Connecting Columbia By Bike and On Foot: What Do You Think?

The Columbia Association will hold two open houses this week to kick off its Connecting Columbia project to make the city more accessible to pedestrians and bike riders.

The gatherings will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 10, at the Owen Brown Community Center, 6800 Cradlerock Way; and from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 11, at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane.

The goal of Connecting Columbia is to create an improved biking and walking pathway system that will lead to improved quality of life in health and recreation, according to association officials.

The improved network would also create alternate transportation opportunities for residents.

Both meetings will feature the same information. A brief presentation introducing the project team and describing the project, goals and objectives will be held around 8 p.m.

Community members are invited to stop in any time during the open house to learn more about the project and suggest ideas for improving walking and bicycling opportunities in Columbia, and especially to the association's 93.5-mile pathway system.

Before and after the formal presentation, information stations will be available for residents to make suggestions and recommendations.

In October, the association awarded the contract for the project to Toole Design Group, a nationally recognized planning and engineering firm specializing in bicycle and pedestrian planning and design, according to the statement.

A 16-member citizens’ task force has also been formed to provide guidance to the association and consultants as they work to create what the association is calling an "active transportation action agenda."

The project is expected to be completed by June 2012.

For questions about the open houses, contact Scott Templin at

410-715-3166 or Scott.Templin@ColumbiaAssociation.com.

Maggie J. Brown Award Recognizes Teen Community Service

The Columbia Association Maggie J. Brown Spirit of Columbia Scholarship Award is given annually to Columbia high school seniors who have shown exceptional effort in providing community service to benefit Columbia residents and those in the Columbia area.

The association has been recognizing high school seniors for outstanding service to their community for more than 20 years.

This year up to six, $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors who live on association-assessed property or have a parent who works full time on association-assessed property; have a minimum of a C average and have a demonstrated history of voluntary service to the Columbia community.

Applications are available online at ColumbiaAssociation.org/.

Completed applications must be submitted by March 15, 2012.

For more information, call 410-715-3161.