Columbia Blog Project

The End

2011-01-09T06:11:00.007-05:00

First of all, I'd like to thank those of you who posted legitimate comments over the years. I'd also like to thank the people I interviewed and my friend and former professor Stacy Spaulding who encouraged me to blog about Columbia.

I started Columbia Blog Project in the spring of 2009. Back then I was a journalism major at Towson University and the blog was for a class. After the class ended and I graduated, my fervor for community journalism waned. Two years later, I still receive a legitimate comments and they're still nice to read.

Things are different now, I've moved out of Columbia and on with my life. James Rouse said Columbia was a garden to grow people in but the gardeners leave much to be desired. The pioneer mindset has changed and Columbia has become a dystopia.

Now I live and work in China and I have no inclination to return for many years. I'm happy here. Thanks to my Virtual Private Network (VPN), I'm still able to access Blogger. I've decided to devote my efforts to writing about life in China, the transition, the culture and the experience.

I encourage you, the readers to keep in touch. My email (thegonzojournalist@gmail) hasn't changed. nor has my desire to hear from you.

Zai Jian,

Jack

Thanks & Peace

2010-03-18T18:12:00.003-04:00

It's been about eight months since I've posted anything. Anyone reading this is probably wondering whether or not I've gone the way of Dave Chappelle? Well I haven't fled to Africa or had a breakdown, I've just moved on to other pursuits and out of Columbia. I grew up in Owen Brown and for a while, I really enjoyed living there. Over the last two years however, things have changed and so have my attitudes about Columbia.

In hindsight, I've had a lot of fun writing Columbia Blog Project and reading the comments you've left me, both positive, negative and completely off topic. If you'd like to keep tabs on me, you can find me on my website.

Thanks & Peace,

Jack N. Cole IV

The Lie We All Live In

2009-07-25T17:43:00.014-04:00

Earlier this week, my next-door neighbors Devon and Trina Ward noticed the letter N sprayed into their front lawn, accompanied by an empty container of Skoal, beer bottles and chicken bones. Soon after it became mailbox conversation and sidewalk small talk.

On Friday, police officers were canvassing the street, interviewing neighbors about the unfortunate incident. I myself got a ring at the doorbell from officer Rodriguez. None of us had noticed anything out of the ordinary. The police downplayed the incident and advised the Wards to cover it up.

Unbelievable.

The Wards reached out through other channels; local papers, WBAL TV-11 News and myself.
Melissa Carlson and John Cassini from WBAL interviewed the Wards, my mother and myself. Do I feel safe in my own neighborhood, they asked.

"Its the lie we all live in," I told Carlson. Its Columbia and anyone who thinks civility is the categorical imperative of our town needs to add Tom Paine to their bumper. Einstein said time and space are relative. I think he should add safety to the list.

Now I'm asking the readers of this blog and other local blogs to spread the word. The "not in my neighborhood" mentality ends where the driveways meet the streets. And on Columbia's summer streets, many a youth walks around with nothing to do.

So if you've got nothing better to do, or you'd like the details, tune in to 11 News at 11pm for the story and thanks for reading.

The Declaration of Independence

2009-07-04T18:07:00.001-04:00

WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to altertheir former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

-Excerpt from The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776-

The Demise of Dobbin Donuts & Deli

2009-07-02T14:35:00.006-04:00

What happened here? From the lonely view through the front door and windows, the place looks deserted. I remember walking in a few weeks ago and having breakfast, The couple who ran the place told me that business had been slow.

They never gave me any indication that they'd fold, nor had I heard from any outside source as to the precarious state of their operation. Regardless of the cause, the effect is the same. Dobbin Donuts & Deli is closed.

My father and I have frequented this "Mom & Pop" type of restaurant for years. As we approached the front door this morning, the grim reality finally set in.

Juicy details. You want them, I don't have them. Actually I'd like them too. Journalism doesn't work so well when you don't have credible sources to interview or patrons to observe. The only bit of information I could find was a sign on the back door.

So for anyone reading this with inside information concerning the demise of Dobbin Donuts & Deli, spill it. When did it close? Why? How has Dobbin Pizza affected the business? Did the business move or is it gone for good?

Bon Fresco: Update

2009-06-30T15:31:00.002-04:00

While manning the register at work today, I struck up a conversation with two plain clothes detectives from the Howard County police department regarding the break in.

The detectives requested anonymity because of the ongoing nature of the investigation. They spent about two hours looking over the security tapes at Bon Fresco, attempting to locate footage of the suspects.

