Anne Arundel Rec and Parks Receives Awards
Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks was recognized with three awards during the recent Maryland Recreation and Parks Association’s (MRPA) Annual Conference in Ocean City. Awards were received in the following categories.
MRPA Maryland My Maryland Special Event Award
The Anne Arundel County Lifeline 100 Century Ride is an annual event that started in 2014. The event offers cyclists of all levels the opportunity to participate in a variety of rides including 15-, 30-, 65- and 100-mile courses, and is a partnership between Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks, Anne Arundel County Police and Bicycle Advocates of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
MRPA Committee of the Year Award
The Department’s marketing and events Manager, Carolyn Ryan, was recognized for her contribution to the Education and Training Committee in providing high quality education programs for the members of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association in a variety of focus areas, including the Annual MRPA Conference, Ryan served as the conference co-chairperson.
MRPA Park and Resource Conservation (PARC) Branch Service Award
Paul Downey has been an active volunteer since he joined the Friends of Kinder Farm Park more than 10 years ago. His real expertise has been in his contributions to the park’s visitor center.
Downey designed and built the majority of the display and storage cabinets that showcase antique farm artifacts. He also designed and built the building’s large conference room table as well as the receptionist’s desk, and fabricated all of the cabinets for the caterer’s kitchen. The vast majority of the rough-cut wood came from the park’s sawmill, which he planed down and cut to size. His largest project was the wainscoting panel project for the building’s Harvest Hall meeting room.
Kittleman, Howard Department of Fire and Rescue Unveil Bleeding Control Kits
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman and the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) has unveiled an initiative to make bleeding control kits available in public locations including schools, community centers and other gathering places.
“We have experienced far too many tragedies, from Sandy Hook Elementary and the Boston Marathon to attacks in Paris and Brussels and other events that have hit close to home,” said Kittleman. “In the wake of tragic events, where victims experience serious injuries, our first responders want to empower the community to help by transforming bystanders into immediate responders. Like the public placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and the launch of the Pulse Point App, this is another critical step in the effort to save lives.”
Modeled after the national “Stop the Bleed” initiative, HCDFRS will offer training programs in how to use the kits to control bleeding. HCDFRS will deploy 100 kits, strategically stored near AEDs already in public facilities. Schools and other facilities where the kits are located will be identified with readily visible “Stop the Bleed” signs.
“Severe bleeding remains the single biggest cause of preventable death among trauma patients,” said HCDFRS Fire Chief John Butler. “Survival decreases dramatically following a severe injury with uncontrolled bleeding. That’s why we’re passionate about getting this resource into the hands of the community. We’ve learned from other incidents around the country that just an EMS-only response may not be sufficient to address the hemorrhage control needs presented by a mass casualty/mass trauma event.”
HCDFRS received a $40,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, $29,000 of which was used to purchase 100 kits for public places. The remaining funds were used to purchase 10 larger mass casualty kits for the Howard County Police Department.
Network 2000 to Host Board Leadership Forum on June 9
Network 2000, a nonprofit organization promoting women in business, will hold its Board Leadership Forum for women who aspire to corporate board positions. The forum will be held on Thursday, June 9, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., at DLA Piper, in the Marbury Building at 6225 Smith Avenue, Baltimore.
At the forum, Network 2000 will present the 2016 Census of Women Board Directors in Maryland, the organization’s annual research publication documenting the status of women holding corporate board seats in Maryland. In addition, Caroline Pisano, chairman of the board of KEYW Corp., will deliver the keynote address. Pisano has been a director at KEYW since2008. Tickets to the forum cost $75 and include continental breakfast. To learn more or to register, visit www.network2000md.org.
LHC to Address Issues Via Community Impact Projects
Does your nonprofit organization have a project or issue that it doesn’t have the time, expertise or staff to address? Leadership Howard County’s (LHC) Community Impact Projects (CIP) may be the answer. A CIP project is a problem or issue identified by a community host organization (a local nonprofit organization or government entity). The host has access to a team of class participants that will help find solutions to its identified concern.
