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...