F ³: Jim Rouse Speaks

 

Who has the correct ideology to invoke the name of Rouse?

Honestly, I would like to be done with this practice now and forever. I have decided to create a new term for this: “Rouse-signalling”.

My objection is to anyone trotting out Jim Rouse’s name when it serves them - - especially when they want to win something - - as though it’s a celebrity endorsement. 

I do wonder every so often what Rouse would think of various goings-on today. Of course, if it were possible, it would be fascinating to get his take on the here and now.  - - from “The R Word”, Village Green/Town², 8/16/2022

Yesterday these words came back to me as Jim Rouse himself turned up in my inbox and spoke to me. And now he’s going to speak to you.

Jim Rouse Speaks

If you’re an expert in all things Rouse, and you are thinking, “I’ve never heard that audio clip before,” you’re right. It came to me through the technical expertise of long-time Columbian Dave Bittner. Mr. Bittner had noted my frustration earlier in the day with someone who was disparaging a new rental housing community in Wilde Lake by intoning the old local curse.

Rouse is turning over in his grave.

Bittner’s note to me began like this:

Like many who consider Columbia our “home town,” I grow weary of people breathlessly invoking the ghost of Jim Rouse any time anything the least bit controversial is proposed for our community. 

“What would Jim Rouse do?!?”

“Jim Rouse is turning in his grave…”

So, for fun, I asked Chat GPT to imagine, based on its knowledge of Jim, how he might react to current events. 

User:

Are you familiar with James Rouse, developer of Columbia, Maryland?

This was fascinating. Also a little creepy. In all the time I’ve lamented locals dragging poor Mr. Rouse from the grave I’ve never once contemplated the possibility of Artificial Intelligence. And now here it was knocking at my door.

Let me outline the process Bittner used. First, he established that Chat GPT knew enough about Rouse to imagine how he might react to current events. Next, he asked it to turn that knowledge into an editorial describing his point of view on the development of Columbia since his death. Then…insert drumroll here…

Now rewrite it as if James Rouse were presenting his thoughts to an audience of Columbia, Maryland residents.

And it did. It’s uncanny. Here is the opening paragraph of “ChatGPT: James Rouse's Reflections on Columbia, Maryland: A Visionary's Address.” 

My dear friends and residents of Columbia,

As I stand before you today, in spirit and legacy, I am overwhelmed with a profound sense of pride and a slight touch of concern. When we embarked on this grand adventure to create not just a city but a community, our aspirations were as lofty as the ideals we cherished—social equity, environmental stewardship, and a genuine integration of life's facets. Columbia was to be a testament to what could be achieved when we dared to imagine a different kind of urban living, one that nurtured the human spirit and embraced diversity in its warmest embrace.

It’s six paragraphs of an AI-generated Rouse giving a gentle yet astute piece of his mind and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. Here’s the last paragraph.

The journey of Columbia is an ongoing tale of ambition, community, and hope. It is a story that each of you is writing every day through your actions, your beliefs, and your visions for the future. I stand with you, in spirit, cheering you on, as you carry forward the legacy of our shared dream. Together, we have built more than a city; we have cultivated a garden for the human spirit to thrive. Let us continue to nurture this garden, for ourselves and for the generations to come.

With all my heart and hope,

James Rouse

And now for the sprinkling of magic. Bittner explains: 

So, to continue this little technological magic trick, I ran one of Jim’s speeches through a voice cloning system, and fed that the last paragraph of the speech I had ChatGPT generate. The results are not perfect, but it’s spookily good with no tweaking or adjustments. There are systems out there that are capable of much more accurate renditions than this one. This one was free.

That’s what we heard above. Remember?

Jim Rouse Speaks

Today is Rouse’s birthday. (Facebook reminded me.) This image was posted by Barbara Kellner, then the Columbia Archives Director, on the centenerary of Rouse’s birth in 2014.

Who speaks for Jim Rouse today? It’s hard to say. As AI-generated words, images, and sounds wash into our world faster than we can process their value or veracity, will bad actors ever attempt to harness Rouse’s sometimes ‘saintly’ public image for influence or profit? Perhaps I’m a bit cynical after (checks notes) a mere 25 years in the New American City. Haven’t people been doing that all along without benefit of AI?

One thing I noticed both in Mr. Bittner’s notes and in his careful process was a complete lack of cynicism. He shared what he had learned without any dictates of how it should be received or interpreted.

I find it insightful and amusing, but above all a gentle reminder of the kind spirit of Jim. As a kid growing up in Columbia I was lucky enough to have met him several times, and he always left a positive impression. 

My guess is that some will find this exercise creepy, weird, or even downright distasteful. And that’s fine. Those folks aren’t wrong. 

Many thanks to Mr. Bittner for reaching out and for allowing me to share his work. 

Who speaks for Jim Rouse today?