Project teams will work independently to conduct research, create a plan or propose a creative, sustainable solution. To find out more, attend an information session at Loyola University Maryland’s Columbia Campus on June 15 at 8:30 a.m. and/or June 16 at 4 p.m. R.S.V.P. to [email protected].
Howard Health Department Distributes Zika Prevention Kits to OB/GYN Practices
The Howard County Health Department will distribute Zika Prevention Kits to many of the county’s OB/GYN practices. The kits, provided by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will raise awareness and protect pregnant women from the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. Becoming infected during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects.
The kits contain the following:
- CDC mosquito control guidace
- CDC recommendations for travel and precautions
- Mosquito Dunks: tablets that can be placed in containerized standing water to kill larvae
- Mosquito repellant spray
- Condoms
For more information about Zika prevention, visit www.hchealth.org.
HCCC to Host Meeting Concerning Sick Leave Laws
The Howard County Chamber of Commerce (HCCC) Legislative Affairs Committee will host a special meeting to brief members on the impact of sick and safe leave and newly enacted overtime regulations on their businesses. The issue of paid sick and safe leave is one of the top labor issues facing Maryland industry in the 2017 legislative session.
This rule goes into effect on Dec. 1, 2016. To register for the briefing, visit www.howardchamber.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?eventid=775.
Two HCPSS Students Cited as Presidential Scholars
Two Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) high school students have been honored as U.S. Presidential Scholars by the U.S. Department of Education. Nicholas Santangelo of Marriotts Ridge High School and Meghna Sreenivas from Reservoir High School were recognized for their accomplishments in career and technical education.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars program was recently extended to recognize 20 students nationwide who demonstrate ability and achievement in career and technical education fields. Both students honored were part of this inaugural class of CTE Presidential Scholars.
The program has honored almost 7,000 of the nation’s top-performing students with the prestigious award, given to honorees during the annual ceremony in Washington, D.C. The 2016 ceremony will be held June 19. Each honoree will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.
Special Olympics Howard County Honors Five Students
In recognition of their volunteer service, five students have been selected to receive scholarships from Special Olympics Howard County (SOHO). These scholarships are funded by endowments created by the generosity of three families.
Liberty High School graduate Brian Vidmar, of Eldersburg, was selected as this year’s Jackie Burk Memorial Scholarship recipient. He has been a volunteer for eight years in golf, soccer and bowling. He has volunteered more than 450 hours.
The Allan Homes Scholarship was awarded to River Hill High School graduate Anna Latzko. During the past four years, she has donated more than 200 hours as a volunteer in aquatics.
The Kathy Lindner Scholarship was awarded to Leandro Conti, of Atholton High School. During the past five years, he has served as a volunteer and Unified Partner in basketball, bowling and soccer for more than 350 hours. He also volunteered with Allied bowling and softball, and with Best Buddies at his school.
Two graduates of Howard High School were selected as runners-up and received scholarships: Natalie White, a two-year volunteer in basketball and tennis for the Jackie Burk scholarship; and Rachel Lin, a three-year volunteer in aquatics and bowling for the Allan Homes scholarship.
Special Olympics is a year-round program of sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. For more information on volunteering with SOHO or donating to the scholarship fund, call 410-740-0500.
New Scholarship Established With CFHoCo
The Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHoCo), which raises, manages and distributes funds to support Howard County nonprofits, has introduced the Carlessia Hussein Scholarship to support African-American and Latino middle school boys in Howard County participating in community programs.
The fund, which will provide a total of more than $2,000 to 10 students this summer, covers the cost of tuition and related expenses for programs that encourage leadership, academic achievement and character development, expand problem-solving skills and engender a sense of community.
Hussein has spent more than 40 years working to improve the health of minority, underrepresented and underserved populations. She holds a doctorate in public health from the University of California, Berkeley, and started her career as a nurse. To learn more about the Carlessia Hussein Scholarship, visit http://cfhoco.org.
Howard County Celebrates First Annual Getting Ahead Awards Gala
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman and the Department of Citizen Services honored graduates and supporters at the first annual Getting Ahead Awards Gala on May 20 at the North Laurel Community Center. The gala was created to recognize graduates for their positive impact on the community, as well as organizations that have supported the program and its participants.
