Here and Now, Better Together

Some things just go better together. Good food and drink, for instance - - like a latte and a scone from Trifecto Bar, or a fancy dog and an ice cold milkshake from the Nomadic Glizzy. (Okay, maybe not for breakfast.)

Something just go better together. Like Clarksville Commons, the retail and community space that’s been bringing folks together since 2017, and the Common Kitchen, the culinary incubator for up-and-coming food entrepreneurs since 2018.

Better together.

Like brothers Elias and William Castillo who work side by side at the Common Kitchen. Elias, owner of Trifecto Bar, has been there from the beginning. William fulfilled his long time dream by opening the Nomadic Glizzy in January of 2025.

Some pictures from their official Grand Opening:

Leigha Steele, Common Kitchen manager, County Executive Calvin Ball*

Elias Castillo, Trifecto Bar

Ribbon cutting for the Nomadic Glizzy, William Castilllo

(Calvin Ball looks on)

Just this month everything changed.

William wasn’t feeling well. The news from the doctor was far worse than anyone expected.

William Castillo, Owner of the Nomadic Glizzy

William Castillo is my little brother, eight years younger than me, and someone who has always been there for our family. In 2018, he helped me start my coffee shop and was integral to my success. In 2025, William decided to pursue his own dream and launched The Nomadic Glizzy, dedicating himself fully to the business. Unfortunately, in October 2025, William began feeling sick, and in February 2026, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Since then, he has been struggling with finances, trying to keep his business afloat while facing mounting medical bills and difficulty paying his mortgage.

Elias has established a Go Fund Me for his brother.

Fundraiser by Elias Castilllo: Support William’s Recovery and Business

Some things just go better together - - community, and care. That’s where we come in.

Any contribution you can make is friend helping friend, brother helping brother, community recognizing community. Sharing the information about the fundraiser with others can widen the net of support.

Each point of connection makes us stronger.

Things that help: monetary donation, your personal word of mouth recommendation, and - - hey, here’s a thought - - have you been to the Common Kitchen lately? Some good food and drink is a great way to feel connected to your community, too.

It means a lot to me to be trusted to share this story. Now I’m entrusting it to you. Here and now.

Better together.

Village Green/Town² Comments

*County Executive Ball’s appearance in this post in no way constitutes any official endorsement of this piece or of the GoFundMe request.

Comments

Teacher Gifts

Today is the last day of school before the Winter Break. It’s a good time to remember the far-reaching nature of our public school system. You may not have children. You may have sent your children to independent schools. It matters not. You will be impacted one way or another. Yesterday I read a long thread on Facebook about several waves of illness in the schools right now. There’s influenza A and norovirus, I believe. And of course there’s COVID. Apparently in some individual schools the rate of illness is high enough for school admin to notify parents. When I was little the acceptable holiday gift for a teacher was one of those lovely floral handkerchief squares. (I don’t know what it was for male teachers. They were rare in my elementary years.) These days the range of teacher gifts is wider and I have fond memories of Target gift cards which I have written about before. I think it’s safe to say that giving one’s teacher Influenza, norovirus, or COVID is not the ideal holiday...

They Can Wait

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...

F ³: Who Belongs at the Library?

One of these things is not like the others One of these things doesn't belong Can you tell which thing is not like the other By the time we finish our song?* Did you guess which thing is not like the others? Did you guess which thing doesn't belong? If you guessed this thing is not like the others Then you're absolutely right. Our library promotes equity. Our library promotes literacy for adults who have come here from many places. Our library promotes accessibility to materials and opportunities. Our library is hosting multiple Harry Potter themed events? Tell me this isn’t so. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, has and continues to use the profits from those books to advocate for laws that diminish the rights of trans people. She has and continues to use her fame to influence public opinion to view and treat trans people negatively. In short, Ms. Rowling is using the Harry Potter book series to make transgender people around the world less safe....

Village Green/Town²

Search This Blog