Village Green/Town²

  Overslept. Here are a few random thoughts along with a wish that tomorrow will be less hurried and random. - - jam ***** There have been some pretty appalling comments on local news stories lately. Yes, I know I said that already . This one might fall into the Life Comes At You Fast category: The next one is my current favorite in what I’ll call the Do No Harm category: I’m hesitant to admit this but I had a comment downvoted and ultimately deleted on the Columbia Reddit yesterday. The offending comment? “Go away, Fox News.” It was in response to a post by the local Fox affiliate hyping crime in the area. One respondent asked me “Why?”  I attempted to explain but it looks like my explanation was not acceptable.  Oh, well.  The last comment for today is also from me but it is not local. I was reading a lovely newspaper article about Jeopardy contestant Jamie Ding and these words leapt out at me: My response: “This is a sign: Jamie Ding must appear next on Sesame St...

Reddit is a great place to ask ask hyperlocal questions like, “Where can I park my bike in Old Ellicott City?” And the answer is: There is a bike rack at the Ellicott City Welcome Center at 8267 Main St, Ellicott City, MD 21043. It is the old stone building (former post office) near entrance to parking lot D. In the front on either side. They are post hoop (circle on a post) type. So now you know. If you’ve been noticing a flurry of news stories about progress on the EC Tunnel, you’re not alone. There’s a question on Reddit for that, too.  Anyway to get a tour of the new tunnel? Would be super cool to check it out. Maybe someone knows someone who can get me in? Why am I picturing a bunch of twelve year old kids on bikes with flashlights? (At least they’ll know where to park their bikes,) Seriously, though, middle of the night forays into tunnels may look romantic in the movies but they probably don’t end well. And I’m not sure the county has enough liability insurance to guarantee...

  The time to get out the vote for Columbia elections is now. The time for village boards to make a get-out-the-vote plan for April, 2027 is now. Today. And at every single board meeting from here on out.  It should be an action item at every meeting.  Some years back (2017, to be exact) I turned out at an Oakland Mills board meeting to advocate for better leadership. Here’s a portion of what I said: I've been a teacher over thirty years and one thing I've learned is that the only way to get people to take risks, change, and grow is to create an environment where building relationships is important. Where people can feel good about themselves. Criticism, punitive actions, and negative talk are counter-productive to building and sustaining community. Building relationships and making people feel good about themselves are also crucial in dealing with the Columbia Association, Howard County Government, and our Village Schools. When we say we value connections, we need to sho...

  If you’re looking for a change of scene, may I recommend the Tip Top Motel? Apparently their sign is notable for its vintage qualities. Image shared on Reddit: r/vintagesigns Why visit the Tip Top, you ask? Well, they have this lovely video on YouTube. It’s one minute and twenty- one seconds long. You have the time.  In fact, I watched it more than once because I wasn’t quite sure if it was serious or a spoof. See what you think. It’s worth it just for the dining recommendations. This video was posted two days ago and I wonder if the timing has anything to do with a recent announcement by County Executive Calvin Ball. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Announces Strong Support for Zoning Regulation Amendment to Revitalize and Redevelop Aging Motels Along Route 1 For generations, our Route One Corridor has been a vital economic hub for our county and state. Route One has the incredible potential to be transformed into an active, vibrant, mixed-use hub that supports residents...

  On Thursday I stated that the Banner article about Columbia elections missed the biggest reason why Columbia residents don’t vote. I did not anticipate Thursday evenings happenings at the CA Board meeting but they pretty much prove my point. Let’s look back a bit. The Ugly Truth , April 26, 2014 Columbia in a way, was an experiment. Well, folks, the experiment has failed. Where James Rouse saw possibilities of a diverse community, the truth is that Columbia is enchained in segregation. Segregation by age. (And, furthermore…) Important decisions about Columbia's present and future are largely being determined by one generation. One angry generation, I might add. I have heard too many stories of younger residents trying to get involved at the Village level and being scorned, spurned, dismissed, and beaten back by angry "Pioneers". It is no wonder to me that younger residents feel disenfranchised. I have lived here since 1999 and am still treated by some as a newcomer with...