Village Green/Town² Comments

*****

Forgive me, I didn’t have a brief bio of Mr. Bittner at the ready, so I have lifted this directly from LinkedIn.  - - jam

Dave Bittner is Producer and host of The CyberWire Podcast, the top-ranking daily cybersecurity podcast in the world according to iTunes. 

Over twenty years experience in digital media, video and television production and interactive technology. Developed award winning interactive training programs for a variety of industries, and produced countless corporate, industrial and broadcast programs as co-owner of Pixel Workshop. 

A skilled public speaker, voice-over artist, emcee, actor and singer. 

Specialties: video production, editing, camera, director of photography, voice over, creative services, public speaking, writing, Steadicam®, podcasting, social media, marketing, motion graphics, music, theater.

Free Free Free!!!

 

I’m not waiting until Saturday on this one! It’s the first big concert weekend of the season at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods and I don’t want you to miss it. 

The Big Green Lady is getting ready for her closeup.

Image of the Chrysalis amphitheater from IAT social media 

Saturday it’s Jazz in the Woods from 11:00 am to 6:30 pm at the Chrysalis, featuring students Jazz Bands from HCPSS and The Navy Commodores.

Event Poster, Jazz in the Woods

HCPSS student musicians take center stage to showcase their passion and creativity at the 5th annual Jazz in the Woods, followed by the iconic Navy Commodores!

Student Performances are from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Groups participating include Guilford Park, Centennial, Marriotts Ridge, Wilde Lake, Glenelg, and River Hill High Schools, along with the High School GT Jazz Band. 

The Navy Commodores will perform from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm.

The Navy Commodores, image from Jazz in the Woods event page

U.S. Navy Band Commodores, Navy's premier jazz ensemble, have been performing the very best of big band jazz for the Navy and the nation for 50 years. Formed in 1969, this 18-member group continues the jazz big band legacy with some of the finest musicians in the world. The Commodores' mission includes public concerts, national concert tours, ceremonial support in honoring our veterans, jazz education classes and clinics, and protocol performances for high-level military and civilian government officials.

Image from United States Navy Band Facebook page

This event is not just a celebration of music but also a testament to the creativity, dedication, and passion of our talented student musicians. It's an opportunity to support and encourage the next generation of jazz artists as they pursue their dreams.

Admission to Jazz in the Woods is FREE and open to all! Reserve your free tickets here:

Jazz in the Woods 

Sunday brings the return of the Maryland Winds with Stage and Screen: a John Williams Showcase, beginning at 5 pm.

Event poster, Maryland Winds

Join us for a FREE celebration of the music of John Williams, as performed by the phenomenal Maryland Winds. Maryland Winds is a professional concert band based in Howard County that exists to bring world-class wind band music to the residents of Maryland.

Image from Maryland Winds Facebook page

The iconic scores of your favorite movies come to life on the Chrysalis stage at beautiful Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods for this FREE, family-friendly event!

Register now for your free tickets and join us on April 28! Reserve tickets here:

Maryland Winds Concert

If you notice all the excitement here around the word “free”, well, this is why:

We often get asked “why free?” Free performances are the most fundamental way in which we can meaningfully bring arts and culture to the entire community we serve. Our mission is “to promote and nurture a park in a unique natural setting for a variety of arts and culture experiences that enrich the entire community.” 

To embrace the entire community we need to make sure there are high quality, inviting performances for no charge. Both to make sure that we embrace everyone across the economic spectrum, but also so we can reduce the barrier to experiencing art, especially something new. 

Free is far more than an obligation created in our founding documents - free is a conscious choice we make to fulfill our mission. - - Inner Arbor Trust

Meet a friend in the Park this summer. Better yet - - start this weekend.

Village Green/Town² Comments 

Publicity: The Double Edged Sword

The publicity you want: 

CA Recognized as National and Regional Leader in Sustainability During Earth Month*

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) honored CA with a Goal Achiever award for hitting its 30% energy savings goal as a partner in the Better Buildings Challenge. This significant reduction was achieved due to innovative energy efficiency efforts across CA’s 500,000-square-foot building portfolio.  

In addition, CA earned a Green Community Leadership Award from Howard County’s Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Environmental Services. This award was presented at GreenFest, an annual Earth Month event that was held at Howard Community College on April 13. 

 

The publicity you get:

Columbia Association has lost its mind!!! - - NextDoor

Supreme Sports Club Getting Rid of Women’s Gym - - Reddit/ColumbiaMD 

I sometimes wonder if our local NextDoor consists of the people who dominated the comments section HoCo Times/Columbia Flier until both papers turned off comments. At any rate, if one imagined these two forums as newspapers, Reddit is the one where you’re more likely to find nuance. Nextdoor is a tabloid.

In neither place are you likely to see the kind of publicity CA would love to see - - its leadership in sustainability, for instance. That’s a larger, overarching commitment that’s probably invisible to the general public. That does not mean it’s unimportant. But it’s hardly going to stir up enthusiasm in an online forum unless people perceive personal impact. 

