Howard County Juneteenth Block Party — 2026-06-22

Today's forecast: scattered showers and thunderstorms, high near 90 degrees. South wind 8 to 15 mph.

Good morning. Monday, June 22. Howard County celebrated Juneteenth this weekend with a block party, food trucks and community activities. HCPSS is recruiting members for a new Standing Policy Advisory Committee. And scattered storms are in the Monday forecast. This is your morning brief for Howard County.

Howard County celebrated Juneteenth this weekend with a block party that included food trucks and community activities, per WMAR 2 News Baltimore. The WMAR coverage confirms the block-party format. The exact venue and the full program list are not in the WMAR headline — watch WMAR for photos and the wrap-up.

HCPSS is seeking members for its new Standing Policy Advisory Committee. The HCPSS Policy Office is consolidating previous multiple policy advisory committees into one single-standing committee with a two-year commitment. Applications are due Friday, August 21. Details on how to apply are at news.hcpss.org.

The Howard County Health Department has a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist available at the Elkridge Branch library today, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program is listed on the Howard County library calendar at howardcounty.librarycalendar.com.

At the Elkridge Branch library tonight, Family Movie Night features the film Elio, running from 5:30 to 7:15.

Coming up. Voting in the Manga for Mayor program at the Glenwood Branch library closes tomorrow, Tuesday June 23. Today at East Columbia: Teen Summer Programming Block from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Bilingual All Together Now storytime at 10:30. At Glenwood: Babysitting 101 from noon to 3, and the Glenwood D&D Club tonight at 6. At Elkridge: Home Electricity Basics tonight at 6:30.

Also today. Sunday night a crash shut down all lanes of I-95 in Howard County, with miles-long delays per Daily Voice — check traffic before heading out. Howard County's heat advisory remains in effect — check howardcountymd.gov for the full advisory. County Executive Calvin Ball broke ground earlier this month on Howard County's first Bus Rapid Transit stop. Howard County joined the Dementia Friendly America Network this past week. The county dedicated a bocce court this past week to Grace Kubofcik, a senior-recreation advocate. Columbia Association awarded more than $1 million in memberships through its CA Points program this year, marking 25 years. County Executive Calvin Ball announced the advancement of High School Number 14 in Elkridge last week. The county Finance Department updated information on residential tax credits at howardcountymd.gov. Howard County Finance also rolled out Property Tax Digital Communications for residents. The Aging and Independence office posted updated Housing Resources for older adults. At Elkridge, Cuentos en Español y Tiempo de Juego storytime runs today at 11:30.

Here's what I'm watching today. Howard County's Juneteenth block party this weekend, the Health Department's Peer Recovery Specialist hours at Elkridge today, and HCPSS opening up Policy Advisory Committee applications — they're all the same kind of story, in a way. The county leaning on people showing up to make the place work. Watch the I-95 corridor for delays from Sunday's crash. Back tomorrow.

That's today's brief. Full edition at hocobrief.com — newsletter, archive, send tips. I'm at the desk. Back tomorrow morning. Stay dry, Howard County.