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The Missing Boutiques

  How would you define the word “boutique”? According to Merriam Webster: I’ve got boutiques on my mind this morning after reading about the opening of Victorian Flower Child.  Boutique offering vintage, handmade designs opens in Old Ellicott City , April Santana, Baltimore Sun Well, of course it’s in Old Ellicott City. Where else would it be? Victorian Flower Child is owned by Jenesse Wannall, longtime associate of designer Lee Andersen. Ms. Wannall describes her business on her Yelp listing as follows: We are a small batch clothing and accessory company that makes all of our clothes and accessories by hand here in our studio in Maryland. We also upcycle one-of-a kind pieces and fix and resell vintage pieces as well.  Please come and check us out soon at 8370 Main St. Right next to the Wine Bin! So, where is that, exactly? This map is courtesy of Mapquest because Google didn’t even know what the heck I was talking about. Close your eyes for a minute and think. Are there ...
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A Whole Lava Nothing

  Are you ready for some tabloid twaddle?  County Council erupts over inspector general’s access to county records , WBFF Fox 45 Really? “Erupts?” I didn’t know our local government was prone to eruption.  Actual eruption courtesy of ABC News  Did people shout and scream? Throw chairs? Stand on the dais? Did angry crowds of observers wave pitchforks and rush at the council? Against my better judgement I invested 3:49 seconds on this Fox News piece and there is NO ERUPTION. I’m not sure it even goes as far as “sparks flew.”  Members of the council disagreed. I guess that qualifies as an “alert the media” moment for the folks at Fox, especially if there’s even a remote possibility of making Black people in leadership look bad. Having watched the piece I feel qualified to ask a question.  The Inspector General says that she doesn’t have access to information she needs as the law stands now. Council member Opel Jones says she does have that access without chang...
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Is Nothing Sacred?

  Maybe you have religion. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you celebrate certain religious holidays. Maybe you don’t.  Your celebration of those holidays could be deeply rooted in faith. On the other hand, they might be more of an affirmation of family connection. Or perhaps you observe them in a secular way, as seasonal cultural festivals.  You may have a spiritual practice that I know nothing about which may or may not have recurring holy days. You may be completely areligious.  First things first: whoever you are, you’re welcome here.  I’m writing this not because I want to pry into the religious lives of my readers but rather to address the brouhaha surrounding the proposed HCPSS 2027-2028 calendar.  Howard County Board of Education approves 27-28 school calendar with shortened spring break , Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun There has been some vocal criticism to the new calendar because of the reduction of spring break. And some folks have drawn a straight line f...
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A Better World

  Children learn what they live. Howard County Nature Preschool Sing-Along Circle This short video was shared on YouTube by the North American Association for Environmental Education.  Although it’s labeled as a Sing-Along Circle, I’d say only about the last five seconds or so show the sing-along. What you have here is a one minute and forty-nine second introduction to world of the Nature Center Preschool.  There’s no explanatory narration. It isn’t necessary. The pictures tell the story. We see children exploring the natural environment at the school’s home at Historic Belmont Park, and engaging in hands-on activities in their indoor classroom. The Howard County Nature Preschool is an initiative of the Howard County Conservancy It has been a hard week for many of us who have been contemplating and mourning how childhood can somehow transform into violence and degradation. I invite you to immerse yourself in a different world for a moment. Take a few deep breaths. Imagin...
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Eventful and Hopeful

  The day is going to start out damp but it doesn’t look like a total loss.  That’s not  a scientific analysis but rather a hopeful prediction. The Farmers Markets in Clarksville and Old Ellicott City are happening as usual. The Oakland Mills Fall Festival kicks off at 11 am with a performance by the Oakland Mills High School Band. (I’ll be the one giving people the death stare if they chat during the performance.) I’m must say I’m disappointed that Old Ellicott City hasn’t moved on from its Hogwarts-centric autumn event.  From the following comment on Facebook it looks like I’m not the only one: Isn't it time to move this event past Harry Potter? There's so much more out there in the magical books oeuvre. Make it so, folks.  Word of warning: There’s an enormous event at the center of town this weekend which just might impact traffic? Just a thought to consider as you plan your day. Looking towards tomorrow, here’s another good reason to head to Clarksville Comm...
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F ³: Committed to the Bit

  Some things you learn in school. Some things you learn on the job, or from books.  Some things you learn from your kids. I refer to the expression, “commitment to the bit.” As in, “You have to admire their commitment to the bit.” My kid, in turn, very likely learned that term because of the amassed body of work known as the Vlogbrothers . John and Hank Green - - brothers in real life - - began a video blog in 2007 with the intent to pass communications back and forth on a regular basis.  They’re still doing it. Along the way they’ve done silly things, addressed serious issues, built community, and transformed a desire for change by turning it into a zany approach both to learning initiatives and to philanthropic ventures.  I missed all of this but my kid did not. They were watching YouTube at the height of vlogbrothers phenomenon. It’s only in the last year or so that I discovered them and realized the connection to a world that my youngest and their friends had be...
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The Twisted Mindset of the In Crowd

  Did you ever really want to be one of the Cool Kids? I did, once upon a time. Let’s think about that today. What are the qualities that make you “in” with the In Crowd? What would you do to gain that status? What would you do to hold on to it? What makes a group of people feel emboldened to do horrible, demeaning things to a helpless individual? Why are they almost always men? The persistent reporting by student journalists at Cornell has brought those questions to a wider audience over the last week.  As we’ve been trying to process those horrors another story has hit local news which feels eerily similar to me. Howard High School JV football players charged after locker room bullying,   Blair Sabol, WMAR 2 News This quote from the mother of the victim is shattering. “He's been beaten, battered, kidnapped, assaulted, sexually assaulted, false imprisonment, robbed," Bridges said. "I would like charges pressed to the full extent of what occurred to my child." Both ...
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