Howard County Heat Advisory + Friday School Security Response — 2026-06-13

Saturday morning: sunny, high near 88 degrees. Southwest wind 1 to 5 mph.

Good morning. Saturday, June 13. The Howard County Health Department issued a heat advisory across the county. Two Howard County schools had extra police presence on Friday after online threats. And library branches from Elkridge to Glenwood are running weekend programs. This is your morning brief for Howard County.

The Howard County Health Department issued a heat advisory for Howard County in response to high temperatures across the county. The advisory is in effect now. The full text, the timeframe, and the recommended precautions are at the Howard County Health Department site, howardcountymd.gov/health. Check there before you head out today, especially if you'll be working outdoors or checking on older neighbors.

County Executive Calvin Ball announced this week that Howard County has joined the Dementia Friendly America Network. Howard County is now one of a growing group of communities formally recognized for dementia-supportive programs. The full announcement is on the county's Aging and Independence News page at howardcountymd.gov.

This weekend at the library, the Savage Branch hosts a Compost Demonstration with Howard County Master Gardeners on Saturday from 10:30 to 12:30. The East Columbia Branch has Ask an Expert Cyclist from 11 to 1, then Pets on Wheels from 1 to 2. The Glenwood Branch runs A Taste of the Caribbean from 2:30 to 4. The Elkridge Branch has Beading for Peace, part of the TOHO Peace Chain Project, from 9:30 to 11:30. And voting in the Manga for Mayor program at Glenwood runs through Wednesday, June 18.

Also today. Two Howard County schools had extra police and security presence on Friday after online threats, per CBS News. The CBS report does not name the schools or the nature of the threats. In Marriottsville, residents can drop off worn American flags for retirement at the Marriottsville drop-off site, per Patch. In Laurel, the City announced a new juvenile summer curfew starting Thursday, June 18. County Executive Calvin Ball broke ground earlier this week on Howard County's first Bus Rapid Transit stop. The county dedicated a bocce court this week to Grace Kubofcik, a senior-recreation advocate known as the Queen of Bocce. Phase Six of Blandair Regional Park is open — the full release is at howardcountymd.gov. The county Finance Department updated information on residential tax credits at howardcountymd.gov slash finance. Howard County Finance also rolled out Property Tax Digital Communications — sign up at howardcountymd.gov. The Aging and Independence office posted updated Housing Resources for older adults. At the Savage Branch, a STEAM File System Scavenger Hunt for ages 8 to 11 runs Saturday at 3:30. The East Columbia Branch offers a Google Docs class Saturday from 10 to 11:30. At Elkridge, Cuentos en Español runs Saturday at 10:30, bilingual storytime ages zero to five with an adult. And at East Columbia, the Stitches and Stories craft circle meets Saturday from 10 to 11:30. Plus All Together Now early-childhood storytime at Elkridge Saturday at 9:30.

Here's what I'm watching today. The Health Department's heat advisory and the school threat reports both came on the same day, and they both ask the same thing — stay alert, check in with the people around you. The county joining the Dementia Friendly America Network this week fits that picture. The bigger update I'm waiting for: the names of the two schools, and how long the heat advisory runs. I'll have both Monday morning.

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