Getting Ahead is an outgrowth of the Bridges Out of Poverty initiative, run by the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency. A two-part model designed to change the culture of poverty, Bridges Out of Poverty helps service providers examine how they view and treat those in poverty, while Getting Ahead groups enable people to investigate the effects of poverty on their lives and focus on improving their personal resources.
Getting Ahead offers an eight-week program to help people learn about resources and strategies to gain long-term stability. Since September 2013, more than 160 people have graduated from Getting Ahead. The award winners included the following.
Making It Happen Award: Sunshine Walker: Sunshine Walker has become an advocate in her community for those in need, specifically homeless women and children.
Outstanding Volunteer Award: Nora Woods: Since her graduation from Getting Ahead, Nora Woods has continued to volunteer her time and efforts to support other graduates.
Reaching Back Award: Kendra Ware: Getting Ahead graduate Kendra Ware has continued to mentor single mothers at Howard Community College and in the community to share what she has learned.
Legacy Award: Lisa Jablonover: Lisa Jablonover is a community advocate and volunteers on many boards, including the Howard County Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency, focusing on economic stability and reducing the incidence of poverty in the county.
Community Support Award: Making
Change Financial Wellness Program; Howard Community College Career Links; and Success In Style: These organizations each received a Community Support Award for commitment, dedication and support to the Getting Ahead program.
To learn more about the program, contact Valerie Mathis at 410-313-0220 or email [email protected].
Money Matters Fair Attracts Students, Parents
MakingChange recently attracted middle school students and their parents to the annual Money Matters Fair. Workshops to assist families with their spending plans, preparing for college costs and achieving long-term financial goals were offered. Financial resources were provided by 24 exhibitors. Students participated in the Y-Fi Personal Financial Challenge to learn how career, education and spending choices impact success.
The Money Matters Fair was hosted by Wilde Lake High School. Special support was provided by Laurie Collins, Howard County Public School Instructional Facilitator for Family and Consumer Sciences and Career Research & Development, and by volunteers from Howard High School. For information, visit www.makingchangecenter.org.
2016 HoCo DrugFree Cites Student Film Festival Winners
The 2016 HoCo Student Film Festival was held on Friday, April 8, at Howard County Library System, Miller Branch. Winning in the HC DrugFree category were the following entrants.
Winner: “It Starts with One” by Rachel Water, Rachel Lin and Michael Cook; Howard High School
1st Runner Up: “Hit Me Up” by Nicholas Martineau and Ryan Buckmaster; Centennial High School
2nd Runner Up: “Don’t Start” by Lauryn Terry, Victoria Duong, Kameron Smith and Desiree Gabor; Hammond High School
Judge’s Choice: “Hope” by Cianna Bisant; Atholton High School
The HC DrugFree 2016 film category focused on legal prescription pain medication (opioids) misuse, which often leads to heroin use. The winning films will be used as public service announcements throughout the year and to promote semi-annual national Drug Take Back Days supported by HC DrugFree and the Howard County Police. To view the four winning films, visit www.hcdrugfree.org/hoco-filmfest.
Kuroda Memorialized at Vantage House Tree Dedication
The late Julia Kuroda, a long-time resident of Vantage House, in Columbia, was recently memorialized at a tree dedication ceremony. Her son, Burt Kuroda, donated a flowering Japanese cherry tree to Vantage House, where the tree was planted in the Sidwell Garden.
Julia Kuroda was an advocate for the National Japanese-American Memorial to commemorate the veterans and patriots and those held in the internment camps during World War II. The monument is surrounded by pink cherry trees and two statues of cranes, the international sign of peace. At the reception following the dedication at Vantage House, 50 origami cranes were on display.
Howard Police, Others Volunteer to Repair Home
The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) joined volunteers with Rebuilding Together Howard County to repair the house of a low-income homeowner in Columbia on Saturday, April 23. The repairs were funded by donations from Columbia-based COLA and the Catonsville-based Hussman Institute for Autism.