You know what does get people excited? Do you want to see people spread information like wildfire? Try eliminating gym towels. 

Now, the case of eliminating a space at Supreme Sports Club that has been dedicated for the use of women  is, to me, a much bigger deal than gym towels. And I’m sure that the folks at CA knew they’d be facing some push-back. Someone on staff wrote a tactfully-worded statement here that hits all the right notes, perhaps in hopes of diffusing some of the immediate disappointment from Women’s Gym users.

I don’t know how well that’s working. I do know that I have some questions about the process that was used to make this decision, so I’m going to follow the helpful QR code and see what I can find out. I’ll keep you posted.

Village Green/Town² Comments

*Information from Columbia Association press release 

Pause

The Tweet:

the reason Koreans don't need 3rd spaces is because there is already a coffee shop optimized around beauty & slowness on every other block. this is prevalent across all of Asia. 

i'm concluding that it's the culture that creates this, not the other way around. it we want more of this in America, it starts at culture. and culture starts with grassroots efforts. it starts with us.

The Quote Tweet:

The reason the US lacks this isn’t “culture” (everyone likes nice coffee shops)…it’s just zoning.

I responded to the QT: 

But where does the impetus for certain types of zoning come from?

No response.

Mr. QT probably didn’t see my question.

There’s something else he didn’t see. Look at the original Tweet.

the reason Koreans don't need 3rd spaces is because there is already a coffee shop optimized around beauty & slowness on every other block. this is prevalent across all of Asia. (Italics mine)

I must admit I missed that the first time around, as well. The response “everyone likes nice like coffee shops” completely misses the essence of the original Tweet. The US may have plenty of coffee shops - - although zoning probably does limit where they are located - -  but what about coffee shops optimized around beauty and slowness? 

As Americans, do we even know what that means?

I think a lot of our coffee shops are focused on productivity. Get caffeine to fuel “getting the work done.” Bring your laptop and get the work done. Have a meeting and get the work done. Reward yourself for getting the work done. Choose your coffee shop based on its proximity to the place where you get the work done.

A coffee shop that optimizes beauty and slowness. 

Have you ever been to one? Do you see those kinds of places as natural expressions of the typical American ethos?

I was pondering this question as I sat at a stoplight on Dobbin Road yesterday. Something caught my eye. A sign. It said, “Pause.” 

Well, not exactly.

I took a deep breath. Exhaled.

I thought of how I’d soon be rewarding myself for running an errand I didn’t feel like doing by grabbing an iced coffee on the way to ticking off other chores on my list. 

• grabbing 
• ticking off
• chores
• list

What is this place that optimizes beauty and slowness? Is it merely zoning that prevents it?

Village Green/Town² Comments

Earth Day in HoCo: Green and Growing

Seven years ago I was honored to play a small part in a Very Big Thing. Happy Earth Day/Birthday to the Chrysalis in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods! 

I’m also thinking this morning of the late Michael McCall, who wasn’t afraid to dream big and who shepherded this project to its completion. 

The imagination and joy that Michael McCall shared with us will always be present in the park. For me it will be a reminder of how important it is to share your gifts. Share them, believe in them; your community needs you more than you know.  Imagination and Joy, Village Green/Town², 8/3/21

On this Earth Day, seven years later, I want to pause to celebrate the hocolocal individuals and groups who believe in their gifts and are sharing them as they work to care for our planet. We are blessed to have so many:

Columbia Association 

Community Ecology Institute

Harper’s Choice CARES 

Howard County EcoWorks

Howard County Conservancy 

Inner Arbor Trust

Jon Merryman and Sharkey d’Shark

KC CARES (Kings Contrivance)

Live Green Howard County

OMI Green Team

Owen Brown CARES

Planet Aid

Robinson Nature Center

Upcycled 

Wilde Lake CARES

Yards Alive!

 

In general, local Earth Day activities are centered around neighborhood cleanups, removal of invasive species/ planting native ones, and cultivating and celebrating a love of nature. Something I’m not sure that I’ve ever written about is the importance of truly studying both the aspirations and known records of candidates running for public office. All the neighborhood stream cleanups in the world cannot overcome uninformed elected officials and bad environmental policy.

Make sure you take a little time to compare what candidates say to what they have actually done. We can make the mission of Earth Day that much stronger by electing leaders who make it a priority every day, not just on April 22nd. 

If you know of an environmentally-focused group working in Howard County that I haven’t included in my list, let me know. 

Village Green/Town² Comments

Laser Loons and Loose Ends

 

CA has a new president: Shawn MacInnes, who will begin in the position on June 17th. I’d love to know more information about the search purely because I’m a naturally curious* person. For instance: how many people applied, how did they winnow them down, how did the finalists differ from one another, and so on. Let’s face it: I want to know if Columbia is still able to draw qualified applicants when our track record with CEOs is…rocky.

