The nonprofit Ellicott City Partnership will host a reception from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, to mark completion of restorative work on the 1930s-era murals located in the Howard County Welcome Center at 8267 Main St., Ellicott City.

The murals were installed as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and were intended to boost the morale of people suffering the effects of the Depression with art.

In 1937, the U.S. Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts and Sculpture commissioned Peter DeAnna to paint oil-on-canvas murals called “Landscape of Ellicott City” and “Building of Ellicott Mills,” for Ellicott City's Post Office — now the welcome center.

The murals are part of the Postal Fine Arts Collection owned by the Postal Service on loan to Howard County. The funds raised for the restoration were all privately donated with the initial contribution coming from the late Shirley Bossom in memory of Clifford E. Hughes Jr. The work was performed by Past Matters LLC of Baltimore.

The reception is free and open to the public and will include light refreshments.

Applications available for 2016 Watershed grant

Howard County's Department of Public Works is accepting applications for an environmental grant that aims to promote grass-roots education projects, increase community awareness and implement restoration projects.

To be eligible for the 2016 Watershed Enhancement Grant, applicants must be a nonprofit in Howard County and doing work in the county, according to a government news release.

The grant proposal must include objectives and criteria used to evaluate the effectiveness and need of the project. Grant money will be awarded based on the availability of funds. Applications, which are available at www.howardcountymd.gov/swm.htm, can be submitted via email at amorales@howardcountymd.gov. The application deadline is Feb. 26.

— Fatimah Waseem, Baltimore Sun Media Group

County services offices reorganization proposed

County Executive Allan Kittleman has filed legislation to reorganize the county's departments of Citizen Services and Housing and Community Development, county officials said, as well as relocate the Office of Transportation. A public hearing on the changes will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 16. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building.

According to officials, the Department of Housing and Community Development would be split from the Housing Commission in order to avoid any conflicts of interest with the housing department.

The County Council must review and approve the changes in legislation, which will be voted on March 7.

– Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group

HC DrugFree seeks teen-directed films

HC DrugFree is seeking film entries from teens for its respective category in the 2016 HoCo FilmFest, with a focus on prescription pain medication misuse. The winning film will be used as a public service announcement throughout the county.

March 19 is the deadline for video submission. The 2016 FilmFest is scheduled for April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Miller Library in Ellicott City.

For more information about the 2016 Drugs and Alcohol Chat Day and the HC DrugFree category of the 2016 HoCo FilmFest, go to hcdrugfree.org.

— Fatimah Waseem, Baltimore Sun Media Group