This post could also be entitled: A Day Late and A Dollar Short. You’ll soon see why.
Last night at Union Jack’s: Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City, Maryland, a scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars, held their monthly meeting to explore and enjoy the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Well, not just any of his works, but specifically the cases of the great detective Sherlock Holmes.
In all my years in Howard County I had never heard of them. Have you? The Baltimore Sun had. I discovered they did a lovely write up (with photographs) in 2019.
Watson’s Tin Box gets its name from a section of the tale, The Problem of Thor Bridge:
The group, founded by Steve Clarkson and Paul Churchill, held their first meeting in 1990. They meet monthly at Union Jack’s for dinner, presentations, discussions, and even a quiz of their vast Sherlockian knowledge. (Or would it be Holmesian?)
So, you’ve already missed this month’s gathering but do not despair. Upcoming dates are set and the topics are as follows:
• July 21, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.: "Final Problem" from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
• August 18, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.: "Empty House" from The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
• September 15, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.: "Golden Pince-Nez" from The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
*****
On June 15 the Friends and Foundation of Howard County Library System opened registration for their first ever Battle of the Books open to adults. You can read more about it here. On June 16th they announced that registration for all three dates was sold out. Wow, that was fast. They are taking names for a waitlist, so, in case you had your heart set on participating - - there may still be a chance.
The event is a fundraiser for the library and is patterned after the well-known kids version, affectionately known around town as BOB. I have sentimental memories of former HoCoTimes journalist Sara Toth actually live-tweeting BOB back when Twitter was a legitimate social media platform and the HoCoTimes really had local journalists.
In case you’re wondering, costumes are encouraged but not required. (Group costumes figure heavily in the youth version.)
The Caroll County Library system has held “Battle of the Books: After Hours” for the last three years and our local library has taken some pointers from them on how to structure this new event. The funds raised will support programs like author events, the summer reading program, Project Literacy graduation and next year’s youth Battle of the Books.
So, again: here’s a cool thing and, oops! You missed it. Some days are like that. It looks like the early bird gets the book.
In closing, here’s something just for fun:
Books are like eggs. Handle with care!
This post on Bluesky inspired quite a few imaginative responses:
Books are like eggs, no use until you crack ‘em open
Excited to see what hatches in the stacks
I can't purchase fewer than 6 of them at a time?
Wonderfully made and nourishing
That reminds me, I need to start making myself some scrambled books for breakfast every morning...
As per usual, I came away wondering if anyone local had shopped this topic to them or whether it was already on their radar. It would be hard to miss. Still, I’m a busybody that way.
I swear to you that the first time I saw this article online it was accompanied by the words “Housing in Howard County is mess.” Wait, here it is.
Rather blunt, but: I’d agree. Not everyone thinks so, of course. I don’t usually recommend reading the comments but in this instance they’re more educational than toxic. I’m not saying they’re helpful - - but certainly eye-opening. My personal favorite is the poster who blames all of Howard County’s housing woes on Baltimore because nobody wants to live there.
By that sort of logic we could also blame ourselves for being too appealing. We should have tried harder to be awful, one thinks. Although we do seem to be engaged in an extremely drawn out strategy of not paying enough in taxes to adequately support our excellent school system. Who knows? That could start to pay off as potential buyers sense that trend.
Ouch.
My general assessment (of the comments section) is that some folks would rather stand on their heads and turn themselves inside out rather than face inconvenient realities.
There’s also a conversation about this article on the Columbia Reddit, if you are interested.
I have some opinions about this article but I’d rather have you all read it and see what strikes you rather than plant any ideas in your head first. There’s one particular quote that made all my hair fall out but that’s all I’m going to say about that.
I continue to watch YouTube videos about Tiny Homes, Pocket Neighborhoods, Micro Neighborhoods, ADU’s, Co-housing, not to mention stories of people who retrofit school buses and vans as their primary residences. There’s a sort of novelty in all of this but I think the underlying message is troubling: people can’t afford adequate shelter. We’ve created a system that has guaranteed that following generations know they’ll never be able to afford a home.
That, my friends is a mess, whether it’s here in Howard County or anywhere else around the country. In Howard County it’s our mess. Are we going to take responsibility for it?
I hear there are elections coming up in Howard County. What a great time to find out where the candidates stand on this issue.
Were you at a peaceful protest yesterday? Or did you view photos of some of the many across the country? I’ve seen a number of online comments from folks who are proud that their protests were peaceful, especially right here in Howard County.
