Village Green/Town²

Today Muslims all over the world will be celebrating Eid. Eid al-Fitr is one of the two official holidays in Islam. It is celebrated on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal and marks the end of the month-long fast observed during the month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast) is an extremely important religious festival observed by Muslims worldwide. It the former of the two Eid holidays in Islam, the latter being Eid al-Adha, therefore is is also referred to as the Lesser Eid.  - -  Anyday Guide Did you know that Monday, March 31st was originally scheduled as a day off for students in the Howard County Schools?  But, when the Board of Education looked at how they could make up school days lost to snow, they choose this day to be reinstated as a school day.  Things I cannot tell you: if they understood how this would impact Muslim students, or if they knew and did not care. I can’t pass judgment on that because I do not know. I do know that t...

  Meanwhile, back at the ranch… Residents to Columbia Association: Leave our facilities alone , Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner I found this article to be helpful in shedding some light onto the current CA controversy . Big news: even if you don’t subscribe to the Banner, you can read it, too. The Howard County Library System has added the Baltimore Banner to its collection of free online resources. Heads up: you will need your Library Card barcode and PIN to do this.   Go to HCLS website Click on Online Resources Under “Download”, click on enewspapers Under Current Enewspaper Issues, click on Baltimore Banner  You will neeed the barcode and PIN for  your library card account to gain access. Next, you will need to enter the designated code to gain free access. Whew! You’re in! Now you just need to find the article. You can search using the handy-dandy magnifying glass icon, or you can simply scroll down until you find it. Even if you don’t want to read the article, you...

 It’s Saturday! Got plans? Here’s a small sampling of what’s available.  It’s the annual CAMOM Children’s Consignment Sale from 8:30 am to 12 pm. (See stipulations above.) Please note: it’s in a new location this year: Trinity Episcopal Church on Route 1 in Elkridge.  The Community Ecology Institute is hosting a Volunteer Day at Freetown Farm from 10 am - 3 pm. They’ll be doing tree planting for stormwater management. The Movement in Music Ensemble is presenting a free concert this evening at Hammond High School beginning at 7:30. The program features Fuchs Serenade memorized and choreographed, plus a selection of works honoring Black and Indigenous composers. Here is the link to register for your free tickets.  If you’re just getting your day started you might want to take a look at the March issue episode edition of The Merriweather Post. The Merriweather Post, March 2025 I’m in complete agreement with the advice that the best thing we can do for the local rest...

  I was headed out to a concert last night in River Hill and thought I’d add to the fun of it by picking up dinner at Clarksville Commons. I went to their website and looked over the list of current food vendors. I pondered steamed momo, the novelty of a glizzy hot dog, or some Indian street food. Mmm… But first, I had to get gas and I headed to our shiny new 7-eleven because I have the app and I get a discount. Plus, it’s convenient.  Something happened to me as I stood there pumping gas. A little voice inside me said, “You could just run in and get a sandwich here and be done with it.” I wouldn’t have to park at the Common Kitchen, walk inside, wander around, make a decision…It would just be easier, wouldn’t it? And that is how I ended up eating a chicken salad sandwich on squishy white bread which came wrapped in a plastic exoskeleton and some strawberry wafer cookies packaged in cellophane. Because it was convenient.  I drove away pondering the concept of convenience....

I admit it. I’ve never understood the rah-rah enthusiasm for the University of Maryland. I’m not from these parts originally. I started out life in Cleveland, Ohio and I can’t remember anyone we knew being enthusiastic about Ohio State. When we lived in Connecticut UCONN was considered by many to be a “safety school” rather than a first choice.  I’m not talking about the actual quality of those academic institutions. I’m talking about local attitudes. So I guess I arrived in Maryland with those engrained prejudices - - that one didn’t go to the state school by choice but because one had to for one reason or another. Maryland is different. The outright enthusiasm and loyalty that people have for UMD is impressive. I couldn’t begin to list all the bright, capable, interesting and accomplished folks I know who spent their college years in College Park. And they’re over the moon if their kids are accepted there, too. It’s almost a religion. Color me perplexed.  I appear before yo...

  One year ago today I could not write. The news from Baltimore about the Key Bridge loomed over the day like an enormous cloud.  Six construction workers perished: Miguel Ángel Luna González, Alejandro Hernández Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, José Mynor López, Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, and Carlos Daniel Hernández.  Today I want to send you over to Baltimore Beat to read a piece about the workers who lost their lives that night and how the Baltimore Museum of Industry is working to honor them. No invisible jobs: Baltimore Museum of Industry exhibit will highlight immigrant workers who died in the Key Bridge collapse , Grace Hebron, Baltimore Beat  “They were living and working what is, in many ways, a typical experience for immigrants who come in and do that middle-of-the night work that nobody else wants to do. We wanted to honor that,” BMI’s executive director Anita Kassof told Hebron .  There’s no paywall. There’s never any paywall at Baltimore ...