CA/Village Elections were yesterday. Bill Santos was re-elected in Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice did not achieve quorum, and I don’t know what happened in Owen Brown. So, fill me in.

I can tell you that this is not a good day for lil ol’ provincial “New American City” me to be searching “Columbia” on Twitter. If you don’t know why, try it yourself.

Tomorrow:

 MTA offering free rides by bus, light rail, MARC and subway for Earth Day, Tony Roberts, Baltimore Sun

Would you take a free ride? Do buses in Howard County go where you need/want to go? Do you know how to find that information?

A reminder that this Thursday is the League of Women Voters Annual Meeting at the Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City. Also, I need never have worried. These folks are never, ever going to run out of stock photos. 

Speaking of images, a reminder that HCLS is holding a contest to select images for new library cards. I saw this yesterday and now I’m jazzed up about possibilities for a laser library card. A question I never thought I’d see: what animals with lasers should go on your hometown library card?   

Laser Loon Library Card, Saint Paul Minnesota 

Hip Hop Fish and Chicken will soon be coming to the Oakland Mills Village Center so my husband thought it might be fun to pick up dinner from one of their nearby locations on Route 40. 

Clearly I’m not a professional food photographer. Also, we were too hungry to create a food styling moment. The food was fresh, tasty, plentiful, and reasonably priced. Best of all, the cole slaw was actually edible. 

Speaking of food, we tried out El Gran Sabor in the OM Village Center this week. It’s located in the old Vennari’s** space. It’s a small space where you can eat in or take out. We were happy with the food and the service. (I had chicken tostadas and my husband had beef fajitas.) It’s a great addition to the village center.

On the service counter at El Gran Sabor were promotional postcards for this free event at The Meeting House/Oakland Mills Interfaith Center. It looks like fun.

If you noticed that this post leans heavily OM, take that as a reminder that my invitation is open for Guest Posts from other locations in Howard County. Your part of town could be the focus of the next Traveling Tuesday. But you have to write about it first. 

What’s the buzz where you are? 

Village Green/Town² Comments 

*This kind of information is usually protected and it’s unlikely that my curiosity with be satisfied. I’m aware of this, please don’t lecture me! 

**Amazingly enough, Oakland Mills now has only one food establishment selling pizza. Imagine that.

Feast or Famine? Local Events Positively Pop on Saturdays in April

First order of business. If you live in Harper’s Choice, Owen Brown, Wilde Lake: vote! It’s true that I allowed myself some feelings of apathy/hopelessness about this year’s CA Election. Nevertheless, it does matters who gets elected. I received the following response to my recent blog post:        

Despite the fact that there is widespread apathy towards CA governance, despite pervasive feelings of futility in the community, despite the fact that volunteers for these positions often get personally attacked and have nasty things made up about them… Despite all those things that contribute to this feeling of cynicism, there are still a few people willing to volunteer a big chunk of their time on behalf of the community and deal with the hassle of contested elections. And if they weren’t willing to do that, then people with unethical track records or questionable values would be able to step into these community leadership positions unopposed.

Food for thought. 

*****

Looking for Saturday plans? The weather looks hopeful.

WeatherBug App predictions for Saturday, April 20th, 2024

Yards Alive! Spring Plant Share is part of the Earth Day Celebration in Oakland Mills, 11 am - 2 pm

Patuxent Jazz Band performs at River Hill High School, 3 pm

Earth Day Celebration at Clarksville Commons, 1 - 4 pm

Earthapalooza, Freetown Farm 9 am - 1 pm

Earthday Festival 2024 Wilde Lake including Plant Exchange, 10 am to 1 pm (Includes Unity Reggae Band)

Earth Day Celebration and Service at the Howard County Conservancy, 9 am to noon 

Springfest 2024 Main Street Ellicott City, 12 - 8 pm Check out the dedicated website for more info.

Clarksville Elementary School is having a Spring Fling , 3 - 7 pm

Oakland Mills Middle School is having a Yardsale, 8 am to noon 

The Charm City Chess Club is meeting up at Whole Foods, 11 am - 2 m

There’s a Mommy & Me Meetup at the Miller Branch Library Enchanted Garden, 1 - 3 pm

The Dancel Y in Ellicott City is having a Heathy Kids Day, 10 am - 1 pm

Is this everything? Probably not, but it’s a good start. I don’t imagine you plan to hit all of these (unless you are running for public office.) Recommendations? Let me know.

Village Green/Town² Comments 

F ³: The customer is always… hmm…

Over the past several days, I have done the following:

• picked up a prescription at a drive-through window

• ordered an iced coffee at a drive-through window

• purchased a scone at a bakery

• taken my car for her 180,000-mile checkup

• had a dentist appointment

• completed an online registration for a hardware store app

• ordered a concert ticket online

What do all these experiences have in common? Each action on my part generated an online “customer satisfaction” survey about the process, goods, or services that I experienced with their company. I’m sure I should be happy that they all want to assure the ultimate: a satisfied customer. This may, of course, mean paying attention to feedback and making needed changes, but I am kind of tired of the “how did we do?” query.