  A fond salute to Jamie Ding The current Question-Asking King  On Jeopardy, each night at seven, Just watching him is quiz-show heaven. Not loud or showy, bold or sassy Our Jamie daily keeps it classy. His geeky anecdotes each day  Somehow enhance his stellar play. A “Cheery Assassin” says WSJ - -  (A  gently goofy pal, I’d say.) As each day’s contest meets its end You kinda wish he were your friend.  Not fierce, not perfect, he gets in trouble When chancing on a Daily Double. Though he may risk and we may doubt, Each night he seems to pull it out.  So far he reigns, his crown still gleaming. (We watch on delay because of streaming.) Tonight we’ll watch the day before  And cheer as he runs up the score. So, let us daily raise our voices To praise his wit and wardrobe choices. Come, gather round! Long may we sing Of brilliant buzzer Jamie Ding. Image from Wall Street Journal, no artist credited Village Green/Town² Comments 

  Don’t read this. (If you don’t care about Columbia elections, that is.) Columbia Association can’t get residents to vote , Lillian Reed and Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner I don’t have enough time to write about this today, but look for something on Saturday. I can tell you that this article misses what I think is the biggest factor in why Columbians don’t vote.  If they had asked me, I would have told them. Come back on Saturday. I’ll tell you. ***** Perhaps it would be more fun to learn about Quirky Ellicott City. Maryland History Tours is going to be offering a Quirky themed tour in May and I’d tell you more but their helpful link directs me to April events.  Blah. Village Green/Town² Comments 

  Images from HoCo Rec & Parks social media accounts  In honor of Earth Day, here’s an opportunity from Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks: Do you love nature? Want to make a difference in your community while exploring the beauty of Howard County parks? We need YOU to help document the amazing plants and wildlife that thrive in our parks! The City Nature Challenge is a global initiative that uses the iNaturalist app to document local flora and fauna in urban areas.  No previous experience needed — just a passion for nature and a smartphone!  The challenge runs from Friday, April 24 - Monday, April 27. You can participate at your convenience, anytime during those four days!  To get involved, sign up at https://tinyurl.com/HCRP-NatureChallenge  A Park Ranger will reach out with your assigned park and instructions. If you are curious about the iNaturalist app, you can learn more at their website.   Interested in Howard County’s natural ...

  This, my friends, is a chukar. Chukar sighting in Howard County, 2026 via Western Howard County Shares And here’s another one. Chukar sighting in Washington County, 2025 via MD Birding I had never seen nor even heard of a chukar before coming across the image posted on the Western Howard County Shares Facebook Group.  This chukar was seen at Glenwood Middle School, this morning in case anyone is missing a member of their flock! On the basis of two images and absolutely no research I concluded that the chukar is short and round. No, it’s upright and skinny. What’s going on with the neck here? It’s okay. You can laugh. My knowledge of birds is limited. What I know now is that the chukar is a partridge . It is not native to Maryland. Usually when you see one it’s because it is being used as a “bait bird” in recreational hunting activities. Sigh. As far as the particular chukar spotted in Howard County, I don’t think they were able to ascertain where it came from. According to ...

  The trouble with renters is that they are looking for a decent place to live that they can afford.  That’s it. That’s the problem. They’re not inherently “less than” homeowners. They aren’t guaranteed to represent a transient/bad element in a neighborhood.  They don’t care less about where they live.  Renters do valuable, necessary jobs in a community and by valuable I mean something you need that you couldn’t do yourself. That could be teachers or nurses or firefighters but can also be the cook in your favorite restaurant, a mechanic, janitorial staff at the hospital or the check out clerk at the grocery where you like to shop. But, in fact, it doesn’t matter whether any particular homeowner thinks that renters are worth including. It’s ridiculous to think that anyone needs to make a case to include them. How would you like it if your sense of belonging in any given place was dependent upon someone else’s opinion? Renters belong in Howard County and yet so many fo...