I’m glad they were peaceful, too. The right to protest is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution. But there’s something that white people sometimes miss in these situations. This comment last night on Bluesky spells it out.
Basically any time protests “turn violent” it’s because the cops decided to start shooting at people. I learned this during Bloomberg here in NYC and in Boston during Trump I. Delighted to see other people learning this too but sorry it’s being learned through experience.
The protests in LA are peaceful, too. But they have been met with oppressive shows of force. That’s the difference. It’s not that we in Columbia, Maryland are somehow innately better at “doing it right.”
I’m going to go a step farther and say that protests made up largely of white people are far less likely to be met with violence by law enforcement. Our privilege allows us to express the rights guaranteed in the Constitution because we are white. Because our very whiteness signals “not dangerous” to the powers that be.
This is tough reality to swallow. We don’t want to believe it’s true.
Another thing from Bluesky:
Where is Baltimore's African-American community in this? All I can see are mostly older White folks.
Howard County’s protest action was largely white, as well. And, to be honest, that makes sense. I feel as though the Black community put it all on the line on November 5th. They showed up to vote, to organize, to donate, to advocate. White people let them down.
It is far more dangerous in this country for our Black friends and neighbors to exercise the same constitutional rights that we feel largely secure in.
This is on us.
Not because we are model protesters or have the best signs. But because white people are the ones who must take the risks now, to protect those who have done far more than their share. And because, frankly, those folks are well and truly fed up with white people not standing up and not showing up when it’s important.
This is not to take away from the importance of what happened yesterday. It’s very important. But I hope that these experiences change how we look at news reports that seem to justify the use of force against protesters. Look at what you are being shown. Listen to what you are being told.
If we are successful in preserving Democracy in this country I hope it is a robust and more self-aware Democracy. By that I mean one that isn’t afraid to acknowledge the shortcomings which have, ultimately, made our freedoms more brittle and easily broken.
When it is safe for all in our communities to protest without fear we will be a stronger nation than we are today.
First, don’t miss your chance to see the official debut of Althea’s newest food truck at the Oakland Mills Farmers Market tomorrow. Her Jamaican patties are exquisite. Perhaps Dad would like some?
Speaking of Dad: I was tickled to hear from a few actual dads in response to Thursday’s blog post. If any other actual dads are reading this right now, I hope your Father’s Day is just the kind of celebration you enjoy. Even if that means you are taking a nap.
Apologies for missing their opening night, but twice today and once tomorrow, Stand Up for…Theatre presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at DoodleHATCH.
Tickets are 20/18 and are available at the door. (Here’s a review from Theatre Bloom.) The mission of Stand Up For…Theatre is to promote acceptance for the LGBTQIA community. Pride Month feels like a great time to see a show and support their cause.
*****
Before I go, a few words on the significance of the day. I’ve been thinking a lot about Fuenteovejuna the play by Lope de Vega that I saw while on a choir tour to Spain in college.
Fuenteovejuna is a play by the Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, first published in Madrid in 1619. While under the command of the Order of Calatrava, a commander, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, mistreated the villagers, who banded together and killed him. When a magistrate sent by King Ferdinand II of Aragon arrived at the village to investigate, the villagers, even under the pain of torture, responded only by saying "Fuenteovejuna did it." (Wikipedia)
“Who is responsible?”
“The town is responsible!”
Everyone in the town unites to take a stand against oppression. What would happen if we did that?
Never in my life have I been so afraid that the fate of democracy hangs in the balance. For all who are taking a stand to defend it: I thank you.
These days I am more apt to wax eloquent about A Really Good Box, but there was a time when I would have been far more fascinated by a Really Good Stick. Those were the days when we almost always played outside after school, weather permitting. Back when a stick was for digging holes or imagining sword play or magic wands.
I remember hunting for just the right one.
I went through a phase of wanting to “prepare” the stick by peeling off all the bark, smoothing it with rough stones, pretending I was some sort of ancient craftsman. I think I just liked twiddling and fiddling with things while I created imaginary worlds in my head. I was a dreamer more often than a running-and-climbing sort of kid.
All of this came back to me as I listened to a recent episode of the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders. Corrigan has been hosting an ongoing series of shows on Making, which I touched on back in March. This one introduced me to something so wholesome and joyful that I couldn’t resist sharing it here.