As an educator, I am quite familiar with evaluation as a standard practice that is part of assuring the quality of the product. Sometimes, though, what is asked on a scale survey (ex., Likert Scale) should instead be yes or no: “Were you greeted promptly upon your arrival?” does not really fit with “meets expectations” vs. “exceeds expectations” as answer choices. 

The scale survey can be tricky in other ways as well; for example, the place where I purchased the scone wanted to know how I rated “the warmth of our people.” If the person behind the counter said “What can I get you today?” and then gave me the scone and rang up the purchase, is that “meets expectations” or “exceeds expectations”? I chose “meets” and immediately got a question about what the employees could do better in order to earn my highest score: be more friendly, take more pride in their work, and so on. 

I was kind of appalled that my honest rating might bring censure on that store, but what would “exceeds expectations while customer is purchasing a scone” look like?

What I didn’t get a survey for was using the above-mentioned app in the big-box hardware store while checking out with a plumbing item. There were no “manned” checkout stations; all were self-checkout. Three people were waiting for someone to come and assist them with their order (“Amelia to checkout for three customers, please”), but as I had only one item, I was pretty confident. 

The first screen said “Scan your ID number (found in the Wallet in your account).” I opened the app on my phone and went through every page of the contents, but nothing was labeled “Wallet” and there was no ID number showing. Now feeling a little anxious, I looked behind me to see about five people waiting in line to use the self-checkouts. An employee had come to help the customer ahead of me, and I asked her, “Are there any checkouts with employees?” as it didn’t look as though I was going to find my elusive ID number on my own. 

She snapped, “I am an employee.”

I said, “Of course you are, but you are tied up responding to situations of individual need here at the self-checkouts.” She turned her back on me. Another employee had come to help the person across from me, and she said, “Access the screen by putting in your phone number,” and that did work to bring up my account and the discount that I was looking for.

My take: what may have seemed like a savings to the company (hire fewer workers??) ended up frustrating the four customers who were at the four self-checkouts that day; all of us seemed to share some kind of issue with the app and the application of discounts. 

Ease of use? Not so much. The customer always being right? Hmm…

 *****

Donna Swope, author of today’s post, moved to Columbia in 1974. She is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Stevenson University, an avid reader, enjoys singing in her church choir, and cheering for the Baltimore Ravens. Nothing tops her pride in her five grandchildren - - if there were an award for sports games watched by grandmothers, she’d win first place.

Many thanks to Ms. Swope, who responded to my invitation for guest posts last week. Have thoughts about customer service? You know where to send them.

Village Green/Town² Comments

Sounding Off About Education

 

Many stories or even jokes begin like this.:

“There are two kinds of people.” 

I’m tempted to provide a few humorous examples here but I don’t want the message of this post to be diluted.

There are two kinds of people in Howard County, for example: 

*Those who see the deep value of elementary school programs like GT CEUs and 3rd grade strings, most especially in Title I schools, and advocate to keep them there even if budget constraints dictate they be eliminated elsewhere, including their own schools.

*Those who are enraged by the thought that “the poors” will get something they won’t. 

Remember that story about King Solomon and the baby? While it’s hard for me to believe that any mother would say “cut the baby in half!”, it is not hard for me to believe that there are people who will go to extreme lengths, even if it causes harm, just to guarantee that they get their bit.

I raise this today because there’s been some pretty vocal pushback that those* who have advocated for the elementary GT courses and 3rd grade strings are way off base and that class size is where the focus should be. This pushback is coming from very smart people and people whom I admire. 

They are absolutely right that increasing class size will damage the learning environment, relationships between teachers and students, and diminish outcomes. 

There’s also this post from Jenny Solpietro on Howard County Progress Report suggesting we shouldn’t need to have these battles. She’s right, but that’s another story altogether.

So what am I sounding off about? 

The deep divide in Howard County between: 

*those who are willing to share, accommodate, accept new challenges, and grapple with change if it means that those who are more vulnerable have opportunities they might not have otherwise, and 

*those who will flood social media (in outrage!) and public meetings (in matching colored t-shirts!) to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Sally Brown is with us, still, with her clip board and neatly sharpened pencil and her list of demands. 

All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.

The people who made preserving these elementary programs all about themselves are the kind of folks who are always going to make things all about themselves: in our schools, local government, even your HOA. 

Do I regret advocating that these programs should be preserved in Title I schools? Absolutely not. Am I kicking myself that this gave these folks an opportunity to put themselves in the spotlight again? 

Kinda. 

Pro tip: if you really care about healthy and successful community building, don’t vote to put people like this in positions of power. Please.

Village Green/Town² Comments

*Yes, that would include me.

Columbia Votes! But not where I live

 

Let’s start with quick look back from Priorities, April, 2017:

First things first. If you live in Columbia and your village is having an election, vote.

