Early Voting Event!

The Hickory Ridge Community Association will be hosting an "Early Voting Extravaganza" on Friday, April 13th from 5:00 - 7:30 pm. This FREE open house event will offer voting opportunities for all ages, our annual jellybean jar contest ($50 prize!), tasty refreshments, trivia, and more!

Kids can help the Association decide which animal to adopt from The Maryland Zoo while adults cast their absentee ballots for the village election.

Stop in before dinner or on the way home from work and help us reach our voting quorum! For more information, call the village office.

Remember to VOTE!

Saturday, April 21st, is Village Election Day in all ten Columbia villages. Hickory Ridge Community Association members can vote at three different times and places: at our Early Voting Extravaganza on Friday April 13, from 5:00 - 7:30 pm, at the Hickory Ridge Village Center on Friday, April 20th, from 5-7:30 pm., and at The Hawthorn Center on Sunny Spring on Saturday, April 21st from 9am to 3pm. Those who vote in person on the 13th, 20th or 21st will have the opportunity to take part in our traditional Jelly Bean Count. The best estimator takes home $50.

According to our legal documents, only one vote per household may be cast. The same applies for renters: one vote per lease. Both owner and tenant may vote, however. If your name is not listed on our printout of property owners, please be prepared with identification that verifies your residency in our village.

Health Department Drill

The Howard County Health Department and its partners (Police Department, Department of Fire & Rescue, Department of Corrections, Department of Public Works, Recreation & Parks, Office of Emergency Management and Department of Information Technology and Columbia Association) will be conducting a Mass Medication Dispensing Exercise in the Clemens Crossing neighborhood on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.  This event is in conjunction with a state-wide exercise being coordinated with the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control. 

The May 9 exercise will test the county's ability to respond to a public health emergency in a quick and efficient manner.  The scenario will be that an airborne Anthrax release occurred over the Ravens stadium in Baltimore, then drifted south over Howard County.  The Health Department will distribute bags to 600 homes in Clemens Crossing; each bag will contain Anthrax information sheets, a medication distribution form, a community thank you letter and an EMPTY pill bottle.  All of this information will have "EXERCISE ONLY" printed on it. There will be police officers in the area accompanying the delivery teams, both to allay any concerns of the public and to create a true-life situation in which the HCPD will also simulate their responsibility in a public health emergency.  Additionally, the Health Department's Healthmobile/Communications Van will be at Clemens Crossing Pool, allowing the department to monitor the exercise remotely. 

The Health Department will communicate with Clemens Crossing residents by mail in the coming weeks with more details about this exercise.  In the meantime, you can call Jessamine Duvall, Hickory Ridge Village Manager if you have any questions.

Cleanup Day

Hickory Ridge Community Association will hold a Community Open Space Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 14, from 9 am to 12 pm in the Hawthorn Open Space. If you are interested in joining this effort, meet us at The Hawthorn Center's back parking lot at 9 am to receive maps of the area, gloves and trash bags. This is a great community service opportunity for teens and tweens!

Hazardous Waste Disposal

To dispose of household hazardous wastes properly, bring your waste to the Alpha Ridge Residents' Convenience Area from April through November (Saturdays only). To learn more about the HHW program, visit the county's web site at www.howardcountymd.gov/hhw.htm.

Container Gardening

Join us at The Hawthorn Center on Wednesday, May 3 at 7:30pm as Howard County Master Gardener Kent Phillips presents "Container Gardening." This class will offer some great tips to
maximize your growing space by using containers to grow vegetables. Topics include selecting the right containers, locations, soil, and suitable plants. Learn everything you need to get started on your own container garden. Please call 410-730-7327 to reserve a space for this FREE event.

Election Day Flea Market

Sign up now at the Village Office to stake your claim to a parking space at the annual Election Day Flea Market. The Flea Market will be held in the front parking lot of The Hawthorn Center on Saturday, April 21, from 9am-1pm. Sell your antiques, junque, crafts or business products. We charge $15 per parking spot or $25 for a double spot. We advertise the Flea Market in The Flier classifieds on April 19th.

Shredding-April 28

Hickory Ridge Village will offer free shredding services for Hickory Ridge residents on April 28th from 9am - 1pm at the back parking lot of The Hawthorn Center. You may bring up to 3 bags or boxes of paper. The company will not accept plastic or cardboard. They will accept paper clips, hanging file folders and non-plastic binders and file folders. Shredding will be performed on site, and you can even watch your items being shredded on a video monitor! 

Spring Cleaning

The mild, wet winter has left many homes in our village covered with mold and mildew. Did you know that this buildup can permanently damage the vinyl siding? Now that warmer weather is here, please examine your home's exterior and remove any accumulated mold or mildew as you complete your other Spring cleaning and gardening chores.

50 + Luncheon

If you are "50 or better," join us at the Hawthorn Center for lunch on Thursday, May 10 from 11:30am - 1pm.  Jazz singer Julie Hall will entertain you with the sultry sounds of favorite songs while you enjoy a delicious meal.  The cost is only $5 per person; advance reservations are required. Please call 410-730-7327 to reserve your spot.