Humanity in HoCo

There are plenty of things that are bothering me this morning. It occurs to me that my readers would probably appreciate more than my daily laments and rants. We all have plenty of our own.

I have been wracking my brain to think of one positive local thing that I’m prepared to write about today. To be honest, the best thing that happened to me yesterday was that I went to a doctor’s appointment full of trepidation and came away reassured, largely because the doctor treated me like a human being. The doctor practices in Columbia so we’re going to count this as a local story - - okay? (Let’s call this artistic license.)

A brief sermon here: every time someone treats you like a human being or you treat someone else like a human being the good released into the world is powerful, no matter how small. It’s hard to keep that in mind right now, but it’s absolutely true. If you’ve read the blog for any length of time you are familiar with this quote from Aesop:

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. - - Aesop

Listening to and interacting with someone with genuine respect and empathy is a deeply kind thing to do. When we experience that we carry away a kind of a glow - - a reaffirmation of our own self worth. How desperately we all need that, especially today. 

I wonder how people develop the capacity to be so respectful and affirming. And why others just…don’t. 

Here comes some bonus content. As I left something sparkly in the waiting room caught my eye. It was a Christmas tree* in the corner of the room. Something like this.

On the very top was something I didn’t recognize at first. Something brown. With googly eyes?

Holy moly, it was a poop emoji pillow*. But that’s not all. It was wearing a hat.

It was a hot pink sequined cap* that looked rather like a shower cap until I realized it was meant to be a surgical cap. 

Could it be that I was looking at a colonoscopy tree? I mean, it was a gastroenterologist’s office.

I did not laugh out loud but I definitely chuckled all way to my car. 

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Are there places in Howard County where you routinely come away with the feeling that you’ve been treated like a human being? Feel free to give them a shoutout.

Village Green/Town² Comments

*These are not my photos. All were found using a basic Google search.

Mental Health, Medication, and Mayhem

 

Heart-wrenching conversations I never thought I’d see are taking place right now about young people and mental health care.  Parents are terrified that newly confirmed Robert Kennedy Secretary of Health and Human Services will make good on his threats to strip doctors of the ability to prescribe medications for depression, anxiety - - even those for ADHD. Yet again we see an insistence to interfere with doctor-patient relationships and the desire to prevent parents from doing what they know is best for their children.

Almost beyond belief are Kennedy’s proposals to send these young people to so called “wellness farms” in lieu of allowing them to be supported by medically vetted and time tested treatments. 

With these conversations on my mind it’s not surprising that this post on Instagram caught my eye.

Howard County Association of Student Councils is hosting a Mental Health Panel event in collaboration with Nourish Teens at the Elkridge Branch Library in February 22nd from 3:30 - 5:30 pm.

If you are interested in mental health and psychology, come to the HSI mental health panel to learn from professionals and pre-med students and ask questions! If you cannot attend in-person, there is an online option. Snacks and service hours are provided.

From the Library Events page:

Nourish Teens: Teens Teach Self Care Fair

Hockley Room, Elkridge Branch

Saturday, February 22, 2025

3:30pm - 5:30pm

Program Type: Community Events, Health & Wellness

Age Group: Teens

Registration for this event will close on February 22, 2025 @ 3:30pm.

Program Description:

Teens develop leadership, teaching, and interpersonal skills while making a meaningful contribution to their community. Gain access to engaging, age-appropriate lessons that inspire curiosity and promote healthy habits.

Nourish Teens is a Teens Teach program, developed, planned, and presented by community teens.

A shout out to Board of Education member Jolene Mosley who shared this information on Instagram. Her posts have consistently alerted me to local education-related issues and happenings.

You must pre-register. Here is the library’s registration form.  But HCASC also has their own registration form and they are not identical. The latter is more comprehensive so I’d use that one. Please note that there is a remote option in case teens can’t make it in person. 

This program was probably planned before the current challenges to teen mental health care by Kennedy. I hope there will be accommodations made to address young people’s concerns on that topic.

Do you have concerns about how these proposals could impact young people in Howard County? Let me know.

Village Green/Town² Comments

Where’s My Dinner?

 

We did not lose power as a result of last night’s storm and high winds. You can bet I am suitably grateful about that. We had a perfectly boring, rather retro suburban dinner planned and I was able to cook it without any difficulties. 

It used to be that a good deal of Columbia felt insulated from power outages due to our lines being underground. That hasn’t been as true in recent years, or, maybe I’m imagining things. That being said, I’ve certainly observed a fair amount of smugness over the years from the Columbia contingent when the topic of power outages comes up.

So I went to bed feeling grateful that the power outage gods had passed over us and this morning I woke up feeling like an idiot. I’ll tell you why. 

Last night I saw post after post from folks looking for restaurants that hadn’t been impacted by the power outage. Eat in, carry out, delivery - - you name it. Sadly, there were plenty of posts from restaurants announcing that they’d be closed for the evening due to power loss. My heart hurt for them because I knew they’d be impacted not just by the loss of business but because all of the perishable food they had onsite might be rendered unusable, too. 

