BizWeekly – December 3, 2013
Distribution for the December issue of The Business Monthly begins today. It is available at more than 900 locations in Howard County, Northern and Western Anne Arundel County and Laurel. For a complete list of addresses, visit www.bizmonthly.com, look to the black bar across the top of the home page and click on “Distribution.”
Public Meeting to Analyze the Future of Columbia’s Village Centers Set for Thursday
Columbia Association (CA), the Howard County Department of Planning & Zoning and the Howard County Economic Development Authority are jointly undertaking a “Columbia Market Analysis and Economic Development Services” study.
The study will evaluate the current and projected demand for development in Columbia’s village centers. The study also will include an interrelated analysis of the Dobbin Road/Snowden River Parkway/former General Electric manufacturing area. Work will begin this month and will be completed by spring 2014.
“We are keen to understand the market potential for each village center and the relationship of the centers to other competing commercial areas,” said Jane Dembner, CA’s director of community building and sustainability. “This knowledge base is key to defining strategies and tools that can help revitalize and reposition the village centers, particularly some of the older centers.”
The study will be conducted by Retail and Development Strategies LLC (RDS), led by its managing principal, Tom Moriarity. The RDS consulting team includes WTL+a, Folan Consulting and Gibbs Planning Group.
The first of three public meetings on the study will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., at The Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring in west Columbia. The meeting will introduce the consultant team, provide an overview of the project, explain the study process and objectives, and include time for discussion with the meeting’s participants. Registration is encouraged but not required via ColumbiaMarketStudy.EventBrite.com.
Free Holiday Parking Available in All Historic Ellicott City Lots
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has announced that parking in Historic Ellicott City will be free in all lots through Jan. 1, 2014. That move makes parking Lots B, C and E free, in addition to Lots A, D and F — which are unmetered year round. Parking meter fees on Main Street and Maryland Avenue will remain in effect, as well as the two-hour limit for parking on Main Street this holiday season.
“The overwhelming and continuing support that County Executive Ulman and his administration has given the Historic District is very much appreciated,” said Andy Hall, president, Ellicott City Historic District Partnership. “Their decision to once again make parking free is great news; free parking impacts Historic Ellicott City’s local merchants, businesses and the patrons that support them.”
In addition, shoppers can download Howard County’s free Parker app to their smartphones. The app directs motorists in real time to open parking spots in Historic Ellicott City, just as a GPS provides directions. The free app is available for download by scanning QR codes on the multi-space meter signs in Ellicott City or by visiting Google Play or the iTunes Store.
For more information on parking in Historic Ellicott City or the Parker app, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/ecparking.htm.
Howard Rec & Parks Advisory Board Solicits Comments on Capital Budget
Howard County’s Department of Recreation & Parks Advisory Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. to consider the Department’s Fiscal Year 2015 “Draft” Capital Budget, and the Fiscal Year 2016–2024 “Draft” Capital Improvement Program for the acquisition and development of park and recreation lands.
The hearing will take place in the Conference Room at Recreation & Parks Headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia.
Residents may sign up online to speak at the hearing beginning Wednesday, Dec. 4, by visiting www.howardcountymd.gov/publiccomment.htm. From the same link, residents also have the option to provide online testimony, but are reminded that online testimony is considered public information subject to the Maryland Public Information Act. Those who do not wish to sign up online may do so in person the night of the hearing at 6:30 p.m.
Beginning Dec. 4, the department’s draft fiscal ’15 Capital Budget will be available for viewing, either online at www.howardcountymd.gov/publiccomment.htm or by calling 410-313-4685 to request that a document be mailed to you.
For more information about the public hearing, call Recreation & Parks at 410-313-4700.
MIA Announces Consumer Information Opportunities in Howard County
The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) will offer a variety of consumer materials on all types of insurance products, from annuities to title insurance and health, auto and homeowners insurance.
Trained staff will be available in Howard County in December to answer consumer questions at the following locations.
● Dec. 3, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Early Intervention Workshop at the Howard County One Stop Career Center, Columbia Workforce Center, 7161 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia.
