Oakland Mills eNews
March 23, 2021
Upcoming Events
CALL AHEAD or CHECK EMAILS and FACEBOOK to find out the status of meetings and events.
March 23rd
6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.

Stevens Forest Pool ADA Upgrades - it's what the noise is all about!
CA is making the steps into the SF Pool ADA accessible by adding more steps and shorter steps! Thanks CA!
March 27th, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
OMHS Food Pantry Donations outside The Other Barn

April 1st

April 6th, 7:00 p.m.

April 13th, 7:00 p.m.
OMCA Virtual Board Meeting

April 24th
  • OMCA Board Elections: All mail-in ballot election, no in person voting. Ballot return envelopes must be postmarked by this date and received by April 30th.
  • Lively Arts Facebook Live Concert with Chris Campbell, 10:00 a.m.
Contact Us!
The OMCA staff will continue to work remotely for a short time longer and are always available by phone or appointment. Please contact us by email until the doors to The Other Barn open 
 
Sandy Cederbaum, Village Manager
 
Brigitta Warren, Facility and Event Coordinator 
 
Amy Carpenter, Administrative Assistant 
 
Karina Caico, Covenant Advisor for Property Concerns

Sandy Cederbaum
Temporary Covenant Advisor
Exterior Alteration Applications
Letters of Covenant Compliance
 
Contact Board Members HERE.

The Other Barn Phone: 410-730-4610
(Messages only)
Rent The Other Barn!
We are pleased to announce new wedding pricing for events with less than 50 guests! Click the button below to view venue photos and info. Tours are by appointment only. For further questions, contact Brigitta Warren at events@oaklandmills.org. Follow The Other Barn on Facebook!
Other Important Community Contact Info
Howard County Police
For emergencies, call 911
Non-emergencies: 410-313-2200

Oakland Mills Neighborhood Community Resource Officer: CPL. Roberto Lopez
OM Nursery School at the Thunder Hill Neighborhood Center website
Contact OMNS to learn more about enrollment for the upcoming 2021-2022 nursery school year. 
Howard County Government Website
  • Howard County Virtual Portal (Covid-19 emergency assistance & resources) 
  • Covid-19 County Updates HERE
Howard County Council
Oakland Mills is located in Council District 2 and represented by Opel Jones
  • District 1 - Liz Walsh Website 
  • District 2 - Opel Jones Website 
  • District 3 - Christiana Mercer Rigby Website 
  • District 4 - Deb Jung Website 
  • District 5 - David Yungmann Website 
New to the neighborhood? Welcome hOMto Oakland Mills! We'd love to virtually welcome you to OM. Email manager@oaklandmills.org and we'll send you all of the great info you need to feel right at hOMe!
Oakland Mills Board of Directors
Upcoming Board Meetings
The OMCA Board will continue to meet virtually until further notice. (Click date for link.)
March 23rd, 7:00 p.m.

Agendas for upcoming board meetings are posted four days prior on this page. Past board meeting minutes can also be found on this page. 
 
To contact the OM Board click here.
OM Committees
OMCA Education Committee
The next OMCA Education Committee meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 23rd at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome, click HERE for meeting link. 
Resident Architectural Committee (RAC)
The RAC meets virtually the first & third Thursdays of each month.
Next Virtual RAC Meeting
April 1st, Zoom Meet Link
Info & List of Applications HERE.

Architectural Covenant Processes
For info on architectural covenant processes, visit the Covenant Tab on the Oakland Mills website.

Exterior Alterations Applications Info
Click HERE.

Download Request For Letter of Compliance
Click HERE

Property Concerns
If you have a concern about your property or another in Oakland Mills, please email Karina Caico, covenant advisor for property concerns, at:
OMCA Village Elections
VIRTUAL CANDIDATES FORUM
Tuesday, April 6th, 7:00 p.m.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a
Q&A with candidates.

An election newsletter, including a ballot, by-law amendment proposal, and postage paid return envelope will be mailed to all properties in Oakland Mills in late March or early April. If you do not receive a newsletter by April 15th please
email manager@oaklandmills.org to request a copy.

OMHS Food Pantry Donation Drive at The Other Barn
Saturday, March 27th
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Other Barn
5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia

Bins will be located outside the front entrance. OMCA staff will take donations inside and then deliver them to the OMHS food pantry. Click HERE for info on types of items needed and how to order online or make a monetary donation. Please remember when dropping off donations to please wear your mask and maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
Lively Arts Virtual Concert Featuring Chris Campbell
Lively Arts Virtual Concert Featuring Chris Campbell
Saturday, April 24th
10:00 a.m.
Facebook Live Event

For more info, click HERE or email Brigitta Warren at events@oaklandmills.org.
County & Statewide Vaccination Info
A Message from Community Action Council
A message from Community Action Council:

