Village Green/Town²

Since the Governor has brought back his “schools shouldn’t have local control of their calendars” bill, its only fair that I bring back what I wrote about it last time. Mr. Hogan describes it as “common sense legislation.” Before we watch his rerun, let’s take a trip down memory lane to see what happened last time he used his authority to force this issue. Train Wreck  ( WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018 ) “Let summer be summer,” the gentlemen said. Meanwhile, in Annapolis... Yesterday, the State School Board rejected Howard County’s Request for a waiver and that means that, despite giving up their Spring Break, students and teachers will be going beyond the June 15th date decreed by the Governor. There’s eight million reasons why this is a bad idea and you probably already know them. Let’s look at the players: The Governor and the Comptroller, who thought it would be a simple thing to start school after Labor Day and end it June 15th to benefit Ocean City merchants...

There was a bit of excitement yesterday when the company that makes Maryland’s most famous spice mixture announced a new product: Old Bay Hot Sauce. This stirred such a buying frenzy amongst lovers of all things Maryland that all merchandise quickly sold out in one day. I was rather out of commission yesterday so I missed the whole thing. It’s not a problem for me as I have never been a fan of Old Bay. (Unpopular benign opinion?) I saw some sour grapes posts suggesting that, since the company that owns Old Bay also owns Frank’s Hot Sauce, that the new release was probably nothing special and could easily be made at home by combining the two. I don’t know about that, but there’s nothing stopping you from mixing up your own batch. This morning this tidbit from Twitter caught my eye: If any Marylanders missed out on #OldBayHotSauce there's a farmer's market in Ellicott City called Breezy Willow that sells a Chesapeake hot sauce. It's delicious and I highly recommen...

Remember this? Maryland reprimands Del. Jalisi for reportedly bullying staff, Erin Cox for the Washington Post Link here. I remember wondering at the time why Jalisi wasn’t dismissed from his duties altogether.  Allowing him to continue gave him a mantle of respectability he clearly did not deserve. And now he’s running for Congress. It would be hard to miss his campaign signs around Howard County. They seem to be placed with the kind of reckless attitude that we saw in the past with a former candidate, she of the Orange signs. In fact, his signs are placed in so many of the same locations that I am beginning to wonder if there’s some crossover in campaign staff. But I digress. What does it take to expel someone from elected service in Annapolis? Why wasn’t the evidence against Jalisi enough?  Of course, there are some people who seem to be immune to perceiving the consequences of their own actions. It is possible that Jalisi might have run for Con...

The kid has gone back to college after a lengthy winter break. For her last meal before leaving town she chose Maiwand at Columbia Crossing. It’s a family favorite. So here’s a question for you, not unlike one of those “Elevator Speech”  questions posed by Elevate Maryland cohosts Candace Dodson Reed and Tom Coale at the end of each podcast. If you were leaving town for a long period of time, what local restaurant would be your first choice for a last meal? This isn’t exactly a “what’s the best restaurant?” question or an evaluation of fine cuisine. It’s more of a look at what is dearest in your heart. What memories would you most want to carry with you on the journey? What local flavors do you love the most? Only one rule: it has to be a restaurant that exists now, not one of fond memories past. After all, the rest of us might want to find out why you like them so much and pay them a visit. Since we haven’t mastered time travel as of yet, testimonials for the Tomato Palac...

News that made me feel sick, angry, and sad: the report of a Howard County School employee who worked with students charged with sex offenses. Coming a close second, the online commenter who wrote of the victim, “I bet her parents are so proud.” Immediate victim blaming. Immediately deciding that whatever happened was consensual, even though the victim was under the age of legal consent. No attempt to see the story in any other way than “she asked for it.” There are many things to address when a news story like this comes to light. I’m going to pick one you probably won’t see mentioned: the desperate need for comprehensive K-12 sex education. Programs like Our Whole Lives teach age appropriate concepts in developmentally appropriate ways. Bodily autonomy and consent are as relevant to young children as they are to teens, but the context is different. Students who grow up understanding bodily autonomy, healthy boundaries, and the need for consent are less likely to fall victim...