● Dec. 6, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Community Outreach at the Howard County Library – Glenwood Branch, 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville.
● Dec. 10, 2–6 p.m. at the Community Outreach at the Howard County Library – Central Branch, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.
● Dec. 12, 8–11:30 a.m. at the Baltimore Business Journal Enterprising Women’s Summit, Sheraton Columbia Town Center, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia.
● Dec. 17, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Community Outreach at Howard County Government, George Howard Building, 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City.
A schedule of agency outreach activities and consumer materials are available on www.mdinsurance.state.md.us, as well as by request and at various community events. Follow the Maryland Insurance Administration on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MDInsuranceAdmin.
Grassroots Cold Weather Shelter Program Is Underway
The 11th season of the Grassroots cold weather shelter program is underway and will run through March 30. The cold weather shelter program, housed in Howard County’s faith communities, is provided for people who are unable to find emergency shelter when Grassroots is full.
Last year, 70 people participated in the Cold Weather Shelter program, including 12 children. Shelter participants receive additional services during their stay, including assistance with food stamps, medical assistance, case management referrals, preparing résumés and tax returns and getting a Social Security card.
This year, 16 local churches are hosting the shelter for one or two weeks. Church volunteers provide meals, transportation, clothes, medicine and laundry services, and Grassroots provides on-site staff, management and coordination.
This year’s participating congregations are Atholton Seventh Day Adventist Church, Bethany United Methodist Church, Bridgeway Community Church, Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, Columbia Community Church, Covenant Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, Glen Mar United Methodist Church, Grace Community Church, Kittamaqundi Community Church, Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church, Owen Brown Interfaith Center, St. John Baptist Church, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and Temple Isaiah.
Grassroots is located on Freetown Road in Columbia. For information, call 410-531-6006, or visit www.grassrootscrisis.org.
Arundel’s Neuman to Hold Holiday Open House
County Executive Laura Neuman will hold a holiday-themed open house for the public from 4–6 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert Street, Annapolis. The open house will feature musical performances by Anne Arundel County Public School students, as well as a performance by The Opportunity Builders Bell Choir. Winter-themed artwork from students will be showcased.
Holiday cards will be available to be signed to send to our troops serving abroad. In addition, donations of non-perishable canned goods will be accepted and donated to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank. For more information about the open house, contact Ashley Ricker at 410-222-1241 or ARicker@aacounty.org.
Neighbor Ride Cited by Tom’s of Maine
Neighbor Ride has been named as one of 15 winning nonprofits in the 2013 Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” Community Giving Initiative. As a winner in the 30-day online voting contest, Neighbor Ride will be awarded $10,000 to further expand its volunteer program so that it can continue to serve the growing number of seniors who rely on the nonprofit transportation service to remain healthy, independent and connected to the community.
The community is invited to join Neighbor Ride in celebrating its recognition at an open house from 3–6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 5570 Sterrett Place, Suite 102, Columbia. All are welcome. R.S.V.P. to community@neighborride.org.
Basu to Discuss the Economic Landscape at HCCC Breakfast on Dec. 5
Economist Anirban Basu of Sage Policy Group will offer his insights about the year ahead in business at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce’s (HCCC) annual Economic Forecast Breakfast on Dec. 5. The event at the Sheraton Columbia Town Center will begin with check-in at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast is served at 8 a.m. and the program starts at 8:15 a.m.
The HCCC also will share the opinions of local businesses and reveal how they foresee the next 12 months with the release of its annual member survey. The breakfast is sponsored by Sandy Spring Bank. Information and registration is online at www.howardchamber.com.
Maryland Live! to Host Minority Business Vendor Fair on Dec. 5
Maryland Live! Casino will host a Minority Business Vendor Fair on Thursday, Dec. 5, for minority business enterprises (MBE) and women business enterprises (WBE) interested in working with one of the largest and most profitable commercial casinos in the country.
Vendor categories include landscaping, janitorial suppliers, gaming materials and equipment, luxury gifts, commercial cleaning, staffing firms, mechanical and electrical companies, commercial laundry/dry cleaners, information technology suppliers, food service products/equipment, painting suppliers and advertising/PR/graphic design.
