Howard County Announces Agreement to Buy Land for Ellicott City Elementary School
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman reached an agreement to buy a 12-acre site on Resort Road in Turf Valley for $5.75 million, pending County Council approval, which would enable the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) to plan for an elementary school that will help relieve overcrowding at that level.
Kittleman said the purchase was fast-tracked to address concerns expressed by the school system and the community about overcrowding at a number of elementary schools across the county. With this acquisition, HCPSS will have an opportunity to make changes to its Capital Improvements Program. Interim Superintendent Michael Martirano requested the county’s help to purchase the property in May 2017.
“After speaking with Dr. Martirano, we have been in discussions with the property owner to make this purchase to help address the anticipated long-term student population growth in our elementary schools,” said Kittleman. “The redistricting process underscored the urgency to accelerate this purchase, and I am glad that we have been able to take this step now.”
Kittleman also has committed to accelerating the building of a 13th high school to relieve overcrowding and provide a long-term solution for high school capacity needs. The county will acquire the site from Mangione Family Enterprises, of Turf Valley, which is selling the property below appraised value because it also recognizes the need for a school in that area. The county will enter into a purchase and sales agreement following an updated appraisal.
DeCesaris Family Foundation Pledges Major Support to
FMA Campaign
Supporters of initiatives benefiting women, children, health care, the faith community and the military, the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Family Foundation has pledged $150,000 to the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation’s (FMA) Ready, Strong and Connected campaign.
The philanthropic work of the DeCesaris family inspires “a real appreciation for the impact that one person, one family, can have,” said Deon Viergutz, president of the FMA Foundation. “It will have the ability to positively impact over 160,000 military service men and women, Department of Defense employees and their families who live and work on and around Fort Meade.”
The foundation is well-known for funding the construction and expansion of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute, and for supporting the region’s only combined pediatric emergency and pediatric inpatient unit. The family’s pledge to the Ready, Strong and Connected campaign will help the FMA Foundation convert Kuhn Hall on Fort Meade into a Resiliency and Education Center. It will host a full range of resiliency services, as well as a variety of college-level courses.
The FMA foundation has raised 45% of the needed $3.6 million and has supported numerous other initiatives, including programs for wounded warriors.
Kittleman’s First Fiscal ’19 Citizens’ Budget Hearing Set for Dec. 11
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman will hold his first Citizens’ Budget Hearing for the fiscal 2019 budget cycle on Monday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City.
Residents may sign up online to speak at the hearing by going to www.howardcountymd.gov/budgettestimony. From the same link, residents also have the option to provide online budget testimony; however, residents are reminded that Internet testimony is considered public information and, as such, is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.
Residents who do not wish to sign up online still will be able to do so in person on the night of the public hearing beginning at 6 p.m. Speakers must sign up individually; one person may not sign up for several testifiers. For more accommodations to attend the hearing or for more information, call the Budget Office at 410-313-2077.
Baltimore Shuckers to Play
in Anne Arundel United Charity Basketball Game
The Baltimore Shuckers of the Central Basketball Association (CBA) announced they will play a charity game against Anne Arundel County employees on Dec. 16, at 2 p.m., at Annapolis Senior High School. The goals of the game are to raise awareness for the Anne Arundel United initiative and collect food and clothing donations for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
The event will be free to the public. Fans will be treated to Shuckers basketball, as well as contests and prizes from many local vendors, including the Shuckers presenting sponsor, Buffalo Wild Wings. The first 250 fans will receive a free autograph card, and Shuckers players will be available after the game, on-court, for autograph signing.
For admission, bring donations of new or gently used coat(s)/sweatshirt(s); cans of non-perishable food; or new hats, gloves or mittens. Anne Arundel United is a community outreach campaign, announced by County Executive Steve Schuh on Sept. 12, to engage every citizen and community in the fight against hatred through a community ambassador program and a social media campaign. For more information, visit www.aacounty.org/departments/county-executive/county-initiatives/aa-united.
Anne Arundel County Receives $738,000 to Combat Gangs and
Youth Violence
Anne Arundel County has been awarded a three-year Safe & Thriving Communities Grant of $738,000 by the U.S. Department of Justice to help combat gang and youth violence. The grant will help fund efforts to address growing youth gang violence in the City of Annapolis through public/private partnerships between Anne Arundel County, the City of Annapolis, programs like Anne Arundel United and local nonprofits.