As it turns out, the security cameras were set to record continually, not for motion detection. Since the date when the cameras first recorded activity, the hard drive of the corresponding computer system has been slowly filling up with footage of Bon Fresco employees and guests.

The detectives learned that the hard drive filled to capacity on June 27th, two days before the break in. In short, the suspects were not caught on camera. The cameras, computer system and security system have since been restructured, so don't get any ideas!

Under The Sun

2009-06-30T09:08:00.004-04:00

"Well I don't want no preacher telling me about the god in the sky." Thanks Ozzy for a great song. This post has nothing to do with gods, preachers, or Ozzy Osbourne but it seemed fitting for sitting in a tunnel playing a flute under the sun.

On lake Elkhorn in Owen Brown there are are two concrete and steel tunnels that connect the lake to the river that runs behind Allview. On sunny days I enjoy sitting in the right tunnel, practicing my flute.

If however you're one of those people that likes to fish, take my advice and take the left tunnel down to the other side of Broken Land parkway for the best fishing spot in Owen Brown.

Bon Fresco: Broken Into

2009-06-29T11:08:00.004-04:00

At this time I don't have much to give you. I spoke with the owner, Gerald Koh, this morning. He told me the suspect was caught on the security camera breaking into the restaurant by pitching a rock through the back window.

Both windows on the back door were smashed clean and had been swept into a box by the time I arrived this morning. I wasn't scheduled to work, but I wanted to help if I could. Koh said the suspect had hit other establishments over the course of the night, four or five. I left a message for the officer who took the police report, but nothing has been posted on the Howard County police website as of yet.

Koh said the suspects took money. Upon a visual inspection, nothing else appears to be missing. I guess the food is so good they couldn't wait for Bon Fresco to open to eat it. That elicited a small laugh from Koh. As I sit here, typing, trying to analyze what happened, I wonder why Koh didn't remove the money from the registers after closing last night? There's no office or safe in Bon Fresco? I am however, thankful for the security cameras, and the fact that we all still have jobs.

Bat Country

2009-06-26T14:59:00.008-04:00

I had heard about this place from my friend Nickel. During the spring and fall semesters, I would often hang out with Nickel in the tunnels underneath Towson University. In the summers when he works for Columbia Association, Nickel often finds and shows me recently discovered chill-spots.

I wasn't scheduled to work on Tuesday, so I went to the East Columbia Branch Library with Joey to help him prepare for the GED. After studying at the library, we walked around Owen Brown as we often do. I remembered Nickel telling me about a tunnel underneath Broken Land parkway, so we went to check it out.

At the bottom of a forested slope on the corner of Broken Land and Cradlerock lies a stream and two concrete tunnels spanning the width of the parkway. To satisfy my curiousity, I decided to walk through one of the tunnels, Joey followed. One hundred feet through a steel ribbed, sand filled sewer tunnel. No snakes that I could see, just the sound of trickling water and the echo of flip-flops.

On the other side of the tunnel was a concrete slab followed by a stream choked with brush and fallen timbers. Among the twigs and trash, Joey found an expired Maryland learner's permit for Jhef Herard Felix of 6361 Windharp Way along with a lone black athletic shoe. After snapping a few pictures of damsel flies and waterfalls, we decided to head back through the other tunnel.

That was when we entered Bat Country! As far as people go, Joey's reserved and not easily startled. However, not long after we entered the tunnel, we discovered Bat Country. His mannerisms quickly changed to panic as he screamed out about bats and snakes and death.

A podcast of our adventure through Bat Country can be found here.

Bon Fresco: Now Open

2009-06-22T14:45:00.007-04:00

I haven't posted in over a week. Have I gone AWOL? Are the lack of posts the result of some turbulent mix of apathy and stupor? Actually, I've been busy with my MsgworX internship and landscape engineering for Mom Duke.

I've also spent a few hours here and there at Bon Fresco, four more today for the official opening of the restaurant. Little things like the bus-yellow wall tiles, Micros heat tape tickers and plastic containers filled with baguettes remind me of Atlanta Bread Company.

Gerald Koh, the owner and manager of Bon Fresco says he's changing the menu slightly. For Howchow and any other curious patrons, I've scanned a copy of the handbill menu I've pedaled and peddled to the surrounding office structures. The bottom of the menu cuts off on the Capri, so I've listed it below:

Capri: Prosciutto, Genoa salami, capicola and provolone with lettuce, roasted red peppers, hot peppers, onions and vinaigrette on ciabatta.

The layout of the restaurant is similar to that of Chipotle, one of the restaurants with which Bon Fresco is competing for your business. Orders are picked up at the counter adjacent to the front doors and taken at the opposite end of the counter. Bon Fresco is small however and only seats 27.

