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The Big B: Baltimore Banner and Big Business


 
Tonight in Downtown Columbia, an event about Howard County. 



Images from event announcement 

It’s from 5-7:30 pm this evening at Merriweather Row, and it’s free. Click the link above to learn more and to register. Truth in advertising: I have no idea if registration is still open. It’s worth a shot.

I’ve known about this event for a while and probably should have mentioned it sooner but honestly I’m ambivalent about big events like these. There are so many dynamics at work here and I’m prone to overthinking. You, on the other hand, might get a lot out of it.

The two major topics of discussion:




The event itself is being put on by the Baltimore Banner, which has recently announced its expansion into the Howard County news market. It looks like the ‘producer’ of the event is the Howard Hughes Corporation (other financial partners are listed below.)

So, who is in charge here? Who came up with the idea for this event? Since I don’t know, let’s just call it a partnership. I can see how it might be beneficial to a number of organizations. Before I start overthinking again…

A good friend reminded me recently that I’ve been writing for years about needing good local journalism. Here’s the Banner putting in the work. Good for them. Speaking of which, here’s a lovely article about soon-to-be retired interim president and CEO of Columbia Association Dennis Mattey.


Giving someone like Mattey, who’s had such a long career in the community, such a gracious send-off in print is the kind of thing that only local journalism can do. I’m grateful for that. I did note something at the end of the article that piqued my curiosity.

The Matteys have also been looking at getting a condo in Downtown Columbia. They may also find a place in Denver, where their two grandchildren live.

“In 10 or 15 years, Columbia is going to be absolutely amazing,” said Mattey, ever the booster. “Once Lakefront North gets developed, this is where you want to be in Maryland. Absolutely.”

Lakefront North. That’s one of the Downtown areas that Howard Hughes is developing, right?


Images from HHC presentation on Lakefront North, February 2022


And of course I’m going to send you over to The Merriweather Post for more information on that. 

So, tonight: big event, networking, major players, lots of aspirational big talk. Tomorrow: maybe send a thank-you note to Dennis Mattey before he retires? 

Local journalism is great but personal thank-you notes are priceless.










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