Why Is Emerson Using VOLO Village?

(Update 2/26/15: Emerson has clarified that your email information is not automatically transferred into your VOLO Village account, and they are requesting your help.

Please log into your account so they can get rid of the old mailing list. It will make it much easier for the management team to keep you informed and you will also have the option to get real-time alerts about emergency situations, such as gas leaks.)

Please contact CMC Management in the Emerson Clubhouse if you have lost your login information (sfelder at cmc-management dot com).

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You should have recently gotten a letter from Emerson HOA with login information for VOLO Village. To clarify the purpose of this service:

• VOLO Village allows Emerson to quickly and efficiently send out emails, text messages, and phone calls to everyone in the community
• You only need to log in to choose which types of messages you want, and update your contact information. It's not a portal you need to log into frequently.

It's just a fast means for Emerson to pass information to you, especially emergency notifications (e.g., tornado warnings) which you can also choose to receive through the automatic Thundercall service.

We suggest you do the following:

Of Foodies and Food Trucks

Not so many years ago, this area's cuisine could be better described as "hearty" and "good value" than gourmet, but in recent years we've seen the arrival of some excellent restaurants as well as a burgeoning food truck scene.

(Though if you still want crab cakes with huge mounds of crab meat, we still have those in this area too!)

Bistro Lunch Box offers blackened crab cakes, spicy Sriracha lamb
sandwiches, ahi tuna fruit wraps, and cheese fondue fries

Food Trucks
Los Angeles (or as we "hipsters" would say, "L.A.") is generally credited with starting the national food truck trend, serving very good, distinctive and sometimes unusual food out of the window of a large mobile kitchen (often without a corresponding brick-and-mortar restaurant).

Rescheduled Emerson HOA Meeting

The Emerson HOA meeting for January 27th that was postponed due to snow has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 7 PM in the Clubhouse.

Among the items on the agenda are recommendations from the Clubhouse Renovation Committee as well as a proposal for the Bradwell Park playground.

Go to the Emerson HOA web site to see the full agenda.

ClimbZone Laurel

Yes, there are two climbers on this wall

The first US location of New Zealand-based ClimbZone opened just before Thanksgiving in Laurel, MD near the intersection of Route 1 and Contee Road, about 15 minutes away from Emerson.

Several of our neighbors have already visited and report that it's tremendous fun!

ClimbZone has over 70 individually-themed climbing walls, each 28 feet high and decorated with a different design ranging from Mount Rushmore to a rocket ship to a huge library bookshelf.

Some of the walls are extra-wide to allow groups to go up in parallel and even race to the top.

Anyone who can fit in a harness can climb the walls -- kids of all ages and grown-ups too!

Additional Hazardous Waste Collection Dates

Howard County's collection of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is mostly shut down for the winter, but there will be two special HHW collection days at the Alpha Ridge Landfill:

• Sat., Feb. 7, 2015: 8 AM - 4 PM
• Sat., Mar. 7, 2015: 8 AM - 4 PM

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) consists of common household products that are corrosive, flammable, reactive or toxic.

Just a few examples of the HHW products often found in homes include: 

• Many household cleaners
• Rechargeable batteries
• Automotive fluid (brake fluids, gasoline, transmission fluid)
• Furniture polish and strippers
• Herbicides and pesticides
• Mildew removers
• Paint and paint thinners

For a more complete list and further information, go to the Howard County HHW page:

• Household Hazardous Waste (Howard County Department of Public Works)

Trash Slide Days Schedule for 2015

* This page is also linked under Maintenance Tips

Here's the trash and recycle slide schedule for 2015. If weather causes any additional slide days, they will be added to the list.

Note also that Emerson requires holiday lights to be taken down by February 1st each year.

Howard County Holiday Slide Schedule: Trash, Recycling & Yard Trim

Snow Day 3/5/15:

• Saturday, 3/7/15: Recycle Pick-up (slides one day)

Snow Day 2/17/15:

• Wednesday, 2/18/15: Trash Pick-up (slides one day)
• Saturday, 2/21/15: Recycle Pick-up (slides one day)

Snow Day 1/6/15:

• Wednesday, 1/7/15: Trash Pick-up (slides one day)
• Saturday, 1/10/15: Recycle Pick-up (slides one day)

Memorial Day Week:

Winter 2015 Restaurant Weeks

Howard County's Restaurant Weeks for Winter 2015 will run the next two weeks, from Monday, January 19th to Monday, February 2nd. Prices range from $15-$45.

At this point 23 restaurants are slated to participate. When Howard County's Restaurant Weeks started in 2008, they were the only ones in Maryland outside of Baltimore City.

Participating restaurants from the Restaurant Week web site (check there directly for latest updates):

Approximate dinner price ranges: $ = $15; $$ = $25; $$$ = $35; $$$$ = $45; lunches are typically under $15

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.

Me and My Snow Shovel

With the first real (if moderate) snow of the season this week, here are a few reminders about clearing snow, plus a little song you can whistle as you work.

In particular, during very heavy snows (6 inches or more) please remember to keep the snow piles clear of the street gutters to allow melt-off to drain, and please also keep the stormdrain grates clear.

A scene from Snowmageddon 2010 elsewhere in Howard County

Details:

• During very heavy snows, snow piled next to the gutters keeps melt-off from reaching the storm drains and creates large pools of water. (Fortunately, storms this big are rare here!)
• The snow plows help create some of these piles, but it helps if we all pitch in to keep at least a few inches next to the curb clear all the way down the street for the water to drain away.
• As always, local laws require you to remove snow and ice within 48 hours.