So what makes Bon Fresco any different from Panera Bread or Subway? I'm sure there are many patrons pondering this point, as have I. The ingredients. As Koh has stated before, he wants everything to be fresh, so he won't refridgerate tomatoes nor will he buy them with the additive spray film even if this means 86ing tomatoes for the rest of the shift. All of the bread is made on site, by hand. No frozen-boxed baguettes here.

Business has been slow primarily due to lack of advertising, so get the word out. The more guests Koh gets, the more hours I get. If the management is sound and the operation is streamlined, then the business should succeed. The food will sell itself.

Bon Fresco is located in Dobbin, behind Ledo's Pizza. Here's the street address for all of you Google mappers:

6945 Oakland Mills road (At the corner of Oakland Mills road and Snowden River parkway).

So is it ethical for me to report on a business I work for? Honestly, when I was in J-School at Towson, I was given the choice of electives; either take media ethics or media law. Complimentary to my character, I chose media law.

As for objectivitiy, well that's a subject better explained by Hunter S. Thompson. Refer to Fear And Loathing: On The Campaign Trail '72, page 33.

Gerald Koh on Bon Fresco

2009-06-04T21:19:00.005-04:00

Columbia resident Gerald Koh has been busy over the last few months, overseeing the building and inspection processes of his new restaurant venture, Bon Fresco. Koh, who earned a BS in accounting from College Park in 1982, has been working in the food-service industry for over twenty years.

In the cube behind Ledo's Pizza in Owen Brown, Koh works daily meeting with potential employees, contractors and inspectors. He says he hopes to open Bon Fresco to the public by June 15th.

Bon Fresco is small, about the size of your average Subway restaurant and will employ only 15-20 people. Thankfully, I count myself among those 15-20 employees. Details are hard to come by but Koh says menus will be printed by Tuesday. The specific items of the menu aren't yet known by anyone except Koh, but we can look forward to Koh's favorite menu item; Israeli couscous, made with caramelized onions, dried apricots and feta cheese.

"I like to have food that is good for you, that is tasty. That is what America is all about," says Koh while standing at his impromptu desk. Koh says many restaurants in the area work on three basic principles: good bread, freshness and service. He points out however that none of his competitors have nailed all three yet.

When asked, he says restaurants like Chipotle and Panera Bread will be his primary competitors.

So where does the name Bon Fresco come from? Koh says he spent a lot of time thinking of names for his concept company like sweet and fresh, sweet and simple. Finally he came up with good and fresh. Bon Fresco translates as good and fresh in Italian and French respectively.

Elijah Andrews on Lake Front

2009-06-04T20:10:00.004-04:00

I met Elijah Andrews back when I started skateboarding in Town Center. In those days he wore a Cat-In-The-Hat styled red and white hat which made him instantly recognizable. I used to see Andrews skating at the bridge between The Columbia Mall and the Lake Front and at the double block by the docks.

After my recent visit to Lake Front, I asked Andrews, a seasoned veteran of the Columbia skateboarding scene about the surge in security and the risks involved in skating at Lake Front.

Do you think it's fair that CA prosecutes and bans skateboarders at the lakefront, even though the property is rarely used by others, except during summer evenings?

"I can understand why they don't want us there when they're playing a movie or something. The skateboards can make enough noise to distract the viewers. But otherwise, I'd say just let us use the place when there's no actual events going on."

When were you first banned, who were you with, what happened and do you think banning skateboarders is an effective deterrent?

"When I was first banned, I was alone. It was more or less an official slap on the wrist - where if I got caught after that, there'd be legal consequences. And no, its not an effective deterrent. Most skateboarders are used to that shit by now anyway."

Have you personally, or have you heard of pedestrians having problems with the skateboarders at the lake front? complaints about the noise or disruption? Or do you feel as though the other tenants of the property coexist with skaters?

"Personally no, but I do know the security got more intense after some kid accidentally ran into some older guy. I heard he broke a bone or something. Ever since then they've been super anal about security."

Its common knowledge that the lake front is under used, except during the summer CA season. Even then, events only occur during the evening. In your opinion, should CA allow skateboarders to use the property much like they would a skate park during designated hours? Do you feel that if they did allow skateboarding, it would act to draw more people to the lake front?

"Yes, it definitely would. A good example of sparked interest is in Louisville Kentucky. They invested millions into a skate park and it paid off well for them. People from all over the country go there to skate it and the locals hang around there to do all sorts of things."

