Summer Art Aplenty in Howard County

Lakefront Lunchtime Concert Series
The Columbia Association (CA) holds its annual Lakefront Wednesdays lunchtime concert series from noon to 2 p.m. at the Town Center lakefront.
The following is a schedule of performances through July 1 when the series ends.
June 10: Project Natale
June 17: Julie Hall Trio
June 24: Alex & Zach Brown Quartet
July 1: Andrew McKnight
For more information, call 410-715-3104.

Tai Sophia's Himmelfarb Gallery
"Children of the World: One Spirit, Many Faces," photographs by Maryland artist Billy Michels with images representing five continents and all socio-economic conditions, will be on display from June 3 to Sept. 2 in the Himmelfarb Gallery on the Tai Sophia Institute campus. An artist's reception, which is open to the public, will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.
Regular Himmelfarb gallery hours are:Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m; Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
For more information, call 410-888-9048.

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company-in-the-Ruins will hold two summer performances at the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City.
"Cyrano de Bergerac" will run June 5-27 and the "Twelfth Night" June 26-July 19.
Tickets can be purchased online through www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com, by phone at 866-811-4111 or prior to the performance at the box office. Prices range from $15-$30 and, for the fifth year in a row, children 18 and under are free with a paying adult.
Due to the troubled economy, the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (CSC) lost its summer sponsor for free children's admission and was planning to make up the lost revenue by charging for children's tickets. Instead, Booz Allen Hamilton stepped in to partly fill the void, allowing for free children's admission on Sundays. Over the past month, The Columbia Foundation, Howard County General Hospital, Brown Advisory and the Allegis Group Foundation have provided further sponsorship, allowing all children 18 and under to receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult.
For general information, call the CSC offices at 410-313-8874.

Artist's Gallery in Columbia
Local artist Donni Dingman will present an exhibition of watercolor floral paintings and pastel landscapes for a June show, "Mixed Media" to be held at the Artists' Gallery in the American City Building in Columbia. The show runs from June 1-26. Dingman also will have an artist's demonstration at the gallery on Saturday, June 13, from 12:30-2 p.m. in conjunction with the Columbia Festival of the Arts.
The Artists' Gallery is a member-owned gallery. Hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information, call 410-740-8249 during gallery hours or visit the web site at www.artistsgallerycolumbia.com.

Art Centers and Museums
There are also several other art galleries and museums in the Ellicott City-Columbia areas of Howard County. Some include:
- African Art Museum of Maryland, 410-730-7106
- Columbia Art Center, 410-730-0075
- Howard County Center for the Arts, 410-313-ARTS
- Howard County Center of African American Culture, 410-715-1921
- Local artists also exhibit at the Artists' Gallery in the American City Building, Howard Community College Art Gallery, Slayton House Gallery in Wilde Lake Village, Margaret Smith Gallery in Ellicott City and Board of Education Professional Gallery.
- Savage Mill has an array of artists' studios and galleries.





Moyer Announces Capital City Cultural Arts District Planning Board

Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer has announced the formation of the Capital City Cultural Arts District Planning Board in an effort to strengthen and grow the cultural arts in the city.
In May 2008, Annapolis was selected to join 16 other Arts and Entertainment districts throughout the state to promote the arts and economic development in designated settings throughout Maryland.
The program is administered by the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development through the Maryland State Arts Council. It provides local and county governments with various tax benefits and other initiatives to stimulate economic development and increase cultural enterprises in the designated district.
"This designation allows Annapolis to build on its reputation as a thriving cultural center," said Moyer. "We are already aware of the value the arts has in a community and the Maryland State Arts Council estimates that, in 2007, art audiences and organizations generated $556 million in direct spending and produced $43 million in taxes. Later this summer a city task force chaired by Chris Nelson, president of St. John's College, will report on the economic impact of the arts on the city."
The board will serve for one year to determine the district's mission, vision and goals in the form of a strategic plan to promote the district throughout the city.





Arundel's Budget - No Tax Increase


Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold is applauding the County Council for unanimously approving the $2.4 billion fiscal 2010 Operating and Capital Budget that is consistent with the administration's recommendations for no tax increases.
"This was a somber budget season where the struggling economy made us focus on core services," Leopold said. "This is not the time to increase the tax burden on our citizens because they will lead us into recovery by spending their money in the ways they see fit. County government has responded by reducing its spending and increasing efficiency. I am pleased that the council funded 99% of the budget I submitted."
The budget approved by the council retains funding for construction of the Lighthouse Shelter in Annapolis, as well as operating money for the Gems and Jewels program, the STEM program and the Middle School Parenting and Gerontology programs at Anne Arundel Community College. The initiatives for charter school funding to improve Chesapeake Science Point and public safety funding of the streetlight program were also retained.
The council added funding for a feasibility study to address the needs of Severna Park High School and operation of a new arts magnet program at Bates Middle School. About $16 million was cut from the Capital Budget as additional reserves for next year.
"Everyone made difficult decisions in this austere climate, from the department heads to individual councilman," Leopold said. "Next year promises to be another challenge. The administration will continue to identify ways to save taxpayer money in anticipation of future budgets."






Howard County's FY '10 Budget Approved


Howard County Executive Ken Ulman's proposed fiscal 2010 budget was approved by the county council with few changes made to his initial proposal. The approved budget is $1.4 billion ($23 million less than last year's figure) and includes $14.5 million in cuts the county received from the state of Maryland.
This year, every area of Howard County government reduced its budget. "I appreciate all the hard work and dialogue that the council and the public provided in this process," said Ulman. "The financial crisis we are all facing has been daunting, but I am pleased that we were able to reduce our budget without raising taxes, while still covering our core priorities: education, public safety and critical human services."
General government spending is down 5.9%, Public Facilities spending is down 4.7%, Legislative and Judicial Services is down 5.4% and Community Services spending is down 4.2%.
However, Howard County maintained level funding of $4.8 million in the Community Service Partnership grants program and restructured distribution of individual grant awards. This enables the county to direct more funding to those agencies which address critical human service needs such as housing, food, health care and crisis support. Ulman also created a $40,000 Emergency Assistance supplement to provide additional support to those citizens with the most critical needs.
Now that the budget has been approved, non-essential county facilities will be closed during the winter holidays, but county libraries will remain open. Non-public safety employees will be furloughed for those four business days; county department heads will be furloughed one additional day for a total of five days.
Also, last month, Ulman announced he would be voluntarily participating in a five-day "furlough" by returning five days worth of his salary to the county as well (elected officials cannot legally be furloughed).