Ghana Fest 2 to Celebrate Columbia’s Newest Sister City
Columbia Association (CA) will host an afternoon of Ghanaian music, drumming, dance and refreshments at Ghana Fest 2, the latest event celebrating Columbia’s expanding relationship with its new sister city of Tema. The event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, in Columbia’s Wilde Lake Village Center.
The event will celebrate the signing of the official Sister Cities agreement between Columbia and Tema and the beginning of the youth and adult exchanges between the two communities. Tema officially became Columbia’s third sister city after a signing ceremony in November 2014 involving Milton Matthews, CA’s president and CEO, and the Hon. Isaac Odamtten, Tema’s mayor.
Tema is Columbia’s third sister city and its first on the continent of Africa. It is a planned city of more than 160,000 people on the coast of Ghana that is located just east of the country’s capital, Accra. CA is planning adult and youth exchanges between the communities in 2016.
The relationship between Columbia and Cergy-Pontoise, France, was established in 1977, while the connection with Tres Cantos, Spain, dates back to 1990. CA is looking into developing a fourth relationship with Cap Haitien, Haiti. For more information, go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/Multicultural or contact program manager Laura Smit at 410-715-3162 or [email protected].
Jr. Journalist Day at Laurel Museum Set for Oct. 18
Sunday, Oct. 18, is Jr. Journalist Day at the Laurel Museum. The Jr. Journalists will create their own front page — using news from their own lives or historical information they’ve discovered. Hands-on activities will include exploring historic print.
The program is designed to provide an afternoon of fun, with an underlying goal of demonstrating the critical role newspapers play in saving history, especially in small communities. The free program will run from 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Jr. Journalist Day is part of “The Rest of the Story,” a program series designed to complement “Ripped from the Headlines: Laurel in the News,” the current exhibit at the museum, which runs through Dec. 21. The museum is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10a.m.–2 p.m., Sundays 1–4 p.m.
Group tours are available by appointment and admission is free. The John Calder Brennan research library, which includes newly digitized copies of the Leader from 1897–2008, is open by appointment Monday–Friday. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org.
CAC to Receive $290K Howard Grant to Relocate Food Bank
In conjunction with National Hunger Action Month, the Community Action Council (CAC) announced County Executive Allan Kittleman will make a $290,000, one-time grant for relocating the Howard County Food Bank. The grant will allow the CAC to qualify for matching funds from the state.
Kittleman explained that the grant, which had been included in the fiscal 2015 Operating Budget, had to be put on hold earlier this year due to a bleak financial forecast. “When we learned in February that the county faced a $15.8 million budget deficit, this grant, as well as other worthy projects, had to be cut,” Kittleman said. “Because of tremendous work by our department directors and administrators, we tightened our belts, eliminated expenses where we could, postponed filling vacant positions and managed to balance the budget. Now, based on updated revenue and expenditures from FY15, we are able to make this grant for an extremely important cause.”
The grant comes from operating funds from fiscal 2015, which closed June 30, and has been earmarked specifically for relocating the Howard County Food Bank from its current location off Route 108 in Columbia. The capacity of the current location is for 3,800 individuals per year; last fiscal year, the Food Bank served more than 27,000 residents.
Tee It Up for The Arc on Oct. 12
Wegmans will present the “Tee It Up for The Arc” annual golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 12. Golfer registration and lunch open at 11 a.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, at Cattail Creek Golf Course in Glenwood. The tournament honors the memory of the late Gary J. Arthur, who was Howard County Director of Recreation and Parks.
For information, contact Missy Berger, 410-730-0638, ext. 232, or e-mail [email protected].
New Artistic Maritime Bike Racks in Annapolis
In 2013, the city of Annapolis received a grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to design, procure and install artistic bike racks within the city’s downtown area. MainStreets Annapolis Partnership (now Annapolis Partnership) managed the grant and the completion of this project on behalf of the city.
Since, the city has consulted with a number of interested parties to determine suitable locations and creative designs for bike rack installations throughout the downtown. As a result, 11 artistic bike racks were fabricated and now have been installed that showcase vessels that have a connection to Annapolis’s rich maritime history.
