George Carlin on Washington speak

George Carlin's talk to the National Press Club is still relevant to today's Washington speak.

Outdated storm control measures lead to erosion

   When Columbia was being developed the rain runoff from parking lots was channeled into storm drains that feed into local streams.  Often the streams were not able to handle the amount of storm runoff water.  Below is a picture of how much the streams have had erosion of their banks.  This stream bank is off the path that runs parallel to Dobbin Road.  The stream bank is almost 5 feet high.  Placing large rocks in the stream path to slow down the speed of water have proven inadequate.

Below is of the storm drains that appears to be clogged and creating addition overflow problems.

One of the consequences of the erosion is that trees along the stream have their roots exposed and in some cases leads to the trees being blown over in wind storms.

Recently there has been an extensive remediation effort up stream to slow the speed of the storm runoff water before it reaches the area in the previous pictures.

Newer requirements for storm runoff with new commercial development require the use of rain gardens to reduce storm runoff from parking lots.  Below we see this in the parking area of the Whole Foods store in Town Center.

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Film event at Bain 50+ Center

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Get Ready for a Good Time with PFLAG Howard County!

You Are Cordially Invited To: Queens & Cocktails 2018 Heavy Hors D'Oeuvres, Wine, our Signature Cocktail and a Drag Show! Raffle and Silent Auction Thursday, May 10, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Dress Code: Tuxedo to Fig Leaf Tickets $75 - $100 Kahler Hall 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia, MD 21044

Get Your Tickets or Donate Here #hocoblogs

2018 Columbia Association Nature Walks

"Explore Columbia's natural settings with CA's 2018 series of outdoor walks

Columbia Association’s (CA) series of outdoor walks returns in 2018 with 11 days of exploring the lakes, streams, woodlands and wildlife of Columbia.

“Exploring Columbia on Foot” will once again be led by award-winning environmental author Ned Tillman, who will guide discussions on the nature, history and future of these wonderful outdoor settings, including the plans for them and challenges they may face in the near future. Each walk will be about two miles long, with four to five stops along the way.

The walks will be held on nine Thursdays and two Saturdays from April through November. All walks begin at 10am. Registration is not required.

The schedule of walks and meeting locations includes:

• Thursday, April 19, Dorsey’s Search — meet at Dorsey Hall Pool, 4649 Columbia Road
   
• Thursday, May 3, Wilde Lake — meet at the Wilde Lake Barn, 10027 Hyla Brook Road
   
• Thursday, May 17, Harper’s Choice — meet at Longfellow Pool, 5257 Eliots Oak Road
   
• Thursday, May 31, River Hill — meet at River Hill Pool, 6330 Trotter Road
   
• Thursday, June 14, Hickory Ridge — meet at Clary’s Forest Pool, 11615 Little Patuxent Parkway
   
• Saturday, Sept. 8, Downtown Columbia — meet at the Lakefront Plaza, 10275 Little Patuxent Parkway
   
• Thursday, Sept. 27, Long Reach — meet at Long Reach Village Center, 8775 Cloudleap Court
   
• Thursday, Oct. 11, Oakland Mills — meet at Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place
   
• Thursday, Oct. 25, Owen Brown — meet at Hopewell Pool, 9200 Rustling Leaf
   
• Saturday, Nov. 3, Downtown Columbia — meet at the Lakefront Plaza, 10275 Little Patuxent Parkway
   
• Thursday, Nov. 8, Kings Contrivance — meet at Amherst House, 7251 Eden Brook Drive"

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Betrucci's files for Chapter 11 bankrupcy

  Sad to hear that Bertucci's filed for bankruptcy.  Not sure if our location is one that will be closed. Apparently diners are preferring restaurants like Panera's and Chipotle than more traditional sit down restaurants. 

P.S.
     Note to Sean Hannity's wife:  Do you know why people hire Michael Cohen? Just saying.

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Ellicott City Main st to open as restaurant and music venue

   According to the Baltimore Sun the former movie theater on Main Street Ellicott City that has been most recently a "Precious Gift" store is now going to be a restaurant and music venue.  Check out the article.  

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A Hope More Powerful than the Sea

I have another book recommendation.  We see news reports on the civil war going on in Syria many nights on the nightly news.  The recent gas attacks are just the latest tragedy.  This book give a first person story of what it is like to flee this conflict.

Magazine article featuring the urbanization of Downtown Columbia

      With Columbia largely developed with its 10 villages much of the growth still envisioned is taking place with the development of an expanded urban core downtown.  While we may never rival the urban core that enlivens many cities we may no longer be seen as just another suburban towns. Recently Urbanland Magazine had an article that highlighted many of the changes to Town Center planned by Howard Hughes.


P.S.

   We now can suggest who Saturday Night Live should cast to play Michael Cohen on their show.




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Nora's Kabobs

 Nora's Kabobs at 9338 Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City (next to Shannon's) is the place to go for a great meal at a reasonable price. The kabobs pictured above and the gyros pictured below are both worth trying.



Menu is below



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