So something about those inquiries from the public looking for dinner irked me. All of these poor restaurants suffering losses and all they care about is their own personal dinner? They don’t care as long as their own Sunday night dinner plans are accommodated?

“Where’s my dinner?”

When I went online this morning a light dawned : our desperate restaurant seekers didn’t have power, either. Perhaps what they had planned to eat was now an impossibility.

Duh.

How often have I done that? How often do we all do that? We take the information that we have and form an opinion based on our own personal experiences and inclinations. A lot of the time that works for us but sometimes we are very, very wrong.

In this case I kept my short-sighted opinions to myself and my skewed perceptions didn’t harm anyone. But it has really set me to thinking about how much harm is done in our community and even more broadly when people are content to form opinions and act on them with only a limited amount of information, plus: the general resistance (inability?) to rethink once more information becomes available.

Frankly, it creeps me out.

Village Green/Town² Comment 

Getting Back to Nature in Columbia

 

Today the Robinson Nature Center is hosting their first-ever Bird Bonanza. It’s a family -friendly event presented in cooperation with Howard County Recreation and Parks:

Join Robinson staff, volunteers, and the Howard County Bird Club to celebrate birds and contribute to the worldwide community science effort of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Stop by tomorrow between Noon-4pm to come get a picture with our Osprey friend and enjoy fun activities, live animals, and bird walks.

This event will be held rain or shine.

Image from Robinson Nature Center social media 

What to expect:

• Bird-themed crafts, games, and activity stations. 
• Meet a live raptor. 
• Gather at the campfire and warm beverages 
• Guided bird walk with the Howard County Bird Club 
• Help with the Great Backyard Bird Count. 
• Beginners encouraged! 
• Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

For ages 3 yrs +. Located at the Robinson Nature Center. $6 for center member, $8 for nonmember.  You need to preregister and buy tickets for this event. Please note that they intend to hold it even if it rains. 

Bird Bonanza, Sunday, February 16, 1-4 pm

I must say I really like the words “beginners encouraged!” I wish that more experiences in life came labeled that way. 

A recent article in the Baltimore Banner featured another event at the Robinson Nature Center:

The women who spent a sweet morning learning about maple sugaring in Columbia, Jess Nocera

The article mentions that one of those in attendance grew up in Northeast Ohio, “a big maple sugaring area.” I did, too. I have happy memories of attending the Maple Festival in Chardon and sampling molten syrup “stirs” that we stirred into maple cream candy. If the nature center ever hosts an all-out maple festival, I’ll be the first to sign up.

One piece of information about the Robinson Nature Center that I’ve been meaning to share. I learned this a while back but hadn’t figured out how to work it into a blog post. 

The nature center is a participant in a program called Museums for All, which enables visitors showing a SNAP EBT card to receive free admission. This program is a way of removing existing barriers for people who might otherwise be barred from museums. This means that they are welcome to experience the opportunities that museums in their own communities are offering. 

This reminded me of the commitment that the Inner Arbor Trust has made to provide free programming in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. I like it. 

What do you have planned for this wet February day?

Village Green/Town² Comments 

Black History, Frank Turner, and the Importance of Remembering

Yesterday, like many of us, I learned from reading the announcement by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball that former Delegate Frank Turner had died. Turner was the first Black delegate to represent Howard County in Annapolis in the General Assembly. He was elected in 1995 and served until 2019.

Let me just pause for a moment here. Howard County had its first Black delegate in 1995? I’m appalled by that but perhaps not surprised. 

If you are able, please read Turner’s obituary in the Baltimore Banner.

Frank Turner, Howard County’s first Black delegate, dies at 77, Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner

I did not know Mr. Turner personally and much of what I read in his obituary was new to me. I knew that he was a local legend but I didn’t have any in-depth knowledge of his life and career in public service. As we are seeing such a concerted effort to completely erase Black history and accomplishments in this country I hope our community will take some time to learn more and contemplate Turner’s important role in Howard County history as an advocate, educator, and public servant.

Right now would be an excellent time. Before someone decides to suppress it. 

I read many heartfelt tributes yesterday which came from Howard County folks who knew and/or worked with Turner throughout his life. It reinforced to me how little I knew and how inadequate I feel to the task of remembering him here. If you are reading this - - I’m putting the word out to find someone better qualified to write a guest post about Turner’s life and what he meant to our community.

Would that person be you? Do you know someone you think I should reach out to? Let me know. 

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Today from 11 am to 4 pm: Howard County’s Black History Expo 2025. The Theme is African Americans and Labor. The event is open to the public and admission is free. 

Village Green/Town² Comments

F ³: Valentine’s Day Edition

 

I hadn’t exactly expected to receive a public service announcement from the discount store Five Below, but: here we are.

