Columbia, MD

Thre's an informative new website available for Maryland: The Maryland State Department of Education has put together a very comprehensive website, allowing the public to search for the licensing inspection records of all the child care providers in the State: msdecompliancereports.org

Furthermore, you can search by the provider, or the address, the county, or the type of childcare, depending on what information you have starting out. This could also be used just to get a listing of an area's providers, with all their contact information and license #, thus ensuring they 1) are licensed, and 2) have passed the most recent inspection, and 3) are in the area you're considering for your child(ren).

For instance, when I search Howard County, and then Columbia, for a Licensed Child Care Center, I am presented with 111 results to pore through. What a great centralized spot for all of this information!

While the Department of Education staff is apparently still hard at work entering updated information, this should prove to be a great resource for parents of young children in Maryland. Get the word out!

Best regards,

I live in suburbia, which I'm very happy with. Small lot, good neighbors close by, cul-de-sac living to cut down on the drive through traffic, excellent schools, town planned by Rouse. Community amenities galore.

Here's one of the really nice things about the Columbia MD lifestyle - the pathways. Just down at the end of the street, the path, the trees, the green space - and today - the snow!

And of course, the lovely dog that got me out into the snow, rather than admiring it through the windows while I was working on my computer!

Best regards,

The holidays are ALMOST over so what is there to do with the family now that 2009 has arrived? Load everyone into the car and head to Columbia.

Just two more nights left to enjoy this years annual event which is the biggest fundraiser of the year to benefit the services of Howard County General Hospital.This event is a drive through Christmas light display on the grounds of Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

Symphony of Lights is a spectacular display of more than 75 animated and stationary holiday lights. Once you pay your entrance fee, tune your car radio to the designated holiday station and enjoy the "ooh's and aaahs" from the back seat of the car.

Here are some of the displays that we enjoyed.

If your interested in relocating and finding a home in Howard County, Maryland, please Contact The Mcintire Team of Long & Foster Real Estate.

Ellie McIntire

The McIntire Team

410-480-3398

410-750-8781(FX)

443-418-7668(cell)

E-mail: Ellie@LNF.com

http://www.elliesteam.com/

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Check out these videos to learn how you can find energy savings in heating your home, financinging a home purchase, the value a Realtor brings to your home sale, curb appeal and avoiding foreclosure with an explanation about short sales.

These videos are produced by MRIS. Click link below:

http://www.sfrealtors.com/video/mris/short/33

Use the following to chart to determine your monthly principal and interest payments at various interest rates for either a 15 or 30-year term.

•1. Find the appropriate interest rate from the chart above.

•2. Look across the column to the appropriate term to determine your interest rate factor.

•3. Multiply the interest rate factor by your loan amount in $1,000s.

Add your monthly insurance premium and your property tax to your principal and interest to determine your total monthly payment.

I am providing this information as a guide. If you have any questions or concerns drop me a line at Frank@kw.com

Happy Home Shopping