  You may have noticed that I just can’t seem to let go of certain things. Over the years certain themes resurface with some regularity.  Here’s one: public transit. Way back in 2013 I had a zany idea for a transit-oriented summer camp option.  Just had a brilliant, brilliant idea. CA and hocogov need to partner on a camp/recreational course for kids where all activities involve learning how to use Howard County Transit to get to the activity site. You want to change attitudes about public Transit? Kid + fun + knowledgeable, adequate supervision.  I returned to this concept in a post entitled “ The People on the Bus ” in June of 2023 when I learned that the RTA was making presentations in HoCo high schools to help students learn how to ride public transit.  My parents used public transit a lot, I used it some, my children very little, if at all. Yet there are compelling environmental reasons to use public transit instead of individual automobiles. What would we ...

Wandering into weird territory this morning, I present two completely unrelated stories which have been hanging around in my consciousness for quite a while now.  1. The stream restoration projects being carried out by CA (the Columbia Association.)  2. The continued digging up of Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park. What do they have in common? Both involve digging. Both have been going on for several years. Both have provoked a good deal of local pushback and distress. And yet they just keep marching forward. In both cases it appears to me that nothing is getting any better. Every so often one reads a disturbing account describing what has transpired, and then - - nothing happens. Possibly a good deal of life is like this and I just haven’t been paying attention.  A quick Google search of Columbia Association stream restoration yields the following: Here’s one for Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park: What brought this to mind today? Two things. 1. A post by the Howard Courier account on ...

Since today is my birthday I suppose I can pretty much do what I want. So I’m going to tell you about a moment in a news story that made me smile this week.  Yes, there’s the Banner article about the Howard County flag design. Did you notice the words below? Esen Paradiso doesn't think Howard County has straight lines. Rather, the farmland showcases the county's curves, while the aqueducts and the Chrysalis amphitheater at Merriweather Park both boast arches. She incorporated these characteristics into her design entry for a new county flag. - - Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner The Chrysalis. Image courtesy of the Inner Arbor Trust  The Chrysalis amphitheater was dedicated in April of 2017 and this week it was referenced as one of the inspirations for a new Howard County flag. That’s breathtaking.  We live in a place where it’s almost impossible to get up at a public meeting to speak without being asked “How long have you been here?” The Chrysalis, whose dedication kicked o...

  I had no earthly idea that Howard County had a fox hunting organization. This is clearly because I live in the wrong part of town. If I lived in Mount Airy I would know. Image from HoCoHounds Social Media Wait. I stand corrected. It’s a “fox chasing ” club. So apparently they are just chasing the foxes and not killing them. One wonders what the foxes think.  This weekend the Mount Airy club, called Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds, is holding a three day event called “Old Fashion Weekend”. I stumbled upon this bit of news while scanning the weekend events at the  Visit Howard County  website.  You can see details of the itinerary below. Image from HoCoHounds social media  Friday March 21, 2025 5:30P-... Party in the Clubhouse Open Bar, Oysters, Dinner, Sllent Auction & Dancing The Night Away - $50.00 Each Saturday March 22, 2025 10:30A-2P Old Fashion Point to Point/Poker Run Ride your horse or watch the action! Open Bar & Brunch -$35 Mounted/$25 U...

 Look familiar? If you use Facebook you see them frequently. They are the emoji choices provided as a way of reacting to other people’s posts. They do not encompass every single reaction one might have but, then again, there are always gifs. And, if all else fails, there are…words. Strung together in phrases, or even complete sentences, they make useful replacements for emojis.  In a time of almost complete emotional and intellectual exhaustion, I sometimes have to remind myself of that. Me. A lifelong preschool teacher. “Use your words, Julia.” So here are some words about a particular image you see above. This one: New Reactions for COVID-19  In March 2020, Facebook added a Care emoji reaction as an additional option in response to COVID-19. This is displayed similarly to a hugging face holding a red love heart. - - emojipedia Do you remember when it was introduced? I do. I wasn’t sure at the time if I would use it. It seemed a rather facile response to an overwhelming...