VOTE.

If you live in Oakland Mills you can also buy Spring plants, see an art show, and get a homemade cookie.

And of course, there's that whole concept of civic duty. The People Tree can't be passive, folks. Those people are all actively reaching for better things, right? I hate to think what a passive People Tree would look like. Seriously droopy. Wilted, even. An embodiment of community failure.

And that's not who we are. Show me that's not who we are.

I tell myself every year that I'm not going to get worked up over Village elections. And yet I do, because I feel strongly that we could be doing a much better job at getting residents involved in Columbia community building. Year after year the winners are more than happy to claim victory without acknowledging the ludicrously low turnout. We move through the cycle again and again without improving it.

From HoCo Rising, April 28, 2014:

Wouldn't it be amazing if one of these candidates humbly said "My village has nearly 10,000 residents and we only heard from about 300 of them.  I see it as my job over the next year to broaden our outreach and increase engagement." 

I take a dim view of residents raising the spectre of Rouse whenever it suits them. But really, when I look at what CA elections have become, I do have to wonder what he would think.

*****

Columbia elections are this Saturday. If you live in Oakland Mills you can come to the OMCA Earth Day Celebration, 11 am to 2:00 pm, in the Courtyard at the Other Barn.

But you can’t vote. Why? Because the OM election is uncontested. That means no one is running against current CA Rep Karen Emery, and none of the Village Board seats are in contention, either. I haven’t heard much buzz about this year’s elections until this week when the Columbia Association started running promotional material on social media. 

Image from Columbia Association social media accounts

Thank goodness for The Merriweather Post blog for putting together this piece:

Columbia Association Board Elections - - A Rundown of the Three Contested Races, Jeremy Dommu, The Merriweather Post 

It is thorough, and - - I think - - very helpful. If you live in Harper’s Choice, Owen Brown, or Wilde Lake you should definitely take a look. Even if you don’t, it’s a good jumping-off point as to how these things work.

I find it disheartening to see people running on old, outdated, and unhelpful issues. And this is not always limited to incumbents. In particular, running to 1) reduce the annual charge and or to 2) return the control of Symphony Woods to CA. 

As to item number one, everything around us has become significantly more expensive over the last four years. How can we see that it is more expensive to purchase goods and services but claim that the Columbia Association can run successfully with less money? Does your personal budget work like that?

Item number two: while the Symphony Woods property (now known as Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods) was controlled by CA, it did nothing but languish. Since its establishment in 2014 the Inner Arbor Trust has done more to care for the land and make it enjoyable and accessible to Columbia residents than CA ever did while it was under their control. 

“We did a terrible job, now give it back to us” is not a campaign slogan I am willing to take seriously.

I was reminded by a reader of this blog that these elections are worth caring about because the newly elected board will be selecting the new CA President. That’s certainly something to think about. UPDATE: Have since heard rumblings that this is not the case.  

UPDATE OF THE UPDATE: CA Names new CEO., Friday, April 19th, 2024.

If Oakland Mills had a contested election I would definitely be learning about the candidates and would not miss the opportunity to vote. 

But…

I don’t know. My gut feeling at the moment is that we’re just going to keep celebrating our old futility rites because we don’t know what else to do or how to create something better.

What do you think?

Village Green/Town² Comments

Protect This Kid

 

This is the kid. The kid in an elementary grade reading group. The kid in an after school ballet class. The kid playing catch at recess. The kid picking books at the library. The kid in Saturday soccer.

If you have children you see and even know this kid. They don’t mysteriously appear in high school or college. They have been there all along. They ate snack in kindergarten, went to birthday parties, enjoyed countless playdates with your kid. They are classmates, neighbors, friends. They might be your kid. 

Protect this kid.

Image from Protect This Kid campaign*

GLAAD and Ogilvy Launch “Protect This Kid” Campaign in Support of LGBTQ Youth, Allison Bloom, GLAAD

This quote from GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis jumped out at me:

For too long, anti-LGBTQ activists have not only spouted lies by falsely claiming that LGBTQ people are threats to children, but they have erased the existence of LGBTQ youth and their need for content that they can relate to and be inspired by. Ogilvy has helped us fill that critical gap with a timely campaign that harnesses the power of celebrity voices and the lived experience of queer trailblazers to support youth.

The queer adults we celebrate and revere were once kids, too, and through this campaign we remind the world that when we take away the rights of LGBTQ young people, and deny them safety, compassion, and privacy, we risk losing the next great entertainer, or athlete or author. Queer and trans kids need our support now, before it’s too late.

It’s absolutely true. Queer and trans kids need our support now, before it’s too late. And I’d definitely encourage you to check out Protect This Kid on Instagram and watch the short videos released as a part of this campaign. But we don’t need to care about them because they might grow up to be great entertainers, athletes, or authors. We do need to stop and think about the gravity of so much potential lost.