Officials will begin the effort by creating a strategic plan for communication, outreach and programming in partnership with youth, residents and other community partners such as the Community Action Agency. The county will then implement a variety of research evidence-based programs aimed at reducing and eliminating youth and gang violence in the city of Annapolis.
For more information, visit www.aacounty.org/departments/county-executive/county-initiatives/aa-united.
HCC 5K Challenge Race Raises $85K for Student Scholarships
More than 400 participants ran, climbed and crawled an obstacle-filled course during Howard Community College’s (HCC) fourth annual 5K Challenge Race, held at HCC on Sunday, Oct. 29. Thanks to teams from 50 sponsoring organizations, in addition to college employees, students and alumni teams, the HCC Educational Foundation raised more than $85,000 to support student scholarships.
The overall Corporate Challenge Champion goes to Harkins Builders. Sponsoring organizations also competed for one of seven challenges, with winners as follows: Howard County Police (Challenge Award); Morgan-Keller Construction (Design & Construction Challenge); M&T Bank (Finance Challenge); In-Depth Engineering (Information Technology Challenge); Howard Hughes Corp. (Real Estate Challenge); Howard County General Hospital (Wellness Challenge); and LifeSpan Network — Beacon Institute (Silver Challenge). Rouse Scholars won the HCC alumni, Faculty/Staff category, and X-Ray claimed the HCC Student Team award.
Winners of the fastest course time were Stewart Reich (male, 14:59.9) and his wife, Stephanie Reich (17:47.3), both of Morgan-Keller Construction.
HCAC General Exhibit Grants
Due Jan. 1
Artists wishing to be considered for an exhibit in the Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) galleries have been invited to submit a general exhibit application. The HCAC Exhibits Committee meets quarterly to review applications and select artists for the exhibit space. Artists working in all media and styles, including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. The committee also welcomes proposals from curators and organizations.
HCAC presents 11-12 exhibits per year of national, regional — and local artists, including two-person, small and large group, juried, curated and community shows. Detailed entry guidelines are available at hocoarts.submittable.com/submit, for pick-up at the Howard County Center for the Arts, by mail by calling 410-313-2787 or at [email protected]. The next deadline for submissions is Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.
HCAC Announces Emersons as Honorary Chairs of
Celebration of the Arts
The Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) has announced that Sue and Buddy Emerson will serve as honorary chairs of the 21st Annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County. The gala will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018, from 6–10 p.m., at the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College.
The Emersons will make opening remarks in the Smith Theatre during the 90-minute program, which will feature the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition. Buddy Emerson is senior vice president at M&T Bank and a former trustee of the Columbia Festival of the Arts; Sue Emerson is director of communications at Leadership Howard County and has volunteered for the HCAC and organized many community-based arts events. Tickets are $100 (Reception and Smith Theatre) and $50 (Reception and Studio Theatre). For more information, call 410-313-ARTS (2787) or visit hocoarts.org.
CAC Announces New
Theater-in-Residence Program
The Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) has announced a new Theater-in-Residence program, the AngelWing Project. The endeavor is a 501(c)3 nonprofit performing arts organization in Glen Burnie that promotes the development of the performing arts in the community, with the mission of positively impacting the community by providing uplifting, entertaining shows and events to inspire appreciation for, and participation in, the arts.
The project will hold several performances a year, as well as training workshops and community forums. The group also will participate in joint efforts and support other artists and events at the center. For more information about the program, contact Nicole Caracia at [email protected].
Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training Available
HopeWorks is expanding to include the work and services of Shari’s Promise, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which has worked for five years in Howard County with a mission to end child sexual abuse. This work will now be continued as a program within HopeWorks.
One of the ways HopeWorks will keep the mission of Shari’s Promise alive is through its new child sexual abuse prevention training, Stewards of Children, produced by the national nonprofit Darkness to Light. This is an evidence-informed child sexual abuse prevention, recognition and intervention training which has been shown to change child-protective behaviors. For more information, call Vanita Leatherwood at 410-997-0304.
Schaefer Helping People Award Recipient Announced
Colleen Konstanzer, Neighbor Ride’s first executive director, has been selected to receive the William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award. Comptroller Peter Franchot will present the award to Konstanzer during a brief ceremony in Neighbor Ride’s office at 5570 Sterrett Place, Columbia, at 11 a.m., on Monday, Dec. 11. A reception will follow the presentation. Members of the public are invited to attend.
The award is presented by the comptroller to the individuals and organizations in each county and Baltimore City that best exemplify William Donald Schaefer’s lifelong commitment to helping people. Winners are selected based on their demonstration of improving the community, swiftly solving a citizen problem through effective government intervention, directly aiding the most vulnerable in society or creating a public/private partnership to improve the lives of Marylanders.
