One Hundred Years and Other Good News

If you need a little good news to help you ease into your Monday, may I suggest:

Columbia barbershop marks 100 years of haircuts — and mentoring Black barbers, Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner

Photo credit Jessica Gallagher, The Baltimore Banner

It’s a beautiful and thorough piece about Warren’s Barber Shop in the Owen Brown Village Center. Warren's is the first Black-owned barbershop in Howard County. And no, nothing in Columbia is a hundred years old, obviously. You’ll have to read the story to learn more about their roots.

The Village of Owen Brown doesn’t pop up in the news all that often. Although, over last year or so it has been a pretty happening place. The Department of Recreation and Parks has worked with the community to fine tune plans for a new East Columbia Library Park, and the new East Columbia 50+ Center received the “Large Project of the Year Award” , awarded by the County Engineers Association of Maryland (CEAM).

And, while it may not make the news, the Owen Brown Interfaith Center hosts a number of community events all throughout the year. I would hazard a guess that the Interfaith Center’s capacity for meeting and event space brings many people to Owen Brown who would never have come there otherwise.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation maintains a Free Pantry which is kept stocked with both non-perishables and produce throughout the year. This “no questions asked” initiative supports Owen Brown neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity.

Image from UU Columbia website

Wait. Did I forget to mention that the Library has installed a solar panel canopy in the parking lot?

Images courtesy of A. MacDonald

Oh! And the 50+ Centers will now be open on Saturday mornings. (That includes the East Columbia one, yay.)

Have a wonderful Monday. Have any local news? Let me know.

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