Here’s the thing:

We need to Protect This Kid not because some might grow up to be “special” but because all kids are inherently precious. Therefore the acceptance and celebration of This Kid - - just as they are - - does nothing to harm or hinder any other kids. It teaches them that we, as adults, believe in and will work for a world where love can lift everyone up. No one is erased or excluded. 

I would argue that not believing in and working for that creates a world that is more dangerous for all kids. (And adults.)

Have you heard that we will soon be electing new members of the Howard County Board of Education?

I’m working my way through the CARY BOE Candidate 2024 Survey Results  right now with those thoughts uppermost in my mind. 

Here’s a little snapshot.

Out of twelve candidates for the Board of Education, four did not even respond to the CARY survey. That’s right, fully one third just didn’t bother. That’s a huge tell. I haven’t finished reading all of the responses but this much is clear from the get-go: if you are seeking higher office with a goal of caring for all of our kids, it’s a complete deal breaker if you aren’t willing to Protect This Kid.

The mission of public education is to support all children and their growth and learning with an understanding of their needs and abilities. It is not possible to say you support public education if you intend to carve out specific groups of children and say that their growth and learning may be neglected, ignored, or downright hindered. Public education is for everyone. 

The LGBTQ community isn't a threat. Misinformation and hatred are. Everyone deserves to be safe from harm and the freedom to be who they are. - -  Protect This Kid

Village Green/Town² Comments

*This particular Kid is actress and performer Beanie Feldstein. And this is her story.

Generosity: It’s Spreading

 

I’ve been listening to this episode of Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast:

Go To on Infectious Generosity,  For the Good of the Order, Kelly Corrigan

When my girls were young, I must have told them a hundred times: you get what you give. I believe it like I believe the sun will rise tomorrow. Chris Anderson, the genius do-gooder behind TED, believes it too. And with good reason. He’s seen generous giving pay off in big ways — giving his brand to TEDx conferences around the world, giving away TED speeches to anyone who wanted them online, giving attention, support and contributions to the most focused, devoted, strategic efforts on the planet. This is an episode for anyone looking for inspiration.

Chris Anderson’s book, Infectious Generosity* shines a spotlight on how acts of giving can spark a ripple effect in cultivating positive societal change. 

Howard County is full of examples of infectious generosity these days. Initiatives that are alive in the community through sharing goods, services, experiences, and learning include Columbia Community Care, The 3rd, The Community Ecology Insitute, Sobar,  Inner Arbor Trust/Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, The Howard County Library System, Howard County Lynching Truth & Reconciliation,  groups like CARY - - Community Allies of Rainbow Youth, HCPSS Pride, and HoCo Pride, The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County.

The way in which these groups operate and interact locally is significantly different than traditional “charitable giving” models or straight business models. All give ordinary human beings an opportunity to engage, give meaningful input, learn new skills/have new and transformative experiences. It’s not simply about sending an “ask letter” and expecting a check in return. I am convinced that this way of engaging is making a big impact in the community by making deeper and more lasting impressions.

The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is gearing up for The Big Give. Have you seen their posts? 

This year marks the third WGC Big Give and you can learn more about it at their website. (My apologies that I haven’t written about this sooner, as today is the deadline if you want to participate.) What I like about this initiative is that it truly taps into that idea of Infectious Generosity. WGC is giving a learning experience - - How do I learn about grantmaking? How can I impact the needs of women and girls in Howard County as a small giver? How do giving circles transform that giving process? 

Participants will make meaningful decisions that result in real world community grants of their choosing. Past grantees include Bridges to Housing Stability, Columbia Community Care, Girls on the Run, Grassroots, HopeWorks, and the Howard Community College Educational Foundation. 

Another great example to put on your calendar now is United Way’s Changemaker Challenge, to be held May 7th. There are a variety of local sponsors for this event. Notice that WGC is one of them. They’ll be giving away 100,000 dollars to support innovative ideas for social impact in Howard County.

The Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, Women’s Giving Circle and Community Foundation of Howard County are igniting and recognizing new and continued innovation in our community with the Changemaker Challenge. Think “Shark Tank” for social change! This biennial event awards funding for project ideas that promise to make a difference in Howard County. That’s why our theme for the 2024 Changemaker Challenge is – Innovate. Cultivate. Uplift. - - Changemaker Challenge 

I watched the online Live Event in 2021 and it lifted my spirits in during a really challenging time in our community. I’m looking forward to May 7th and will give you more information when I have it. 

Are you seeing what I’m seeing? Can you envision how all of this can spark a ripple effect in cultivating positive societal change?

Village Green/Town² Comments 

*A quick summary may be found here.

Gossip Column

 

Almost everything I want to write about today leans a little gossipy. I just want you to know in advance that I’m aware of that. You have been warned. As always, take any local commentary with a grain of salt. 