It’s the time of year when the Howard County Schools host their “Road to Kindergarten” events for prospective parents. I don’t remember going to one back when my now-college aged kid was heading to kindergarten. Maybe they didn’t have them then. Maybe we spaced out. Perhaps I have completely forgotten the entire thing. It’s possible. Since I have some expertise in the area of what makes one ready for kindergarten, I’m going to throw in my two cents here. And remember, any time from birth onwards is the road to kindergarten, just in case you’re the kind of person who likes to plan ahead. First and foremost, you will help your child to be ready for kindergarten if you talk to them, listen to them, engage, interact, make eye contact. Start at birth and never, ever stop. Don’t take my word for it, check out Howard County’s Talk With Me page . Encourage open ended, creative play. Fancy plastic toys that make lots of sounds and have lots of buttons to push are quite alluring. A card...

The fatigue of the week is piling up on me and my brain is not as sharp as I’d like. A few crumbs for your consideration: The Common Kitchen is holding it’s rescheduled Frozen event tomorrow. The Howard County Lunar New Year Celebration will be tomorrow at the Mall. Time is running out if you want to file to run for the Howard County Board of Education. My big task for the day is to find out why the Baltimore Sun has started charging me $27.00 per month for a digital subscription. That’s almost twice as much as the agreed upon amount. Hmm. Have a great Friday. 

Recent I have observed two instances of local women being “dragged”* by men. (Yes, I was one of them.) In both cases the people who came to their defense were women. I wonder why that is? As this is a sample of only two cases it is hardly statistically significant. But, purely anecdotally, I’d have to say that my experience overall bears this out. If a man launches the social media attack on a woman, it is often women who will come to her defense. I know I have witnessed this far more than these two particular occasions. I know plenty of men who have women friends and progressive attitudes about women’s rights and so on. But are they, for some reason, reticent to jump in under these particular circumstances? Is it difficult for a man to call another man out? Is the impulse to not get entangled stronger than the desire to advocate for a friend? This post is purely conjectural. I don’t know for a fact that it is true. Having a gut feeling is far from an assertion of scientific p...

The other day I featured a photograph which was taken at a kickoff event of the Howard County Historical Society’s “Year of the Howard County Woman.” Here’s more about that.  I must admit that I was wondering what put them in mind of making this particular year “the year of the Howard County Woman.” Thank goodness it’s right there in the promotional piece above: ...to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. Ahem. Not all women. That should read, “giving white women the right to vote.” I’m looking forward to seeing who they have chosen to feature and learning more about women who have shaped Howard County. You can learn more about the Historical Society and what they are up to at their website . Their upcoming membership meeting will feature former Howard County Executive Liz Bobo, who will speak on “Reflections from the 1st woman elected as County Executive in Maryland.”   You can se...

It’s a Tuesday morning but I’m operating with a Monday brain. It’s not pretty. On my mind this morning are places in Columbia/HoCo that were gone before I got here, but that I wish I could have experienced. For instance, the Columbia Visitors Center (Exhibition Center?) that once drew prospective home buyers to the area. The Oakland Mills Village Center in its original configuration. The original Wilde Lake High School. And what was Daniels like in its heyday? The Enchanted Forest on Route 40? Are there local places that you hear about but never got to experience? Do you have a bit of wistfulness that time travel is not, as of yet, a possibility? Fill me in.

Yesterday someone shared this post by author and activist Ally Henny in an online group I belong to. Just a few reminders before y’all suddenly decide that you care about black people on MLK day on Monday:  King died for saying whatever inspirational quote you cherry pick from his sermons, speeches, books, interviews, and everything else.  King did not lay down his life for civil rights. He’s not Jesus. He was murdered in front of his friends. He left behind a wife and young kids.  Posting quotes from King today is not your racism Get out of Jail Free card. If you act racist and you quote King, you are just a racist who quotes King.  Your “black friends” will be watching you tomorrow. Know that we can spot fake from 50,000 miles away. Don’t be sentimental about black people on MLK day and racist the rest of the time. We see that mess. We note it. And we don’t trust you.  MLK Day isn’t about you performing penitential whiteness. It’s not about sho...

When Facebook tells you to stop dithering around and go write your blog, well, what can you do? Yep, nothing but a blank page and a whole lot of space for my thoughts. I‘ve never gotten that before. What’s on my mind? A little bit of this and that. In the race to fill the seat of the late Elijah Cummings, I am torn. I’m a big fan of Delegate Terri Hill, but I think she is doing valuable work where she is in Annapolis. I liked Maya Rockeymoore Cummings when I heard her interview on Elevate Maryland but does she have the necessary experience to do the job? I need to make up my mind soon. The primary is February 4th. There’s no early voting for this one, so make plans on how you can fit it into your regular schedule. This photo by Doug Kapustin of the Baltimore Sun Media Group. It accompanies Katie V. Jones piece in the HoCo Times about the Historical Society’s kick off event for the Howard County Year of the Woman.              ...

