Howard County Officials to Discuss Route 1 Revitalization and APFO on Nov. 1

(Please note that although both topics are on the same agenda, APFO addresses congestion from new housing in all of Howard County and not just the Route 1 Corridor.)

Howard County officials will be the guests at the next meeting of the Southern Howard County Civic Association (SHCCA) on November 1st at 6:30 PM in the North Laurel Community Center (NLCC).

• Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) 
• Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Task Force 

There will be two topics:

• 7:00 PM: Route 1 Revitalization
• 7:45 PM: Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO)

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 [add to Facebook calendar]

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: North Laurel Community Center (NLCC), 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 20723

At this meeting Howard County will provide an overview of the review committee's recommendations for the first major changes to APFO since 1992, which govern what contributions developers must make for schools, roads, and other public infrastructure to account for the increased burdens created by growth.

The committee spent hundreds of hours over the course of 2015-2016 discussing the changes and this is your chance to understand the recommendations in a condensed form.

These recommendations are expected to form the basis for discussions between the Howard County Executive and the County Council when they consider making changes to the law over the next year.

To learn more about APFO, go to Howard County's web site at:

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/About-HoCo/County-Executive/Adequate-public-facilities-ordinance-task-force

Related Posts:

• Howard County Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Overview (1/12/16)

Halloween Lights (Odenton, MD)

For a little Halloween fun, the 2016 Halloween Light Show will go live on Ice Crystal Court in Odenton on Friday, October 21 from 6:30 PM to 9 PM! The show should stay up through Halloween.

See the linked article about last year's show, and go to the family's Facebook page to see the rules for visitors (which essentially ask you to be courteous to the neighbors and to be safe).

This is the fifth year the family has created a light show, and they usually do one for Christmas as well.

• Odenton Man Attracts Hundreds for Annual Halloween Light Show (The Capital Gazette, 10/28/16)
• Thousands of Lights Sync to Halloween Music in Odenton (WMAR ABC2News, 10/21/15)
• Lights on Ice Crystal (Facebook)

Fall Maintenance Tips

Angie's List has a fairly comprehensive list of suggested Fall Maintenance tasks to prepare your household for the upcoming change in seasons:

1. Seal drafts and add insulation 
1. Caulk, seal, and weatherstrip
2. Measure your insulation
3. Audit energy waste
2. Service your furnace 
1. Schedule fall HVAC maintenance
2. Replace furnace filters
3. Protect your plumbing 
1. Insulate water lines
2. Drain your water heater
3. Remove and drain outside hoses
4. Check your gutters, roof, and chimney 

Halloween Block Party and Chili Cook-Off

It's time for the 2016 Autumn Walk Halloween Block Party and Chili Cook-Off on Garden Ranges! Like last year, the event will held at 9832 (Allie's house).

To sign up for the Chili Cook-Off go to the link below or send an email to Allie at amehok01@yahoo.com:

• 2016 Autumn Walk Halloween Chili Cook-Off on Sign-Up Genius (http://bit.ly/2etJlRf)

Planned events:

• Halloween Block Party - bring your treats for the trick-or-treaters
• Chili Cook-Off (both meat and vegetarian categories)
• Pumpkin Carving Contest (on Saturday @ 5pm, bring your own pumpkin)
• Adult Costume Contest
• Food and drinks - hots dogs/chips

To Enter the Chili Cook-Off:

• Send email to Allie at amehok01@yahoo.com
• Tell her how many chili entries and which categor(ies)

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Date: Mon., Oct. 31, 2016 (Halloween!)

Location: 9832 Garden Ranges

Time: 

Saturday 10/29 @ 5pm: 

• Pumpkin Carving Contest
• Bring your pumpkin to the common area behind the 9830-9838 Townhouse Row (where the picnic was)
• Pumpkins will be judged on Halloween along with the chili

Monday 10/31:

• 5:30pm: Bring your chili entries to 9832
• 6pm - 7:30pm: Chili and Pumpkin Judging Begins
• Enjoy food, fun, and fellowship
• Vote on your favorite chili (meat and vegetarian categories) and pumpkin
• Adult costumes will also be judged by the hosts Allie and Daphna
• c. 8pm: Prizes awarded for:
• Best Adult Costume
• Best Pumpkin
• Best Meat Chili
• Best Vegetarian Chili

This has been a fun tradition for both adults and kids here in Autumn Walk the last few years, and a great way to meet your neighbors!

Please join us even if you don't intend to enter one of the contests. It's just a great way to spend Halloween!

For the full set of pictures from last year:

• 2015 Autumn Walk Halloween Block Party