Snow Emergency + Trash Pickup Slides

Due to the snow today, Howard County has declared a snow emergency. In addition, many County services have been cancelled or delayed, including trash pick-up.

That means that trash and recycle will slide one day this week:

• Trash: Wednesday
• Recycle: Saturday

Per Howard County:

Residents are reminded that trash, recycling and yard trim receptacles must be placed at the curb free of snow and ice. Collection personnel will not dig residents' containers out from under snow or ice. Collections can occur between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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Notices from Howard County Government's Facebook page are reposted here for your convenience:

2015 HOA Calendar

(Updated 9/23/15 due to changes in Emerson Board Meeting Dates.)


Your HOA Calendars for 2015:

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Autumn Walk 2015  CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BOARD MEETINGS

May 2015 – Call for Nominations: Autumn Walk Elections
June 15, 2015 @ 7 PM (Clubhouse) – Annual Meeting & Elections (12 house quorum needed) - [Notes Posted]
November 9, 2015 @ 7 PM (Clubhouse) – FY16 Budget Meeting

ACTIVITIES/EVENTS

Flamingo Fridays – as they happen!
Autumn Walk Picnic – Sunday, August 30, 2015 - [Notes Posted]
Halloween Block Party & Chili Cook-Off – Saturday, October 31, 2015

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EMERSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(as of 1/4/15 - please check Emerson web site for changes)

BOARD MEETINGS

January 26, 2015 – Board Meeting - rescheduled to 2/17/15 due to snow

March 23, 2015 – Board Meeting

June 1, 2015 – (changed again because of Memorial
Day - Monday of following week) - [Notes Posted]

July 27, 2015 – Board Meeting

September 29, 2015 – Board Meeting - date changed to Tuesday due to a conflict

November 16, 2015 – Annual Meeting - rescheduled to avoid 

falling during Thanksgiving Week

TOWN HALL MEETINGS

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 – Ask questions of the Board at 7 PM - [Notes Posted]

Monday, August 24, 2015 – Ask questions of the Board at 7 PM - [Notes Posted]
Monday, October 26, 2015 – Ask questions of the Board at 7 PM
Monday, December 14, 2015 – Ask questions of the Board at 7 PM

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Howard County "Merry Mulch" Recycles Holiday Trees

Howard County will accept holiday trees in its "Merry Mulch" recycling program from December 26 through January 16, so trees don't have to go into a landfill.

Trees can be accepted at a half-dozen designated garden centers, parks, and the Alpha Ridge landfill, from where they are transferred to a recycling facility to be turned into compost and mulch.

The closest recycling location to us is at Savage Park near Savage Mill.

The tree in Union Station is probably a wee bit larger than the one in your house

Curbside recycling will also be accepted (with trees cut up and tied) on your recycling day for communities with curbside recycling pick-up until January 16, 2015. After that point they should be put out with the trash, or brought to Alpha Ridge if you want to recycle.

Dates: Fri., December 26 - Fri., January 16
Times: 7:30 AM - 5 PM (Mon-Fri)
Guidelines:

• Strip trees of all ornaments, stands, and tinsel
• (For curbside collection) Cut trees into 4-foot lengths and tie them together (do not need to be bagged). Bundles must be under 40 lbs.
• After January 16, bring trees to Alpha Ridge Landfill for recycling (see hours below), or set out with the trash
• Artificial trees and wreaths with metal components can be recycled in the scrap metal area at Alpha Ridge

Locations:

Notes: Emerson HOA Meeting & Elections 11/24/14

Highlights of the Emerson Board Meeting on 11/24/14:

• Elections
• Three new Board Members elected, very heavy participation in the election
• Howard County Officials in attendance
• Councilwoman Jen Terrasa (District 3)
• Howard County Chief of Traffic Kris Jagarapu 
• Extended Q&A Session
• Local road projects
• Wincopia Farms/Walden Woods
• Process for upgrading roads, adding traffic calming
• Open Resident Forum

Details:

1. Elected to the Emerson Board of Directors for 2-year terms:

Merry Recycle Slide Weeks!

Don't forget -- due to the holidays, Recycle Pick-up will slide for both of the next two weeks:

Christmas Week:

• Tuesday, 12/23/14: Trash Pick-up (regularly scheduled day)
• Saturday, 12/27/14: Recycle Pick-up (slides one day)

New Year's Week:

• Tuesday, 12/30/14: Trash Pick-up (regularly scheduled day)
• Saturday, 1/3/15: Recycle Pick-up (slides one day)

Happy New Year! See you in 2015!

Metro Green Line at Konterra?

With the opening of new roads around the Konterra site, as well as vague references to the first phase of the $3 billion Konterra Town Center East project coming in 2015, is it possible Washington Metro's Green Line could be extended to Konterra?

Konterra Map

Although no proposals are under active consideration, it would bring DC Metro within 10-15 minutes of Emerson.

Several old news articles about Konterra have alluded to requests from the developers of Konterra to the state and county for not only the new highway exits from I-95 and MD-200 which were just opened, but also a DC Metro stop at Konterra.

There is a MARC station at Muirkirk Road on Route 1 near the new intersection with MD-200, about 1.5 miles from the Konterra exit on I-95.

A study for the Maryland Legislature in 2007 looked at several options for extending the Green Line from Greenbelt to BWI: