Village Green/Town²

  Dear Howard County Government,  I am writing to apologize for my lack of enthusiasm for your commitment to observing America’s 250th birthday.  I know you have invested so much creativity and effort into these events but I have just not been in a frame of mind to celebrate.  I am sorry. It’s not your fault that we are living through such a hard time right now in the United States. You very likely committed to this initiative long before 2026 and had no idea what this year would look like. Tonight you’re hosting a big celebration at the Lakefront and I hope it has a great turnout.  Image from HoCoGov website  It’s possible that, despite the cooler weather, more folks may feel like celebrating tonight than they did in July when this event had originally been scheduled. ***** From the County Executive’s Facebook page: An evening of food, music and 800 drones awaits at our Columbia Lakefront! Bring your family and friends on Saturday, November 7, as we celebr...

  I can’t exactly explain it, but I found this headline hilarious: Larry Hogan says he has no obligation to help Maryland GOP if members won't listen,  By TINASHE CHINGARANDE and KONNER METZ , Baltimore Sun I can’t image this article (or at least this framing) appearing anywhere but the Sun. Enough said. But I very nearly guffawed. ***** Do you know what this is? It was for sale this week on Facebook Marketplace. I thought it was a musical instrument, probably percussion. Perhaps a relative of a cajon? Silly me. It’s a two-story house for a cat. (The clue was right there on the lower right hand corner.) Perhaps if you’re a musician everything looks music related. ***** People are sharing this photo beyond Howard County. I’ve already seen it twice today on Bluesky. Do you know why?  The Normies visiting this Howard County, MD library must be so very confused. We know it's not the same, but we're here for you in these dark days. Each book can be checked out for 3 weeks, whi...

  You’ve heard the question. You can envision the head shaking and tut tut tutting on the other side of it.  “Where are the parents?” It’s almost always white people asking. I’d be extremely surprised if the question is ever about white kids. Yesterday yet another report of racist behavior at a certain local high schoo l came to light. At a sporting event - - big surprise. Similar reports have been documented for years in Howard County. What does it mean if people see the words “school” and “racism” in a headline and already know which school it is?  Apparently some folks think it couldn’t possibly be them. What the heck? Are all the other schools in Howard County participating in a years-long conspiracy to make up mean things about one school? For absolutely no reason? Why on earth would they do that? There has certainly been no positive “payoff” for people who have called out bad behavior.  So, how do kids get like this? Where do they learn those words, those atti...

  I did not stay up late last night. I managed to sleep until five am and then I got up and did the things I always do.  Iced coffee. Check. Comfy chair and fuzzy blanket. Check. iPad. Check. And so my day begins: checking the familiar places, searching for local stories. There’s quite a big to-do on Bluesky about Howard County. Howard County, Indiana, it turns out. I now know a bit more about Kokomo than I used to.  Next stop: the Howard County Library website. My library card allows me access to local newspapers which mean that their website is an early morning destination. This service has allowed me to use my limited discretionary income to donate to Baltimore Beat and Columbia Community Care while still being connected to local journalism. Here’s what I saw when their webpage opened this morning. Pages of Gratitude A curated monthly reading list with children's, teen, and adult books in fiction and nonfiction. Perfect for exploring new titles. Read More Further down ...

  Today’s the day. If you haven’t voted yet - - use your voice at the polls to make a difference in our community, our country, and the world.  I’m running the following post again today out of gratitude. Throughout our community and across the nation there are folks who have been working towards this day. In this election, that means they are working to make sure that the values and freedoms that our democracy guarantees us remain guaranteed for all.  They will probably be too busy to read this today but you can read it and think about what it takes to keep a free society truly free. The People Who Believe , October 25, 2014 It's Saturday morning. I just got up to make a coffee and turn on the heat. It is chilly in the house and I'm sitting in my husband's recliner under a fluffy blanket. The drapes are still closed but I can see sunlight peeking in at the edges. The house is quiet. While I sip my coffee things are already well underway at the Democratic Headquarters o...

  27,000 people donated to help Rowan’s mom buy him a wheelchair accessible van. That’s pretty amazing. Right now? She’s in the process of picking out just the right vehicle.  Video by Sarah Sundae, YouTube  What a joy that must be for her. The ongoing responsibility of caring for a profoundly disabled child is a heavy one. One vehicle cannot make that all go away, but it will make a significant difference in their daily life together. Plus, the thought that so many people were willing to response to her need and contribute to this cause must be reassuring and even energizing. She feels seen. She is not alone. To celebrate reaching her goal, Sarah and family are throwing a party.  Thanks to the incredible generosity of Rowan's Army, we reached our $60,000 fundraising milestone for Rowan's wheelchair-accessible van, and we want to celebrate with the community that helped make it possible! ROWAN'S ARMY VICTORY PARTY!  Saturday, November 7, 2026 • 3-6 PM Generously...