Howard’s Roving Radish Program Wins MACo Innovation Award
The Roving Radish, Howard County’s healthy meals program, has been selected for the County Innovation Award by the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance, a collaboration of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo). The award was slated to be presented at MACo’s annual winter conference in Cambridge on Dec. 7.
The Roving Radish was chosen for its innovative approach to bringing affordable, locally-produced foods to residents, including those with limited incomes who can purchase meal kits at a reduced price. This year, the Roving Radish distributed 6,250 kits — a 25% increase from last year — through 10 stops located throughout the county. Nearly a third of the kits went to residents who qualified for the subsidized rate.
The Roving Radish will be on break during winter months and resume service in May 2018. For more information, visit www.rovingradish.com.
Lifeline 100 Bicycle Event Awards $33K to Anne Arundel Nonprofits
The fourth annual Anne Arundel County Lifeline 100 Bicycle Event attracted a record 861 registrants supported by more than 100 volunteers and more than 25 sponsors. The event, hosted by Anne Arundel County Police, Recreation & Parks and Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, offers a great experience for cyclists of all ages and abilities with 100-, 65-, 30- and 15-mile route options, as well as a free Children’s Bike Rodeo and Family Fun Ride and Community Health Fair at Kinder Farm Park, in Millersville.
All net proceeds are donated to county nonprofit organizations. This year’s record proceeds of $33,000 is up from $21,000 in 2016, thanks to a 20% increase in participants and a big jump in sponsorships; they included $10,000 from Prophasys and $2,500 from Maryland Live. The following awards were made on Nov. 16, at the BikeAAA Annual Meeting at the Pirate’s Cove Restaurant (a four-year rest stop sponsor), in Galesville.
• Anne Arundel Crisis Response System: $11,000
• Recreation Deeds for Special Needs: $9,000
• Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails: $1,000
• Friends of Kinder Farm Park: $1,000
• Rise for Autism iCan! Shine Bike Camp: $2,500
• Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County: $8,500
The iCan! Shine Bike Camp, hosted each summer by Rise for Autism, teaches children with special needs to ride a two-wheel bike during five days. Learn more at www.riseforautism.org/ican–bike-camp-2017.
The check presentation was made by the Lifeline 100 Century Ride Team to the Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System team. They are, from left, Carolyn Ryan, Colleen Joseph, Cpl. Stanley Newborn, Cpl. Dominic Scali, Adrienne Mickler, Catherine Gray, Lt. Steve Thompson, Jon Korin and Alex Pline.
Howard County Commission for Women Seeks Nominations for
Hall of Fame
Howard County’s Commission for Women is seeking nominations for outstanding women to be inducted into the 2018 Women’s Hall of Fame (WHOF). This annual event honors Howard County women who have made significant contributions to the lives of others in Howard County, Maryland or the nation through their leadership, and professional and/or community service. The nomination deadline is Friday, Dec. 22, at 5 p.m.
To be eligible for the Howard County WHOF, nominees may be either living or deceased and must have lived in Howard County for at least 10 years. Up to five women will be selected for induction at the commission’s annual Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony in March 2018, held during National Women’s History Month.
To obtain a copy of the WHOF nomination form, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/cfw, call 410-313-6400 or email [email protected].
HCLS HiJinx Podcast Wins Gold MarCom Award
HiJinx, Howard County Library System’s (HCLS’s) monthly podcast, is the winner of a 2017 MarCom Gold Award. The podcast educates listeners about topics relative to upcoming HCLS events through their conversations with guests, while the hosts explore various facets of an overarching theme each month.
HiJinx is written, co-hosted and produced by HCLS staff members Victoria Goodman and Dennis Wood. Guests have included famed recording artist Judy Collins, author David Ebershoff, renowned chef Carla Hall and travel writer Pauline Frommer.
TFCU Sponsors Millionaire’s Club at Northeast High
Students at Northeast High School recently gathered for the first meeting of the Millionaires Club with faculty member and adviser Barbara Ashman and members of the Tower Federal Credit Union (TFCU) staff, to begin developing their finance skills, entering competitions with other schools, engaging in investment simulations and performing an annual entrepreneurial project.
Millionaire’s Club members learn skills relating to budgeting, selecting financial services, protecting assets and identities, responsible borrowing, career choice and putting savings to work through wise investment choices. The six-month program was developed by the Credit Union Foundation MD|DC and is available to schools and credit unions nationwide at no charge through the foundation’s MillionairesClub.org site.