Image from Five Below social media 

PSA: Flowers fade, but plushies are forever.

As someone with a longstanding itch to adopt and love adorable stuffed cuddly creatures, I never thought I’d say this. They’re right: flowers fade, but plushies are forever. And maybe that’s why flowers are the better option. Or, rather: do we really want to celebrate love and romance and Valentine friendships by purchasing more stuff that cannot be recycled?

Flowers at least can be composted. Most stuffies will eventually end up in a landfill. (Boy, am I ever a killjoy today!) Now, flowers may not be your thing nor even remotely affordable around Valentine’s Day. That’s okay. What other ways do we have to celebrate and express affection that don’t eventually cause environmental harm?

Many Valentine cards can be recyclable but you need to avoid certain materials if that’s your intent. Then there are consumables like chocolates, baked goods, and special meals. Next up are gifts that can be used again and again and then even passed on to be enjoyed by others, like books, a well-made item of clothing, or a work of art.

Finally - - the truly waste-free Valentine gift: shared experiences. Going to a concert, the theatre, or the movies. A walk in nature. A home cooked meal. I know a few folks for whom a therapeutic massage would be a perfect Valentine gift. It seems to me that if you really know someone and care about them, the possibilities for shared experiences are practically limitless. 

The absolute best Valentine gifts are not necessarily physical items which can be unwrapped, but the ones that show you are paying attention. Who says that you can’t show that you’re paying attention to the environment, too? 

One last thing. In case you wonder what is going on in the Five Below advert at the top of this post…it’s a video tutorial showing you how to make a bouquet out of plushies. What an indignity for our stuffed animal friends! Would you want someone to attach you to a stick? If you’re going the cuddly toy route for Valentine’s Day, perhaps a little more tenderness than this is in order. 

A while back I wrote about a company in England called Loved Before which refurbishes plush toys and resells them with great love and imagination. On this Valentine’s Day I’m happy to share that Loved Before is on the verge of announcing their new United States branch. Teddies are en route as I write this. 

Image from Loved Before London social media 

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or are just hoping for better days ahead, I hope you have a wonderful day today.

Village Green/Town² Comments

Hodgepodge Lodge, or: Mixed-Up Miscellany

 

Okay, I admit it. This post has nothing with the MPT children’s program but I did discover that it has a Howard County connection. I chose that title because I don’t have much for you this morning other than scraps and bits of this and that. 

1. The Howard County Future Farmers of America has released the names of local students honored with their “3.0 Award.”

The 3.0 Award recognizes students enrolled in Agricultural Science courses who achieved a 3.0 or Greater GPA in the 2nd Quarter. 

Revealing my ignorance here: I didn’t know that HCPSS offered an Agricultural Science curriculum. I do now. 

2. I’m curious about this project by Maryland artist Art Hondros. Why Ellicott City? Why the 1940’s?

Hondros recently had an art show in Olney at the BeachKraft Gallery. That’s about all I know. Also: has anyone ever seen Tarzan and the Amazons?

3. This lead-in to an article in the Banner about a ribbon-cutting at the Lakefront annoys me. That is all.

I realize that my objection may put me in the “get off my lawn” category but, really? “Sick view”? Someone over there must have thought they were very clever, methinks.

4. This recent post on Bluesky intrigued me:

My family were "pioneers" in Columbia Md. We lived on one of the security clearance streets. Yes, they had those back in the day. Hard to believe that during my childhood that area was already integrated.

Security clearance streets? Was that really a thing?

5. Highly recommended palate cleanser for whatever ails you. Go read local blogger Mike Hartley until you begin to feel your breathing even out and your heart rate normalizing.

Threw Mikes Eyez, Mike Hartley 

Thought for the day:

There are a tremendous amount of good people. I just wished they would speak out more often. - - Mike Hartley 

Got any scraps to add to my hodgepodge? Let me know. 

Village Green/Town² Comments

Galas, Giving, and Good Works

The deadline to purchase tickets for the Bridges to Housing Stability Heroes for Housing event is today! 

Tickets are $100 and the event will be held at 18th & 21st in Columbia on Monday February 17th. There will be food, cocktails, a silent auction, and music to benefit Bridges to Housing Stability. Their mission is  “to provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County, Maryland.” 

Check out this video to learn more about what they do.

Bridges to Housing Stability 

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There’s an impressive line up of performing artists on the bill for this year’s Luminus fundraising event. Coming up on February 23rd at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, “More Than Hope” will raise funds and awareness in a multicultural celebration.

"More than Hope"  is billed as a Benefit Dance/ Music Concert in Support of Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase here. 

From their website: 

Luminus empowers immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and asylees by offering legal services to help them achieve their goals.

Did you know? Over the past forty years Luminus has worked with community members from over ninety countries of origin. They assist over 3,000 people each year. 

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Got sneakers? 

