Autumn Walk at Emerson News 8/24/20

1. Stephens Road Bridge Project: Closure next week o/a 8/30/20
2. Night Hours: After 10 PM
3. Welcome new neighbors!
4. Landscaping & Maintenance
5. Clubhouse Plans Revealed 8/27/20
6. Emerson Food Trucks: Wed, Fri, Weekends
7. Emerson Upgrades & Initiatives (driven by Emerson Community volunteers)
8. Hammond High School: $76M Renovation/Expansion Has Begun

News Items August 2020:

1. Stephens Road Bridge Project: Closure on/about Sunday 8/30/20 

• Stephens Road to close for about a week to relocate water/sewer lines during work hours (7 AM - 4 PM)
• Afterwards, construction of new bridge to begin, may take as long as 2 years
• Project lifts the bridge out of the floodplain (raising it 7-8 feet). Will also widen Stephens, add sidewalks, and add a median for traffic calming.
• Will have two spans, so for the most part should always have one span open without major detours
• Full info at bottom

2. Day/Night Hours: After 10 PM

Special Emerson Town Hall with HoCo Executive 9/24/19

Emerson held a Special Town Hall with Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball in the Emerson Clubhouse on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 7 PM to 9 PM.

Dr. Ball also brought many of his senior leadership team and Department Heads with him to answer a wide-ranging set of questions (posted below for easy reference).

The video feed was also broadcast live to the external Emerson Facebook Page and to the Emerson Forum:

• https://www.facebook.com/emersoncommunityassociation/videos/2317221785208611/

Some highlights:

Emerson Community Facebook Forum

Did you know that Emerson has a Facebook Forum, a closed group open only to residents and owners, that has become the place to go to get recommendations, find out what's going on in the community, and do a little buying and selling?

Join in the fun! You'll be asked to provide an Emerson address.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/emersonhomeowners/

Overview: Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Recommendations

One of the topics of the November meeting of the Southern Howard County Civic Association (SHCCA) covered the recommendations provided to the Howard County Executive by a task force convened in 2015 to consider changes to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO).

APFO was enacted in 1992 to slow the exploding growth of housing in Howard County, and to ensure that public infrastructure (schools and roads) were capable of handling growth.

It defines criteria ("tests") for determining when developers must provide funds or mitigations to prevent school overcrowding and road congestion.

There wasn't sufficient time to completely cover the topic, but highlights are provided below and Howard County's Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) Jeff Bronow is willing to meet with the community again if there is interest.

Highlights:

Howard County School Board Candidates (Wed. Oct. 19th)

(Update 11/9/16: Three newcomers were elected to the 7-member Board of Education: Kirsten Coombs, Christina Delmont-Small, and Mavis Ellis.)

As the General Election approaches, we also have an important Howard County School Board race this year.

The independent School Board directly controls $617.5M (58.8%) of Howard County's entire FY17 Operating Budget, and Howard County has set aside an $891.3M Capital Program for education.

Date: Wed., Oct.19, 2016
Time: 6pm - 9pm (Meet and Greet 6-7 pm, Forum 7-9 pm)
Location: Forest Ridge Elementary School (cafeteria), 9550 Gorman Road, Laurel, MD 20723

The Savage Community Association (SCA) and Forest Ridge Elementary PTA have partnered to bring you a forum for the upcoming Howard County Board of Education candidates prior to the election. Come meet the current BOE members and candidates on the ballot.

http://www.frespta.org/events/howard-county-board-of-education-candidate-forum/

Columbia, MD #1 in 2016 Money Magazine Best Places to Live in America

Columbia, MD is #1 on Money Magazine's 2016 Best Places to Live in America list!

This is the sixth consecutive time that Columbia has been in the Top 10 of this biennial ranking, and the first time that Columbia has taken the top spot, with the publication citing good schools, a strong business climate, economic and social diversity, and relatively affordable housing for this region.

This year's rankings emphasized the economy and jobs.

Other Top 50 communities in DC-MD-NoVA were Ashburn, VA (#22) and Hunter Mill, VA (#28, incorporating parts of Reston, Herndon, Vienna, and Tysons Corner).

As you know, Emerson is on the southern boundary of Columbia and shares the same top-rated Howard County school district and library system.

Howard County Board of Education Candidates in North Laurel on April 5th

Come meet the candidates!

