Food Scrap Recycling Expands, Two Main St. Businesses to Close: Today in Howard County

1. Food Scrap Recycling Program Expanding - Howard County's food scrap composting program prepares to expand today. County Executive Ken Ulman will deliver a brief presentation in Clarksville Friday morning before the county distributes green bins to the approximately 1,200 residents who opted into the program.

The Clarksville area will be the second waste collection zone run by the county since the food scrap program began in 2010. In April, the county opened its expanded composting facility at the Alpha Ridge Landfill, at the time Ulman said the facility would be able to handle food waste from about 10,000 residents and turn it into nutrient-rich soil.

2. Two Main Street Businesses Close Next Month - It will be the end of an era for two Main Street Ellicott City businesses. Taylor's Antique Mall and The 'I Love Theatre' Gift Shop are scheduled to close in December. 

After the death of Taylor's long-time owner Marvin Sachs in 2012, the antique store was sold to local real estate developer Don Reuwer this summer. Reuwer said in August he didn't have any firm plans for the large building that sits in the middle of Main Street. 

Down the street from Taylor's, The 'I Love Theatre Gift Shop' will also close after the manager said the buildings' owners are "retiring me." The store has sold sports memorabilia and theater gifts since 1997.

3. Two Opportunities to Learn about Verona Mills Deal in Oakland Mills - Worried about the purchase of the Verona Mills apartment complex in Oakland Mills? This Sunday and then on Tuesday there will be two opportunities to learn more about the purchase and discuss concerns. On Sunday at 1 p.m. the county will host a walk through of the current apartment complex, which it bought for $39.5 million in October. On Tuesday, residents can air their concerns about the purchase at a community meeting at The Other Barn in the Oakland Mills Village Center at 7 p.m.

The primary issue with the purchase is residents' concern that the county will add additional low-income housing to an area that is already home to a significant portion of the county's low-income housing, according to local reports. Jessie Newburn of HoCo Blogs has a nice roundup of what's been written about the deal so far.

4. Beautiful Weekend Weather on its Way - Temaperatures on Saturday and Sunday are expected to reach the mid-60s with sun! Who doesn't love a balmy mid-November? However, there's a 30 percent chance of showers after 4 p.m. on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

5. Pro Sports Brief - Former Ravens Safety Ed Reed is now a New York Jet after being released by the Houston Texans on Tuesday and being quickly picked up.

Chris Davis finished third in the American League MVP voting behind Angels outfielder Mike Trout and the now back-to-back MVP winner Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers.

Wilde Lake graduate Zach Brown had 3 tackles in the Tennessee Titans' loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football. The Colts squeaked by the Titans 30-27. Brown, a linebacker, has 56 tackles and 3 sacks so far this season for the Titans. 

The Washington Redskins play the Philadelphia Eagles at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Philly. The Redskins could use a win, they're 3-6 while the first place Eagles are 5-5 atop the NFC East.

The Baltimore Ravens (4-5) will play at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears (5-4) at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Ravens will face off against the Bears' backup quarterback Josh McCown. Jay Cutler, the Bears' starter, is out with an ankle injury.