Do you think its fair that CA prosecutes anyone who so much as carries a skateboard across the lake front property? And from your experiences, what are the ramifications of being banned from the property? Have you been arrested or fined? Does the ban effectively keep you from returning to the lake front?

"No its not fair. Its not like carrying a gun. No permits are needed to carry one. People always forget its a mode of transportation as well. I have no idea what they do now when they catch you for skating. I've heard everything frmo getting fined and board taken away to arrested for trespassing. I guess it depends on the situation. Bans definitely don't keep from the lake front either, it just makes them more careful to not be caught. I've known dozens of people who were banned and still came back."

Oh Snap!

2009-06-04T11:33:00.002-04:00

Snapping Turtle sightings have increased with the recent rainy weather. If you're walking your dog or strolling along open space paths, keep an eye open for these snappers. Snapping turtles tend to hide themselves in the low brush near stream beds. Though they don't move very fast, they have quick reflexes and can bite without warning so keep pets, appendages and skateboards out of range of their beaks. The snapping turtle shown here had claws almost two inches long and hissed just before lashing out.

The Battle For Lake Front

2009-06-03T14:09:00.006-04:00

I thought of the Rage Against The Machine album while writing and rewriting the slug line for this post.

I interviewed Greg Hamm in March about a diverse array of topics. One of the points Hamm made was that General Growth Properties doesn't prosecute skateboarders at the Lake Front. This sounds encouraging, since he made the point that the property itself is seldom frequented by other residents.

Last night I discovered the loophole while talking to this unnamed sentry. GGP won't prosecute but Columbia Association will. I told him my name was Frank and that I was new in town, a recent emigrate of Baltimore. In fact, I've been banned from the Lake Front several times. Our conversation served as a testimonial to the inadequacies of their cruel and crude system.

According to the off-duty police officer who moonlights as a security guard, even stepping foot on the property with a skateboard is a hellworthy trespass. Last night I had been skating the white wooden stage at around 6:30 with no problems. I left for the mall but doubled back to the double block to retrieve my tea shades. It was then that I was informed of my transgression. After a short conversation and a well crafted ruse, he gave me a flier with dates and events on it, claiming that CA had events every day of the month.

As I sat on the double block, reading Fear & Loathing On The Campaign Trail and sipping steam through my hookah, I noticed that not a damn thing was going on. No band, no movie, business as usual.

The point of my story is this: Most of the time, the Lake Front is not being used. If the weather is nice, people may walk through the Tivoli square or fish at the docks. I've never seen people sitting on the double blocks nor have I read a newspaper article reporting on the injury and hospitalization of some young skateboarder at the Lake Front.

The laws are unfair, and the restriction of the space goes against the ideals that the space was intended to uphold. To date I haven't heard of an incident involving a skateboarder and a pedestrian. We do our thing, they do theirs. Destruction of property? Nothing has been destroyed and seldom is any of it used, except by us.

By prosecuting us, you are draining the lifeblood from the already desolate Lake Front. What else is there to do for young people, have a Singapore Sling at Clyde's?

Grapeheads Spotted!

2009-05-27T20:19:00.008-04:00

I found Grapeheads along time ago while at a video arcade in theTowson area. Grapeheads are firm with some give, blue dried blueberry shaped candies. Addictive. 25 cents a box. These candies are also available in lemon, cherry and apple flavors at the Cradlerock Mart in Owen Brown. I thought it might weird the owners out if I started taking pictures of the candy isle even though I go here weekly.

May Crime Map

2009-05-27T11:44:00.001-04:00

Residential Crimes, Commercial Crimes, Vehicle Thefts.

View Columbia Crime Map in a larger map

April Crime Map

2009-05-27T02:25:00.002-04:00

Commercial Crimes, Residential Crimes, Vehicle Thefts.

View Columbia Crime Map in a larger map

Better late than never, here's the Columbia crime map updated for the month of April, 2009.

Graduation

2009-05-23T01:47:00.004-04:00

I'll bet you can't watch this just once. "Oh Shit"

Dmitry Kalikhman: iReporter

2009-05-23T00:14:00.006-04:00

I use Facebook to talk to friends. Dmitry reports on the condition of the internet connection at Supreme Sports Club in Columbia. People talk better when they don't know they're being recorded but I asked him anyways, after the fact.

My guess is he was trying to load pages or refresh a page, who knows. The gym itself hasn't changed since Wednesday night so no worries readers.

9:44pmDmitry
connection is fucked im at the pool
alright im out man enjoy ur graduation night!
i'm at the gym and they're shit's fucked up.

