Five Things to Know About Howard County This Week

1) Folks can watch area chefs face off at the every Monday and Tuesday through Sept. 10 at Blob's Park Bavarian Biergarten in Jessup. General admission tickets are $25 and the events begin at 6 p.m.

2) Watching the legislation this week? So is Dr. Peter Beilenson, the Howard County Health Officer. He has said the Healthy Howard Health Plan, Howard County’s program to get benefits to uninsured residents, could be used as a model for other counties nationwide, should the federal law be struck down.

3) There are two free summer concerts in the county this week. On June 27 at 8:30 p.m. at Centennial Park South, you can catch the Columbia Orchestra. On June 28, the Western Regional Park in Cooksville will host the U.S. Navy Country Current, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

4) Do you follow Howard County government? There is a (Monday) at 4:30 p.m. at the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City.  One topic of discussion: whether to

5) Ellicott City Patch is very close to getting 1,000 Facebook fans. Want to help the site reach this milestone (and get instant updates about Ellicott City news?) Follow the Ellicott City Patch Facebook page here.