This year’s Evening in the Stacks to benefit the Howard County Library System will be on February 22nd at the East Columbia Branch. This year’s gala fundraiser, which celebrates the Library’s 85th birthday, will benefit the vital work HCLS does to help prepare young children for kindergarten.

Tickets are $150 (or two for $285) and can be purchased at this link. If the ticket cost is beyond your reach you can support the library by purchasing a raffle ticket our two. Check out the prizes available here.

The birthday theme includes an invitation to wear your sneakers - - this year’s promotional video will get you in the mood.

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If you’re not a gala fundraiser sort of person, I am absolutely sure that all three of these valuable local nonprofits would be happy to receive a donation in any amount and/or have opportunities for volunteers to support their missions. 

Village Green/Town² Comments

The Hunters Are Afraid

What we are seeing unfold nationally right now are the vengeful actions of deeply racist people. They are also deeply fearful people. There is no other way to explain the venomous suppression of Black History being foisted upon the American people: wealthy white people, who hold our country by the throat, are afraid. 

Afraid of losing power. Afraid of facing the consequences of their own actions. Afraid of a future where they and people who look like them are no longer the default “Americans.”

I’m bringing back this post from last February because it feels frighteningly relevant.

Until the Lion Tells the Story, Village Green/Town² 2/25/2024

The other evening I found myself drawn in to a documentary film on public television entitled “Finding Fellowship.” It’s the story of a community in Maryland that doesn’t exist anymore, called Quince Orchard. From the film’s website:

FINDING FELLOWSHIP, BUILDING COMMUNITY

How can a community that evolved for more than 100 years only carry on in the memories of a few surviving members? This story is personal to us because we are descendants of this place – our family has lived here since the Civil War. But it’s relevant to you too, wherever you live. There are countless Quince Orchards all across the country. Communities that no longer exist on the map, not because of economic stagnation, but because of progress.

As I watched the film I was reminded of the efforts of our own local historians of Ellicott City Black History. There’s something deeply poignant about the desire to unearth and protect the stories of people who have been traditionally forgotten or even mischaracterised by the (largely white) writers of history books. One only has to watch the reactions on the Finding Your Roots television series to see how profound an effect each revelation of their past has on Black participants.

They are the reactions of people whose history has been suppressed.

Often there’s a sense that Black History month dwells largely on bigger-than-life heroes. Every year the same culturally approved scholars, inventors, small business owners, and inspirational politicians are trotted out in BHM curriculum materials. It is well meaning, I guess. But there’s a sort of breathless amazement about it - - Gosh, did you know Black people could be inventors? Be brave? Be really, really smart? It almost seems to be an exercise in silently asserting that most Black folks aren’t anything like that, so let’s all be surprised. 

Every dang year.

The older I get, the more I see Black History Month as a reminder that we haven’t and still don’t value Black lives enough that a Black History Month isn’t necessary. Think of how long the former students of the Harriet Tubman School had to fight to preserve their school and the stories it contains about segregation and systemic racism here in Howard County. Think of how hard Marlena Jareaux/Howard County Lynching Truth and Reconciliation have had to push uphill to be heard and gain even a small modicum of acceptance for their historical work.

“Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” - - Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, in 1958. 

The real story of Black History Month to me is the longstanding erasure of American human beings simply because they were Black. That is why the film Finding Fellowship truly moved me. It is history told by people who respect their subjects and care about getting it right. It’s not about superheroes or major court cases or military victories. It’s about a small, once segregated Maryland town and three churches.

If you get a chance to see Finding Fellowship, I hope you will take the time. It’s not splashy. It draws you in gently, like stories told on a front porch or a quiet sermon that leads you to insights you hadn’t yet been able to see. 

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The older I get, the more I see Black History Month as a reminder that we haven’t and still don’t value Black lives enough that a Black History Month isn’t necessary. 

Silencing Black History Month is an act of cowardice. We already know that these people don’t want to value Black lives. Now we know they’re even afraid to hear the stories of Black Americans. 

What a puny, pathetic ideology that must be. 

Village Green/Town² Comments

Play It!

Do you know any high school pianists? It looks like they are hoping for more entrants to the Young Musicians Piano Solo Competition at HCC:

Attention High School Pianists! Deadline Extended! You now have until February 18 to submit your video entry! Showcase your talent and compete for cash prizes in the Young Musicians Piano Solo Competition at HCC! Prizes: 1st Place: $1,000 HCC scholarship plus $350 cash, 2nd Place: $250 cash, 3rd Place: $150 cash.

For more information and an application, visit the Piano Competition page on the HCC website.  There will be a Showcase Concert on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m where winners will be announced and those in attendance will get a vote in choosing the Audience Favorite.

True confession: the real reason that this piano competition made it into the blog today has to do with the fact that three piano stories presented themselves to me within 24 hours. I took this as a sign.

The Washington Post featured the story of a young man named Josiah Jackson who rescued a dilapidated piano a Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. 

