Important news & info about the community in which we live.

Board News

Upcoming OMCA Board Meetings

• November 25
• December 9

For meeting agendas and past board meeting minutes, click HERE. 

To contact the OM Board click here.

OMCA Committees



OMCA has several committees that are always ready to welcome new members. If you would like information or would like to find out about serving on a committee, please email Brigitta Warren manager@oaklandmills.org.

OMCA Education Committee

Meetings are hybrid, held as needed at The Other Barn and on Zoom.

Next Meeting: TBD

OMCA Open Space Advisory Committee

For community members who are interested in the current and future use of CA's open space.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 10th, 7:00 p.m. at The Other Barn

OMCA Housing Committee

Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 3rd, 7:00 p.m. at The Other Barn

OMCA Public Space Committee

For residents interested in the uses of Howard County's public spaces and roadways. Meets the third Tuesday of each month.

OMCA Tenant Committee

For residents of Columbia Pointe, Autumn Crest, Forest Ridge, and The Verona. Meetings are hybrid, held at The Other Barn and on Zoom.

Next meeting: TBD

Resident Architectural Committee (RAC)

The RAC meets virtually on Zoom on the first & third Thursdays of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Next meeting: December 4

Info/list of applications will be posted three days in advance of the meeting HERE.

applications@oaklandmills.org

Architectural Covenant Processes

Info on architectural covenant processes, visit the Covenant Tab on the Oakland Mills website.

Exterior Alterations Applications Info

Click HERE.

Request For Letter of Compliance

Click HERE

Resale Packet

Click HERE to download. Hard copies can also be purchased for $30 during regular business hours.

Covenant Complaint Form

Click HERE

OM Town Hall Meeting on OMHS Renovations

Thursday, December 4, 7:30 p.m.

at The Other Barn

As many of you are aware, the planned renovation to OMHS was deferred very suddenly and unexpectedly. Time to take action is now!

At this forum:

• We will discuss the history of efforts to get OMHS's needs addressed and what the building's deficiencies are so those who are new to this have a better understanding.

• We will discuss how to get involved in the school system and county capital budget process.

• We will discuss next steps toward ensuring decision-makers hear our voices.

We are also inviting county and state officials and hope they will be able to attend.

There will be an opportunity to open the mic up so students, families, and staff can share their experiences. We encourage everyone who is concerned about the health and safety of students and staff at OMHS to attend, regardless of whether you have a current student in the school. 

Please email Brigitta Warren at manager@oaklandmills.org if you have any questions.

All Hands on Deck!

The Oakland Mills Resident Architecture Committee Seeks New Members!

What Is The RAC?

The Resident Architecture Committee (RAC) is a volunteer committee comprised of Oakland Mills residents. The RAC reviews Exterior Alteration Applications and recommends what action should be taken regarding the applications. The RAC is a recommending body only. All recommendations are forwarded to the Oakland Mills Architecture committee for final decisions.

When Does the RAC Meet?

The RAC meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings average about 2 hours. The RAC currently meet virtually over zoom and find this to be an easy and inclusive way to meet. Those interested in joining the RAC should be available on both of these meeting nights.

The time commitment for RAC members is to attend the two monthly meetings AND to make site visits prior to the meeting. Site visits are visits to the properties that have submitted applications. Site visits can take about one hour in the week prior to the meeting. Each RAC member is allowed (by nature of the covenants) to enter onto the exterior of a property in Oakland Mills for the purpose of a RAC site visit. RAC members have a photo badge to carry with them. Site visits do not need to be scheduled in advance and RAC members can make visits when their schedule permits. All exterior alterations are on the outside of the residence and property only.

What Experience is Necessary to be on the RAC?

Contrary to popular belief there is no experience necessary to be a member of the RAC.

However, this is an important volunteer position and we are looking for residents who have a willingness to become familiar with Oakland Mills legal documents which include the Architectural Guidelines and Architectural Covenants as well as the Exterior Alteration Application process.  

RAC members must be openminded and view each application on its merits based on covenants and guidelines. RAC members need to put personal opinions aside when serving on this committee. We understand that this can be a challenge when making decision in in our own cOMmunity but it is important to point out.

Who Leads the RAC

Currently the RAC has three members and we would like to expand to five. The committee is lead by a committee chairperson and organized by the Oakland Mills Covenant Advisor for Applications. Each member of the RAC is a voting member when making recommendations.  

What the RAC Does NOT Do

The RAC does not get involved in any covenant violation issues. Those are handled by our Covenant Advisor for Property Concerns and Architecture Committee.  