It may surprise you to learn that because school systems in Maryland are set up to be largely independent, the School Boards have direct authority over the schools, not the elected County Government officials.

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 6:30 PM, the Southern Howard County Civic Association (SHCCA) will bring together the candidates for the upcoming Howard County Board of Education elections in an open forum at North Laurel Community Center (NLCC).

There are eleven candidates for the three openings for 4-year terms on the Board that are up for re-election in the 2016 cycle. The Howard County Board of Education has 7 full Members plus a Student Member (who can vote on all matters except the budget, personnel, or other restricted topics).

The primary election will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Because the School Board is non-partisan, any registered voter can vote in the primary.

Voters will be asked to select 3 candidates, with the top 6 advancing to the general election on November 8, 2016.

Howard County Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Overview

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, the Task Force chartered by Howard County Executive Alan Kittleman to perform the first comprehensive review of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) will meet in Ellicott City for one of two remaining working meetings.

The Task Force plans to wrap up its discussion in the January 27th meeting two weeks later, with a final meeting on February 10th.

Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Task Force
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

So what is APFO, why should you care, and what are the issues being discussed?

What is APFO?

APFO was instituted in 1992 as a mechanism for Howard County to manage growth and the impact of new development on schools and roads.

Howard County did this by controlling the number of housing allocations. Developers are not able to build without housing allocations, and their projects must undergo a review to determine the cost of mitigating the impact on local school capacity and traffic congestion.

Developers have the option to either perform the required improvements themselves or pay into a County fund for that purpose.

(It should be noted that the courts have ruled, however, that the County cannot indefinitely delay development. If developers have housing allocations and the correct zoning for their projects, they can proceed after 4 years even without the improvements.)

Why should you care about APFO?

APFO attempts to establish reasonable thresholds for ensuring that funding is available to increase school and road capacity, to offset the impact of growth from new developments.

These issues have a major effect on quality-of-life issues in our community, especially in a place like Howard County that places high value on its top-performing school system.

What are the APFO issues being discussed?

The questions raised in the review revolve around the scope of what should be included (i.e., should the impact on more than just schools and roads be considered), what are "reasonable" thresholds and criteria, and how often the process should change.

Among the topics expected on tomorrow's agenda are:

Notes: Emerson Town Hall with Council Member Jen Terrasa (Dec. 2015)

Howard County officials were the invited guests at Emerson's December 2015 Town Hall in the Emerson Clubhouse. Featured were:

• Kathleen Donodeo, Transportation Planner in the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning
• Jen Terrasa,  Howard County Council Member for District 3
• Kate McLeod, Special Assistant to Ms. Terrasa

The primary topics for discussion were transportation issues (including the lack of public transportation in Emerson and traffic), the status of infrastructure improvement local projects (primarily the Stephens Road bridge and sidewalks), school funding, and zoning and development. 

Public Transportation

Howard County Zoning Director Meets Community in North Laurel (Dec. 2015)

Howard County's new Director of the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) Valdis Lazdins was the primary speaker at the December 1, 2015 open forum of the Southern Howard County Civic Association (SHCCA) in North Laurel, MD.

Howard County's DPZ has a very large effect on many of the quality of life issues in our area, to include the potential redevelopment of Route 1.

They manage the zoning regulations in Howard County, and review developer proposals for their impact upon schools, the environment and congestion (traffic).

DPZ's Approach to Development in Howard County

Mr. Lazdins spoke about his philosophy for the zoning process and his belief that engagement with the community was essential for successful outcomes.

He stated that any community will always be going through a constant state of change, and that there are three components to creating great design that is a good fit for Howard County:

1. Preserve: Identify the the things that the community values, and that you want to write zoning regulations to keep
2. Enhance: This is more difficult, as you have to define what it means -- housing? streets? sidewalks?
3. Transform: The toughest part, especially if an area hasn't hit bottom yet where it has become clear to everyone that radical change is needed

Mr. Lazdins cited his broad and diverse background, including in the public sector (Chief of Special Projects for Montgomery County, and City Planner for Grand Rapids, MI) and as a partner in a professional planning firm (with other partners from the Rouse Company in Howard County) where he worked on projects across the country, to include the 3-year effort to replace the Woodrow Wilson Bridge outside of DC.

After listening to several residents express their concerns, he stated that it was clear to him that the Route 1 Corridor needs more attention in the 2016 DPZ work plan presently being put together.