…the duo behind Stick Nation - that surprisingly wholesome corner of the internet where millions of people celebrate finding and reviewing the perfect stick. What started as a silly bit on a Utah hike has become a global phenomenon that's genuinely good for your mental health. As a part of our Makers series, Boone and Logan talk about why people are drawn to something so simple and uncomplicated, how they've built such a positive community online and their dreams of taking it into the real world with festivals and conservation efforts. It's all about slowing down, noticing nature's small wonders, and finding joy in the most ordinary things.
It's simple, and playful. The requirements are few: you find A Really Good Stick, consider its best attributes, and submit it for consideration. Of course behind all that are the deeper requirements: you need to be outside to engage. You need to have a sense of imagination and play. (And I would imagine that it’s helpful to not take yourself too seriously.)
Listening to this episode brought to mind local environmental advocate Chiara D’Amore, whose work with the Community Ecology Institute often takes the form of getting young people outside to engage with the natural world. It also reminded me that the Downtown Columbia Maker Faire is coming up at the Chrysalis on June 29th - - a chance to be immersed in a celebration of imagination, creation, and play.
Not everyone gets it. TV Personality Bill Maher went on the air to mock the entire enterprise. “Not everything needs an Instagram,” he snarked. Imagine being presented with an opportunity - - an invitation, even!!! - - for joy and choosing to use your platform to ridicule it instead.
The response from Stick Nation’s creators was a simple “Not cool, Bill Maher.” They also wondered aloud to their readers if they should send Maher A Really Good Stick to try and help him understand. No flame war here. It feels more like a quiet disappointment that this man hasn’t yet experienced the joy of sticks.
We have plenty of occasions these days to be crushed. We lie awake worrying, open our eyes with dread. Opportunities and invitations that can lift us out of that fear are precious.
Got a minute? Check out the official Stick Nation account on Instagram. It’s called Official Stick Reviews. Have a few more minutes?
In case you are wondering, it’s 34.1 billion for Mother’s Day.
I’ve always felt that part of Mother’s Day spending rests on making up for all the drudgery that moms do that no one helps them with. It’s kind of like Teacher Appreciation Week. We know they do it, we know it isn’t fair, but we’re not stepping up to change the inherent unfairness of, it, either.
The theme of Father’s Day seems to be more like “You’re a great guy, Dad!” Our culture doesn’t define and limit men to their procreative status. Therefore much of the traditional Father’s Day is centered around lauding Dad for his “masculine” qualities. The commercial approach leans heavily into masculine-coded activities such as golfing, car care, and backyard grill prowess.
It’s a whole different ball game.
Anyway… I’m more interested in what HoCoLocal things we do to celebrate Father’s Day. Stores where you always find the gift that Dad would like? Restaurants? Family outings? At our house Maiwand and House of India have been favored in years past.
I laughed when I received this advert for two reasons. First, I’m imagining giving 30 % of a gift, because I’m literal that way. 30 percent of socks? A necktie? Golf accessories?
Secondly, we absolutely are celebrating “Dad his way” this year. He wants to come home from his job as a church musician and take a nap. Period.
Could a Mom get away with that? I wonder.
I’m feeling a sense of guilt about this but it’s honestly what he requested. So I guess we’re creating the gift that Dad deserves at 100 per cent off.
What are your best local suggestions for that Sunday in June? If you are a dad, what are your local favorites?
The Howard County Police Department began using drones in 2020. (The following quotes are from an article by Jess Nocera in the Howard County Times.)
The Howard County, Md., Police Department has purchased three drones costing $33,800, with the procurement made possible in part by a $20,000 contribution from the Howard County Police Foundation.
Do you remember all the brouhaha about this decision?
In November, police announced the impending purchase of the drones, months after disbanding its aviation program, which ended in April 2019 due to the county’s anticipated deficit.
You may remember that I wrote about this back in 2019.
Even though the discontinuation of the police aviation program had been advocated for by previous Republican County Executive, Allan Kittleman, critics chose to paint it as an attack on law and order by the new County Executive, who was a Democrat. The racist dog whistles and cheap and faulty arguments were burning up social media about this decision.
Folks even went so far as to suggest that County Executive Ball discontinued the police aviation program purely to reallocate those funds for a personal security detail for himself and his family, creating a connection where none existed. Why? It was purely an attempt to make Ball appear selfish and unprincipled. It was the cause celebre amongst the trolls.