RAC members do not need to be the "architectural spokesperson" for issues relating to exterior alterations or covenant related issues. These issues are handled by our Architecture committee, Board of Directors, and Oakland Mills staff.

I'm Interested in the RAC! How Can I Get More Information?

Those interested should start by contacting Michael Vaughn, Covenant Advisor for Applications at applications@oaklandmills.org 

Prior to becoming covenant advisor, Mike was chair of the RAC for 20 years and can provide a great overview of what the volunteer job entails.  

All prospective RAC member must attend three RAC meeting and make site visits with a current RAC member for all three meetings. Prospective members meet with the RAC and Covenant Advisor and the RAC then makes a recommendation to the Oakland Mills Board. The OMCA Board will either approve or disapprove of the membership.

Oakland Mills Community Association

oaklandmills.org

410-730-4610

See updates from our Columbia Council Representative, Karin Emery. Click the button below to see her newsletter archives.

Ticket includes dinner buffet and dessert!
(Beverages available for purchase.)

We had a cancellation, so we now have one ticket/gingerbread house available. Get your ticket now before it's gone!

Howard County Holiday Lights Map

Want to see some holiday lights but don't know where to find them? See the HoCo Holiday Lights map. Owners who would like to list their own light shows can also submit their properties to the map.

Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods Events

Find out more.

Community Ecology Institute's Community Families in Nature

Community of Families in Nature (CFIN) provides opportunities for families to come together in community in order to explore, learn, and play in nature. Find out more!

Howard County Recreation & Parks

Find info on upcoming events, activities, sports, and more. Recreation & Parks' 2025 Fall Activities Guide is now available ONLINE. Online registration is open now.

Volunteer with Luminus: Standby Guardianship Clinics Launching Soon

Luminus is excited to announce the upcoming launch of our Standby Guardianship Drafting Clinics along with some amazing community partners, starting in December 2025. These clinics will help immigrant families prepare essential legal plans to protect their children in times of crisis, such as detention or deportation. Learn more at https://standbyguardian.org/ 

Volunteers Needed! You do not need to be an attorney. Anyone with compassion and a willingness to help can volunteer and no legal background is required! We also welcome attorneys and legal professionals to join us. All volunteers will receive virtual training prior to the clinics, so you'll be well-prepared to make a difference. Sign up: https://l.ead.me/luminusvolunteer.

Can't volunteer? Donate!

Need Housing Help?

The Howard County Department of Housing & Community Development plays a vital role in helping residents overcome housing barriers. From connecting families to housing options to supporting case managers, the Housing Navigators in DHCD ensure that residents facing homelessness or housing instability have a path forward.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a housing crisis, complete a Housing Assessment through the Grassroots Hotline by calling 410-531-6677 or reach out to DHCD for resources and solutions by emailing housing@howardcountymd.gov. 

OMHS Food Pantry

Next distribution day: December 17, 3:30 p.m.

OMHS Parking Lot

We are now taking donations for the OMHS food pantry at The Other Barn. Drop off items Monday through Thursday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Click HERE to see a list of items needed.

We appreciate all of the community donations to the Oakland Mills Food Pantry. Please be sure to check all expiration dates on donations prior to bringing them to The Other Barn. The pantry cannot distribute expired items. Thank you.

CA Headquarters & Member Services Office

6310 Hillside Court

Columbia, MD 21046

CA main number: 410-715-3000

Member Services number: 410-730-1801

Columbia Association Website

Columbia Association's Facebook Page

South Entrance Trail Easement Request
Public Pathway & Utility Easement

Howard County is requesting an easement to facilitate construction of the South Entrance Trail, as shown in the Downtown Columbia Plan, aimed at enhancing pedestrian and bicycle connectivity. The project involves the construction of a new trail segment that will improve access and mobility in the area, particularly supporting active transportation options like walking and biking.

You can view the presentation given by Howard County during the public meeting for the South Entrance Trail Easement Request that was held last week. If you would like to submit questions, comments, or letters of support for the easement request, please click here. All substantive comments will receive written responses, and the full set of public input will be included in the Board of Directors' meeting documents, which is posted publicly on CA's website prior to the Board's vote. Updates related to this easement request can be found by visiting the South Entrance Trail Update Page.

Updates related to all projects taking place in the open space by visiting the Project and Access Dashboard.

