Village Green/Town²

  The first day of school has come and gone. I’ll have a lot more to say about buses, probably tomorrow. Today I want to talk about the obligatory back-to-school post from the Howard County Times. ‘We’ll take things as they come’: As Howard County students return to schools in person, parents stay hopeful   Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun Ms. Haynes is our new education reporter. She is a 2017 graduate of Columbia University with a masters degree in journalism. We are lucky that she has cast her lot with us. We are lucky to have any local journalism at all anymore.  But, that’s another story. For now let us just say, “Welcome, Ms. Haynes!” About the article. The one thing that struck me almost immediately is where the parents who were interviewed are from. Glenelg High School and Glenwood Middle (Cooksville) Waverly Woods Elementary (Ellicott City) Chapelgate Christian School, Kennedy Krieger Baltimore (Mount Airy) If you look at a map of Howard County, those three locations...

  I can’t believe I got on my good clothes and planned my whole day around going to see a rock musical about a naked mole rat. Well, maybe I can. The location was, of course, the Chrysalis in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. The play was “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: the Rock Experience” which is a musical based on the Mo Willems picture book of the same name. When I asked the concessions guy what kind of beer goes with naked mole rat he did not know. So I went with a Flying Dog Blood Orange Ale. Great choice. The performers were from the Drama Learning Center. They were very, very good. The adaptation of the book into a musical format worked well. There were laugh lines that reached the children, and some for the adults. The show was fun, and funny, with a sweet yet powerful message and it was not too long for kids to enjoy it.  As someone who works with young children I often find theater that is intended for children to be pretty dreadful. I wince at the many stereotyp...

 On the front page of today’s Baltimore Sun , an article by Lillian Reed and Liz Bowie. The headline might just as truthfully read: teachers worry as schools reopen. Administrators worry as schools reopen. Health care professionals worry as schools reopen. Community leaders worry as schools reopen. And, although they merit only a second-hand reference in this article: students worry as schools reopen. There may be people who are not worried. I don’t know any of them. Although this article focuses on the Baltimore City School System, much of the information is relevant here in Howard County and elsewhere. In particular, this statement from Sonja Santelises:  “It is disappointing that our nation has not come together to make our schools safe for all children.” - - Sonja Santelises, CEO, Baltimore City Schools. This is a careful statement that speaks volumes. I can think of many other pointed ways to say this that involve strong language and scathing accusations. That is why I a...

  Influencing public behavior can be an arduous and often frustrating task, as our long national journey with COVID-19 has borne out. It takes a lot of work to encourage and maintain public health behaviors such as masking, distancing, abiding by quarantine, getting tested, and getting vaccinated. Those in government and public health have been using everything in their toolbox and sometimes (as we know) it isn’t enough. People can be remarkably difficult to move. With that in mind I would like to congratulate County Executive Calvin Ball and the team in Howard County Government for pulling off a feat of downright magic this week. In about 24 hours they got a significant number of Howard County residents to do something they had never done before: look at a public transit schedule. I’ve written a lot here about the need to connect people with public transit in Columbia/HoCo, and how it needs to be seen as a useful option that everyone can use, rather than what poor people have no c...

  Happy Thursday! In case you’re already thinking of the weekend, I’ve got some ideas for you: On Saturday, August 28th from 12 - 3 pm, The 3rd is hosting an End of Summer Picnic.  From their Facebook page: Time flies, and now we must say goodbye to summer and hello to a new school year! That's right, school is about to be back in session, and we want to celebrate the end of summer!!  We also want to send our students back to school fully equipped to learn. Bring school supplies to donate and you'll get a free bag of popcorn for your generosity! We will also have the amazing artist @Melroyart, who will be creating community artwork that you can contribute to! How dope is that?  Can't wait to see you at The 3rd for our End of Summer Picnic on Saturday, August 28th, from 12 pm - 3 pm.  Location: The 3rd 10215 Wincopin Circle Columbia, MD 21044 This is a free event but I am pleased to note that Oakland Mills’ own Althea’s Almost Famous will be there providing her ...