  WMAR-2 News Baltimore: Photos released of suspect connected to Friday’s Columbia gas station shooting. Until I read the comments on Facebook I was under the impression that the crime was shooting someone. Here’s the article itself: Police release photos of suspect connected to Friday's Columbia gas station shooting , Dominick Philippe-Auguste, WMAR-2 News Baltimore  You can be forgiven for making the same mistake. The journalist covering the story did, too. Officers responded to the gas station in the 7200 block of Cradlerock Way, where they found an employee suffering from a gunshot wound. But the photos changed everything. Police photo used in conjunction with WMAR2News article  If you read the comments the true crime emerges: Suspect is fat. Suspect is a fat woman Suspect is a fat Black woman. Folks just went to town with every fat joke in the book. Clearly they felt they had been given a free pass because our culture allows fat shaming and often even condones and en...

  Good news: I’m home for 24 hours. Bad news: our AC is broken. Good news: our AC people are coming between four and eight pm today. The bad news: I didn’t get the best sleep of my life last night. It’s a clip show today, folks.  Today is Spring Fest in Old Ellicott City. At Clarksville Commons they are celebrating Earth Day. The Howard County Genealogical Society is hosting a free Help Desk Event.   You can contribute to the Period Product Drive initiative hosted by the Howard County Women’s Giving Circle and Young Women's Giving Circle. The PTA Council of Howard County is holding a Candidate Forum featuring Board of Education and County Council candidates.  Don’t forget you can bring your sketchbook down to the Lakefront for Scribble! from 11 am - 1 pm. This looks like a fun Trivia Night event at Tribos Peri Peri with delicious food and a Pakistani theme: Oh, and one more thing. It turns out that Stripology is not what I thought it was. Oops. FYI: The folks at Mer...

  I watched a video of comedian Josh Johnson yesterday in which he describes a phenomenon called “the ick.” It’s somewhere in here . From Merriam Webster: Ick, usually the ick, refers to a sudden feeling of disgust or repulsion that causes a permanent reversal in feeling toward a romantic (or potential romantic) partner. Ick is also used (often without the, as in “a list of icks”) for the cause of the disgust or repulsion itself. It is sometimes used more broadly for a feeling of disgust or repulsion outside of the context of romantic relationships. Johnson describes an experience where he’s pretty sure that his own behavior gave a potential girlfriend that “ick” sensation. He does it in a way that is both self-deprecating and hilarious. By using himself as the awkward one, he has you laughing and rooting for him at the same time.  I had never heard the term “the ick” before yesterday. I thought a little bit about whether “the ick” is the same thing as a “red flag”.  Are ...

  Two local events that may speak to your crafty side.  This Saturday, from 9 am - 2 pm in Columbia, an art & craft supply Yard Sale. I found this on Columbia Patch , by the way. If you are trying to keep your expenditures to a minimum, take a look at this upcoming event at the library’s Central Branch: Got a craft stash that needs a refresh? Join us for our Craft Supply Swap! (Sunday, April 26th) Bring gently used supplies to share, or just stop by to browse and discover something new-to-you. No donation required, just a love of making! Come swap, save, and get inspired for your next project. Register here: https://bit.ly/4sN0n28 Do you like to make art? Show up this Saturday at the Lakefront, because Scribblin outside is back! PACK SOMETHING COMFY TO SIT ON, ART SUPPLIES, & COME SCRIBBLE WITH US! ALL ART STYLES & SKILL LEVELS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. 11 - 1PM APRIL 18 COLUMBIA LAKEFRONT Do you lean towards art appreciation? Stop by Savage Mill to see the works of st...