There’s always something, isn’t there?
Well, it’s 2025 and the Howard County Police Department is using drones successfully to support law enforcement operations. And it’s not just us. Many police departments across the country are doing the same. That decision back in 2019 isn’t looking so bad now, is it?
If we had all the money in the world there are some folks who’d still be clamoring for police helicopters, I suppose. I wouldn’t. I’d choose fully funded schools and the new lakefront library: community investments that would, honestly, reduce the need for police helicopters, in my opinion.
In the meantime, I don’t expect the trolls to admit that maybe they were wrong. Do you?
A couple of years ago a perfectly innocent typo caused some unexpected merriment for me:
I will probably never live this down. Yesterday morning I posted what I thought was a perfectly normal question and I got some curiously irreverent answers.
Should I stop feeding the birds during our local beer season? I feel bad about letting the birds down.
It honestly took me several minutes to figure out the problem.
CORRECTION: Should I stop feeding the birds during our local BEAR season? Gotta love my witty friends, lol.
One friend pointed out, “It’s always beer season!”
All this silliness gave me an idea. I put out a call:
I’m interested in what you would call a signature, quintessential local brew if you were given the naming rights. Don’t limit yourself to Columbia, either. Any part of the county is fair game!
I got some fabulous answers and, as far as I can tell, I never got around to sharing them here. The topic came up in my Facebook memories this morning. Honestly, my friends are truly witty and I can no longer keep these to myself. So, here goes.
HoCoLocal Brews
People Tree IPA
Kittamakumquat Sour
Rouse Stout
Whiskey Bottoms Up Lager
Ellicott Pils
Oakland Pils
In the Mills Maibock.
Allview Estates Amber
Tot Lot Draught
Planned Community Spirits
Beery-Weather Post
Chrysalis Key Lime Summer Seasonal
Wilde Lager
Thunder Brew.
OAKland Mills Cider (fermented in Oaken Barrels)
Owen Brown Ale
Colonel Gateway Cream Ale
Little Patuxent Sour
Lakefront Lager
Get To Know Me Elkridge Ale
Street Name Sass IPA
Mailbox Mingle Mango Wheat
And, for the pièce de resistance, here’s one you can sing!
The Malt in Columbia,
The Malt in Columbia
The Malt in Columbia
The Columbia Malt
Now it’s your turn. Do you have any HoCoLocal suggestions? And it doesn’t have to be limited to beer. What about handcrafted artisanal cocktails? What about mocktails and NA brews?
Have you ever felt a sense of hopelessness while stuck behind a large piece of farm equipment? Impatience? Anxiety? If you have it’s because you live in a place where there is ongoing agricultural activity. Like Howard County. This video explains the challenges of moving large farm equipment and what happens when impatient drivers try to circumvent the wait.
These behemoths cannot go fast and they must use the same roads that we do. And, let’s face it, a world without farm equipment getting in our way is also a world without food.
Yikes.
The video imtroduces a safety-inspired acronym for drivers in these situations: SAM.
Slow down. Assessment your surroundings. Move with caution.
It must be something about the way I was raised, but every time I even contemplate crossing a double yellow line on the road a little voice inside me says, “If you cross a yellow line you will die.” Apparently not everyone was raised this way.
Of course, that’s easy for me to say since these days I’m rarely on rural roads behind slow farm equipment. What do you think? How do you handle these situations?
Here’s something else agricultural that caught my eye recently:
A group called The Howard County FFA Alumni and Supporters is organizing the first inclusive dairy show, “AG for All” at the Howard County Fair on August 9th. They’re looking for students with disabilities, ages 11-18, who have a passion for large animals.
Participating students will learn the basics of dairy showmanship through practicing with and exhibiting dairy calves. They will be assisted by volunteers who have animal handling expertise.
If you are interested in learning more you can contact the name listed on the poster above. Please note: the QR code has expired, so email is best.
As for me, my sole experience with farm animals (or perhaps just the most memorable one) was the day a cow snuck up on me at the Maryland State Fair and sighed rather heavily in my ear. I screamed. Much hilarity ensured for onlookers.
You can’t go home again but you can apparently revisit summer vacation. You know, the kind that lasts 104 days.