"It was in very rough shape: Dust was everywhere, and there was a gluey substance under the keys that prevented them from working," he said. "I'd never seen anything like it."

Jackson used a vacuum attachment to suck up the piles of dust, then he pried out the 88 keys and cleaned them one by one with a damp cloth. He scraped up the gummy muck that was stuck inside and used a rag to wipe the interior of the piano.

"I figured out the reason the piano was such a sticky mess was because it was next to a bar, and people had spilled their drinks on the keys," he said. "It was definitely the biggest challenge I've ever had."

An airport piano was filthy and out of tune. He fixed it during a layover., Cathy Free, Washington Post

There’s nothing local about this story. It just made me feel good. And since I was able to locate it through my handy dandy Howard County Library access, I thought I’d share it with you. 

Johnson even has his own YouTube channel called the Piano Doctor. His piano tuning business is located in West Michigan, but his videos give him an international reach. I found a video about the Chicago Airport piano which is nearing two million views.

Cleaning a Gross Public Piano in the Chicago Airport, Josiah Jackson, The Piano Doctor

Another piano story closer to home comes from UMBC. 

The hills are alive with the sound of piano music, Jennie O’Grady, UMBC Magazine 

Students play on a piano tucked away in the woods across from Fine Arts as part of the installation, "Piano Garden." (Marlayna Demond '11/UMBC)

It’s an unexpected performance opportunity plus it’s an art piece of sorts, presented by Livewire: Resounding at UMBC last fall.

“Piano Garden” is the latest “performance” of New Zealand-born composer Annea Lockwood’s ever-growing outdoor series of “Piano Transplants” compositions in which, since 1969, defunct pianos are burned, submerged in water, or—as is the case at UMBC— left to be taken over by trees and plant life.

It is interesting to note that artist Annea Lockwood’s description of the Piano Transplants project stipulates:

PLEASE NOTE: All pianos used should already be beyond repair.

I don’t know if the piano in the woods at UMBC was beyond repair but it certainly wasn’t beyond playing. 

“I always look for a practice room with a window, but sometimes I can’t get one,” [student Luke Heichlinger] says, explaining that he and his friend, Hannah, originally joked that the piano in the woods might be a hallucination. Thankfully, it wasn’t—so they came back the next day prepared with sheet music. 

There you have it. Three sorts of pianos. One for competition, one transformed from years of use and abuse, and one left in the woods to decompose. An odd juxtaposition but, after all, it’s Monday. 

Village Green/Town² Comments

The Show Must Go On

I had a visit from our youngest this week. We talked a bit about current events and the onslaught of distressing news right now. Something interesting emerged.

“I have a friend who’s never had anyone to teach them how to tell whether things on the Internet are real or not. And right now there’s so many upsetting things out there. So we sit down and I have been explaining how you can tell if something is fake, or how to tell if something is an unreliable or discredited source.”

I was proud. And I was grateful to have a kid who is capable of doing that and would take the time to do that to help someone else. 

I’ve been thinking a lot since then about what makes it possible to be media literate/savvy these days. My kid is a graduate of the county schools, has a liberal arts degree from UMBC, and has family who reads, discusses, and analyzes current events. A lot.

Is that where it comes from? Did education develop and hone those critical thinking skills and did family experiences provide continued opportunities to stretch and deepen them? And I wonder if part of it is something innate that makes one want to dig deeper and understand, reaching beyond surface soundbites and clickbait?

In the midst of my pondering I came across this post by writer Ally Henny:

Believe it or not, but being educated in the arts is also an important part of media literacy. 

A lot of people, and by people I mean folks who use this app and not just young people, who are unable to discern when things are staged, when stuff has been edited, when a video is a skit, satire, etc. I believe that a lot of this is happening at least in part because of a lack of exposure or familiarity with the arts. 

And, of course, this isn’t a judgment. But I think it might help explain a lot.

My kid, this kid who is no longer a kid, is my one hundred per cent musical theatre kid. Participated in band, choral singing, and acapella groups. Performed in school musicals and went to musical theatre camps. Has a degree in theatre studies. Teaches voice, piano, drama, and directs both musicals and straight drama productions.

Boom.

This reminds me of a piece I wrote back in October about the Humanities.

Studying topics within the humanities (this includes the arts, remember) provides us with the tools to think creatively and critically, to reason, and ask questions. Additionally, it fosters the ability to look at things from different points of view, which, in turn, develops empathy. All of these things are crucial in becoming active and informed in civic engagement. They contribute to building better informed and more consistent voters plus they are strong motivators for community engagement and volunteering.

Human brains are not merely overgrown vending machines with neat rows of separated silos of products waiting to be purchased. So much about how we learn and who we are is an amazing interconnected web of possibilities. To devalue and eliminate the humanities cuts us off from a profound element of who we are.

It also weakens our ability to participate in democracy or even to understand it.

If we can’t tell whether things that are being presented to us are real or false, how can we stay informed and engage/participate in a democratic society?

