Summer Happenings in River Hill

Summer is on its way and so are many activities that you can take advantage of right “in your own backyard.” Whether you want to kick back and relax, volunteer and give back, learn something new, connect with your neighbors, or cool off in the pool, there is much to do in the Village of River Hill. Mark your calendars and come out to have some summer fun!

The summer Courtyard Concert Series, sponsored by the River Hill Village Center Merchants, begins on Friday, June 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. Karen Collins & The
Backroads Band will get the season off to a good start with some toe-tapping, good ole, country music. Grab your lawn chairs and plan to eat at a local restaurant before-hand, pick up take-out, or bring a picnic supper. These free concerts continue on Friday evenings throughout the summer. Check out the lineup at www.columbiavillagecenters.com.

June is the month to learn something new. The Association’s Teen Advisory Committee, in partnership with the Columbia Community Exchange time bank, will host a free technology learning session on June 23 at Claret Hall from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Do you need help figuring out your cell phone, tablet, or digital camera? Stop in and pick up some tips. Also on June 23, the  Howard County Office on Aging will conduct a seminar titled Prepare to Care from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Claret Hall. Many in our community are already feeling or anticipating the generational “squeeze.” This session might be just the thing to get you started planning for your or your parents’, future.

Speaking of the future, are you wondering what MD 108 in Clarksville/River Hill will look like ten years from now? Attend the Design Guidelines Community Meeting on June 25 at 7 p.m. at Claret Hall. Find out what the County’s consultants are recommending and give your feedback. Make a difference and improve the environment this summer. Help the Association’s Watershed Advisory Committee increase the community’s awareness of the impact that everyday actions have on the Patuxent River’s water quality by volunteering to help paint a storm drain along Great Star Drive. For more information, read the story on page 5.

No summer is complete without the best parade in town—the Association’s Annual Independence Day Parade, of course! This is year FIFTEEN for this community celebration of the birth of our nation and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The parade is held on July 4, begins at 9 a.m., and travels down Great Star Drive to the Clarksville Fifth District Fire Station. Entry forms are available online on this site by clicking on the Upcoming Events tab, then on the Independence Day Parade article, and at Claret Hall. Registration forms are due by June 23. Volunteers are needed the day
of the event to help direct traffic. Please contact the village manager at 410-531-1749 or manager@villageofriverhill.org if you’d like to lend a hand.

Arrange to celebrate National Night Out (NNO) on Tuesday, August 5. Gather with your neighbors and turn on your lights to “take a bite out of crime”! To arrange a visit to your NNO party by police, the fire department, McGruff, or a community leader, click on the NNO article on this site’s home page, and follow the link to the form. Fill out the form and return it to the Police Department address on the bottom of the form by July 18. Remember, the Association makes available a limited number of Block Party grants to help defray expenses for neighborhood get-togethers. Contact newsletter@villageofriverhill.org or stop in at Claret Hall for find out more.

If the dog days of summer get you down, cool off at the pool and lift your spirits at our Family Pool Party on Friday, August 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. We’ll have a DJ, games, swimming, and make your own sundaes for River Hill residents. Tickets are free but limited; so, get them early (they’ll be available at Claret Hall beginning July 8).

We look forward to seeing you as you take advantage of some of this summer’s community events!