9:45pmRaoul
how?
what's closed, describe it?

9:46pmDmitry
lol haha, naw the connection is retarded
I keep trying to post shit, but it logs off at the one at the gym

9:46pmRaoul
thanks for the tip

9:46pmDmitry
np man tips are good my man

9:46pmRaoul
mind if I quote you on that?

9:46pmDmitry
it's not the prettiest quote my man can i tryu a new one

9:47pmRaoul
I guess but I thought itd be sweet just to post the last five lines of dialogue
gimme something:
a quote preferably:
its 9:47 PM Friday Night
you're the reporter right?
I can't pressure you into saying yes or no

9:48pmDmitry
you can quote whatever u want.

9:48pmRaoul
that's all I needed thanks man

News And Notes

2009-05-22T21:16:00.008-04:00

Howard County General Hospital hiring. 6 hours ago, Explore Howard - Derek Simmonsen, dsimmonsen@patuxent.com reports. Starts hiring 220 now-June 21, 2010, 7:23 a.m. EDT.

jobs include: nurses, patient care technicians, receptionists, housekeepers. Majority of hires staff new hospital wing due to be completed summer 2010.

[“We’re doing this expansion to meet the demands of our community,” said Dorothy Brillantes, senior vice president of human resources for the hospital. With Baby Boomers aging, the demand for services is just going to increase, not decrease.”] Derek Simmonsen, 05/22/09.

Brillantes says Howard General Hospital is adding 43 beds = 140 new jobs. 1st unit opens 07-08/09, openings staggered until wing completes. About 80 jobs added to the existing hospital staff positions.

Reference to Health Care economic analysis. The Camden Group's annual report. Howard General provided services for more than 165,000,more than 76,000 patients in the emergency department, almost13,000 surgical procedures and delivered over 3,200 babies.

View Howard General Hospital. in a larger map
Hospital Job Fair seeks experienced nurses and patient care technicians.
5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD.
June 2: 10 a.m. to noon.

Personally, I don't believe aggregating is a substitute for writing but it makes a great news writing exercise to pick, shorten & improve an article. These are my notes.

Which Lots Are Best For Tots?

2009-05-21T13:33:00.005-04:00

In Owen Brown, behind the historic church I found this tot-lot nestled between the treeline and houses. The wood is in good condition, the swings have seats and the lot is graffiti free. The one thing that stood out though is the square-springy-thingy. I'm at a loss for words as to what it is exactly but I like it.

There are numerous tot-lots in the nine villages, some old, others new. So I'm asking readers, which tot-lot is your favorite? Factors in your decision should be location, surrounding environment and variety of play for children. Good hunting! I'm eager to hear back from you.

Follow The Reader's Lead

2009-05-21T00:51:00.003-04:00

I received two wonderful emails tonight from two readers of this blog. I have to say its a great feeling to get such a positive reaction from residents. I've always believed journalism to be a public service and with a blog as my platform, it can be.

As I gear up for a summer of interviews and investigation I'd like to know what readers are thinking. As you (the reader) drive or walk around Columbia, what do you wonder about? What would you like me to go out and cover? Think of yourself as part of the production process because in fact, you are!

Look at these Hunteresque tea shades. Imagine wearing them around town. These shades will show you stories waiting to be told. Pretend you're wearing them for a day and think about something post-worthy. Hold that thought . . . and tell me about it.

I scribble notes everyday on ideas for posts or people I'd like to interview, so if you know someone who'd make a good interview or something interesting that's happening in Columbia, drop me a line at thegonzojournalist@gmail.com If you'd like to tell me how I'm doing or how I can improve, same deal, send an email to my gmail.

Behold: Bon Fresco

2009-05-20T12:04:00.006-04:00

There's a new sandwich shop in Snowden called Bon Fresco. As I walked past the brick box building, I peeked inside and snapped a picture. One of the contractors told me they'd finish in a week or so.

Immediately, I thought of Atlanta Bread Company. Both as a journalist and a former sandwich shop slave wage I feel that I have a valid perspective on the fiscal future of this venture. When Atlanta Bread Company hired me, they were still building the place, so I got to walk around with a nail gun and electric screwdriver! Competition they said, what competition? Panera Bread, Three Brothers and several Subways later, they caved after one year.

I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. We don't need another sandwich shop concept. I can't believe I'm saying this but we don't need another Indian restaurant either. The building of Bon Fresco in Snowden seems almost as pointless as installing a Vocelli's pizza in the Owen Brown village center across from Jerry's pizza.