…being educated in the arts is also an important part of media literacy. 

Not the only part, mind you, but an important one. And we, as parents or as role models to young people, can empower that essential growth in media literacy by validating their involvement in arts experiences. And then someday it will be one of those kids sitting down with a friend and showing them how to discern truth from trickery.

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An almost unbelievable postscript to this story is the announcement late yesterday that the current President intends to seize control of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It could not be more clear: attempts to control and suppress artistic expression are the hallmarks of anti-democratic political systems. - - jam

Village Green/Town² Comments

F ³: All the Fashion

Have you noticed how food trends come in waves? When I was in college a menu item called “Lyonnaise Potatoes” was all the rage. It was everywhere. Surely you remember when arugula burst onto the culinary scene, or mesclun/spring mix. Then came sous vide, followed by Wagyu steak…

What about in home decorating? How many homes have been forever changed because of those two little words: open concept? Recently the words on home shows that make me tilt my head like a dog hearing an unfamiliar sound are “elevated” and “moment”. You can even put them together for greater effect: 

We’re creating an elevated moment by choosing mermaid tile for the shower.

I admit that my concept of the word elevate prompts me to imagine a whole lot of levitation going on. It strikes me that this might be dangerous in the shower.

As to “moment”…if you let the fireplace have a moment won’t the other parts of the house be jealous? What will you say to the foyer? The powder room? Who gets the “moment” experience and who gets overlooked?

Yes, I think too much. But you knew that.

Lastly, a word I’ve been seeing a lot on social media over the last several years is “impactful.” My brain tells me that this is not a real word. And yet people keep using it. So, I looked it up. This is what I learned.

Is “Impactful” a Word?, Shundalyn Allen, Grammarly

• Impactful emerged in the 1960s as an adjective meaning “manifesting a great effect or impact.” 

• Some critics reject impactful as an illogical, unnecessary, and clumsy piece of jargon. 

• Yes, impactful is a word, but it’s likely to annoy at least some of your readers. If you want to substitute another word for impactful, use a synonym such as influential, powerful, or effective.

Here I thought this word sprang into existence no more that four or five years ago and it has been floating around since the 1960’s. Oof.

I don’t think for one moment that those of us who find it odd will have any impact on its widespread usage. It will keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny until its current popularity wears off. Then it will retire to the place where old and tired buzzwords go. It will not be alone. Possibly “vibrant” will be there, along with “engagement” and “influencer”.

They will feast on Lyonnaise Potatoes and Spring Mix in their open concept home with elevated furnishings and moments of luxury.

Are there any currently popular words that make you wince, rub you the wrong way or just plain puzzle you? Let’s have a little word play today. 

Village Green/Town² Comments 

HoCo Hospitality Highlights

In local business news…

Lost Ark Distilling Company has announced that it will be closing February 15th.

Lost Ark opened in 2016 with the mission of crafting American Rum. They also created a cocktail venue and held special events. I honestly don’t know much about them but I was a big fan of Lady Anne’s Rum Punch Pina Colada Jam ​made by Neat Nick Preserves using rum made by Lost Ark.

They’re inviting folks to stop by for one last visit before they close.

The Little Market Cafe in Old Ellicott City is closed right now but have no fear. Its only temporary while they make renovations.

Exciting Updates from Little Market Cafe!

We wanted to share some important news with all of you, our amazing customers! Little Market Cafe will be closing this Sunday at 4 PM to allow us to make some much-needed renovations to our kitchen and floors. We’re so excited about these upgrades and can’t wait to welcome you back with a refreshed space on March 1st as we kick off Mardi Gras celebrations in style!

While our cafe is closed, we will still be accepting catering orders, and our team will be working out of Morsberger’s Tavern to ensure you get the delicious food you love. If you have any catering needs, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Stay tuned for updates on our renovations and the exciting events we have planned. Thank you for being part of the Little Market Cafe family, and we can’t wait to celebrate Mardi Gras with you when we reopen!

Their social media game is strong, so you can keep up with them in the interim on Facebook and Instagram.

Finally, Fox and Barrel in Ellicott City is reopening today after being closed since early January for renovations and menu updates.

They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not sure how the roads are right at this minute but I’m sure they’d love to see you today if it’s safe enough to drive. We went there a year or so ago and it’s a sweet little place. I took a bunch of pics for a blog post but never got around to it. It will be fun to see how it has changed.

Have a good day, stay safe and keep me posted on other interesting business news.

Village Green/Town² Comments

The People in Your Neighborhood

 

I do not know what it is like to be an immigrant, or to be undocumented. I do not know what it is like to be a Federal worker, either. Strangely enough, I can feel for them. My heart goes out to them. I can see the wholly unnecessary cruelty being imposed on them and know it is wrong and inhumane.

Why? Because they are my neighbors. And because, as the sign says:

“It shouldn’t have to happen to you for it to matter to you.”