Starting a five pm today, Howard County Pride takes over Historic Savage Mill for Gay Day @ the Mill. All the weather excitement will be over and you will be ready to get out of the house. If you’re hungry, be sure to stop by Ram’s Head. Feeling creative? Sign up for the Pride Paint and Take. And go here to learn more about Howard County Pride.

Something I have never written about over the years is the concept of gated communities . Until last night, I didn’t know that Columbia/HoCo had any. We do. What do you think about gated communities? Is that something that would appeal to you when looking for a home? Or would it be a deal breaker? I find it interesting that the Wikipedia article on gated communities states: The purpose of gates is not to deter or prevent crime but to provide the perception of security and exclusivity. I think that another Rouse community, The Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore, was once or perhaps still is a gated community. What did Rouse think of gated communities, I wonder? I must admit that something about the concept troubles me. Once you put up walls and fences and a gatehouse, do you lose a sense of connection with the greater community? Do you think of yourself and your concerns as somehow separate from those of folks outside the walls? I don’t know. I guess I’m just on the out...

I first met Board of Education member Sabina Taj when she was running for office. Her background in arts education was something I thought the Board would benefit from, and her commitment to equity gave me a lot to think about. She was setting a high bar for herself as she contemplated public service. Yesterday Ms. Taj announced that she will not run for re-election to the Board. In her statement she referenced the negativity of local discourse and it seems likely that personal attacks and vitriol played a role her her decision. This is a loss for the community, whether one has been pleased with her tenure on the board or not. The current local climate, especially when it comes to education, has become so toxic that very few want to risk subjecting themselves to its poison. When members of the Board of Education are hounded, smeared, shouted down, even threatened - - how can our true focus be the well-being of our children? Who on earth would do that for a job that pays almost ...

The best restaurant in Columbia, Maryland is one that doesn’t exist: The Magical Soup Company. My friends know I have been pining for such a restaurant for quite some time. Here’s the concept: amazingly good soup, excellent bread. Must have a drive-through or take out option. Soup comes in cups, bowls, or enough to feed your whole family. (Bucket o’ soup?) Cold weather, rainy weather, gray days, or days when you just need comforting: all are good days for soup. And not soup out of a tin, but delicious, life-changing soup. What Grilled Cheese & Co. has done for the humble grilled cheese sandwich, someone should do for soup. It’s a miracle waiting to happen. I do see some drawbacks. What about summer, for instance? Who would want hot soup then? Cold soups exist but may have limited appeal. Also, restaurants with too limited a menu range can doom themselves from the start. I’m thinking of a place I read about that just served breakfast cereal. And, of course, not everyone likes...

Three years ago I disabled comments on the blog and directed people to make their comments on Facebook. It was a risk. There was a possibility that I’d lose reader responses with the change. But my motivation stemmed from a particular kind of commenter: the anonymous troll. I’d had enough. After three years I can say it has been a success. Comments are now limited to people who are willing to “put their name on their work.” Yes, it is possible to create false identities on Facebook but in three years I haven’t been plagued too much by that. It was so much simpler for them to click “submit” when they could make their mark while still hiding in the darkness. That’s just cowardice, and I am not obliged to enable it. Anonymity is important for whistleblowers. And restaurant critics. On social media you should be willing to stand by what you say. If you wouldn’t want your family or employer to know you said it, that should be a big clue that it’s not appropriate to put out there i...

Some people make New Year’s resolutions. I agonize every year over choosing a calendar. When will  I find the perfect planner that is just the right size, that is easy to use, appealing,  and helps me transform how I keep track of my life? It’s downright silly when you think about it, because it isn’t the planner that is lacking. It’s me. You have to use something consistently for it to work. And, like most New Years resolutions, I start out with good intentions and then gradually stop trying. And then I decide I have failed so I don’t go back to try again. It doesn't matter if the planner had the most perfect layout or the most appealing stickers. I need to change something about myself: Create a habit that I am willing to practice faithfully. It won’t work unless I do. I need to be willing to keep at it. I laughed a bit when I saw an ad for Michael’s which invited customers to “Join Our Planner Community.” Apparently there’s a whole industry now for decorating you...

