Thar Be Dragons Here

I was scrolling through Pinterest looking for things with a local connection and this image caught my eye.

Art by John Atkinson, Wrong Hands

It says a lot about our current bus transportation challenges that I immediately assumed this image was connected to that theme. Of course it isn’t. It’s a sticker you can buy on Etsy. Speaking of buses, HoCoLocal blogger Jenny Solpietro offers up her take on Howard County Progress Report.

Perspective, Jenny Solpietro, Howard County Progress Report

Solpietro’s description of her own school experiences reminds me that there really are people who have “walked several miles to school in blizzards, uphill both* ways.” Even reading it was exhausting. It’s a thoughtful take on what is a pretty controversial issue around town these days. I suspect that some folks who often fault Howard County Progress Report for being too scathing will find this one too nice.

If you have kids, or grandkids - - or know someone who does - - the CAMOM Annual Consignment Sale has been bumped to today because of yesterday’s weather.

I wrote about CAMOM in the Spring when they had their “comeback” sale after holding off during the worst of the early pandemic years. You can learn more about CAMOM at their website.

An update on my library book situation: I took my list into the East Columbia branch and spoke with Instructor and Research Specialist Ian Lyness-Fernandez. I left him my email address and he got back to me by the end of the week with a great list of cozy mysteries to try.

Visit your local library, people. It’s a playground of possibilities. You also might want to sign up for their upcoming Longest Table Event coming up on September 30th.

*Not really, but, you know what I mean.

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Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else. Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...

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This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday. Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018. 2018 . But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest. In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...

What Kids Are Thinking

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