COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE: NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE DESK OF: COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER TERRASA jterrasa@howardcountymd.gov PHONE: 410-313-2001 FAX:410-313-3297 INTERNET NEWSLETTER

WELCOME
STAY INFORMED
HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION
THE LATEST NEWS
DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA PLAN LEGISLATION
H1N1 UPDATE
GRANICUS
HOWARD COUNTY'S IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT TRACKING TOOL
COMMUTER AND TRANSIT INFORMATION
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT
SENIOR INFORMATION
LIBRARY PHONE NUMBERS AND HOURS
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
USEFUL WEB SITES
GOOD TO KNOW

WELCOME

STAY INFORMED

I am collecting names to add to my e-mail database in order to distribute valuable information to constituents and communities. If you would like to be included in this database, please send your e-mail address along with your name, home address and phone number to jterrasa@howardcountymd.gov.

HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION

THE LATEST NEWS

DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA PLAN LEGISLATION

The Plan takes the form of two bills, CB-58 (General Plan Amendment (GPA)) and CB-59 (Zoning Regulation Amendment (ZRA)). While the text of the Plan has not changed since it was presented and posted on October 13th, I urge you to use the above links to print the final copy of the bills as the formatting may have changed.

Because the Council understands the interest in this legislation and that there are many people who may wish to give input on the Downtown Columbia bills, the Council has scheduled a public hearing for the Downtown Columbia bills on Saturday, November 14, 2009 beginning at 9:00am at the Board of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City, MD. If needed, the hearing on the Downtown Columbia bills will be continued.

As a reminder for those of you who can’t join us in person for the hearing on Downtown Columbia, it will be televised on GTv’s cable station, or you can watch online live or at your convenience on the Council’s webpage via our new web-streaming technology. To view online, please follow the link and click on the hearing or briefing you want to see: Click Here.

In addition, for those of you who were not able to attend or wish to re-watch last week’s briefings by General Growth Properties, the Economic Development Authority, and the Columbia Association, they are also available on our website.

Written comments are also welcome as always. You can send me comments at "jterrasa@howardcountymd.gov" or send comments to the entire Council at "councilmail@howardcountymd.gov". You can also reach me or my assistant, Mary Clay, at (410) 313-2001. As always, I look forward to your comments as we move forward on this legislation.

H1N1 UPDATE

As news of the H1N1 (popularly referred to as the “Swine Flu”) continues to be shared, Howard County Government and the Howard County Health Department want to make sure that you have access to accurate and up-to-date information. Click Here

GRANICUS

I am pleased to share that the County has officially launched new video streaming technology that will enable the public to view County Council public hearings and legislative sessions through the Internet. The Council sessions will be available either live or on demand, at the viewer’s convenience, from the “webcast” link on the homepage.

This is part of our initiative to make the county government more accessible to the community and to create more public input options. We began with the Public Engagement in Land Use Task Force and we received a number of good recommendations from them that we continue to implement. For example, we have revised the website for proposed development plans to be more user-friendly. We have expanded the use of electronic sign up for testimony to the Council. We have established a response message to those who choose to email their comments to us using the Council Mail e-mail councilmail@howardcountymd.gov.

Increasing opportunities for openness and responsiveness is a hallmark of my term on the Council.

To be connected to the live and archived Council sessions, click on the “Watch the Council” link on this page on the left side.

HOWARD COUNTY'S IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT TRACKING TOOL

To try out the new development tracking tool, visit the Department of Planning and Zoning’s page Search Development Plans & Public Meetings. You can take the tutorial as well. For questions or additional information, contact the Department at 410-313-2350.

COMMUTER AND TRANSIT INFORMATION

Howard County is working to make commuting easier for our residents. To find out about commuter options and public transportation, you can now contact Commuter Solutions of Howard County. This office will provide free carpool/vanpool matching services and transit information to county residents as well as those who work in the county. Two new publications, A Guide to Transit Services in Howard County and a Howard County Park and Ride Map are available upon request. You can contact Commuter Solutions by calling 410-313-3130. They can also be reached by e-mail at commutersolutions@howardcountymd.gov .

