Village Green/Town²

  The man asks a question. I’m curious, when do you think everything went to shit in the U.S.? I think it was 1976, when Reagan made his first run for the presidency and the tide began to turn in favor of deregulation of everything. The woman answers. Sadly: from the beginning. From colonizers slaughtering native peoples to the institution of chattel slavery. In those things are the seeds of destruction. To the extent that we haven’t reckoned with that, we perpetually weaken the democracy we wanted to have. The man asks another question. What would that reckoning look like, in your view? The woman answers. Owning up to the truth. Reparations. Laws that address systemic racism. Saying “When did it go bad?”seems to me like saying “When did it go bad for white people?” because it was always bad for nonwhites. Ten years ago I wouldn’t have been considering any of this, by the way. The man counters. I don't fully agree. I think there was a very brief period, basically between 1965 and 1...

  Good morning to everyone except the woman on Facebook who told me I am living in the armpit of Howard County.  ***** It’s another morning where events playing out on the national stage are devastating. Two thoughts are fighting for dominance. 1. I want to acknowledging the evil. I know that how we - - as individuals and as a nation - - reckon with the times we are living in is more important than anything I could write about.  2. Just keep swimming. ***** On Tuesday I was treated to what I might describe as a grown-up field trip.  Image from Montgomery County Library website  This is the Wheaton Library in Montgomery County. It’s also known as the Wheaton Library and Recreation Center. This brightly colored building houses the library, and the Friends of the Library bookstore. (Hint: we came for the bookstore.) It also houses a gymnasium, a game room, a full service cafe with seating area, a walking track, a fitness center, and multiple study rooms.* My frien...

In late October of 2024 I received this message from a dear friend of our family:  If you want to support a local small business in Columbia, this is a restaurant owned by niece of one of my Mount de Sales former students.  Grand Opening is tomorrow! I am here this morning to say that, on the evening on January 6th, 2026 I finally succeeded in honoring her request. The restaurant: Old Line Kitchen & Wine Bar.  Image property of Old Line Kitchen Wine Bar We went for an early dinner, to avoid the “peopley” aspect. The bulk of patrons were grouped companionably at the bar area. I snapped a view pics of the dining room. It was both elegant and cozy. As I awaited the arrival of my lovely companion I splurged on a rare gin and tonic. Dry January? Well, it’s complicated. The last cocktail I had was probably more than a year ago so I’m going to cut myself some slack. I probably should have memorialized this occasion before I drank most of it.  What can I say? It was a t...

On this day one year ago Howard County Schools were closed due to an impending weather event. Unlike many such impending events, this one did pan out. I know this because I noted that kids were sledding down the hill in front of our house. On this day in 2021 a lawless mob took part in acts of insurrection at the national Capitol building in hopes of preventing the peaceful transfer of presidential power. Meanwhile, in Howard County… Someone smashed their way into the Board of Education building. It was a scary ending to a scary day. On this day in 2017 former blogger Tom Coale (HoCoRising) wrote a piece entitled “Safe for Six Year Olds” which I liked enough to pass along on Facebook. Thanks to the work of two diligent readers, I have the link for you. “ Safe for Six Year Olds ” Tom Coale, HoCoRising 1/6/2017 In 2015 social media was abuzz with the antics of a man named Kirby Delauter. I had forgotten all about him. On this day in 2011 I posted the following: On this day 15 years ago ...

  Yesterday when the writing part of brain was stuck I solicited suggestions for getting myself unstuck. A friend recommended fresh air and movement. I have that on my agenda for today.  Today’s search for topics brings us someone who clearly knows and benefits from this already: Howard County resident George Pelikan. Here he is biking the Old Ellicott City Connector Trail. Video from the YouTube channel of George Pelikan It’s not long, about two and a half minutes. In case you have wondered what the Connector Trail is like, this will give you a pretty good idea. (I don’t know the music Pelikan has used for the soundtrack and he doesn’t appear to have credited the musician. Grr.) I imagine that observing the changes through the seasons here could be pretty amazing. Parts of the video feel a little bit like being on a thrill ride but it’s mostly pretty mellow. If you’re interested in learning more about this relatively new trail, (Spring, 2024) take a look at this page on the F...

  The news this morning is enraging and frightening. I’m writing today not because it doesn’t matter to me but because showing up here has become a promise I keep to myself.  - - jam ***** I’m having a bit of a problem. The Baltimore Banner has featured another one of those Howard County homes again. You know, the kind that has all the bells and whistles and sits on a massive lot and costs more than a million dollars. Correction: more than two million dollars. That’s not the problem. The problem is me. I usually find these luxury real estate offerings ghastly. This one is faintly attractive. I don’t hate it. This worries me. For sale: Modern, custom-built home in Clarksville , Jason Freeman, Baltimore Banner Image from Baltimore Banner real estate article, attributed to Bright MLS Here are all the deal breakers for me:  House is too big  Lot is too big Location (for me) is terrible Too expensive, obviously  Walkability? Zero. What I like: The kitchen sink faces...