So that brings me to Federal workers. There are many who live here in Howard County and until quite recently I wouldn’t have seen any connection between them and County residents who have come here from other countries. Yet now they are linked essentially by the fact that they are targets of a new administration whose goal is to slash and burn. 

It’s breathtaking how fast that has happened, isn’t it?

A word today in support of our neighbors who are Federal workers. Maryland State Comptroller Brooke Lierman shared the following post on Facebook yesterday:

This is a shout out to our federal workers. 

They are nurses, scientists, social workers, doctors, engineers, assistants, accountants, air traffic controllers, lawyers, TSA workers, food safety inspectors, park rangers, water inspectors, auditors - and more. 

They are moms, dads, grandparents, singles, community volunteers, food-pantry-donors, neighbors. 

They work at the Veterans Administration (the largest agency), US AID (fight for it!), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NOAA, HHS, the Dept of Education, Defense, Homeland Security, the Dept of Transportation, the IRS, the Smithsonian and more.

They are there for us: every single one of us. They don't check to see if Republicans or Democrats will drink the water or meat they test; they don't ask what state you're from and then deny you entry at the Smithsonian; they don't care who is on a train, car, bus, or airplane - they want to keep us all safe. They care for our veterans. They want to protect our families. They want to save us land to explore. They are us.

Right now is the toughest time in my lifetime for our federal workers. And I know many groups, unions, and attorneys general are fighting to protect them. 

Our federal workers are part of what makes America, America. 

So, THANK YOU to our federal workers. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am with you; we are with you.

Have you seen this fact sheet?

Text only:

The Truth About FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

• Federal Employees comprise just 1.87% of the American workforce
• 4.3% of the federal budget amounts to federal workforce compensation
• The ratio of federal workers to national population has steadily decreased for more than a 1/2 century
• Federal employees are paid 25% less compared to private sector counterparts
• Only 10% of federal employees are fully remote
• 79.4% of federal working hours are spent at an in-person workspace

1 OUT OF 3 Federal employees is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Force

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE MORE EDUCATED

Federal workers are:

• 53% more likely to have at least a bachelor's degree

• 120% more than twice as likely to have an advanced degree than private-sector workers

SOURCES

Federal Salary Council Working Group, U.S. Office of Management and Budget , U.S. Office of Personnel Management, U.S. Congressional Budget Office

*****

Here’s the crux of the matter as far as I am concerned: immigrants do incredibly valuable work in our community. Federal workers do incredibly valuable work in our community. Oddly enough, the ways in which they contribute to the places where they live can be largely invisible. We can easily take them for granted. 

That would be a mistake. Not just because their work benefits us, but because they are our neighbors. 

Who is my neighbor? Good question. Now would be a good time to reread this piece from June of 2017:

I Don't Know How To Explain To You That You Should Care About Other People, Kayla Chadwick, HuffPost 

I can’t debate someone into caring about what happens to their fellow human beings. The fact that such detached cruelty is so normalized in a certain party’s political discourse is at once infuriating and terrifying.

Which one was a good neighbor?

The one who showed mercy. - - Luke 10:25-37

Village Green/Town² Comments 

Three Things for Your Tuesday

 

Soup is coming. Thank heavens for that.

From our friends over at the Common Kitchen:

SOUPER BOWL WEEKEND

FOUR DAYS ONLY

10 INTERNATIONAL SOUPS 

EAT SOUP, WIN PRIZES!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6TH TO SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9TH

11:30AM - 8PM

Join us for Souper Bowl Weekend and try a cup of soup from our vendors. Each vendor will craft a soup and you get to decide which one is the best. You get one free raffle ticket for attending and you also get one raffle ticket for each soup you purchase.

I went last year and loved the experience. (Beautiful Soup) It seemed like it had been created just for me: I love soup, I’m a fan of the Common Kitchen, and I’m not even remotely jazzed about football. Although I should stress that there’s nothing anti-football about this event. I just happened to find it a refreshing change from all the ‘sportsing’ commentary and general hubbub at this time of year.

On another front, I am happy to see that the Howard County Maryland Black History page on Facebook is sharing information about local Black History Month events. If you are trying to find a lot of this information in one place, take a look there. I applaud Howard County Black History for getting the word out. I tried to make a comprehensive listing last year and it more or less broke my brain. 

Earnest if inadequate attempt to organize information: February 2024

Finally, I’d like to recommend the most recent post in the Howard County Library “Chapter Chats” blog.

A Message to Our Community from Howard County Library Systems on Recent Executive Orders, Tonya Aikens, President & CEO HCLS

I’ve written quite a bit over the last several years about the growing trend to attack and curtail intellectual freedom. The most recent presidential election has amplified this to an alarming degree. But there is no such thing as a free and democratic society without intellectual freedom. If you want to see what it looks like to stand firm in defense of the core values of our democracy, here you are:

At HCLS, our vision, mission, and values remain unchanged. We continue to pursue a vision of an empowered community where all people reach their potential, and our mission remains as your place to learn, grow, and connect. Our organizational values of community, equity, intellectual freedom, learning, and teamwork serve as our foundation. We steadfastly affirm our unwavering commitment to supporting our community and maintaining the core values that guide our work.  

