Village Green/Town²

  I’ve been over here flailing around trying to think of a blog topic and then I realized: it’s Friday. I can do what the heck I want. So this is what I want. I want a kitchen sink that faces towards the room and I want people to realize that, if they want me to do the dishes, they need to keep me company and talk to me. My kitchen sink faces a wall and we put a lovely photograph of the beach there. It’s attractive but hardly interactive.  If I cannot have interactive dishwashing my second choice is no dishwashing. I’m flexible. I want kitchen shelves that can be made to move up or down at the push of a button. I do not want to reach up or bend down ever again. I do not want to have to get up on a kitchen ladder. Make the shelves move for me. Put them on some kind of track. How, exactly? That’s not my job. I’m the idea person. I know this is possible because I saw it on HGTV once. Okay, maybe it was on a show called “Extreme Homes.” So what? This is an extreme want. Lastly: I ...

A brief story. I saw a documentary about Little People some years back. (Dwarfism, achondroplasia).  One gentleman featured in the film described an experience where someone of typical height visited his home. Naturally, many of the features in his residence had been retrofitted to accommodate his height. Including in the bathroom. When the visitor emerged from “using the facilities” he remarked, with some irritation, “There’s something wrong with your toilet!” That response has stayed with me for a long time. I am normal, thinks the man. I am of normal height. This toilet doesn’t accommodate me. There is something wrong with this toilet. This mindset prevails in too many areas of our lives and it is not only demeaning and limiting (think education and the workplace) but it can also be dangerous. If humans come in a variety of manifestations, acknowledging that and acting on that should be the goal. Sorting out the “normal” from everyone else and then planning only for that “normal...

Yesterday, on International Trans Day of Visibility, County Executive Calvin Ball released this statement: Howard County is a community where all people, can live openly and authentically, no matter their gender identity. That's why on Trans Day of Visibility; we stand with the transgender and non-binary individuals in Howard County and beyond. We raise awareness and we recognize the discrimination that many still face. Howard County sees you, and we will always be here to advocate for you. I responded: Thank you. The value of community depends upon acceptance and respect. A no-name troll came back at me with this: Unless you happen to be a heterosexual white male, then you're SOL.  ***** "Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us."   - - from a passage in the Wisdom of Sirach (44:1) Image from Cured/18th and 21st social media* “Let us now praise famous men” because Women’s History Month is over and we have the rest of the year to fill up. “Let us n...

  How do you see yourself? Glass half full or half empty? Are you inclined to see life through rose colored glasses or do you have more of the Eeyore gloomy outlook? Are you trying to maintain a sense of clear-eyed truth in pursuit of current reality while somehow maintaining some hope? Hmm… I’ve been thinking about this as I’ve discovered a genre of YouTube videos that look like the following: All of This Is Gone: The Dark Story Behind Maryland’s Beloved Fairy Tale Park: Enchanted Forest Dark. Dark Story, Dark Truth, Dark Revelations, Dark History… It’s a vibe, as the young folks say. The word dark must be one of those things that make people click. Sell that video. Get more eyeballs on it. Draw people in… …to the darkness. There aren’t necessarily any deep, dark revelations in these videos. I haven’t done any in depth study on them so this is purely anecdotal, of course. But I suspect you could take any local subject you want and make it dark.  The dark story of Azlon I. (Fi...

Spring is apparently going to do its thing and I am contemplating buying masks specifically for warding off pollen. Does anyone know where I can find this shade of green? The alternative is staying inside until the first frost. (Masking outside makes me feel ridiculous but it sure beats steroids.) Speaking of Spring, there are plenty of good reasons for wanting to be outside. The 2026 season over at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods begins in April. Take a look at what’s coming up. Possibly my favorite outdoor-oriented local post is this one from Clark’s Elioak Farm. . ISO: Volunteers at the farm. We're looking for kids 12 years (or older) or adults to come out on the weekends. Volunteers are stationed in our Bunny Barn, holding rabbits and Chicks for our visitors to pet and learn about. Morning shift of 10 AM to 1:30 PM or an afternoon shift of 1 PM to 4:30 PM. Please message for more details. Serious inquiries only please. We're looking to create a consistent schedule- now ...

  What can you do in two minutes? It’s not a new game show nor is it an idle question.  Howard High Schools to start 2 minutes earlier, beginning in May , Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun A two-hour delay on March 3 and a three-hour early dismissal on March 16, when the state experienced tornado threats, caused a four-hour deficit for the Howard County Public School System. To make up the hours, June 8 will be a full school day for all students, and high school students will start their days at 7:48 a.m. instead of 7:50 a.m., beginning May 4. The conflict between the spirit and the letter of the law is right out in front here. It says a lot about state requirements that this kind of a solution is considered to be reasonable. Who will be responsible for those extra two minutes of high school instruction? Teachers, of course. I sure hope they are ready to make those minutes meaningful. A Google search didn’t turn up many classroom-oriented suggestions. But maybe some of these wil...