  Sometimes you just want comfort food. My daughter had been through a rather challenging day and I told her she could pick where we would be ordering for dinner. Her request? Mashed potatoes. Not mashed potatoes alone, mind you, but as a signigicant component of the overall meal. Precovid that would have meant a trip to Bob Evans. Sadly, our favorite Bob Evans has closed, we don’t eat inside restaurants these days, and Bob Evans carry out has disappointed us one too many times. So. What do you do? I went to the Howard County Eats Facebook group and put it to them. Best place to get mashed potatoes in HoCo that isn’t a wildly expensive proposition? We’ve got a comfort food craving over here. Here are their responses: Wegman’s Boston Matket Ma’s Kettle Daniel’s Restaurant UNO’s Texas Roadhouse Grill Marx White Oak Tavern Ale House Stanford Grill Bushel and a Peck Whole Foods (Hot Bar?) KFC Other suggestions that made me smile: buy Bob Evans mashed potatoes at the Giant, make your ow...

  It was very hot. The remarks by local notables were brief. The star of the show was a brand-new, brightly colored van.  Yes, you can have a ribbon-cutting for a van and, in this case, I thought the glittery blue ribbon was particularly appropriate. Drumroll, please. Introducing…… On the Road to Kindergarten This mobile pop-up library brings preschool classes and resources to neighborhoods without ready access to library branches. With the goal of preparing children for kindergarten, our instructors will bring the pop-up library to communities throughout Howard County. The unit will also serve as a mobile hot spot, providing internet access to the nearby community during each stop. On the Road to Kindergarten mobile unit instructors will: teach classes lend books, activity kits, toys, and other library materials lend Chromebooks and hotspots provide information on library classes and events provide information on community resources/service This initiative is made possible by...

  Only it seems to me that once in your life before you die you ought to see a country where they don’t talk in English and don’t even want to. - -  Mrs. Gibbs, Our Town, Thornton Wilder I thought of this quote last night as I enjoyed the performance of Cultura Plenera at the Chrysalis in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. I have become more and more convinced of the importance of being a part of experiences where white culture is not at the center of what is going on. There’s a kind of deep learning, a gaining of perspective, that can happen only when you let go of the notion that you are the center of the universe. This is particularly important as we continue to be bombarded with a kind of “America First” dogma which at its core stems from a “whites first” cult that demands that some people and some cultures be considered American and some not. If we shut ourselves off from the expression and celebration of those who are different than we are then we perpetuate the notion...

  I feel like I wrote this a million years ago, but I didn’t. I happened upon an online discussion yesterday about voting by mail, in particular, the Special Election in District 7 to fill the seat held by the late Elijah Cummings. As I watched the familiar arguments unfold, I had an unusual epiphany. It seems to me that the two dominant political parties start at the same place when it comes to voting but where each goes from there is indicative of their respective world views. The statement might begin: Voting is so important that.... And one party finishes it like this: we must put in place careful restrictions in order to make sure that none of the unqualified and no bad actors can sully this important process. The other party:... we must do whatever we can to remove barriers so that all citizens may participate in this important process. Beneath it all, members of one party seems to believe that “if I am good at heart, my neighbor is likely to be the same.” The other party lea...

I saw the sign. Driving down Little Patuxent Parkway, my attention was turned to the breathtaking blue across the street and it was a sign.  I think it’s new. The sign is in front of Howard Community College and, in my opinion, it’s a real attention grabber. Not because it’s large or gaudy (it isn’t) but because it somehow manages to look like a traditional painted sign while really being an electronic one. And the particular shade of blue is stunning.  Encountering the sign reminded me of some of the smart and admirable things that HCC has been doing lately. You may have seen that they have allocated specific funds for students whose circumstances have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Impact may include loss of personal or family income, increased utility bills, change in childcare, food needs, healthcare needs, change in housing expenses, technology-related expenses, or expenses incurred as a result of the changes to course format and instruction. And just this week it ...

  Yesterday I found myself drawn to a post by Marlena Jareaux  of the EC Black History Roundtable . Looking at the 1860 census, she asks a number of questions, including: Did you know there were 175 Free Black or Mulatto people recorded as living in the District that was made up of the Ellicott City post office?  No. No, I didn’t. As Ellicott City prepares to celebrate 250 years it often seems that I see the same two Black notables in all the publicity photos: Benjamin Banneker and the County Executive. I found her post fascinating so I went to the page on the EC Black History Roundtable website that deals with the 1860 census.  This website contains “ECBlackHistory”, but that does not mean it will only contain the names of Black people from the county’s past. What it does mean is that due to the story of Black Howard Countians being profoundly missing from historical accounts of the county, they will be emphasized here and given center stage because of that.  ...

