Howard County Council Member Liz Walsh

08/10/2026

Howard County DPW is proposing eighteen new school zones throughout the county to “improve safety and driver awareness around areas with student activity.” DPW will hold a virtual community meeting Wednesday, August 12, from 5–6 p.m. to present the proposed locations, explain the recommendations, and hear from residents. The meeting will be held virtually via Webex. See link to register and for more details: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/News081026

After the meeting, residents can also submit questions and comments through Monday, August 24 by emailing Erjon Rembeci at [email protected].

08/06/2026

The County Executive is currently seeking applicants for the Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission helps protect Howard County's historic resources, reviews preservation matters, and plays an important role in maintaining the character and integrity of our designated historic districts. If you have professional architectural or construction related experience or live or own property in the Lawyers Hill Historic District, the County Executive is looking for commissioners like you.

Apply here: howardcountymd.gov/applybc

08/04/2026

Backpack distributions are back! Join Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. to get free school supplies and vaccines this Saturday, August 8.✨🎒

Mark you Calendars! LARS will be hosting our annual Back to School Backpack Distribution and Vaccine Clinic on Saturday August 8th at the Elkridge Branch Public Library. We will be distributing school supplies, as supplies last, to families in attendance to support children in the community as they return to school.

07/16/2026

Critical Hot Weather Guidelines:
*Never Shave Completely: Trimming a long coat is fine, but shaving removes a dog's natural protection against sunburn and overheating.
**Watch Flat-Faced Pets: Pugs, Persian cats, and elderly or overweight animals are highly susceptible to heat stroke and require extra monitoring.
Avoid Lingering Asphalt: Because pets are so close to the ground, their bodies heat up much faster on hot asphalt.
*Supervise Swimming: Not all dogs are natural swimmers; introduce them to water gradually and supervise them around pools or lakes.

Signs of Heat Stroke, if you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, move them to a cooler area immediately and contact your veterinarian: Excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling and mild weakness, stupor or collapse.

IF YOU SEE AN ANIMAL IN DISTRESS PLEASE CALL 410-313-2780 IMMEDIATELY during business hours or 410-313-2200 afterhours and weekends.

[Description: Heat stroke in dogs flyer]

07/16/2026

Our office is seeking applicants for the District 1 appointment to Howard County's new Data Center Task Force. If your interests or background include technology, energy, environmental science, land use, planning, infrastructure, or related fields—and you believe good policy requires looking beyond today's needs to tomorrow's impacts—we encourage you to apply.

The Data Center Task Force will help shape how our community approaches this rapidly evolving technology. Within 12 months, the Task Force is required to hold a public hearing to receive community input and report its findings and recommendations to the County Council and County Executive.

Interested applicants should email a resume and brief statement of interest to [email protected] by Friday, August 7.

07/08/2026

PSA: Schools provide summer meals for kids through July 31!🍉🧃🥪

There are no applications, enrollment or fees; however, children must be present to receive meals. Meals will be provided at no cost to any HCPSS students, as well as anyone age 18 and under. Full details: https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/summer-meals/

07/07/2026

CB44 was a simple accountability measure. It would have required the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) and other relevant agencies to show up when a decision they made is appealed.

Despite the common-sense idea that agencies should defend their own appealed decisions —a majority of the Council voted NO by a 3-2 vote.

07/05/2026

We are aware of multiple power outages affecting residents across Howard County, and we have been in contact with BGE on restoration.

The County's “water buffalo” will be stationed in the side parking lot of Howard County Recreation and Parks' Gary J. Arthur Community Center (2400 MD 97 in Cooksville) starting around 1:00 p.m. today, July 5th. Residents in need of water are encouraged to stop by to fill up their own containers with potable water. Please be sure to see the following map for details on how to access this location from Carrs Mill Road.

Additionally, residents in need of a hot shower, a place to charge electronics or just a place to cool off, are also invited to stop by either the Gary J. Arthur (open until 9:00 p.m. - extended hours today), North Laurel (9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, open until 6:00 p.m.) or Roger Carter (3000 Milltowne Drive, Ellicott City, open until 9:00 p.m.) community centers during normal operating hours today.

The following roads are also closed due to downed trees and power lines. Our Department of Public Works Bureau of Highways are actively working with BGE to clear debris and power lines.

- Burntwoods Rd between Hobbs and 97, also between Sharp Rd and Roscommon Dr.
- Hobbs Rd between Glenwood Springs and McKendree Rd
- Triadelphia Rd @ Triadelphia Mill Rd
- Forsythe Rd between Gaither Rd and West Friendship Rd