Amen.

Village Green/Town² Comments 

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 TikTok, is out to get the Howard County Schools again. 

I wrote about Libs of TikTok back in August.

Hate Group in the Henhouse  8/22/24, Village Green/Town² 

A reminder:

[Founder Chaya] Raichik uses the accounts to repost content created by left-wingand LGBT people on TikTok, and on other social-media platforms, often with hostile, mocking, or derogatory commentary. The accounts promote hate speech and transphobia, and spread false claims, especially relating to medical care of transgender children. The Twitter account, also known by the handle @LibsofTikTok, has nearly 3 million followers as of February 2024 and has become influential among American conservatives and the political right. Libs of TikTok's social-media accounts have received several temporary suspensions and a permanent suspension from TikTok.

…Some Libs of TikTok posts have resulted in harassment against teachers, medical providers, children's hospitals, libraries, LGBT venues, and educational facilities, several of which received bomb threats after being featured on a post. - - Wikipedia 

The worst thing about this is that it had to be someone from our own community who “reported this” so that Libs of TikTok could unleash an attack. This is someone who is so deeply uncomfortable with the concept of addressing issues of race and the prospect of students developing critical thinking skills that they were willing to draw a big red circle around those students and their teachers and make all of them targets of hate.

Adults have a tendency to roll their eyes about the things that young people care about. It may seem as though it’s all cell phones and social media, TikTok and selfies. It’s far too facile an approach to assume it’s all pop music, fast fashion trends and consumer fads. 

Look at the world they wake up to every day. 

Some are anxious and upset about the new cell phone policy.

Some 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 dread 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 now there’s something new to fear. Libs of TikTok has put a big fat target on their backs. 

So, what will we do? What are the best ways to support our young people, our teachers, and our schools? Because, if we truly care about our kids the way we say that we do, we need to step up like never before.

Ideas? Let me know.

Village Green/Town² Comments 

Learning, Sharing, Celebrating

Yesterday was the first day of Black History Month. Here are some words worth pondering from Erika Strauss Chavarria, President of Columbia Community Care:

Happy Black History Month! We celebrate Black History from January 1st- December 31st. 

Amen to that.

I want to call your attention to some upcoming activities while also acknowledging that there are many many more that will be going on in Howard County throughout the month.

First, an entire five days of learning and celebration beginning tomorrow, February 3rd for Black Lives Matter at School Week. Notice the collaboration at work here. I’m really excited to see this lineup.

Anti Racist Education Alliance, Columbia Community Care, African American Coalition of Howard County, Community Allies of Rainbow Youth, Luminus, Howard County Educators Association.

Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action 2025 - - learn more and register for events here.

Notice the green stripe at the bottom: Free Dinner, Free Admission, Open to Everyone. The planners want to remove barriers that might make it difficult for people to participate. 

On Saturday February 8th the African American Community Roundtable is holding a Community Read-In. 

DROP IN TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AS YOUTH, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS READ BOOKS BY BLACK AUTHORS AND CREATE ARTS AND CRAFTS. THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN, A LITERACY INITIATIVE THAT ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO READ TOGETHER, CENTERING AFRICAN AMERICAN BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

You have your choice of two Howard County Library locations: East Columbia Branch from 12-2 pm or Glenwood Branch from 1-3 pm.

Again, notice the community partners listed at the bottom here. This kind of collaboration makes events like this possible.

And notice the words in the red box this time, which tell you what you can expect: FREE BOOK GIVE AWAYS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. FREE ADMISSION AND PARTICIPATION FOR ALL AGES. LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.

Please feel free to add any other local Black History events in the comments, and keep me posted throughout the month.

Village Green/Town² Comments

Things Worth Believing In, Episode One

A brief episode of Things Worth Believing In this morning.

This evening at 7 PM, the Howard County Dance Festival will take place at Oakland Mills High School. The event is open to the public but you must purchase tickets in advance at this website. 

Howard County Dance Festival Tickets

The cost is ten dollars. No tickets will be sold at the door. Consider bringing some cash to purchase refreshments which will be offered by the Oakland Mills Fine Arts Boosters. 

After the world’s longest January, treat yourself to an evening of performances by all thirteen high school dance companies as well as the 2024-2025 All-County Dance Performance Ensemble. 

We hope for our children and for all young people the opportunity and capacity to believe in something greater than themselves and to experience the joy of diving in and living out their joy.  Perhaps that’s the underlying meaning of a well-known song performed by Leann Womack.*

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'

I hope you dance

If you have a HoCoLocal idea for today’s Things Worth Believing In, let me know.

Village Green/Town² Comments