The 11 racks, with their maritime themes, are installed at the following six locations:
- Susan Campbell Park, the USS Constitution, c. 1797
- Foot of Prince George Street, Yacht America, c. 1851
- Newman Street Park, Skipjack, c. 1890s–1993
- Knighton Garage, Trumpy Yacht, c. 1947–1973
- Acton’s Landing Park, USS Maryland, c. 1921
- Outer West Street, USS Annapolis, c. 1992
Funding for this project was provided by MDOT’s Bikeways Program with a partial match provided by the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County. For more information, visit www.annapolis.gov/artistic-bike-rack-project or contact Karen Theimer Brown at [email protected].
MBRE Seeks Volunteers to Inspire Students
The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRE), a nonprofit coalition of leading employers working to support education reform and improve student achievement, is seeking and recruiting workplace volunteers to participate in its award-winning Maryland Scholars Speakers Bureau and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Specialists in the Classroom programs for the 2015–16 school year.
During the past 16 years, more than 3,000 volunteers have made presentations to more than half a million students throughout the state of Maryland. During that same time, the percentage of students graduating as Maryland Scholars has increased from 33% to 54%.
For more information, or to volunteer, visit www.thestemnet.com/speak or contact Nona Carroll at 410-788-0333 or [email protected].
Howard Launches Lost Pet Reporting Feature on App
A lost pet reporting feature has been added to the popular Tell HoCo mobile app and web site module, which allows Howard County residents and visitors to report non-emergency problems, such as potholes, graffiti, downed tree limbs and traffic signal issues, to the appropriate county government representative 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The “Tell HoCo” app can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store or from Google play. Since its launch one year ago, the “Tell HoCo” app has been downloaded 1,800 times. The app has been used to report nearly 5,400 issues.
County Executive Allan Kittleman demonstrated how to use the feature in a video posted on social media. The video can be found at www.facebook.com/HoCoGovExec/videos/964568976937217.
An online version of the reporting tool can be found at www.howardcountymd.gov/iframetemplate.aspx?id=6442474544.
MBRG to Honor Sauerbrey
Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG) will honor Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey, the first female minority leader in the Maryland House of Delegates and assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, on Nov. 6, at Turf Valley in Ellicott City.
A limited number of tickets to the event are available for $125 per individual, $200 per couple and $1,000 for a table of 10, via www.mbrg.org.
Local Teens to Attend Auntie Anne’s Forum at Disney World
Alex Abrams and Harper Lurie, students at Howard High School and ACE golfers from The First Tee of Howard County, have been selected to attend Auntie Anne’s Leaders & Entrepreneurs Forum in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 22–25.
The national opportunity is offered through The First Tee home office for 50 teen participants from the chapter network. The First Tee of Howard County is the only chapter with two selected participants.
The three-day forum, to be held at Walt Disney World, will introduce participants to interactive sessions covering career development and community leadership from executives and franchisees of Auntie Anne’s, the world’s largest soft pretzel chain. They also will learn about the franchising business model and what it is like to own and operate an Auntie Anne’s store.
Network 2000 to Hold Women of Excellence Luncheon
Network 2000 will hold its 22nd annual Women of Excellence luncheon with speaker Sheila Johnson, entrepreneur, philanthropist and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m., at the Hilton Baltimore, 401 Pratt Street.
Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, is vice chairman and owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and the only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
Proceeds from the event will support the educational and charitable activities of Network 2000. For more information, registration or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.network2000md.org, e-mail [email protected] or call 410-931-8100.
CA Community Building Speakers Series to Presents Elliott
The next featured guest in Columbia Association’s (CA) Community Building Speakers Series is Don Elliott, a nationally recognized zoning and planning expert who serves as a director with Clarion Associates, a national land use consulting firm based in Denver. He is the author of A Better Way to Zone and co-author of an American Planning Association book, The Rules That Shape Urban Form.
