SHA to Close I-95 North of 212, Exit 29 in Short Intervals Overnight
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA)’s contractor will close lanes on northbound I-95 north of Route 212 (Powder Mill Road) interchange, Exit 29. The closures are necessary to perform work on sign structures over I-95 as part of the Inter-County Connector (ICC)/MD 200 project.
Weather permitting, SHA will close one lane of traffic on northbound I-95 beginning at 9 p.m., followed by double lane closures starting at 11 p.m. After midnight, crews will close all lanes of traffic for 15 minute intervals, intermittently, until 5 a.m. All lanes will be open to traffic at 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning. If work is deferred due to weather, the alternative dates for this work are either Wednesday, Aug. 21, or Thursday, Aug. 22
Variable message signs will alert motorists on northbound I-95. Motorists should expect delays in traffic. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area and consider the Baltimore Washington Parkway, U.S. 1 or U.S. 29 as alternate routes.
SHA reminds motorists to reduce speeds and be attentive to help prevent collisions as they drive through the work zone. For more information about the project, call the ICC Community Outreach staff at 1-866-462-0020, or visit www.iccproject.com.
O’Malley Names Members to Transportation Funding Task Force
Gov. Martin O’Malley has named local and state representatives to the Local and Regional Transportation Funding Task Force. The group will study and make recommendations on the range of options available to county and municipal governments in generating resources to fund transit service and highway projects, including the feasibility of creating regional transit financing entities and local option transportation revenues.
The task force was created as part of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 (Transportation Act), signed into law on May 16. The act will support 57,200 jobs and invest a total of $4.4 billion during the next six years (fiscal 2014–19).
O’Malley appointed the following bi-partisan members, representing local and county government, to serve on the task force.
Matthew Gallagher, president and CEO of The Goldseker Foundation
Transportation Secretary Jim Smith
Sen. Richard Madaleno
Sen. George Edwards
Del. Tawanna Gaines
Del. Wade Kach
William Ratchford, Baltimore City Mayor’s Office
Lonnie Robbins, CAO, Howard County
Richard Pollitt, Wicomico County executive
Carol Krimm, alderman, City of Frederick
Denise Mitchell, councilmember, City of College Park
Matthew Gallagher will chair the force. The group will submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the governor and General Assembly by Dec. 15.
Rockwell Collins to Purchase ARINC for $1.39B
Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Rockwell Collins has reached a definitive agreement to acquire ARINC Inc., an Annapolis-based portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, for $1.39 billion. ARINC is a communications and information processing solutions company that serves the commercial aviation industry.
The transaction will combine ARINC’s trusted networks and services with the industry-leading avionics and cabin technologies developed by Rockwell Collins.
ARINC broadly touches the entire aviation eco-system, including pilots, operators, maintenance, passengers, controllers, regulators, security and airport operations. In addition, the company provides communications and information processing for the rail, industrial security and public safety segments. Its 2013 revenues are expected to be in excess of $600 million. When completed, the acquisition will shift the balance of Rockwell Collins’ business to approximately 54% commercial and 46% government.
“We’re excited to be joining a company who shares our vision and focus on providing trusted solutions for our customers,” said ARINC Chairman and CEO John Belcher. “Rockwell Collins’ expertise in managing information on-board the aircraft, coupled with our innovative and reliable air to ground communications services, will be instrumental in providing new integrated information management solutions for our customers.”
MCE’s Earth Starter Raises More Than $100K in Crowdfunding Campaign
Earth Starter, producer of the Nourishmat and affiliate of the Howard County Economic Development Authority’s Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE), has completed its first crowdfunding campaign, raising more than $100,000 for the production of its product.
The company used the crowdfunding web site Kickstarter to help fund its first large-scale production of the Nourishmat, a fabric pad with a built-in irrigation system designed to make vegetable gardening simple, allowing people to begin self-sourcing their food.
Kickstarter is a web site that helps businesses connect with individuals interested in financially backing companies and projects. This non-traditional method of financing has grown increasingly popular for businesses owners in recent years.
“We didn’t want someone to come in and change our mission,” said Phil Weiner, co-founder and CEO of Earth Starter. “We knew we could prove our model and show that Earth Starter was more than just a social project. It is a social enterprise [with a] focus on empowering people to grow food and flowers in small spaces.”
Their 32-day Kickstarter campaign began with a goal of $70,000, with 16 different investment levels ranging from $5 to $5,000. Each level provided investors with a different incentive if the campaign met or exceeded its proposed goal. At the close of the campaign Earth Starter had exceeded its goal, raising a total of $107,534 from 1,282 different people backing the project.
Congestion Relief Slated for Route 197 in Laurel
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is making major improvements to keep more than 18,000 motorists traveling on Route 197 (Laurel-Bowie Road) moving between Route 295 (the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) and Brock Bridge Road. The projects center around the SHA converting the existing right auxiliary lane that ends at Muirkirk Road into a right through lane that will extend north to the Route197/Brock Bridge intersection.
The $2.2 million improvement will significantly improve traffic operations and safety through the busy Laurel roadway. Weather permitting, the project should be complete by fall of 2015. As part of the work, SHA will also mill, patch, resurface and restripe the state road; replace and upgrade guardrail; and modify traffic signals to comply with the new lane configuration, among other upgrades.
Single lane closures are likely along Route 197 from Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Work also will occur with up to two lanes blocked overnights, Sunday through Thursday, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. SHA’s contractor for the work is the Ardent Co. of McLean, Va.