On Friday, June 6th, season 5 of Phineas and Ferb became available for streaming on Disney. Ten years ago I bid them farewell.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2015
Hello Goodbye Summer
Last night I watched the final episode of Phineas and Ferb with my daughter. The summer we thought would never end is over. The episode, entitled "Last Day of Summer" aired, ironically, just as we are about to get out of school. Real summer beckons. But for Phineas and Ferb, the rollicking 104 day ride is over.
There was a time when we watched every episode religiously, many multiple times. We downloaded music from the show, even acted out Rollercoaster: The Musical. My daughter practically memorized the Wiki. But in recent years, as my daughter moved away from childhood, watching the show was more of an afterthought, something she did more for me than anything else.
Phineas and Ferb has been a five-year hymn of praise to ingenuity, creativity, unstructured time, and belief in the innate goodness of childhood curiosity. In an era where your child can get taken by Child Protective Services for playing outside alone for ninety minutes, Phineas and Ferb feels almost revolutionary. While they tell kids "Summer belongs to you," the reality for most kids involves a patchwork of camp-like child-care solutions arranged by overworked parents. Or staying in the house watching tv in order to be safe.
That doesn't mean that their story hasn't been valuable or worthwhile. As wacky as the adventures have been, and as much as it has poked gentle fun at 'people in charge', Phineas and Ferb has been serious food both for the imagination and the soul. I dare say that there will someday be college courses dedicated to their world, if there aren't already. Their over-arching themes:
Believe in yourself. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Have fun, enjoy your family and your friends. Rock out. Live joyfully. Sit under the shade of a tree and dream. Oh, how I will miss them.
Summer is over. Long live summer.
*****
Yes, I watched the first two episodes for old time’s sake. It wasn’t the same. Not because of anything to do with the content of the show but because my partner in crime doesn’t live here anymore. Childhood ends. Sure, Phineas and Ferb don’t look a day older. You can do that with cartoons. Real people don’t work that way.
Some things don’t change.
The Summer reality for most kids involves a patchwork of camp-like child-care solutions arranged by overworked parents. Or staying in the house watching tv in order to be safe.
Ironically, your kid just might bump into my former kid who is working at some of those camps.
What are your kids doing this summer? Your grandkids? Your friend’s or coworker’s kids? I wonder if there’s a long term difference between the kids who experience the long-term benefits of unstructured vacation time and the resources to enjoy it and those whose every minute must be arranged in advance?
What is your happiest memory of summer vacation as a child? What do you think kids today will remember?
OEC Pride's FIFTH ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL: Resist, Inspire, Support, Empower!
Join us on Sun Jun 08 2025 at 12:00 PM at the Howard County Circuit Courthouse Parking lot for a day filled with celebration, community, and inclusiveness. This event is a time to come together and showcase our pride. There will be Drag, music, food, vendors, exhibitors, games, and more for everyone to enjoy. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with others and show your pride! See you there!
We host events that help foster a safe and inclusive environment for people of all ages, sexualities, genders, ethnicities, faiths and creeds. We are very proud to announce Old Ellicott City's Fifth Annual OEC LGBTQ+ Pride Festival and invite everyone to come and celebrate with us!
The event is free. Register at Eventbrite for free tickets.
Join us for the 5th annual OEC Pride. Held in the courthouse parking lot and the Inn at Mt. Ida. We will have music, drag, food trucks, vendors, games, tie dye, beer garden and more. Bring the family and while here, participate in our scavenger hunt in OEC for great prizes. This is a free event.
Note the location. I think it’s a bit different this year. OEC Pride and Howard County Pride are initiatives of local nonprofit HoCo Pride.
Why is this the only event I’m featuring today? Well, when I posted information about the flag raising for Pride 2025 on Reddit, many (not all) the comments were so hateful that they’ve since been deleted by admin.
All those years that I felt hopeful that Howard County was a safe and welcoming place…it wasn’t. It never was. It was a place where the safe and welcoming people felt comfortable expressing themselves and the bigoted and hateful people largely kept quiet. A switch has been flipped and wow, have those people been activated.
I got into it with some of the trolls on County Executive Calvin Ball’s Facebook page this week. In general I try not to do that. Some days that little inner voice tells you to speak out. I can’t say for certain that is the most effective thing to do. But, I did it.
Since then I’ve been trying to add supportive statements wherever I can instead. Here’s one of my favorites:
...Now fill the world with music, love, and pride.
The words are the conclusion of a sonnet by Lin-Manuel Miranda, given as his acceptance speech at the Tony Awards in 2016. The poem contains a searing memorial to the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.