CA and Howard County Government will present Elliott at the “Best Zoning Practices for Large Planned Communities,” to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane in the Wilde Lake Village Center. It is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Scott Templin at 410-715-3166 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Celebrate Halloween at KidsPeace Event at Oriole Park
KidsPeace is providing an opportunity to showcase creative attire while racing through the streets of Baltimore for a great cause. KidsPeace is once again partnering with the Baltimore Orioles, OriolesREACH and team manager Buck Showalter and his wife, Angela, for the 6th Annual Trick-or-Trot 5K/1-Mile Walk at Oriole Park. The race begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Runners will run through the Inner Harbor and finish the race on the field with the Oriole Bird. Last year’s event drew a crowd of more than 1,000 runners and walkers who came together to enjoy a fun race to help raise money for youth in foster care. Registration is now open at www.kidspeace5k.org/trick-or-trot.
For more information or to become a sponsor, create a corporate team or volunteer, contact Gina Seyfried at 410-964-9329 or [email protected].
‘Two Views: Feathers and Fur,’ at Artists’ Gallery in Columbia
Franc Miller and Jerry Weinstein are presenting an exhibition of works that feature the beauty of wildlife from around the world in their show, “Two Views: Feathers and Fur,” that runs through Nov. 7 at Artists’ Gallery, which is located in the American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia.
Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The gallery is closed on Sunday and will open by appointment. For more information, call 410-740-8249 during gallery hours or visit www.artistsgallerycolumbia.com.
Preservation Howard County Names 2105 Preservationist of the Year
Preservation Howard County (PHC) has announced the recipients of its 14th annual Preservationist of the Year Awards. The program was held on Sunday, Sept. 20, at historic Waverly Mansion, in Marriottsville. The award recipients were recognized for their significant contributions to the preservation of Howard County’s history and heritage.
Elizabeth Bobo received the Sen. James Clark, Jr., Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her work as an early preservationist pioneer as a Howard County Council member; and as county executive, leading the way to preserving and protecting Howard County historic structures and heritage.
Paulette Lutz and Cathy Eshmont were recognized for their research work and documentation of Howard County’s role and sites contributing the Underground Railroad network.
Barbara Kellner was recognized as a contributing preservationist of Jim Rouse’s vision and Columbia’s history through multimedia presentations, history walks, Annual Bike-About and Columbia Matters TV tours, among other avenues.
Dale Schumacher was recognized for his historic preservation and stewardship of his home, Rockburn, and the Save Belmont campaign, which took root during the threat of land development; and as a founding member and land contributor to the Rockburn Land Trust.
Howard County Safe Sleep Campaign Aims to Save Infant Lives
The Howard County Health Department announced a collaboration with the Howard County Office of Children’s Services on a campaign to bring awareness about the importance of a Safe Sleep environment for all babies.
A 2014 study published in the journal Pediatrics advised, “Bed-sharing is the greatest risk for babies ages 4 months and younger, while rolling into objects in the sleep area is the top risk factor for older babies.” These deaths are almost always preventable when a Safe Sleep environment is provided for infants.
The Howard County Safe Sleep campaign includes four newly-created posters, in English and Spanish, featuring babies in a proper sleep environment. Each poster shows parents and caregivers the “ABC’s” of Safe Sleep and provides a designated telephone number for information and other child-specific resources.
The Health Department and Children’s Services partnered with the national Cribs for Kids organization to provide new, portable cribs to qualified families without a safe sleeping place for their baby. The CARE line (410-313-CARE), staffed by Children’s Services, connects families to resources and is listed on the Safe Sleep campaign posters.
Campbell Wins HCC Columbia Classic Grand Prix
Kaitlin Campbell, of Lexington, Ky., bested a field of world-class equestrians on Saturday, Sept. 19, to win the 28th annual Howard Community College (HCC) Columbia Classic Grand Prix at Marama Farm, Clarksville. Campbell raced atop Rocky W through the jump-off course to earn the fastest time and a $10,500 purse.
Gavin Moylan of Middleburg, Va., rode Pernod of Alpha Omega Farm to take home second place and the $7,700 prize. David Raposa of Clinton, N.Y., placed third with his horse, Waultraut, and earned a $4,550 purse.
In another competition, the $10,000 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, Lucy Matz of Coatesville, Pa., rode Bailey VI to first place, securing a $3,000 purse.
