Skip to main content

Sunday Roundup


We’re going to do a bit of this and that today, friends. It’s just that kind of day.

If you live in Harpers Choice I am so jealous that you got to have online voting in your Village election. When can we get that Columbia-wide? And yet, Harpers Choice residents didn’t reach a quorum in their election so voting has been extended until May 12th. Do you live in Harpers Choice? Do you know someone who does? Tell them to VOTE!

Ahem.

I can’t believe that I failed to mention our beloved library system during National Library Week. What was I thinking? Well, I was thinking that I have a big post in the works about local institutions supporting the community during Covid-19, so I’d get there eventually. Oops. Sorry I missed your big week, Howard County Library! (And look for something on the blog, soon.)

One last thing. I’m listening to the interview on Elevate Maryland with School Superintendent Martirano and he touched on something that’s of personal concern to me. In discussing the challenges of reopening the schools at some point down the road, he addresses safety. Parents may be reluctant to send children back. And teachers and other staff members who are in high risk categories may be fearful to return before there is a vaccine/successful treatment protocols in place. If we reopen the schools before we have reached that point, would there be enough employees available?

This is worth considering. I don’t work for the school system but I do teach young children and I’m in a high risk category. This is something I worry about. I imagine that Superintendent Martirano is getting plenty of feedback both from parents and teachers/staff on this topic.

I read this week that the Howard County Farmers Markets will be back this year. I’m looking forward to learning what safety measures they will have in place. We love our market in Oakland Mills.

One last thing: a special Birthday Wish for a young friend of the blog who lives in Long Reach and has been a big supporter of the children’s dance parties at the Chrysalis. Wishing her a very happy day filled with family love and joyful surprises.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teacher Gifts

Today is the last day of school before the Winter Break. It’s a good time to remember the far-reaching nature of our public school system. You may not have children. You may have sent your children to independent schools. It matters not. You will be impacted one way or another. Yesterday I read a long thread on Facebook about several waves of illness in the schools right now. There’s influenza A and norovirus, I believe. And of course there’s COVID. Apparently in some individual schools the rate of illness is high enough for school admin to notify parents.  When I was little the acceptable holiday gift for a teacher was one of those lovely floral handkerchief squares. (I don’t know what it was for male teachers. They were rare in my elementary years.) These days the range of teacher gifts is wider and I have fond memories of Target gift cards which I have written about before. I think it’s safe to say that giving one’s teacher Influenza, norovirus, or COVID is not the ideal holiday...
1 comment
Read more

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...
1 comment
Read more

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...
1 comment
Read more