The playground is at Lake Elkhorn. Have you been there? Our youngest grew up playing there.  Image from Maryland Kid Adventures  The problem? You can’t see it. It’s public restrooms - -  there aren’t any. Well, there are restrooms way on the other side of the park, far from the playground. And they aren’t reliably open to the public. A poster on the Columbia Reddit ( Lake Elkhorn Restrooms ) notes that people are relieving themselves in the woods behind the Pavilion. They note: What hasn't been great, is that no one has a solution to having accessible restrooms (even a Port-a-Potty) at Lake Elkhorn. In a related thread in Columbia Reddit, here is a photograph entitled “Desire Path.” Image from Reddit thread, Columbia Reddit One response jokingly called it a “Pee Path.” If you aren’t familiar with the area, this shows the straight shot from the playground, across Cradlerock, to the McDonald’s at the Owen Brown Village Center. When there are no public restrooms it’s your c...

  In a rare occurrence, I learned something worth knowing in an article in the Baltimore Sun.  River Hill High student’s handbook for immigrant students gains regional attention , Kiersten Hacker  The student is high school junior Roselyn Bi.  With input from the Howard County Public School System student success team and about 10 to 20 young people at a multilingual fair, Bi drafted a guide designed to help ease immigrant students’ transition into American schools. She has also established a nonprofit called Tulip’s Promise.  Tulip's Promise supports immigrant and refugee youth through educational resources and creative programs in collaboration with school districts, refugee resettlement agencies, and community partnerships. The website lists their national and international partners. I’m curious about their local partners. Do they work collaboratively with Luminus, for example? I’m interested to learn more. Have a great Monday. I’m looking forward to spending...

  I’ve been known to indulge myself with “what if?” posts over the years. What if I could own the Columbia Flier Building and live there? What if I could redo it along the lines of the HGTV show “Extreme Homes” or “You Live in What?”? What if the Wilde Lake Village Center could be turned into a History of Columbia theme park? What if the Lakefront could be transformed into a kid’s birthday party paradise? What if the students in Howard County schools could begin each day by writing a thank you note? This is why I absolutely have to hand it to Jeremy Dommu of The Merriweather Post for taking that concept and running with it. Buc-ee’s is Heading North , The Merriweather Post  Dommu takes the what if… Is Maryland's I-95 corridor its next exit? Does Howard County have the land? Does it want the beaver ? …and gives it the full Merriweather Post treatment.  It’s delightfully speculative yet still backed up by the kind of well-laid out assessment of the available facts for which...

  Today: Sunny. High of around 66. Pollen levels will be trying to kill you  high. It’s Saturday and you’ve got things to do. Perhaps: Howard County Green Fest at HCC Autism in the Park, Blandair Return of the clock, Old Ellicott City Children’s Discovery Fair, East Columbia 50+ Center Fostering Hope Summit (youth mental health event) Harriet Tubman Cultural Center  Columbia Orchestra: Cinematic Pops *, Jim Rouse Theatre All these and more can be found in the listing at the Visit Howard County website. Got plans? Something fun I’ve overlooked? Let me know. Village Green/Town² Comments  *This is a $ ticketed event. 

This photo appeared on Bluesky with these words:  Science lady is excited. Alt text: Screenshot from the nasa stream when their science ops person learns that the astronauts observed impact flashes on the moon  This week has provided many opportunities to see moments like this - - where we can see the sheer joy of those involved in the Artemis II mission. Joy in discovery. Joy in seeing the thing that you deeply love - -  and have worked so hard for - - finally come to fruition. Joy in sharing these moments with others. Never forget this joy. Never underestimate the power of joy.  Photo property of ABC News More joy this week from New York City mayor Mamdani as he highlights the importance of public workers. Mayor Zohran Mamdani:  Beautiful day to fill the 100,000th pothole of the year. Screenshot from Mayor Mamdani’s Bluesky account Chad Loder:  Mamdani is not just filling the potholes with the crew. He's creating a visual and personal reminder of the dign...