  And today is the first day of Spring. Seasonal allergies, anyone? I heard recently on a television quiz show that there are no recorded mentions of “hay fever” until the 1800’s, which may very well mean that it didn’t exist before then. I’d love to know more about how that happened.  Today’s weather report calls for some sun, some clouds, some rain, and pollen. In other words: Spring. But, let’s get local. What are the usual HoCoLocal signs of Spring? I’ll start us off: Columbia elections  Blossoms of Hope The daily watch for high school graduation dates and times  Event season begins at the Chrysalis  Clark’s Elioak Farm opens Spring/ Earth Day clean up events SpringFest in Old Ellicott City A rush of inquiries about which restaurants have outdoor dining spaces so you can eat dinner while looking at your car Now it’s your turn. Help me add to the list. What are your favorite HoCo signs of Spring? Are there any particular local events you look forward to each...

  Howard County has a new flag. Yesterday County Executive Calvin Ball  announced the final choice, designed by local artist Esen Paradiso. Howard County selects sunny, colorful design by longtime resident for new flag , Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner Esen Paradiso doesn’t think Howard County has straight lines. Rather, the farmland showcases the county’s curves, while the aqueducts and the Chrysalis amphitheater at Merriweather Park both boast arches. She incorporated these characteristics into her design entry for a new county flag. True confession: this wasn’t my favorite of the designs submitted. Still, after reading Nocera’s article, I liked it a whole lot better. It’s growing on me.  You probably know what comes next: Let the carping and mockery commence. And, believe me, it has. People don’t like change. Some people especially don’t like change if it comes during a Democratic administration. And some people just enjoy making fun of things. This is not a crime. I a...

  Did you watch “If You Lived Here?” last night? What did you think? It was fun to see what they chose to highlight. Let’s face it, it’s exciting to see one’s own community on television when the show is meant to showcase its good qualities. Did you see the new Horizon Foundation ad campaign last night? It struck me as rather ironic since I’d just seen the exuberant WETA real estate program.  Image from the Horizon Foundation social media  They are right. It isn’t the full story. As a top-ranked place to live, HoCo is the perfect place for racism to hide. Here, Black residents are 3x more likely to get rejected for home loans. Hispanic women are 5x more likely to receive late or no prenatal care.  Howard County is the perfect place for racism. It's easy for us to miss. And possible for us to change. It’s easy for white people to miss. For example: in last night’s episode of “If You Lived Here” how many people who were not white were featured? Korean Way on Route 4...

  I’ve seen quite a few online remembrances this past week about where we were five years ago when the COVID 19 pandemic reached the United States.  What we may have forgotten is that deeply entwined with those memories is a birthday. Happy Birthday to Columbia Community Care . Founded by Erika Strauss Chavarria, then a teacher at Wilde Lake High School, its immediate mission was to get food to students and families in need during the initial lockdowns. In the past five years they have grown that mission beyond their original goal of hunger relief to include programs for youth and to address community issues/needs as well. Columbia Community Care provides Howard County with food and community assistance through programs that address hunger, youth development, and wellness. We are committed to uplifting individuals and families in need with dignity and respect. This video , posted on the Columbia Community Care Facebook page, highlights the next major step in their outreach: Th...

  If your plans for tomorrow don’t necessarily include bar hopping, may I recommend the next episode of WETA’s If You Lived Here, filmed in Ellicott City. You can see it on WETA 26, Mon. March 17th, 9pm  or on WETA Metro, 8 PM. View a promo for the episode here .   WETA's house-hunting series spotlights a wide array of neighborhoods and properties throughout the national capital area while celebrating each area’s history, culture, notable places and flavor. Season 4 introduces new hosts Jen Osborn and Ricardo Frederick Evans who tour homes and communities with local realtors, exploring the D.C. Metro region one neighborhood at a time.  Historic Ellicott City, Inc. President Connie Siegel was interviewed for this show at the Howard County Museum of History back in December 2024 to cover the history of Ellicott City. Others interviewed touched on the B & O, Enchanted Forest, and surrounding neighborhoods such as Normandy and Ellicott City’s historic downtown. ...

Good morning! It’s cloudy and I’m disgruntled. How is your day shaping up so far? There are Saint Patrick’s Day themed activities going on in Old Ellicott City today if you are interested in getting out and about.    Trashy Hour is back in Long Reach! Boy, do I ever love that name.  Busboys & Poets is hosting an ASL performance night/open mic event from 9 pm to 11 pm this evening.  ***** The big news of the day as far as I am concerned is this announcement from County Executive Calvin Ball: Starting Monday, March 17, we’re launching HoCo RapidRide, a new, on-demand microtransit service connecting Elkridge, Jessup, and Savage along the Route One Corridor! This affordable and flexible transit option fills critical transportation gaps, making it easier for residents to commute to work, access shopping centers, and connect to regional transit. The service operates Monday – Friday from 6:30 AM to 6 PM, providing reliable and convenient rides at just $2 per trip, wit...