The Columbia Association's board of directors has accepted an invitation from General Growth Properties to meet to discuss various issues, including the redevelopment of downtown Columbia.
The discussion is expected to cover the company's plans for the Lakefront, Symphony Woods and other CA properties; plans for properties adjacent to CA; and how to collaborate on the future of downtown Columbia.
Also on the agenda will be presentation by the company's consultant on its Regional Storm Water Management Plan.
The presentation, which is open to the public, will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Spear Center, at General Growth Properties headquarters, 10275 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.
Information: 410-715-3100.
Third community forum is Wednesday
Columbia General Manager Greg Hamm and General Growth Properties invite the community to an "Evening with Keith Bowers," the third in a series of community forums with the planning team working on the master plan for Columbia Town Center.
Bowers is founder and president of Biohabitats, an ecological restoration design, planning and assessment firm, and serves as chair of the Society for Ecological Restoration International.
The forum will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Spear Center in Columbia. Reservations are requested. Information or to request transportation: 410-992-6500.
Baltimore artists to discuss Venezuela trip
Howard County Friends of Latin America will present a talk by two Baltimore artists and activists, Carol Higgs and Dennis Livingston, about their experiences traveling in Venezuela for two months, recording recent developments and drawing conclusions about lessons for Maryland.
The program, "Tales from Venezuela - Stories, Drawings and Photos," will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.
Dessert, coffee and tea will be served.
Information: 410-381-4899 or visit www.friendsoflatinamerica.org. For the group's Spanish Web site: www.friendsoflatinamerica.typepad.com/ho cofolainspanish.
Autism society to raffle motorcycle
The Howard County Autism Society and Harley-Davidson of Maryland Inc. will raffle a 2007 FXD Dyna SuperGlide motorcycle, in Pacific pearl blue, to raise awareness on autism in Howard County.
Tickets are available for $100 each; $250 for three. One thousand tickets will be sold. The drawing will be held at the third "Pieces of the Puzzle Gala," from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.howard-autism.org or at Harley-Davidson of Maryland, 7010 Troy Hill Drive, Elkridge.
Lantern workshops offered for festival
Free lantern-making workshops are being offered at Howard County library branches and at Howard County Center for the Arts in preparation for the "Lanterns of Hope" luminaria procession planned for this year's Comcast Cherrybration on May 3 at Centennial Park.
The event will celebrate the arrival of spring and Howard's 1,250 "Blossom of Hope" Kwanzan cherry trees.
The outdoor festival, which is to begin at 4 p.m., will feature music, strolling entertainers, children's activities and educational displays on health, the outdoors and the importance of nature. At dusk, Mother Nature will lead a luminaria parade through the park.
Workshops will be offered from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Glenwood branch; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 6 at Howard County Center for the Arts; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 9 at the Elkridge branch; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 12 at the central library; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 13 at Howard County Center for the Arts; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at the central library; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 20 at Howard County Center for the Arts; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 24 at the east Columbia branch; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 27 at Howard County Center for the Arts.
Instructions for making a simple lantern are also available online at www.blossomsofhope.com.
"Blossoms of Hope" helps to fund Howard County General Hospital's Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center.
Safety highlighted in Government Week
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has announced plans to celebrate National County Government Week from Saturday through April 12 with activities highlighting county-sponsored programs that protect the safety, health and welfare of children.
GreenFest, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, will kick off the week's celebrations. A Discovery Fair from 9 a.m. to noon at the east Columbia library branch and a Child Safety Seat Check from 9 a.m. to noon at Fire Station 5 in Clarksville (reservations: 410-313-6090) are also planned.
Howard County's Department of Fire and Rescue Services will conduct two Community Emergency Response Training programs, focused on keeping children and families safe, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 9 and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 12. Both events will be at the James N. Robey Public Safety Training Center.