Howard Bank Completes Acquisition of Aberdeen Branch From Cecil Bank
Columbia-based Howard Bancorp and Cecil Bancorp have jointly announced that their respective banking subsidiaries, Howard Bank and Cecil Bank, have completed the sale of Cecil Bank’s branch, located at 3 West Bel Air Avenue in Aberdeen, to Howard Bank, pursuant to a purchase and assumption they entered into in March 2013.
Pursuant to the sale, Howard Bank has acquired $37.1 million in loans and $35.2 million in deposits from Cecil Bank.
“As we noted when we announced our agreement with Cecil Bank in the spring,” said Mary Ann Scully, Howard Bank’s president and CEO, “Howard Bank’s successful track record of organic growth in the attractive markets of Greater Baltimore — our birthplace in Howard County, our developing presence in Anne Arundel County and our announced branch in Towson — is now complemented by our extension into the Harford County market through the acquisition of the Cecil Bank branch in Aberdeen.”
Cardin Visits WSSC, Pushes to Make Infrastructure Upgrades National Priority
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Water & Wildlife Subcommittee, visited with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) on Aug. 13 for a briefing by WSSC CEO and General Manager Jerry Johnson at the Patuxent Water Filtration Plant. They also discussed federal options for improving our nation’s aging water infrastructure.
The region has seen a growing number of water main breaks. As recently as July, a water main serving 100,000 people in Prince George’s County began to fail. Mandatory water restrictions were instituted, limiting access to water for homes and businesses during an intense heat wave that saw the heat index repeatedly reach the triple digits.
NGC to Build MK54 Lightweight Torpedo Nose Arrays for U.S. Navy
Northrop Grumman Corp. (NGC) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for the production of acoustic nose arrays for the MK54 lightweight torpedo in support of Navy and foreign military sales requirements. The initial scope is for 428 nose arrays with a potential for as many as 3,000 during the life of the contract.
The $45.9 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $294.3 million. It includes MK54 torpedo nose arrays for the U.S. Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy.
COLA Launches New Tool for Assessing Lab Quality
Columbia-based COLA has launched a new resource called PCLE (Patient-Centered Laboratory Excellence) Excellerator, an e-module designed to help laboratories deliver quality and value-driven lab medicine to their patients every day.
The new program enables lab personnel to assess their operations to determine if they are operating in accordance with emerging new health care delivery models such as the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACO). It also provides a wide range of resources that emphasize continuous good laboratory practices above and beyond current regulatory requirements for moderate and high complexity labs.
Cozy Up With Leadership Essentials on Aug. 27
The next Leadership Essentials Happy Hour is set for Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at The Ale House, which is located on Dobbin Road. The program is for young professionals; it combines skill-building, personalized coaching and a community project.
This six-month continuing education program is offered by Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management in collaboration with Leadership Howard County. Bring a friend or colleague to learn more about Leadership Essentials. All are welcome to attend. RSVPs are encouraged; e-mail esrodrigues@loyola.edu.
CA Seeking Public Input at Budget Forum
Members of the public are invited to attend a pre-budget input forum for the Columbia Association’s (CA) draft budgets for the 2015 and 2016 fiscal years. The forum will be held on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at CA Headquarters, which is located at 10221 Wincopin Circle in Downtown Columbia.
The CA board’s guidelines for public hearings are in effect: Presentations are limited to three minutes for individuals, five minutes for groups and 10 minutes for village associations. Speakers are encouraged to provide their remarks in writing as well.
Testimony also can be submitted by e-mailing it to CA’s board of directors at board.members@ColumbiaAssociation.org; by faxing it to the board of directors in care of CA’s Accounting Department, at 410-715-3042; or by mailing it to the board of directors in care of CA’s Accounting Department, at 10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044.
Several budget work sessions and another public forum also have been scheduled for 2013 and early 2014. A full schedule can be found at bit.ly/budgetschedule1516 or by going to ColumbiaAssociation.org and clicking on “Budget.”
Howard Rec & Parks Advisory Board Seeks Comment on Athletic Field Upgrades
Howard County’s Department of Recreation & Parks Advisory Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m., to discuss the proposed upgrades to the athletic fields at the East Columbia Library.
Upgrades to the fields include the installation of no spill/glare ballfield lighting and synthetic turf. The synthetic turf will provide a safer playing surface, reduce maintenance costs and improve site utilization. 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 Monday, Sept. 9, by visiting www.howardcountymd.gov/publiccomment.htm. From the same link, residents also will have the option to provide online testimony. Those who do not wish to sign up online may do so in person the night of the hearing, beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the public hearing, call 410-313-4700.
Pro Cantare Holding Auditions
Columbia Pro Cantare is currently holding auditions for all parts for its 37th anniversary season. Works by Bach, Mozart, Verdi, Strauss and Brahms, Handel’s Messiah, Rutter’s Requiem and music from the British Isles will be performed.
To schedule an audition, call 410-730-8549. Visit www.procantare.org for information about the chorus and the audition procedure. Regular rehearsals begin Sept. 3 and are held every Tuesday at Hammond High School in Columbia from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
From MarylandReporter.com …
Marylanders unhappy with information flow on laws, regs, taxes: Two-thirds of voters are not satisfied with the information they get about Maryland laws, regulations and taxes, according to the results of a mobile phone survey being released Thursday by the OpenGov Foundation. The foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on using technology to make public information more accessible, also found that 78% of Maryland voters want advance notification about Maryland policies that will impact them. Read more: http://marylandreporter.com/category/news/#ixzz2cR0dWNvs
Legislative Watch web site provides voting records for Assembly members: The web site, Maryland Legislative Watch, has released newly aggregated voting records for each delegate and senator in the General Assembly. Previously, those votes were not available categorized by member, said founder and coordinator Elizabeth Myers. Read more: http://marylandreporter.com/category/news/#ixzz2cR0z2NFi
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.