I’m having some very strong feelings about football this morning and something tells me this is not the day to share them. Perhaps some other day. ***** The other day my car was in the shop. I needed to get home from work and I attempted to use the Uber app. I failed. I ended up texting my daughter and she bailed me out. I was lucky. As I stood outside waiting for my ride I thought about how rarely I need to do this. Having a car in our car-centered culture is the key that unlocks personal independence. No waiting. On the other hand, we are so dependent on our cars. I have a car because I need to work. But I must work in order to pay for the expenses that having a car entails. It’s a vicious circle. What if one can’t afford that unexpected $900.00 repair bill? It was snowing as I stood scanning the road for my daughter’s car. I put on my hat and made sure my coat was zipped all the way up. I put my hands in my pockets. I thought of all the people who wait for rides....

In a remarkable twist of fate, Columbia Academy has been the topic of local conversation twice lately: once for targeting a marketing campaign specifically to reinforce anxiety about school redistricting: and, more recently, in a case where a young child was able to leave one of their centers and wander into a busy street. If they were hoping to increase local name recognition this is probably not what they had in mind. Truth in advertising: in the summer of 1999 I worked at Columbia Academy. It was not a happy experience and I was grateful it was only for the summer. This was twenty years ago and I think that ownership has changed since then, so my experiences may not be an accurate representation of the business as it exists today.  But that last phrase is worth your consideration. Columbia Academy is a business.  I wonder if the average person understands the difference between educational entities (calling themselves private/independent schools) that...

Absolutely no one has asked me who I am supporting in the Democratic presidential race. I will not be interviewed by local news media nor hyper local podcasts. In short, like my readers, my personal opinion is just that: personal. You may be the sort of person who loves to get in discussions promoting your favorite candidate with zeal and fervor. You may prefer to keep your thoughts to yourself. Or you may still be assessing your options. As for me, I haven’t said much online but I’ve been observing a lot. That’s because I’m looking for something in particular. When crowds turn up at a political event, what do they look like? If they are all White people that’s a serious concern to me. When the candidate speaks do they have a commitment to equity and racial justice? That’s a high priority for me. I’m not interested in a “Yes, but” candidate. They need to talk the talk and walk the walk. White supremacy/racism is baked into every system in this country. If we are not willing to ...

I stopped  by the Oakland Mills Walgreens on the way home from an evening meeting last night. My shopping list: ice cream for the college kid at home on break, high protein breakfast bars for my husband, and, for me, some over the counter medication for reflux. This is what life brings you, I thought: Ben & Jerry’s, Think Bars, Pepcid. Somehow that progression feels like some kind of decline. When I got to the checkout the familiar clerk held up the medicine and said, “This stuff really works for me.” I smiled. “My doctor recommended it.” “I don’t know how it works, but it’s just different from Tums,” he went on. “It’s better.” “That’s good to know.” Pause. We look at each other awkwardly. As I finished paying I said, “We sound like we’re in a commercial, don’t we?” And we laughed. Back in 2009 the late community blogger Dennis Lane was writing about plans for the Walgreens which was to be built on the site of the former BB&T Bank. I would give you more re...

In Montgomery County, Council member Will Jawando will be holding an event on Thursday evening to promote safe driving among teens. The program, called Driving it Home, was started in Prince George’s County to be: ...a regional road safety education and awareness initiative aimed at changing the driving culture in the Washington metropolitan region. This quote from Jawando caught my eye: Driver and pedestrian safety must be taught early and reinforced often. Since this 762-person class of seniors began high school in 2016, 803 pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle occupants were killed or seriously injured on Montgomery County roads.  By educating them on safe driving, riding and walking practices early, we can instill a culture of safety in our next generation that will save lives. In Howard County the Horizon Foundation continues to advocate for a comprehensive  Complete Streets initiative. Their focus is on inclusion and safety combined: Imagine a Howard C...

It’s a no blog Tuesday, friends. Migraines and morning just don’t mix. See you tomorrow.

From the New International Version : The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25  On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26  “What is written in the Law?”  he replied.  “How do you read it?” 27  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ [ a ] ;  and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [ b ] ” 28  “You have answered correctly,”  Jesus replied.  “Do this and you will live.” 29  But he wanted to justify himself,  so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30  In reply Jesus said:  “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.   31  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by...