I predict that Bon Fresco will flare up like the flame on a candle and flutter out. Hopefully the place will employ competent management and a staff comprised of more than hispanics and high schoolers but realistically, they'd be fighting entrenched concepts that have done well without them.

Skate Spot

2009-05-18T18:51:00.005-04:00

Though not technically in Columbia, there's a sweet skate spot in Centennial park in Ellicott City. Technically its not a skate park but if your looking for smooth concrete ramps and slick rails, look no further than Skate Spot.

No waviers, no pads, no helmets and no entry fee! About the size of a basketball court, the park contains a 5 x 20 quarter pipe at one end and a bank with a stair set at the other end. A hip in the center, picnic table, pole jam and a slider rail complete the setup.

Here's a video clip to show you what Skate Spot looks like.

And for all of you old schoolers out there, this trick is for you!

Somewhere Around Barstow

2009-05-17T01:01:00.004-04:00

Barstow is that fictional place between college and the real world. If you've ever played the game of LIFE you'll understand that you can enter the job market immediately or go through college first. Well, I've done it.

In less than a week, I'll have a degree. Having never experienced senioritis, I was too focused on the present to care about the future. The semester is over, the experiment known as Columbia Blog Project has concluded, the results analyzed. If you're curious, here is the list of blogs generated by the other students in my class.

Over the course of the semester I've learned a great deal about blogging and even more about Columbia. If you've read this blog in the past, you be assured of great content in the near future. I have to say I've missed the late night posting sessions. I've missed having my ear to the ground but its good to be back.

Oh and Wordbones if you're reading this, I'm looking forward to your offer, I'd like to sit down and have a beer with you sometime, E-mail me.

Just to close one minor cliff hanger here, I'm starting a paid internship next week, so to all of you graduating seniors out there, what are YOU doing after graduation!?

-Jack Cole-

Housing Boom in Owen Brown

2009-05-08T15:11:00.004-04:00

Despite a contracting economy, housing is booming in the village of Owen Brown. Just off the sidewalk from the historic Episcopal church, ants are building clusters of new homes. Sources say plans are underway for the construction of a microcosmic village center.

Blackout And Back Soon

2009-05-04T19:53:00.004-04:00

Hello readers,

I've noticed some of you have continued to check up on me while I'm in the trenches. Under normal circumstances, I probably wouldn't go more than a day or two without blogging, its become something of a passion. But right now, my passion is graduating Towson University with a degree in journalism.

The last week of April and the first week of May is the so called crucible of graduating spring seniors. If you're even remotely curious why I've been so quiet, I've been shooting, editing and reshooting a video package on The Names. When I wasn't lugging around a 30lb light kit, I was studying for a final exam in mass communications research, (20 page research project due May 11th). I've also been interviewing Chinese international students for said project, writing a final exam blog on how-to-blog and creating two complex HTML pages from scratch.

Sounds like a lot, right? Well I appreciate your patronage. Thanks for stopping by. If you can give me one more week, I promise to send great content your way. You can look forward to more interviews and original reporting.

Tony Hawk: The End

2009-04-23T23:24:00.007-04:00

Tony Hawk. If you're between the ages of 18-45, he should sound familiar. Aside from the basics, I probably spent 70 percent of my youth skateboarding or playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on Playstation.

Tony Hawk stars in Birdhouse: The End. (Banned in Switzerland)

If Tony Hawk stalls your bandwidth click here.

It's the week before finals. My head is steeped in a bittersweet tea of Research and hyper text over at Fairways. Inside Jimi's apartment, the Xbox 360 is the most advanced technology in a room full of crazies.

I just took a break from my work to watch this and it made me flip out all over again. Decapitation, exploding vans, strippers, bull ring, Bucky Lasek; its all there. *The End can be viewed on Youtube in four parts.* I think the video really belongs to the late-night, fire lighting antics of Jeremy Klein and Heath Kirchart.

I hope readers enjoy this. Just to clarify::This has nothing to do with Columbia in any way, it's just for fun. Have fun. I have. After I film, cram & exam, I'll be back [like Arnold Schwarzenegger try'n to play me out like as if my name was Sega]

-House of Pain-

Parting Est Telle Doux Chagrin

2009-04-23T09:26:00.004-04:00

I rarely look at the obits of any paper, I'm young and I don't expect to die before I turn 60. Perhaps one day, when I'm chillin in my easy chair eating orange cracker sandwiches with peanut butter, I'll take time out of my day to check and see if any of my friends have passed.

The name Tennenbaum caught my eye this morning as I scanned through the main page of the Columbia Flier. Marcelle S. Tennenbaum, the wife of Columbia architect Robert Tennenbaum has passed.

