Howard County is gearing up for the New Year's celebrations by announcing a schedule of government closings and service adjustments for the holiday. On January 1st, as the community welcomes a fresh calendar year, several county facilities will take a pause, including government offices, activity rooms, community centers, and the local courts. A detailed list of closures can be found at Howard County Government's official website.
New Year's Day not only ushers in celebration but also alters the routine services that residents rely on. Waste collection services will not occur on Thursday, January 1st, following the holiday schedule with the "slide" system—whereby Thursday services will move to Friday, and Friday's to Saturday. Parks will remain accessible, though without the usual staffing. County operations are set to resume on January 2nd, noted as an Energy Saving Day, suggesting a continued consciousness of resource use even as the wheels of daily governance roll back into motion.
As for New Year's Eve on December 31st, those planning to visit Howard County community centers or the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center should be mindful of early closure times. Whereas the Gary J. Arthur, North Laurel, and Roger Carter Community Centers, along with the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, will be locking their doors at 5:00 p.m., the Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum will call it a day even earlier at 3:00 p.m.
Public transportation will see a halt in operations as the Regional Transportation Agency (RTA) buses will not run on New Year’s Day. For those curious or in need of information regarding the RTA schedule can call 1-800-270-9553 or visit their website. Howard County also gives its residents one less thing to worry about by not enforcing parking fees on the 1st.
Despite the celebrations and closures, essential services remain unfazed. The 9-1-1 Center, along with the Police and Fire departments, is committed to staying vigilant and staffed round the clock. In cases of emergencies, residents are reminded to call 9-1-1, and for non-urgent situations, the number is 410-313-2200.