It’s a classic cartoon set-up. “I like your _________.” “Thanks, it _________.” Part of a four-panel comic by @lumpyquinn What makes these so fun is an unexpected response. For example: Comic by @jimshoenbill We may somehow be willing to accept dogs standing upright, in suits, holding wine glasses. Still, the second dog’s comeback makes us giggle. Why? Could it be because it transgresses polite cocktail party conversation? Maybe. What do you think? I once heard a story about the very young child of college professors who occasionally made the rounds of department wine and cheese events with her parents. She observed the way that adults talked at these gatherings. Maybe they talked about things they liked, the weather, health, or issues of mutual concern. Drawing on her personal knowledge, she approached a small group of academics and asked, “Are you ever bothered by diaper rash?” I can’t tell you how many times I have wished I could use that opener at an awkward cocktail party or polit...

  It isn’t. A view from the train, I mean. But take a look. Doesn’t it feel like it could be? This was my view at the doctor’s office yesterday afternoon. I was not moving, but the world around me was. Walkers and joggers on the pathway. Folks strolling with their dogs. People chatting on benches. Behind them, cars zipping along on Route 29.  It’s a view I probably never would have focused on without the ability to sit in a treatment room, waiting for my doctor to come in.  While I also enjoyed all the burgeoning signs of spring outside I also recognized the irony of being in that building to treat allergies and asthma. Spring: yay! Pollen: boo! I was curious about the tall building in the background. Columbia doesn’t have many. I was having trouble visualizing exactly what I was looking at in relationship to Lake Kittamaqundi. Luckily Columbia-savvy people on Facebook filled me in. It’s an apartment complex called Aspen at Lake Trail. It used to be called High Tor. What ...

The Merriweather Post has done one of those comprehensive write-ups for which it is rightly known - - this one is about the groundbreaking for the new senior housing project Oxford Hills.  What Erickson Senior Living’s New Oxford Hills Retirement Community Actually Means for Howard County , Jeremy Dommu, The Merriweather Post It is thorough. It is long. I’ve skimmed it twice and gotten bogged down both times but I’m still recommending it because your attention span may be longer than mine.  To me the most important part occurs in this paragraph: Seniors on fixed Social Security income, who may rent rather than own, or who own modest homes and have spent years of savings on medical costs, or who simply don't have $300,000 to $500,000 in home equity - these seniors have no real options either. Oxford Hills does nothing for them. What they need is actual, dedicated, affordable senior housing — purpose-built communities with services, stability, and dignity — at prices they can a...

  In a strange twist of fate, the very moment I was contemplating the prohibitive cost of high school ice hockey, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was announcing plans to build a county ice skating complex.  Boom. Just like that. (I’m going to need to be careful how I use these newfound powers of mine.) From the County Executive’s Facebook page: We have historic news for Howard County. At the Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, we shared plans to bring two new indoor ice rinks to our community! This project represents years of progress, shaped by resident feedback, feasibility studies, and continued engagement since 2022. What we heard was clear: our community needs more access to indoor athletic space, particularly, ice facilities.   Image from HoCoGov social media  Conversations about improving/expanding ice skating facilities go back for a while now. I remember having a conversation with Dr. Ball on this topic way back when I was on the Oakland Mills Villge Board.* A...

I’ve been sifting through old blog posts this morning. It’s dark, and it’s raining, and I’m sitting in an empty house contemplating my birthday. I’m not feeling sorry for myself, mind you, but I am looking for some perspective on the day. (I just deleted three paragraphs so I’m not sure I’ve found it yet.) The last five weeks have upended my life . There’s no visible plan for returning to normal as yet. I don’t want sympathy or a prize.  I’m pausing to reflect on this because it has taught me something I needed to know. I had the absolutely perfect life. Just the way it was. And I didn’t know it. I didn’t think I was doing enough, achieving enough,  being enough,  growing and improving enough. I continually wrestled with seeing myself in one long arc of unfulfilled potential. Oddly, it took a sudden and radical change to make me realize that that life was enough. I was enough. And that my life, family, friendships, and community were just what I wanted. The perfect gif...

  This article in the Baltimore Sun caught my attention for all the wrong reasons. Police: Columbia woman* pepper-sprayed man after yelling slurs at shopping center , Brendan Nordstrom, Baltimore Sun One choice of words leapt out at me. It’s not what you might expect. Shopping center. Oh my word. The Howard Hughes Corporation does not create anything so ordinary as “shopping centers.” Merriweather Row is, I believe, a self-described Lifestyle Center. I wonder if someone in a corner office somewhere cringed when they read those words. Shopping center? The very idea! Next they’ll be talking about Walmarts and garden apartments.  There goes the neighborhood. (I wonder if they’ll sue.) As I said, that’s hardly the reason to be concerned about the crime committed here, which was both racist and violent. You might expect me to mention the particular pain caused by such an act in a community that was meant to be the very opposite of racism from its inception. But I’m really tired of ...