Who is Lady Savage and why is she inviting local women to a Night Out in May? Why does this mood of this artwork look a little creepy to me? Is this a mystery night? Will the ancients be raised from their slumber? Does Lady Savage have any skeletons in her closet? And where’s Lord Savage? Does she keep him locked in the tower? 

The League of Women Voters of Howard County is having their annual meeting on April 25th.

Join us for the League of Women Voters of Howard County Annual Meeting on April 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Miller Branch Library. Purchase a $25 ticket for a wonderful meal. Non-members are welcome, but can't vote. Reserve your spot via our website!

The Howard County League of Women Voters is an excellent organization and consistently provides top-quality voter education events in the community. However, I’m a little concerned that this event is still more than ten days away because I think they’re going to run out of stock photos.

Shout out to the folks on the ColumbiaMD subReddit for maintaining an online space that is hands down more sane and civilized than NextDoor. You will find “What were those sirens?” posts in both places but at least on Reddit some wag will assure you that it’s a UFO cover up. 

Wait, was that really a UFO near Lake Elkhorn?

Over at the new location of Sweet Cascades Chocolatier at Courthouse Overlook you can buy police badges and judges’ gavels and I’m just not buying it.

I don’t doubt that they are really making these, I just have mixed feelings. And did you know there is now a place in Columbia called Courthouse Overlook?

In the Board of Education race, this advert for Julie Kaplan (hopeful in District 4) made my hair stand straight up. 

This cannot be aimed at anyone other than low-information voters and it’s disappointing at best. If you know anything about Howard County politics you would know that these particular gentleman are not representative examples of local Democrats and Republicans. Like or dislike them, that’s your choice, but their endorsement is not even remotely a bipartisan event.

Ms. Kaplan is hoping to unseat incumbent Jen Mallo. If her intent is to be the candidate everyone can agree on - - well - - this ad…has very pretty colors.

In closing, this one is purely for laughs. This image comes from a realtor’s listing for the Wynddon Estate* in Phoenix, MD. (Yes, I know it’s in Baltimore County.)  “A set of resting nooks built into a hallway.”

Image by Townsend Visuals

Friends, I am stunned. This place has 13 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms but it somehow needs two extra beds in a hallway? Is this a polite way of turning away unwanted guests? 

“So sorry, we haven’t a room ready for you but you can sleep in the hallway.”

Help me understand. Or, better yet, tell me your perfectly ridiculous reasons why this exists. To be honest, at my house this would be all about stuffed plush companions but I’m sure you have better ideas. 

Village Green/Town² Comments 

*Like it? Check it out on Zillow!

The Magical Turning Point

 

My “Facebook memories” informs me that five years ago someone called me downright nasty and a member of the radical left and I only vaguely remember the experience. I don’t recall who it was, either. I’ll take that as a win. They must not have hung around to do any permanent damage. 

Looking back at Aprils past I discovered that some things seem awfully familiar:

Counting Down, 4/12/2018

Almost.

It’s almost Spring—the kind of Spring we want, that is. Flowers are coming up and the forsythia is looking good but can’t we just have a warm day that comes back again the next day without the threat of flurries or a startling drop in temperature?

Today might just be that day. Wear your jacket this morning but you just might not need it by this afternoon.

Once we finally reach that magical turning point we’ll be looking for outdoor experiences. Restaurants where one can eat outside will be a popular destination, even if the views leave something to be desired. Outdoor concerts and festivals will start to fill our weekends. Wine in the Woods will return, Merriweather’s roof will be restored, and the Chrysalis will kick off a season of dynamic community programming. Columbia Festivsl of the Arts is gearing up for Lakefest. There will be opportunities to enjoy the outdoors at the Howard County Conservancy and the Robinson Nature Center, as well.

There will be concert dates, festival dates, special event dates. Columbia and Howard County do outdoors well.

A reminder: Spring around here goes into hit and humid pretty darned fast. So, don’t just wait for a special event to get outside. Just go. Seize one of those lovely mornings or golden afternoons and take a walk, go to the playground with your kids, sit outside with your coffee and soak up the joy of Spring weather.

Make your own Spring celebration.

It’s almost here. I don’t know why it seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but, it does.

So here we are. Another weekend in April. If someone is out there calling me “downright nasty” and “a member of the radical left” I’m not aware of it. I have far more important things to be concerned about. 

Who knows? Today may be that magical turning point. Here’s a sampling of HoCoLocal activities going on today:

Greenfest, HCC 10 am - 3 pm

Historic Landmark Dedication, Thomas Viaduct, 11 am 

Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month, Laura’s Place Playground, 10 am - 2 pm

Youth Poetry Slam, Common Kitchen, 5 - 7:30 pm

Drag Story Time with Ms. Bella, Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 10 am - 12 pm

Math All Around Us, East Columbia 50+ Center, 10 am

April 13th is also Columbia Cleans Day. You can find more information at this link. Want to know more about these events? Many, though not all, have postings through Facebook events. Take a look.

I make no promises, but today is looking pretty good.

Village Green/Town² Comments