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OK, even though I can't be there tonight, doesn't mean that YOU can't be!
There's a hoco blog party tonight at the Stanford Grill. Registration is not required but strongly encouraged. You can register for the event here.
If you haven't been to one of these parties, they are a heck of a lot of fun! You should make a point of it to attend, if you can! The company is great and Stanford Grill is a nice venue.
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At the exact moment this post was posted, the first Patient First medical center in Howard County has opened, at 5900 Cedar Lane, a short distance from Howard County General Hospital. The lovely and talented Lindsey McPherson (and I'm saying this especially because I'm writing this post on her birthday!) has an article about the opening here.
Having an active lifestyle and having two very active teenagers, I have to say I've had plenty of first-hand experience with HCGH's emergency room. That said, I haven't quite seen the same problem others do, that the ER has a serious waiting room and service problem. But, I accept that the problem exists.
The Patient First facility can't help but alleviate that logjam. I will say though, that the times I have experienced long wait times at the HCGH ER have been when I've been there while Patient First will be closed-- between 10pm and 8am. Wondering what the solution to the nighttime logjam will be.
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HoCo's going to be free of the Marshmallow Man for most of the week. Blessed early on Tuesday morning I'll be shipping out on vacation for five days in Las Vegas!
Just because I'll be away doesn't mean I won't be touching your lives from time to time. Look for updates from the road and zesty topicality, possibly when you least expect it!
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I don't think I'll make it to the Howard County Fair this year-- I leave on vacation starting Tuesday and have oodles of things to do up to that time-- but that doesn't mean you shouldn't! In fact knowing you won't run into me there should encourage you to go!
Need further convincing??? Look no further than this website!
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I'm not particularly enthusiastic about the news presented to us in this article. I am certainly OK with County Executive Ulman naming a commission to study the structure of the school board. But I kind of don't get why former State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick is even on it, much less heading the thing.
Obviously, she has a breadth and depth of experience that no one in the state can match. But, allow me to be a tad parochial here. I have said in many posts that there are plenty of bright, talented people in Howard County to serve in public office. For example, I've written on the Zoning Board and Liquor Board being populated by individuals who are not the County Council members.
So all of the other members of this commission are part or have been part of Howard County's education infrastructure. Why not the Chair? I can get having Grasmick as some sort of advisor to the commission, but not as a member and not as running the thing. I think that title shoud have been given to someone with county ties. Moreover, Nancy Grasmick's style can be a bit-- shall we say, off-putting?-- on occasion.
Who would I have liked to have seen tapped for that billing? How about Roger Plunkett, the former Principal of Wilde Lake High School? Or former School Board member Larry Cohen? Those are two for starters.
I'm sure Grasmick will do a wonderful job in the role. I'm just not sure why she's needed.
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In honor of the Mall in Columbia's 40th birthday yesterday, I shopped there! Bought a couple cool items at Macy's in fact.
Hard to believe the mall is 40. I recall the mall in it's original configuration, which was the area bordered by the current JC Penney on one end (formerly Woodward and Lothrop) and Macy's on the other (formerly Hecht Co.) Then the extension that currently ends at the Sears store, then eventually, the diagonal extension that terminates at Nordstrom's, as well as the stand alone restaurants, AMC Theatres, Lord and Taylor, and L.L. Bean were all constructed.
I miss the local stores that called the mall home and are no more. RIP Patowmack Toy Shop and Bun Penny.
One only has to venture to the mall on a weekend to realize that the mall is still relevant and a vital part of the community fabric. Can't say the same for other local malls (Hunt Valley, Owings Mills). Anyone claiming the mall is in decline really doesn't know what they're talking about.
In fact, with the coming downtown redevelopment, the mall's best days lie yet ahead! I have seen models of the renovated downtown that basically have the mall landlocked with parking garages that rise to become even with it's current footprint. I think limiting the scope of revelopment of the mall to parking is a huge mistake.
With downtown redevelopment I think at least one major retail addition to the mall-- another anchor connected by a promenade of shops-- is in order. Additionally, the mall could share some of the amenities discussed for other parts of town. Why not a small ampitheatre for concerts and shows? Why not "Shakespeare at the Mall?" How about an ice rink (Howard County's Rockefeller Center)? How about a gym or some such athletic facility, making the mall a complete family after-work or weekend destination-- shopping, exercise, food, and entertainment all under one roof?
The mall at 40 is most definitely not over the hill. In fact I feel its best days lie yet ahead.
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Anyone who was walked, biked, crawled, done the worm, breakdanced, trotted, or merrily skipped around Lake Elkhorn lately can't help but notice the lovely aroma of the lake these days, nor admire the delicious green cast of algae that covers the top of much of the surface of the water. Said aroma is directly related to the fact that Elkhorn is one of the funkiest places ever, thanks to it not having been dredged completely since seemingly, the Ford Administration.
But fear not! CA is about to make like Mighty Mouse!
We learn here that the selection of a new company to complete the dredging of Lake Elkhorn is imminent. Dang, and here I went and missed the meeting where they apparently selected the new contractor. Apparently, so did the remainder of all local media. As Yoda would say, "Suck, indeed do we all."
More information, please, CA Board members and media who may have attended the meeting. Who won the contract and when will the dredging project at Lake Elkhorn be completed?
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