  You know what they say. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” That’s synergy. Synergy: a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts) Merriam Webster Now let’s throw in: Juxtaposition: the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect Also Merriam Webster  Now you have: Yes, of course. You have Wine & Baby Goats. An absolutely perfect example of synergy and juxtaposition. The Iron Bridge Wine Company  Clark's Elioak Farm is hosting a few amazing, relaxing and enjoyable evenings with adorable baby goats and delicious food and wine in an Enchanted farm setting!! Catering by us (their neighbor), the Iron Bridge Wine Company. Upcoming Dates (6PM - 8PM) Tuesday, April 21 Wednesday, April 22 Thursday, April 23 Tuesday, April 28 Wednesday, April 29 Visit Clark's Elioak Farm website to buy your t...

  We girls hold up this world with a strength that's all our own. - - Jada Pinkett Smith This lovely photographic picture book is a gentle and insightful treatise on the value of women and girls around the world. It was published in 2004 and I bought it for my youngest - - as an antidote to my own childhood indoctrination, I think. The other day I saw a post from the Columbia Association which began: Women lift us all. Screenshot of video post by the Columbia Association  I offer my sincere apologies to Columbia Gym Front Desk Supervisor Casey Lee. I didn’t click on the video. I couldn’t. I saw those words and they hit me in an entirely unexpected way. Women lift us all. Yes. And we are so, so tired of lifting. Lifting without help, without appreciation, without appropriate compensation.  Lifting while mocked and disrespected. While our value and freedoms are under attack. Lift your own damn world.  I worked the whole time my kids were growing up. There were definite...

Let’s take it from the top: the Glenelg High School boosters organization is proud of their Girls Ice Hockey team. First and only. Taking a moment to share something very unique to Glenelg. We are the first and only public school in Maryland with a Girls Ice Hockey team. This team works really hard and has a lot of fun. It is customary to see them all smiling as they play and when they line change. Way to go Glads on a great season! That’s pretty cool. But if they’re the first and only public high school with a girls hockey team, who do they play? Truth in advertising: I didn’t ask. But it stands to reason that they are playing students from independent schools. You might call them private schools. Why don’t all public schools have girls hockey teams?  I’m guessing there are a variety of reasons. Here’s one that comes to mind right away: cost. Infographic from Playground Equipment Website  * A cursory online search shows ice hockey at the top in terms of cost per participant. ...

  Highly recommended reading this morning: It’s time for Maryland to treat kids as kids , Erika Strauss Chavarria, Guest Commentary, Baltimore Sun Don’t have a subscription to the Sun? I don’t either. Do you have a library card? Follow the directions here to gain access  via HCLS. Chavarria, known locally as the founder and executive director of Columbia Community Care, makes the case for the Youth Charging Reform Act under consideration in Annapolis. It would eliminate automatic adult charging for children ages 14 and 15 and would also narrow the list of offenses triggering automatic adult charges for youth ages 16 and 17. Ms. Chavarria’s experience and professional expertise as an educator informs her analysis. Maryland ranks near the top nationally for its number of children incarcerated in adult facilities, an embarrassment for a so-called progressive state. Black children make up over 80% of the children held. This reflects a historical and fundamental societal disre...

  First things first. For all the folks who read yesterday’s blog thinking I was legitimately going to reveal shocking truths - - my apologies. I say this because it got a healthy amount of clicks but absolutely zero comments, which usually means that readers have walked away thinking, “meh” or “aw, heck.” For real and possibly shocking weather, it sounds like today might be the real thing. And I sincerely hope not because I yet again find myself in a house without a basement. ***** Have you seen this map lately? Yes, it’s a WalletHub map. I have just about made my peace with their periodic announcements about where we live and my lack of confidence in what they are doing (and why.) But, as far as I can tell, they aren’t doing any significant harm. I don’t think any community has dropped off the map as a result of their endless surveys.  We’ve probably all seen the online trolls who hate local leadership and respond to any positive rankings as proof positive that WalletHub is...

    When I asked about tornadoes the other day it was not an invitation. Sheesh. But here I am again thinking about them. I am not an expert on tornadoes. In fact, one hundred percent of my childhood knowledge was dependent upon Ajax brand cleaner. National Geographic Kids gives a great introductory description for beginners (like me.) it turns about the United States leads the world in the incidence of tornadoes. Go us, I guess. All of this brings me back to good old HoCo. Are we experiencing tornadoes more frequently than in years past? If so, do we know the reason why? It turns out that you can search history of tornadoes in Howard County, Maryland. One of the top hits will be a website called  “Tornado Path.” They have an app, too. They have easy-to-read information, colorful charts, and a really cool logo. You know what they don’t have? My wholehearted endorsement. And this is why: When you click on “About” on the website, they don’t exactly tell you who they are...