Elkridge High School #14 Advances — 2026-06-29

Today's forecast: mostly sunny, high near 86 degrees. East wind 1 to 6 mph.

Good morning. Monday, June 29. Calvin Ball announces the advancement of the long-awaited High School number 14 in Elkridge — the biggest HCPSS capital news in a while. He's also filed legislation to push Elkridge toward Maryland's Sustainable Community Designation. Howard County earned the highest triple-A credit rating from all three rating agencies. The heat advisory is still in effect for the start of the workweek. And the library is running a full Monday lineup — teen programming, ranger-led reading, robotics. This is your morning brief for Howard County.

County Executive Calvin Ball announced the advancement of the long-awaited High School number 14 in Elkridge. The release went out from the county executive's office on June 17. High School 14 has been on HCPSS's capital planning lists for years; this advancement signals the project is moving forward in the queue. Next steps and the project timeline are in the release at howardcountymd.gov.

HCPSS is seeking members for its new Standing Policy Advisory Committee. The application deadline is Friday, August 21. The committee replaces multiple earlier policy advisory committees, consolidating into one single standing committee with a two-year commitment. The change follows a revision of Howard County Board of Education Policy 2020 on policy development and revision. Applications go through the HCPSS Policy Office. Full announcement and application materials are on the HCPSS news page.

County Executive Calvin Ball has filed legislation to advance Maryland Sustainable Community Designation for Elkridge. The state designation opens the door to additional revitalization resources from Maryland for designated communities. The bill goes to County Council next. The full filing notice is on the county news page from June 26 at howardcountymd.gov.

County Executive Calvin Ball opened three new turf baseball diamonds at Centennial Park West. All three fields are turf. They're named in honor of county employee A. Rau. The diamonds are open at Centennial Park West now. The dedication details and the honoree's full name are in the county news release at howardcountymd.gov from June 25.

At the Glenwood Branch library this morning, eleven to noon: History Relived: 250th through Movies. A semiquincentennial tie-in — America turns 250 next summer. Glenwood is also running an All Together Now session for all ages at two.

Today at the library. East Columbia hosts the Teen Summer Programming Block, eleven to three thirty. STEAM Fun: Code and Go Robot Mouse for ages six to nine is at Elkridge, five thirty to six fifteen. And at the Elkridge Branch, drop-in hours with a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist from the Howard County Health Department, eleven thirty to five — a free in-person resource for anyone navigating recovery.

Also today. Howard County earned the highest triple-A credit rating from all three major rating agencies — the top of the fiscal scale, which translates to lower borrowing costs on county debt. County Executive Calvin Ball broke ground last month on Howard County's first Bus Rapid Transit stop, capping a decade-long push to expand high-frequency bus service. Columbia Association marked 25 years of its CA Points program, awarding more than one million dollars in family memberships and programs to 712 students for the year ahead, with free programming throughout the year including tennis lessons. Howard County formally joined the Dementia Friendly America Network this spring. The Howard County Finance Department refreshed its Tax Credits page at howardcountymd.gov — worth a look if you're checking eligibility for the homeowner credit or any new program. Finance also rolled out Property Tax Digital Communications, a way for residents to receive property tax notices online instead of by mail. The HC Aging and Independence office refreshed its Housing Resources page, covering options for older residents. At the Elkridge Branch this morning, Little Learners Summer of STEAM for ages three to five with an adult, ten thirty to eleven. At East Columbia, Stitches and Stories runs ten to eleven thirty. At Savage, Fireflies STEAM for ages two to five with an adult, ten to ten forty-five. Read with a Ranger at Savage, eleven thirty to twelve fifteen. Picture Book Parade at East Columbia at two. And at Glenwood, All Together Now for all ages at two. The heat advisory remains in effect — find the county's full guidance at howardcountymd.gov.

Here's what I'm watching today. High School number 14 in Elkridge has been on the planning lists for years. The advancement announcement doesn't mean shovels in the ground next month — but in capital-project terms, moving from queue to advancing is the difference between an idea and a build schedule. Elkridge is also where the new Sustainable Community Designation legislation points. The county got the highest possible credit rating from all three agencies — boring but it's the kind of fiscal grade that pays for the schools we're trying to build. Heat advisory is still in effect. Hydrate. Back tomorrow morning.

That's today's brief. Full edition at hocobrief.com — newsletter, archive, send tips. I'm at the desk. See you tomorrow morning.