In the $2,500 Child/Adult Amateur Jumper, Whitney Lind, of Bethesda, rode atop Wanant to take first place and the $750 prize.
This marks the 28th anniversary of the HCC Columbia Classic Grand Prix, and the seventh consecutive year that George Doetsch has loaned Marama Farm, his thoroughbred breeding farm, for the event location. In addition, Doetsch served as co-chair for this year’s event committee, along with Vic Broccolino, former president of Howard County General Hospital.
Proceeds from the event provide scholarships for HCC students through the Howard Community College Educational Foundation.
2015 ManneqART Gala Moving to D.C.’s Ritz Carlton
Lee Andersen, founder and president of ManneqART, has announced that the 2015 ManneqART Annual Gala & Awards Ceremony that was planned for Sept. 27 at the Horowitz Center at Howard Community College has been rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.
Tickets sold to date will be refunded or credited to purchasers wishing to attend the D.C. event. For more information, contact Al Scolnik at 410-303-5333.
“Though ManneqART has an enthusiastic following in Howard County, we have had limited success selling gala tickets here in our first two years,” Andersen said. “The cost of producing the gala and stage show has exceeded our Howard County fundraising capabilities. We’re looking forward to presenting Sculpture on Human Form to a broader audience excited about wearable sculptural art.”
Baltimore Watercolor Society at the Bernice Kish Gallery
The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, has announced a group exhibit in the galleries for October through December 2015. Members of the Baltimore Watercolor Society will show their work in the lobby and in the Bill White Room Gallery. The exhibit will run from Oct. 29–Dec. 12.
Established in 1885, the Baltimore Watercolor Society is the oldest watercolor organization in Maryland. For more information call 410-730-3987 or 301-596-4883.
Patapsco Female Institute’s 20th Celebrated
Howard County Chief Administrative Officer Lonnie Robbins recently joined County Councilman Jon Weinstein, Department of Recreation & Parks Director John Byrd and President of Friends of Patapsco Female Institute Marydele Donnelly to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park and the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Friends of the Patapsco Female Institute.
The event took place inside the ruins of the institute, which was built in 1837 and has served as a school, summer resort hotel, private residence and nursing home. Today, the historic park is managed by the county’s Department of Recreation & Parks.
Howard’s Drug Take Back Event Nets Nearly 500 Pounds of Meds
Nearly 500 pounds of unwanted, unused or expired medications were collected on Sept. 26 as the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) and HC DrugFree joined in on National Drug Take Back Day.
Unlike many other jurisdictions, Howard County has three permanent drug boxes, allowing residents to safely discard unwanted medications on any day. The boxes are located at the Northern District Station, 3410 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City; the Southern District Station, 11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel; and the Gary Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville.
In the six months since the last Drug Take Back Day, in April, and the installation of the three permanent boxes that month, the HCPD and HC DrugFree have collected 1,948 pounds of unwanted medications.
Festival to Culminate HCLS’s 75th Anniversary Year
Howard County Library System (HCLS) will mark 75 years of excellence in education on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at HCLS Miller Branch, with CELEBRATE 75! a community anniversary fest. The public is invited to join HCLS President and CEO Valerie Gross, community leaders and special guests to connect HCLS’s past with the present and future.
Activities will begin with the unveiling of the contents of the Chapters-of-Our-Lives Time Capsule; and cutting-edge technologies will be on display throughout the day in the HiTech Showroom. Barry Louis Polisar, a Grammy Award-winning musician and author, will provide entertainment; and a variety of crafts and activities will be featured for all ages. And Poe, one of the Baltimore Ravens’ mascots, will also add to the day’s festivities.
Odenton Heritage Society Sets Wine Tasting
The Odenton Heritage Society will hold its fall wine tasting on Friday, Oct. 16, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Odenton Historical Center, located at 1367 Odenton Road. Fiore Wines, from Graceton Valley in Harford County, will be featured at the event, with an opportunity to win a wine tasting for eight people at the winery with owners Mike and Rose Fiore.
All proceeds from the event will be used for restorations to the Historical Center. Space is limited at the venue and no tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, contact Lori Olson at 410-672-5412 or [email protected].