Currently, more than 1,900 students benefit annually from participation at 44 sites. For more information, visit MillionairesClub.org.
The new Millionaire’s Club at Northeast High School, in Pasadena, recently held its kickoff meeting. The club is sponsored by Tower Federal Credit Union. Here, TFCU’s Gail Sanders, far left; and Mark Cruz, far right; provided the students and teacher/adviser Barbara Ashman with the tools they need to succeed.
JumpStart Expands Early College Credit Options for HCPSS Students
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has announced a program that enables students to earn up to 60 college credits while in high school. Offered in partnership with Howard Community College (HCC), JumpStart is designed to give students a head start in earning a college degree or preparing for a career, at a greatly reduced cost.
The pilot expansion of dual enrollment options will also alleviate overcrowding at the county’s three most overcrowded high schools. Beginning in the 2018–19 school year, expanded JumpStart programs will be introduced at Oakland Mills and River Hill high schools, where enrollment is currently under school capacity; enrollment also will be opened to students at Centennial, Howard and Long Reach high schools, which currently exceed target capacity levels.
HCPSS can accommodate up to 500 Centennial, Howard and Long Reach students who choose to change schools in order to take advantage of JumpStart programs at Oakland Mills and River Hill next year. JumpStart provides several structured options.
• Early college 30-credit programs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, general studies, secondary teaching, public health and health sciences are offered at Oakland Mills and River Hill high schools and the Applications and Research Laboratory. Students who enroll by Grade 10 may earn up to 30 college credits (or the equivalent of a full year of college).
• Early college 60-credit programs: Eligible students enrolling as ninth graders at Oakland Mills and River Hill high schools may graduate with up to 60 college credits and an Associate of Arts degree in general studies from HCC.
Details about all JumpStart programs are available online at www.hcpss.org/jumpstart.
Columbia Birthday
Observances Continue
The Baltimore Chapter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) recognized Columbia’s 50th birthday with a special program, “Columbia at 50: Learning from the past and celebrating future development,” held in the newly opened Two Merriweather, overlooking redevelopment underway in Downtown.
Speakers included three pioneers of Columbia development: Gary Clark, Lehr Jackson and Robert Tennenbaum, who recounted colorful tales of the early years. In addition, Howard County Economic Development Director Larry Twele, Lynn Coleman of Howard Community College (HCC), Earl Armiger of Orchard Development and Greg Fitchitt of The Howard Hughes Corp., discussed the latest development activities including the recruitment of cybersecurity firms, the growth of HCC, the redevelopment of the village centers and the creation of a more urban center for Downtown Columbia.
Among the presenters at the Baltimore Chapter of the Urban Land Institute’s recognition of Columbia 50th birthday were, from left, Earl Armiger of Orchard Development and Greg Fitchitt of The Howard Hughes Corp.
The Meeting Gallery Presents
New Exhibit
The Meeting House Gallery presents “Friends,” work by Gale Bell, Donna Golden, Pam Gordimer, Debra Halprin and Julie Smith. These works include sculpture, oil, acrylic, giclee prints, watercolor and mixed media collage. The exhibit will run until Jan. 27, 2018.
The Meeting House Gallery is located in The Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free.
‘Why Bob Dylan Matters’ Author Thomas to Headline 2018 RETRO ‘Evening in the Stacks’
Howard County Library System (HCLS) turns back the clock for a RETRO Evening in the Stacks on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 7 to 11 p.m., that will set the perfect stage for Harvard Classics Professor Richard Thomas, celebrated author of the newly released book, “Why Bob Dylan Matters.”
Cited by The New York Times as having “the coolest class on campus,” Thomas’s Dylan seminar is introducing a new generation of fans and scholars to the artist’s work.
Thomas was initially ridiculed by his colleagues for teaching a course on Dylan alongside his traditional seminars on Homer, Virgil and Ovid. Dylan’s Nobel Prize brought him vindication, and he immediately found himself thrust into the spotlight as a leading academic voice in all matters pertaining to Dylan.
Thomas will offer his argument for Dylan’s modern relevance, while interpreting and decoding Dylan’s lyrics for readers, and asking them to reflect on the question, “What makes a classic?” The 2018 Retro Evening in the Stacks will be held at the newly renovated HCLS East Columbia Branch, located at 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Tickets go on sale in January at hclibrary.org/Stacks.