Blockbuster movies with enormous budgets are made about fantasy SuperHeroes who save the universe. Our kids grow up wanting to put on the costumes and perform the impossible.
Our lives are peppered with “small h” heroes who make life worth living. Our kids may grow up wanting to be those kinds of heroes, if they are loved well and nourished by example.
Here are some of my heroes this week:
The team at Ascension Saint Agnes who cared for me during a medical crisis.
The speaker from the Howard County Human Rights and Equity office who spoke at the Pride 2025 flag raising this week. Their words truly resonated with me and if I could remember their name I’d reach out and ask if I could share the speech in its entirety.
Library Guy Mychal Threets whose picture book, “I’m So Happy You’re Here” will be a celebration of library joy and whose advocacy around mental health is truly a beacon of light in the current darkness of our nation.
HoCoLocal realtor Karol Hess who received her Associate's Degree this week from Howard Community College. Seeing her story was a much needed nudge that my life is not over yet.
Community members across the country who are gathering to protect neighbors singled out for seizure by the masked, militarized terror that is ICE.
Friends in Howard County who keep showing up in our schools, year after year, to support Simulated Congressional Hearings and whose involvement serves as an invaluable witness to the young people they meet.
The person on Bluesky, who I will probably never meet, who posted these words:
Love somebody today. Tell them they are amazing and doing a good job at life. I promise you'll feel better for saying it and they'll feel better for hearing it.
What answer did you get? If memory serves me, my kids didn’t always jump back with any particular answer. The old joke is that, more often that not, kids say, “Nothing.”
When I was in high school I took a deep dive into my older sister’s record collection and became fascinated by sixties folk singer Phil Ochs. I was creating a radio play for an AP US History project and Ochs’ music and lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks. One song (written by Tom Paxton and popularized by Pete Seeger) nudged me to think hard about my years of education to date.
“What Did You Learn in School Today?” Song by Tom Paxton, Performed by Pete Seeger*
How old were you when you realized that not everything you learned in school was true? How did you feel? What did you do about it?
Life is full of opportunities to learn new things. As an adult you may discover new artists and musicians, learn about recent scientific discoveries or newly-unearthed facts about historical figures. In most cases those experiences bring with them exhilaration or the joy of discovery. They are the fruits of a curious mind.
Unlearning is harder.
Are policeman always our friends? Does justice never end? Do murderers always die for their crimes? Is war not so bad and do we always win?
Or, in the same vein, does talking about race create racism? Do our children all receive equal treatment at school? Is the best curriculum one that is devised primarily by white people? Do police treat all people with equal respect?
This Saturday our community is invited to come and unlearn together at the Unlearn University Annual Conference. The Conference is an initiative of the Anti Racist Education Alliance.
Welcome to UnLearn University Annual Conference!
Join us for a day filled with insightful talks, engaging workshops, and networking opportunities. Our event brings together thought leaders, educators, activists, advocates and students eager to unlearn and reframe what they've been taught by society and conventional curricula.
At UnLearn University, we believe in challenging conventional wisdom and embracing new ideas. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious learner, our conference offers something for everyone.
Don't miss this chance to expand your knowledge, connect with like-minded individuals, and gain fresh insights. Come prepared to unlearn, relearn, and grow with us!
It can be hard to unlearn. Sometimes it is uncomfortable. It is also deeply rewarding. Unlearning is not a one and done, any more than learning is. It is a process. Wherever you are on that path this workshop (and other events by AREA) will welcome you and support your journey.
Have you ever needed to unlearn something? What was it like?
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
Yesterday was a rough day. Glad to be back. On the way home my husband and I passed the lovely sight of two folks enjoying an outdoor lunch at Pupatella. Must go there soon, we thought.
So, I smiled when I saw this on YouTube this morning:
“The most authentic Neapolitan pizzeria in Maryland is in Columbia” Christina Tkacik, Baltimore Banner, June 3, 2024
Her original print article is from April but here it is if you prefer that format.
Your challenge, if you choose to accept it: eat out doors as much as possible before it gets so hot that you’d rather be doing an ice bucket challenge. If you haven’t heard, there’s a new COVID variant making the rounds. If you can avoid another infection while enjoying an outdoor meal - - why not?
Speaking of eating outdoors, mark your calendars for June 15th at the Oakland Mills Village Center!