Robert, if you're reading this, my heart goes out to you man. I'm not married, I don't know what it feels like to lose a wife to illness, but I understand the feelings of loss, grievance and understanding that comes with the passing of a loved one. Peace.

Thank You, Come Again!

2009-04-23T00:03:00.002-04:00

When you think of Columbia, what comes to mind? Great schools, tot-lots, the bike guy and restaurants. Its hard to drive more than five minutes without finding a restaurant and damn near impossible to miss a Chinese, Italian or Mexican restaurant. I'm not a big fan of burritos, combination plates and cheap margaritas. Most of the Italian restaurants are overpriced. And if you want good Chinese food, go to Shanghai or Hunan Manor.

Indian food is the shizzle and I prefer House of India. Of course right behind the house is Ackbar, comparable but not the same. HowChow has reported about the possibility of India Delight joining the mosh pit of mango lassis and palak paneers. One more knock off won't hurt right? That's what Atlanta Bread Company general manager Keith Walthers told us in so many words on opening day. A year later, the doors closed for good.

Assuming that India Delight opens shop like HowChow reports it might, my guess is the restaurant would fill the vacant space held by ABC or California Tortilla. Will it survive with House of India and Ackbar dug in less than a mile away?

The Space Between

2009-04-21T15:40:00.003-04:00

I'm sure some people walk through Owen Brown village center but not me. After the revitalization by Giant Food owner Ahold, the layout of the village center was changed to bring parking lots up close to the stores, eliminating the central court and thus the need to actually walk through the center.

If you think back to the way things were, Owen Brown village center had a central pebble stone plaza ringed with benches. I don't think I ever saw people sitting on all the benches at any one time but they had choices.

Owen Brown village center didn't need revitalization, in fact it was fine the way it was. Giant Food, the anchor store, had entrances facing the center court which encouraged shoppers to walk the plaza. The current incarnation of the village center greets strollers with plain white concrete sidewalks and a grass square surrounded by a thin row of bushes, topped with brick walls.

I'd like to see Giant do something, anything with this space. Plant trees and flowers and insert tables perhaps. This gaping hole sticks out like a sore thumb, a constant reminder of the clumsy hand of the builder.

Breaking Down Bankruptcy: GGP

2009-04-21T08:57:00.005-04:00

Sorry folks, did you miss me? Think back . . . decades ago you too were approaching the end of your last semester of college. You were busy right? Well its good to be back and discuss the finer points of bankruptcy law. I'm not an economist or even an economics major but as a journalist, I have the benefit of calling on the knowledge and wisdom of economics professors.

I spent my weekend in correspondence with Joe Pomykala, a professor of economics at Towson University who specializes in bankruptcy law. Hopefully after reading this, you will have a better understanding of the intricacies of chapter 11 bankruptcy in relation with General Growth Properties.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy allowed GGP to freeze it's debt of $4 billion and avoid interest payments to its creditors. Additionally, all legally binding contracts such as leases and labor contracts which exist outside of said bankruptcy can be accepted or rejected at the company's discretion.

While in bankruptcy, GGP may take out new loans which must be paid before the existing debt which are referred to as DIP (Debtor In Possession) loans. The interest rates for said loans are substantially lower than those of the company's existing loans.

Next, GGP develops a restructuring plan to reorganize and streamline it's operation, which creditors vote over. Creditors are usually paid less than the original contract allows. However the creditors should receive payment equivalent to the sum negotiated under chapter seven liquidation.

It should be noted that creditors of the preexisting debt may not necessarily receive cash as payment. In some cases, creditors receive stock in the restructured company. The bakruptcy and restructuring process may take as much as two years to complete. When asked if the process seems unfair, Pomykala says it is legalized theft.

Columbia Cleans Up It's Act

2009-04-19T17:12:00.005-04:00

Residents from all 10 villages came out Saturday to help clean up green spaces. Community groups worked with the Columbia Association to pick up trash and remove debris from areas around lakes, parks and village centers.

I biked around lake Elkhorn in Owen Brown and around the village center in King's Contrivance and wherever I looked I saw small groups of children and seniors with grabbers and clear plastic bags filled to the gills with garbage.

Granted this doesn't happen every weekend but its a welcome sight and a great way to spend a mild Saturday afternoon. After 11 a.m., Lake Elkhorn shifted gears for another event, so I went back home. Sorry people, until dogs learn how to poop in a box, I'll stick with cats. Plus they feed themselves occasionally.