  This Sunday at the Chrysalis, 5 - 7 pm:  Music of Puerto Rico with Cultura Plenera Get tickets here . (They are free, but you must register so they’ll know how many people to expect.) I was lucky enough to be in attendance for Cultura Plenera ’s first concert at the Chrysalis two years ago. I will be there again this weekend. The experience was a joyous expression Puerto Rican culture in music and dance. It was a delightfully immersive, inclusive event. From their website: Cultura Plenera is a non-profit organization dedicated to community building in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia areas through the traditional Puerto Rican musical styles of Bomba and Plena.  I’ve put together a musical slideshow to give you a taste of the Cultura Plenera experience. Photos are by Sherman Wright, music is from the CD “En Maryland Tocan Plena.” You may find after a bit that you want to get up and dance. Go for it. I hope I’ll see you Sunday. Accessibility to the arts isn’t simp...

  Absolutely could not think of a good title for this. Feel free to submit your own. Thanks to all the folks who took the Equity Audit survey yesterday and who shared it around their social media connections. Despite my enthusiastic claim that it was “not too long” one reader found it exactly that and told them so. I commend her for her honesty and I guess I will have to add the disclaimer that your mileage may vary. I also had some feedback that the survey was not as comprehensive in its scope as it might have been, and, in retrospect, I can see that.  If you agree give them your two cents when you take the survey.  I saw a piece on Columbia Patch this morning about the William Donald Shafer Awards. They are soliciting nominations for this year’s awards, also known as the Helping People awards. The deadline is October 15th. From the article by Kristin Danley-Greiner: Award recipients will be selected based on their demonstration of the following criteria: Improving the ...

  Have you seen this post on social media lately? "Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity is conducting a Community Equity Audit in three key areas: racial & social equity, opportunity, and quality of life. The goal of the community equity audit is to identify institutional and structural practices that produce inequities in services, policies, and access. The Equity Audit matters because every resident (child, youth, family, individual) in Howard County matters. We are doing this audit because we are on the path to building a more caring, compassionate, and inclusive county. Please take the time to complete the survey and share the link with others: http://bit.ly/3hXIL1r Survey closes: August 27, 2021.  I am here to tell you that I took the survey and was pleasantly surprised. Most surveys are either too long or too boring for me. I am perpetually starting out with good intentions and then quitting in frustration after page seven when I realize I’m nowhere near t...

I decided to take my practice driver over to Rockburn Park as we move farther afield in our driving sessions. Since it was a wickedly hot day and the point was racking up driving hours, we didn’t park and get out of the car. Therefore our first impression was of a nice series of parking lots. It’s funny how that works. You just have to get out of your car to appreciate some things. Roll on, Fall weather. I’ll be back, Rockburn Park. Friend of the blog Bonnie Bricker told me I could find this barn there. After our meanderings we took advantage of our proximity to visit the nearby Rita’s. I had a few thoughts while we were there. First of all, it strikes me as odd that the main way to access that shopping center is through a housing development. Can anyone explain that to me? I’m talking about the group of businesses on Meadowridge Center Drive. I feel like I’ve watched that center spring up over the years. And there appears to be a new section of it - - the part with Rita’s? - - but I h...

  “Someone wants to buy our house!” My husband sounded a bit incredulous. “But we’re not done with it yet,” I pointed out. He read: Hello, I noticed your property at [address redacted] and I’m writing because I’m a local investor who would like to provide you with an unconditional offer on your property. We specialize in properties regardless of their condition - - “That’s rude!” He threw the letter in the trash. Rather like the home improvement salesman who stops by in person to tell you your windows/siding/roof look terrible, this investment guru put his worst foot forward. We were not amused. Since buying the house, we have: Redone the kitchen and all major appliances Redone the back patio and fencing Replaced major plumbing fixtures/pipes  Replaced first floor flooring Repainted everything but the upstairs hallway New roof New heating/cooling Repaired air circulation/venting You get the picture. Sure, our house is imperfect (we haven’t redone the bathrooms yet) but we don’...

