School's Out!

Howard County Schools will be closed on February 17 for Parent/Teacher conferences, so we are celebrating with a School's Out Lunch for elementary and preschool age children and their families at The Hawthorn Center.

We will be serving a pizza lunch and providing entertainment by Daisy the Clown. What's so special about Daisy? She shows the kids how she transforms into a clown using makeup, so they won't be afraid!

The event will be held from 12 noon - 1:30 pm on Friday, February 17. Tickets must be purchased in advance at The Hawthorn Center for $5 per person. For more information, call 410-730-7327.

April 21st Election

Village Election Day will be held on Saturday, April 21st, 2012. Residents will elect one member to serve on the CA Board of Directors and five to sit on the Hickory Ridge Village Board. CA's Board meets on Thursdays, and our Village Board meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. All candidates must be members of the village association (live on CA-assessed property in Hickory Ridge Village).

Candidates must submit to the Village Manager by March 17 at noon a statement of not more than 150 words. The statements will be published in a special election supplement of The Flier and in our village newsletter.

If you have questions about this process, please call the Village Manager at 410-730-7327 or email jduvall@hickoryridgevillage.org.

Family Bingo

Join us on Friday, March 9 at 7:30 pm for another great night of Family Bingo at The Hawthorn Center. We provide disposable bingo cards at 5 for $1, drinks for 75 cents each and free snacks. We play until 9 pm, when we end the night with a "fill-the-card" round. Winners take home prizes and cash. No reservations are required; just show up and be ready to play!

Start a Garden!

Legislative Update

Delegate Liz Bobo will hold her Annual Legislative Update on Thursday February 16th, 2012 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at Kahler Hall in the Harper's Choice Village Center. Liz will discuss issues that are before the Maryland Legislature in Annapolis.

Spring Egg Hunt

Join us on Saturday, March 31 from 10:00 - 11:30 am for the annual "Searching for Spring" Egg Hunt. The event will be held at the Columbia SportsPark in the Harper's Choice Village Center and will feature crafts, balloons, and a magic show by Turner, Dean of Magic. Children ages 2-8 (accompanied by an adult) should bring their own basket for the egg hunt, which begins at 10:45 am. Free tickets are required, and will be available at the Hawthorn Center starting on February 27th. Fore more information, call the village office.

Inclement Weather

During inclement weather, trash and recycling

trucks must travel slowly and safely.

They may pick up as late as 7pm. Remember that receptacles must be placed at the curb free of snow and ice, so that the contractors can access them. Workers will not dig containers out from under snow or ice.

Docents Needed

The Columbia Home Tour committee is seeking volunteers to act as docents at the various homes along the tour on Sunday, June 3, 2012. Docents will be assigned a station at one home during an allotted shift between the hoursof 11 am - 5 pm. Docents will also receive a free ticket to the event. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Susie Jordan at hcevents@columbiavillages.org, or at 410-730-3888. To learn more about The Columbia Home Tour, visit www.columbiahometour.org or join us on Facebook: "Columbia Home Tour 2012."

CA Orientation

The Columbia Association (CA) will host its next complimentary Columbia Orientation Program Tour on Monday, February 20, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tour will introduce CA offerings, educate tour guests on Columbia landmarks and encourage community involvement and engagement. This tour will be open to the public and will last approximately 2.5 hours. Depending on the audience, the tour may include exposure to a fitness facility, golf club, village center, swim center, art center, tennis club and more; as well as Columbia landmarks, such as Historic Oakland, Symphony Woods and others.

Advance registration is required, and space is limited. Interested residents can register online at columbiaorientation.eventbrite.com. The deadline to register is Thursday, February 16. Questions? Call 410-715-3100.

Snow Shoveling

Who knows where or when the snow will arrive? It is winter, however, so we expect it eventually. When it falls, residents are responsible for clearing all sidewalks that abut their property...even if the sidewalk is behind the back forty of the yard. The following is a list of village youth who are willing to shovel for you.

If you would like your name added to our list, please call us at 410-730-7327 and give your name, street and phone number. Letters after each name refer to the neighborhood: (H) Hawthorn; (CF) Clary's Forest; (S) Sebring; and (CC) Clemens Crossing.

Dave Baker, H+                    410-997-0108

Josh Fagan, CF                      443-538-3274

Chris Howard, H                    443-545-5311

Jeremy Howard, H                                "

Shonta Drake, CF                  301-335-9770

Donny Hamilton, CF               301-335-9770

Matt David, S                        410-740-0987

Glenn Dowell, CC                  410-428-7419

Jimmondrea Fleeks, CC         410-730-6968

Connor Meehan, CC              443-472-3854

Matthew Nakagama, H           301-596-7007