Assessment of the DC-MD-VA Region

Gorman Crossing Yard Sale at Emerson on Saturday 9/19

Gorman Crossing Elementary School PTA will be sponsoring a Yard Sale and Vendor Fair at the Emerson Clubhouse on Saturday, September 19, 2015.

Date: Saturday, 9/19/15
Time: 8 AM - 12 PM
Location: Emerson Clubhouse, 8400 Upper Sky Way, Laurel, MD 20723

To sign up for a space:

• Gorman Crossing Elementary Yard Sale and Vendor Fair

Spaces are $25 for vendors and free to families. The fees can be paid by cash, check, or credit card at the event.

Gorman Crossing is the elementary school for Autumn Walk, and one of two elementary schools for the Emerson Community.

North Laurel, MD: #23 Money Magazine Best Places to Live

Our own North Laurel, MD is #23 on Money Magazine's ranking of the best small towns in America under 50,000 for 2015! This is the highest ranking in the Baltimore-Washington region.

North Laurel was cited for its excellent location midway between Baltimore and Washington, DC, its low unemployment rate, and of course, the high-performing Howard County Public School System.

It also didn't hurt that we are adjacent to Columbia, MD, a Top Ten choice for best small cities (50,000 to 300,000) in America for the past decade (and #6 in the last rankings in 2014).

We knew we had a great place to live, and now the rest of the world does too!

External Links:

Southern Howard County Civic Association Meeting (Aug. 4)

Another event has been scheduled concurrent with National Night Out (NNO) at the North Laurel Community Center (NLCC) tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 4th).

The Southern Howard County Civic Association, an organization formed to track issues in the southern part of the County including Emerson, will hold their regular monthly meeting at 7 PM at NLCC as well.

The main topic is expected to be school bus drop off and pick up, though other issues can be raised as well.

Southern Howard County Civic Association (monthly meeting)

Date: Tuesday, 8/4/15
Time: 7 PM
Location: North Laurel Community Center (NLCC), 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 20723

https://www.facebook.com/southernhowardcountycivicassn

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Hello Fellow Southern Howard County Resident,

Howard County Board of Education Meeting Near Emerson in August

We have a rare opportunity to attend a Howard County Board of Education meeting close to home on Thursday, August 13, 2015.

Due to renovation of their usual facilities in Ellicott City, the Board is holding its regularly scheduled meetings in schools in different locations around the County, and this month will be at Forest Ridge Elementary School on Gorman Road.

One of the residents of Emerson has been tracking BoE issues and Southeast Howard County has been asking the Board to hold meetings that are easier for residents to attend.

We know that many of you chose to live in Emerson because you prize Howard County's high-performing schools.

This is your opportunity to hear directly from the Board that most directly affects the management of those schools.

Howard County Board of Education

Date: Thursday, August 13, 2015
Time: 4 PM and 7:30 PM (see below)
Location: Forest Ridge Elementary School (Cafetorium), 9550 Gorman Road, Laurel, MD 20723

There will be two sessions on August 13:

• Afternoon Session (4 PM): Regular Board Meeting
• Evening Session (7:30 PM): Pre-Development Public Work Session on FY17 Capital Budget & FY18-22 Capital Improvement Program

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From Howard County:

Gorman Crossing PTA Chick-Fil-A Fundraiser Thurs. April 30th

Next Thursday from 5 PM - 8 PM the Johns Hopkins Road location of Chick-fil-A will have a fundraiser for Gorman Crossing Elementary School's PTA!

Let the cashier know it's a fundraiser for Gorman Crossing before placing your order. Thanks and see you there!

Gorman Crossing PTA Fundraiser

Chick-Fil-A
10975 Johns Hopkins Road
Laurel, MD 20723

Date: Thursday, April 30th
Time: 5 PM - 8 PM

Tell the cashier this is for the Gorman Crossing fundraiser before placing your order

Howard County School Kids Display Art at Columbia Mall

Artwork from the visual arts students in all of the public elementary, middle, and high schools in Howard County is now on display in Columbia Mall in the 43rd Annual HCPSS K-12 Spring Exhibition.

Almost every type of media is represented, from drawings, collages and paintings to three-dimensional masks, pottery and crafts.

I was impressed by the talent demonstrated, particularly among some of the younger students!

Unfortunately the display for one group of elementary schools -- including our own Gorman Crossing -- is in a somewhat difficult to find location near the secondary Macy's entrance on the second floor.

But it's worth it to seek out the fabulous work by our next generation of young artists!

Howard County Schools Last Day June 19th

Here's a quick summary of the schedule for Howard County Public Schools for the rest of the 2014-2015 school year, now that decisions have been made for how to handle the snow-related closings and delays:

• HCPSS has announced that the last day of school will likely be Friday, June 19, 2015.
• The last day of classes was originally scheduled to be June 10th.
• June 17 will be a full day, and June 18 & 19 will be half days.
• A waiver is still needed from the State of Maryland for the following Monday (June 22). 
• Maryland requires students to attend school for 180 days each year with 1,170 hours of instruction.
• In addition to the snow days, HCPSS is also 4 hours short at this point.
• The schedule had 5 possible inclement weather make-up days at the end of the year. 
• With 8 snow days this year, HCPSS needed to either make up an additional three days or get a waiver from the state. 
• Last year HCPSS requested a waiver for 4 days and got approval for 2.
• The last day of school for seniors is still TBD.

Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD

On December 4, 1979 Toby Barbara Orenstein opened her namesake Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD.

But in conjunction with her Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA), Toby Orenstein is a part of the unique fabric and history of the Columbia and Howard County community, serving children as young as 3 years of age.

Serving the Community
A few years earlier she had been recruited by visionary Columbia founder Jim Rouse to establish the CCTA as a non-profit school for children in the theatrical arts, where she remains the artistic director today.

In 1979 she approached Rouse with a proposal to establish her own dinner theatre, and Toby's still stands in the woods behind Merriweather Post Pavilion next to the "South Entrance Road" exit from US-29, near the Mall in Downtown Columbia.

CCTA has produced many talented performers who have gone on to careers in the music and theater industries (including current Broadway star Caroline Bowman, a Glenelg High School graduate).

CCTA programs start with "Tot" programs for children 3 to 5 years old and go all the way through the teen years (including the Young Columbians).

A few years ago they also started programs for special needs children, including a joint program with Loyola University for children with autism.

Many Young Columbians graduate to professional roles at Toby's as they develop their skills, and a benefit for CCTA is held at Toby's Dinner Theater every couple of years.

In-The-Round
The performers at Toby's begin the evening as waiters serving customers during the dinner buffet before they begin the Broadway-style musical show.

Schools for Autumn Walk Rank High in Maryland

The web site Niche, which rates schools and colleges in the US, has ranked the schools for Autumn Walk in Maryland's top tier, with Gorman Crossing Elementary School leading the way at #10!

And it's also notable that Maryland's schools are consistently rated among the best in the country.

For 2015 the ranks of our local schools are:

• Gorman Crossing Elementary School: #10
• Murray Hill Middle School: #11
• Atholton High School: #16

Only the top 100 schools were listed in each category.

The web site bases its rankings on a compilation of statistical data and test scores as well as reviews.

A competing web site, GreatSchools, also gives our schools high marks:

• Gorman Crossing Elementary School: 8 out of 10
• Murray Hill Middle School: 8 out of 10
• Atholton High School: 10 out of 10

Congratulations to the students, parents, and teachers who made these schools successful!

Related External Links:

• Maryland Schools Slip to No. 3 in Education Week Report Card (Maryland Reporter, 1/8/15)
• Md. may no longer technically be No. 1 in education (Baltimore Sun, 1/9/14)
• Maryland ranks No. 1 in education for fifth year in a row (Washington Post, 1/10/13)

Related Posts:

• History: Howard County Schools (9/14/12) - how and why Howard County became Maryland's top school system
• Grand Re-Opening of Savage Branch Library & STEM Center (7/1/14)
• Toby's Dinner Theatre (Columbia. MD) (1/13/15) - includes information about Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA)

Columbia, MD: Money Magazine Top 10 Places to Live for 2014

(Updated: Columbia named #1 in 2016)

For the fifth consecutive time since 2006, Columbia/Ellicott City, MD has been named to the Top 10 in Money Magazine's list of "Best Places to Live in America."

This record of consistency is only more remarkable when you realize that it is the only community in that timespan to remain in the Top Ten each year, with some other highly-ranked communities falling completely out of the Top 50.

As you know, Emerson is on the southern boundary of Columbia and shares the same top-rated Howard County school district and library system.