Purple Bus route.

Learn more at www.CAC-HC.org or call 410-313-6440.

Howard County Wants To Know!

Report water main breaks, broken street signs, and more on Howard County's mobile app and website Tell Hoco. Residents can report non-emergency issues which the county will assign to the responsible department. Simply download the TellHoCoApp on your mobile phone or visit https://www.howardcountymd.gov/tell-hoco

If you have a question, but you're not sure who to ask, send us an email at

Ask@howardcountymd.gov.

Hold Your Next Meeting Or Event Here...Right In Your Neighborhood!

Spread the word that we are open and ready for your meeting business! Tell your friends and family that they can have a socially-distanced board meeting, event, and staff meeting in a beautiful historic mansion that is right in your own community. Contact Facility Manager Lori Tracy today at yourevent@historic-oakland.com, for rental details on dates and specials!

Visit the website to learn more about the space and elegance of Historic Oakland, located at 5430 Vantage Point Road in Columbia.

Senior Call Check Program

Maryland is the first state in the country to start a free, automated telephone service to check in on Maryland's older residents, all across the state. Available for those 65 years and older.

Give your family, friends and yourself the piece of mind knowing that someone will check on you.

Click HERE to find out more and to register.

Howard County Public Schools Supporting Town Center

Are you interested in what’s happening at the public schools that support Town Center? Check out the school and PTA websites listed below for important information about school news, events and services.

Bryant Woods Elementary School: Click here for the school website and click here for the BWES PTA website.

Running Brook Elementary School: Click here for the school website and click here for the RBES PTA website.

Swansfield Elementary School: Click here for the school website and click here for the PTA website.

Wilde Lake Middle School: Click here for the school website and click here for the WLMS PTSA website.

Wilde Lake High School: Click here for the school website, click here for the WLHS PTSA website and click here for the WLHS Boosters website.

Need to Talk? Call 211, Press 1

Problems with depression? Anxiety? Thoughts of suicide? Drugs or Alcohol?

Call Maryland's helpline: Call 211, press 1 or text your zip code to 898-211 (TXT-211).

District 4 Community Notes

Deb Jung, Howard County Council member, publishes a weekly newsletter featuring information about what's happening in District 4, from construction projects and zoning requests to the many musical, theatrical, and family-oriented events that take place every weekend.

Click Here to read her newsletter and sign up for her weekly emails.

Columbia Association Board

Below is a link to the Columbia Association Board of Directors web page. Learn who your representatives are and what they are doing to improve the quality of life for all residents in Columbia.

Columbia Association Board webpage

Town Center Village Board

Town Center Village Board members are elected to two-year terms by the members of the Town Center Community Association. The Village Board meets at Historic Oakland each month on the 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 pm. The Architectural Committee meets the same night, during the Village Board meeting. All residents are welcome to attend in person with advance notice or via ZOOM during COVID. Just email villlagemanager@columbiatowncenter.org for the Zoom link. You can find the agenda the week before the meeting at www.ColumbiaTownCenter.org/board-news/meetings and minutes of past meetings at

www.ColumbiaTownCenter.org/board-news/minutes

Town Center Community Association

Phone 410-730-4744

Historic Oakland

5430 Vantage Point Road

Columbia, MD 21044

Lyn Locke, Village Manager

VillageManager@ColumbiaTownCenter.org

Website | Historic Oakland | About us | Community Services | Contact Us