  Before I forget: today is Free Comic Book Day.  I found this photo on the Facebook page of Columbia business Comics to Astonish . You remember them. They’re the folks that were trying to reunite an abandoned stuffed plush mouse with its people earlier this summer. I did not realize until reading this poster that Free Comic Book Day has been going on for 20 years. Wow!  I remember being at the Miller Branch of the Howard County Library on a day when they were participating in Free Comic Book Day, but that was in the Spring . I wonder if there’s more than one day each year, or if this year’s was moved on account of the pandemic. I also wonder whether this cute little guy ever got back home. Also today, the Farmers Market at Clarksville Commons (10-2)  and the last day of the Howard County Fair. (8:30 am - closing fireworks at 9:30 pm) Anything else I’m missing? And now for something completely different… The Governor’s race. I wrote a while back: Maryland needs some...

In case you hadn’t heard, HoCo’s anti-maskers made an appearance at last night’s Board of Education meeting. A rough summary of their combined testimony includes the following: References to the Nuremberg trials  there is no scientific reason to mask kids the mask mandate is an abuse of power the school board is acting outside the law children will be actively harmed by wearing masks at school.  I’m appalled but not surprised.  At the suggestion of a friend I wrote a letter to the board in support of masking. You can, too. The address is boe@hcpss.org . Thank you so much for making the wise choice in requiring masks in school this year. The delta variant is spreading rapidly and children are even more affected than before. Masking will help to protect young children, who cannot be vaccinated yet. It will also protect teachers, admin, and support staff. Anything which slows or prevents the spread of COVID at school will also slow or prevent its spread outside of school to ...

  Coming up in Old Ellicott City, a concert by Richard Walton at the Little Market Café: August 13th at 6:00 PM. The tweet caught my eye. Where had I heard that name before? I feel as though a friend mentioned him on Facebook as a local favorite. Hmm… Well, here he is again in today’s Columbia Flier, with upcoming appearances in Dorsey’s Search and River Hill. Let’s see what he says about himself on Twitter. Maryland Hall of Fame Musician/Inductee, Award-Winning Songwriter @ Notlaw Music , Master Plumber/Gasfitter and President @ Charles H. Mullenberg Co  Well, that’s interesting. I honestly do not know the life story of Mr. Walton but this brief bio appears to paint a picture of the many working musicians who also continue working their “day jobs”. It’s hard to make a living solely as an artist. Since I am nothing if not curious, I decided to look up Charles H. Mullenberg Company.  From 2017: Wow! They are the oldest operating plumbing company in Maryland! And probably t...

  Meanwhile, back at the barn. Photo credit: Baltimore Sun I asked around and it turns out that the barn I so admired is located at Routes 32 and 144,  at Triple Creek Farm. I checked with the writer of the piece, Tracy Trobridge, and she didn’t submit any photos with her text so I am guessing this was taken on the day of the groundbreaking event in July, and the Sun had it on hand.  A fun fact: did you know that the electricity supplied under this agreement will account for more than fifty per cent of County energy usage? What a great investment in a healthier environment. A shoutout to Ms. Trobridge, the Neighborhood Columnist at Howard County Times who responded to my email within hours on Monday. As I had guessed the neighborhood columnists are a holdover from the Patuxent Publishing days. I vaguely remember them from the years I lived in Rodgers Forge, before I moved to Columbia. The Lisbon and West Friendship columnists have both retired and not been replaced. ...

  It all started with a barn. A photo of one, actually. I don’t know why, I just love barns.  (Photo credit: Baltimore Sun Media Group) The photo drew my attention to a story in the Howard County Times: Solar energy burns bright on Western Howard County farms , Tracy Trobridge for the Baltimore Sun Guess what? The barn appears nowhere in the article. Darn, no barn. It’s a brief and informative article about how several privately-owned farms in Western Howard County will be participating in the recently announced solar power purchase agreement with Howard County Government. The piece refers to a ground-breaking in July and I am guessing that this is it.  That’s all great. As far as I know, everyone supports solar. It won’t put an undue burden on septic systems, won’t create extra traffic of trucks going to and fro, produces no noxious odors nor additional children in the schools.  The article ends with a curious statement: We can be proud that it’s all beginning in ou...