"We are a community, and one in four in our community are struggling to make ends meet. If you are wondering where to get help, or how to help your neighbors, go to www.cac-hc.org to learn about the Community Action Council of Howard County. We offer four main programs and services to help improve economic security and strengthen our community: food assistance, housing assistance, utility assistance and early childhood education. We’re here for you, get support or get involved now. 410-313-6440."
Community Events
The Child Care and Preschool Information Fair
March 27th, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Held Virtually
Howard County Public School System Kindergarten & Pre-K Registration
  • Kindergarten Registration now open Online.
  • Pre-Kindergarten Registration begins March 15th Online 
  • Kindergarten Readiness resources from the Howard County Public Library System.
Services & Volunteer Opportunities
Columbia Community Care
Free food and goods for those in need. Volunteers and donations welcome.
Wednesdays
Volunteers and donation drop off
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Line opens for guests
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays
Volunteers and donation drop off
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Line opens for guests
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m
Location
Stevens Forest Neighborhood Center
6061 Stevens Forest Rd
(Next to Stevens Forest Elementary School). Other locations available.
For more info, click HERE.
OMHS Food Pantry
March 31st, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
For pick up procedures and info on donating, click HERE.
Howard County Multiservice Center Food Pantry
9900 Washington Blvd, Suite 1, Laurel
Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Third Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
More info: EnglishSpanish
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland
Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals once a week for seniors, as well as support and safety-net services. To learn more about services or to donate/volunteer, click HERE.
Energy Assistance
Energy assistance through Community Action Council. If you or someone you know is in need, visit the CAC website for more info.
Howard County Virtual Portal
Covid-19 disaster and emergency assistance resources and info HERE.
The Village in Howard
The Village in Howard is a member-based community of Howard County residents 55 and older. Membership benefits enable members to actively age in place. March Newsletter.
Howard County Directory of Behavioral Services for Youth
Many youth are facing mental health challenges during this time. Click HERE for a thorough list of providers and services.
Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center
6700 Freetown Road, Columbia
Call: 410-531-6677 or 410-531-6006 
24 Hour Hotline: Dial 211 
Telephone counseling, free walk-in counseling, emergency shelter for the homeless, a 24-hour suicide hotline, Mobile Crisis Team, and a Runaway Teen Program that provides crisis intervention for runaway youth and their families. All services are free. Marylanders with mental health or substance use issues are encouraged to "Call 211 and Press One" to reach help.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Beds for Children in Need
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a charity that builds beds for kids who don't have their own. If your child or a child you know is sleeping on the floor, a sofa, an air mattress, or with other siblings or parents, you can request a bed by visiting www.shpbeds.org/request-bed or emailing md-howardco@shpbeds.org. SHP delivers the bunks/single beds along with new mattresses, pillows, sheets, and comforters.
Columbia Association News & Events
CA Headquarters and CA Member Services Office
Please call or email. Most CA staff work remotely and the CA Member Service Center is accessible by phone.  
6310 Hillside Court
Columbia, MD 21046
CA main number: 410-715-3000
Member Services number: 410-730-1801

Be the first to know about all things AQUATICS! CLICK HERE!


Youth and Teen Center @TheBarn
For more information, call 410-992-3726 or email CA.Teens@ColumbiaAssociation.org.
Columbia Solar Virtual Info Session
March 24th, 6:30 p.m.
Register HERE.
CA is Needs Lifeguards!
CA is experiencing a shortage of lifeguards for the summer. Please consider applying to be a lifeguard. More info HERE.
house-fence.jpg
CA OPEN SPACE
50/50 SURVEY PROGRAM

Does your land abut CA Open Space? Then you could qualify to have CA pay for half of your home's boundary survey!

To ensure accurate installation of exterior alterations within your property boundaries, a survey of your property can be done. In order to assist with that effort and to prevent encroachments onto CA Open Space, the 50/50 Survey Program was created. CA now offers a discounted survey for community members who own property adjacent to CA Open Space.
 
For more information and to take advantage of this program, email: RealEstateServices@ColumbiaAssoication.org.
Other Resources & Info
Howard County Recycling

Yard Trim Resumes March 29th

Do you have a bike gathering dust?
Consider donating! More info

Howard County Green Fest
April 10th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hybrid event held both virtually and at Howard Community College. More info
See Click Fix
See Click Fix is an interactive website for Howard County residents to report issues to the County. Issues include, but are not limited to, roadway issues, missing street signs or fallen street signs, street tree issues, potholes, cracked sidewalks, etc. THIS IS NOT a site for 911 emergencies or police or fire issues.
Visit OMO!
One CLICK opens the door to become engaged in a community-based, multi-generational social learning environment.
Oakland Mills United is a community organization that advocates for Oakland Mills through education, empowerment, and demanding change. OMU empowers OM's students, schools, and community by providing programs to address the needs of students and families. 
Howard County Public Library
Beginning Monday, April 5, Howard County Library System will open for limited in-person services. More Info

Visit the Howard County Public Library website to access virtual educational resources & events and more.
Little Free Library at The Other Barn
While we are away.....
The free little library is open to the public. While our OM librarian is away please feel free to continue to leave a book and take a book so that OM can continue to enjoy reading and sharing. 

Please remember that only books that you would find at the HoCo Library should be left in our library and be appropriate in nature.
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! 
Please remember to pick up after your pet! More folks than ever are using our beautiful paths. Please don't leave anything behind.