A Look at a Local Legend

Checking back in today with Local Man on the one-year anniversary of his record-breaking commute. The original post, "Local Man Breaks Record", is my personal favorite of the more than one thousand pieces I have written for this blog. (Many thanks to the Columbia Archives, where I found the inspiration for this piece.)

*****

Village Green/Town² : So, Local Man. It would be great to do a one-year follow-up on your remarkable achievement. Do you have any insights or updates you'd like to share?

Local Man: It has been a fantastic year. I've walked to work at least twice per week, excluding some of the really cold months of winter.

Village Green/Town² : What keeps you going?

Local Man: The realization of the beauty of my Village. Working in a community I love. Lunches with my wife and daughter help, too.

Village Green/Town² : Any downside?

Local Man: Well...the worst thing is that the air pollution of car exhaust is more apparent when you walk!

Village Green/Town² : Have you been able to shave any time off of your seventeen-minute record?

Local Man: Looking at my fitbit, it looks like I got it down to 15 minutes, but I normally keep a casual pace.

Village Green/Town² : After a year of almost continuous training, would you say that you're still happy to be following in the footsteps of Columbia Man?

Local Man: Absolutely. I'd say it has been a mighty fine 12 months. Mighty fine, indeed.

*****

Two must-reads on the school system front today:

"Why This Election Matters" by Bill Woodcock, The 53.

"Sweeping changes are needed on the county's school board" by editorial staff, Howard County Times.

Comments

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else. Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday. Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018. 2018 . But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest. In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...

What Kids Are Thinking

It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed. Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings. And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...

Village Green/Town²

Search This Blog