Sunday We Celebrate

There are plenty of things going on this weekend. Today I’m just going to talk about one. 

Old Ellicott City Pride is tomorrow, Sunday June 8th from 12-6 pm.

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. 

 Here is an excerpt. Go here for the entire piece. 

We rise and fall and light from dying embers

Remembrances that hope and love last longer

And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love

Cannot be killed or swept aside

Now fill the world with music, love, and pride

- - Lin-Manuel Miranda

Go and do likewise.

Village Green/Town² Comments

F ³: Heroes

 

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.

Who are your heroes this week? 

Village Green/Town² Comments 

What Did You Learn in School Today?

Have you ever asked this question:

What did you learn in school today?

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!

Lunch and childcare will be provided on site.

The event is free. Register here.

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.

- - Maya Angelou 

Village Green/Town² Comments 

*What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned that Washington never told a lie,

I learned that soldiers seldom die,

I learned that everybody's free,

And that's what the teacher said to me,

And that's what I learned in school today,

that's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned the policemen are my friends,

I learned that justice never ends,

I learned that murderers pay for their crimes,

Even if we make a mistake sometimes,

And that's what I learned in school today,

That's what I learned in school

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned that war is not so bad,

I learned about the great once we had had.

We fought in Germany and in France

And some day I might get my chance.

And that's what I learned in school today,

That's what I learned in school

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned our government must be strong;

It's always right and never wrong!

Our leaders are the finest men

And we elect them again and again,

And that's what I learned in school today,

That's what I learned in school

In the Land of the Living

 

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. 

The Dish: The most authentic Neopolitan pizza in Maryland is in Columbia

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. 

Drive-by Curiousity, Village Green/Town², December 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.

Village Green/Town² Comments 

Local Happenings and a Heartfelt Apology

 

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. 

Howard County students face redistricting again - - and parents are already pushing back, Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner

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.

Village Green/Town² Comments 

Raising the Flag

 And now, a word from the BBC:

Pride Month: What is it and why do people celebrate it?, Newsround, a BBC children’s news program. 

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.

Village Green/Town² Comments 

Live from the Lunchroom

 

The sky is gentle now after last night’s violent storms. The weather forecast looks questionable, though.  If you want to be out and about today the morning looks better than later on. But, you never know. 

*****

Last night I attended my husband’s Guitarpalooza Concert at the high school where he teaches. It was abruptly canceled two weeks ago when Spring storms knocked the power out. Undeterred, they somehow managed to get another date to rock out one last time, even though it meant they had to set up in the cafeteria.

I’m not going to do a concert rundown and I’m not going to do my usual plea for arts education. You already know how I feel. What I came away with last night was something bigger than that:

Everyone should get to experience the joy of watching someone they care about doing something that they love. 

I sat in a school cafeteria with a decent crowd of other local folks who probably feel the same way. When you love someone you connect and believe with them in a way that may take you to places you might not ordinarily go. (A room full of adolescents with amplifiers, for instance.) Sure, it makes them feel wonderful to look and see that you are supporting them. But, if you are very lucky, it does something to you.

It changes you. You realize that you are there, not just for your kid or friend or significant other, but for everyone engaged in whatever special thing it is. And you care about the outcome and whatever may come next. You share in their joy. 

We all become better humans when we have that experience. It’s not just about “my kid” or “my neighborhood” or “what I am entitled to.” We realize we can want good things for an area larger than our own personal sphere.

But we have to want to do that. We have to be open to doing that. We have to be open to sharing the joy of others.

I made my way home through driving rain last night with one thought in my mind: no one should hold elected office if they don’t understand and experience this. Everyone who is involved in setting budgets and making laws should operate with this as their guiding principle.

So much of what is going on in Washington right now shows a complete absence of this. It is soulless and selfish. It eggs on the public to exercise their worst selves: you don't have to care and you don’t have to share. 

If we know how it feels to watch someone we care about do something that they love then we should want that for everyone. We should understand the deep value of that to the quality of life and we should foster it and protect it. 

Imagine how much could be accomplished with that as a guiding principle. In fact, it has accomplished much in the past. It can be done again. 

But we have to want to do that. We have to be open to doing that. We have to be open to sharing the joy of others.

Village Green/Town² Comments