MARYLAND ACCESS POINT

Maryland Acces Point (MAP), part of the Howard County Department of Citizens Services, Office on Aging, is an information and assistance gateway for older adults, persons with disabilities, family members and caregivers. Types of information offered include: Respite and Home Care, Long-Term Care, Adult In-Home Evaluation, Aging in Place/Home Modifications, Retirement/Planning for the future, Medicare and Health Insurance, Housing, Transportation and much more. For info. call 410-313-5980 or on line at www.HorizonHelp.org.

SENIOR INFORMATION

LIBRARY PHONE NUMBERS AND HOURS

Other library locations, phone numbers and directions

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

USEFUL WEB SITES

Howard County Phone Directory
Zoning Board Hearings Calendar
Board of Appeal Hearings Calendar
Howard County Code
Who Are Your Elected Officials
Department of Planning and Zoning
General Plan Information
Special Events Calendar

GOOD TO KNOW

ACS has served the “voice of human services” throughout Howard County since 1963. Their mission is to support and enhance the quality of human services available in our community. They work to advance human services through advocacy, education, and services that help their members do their work more effectively.
ACS of Howard County

Horizon Help

Horizon Help is a web-based resource for service providers and the citizens of Howard County. The goal of this site is to provide easy access to information on health and human service providers that serve the population of Howard County.
The Horizon Foundation

Columbia Association 410-715-3000

CA Headquarters & Member Service Center.
The Columbia Association

Electronic Recycling

Need to get rid of old equipment? Head over to the Alpha Ridge Landfill. Drop off old computer parts, tvs, VCRs, radios, CD players, phones and pagers.

Site located at 2350 Marriotsville Road, Marriotsville, MD. The center is open Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information call 410-313-SORT.

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM
LIEUTENANT JOHN A. NEWNAN,
HOWARD COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT;

You may have heard that over 600 more of our Maryland National Guard personnel have recently been activated and are now serving our Country in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. My son, 2nd Lt. Ryan Newnan is one of these members and is serving as an Infantry Platoon Leader in the Maryland National Guard 175th Infantry in Iraq.

I recently learned from one of our contacts for National Guard families that our soldiers can make and receive cellular telephone calls in Iraq if they have the proper phone and SIMM card. The calls for them are expensive but it gives the families a little peace of mind knowing that they can get in touch with their soldier or their soldier can call them if necessary. I know that this works because I recently purchased a phone for my son and sent it to him and was able to call him directly after he had purchased a local SIMM card. I have been told that all Cingular Wireless (now AT&T) phones as well as T-Mobile phones will work because they are the GSM technology.

I am reaching out to all my professional and personal friends to try and collect as many working Cingular Wireless (AT & T) and T-Mobile phones WITH chargers that we can send to the men and women of the Maryland National Guard currently serving in Iraq. The soldiers will in-turn purchase the SIMM cards and pre-pay for the minutes for the use of the phones. Many of our citizen soldiers who have been activated are facing financial burdens...not making the same money they were in their civilian jobs, and this would be a great cost savings for them...rather than purchasing new phones.

I know many of you probably have good working phones laying around from "upgrades" as do I. Unfortunately, all my phones are Verizon and are not compatible.

If you would like to donate your old working Cingular Wireless (AT & T) or T-Mobile phones and chargers to this worthy cause, they can be dropped off at either the Northern or Southern District Police Station Duty Officer with my name noted on the package. I will take these phones and have them "unlocked" by the respective companies so they can be used by other carriers in Iraq. I will then coordinate with the MD National Guard to insure that these phones reach our troops.

Please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks!

Lieutenant John A. Newnan
Howard County Police Department
3410 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
(410) 313-2219 office
(410) 615-6715 cell