CA Community Meeting

Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP)

Thursday, December 11th
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Historic Oakland Manor
5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia

Residents are invited to participate in a Community Meeting to help CA develop a comprehensive Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) to guide the long-term stewardship of our community’s natural areas, including forests, streams, open spaces, and wildlife habitats. The NRMP will help protect and enhance Columbia’s ecological health while supporting recreation, education, and climate resilience. More info & RSVP link

CA FY27 Budget Process

Throughout the entire process, residents and members are welcome to participate in Resident Speakout, which happens at the start of every Board meeting. Those meetings are also live streamed and recorded on YouTube.

Columbia Association Adventure Days

Thanksgiving Break

November 26 & 28

Columbia Sports Facilities (locations vary)

When school’s out, CA's got the kids covered! Whether you need a day to recharge, run errands or just relax, Adventure Day gives you peace of mind while your kids have a blast. Drop them off for a full day of fun with games, arts & crafts and more! Pizza lunch is included, so you don’t have to pack a thing.

Natural Resource Management Plan Community Meeting

December 11, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Historic Oakland Manor

5430 Vantage Point Rd, Columbia

Help guide the long-term stewardship of our community’s natural areas, including forests, streams, open spaces, and wildlife habitats. The Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) will help protect and enhance Columbia’s ecological health while supporting recreation, education, and climate resilience.

The meeting will begin with a brief presentation, followed by small group discussions to collect community feedback. Interactive comment stations will be available throughout the evening. Participants are welcome to join for the full program or drop in at any time. RSVP at https://bit.ly/CA-NRMPmeet.

Your input will help identify community priorities for NRMP focus areas:

• Reforestation/Canopy Cover 
• Wildlife Management
• Invasive Species/Native Plants
• Community Engagement 
• Watershed Management 
• Turf - Open Space, Facilities, Parks 
• Light Pollution Reduction 
• Waste & Composting 

For more information, please email sustainability@straughanenvironmental.com.  

Columbia Ice Rink

Visit the Ice Rink's webpage to learn about lessons, hockey, public skate sessions, and more!

Other CA News & Resources

CA's Mapping & GIS Resources Page

Download maps, discover interactive apps and use the information provided to explore the Columbia community. 

Living Next to Open Space

Columbia Association now has a brochure for those living near Open Space. Read more.

Visit CA's Open Space page for more information.

Youth and Teen Center @ The Barn

Website

Phone: 410-992-3726

Teen Center Director: Rene Buckmon, Rene.Buckmon@columbiaassociation.org

Drop-in Program

Is your child looking for a community of peers, great activities, and a whole lot of fun? Sign them up for the Drop-In program at the Youth and Teen Center! It has a range of educational, enrichment and recreational opportunities that support positive peer interaction, hands-on learning opportunities, decision-making, and development of life skills. September's calendar is full of fun activities including sports, trivia, art classes and more.

Howard County Office of Consumer Protection

Scam-free Holiday Tips

Every year criminals target consumers with holiday-related scams. As you shop and navigate this season, watch out for these common scams:

Fake retail websites. Criminals can use AI to create realistic looking websites to attract holiday shoppers. Look out for sites that:

• Offer deep discounts on products or gift cards
• Look or sound like a known retailer but are slightly off (for example MyAmazon instead of Amazon)
• The “contact us” address is a Gmail or similar anonymous address.

A sale that isn’t really a sale. Some retailers raise their prices before a sale or list fake “original” prices. Do the research before purchasing a big-ticket item.

Online marketplace scams. Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, etc.

• Buyer or seller can be a scammer
• They may offer to pay a deposit or “accidentally” pay more than the item & ask you to refund. The original payment will bounce eventually leaving you out the money “refunded.”
• Counterfeit or non-existent goods are often sold through marketplaces.

Delivery scams. are often designed to get your credit card/personal information or collect a fee. This could include:

• You pay for an item online, but never receive it
• A text asking for address confirmation via a link
• A text asking for a shipping, customs or tariff fee

If you receive these messages and think it may be legitimate, contact the seller or shipper using a phone number on the company’s website and not the one in the text or email.

Tips for Safe Holiday Shopping

When browsing online, make sure that you are on a vendor’s legitimate website by looking carefully at the web address. Search engines can be manipulated to bring up fake sites first.

Never click on a link in an unsolicited email or text. Instead, go to the retailer’s legitimate website.

Check the retailer website to make sure the transaction and purchase is encrypted. It should start with https in the address and have a padlock. 

Be careful before using gift cards, payment apps, crypto or wiring money directly to a seller. These forms of payment are difficult to claw back. Shopping with a credit card (not a debit card) provides the greatest protection.

Always get tracking numbers for items purchased online so you can make sure the item is shipped and then track delivery. Porch Pirates will be out in full force during this season.

Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

HoCo Reinvest Renovate Restore: Help with Urgent Home Repairs

Howard County has enhanced the transformational Reinvest Renovate Restore (RRR) Program to better serve residents with urgent home repair needs.

RRR offers financial assistance to help Howard County residents make critical home repairs that improve safety, health, and accessibility. This could include fixing broken plumbing, installing new windows, or replacing outdated electrical systems.

Through the Opportunities for Wealth Building Now (OWN) initiative announced in 2024, RRR's program has been enhanced to expand access by:

• Lowering interest rates (0–2%, based on income)
• Increasing award maximums up to $50,000
• Establishing flexible repayment terms up to 30 years
• Offering loan forgiveness options for qualifying households

These changes are already making a difference. In FY2025 alone, the RRR program helped nearly as many homeowners as in the previous eight years combined.

To learn more or apply, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/DHCD-RRR.

Howard County Bureau of Environmental Services

On Thursday, November 27th, there will be NO curbside collections. Collections will slide one day for the rest of the week.

Backyard Composting

Attend a composting demonstration by the Howard County Master Gardeners and get started making your own valuable soil amendment! More info & dates

Don't Trash Your "Ables"

Unless they're soiled or broken, the landfill (and bulk trash collection) is not the place for your items. Give your items a second chance. Explore the County's new (and improved!) donation directory before tossing them out.

Check Your Radon Levels!

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Unless you test with a radon test kit, you can't tell whether your home has radon, because radon is a gas that has no smell, no color, and can't be seen. Visit the County's Radon website for more info on radon and how to get a test kit. 

EV Charger Checklist

To assist electric vehicle owners with the installation of a vehicle charger in a dedicated homeowners association parking spot, DPZ has put together this checklist, outlining the items you’ll need to submit your EV charger approval submission.  

For questions and/or more information, contact DPZ’s Development Engineering Division via email at ded@howardcountymd.gov. You can also email Public Member of the Zero Emissions Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council of Maryland Paul Verchinski at verchinski@yahoo.com

Howard County Department of Public Works Construction Projects Map: Click HERE.

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administrations Project Portal: Click HERE.

Lightbulb Exchange Program Expansion

Howard County residents can now visit any Howard County Library branch to exchange used incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs for new, energy efficient LED bulbs (while supplies last). More info

2025 Parent’s Guide Now Available

Inside the 2025 Parent’s Guide to Howard County, readers will find information about programs that support positive family engagement. For questions, more information about available service, or if your family needs additional assistance and support, please contact the Howard County Office of Children and Family's CARE Line at 410-313-2273 today.

2024 Howard County Resource Guide On Aging & Independence Is Now Available

The Office of Aging and Independence's annual Howard County Resource Guide contains up-to-date information about health and wellness, financial planning, legal services, housing options and more to help county residents age well and plan for their future.

The Family Institute Parenting Workshops & Newsletter

The Howard County Office of Children and Families offers free workshops through its Family Institute program. Check out the office's newsletter for more great resources.

Howard County Public Library

Visit the Howard County Public Library website to access virtual educational resources & events and more.

Little Free Library at The Other Barn

The Little Free is now open! Take a book, leave a book. Happy reading!

Need help getting fast, reliable internet?

Visit Consumer Action's fact sheets to learn about discounted internet and phone service:

• Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program: Discounted phone and internet for low-income households
• Getting Up to Speed: Broadband internet for low-income households
• Low-income Broadband Plans

Support our OM Merchants

Visit the OM Website for a complete list of merchants and businesses. All Oakland Mills merchants are open and would love your support!

• 7-Eleven 410-730-3520
• HipHop Fish & Chicken 443-542-2082
• Lucky's China Inn 410-997-5454
• Oakland Mills Liquor Store 410-97-0932
• Metro PCS
• Pizzaman 410-992-9553
• Sams Mart 410-992-0300
• LA Mart 443-864-4244
• Dunkin' 443-715-1389
• Talento Latino Salon 443-545-5067
• El Gran Sabor 443-258-9975
• Laundry Force Laundromat 443-545-506
• Philly's Best Pizza & Subs 410-715-9595
• Bamyan Halal Meat & Grocery 410-801-5664

HC DrugFree provides resources and education on prevention, treatment, recovery, and health and wellness to help Howard County residents develop knowledge and skills to understand and address behavioral health (substance use and mental health) disorders. HC DrugFree Current Events and Website

Donations always needed! To support HCDrugFree's mission, please visit hcdrugfree.org/donate or mail a check to: HC DrugFree, 5305 Village Center Drive, Suite 206, Columbia, MD 21044

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

—Melody Beattie