Althea Hanson will be celebrating the debut of her new “Almost Famous” food truck which will specialize in her absolutely scrumptious Jamaican Patties.
You're Invited!
Althea's Almost Famous PATTY Shop Launch
* Bold flavor. Fresh vibes. A brand new trailer.*
We're thrilled to invite you to the official launch of our second food trailer - the Almost Famous Patty Shop! Come celebrate with us and be among the first to try our handcrafted Jamaican patties, straight from the brand-new mobile kitchen.
Location: Oakland Mills Farmers Market
Date: Saturday, June 15th
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Expect fresh patties, street food energy, and good vibes all around.
Whether you've followed us from the start or are just discovering our flavors — we'd love to see you there!
And here’s the sentence I wish I had written:
Come hungry. Leave almost famous.
While I’ve enjoyed multiple things on the menu, it’s the patties I keep coming back to - - especially the beef ones - - but they’re all good.
I hope I’ll see you at the Farmers’ Market on the 15th.
One last thing. If you’ve been reading about the new Yar Spice in Columbia and wondered where it was, it’s here:
Not my pix. Images shamelessly grabbed from Google.
To clarify: 9123 Old Annapolis Rd, Columbia, MD 21045, which I would describe as on Route 108, on your right hand side if you’re heading towards the intersection of 108 and Centre Park Drive.
If you’re in the mood for a deeper dive I wrote about that building in 2022.
Since I’m thinking a lot about outdoor seating and outdoor eating, where’s your favorite HoCoLocal place to do that? If I get enough responses I’ll gather them up into a separate post.
Social media can do many things but it can’t overrule one’s brain, alas. I will admit that I did see more than one promo for CA’s Lakefront Live kickoff event but I ignored them all because surely it was too early. I mean, it wasn’t warm enough to feel like summer yet, right?
Oh, I am so embarrassed.
Guess what? Saturday, May 31st was this summer’s first Lakefront Live. But all is not lost. We have the whole summer ahead of us. Here’s the rest of the lineup. Plus, CA has plenty of other things going on in June, so, take a look at the master events schedule.
Apparently you can’t always rely on your internal body clock for these things and calendars are more useful.
A reminder that the Pride flag raising at the George Howard Building is this morning at 11 am.
A glance at the County Executive’s Facebook page about this event will give you a quick and disturbing lesson on why Pride is still so important.
Enough said.
One last thing. I’m probably not going to write much about redistricting this time around but this article in The Baltimore Banner and the subsequent comments reminded me yet again what a ridiculous vipers’ nest it is in Howard County.
Whether you have children attending local public schools or not, it’s important to stay informed and really understand how all of this works. Why? Because it’s a public good that all of our students get a good education, not just the ones in your neighborhood. Decisions about redistricting should be made based on the best possible outcomes for all of our kids.
It should not come down to being afraid of the angriest group of parents and deciding accordingly.
Living in Howard County grants you access to excellent public schools. You do not get to control 100 per cent which school you will be districted to, nor do you get to choose which children your kids will go to school with. If those two things are the most important issues for you, your best option is private school. Yes, having that degree of control costs extra. Although, in most cases, it can’t guarantee you a school in your neighborhood.
Today’s weather predictions are for sun all day long with a high of 72 and an increasing chance of rainbows. I’ll take it.
The video is one minute and twenty seven minutes long and is completely suitable for its target audience - - children from ages 5 - 15. It probably doesn’t say anything you haven’t heard before but there was one phrase that leapt out at me.
…and how, in some places, around the world, there's still a lot of work to be done.
I felt a chill run through me as I realized: that’s us. That’s the US. One presidential election has turned our nation from progress and acceptance to rejection and oppression. Our national government is trying to force us to become more hateful and more intolerant.
That is what it truly means to be a backward nation. Ignorant. Oppressive. Violent towards those who differ from a narrow definition of what has been deemed acceptable.
How many U.S. networks that produce children’s programming will be brave enough this year to make a video like this one from BBC Newsround? Or will they remain silent out of fear?
Is that what we want to be in Howard County? Will we become silent out of fear?
Tomorrow there will be a flag raising in honor of Pride at the George Howard Building in Ellicott City.
I realize that eleven am on a work day is not an ideal time for anyone who works or is in school. (I actually have a doctor’s appointment that conflicts with this.)
But, if you are able, I’d encourage you to come. Any time we push back against oppression, stand up to organized fear, and, most of all, speak up for love, we make our community stronger.
