Howard Unemployment Hits Record

According to the Sun's ExploreHoward blog, we've hit a new high, although we're curious how far these records go back.

The county’s unemployment rate climbed from 5.1 percent in May to 5.8 percent in June, the highest unemployment rate on record for the county. Montgomery County was the only county with a lower rate, with 5.7 percent unemployment.

Howard's unemployment rate amounts to about 9,100 people out of work, according to the state Division of Workforce Development.

Federal statistics, which date back to 1990, show Howard County never reached 5 percent unemployment until this year. Last year’s average unemployment rate was 3.1 percent.

Howard County’s climb also mirrors the state as a whole, which saw its unemployment rate climb from 7.1 percent in May to 7.5 percent in June. Baltimore City has the highest unemployment rate in the state at 11 percent.

Compared to the rest of the country, however, Maryland is doing comparatively well when it comes to jobless numbers. The national unemployment rate has been rising steadily all year, climbing to 9.5 percent in June.

More Cedar Lane Roadwork Ahead

From HoCo gov:

A Howard County construction project on Cedar Lane at Harriet Tubman Lane is scheduled to begin on or about Monday, August 3. The project will extend an 8-inch diameter PVC sewer main, approximately 800 linear feet, to serve the new Robinson Nature Center. Weather permitting, the project should be completed by mid-September.

The majority of the work will take place along Harriet Tubman Lane, crossing Cedar Lane; therefore, the impact on residents in the surrounding area should be minimal. There may be delays during the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week as a result of slow moving traffic. Flagging operations will be in place to direct traffic as needed, and signs will be posted to advise motorists of the construction.

For questions or concerns about Capital Project S-6272, contact Lisa Brightwell, Public Works Customer Service, at 410-313-3440, or by e-mail to publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.

Summer Reading

We are way late in discovering the library's Highly Recommended blog, but figure others might enjoy. Here's a link and a description:

Visit Highly Recommended, the Library's new blog, for reviews on adult fiction and non-fiction books, DVDs, audiobooks, music, as well as information on upcoming Library classes and events. Staff recommendations available 24/7 at the click of a mouse!

Lyme Disease On The Rise

Blame all the deer and white-footed mice around our parts -- they typically harbor the nasty little ticks that carry Lyme disease.

The county was tops in the state for the number of recorded cases, according to the ExploreHoward blog.

There were 369 confirmed and probable cases reported in Howard County in 2008, according to the report, 11 more than in 2007.

Montgomery County, which had been tops in the state, was second to Howard in 2008 with 314 cases, down from 475 the previous year.

Statewide, the total decreased from 2,576 cases in 2007 to 2,216 in 2008.

The county's health department suggests anyone who finds a tick consider getting checked out, though a tick generally needs to be attached to the skin for about 24 hours to become infected. Click here for more deets.

One Small Step For Us

MSNBC ran a wire story listing some of the technological advances to come out of NASA's space program, like Tang and freeze dried food.

Turns out there is a local tie-in:

Enriched baby formula: In the early 1980s, NASA conducted experiments with algae, to gauge how it might be used on long space flights involving humans to provide food, oxygen, or help with waste disposal. Scientists realized the algae could provide nutritional supplements, like two fatty acids previously found only in human milk. A Columbia, Md.-based company called Martek Biosciences Corp. formed in 1985. It developed life'sDHA and life'sARA, nutritional additives which are the same fatty acids found in human breast milk. The products are believed to help with mental and visual development. The company says its DHA is now found in more than 100 foods and drinks and about 99 percent of the baby formula sold in the United States.

At Least You Can Read While Waiting

Tired of waiting at the Post Office to file your passport paperwork? Soon you can get the job done at the East Columbia Library, according to this item on the Sun's ExploreHoward blog.

The U.S. Department of State approved the library becoming a "passport acceptance facility," and starting Aug. 10, people can apply for passports and purchase passport photos at the library.

Passport hours will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays at the library, located at 6600 Cradlerock Way, in Columbia.

Shhhh! The Library Offers Earplugs

We received this from HoCoMoJo's Twitter feed, which passed on something it saw on a library Tweet...Don't ya jus luv nu media?

http://twitpic.com/ak4cp - New disposable earplugs for Central Library's quiet study rooms.