The Doing Business Session will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at Rams Head Center Stage at Maryland Live! Registration is required for all interested MBE/WBE vendors. For information and to reserve a space, contact 443-759-8580.
Holiday Gifts at Laurel Museum Open House Dec. 6–8
Wreathes, holiday décor, an historic African-American Church ornament, refreshments and more are among the many unique holiday gifts being offered at the Laurel Museum’s Holiday Open House, which is being held Friday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 8, 1–4 p.m.
In addition to the new historic St. Mark’s UMC 2013 ornament, offerings include holiday- and Laurel-themed gifts; locally made jewelry; and crafts, kitchen textiles and wooden toys. Ornaments from previous years, including the Laurel Christmas Tree Ornament and the Laurel Cotton Mill, will be for sale.
As it has in previous years, The Snow Hill Garden Club has created customized wreathes and centerpieces for the event. These can be purchased the day of the event for $35. Orders can be placed online through Dec. 11.
The Laurel Museum is located at 817 Main Street, Laurel. Visitors also can see the Laurel Museum’s current exhibit: “Stationed in Laurel: Our Civil War Story,” which closes Dec. 22. For more information, call 301-725-7975 or visit www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org.
Bollman Truss Bridge Lights to Debut on Saturday
On Saturday, Dec.7, Historic Savage Mill will light the Bollman Truss Bridge for the first time. The bridge is an antique iron truss bridge that is a national historic landmark. The bridge will be lit with 12,500 energy-efficient LED lights from Dec. 7 through Jan. 7, 2014.
A lighting ceremony with local dignitaries and community members will take place Saturday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m., starting at the bridge and followed by a community tree lighting celebration at the historic Carroll Baldwin Hall Commons. This project is a joint effort between Historic Savage Mill, Howard County Dept. of Recreation & Parks, Howard County Tourism Council and the Savage Community Association.
NAACCC Looking for Awards Nominees, Needs Stocking Stuffers for Kids
The Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce (NAACCC) established its Business Achievement Awards as a mechanism to publicly acknowledge the successes of its members. They recognize businesses and individuals for their contributions to both the business community and the community at large.
All nominees will be considered based on the information provided. This is an opportunity to nominate any NAACCC businesses or individuals you feel are the stars of our business community. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Dec. 10.
In addition, the NAACCC and the Baumgardner Foundation will be hosting the Needy Children’s Christmas Party in early December and needs items to stuff the kids’ stockings. For more information about either event, call 410-766-8282 or e-mail info@naaccc.com.
Holiday House Tour in Laurel Dec. 14
A haunted farmhouse, a site usually closed to visitors and the public; and an historic home filled with equally historic memorabilia are among the sites on the Dec. 14 Laurel Holiday House Tour.
A Laurel tradition since 1976, visitors discover renovations, additions and extraordinary interiors inside period homes and buildings in and around Laurel, including one in Howard County. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $18 the day of the tour.
Tickets are available online at www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org and at the Laurel Museum, 817 Main Street, Laurel. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the Main Street Pharmacy, 653 Main Street; Rainbow Florist & Delectables, 370 Main Street; Minuteman Press, 335 Main Street; and Hey Red, 641 Main Street. For more information, contact 301-725-7975 or info@laurelhistoricalsociety.org.
From MarylandReporter.com …
Maryland one of 13 ‘turkey states’ on spending, accounting watchdog says: Maryland may have a requirement for a balanced budget, but its audited financial statements show that its spent more than it took in from fiscal 2008 to 2012, according to the Institute for Truth in Accounting. This made Maryland one of 13 “turkey states” that had more expenses than revenues in fiscal 2012. The list includes all of Maryland’s neighbors except Virginia. Read more: http://marylandreporter.com/category/news/#ixzz2mIeakFKp
MarylandReporter.com is a news site for government and politics in Maryland that is published and edited by Len Lazarick. For more information or to sign up for the daily e-news, go to marylandreporter.com.