July 4 Fireworks Plus Drone Show — 2026-07-01

Today's forecast: sunny then slight chance showers and thunderstorms, high near 98 degrees. South wind 5 to 9 mph.

Good morning. Wednesday, July 1. Calvin Ball rolled out plans for the annual July 4th fireworks celebration, adding an illuminating drone show this year. Stormwater pond repairs are beginning in Ellicott City. The county launched free, twenty-four-seven overdose prevention vending machines. And the Giant Peach sculpture outside Georgia Grace Café on Main Street in Ellicott City won its court case and gets to stay. Heat advisory is still in effect, high near 98. This is your morning brief for Howard County.

County Executive Calvin Ball announced plans for the annual Howard County July 4th fireworks celebration. This year's edition adds an illuminating drone show to the traditional fireworks display. Full details — venue, timing, and any road closures — are in the county news release from June 30 at howardcountymd.gov. The show is Friday.

HCPSS's Division of Special Education is continuing to implement the targets in its five-year strategic plan. Staff are building Multi-Tiered Systems of Support — known as MTSS — redesigning roles, and expanding coaching and professional development for teachers. The work sits inside the Department of Special Education under the Division of Academics. Full update is on the HCPSS news page.

Howard County is rolling out free, twenty-four-seven overdose prevention vending machines. The machines make overdose-reversal medication available around the clock at no cost, no ID required. Full announcement, machine locations, and how to use them are on the Howard County Health Department page at howardcountymd.gov.

The Giant Peach sculpture outside Georgia Grace Café on Main Street in Ellicott City won its court case and can stay. A judge ruled last week that the sculpture can remain where it is. Baltimore Fishbowl has the full write-up on the case and the sculpture's Main Street history.

Today at the library. East Columbia hosts the Teen Summer Programming Block, eleven to three thirty. At Elkridge this afternoon: Countdown to the 4th: 1776, three to five thirty — a semiquincentennial tie-in ahead of Friday's holiday. Tonight, Family Fun at Your Library: Video Game Night at Elkridge, six to seven thirty. Family evening option to close out the day.

Also today. Stormwater pond repairs are beginning in Ellicott City — Patch has the location details and the timeline. 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. Howard County formally joined the Dementia Friendly America Network this spring. Columbia Association marked 25 years of its CA Points program, awarding more than one million dollars in family memberships and programs to 712 students. Three new turf baseball diamonds opened at Centennial Park West, named in honor of county employee A. Rau — the fields are open now. HCPSS is seeking members for its new Standing Policy Advisory Committee — deadline Friday, August 21. The Howard County Finance Department refreshed its Tax Credits page at howardcountymd.gov — worth a look if you're checking eligibility. Finance also rolled out Property Tax Digital Communications, a way 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 East Columbia at ten thirty this morning: Play Partners for infants. At Elkridge at nine thirty: 3, 2, Fun for ages two to three. At Elkridge at one thirty: Just for Me for ages three to five. And at Savage at two thirty: All Together Now for families. Heat advisory remains in effect through the workweek — full guidance at howardcountymd.gov.

Here's what I'm watching this week. A drone show at Fourth of July, alongside fireworks — the county quietly upgrading a tradition without ditching it. Stormwater pond repairs starting in Ellicott City are the boring, load-bearing side of civic infrastructure — but for anyone who's lived through EC flooding, that's the exact opposite of boring. The Giant Peach on Main Street gets to stay, which is a good result for the character of that street. And the county launched free overdose vending machines. That's a big move. Stay cool out there. Back tomorrow.

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