Village Green/Town²

  So. The Ides of March. In all likelihood the most we have to beware is whatever blew into our yards during the night or whatever blew over. We haven’t put up the patio umbrella yet so I think we’re safe. There are plenty of perfectly respectable things to write about this morning but for some reason my brain is stuck on skateboards. On January 23rd, the Columbia Association posted this conversation started on their Instagram account: Columbia is for all of us. What gives you a sense of belonging here in Columbia? They received one response. Columbia doesnt seem like it's for skateboarders anymore. It used to be the skatepark that gave us a sense of that, but Y'all haven't listened to us for over a decade and now your park is severely outdated, in disrepair, and can commonly be seen empty on perfect summer days. Columbia used to have a thriving skateboarding scene, and not having a modern, up-to-date skatepark is one of the reasons why we don't anymore. People would ra...

  According to Google, sunset on March 31st will be at 7:30 pm. (Thanks, DST.) You can spend the close of your day and experience all the colors of a spring sunset with a bunch of very cool people who care about Suicide Prevention.  2nd Annual? I don’t remember the first so I did some digging around.  Howard County Hosts Inaugural Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention The Light the Night 5K was spearheaded by Chloe McGeehan who served as student member for the past year for the Howard County Recreation and Parks Park Board. Over 150 participants raised more than $2,100 combined.  Chloe McGeehan was featured in a Baltimore Magazine article highlighting the work of young people making a difference in their communities.  Suicide has been the leading cause of death for youth in Howard County since 2014. Chloe McGeehan has personally felt the effects of this sad statistic, having lost a running teammate to suicide. Last April, she created Light the Night 5K for S...

  March brings the painful Spring Forward time change followed rather quickly by Saint Patrick’s Day. Long-time readers of the blog know that I have had plenty to say about that over the years. Last year’s offering: The Greening of America, HoCo Style  , Village Green/Town², March 14, 2022 Still, and you cannot move me on this, I take a dim view of restaurants that sell any green drink as Irish and market menu items like Corned Beef Quesadillas or Irish Nachos for your Saint Patrick’s Day festivities. My husband, who is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, has learned to live with the annual cultural appropriation with no more than a wince. One thing we agree on, though: a drink called a Car Bomb. For Heaven’s sake, look it up , bartenders and restaurant owners. Why on earth would you think this is a celebratory name for a cocktail? Here are three examples of Saint Patrick’s Day-themed social media posts that have made me laugh over the past few days. The first is here by virtue of...

  There’s a street in my village that is the home of some creatively renovated original Columbia houses. Every time my errands take me that way I have to fight the urge to slow down and drink it all in. This street is far enough off the beaten path that you might say it’s “a place that time forgot”, but, unlike Lake Woebegon, the decades have definitely improved it.  I thought about this street when I saw a recent announcement from Howard County Government’s Housing and Community Development Department. Reinvest * Renovate * Restore Housing Repair Program Who is eligible? • You must be a Howard County homeowner • Own and occupy the home as your principal residence • Can be single family, townhouse or condo • All mortgage, property taxes, HOA/condo fees, and hazard insurance payments must be current Loan Terms • Maximum loan amount is $40,000 • Interest rate shall not exceed 2% • Maximum term is 30 years Department of Housing & Community Development - To apply visit https:/...

  Lapsus est vita! It’s not common for a modern business to have a Latin motto these days. Can you guess what business it’s for? I’ll give you a hint. It translates as “Laps are life!”  Give up? Maybe this will help. Image from RC Underground website Yes, those kind of laps. “Lapsus est vita” is the motto of RC Underground Arena of Columbia, Maryland.  Welcome to RC UNDERGROUND ARENA! Our goal is to provide an open and inviting atmosphere for RC racers of all ages and skill levels. Come on in and get some laps in! We love helping the new racer get the right equipment and setup!  Today RC Underground Arena (yes, the RC stands for “remote control”) is hosting a Race of Champions beginning at 2 pm. Race of Champions is a 1/28th scale rc car race taking place at the recently opened RC Underground Arena. RCUA is located at 8775 Cloud Leap Court Columbia MD 21045. We will have games, RC car demo's, door prizes, giveaway's and more. This is an event for the whole family yo...

  You know I support LGBTQ+  human beings, right? I mean, anyone who reads my blog or my social media posts is aware of that. How could they not be be? It goes without saying that I support the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming children, teens, students, adults to be who they truly are and have access to gender-affirming health care and all the rights given to every person in our country. Right? But a massive wave of hate and ignorance is rolling across this country. Trans people are being actively endangered and harmed by laws passed in state legislatures. Even those who live in states where this hasn’t happened are feeling the fear and dread which comes from witnessing this attack. How could anyone feel safe when they see that people just like them are being singled out in laws meant to eradicate them?  There’s no way to feel safe anywhere when people are coming after the essence of your true self with plans to outlaw who you are. I trust the lived experien...

  While yesterday began at a low ebb for me (see yesterday’s post) it ended on a high note. I was able to spend some time in the company of some truly amazing women at the Women’s Giving Circle event at Howard Community College. There’s nothing more effective for jarring one out of a sense of hopelessness than an evening surrounded by women who see what needs to be done and are doing it.  From their website: Mission The Women’s Giving Circle is building a community of philanthropists to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.​ Impact We have been part of the Howard County community for 20+ years, have given $1M+ to our nonprofit partners through 250+ grants. We have a $1.3M endowment from 1,600+ donors that will ensure that there are funds to support women and girls in our community in perpetuity. In 2022 we gave $200K to our nonprofit partners in honor of WGC's 20th Anniversary. While I’ve written about WGC before, I’m not sure I’ve ever revealed that my earlie...