Kings Contrivance: Crossed Off

2009-04-19T13:29:00.006-04:00

Saturday morning, two hours after my alarm went off, I biked around lake Elkhorn and down to Kings Contrivance village center to cover the clean up. I've been to King's Contrivance before but until now I never really looked at the courtyard surrounded by vibrant shops.

Compared to Owen Brown village center, this place is nice. The 24 hour Harris Teeter is integrated with the courtyard so that one draws you to the other. There is no vacant space like there is in Owen Brown village center and no two shops are alike. For example in Owen Brown, we have Jerry's pizza and Vocelli's pizza. What a dumb idea.

Then I saw it. Beyond the Amherst house in the corner of the lot is a beautiful brick structure. At first I wasn't sure what it was. Then I saw the brick bell tower with the cross on top. Immediately, I crossed King's Contrivance village center off my list. I looked up at the cross, that blatant symbol that says f--k Columbia's interfaith centers and damn inclusion.

I may live near a shell of a village center but at least I don't have to look at any religious symbols on my way to the Sunoco. I don't want any churches, mosques, temples, synagogues or any other religious type buildings in my town. Period. Go to the interfaith centers or go somewhere else.

At least that's my opinion. What's yours?

Left On Lake Elkhorn, Right?

2009-04-17T12:44:00.002-04:00

I like to bicycle around lake Elkhorn among other places in Columbia, primarily because I live right on the edge. I'm sure this sounds pedantic to most and excessive to some but I wish people understood which side of the path to walk on in relation to the direction they are traveling in.

In America we drive on the right side of the road going forwards and on the left going backwards respectively. This is a fairly simple concept for me to grasp and for most people I would imagine. Yet every single time I bike around Lake Elkhorn, I see people walking towards me on the right side of the path.

How can you pass a pedestrian or group of pedestrians on the if they walk shoulder to shoulder? Some people walk confidently towards me on the right side of the path as though they truly believe they are in the right. My favorites are the people who walk on either side holding a stroller in one hand and a dog leash in the other; with an energetic dog at the other end of the leash.

I've never hit anybody though sometimes I may give the offender a rat face. This is in no way a major problem but if you're still reading this, thanks for letting me vent my frustrations on you. Have a nice weekend and if you have a little free time tomorrow, go out and volunteer your time to help clean up Columbia's green space!

Spring Cleaning in Columbia

2009-04-16T08:53:00.004-04:00

Saturday morning, volunteers and community groups in every village will assemble at 9 a.m., at designated sites for some spring cleaning. Details are available on the Columbia Association website.

View Columbia Clean Up in a larger map

GGP Files For Bankruptcy

2009-04-16T06:33:00.008-04:00

Just in from WBAL radio AM 1090, General Growth Properties, the Chicago based developer has filed for bankruptcy.

"Our core business remains sound and is performing well with stable cash flows. We believe that chapter 11 is the best process for restructuring maturing mortgage loans, reducing the company's corporate debt, and establishing a sustainable, long-term capital structure for the company," said Adam Metz, chief executive. [Steve Goldstein, Marketwatch.com]

GGP currently has more than $25 billion in debt to pay off. On Wall Street, shares of the company closed at $1.05 Wednesday, tumbling 97 percent over the last fiscal year.

GGP has said in a statement that it has secured a commitment for $375 million in bankruptcy financing from Pershing Square Capital Market, the hedge fund group that owns more than 25 percent of the company.

On a more local level, the company will continue to operate, though under increasing scrutiny from Howard County government and residents. I do not believe their current financial predicament will affect the company's plans to redevelop Town Center.

I've called GGP in Columbia and Chicago, still no quote regarding the bankruptcy filing. I've just made contact with Greg Hamm. I will obtain a quote from Hamm sometime after noon. I'll post quotes and more information as it becomes available!

-The Gonzo Journalist-

Larry Carson: Reporting on the Reporter

2009-04-15T13:04:00.004-04:00

"Well I had dropped out of college . . . a friend of mine suggested I might like being a reporter so I just started calling and applying to the newspapers in Baltimore and I initially got a job as a copy boy at the News American for about six months."

That's how Baltimore Sun reporter Larry Carson got his start in journalism. Carson lives in a town house overlooking lake Elkhorn in Owen Brown. Carson started working for the Baltimore Sun's evening paper in 1969 and moved to Columbia in 1978.

Prior to 1978, Carson lived in northwest Baltimore. He started out as a copy boy for the paper, running takes from the writers to the copy editors. He would also go out on Saturday nights with the police reporters. When an opening became available for a reporter, he took it. Later he became a police reporter or a "leg man," who gathered information in the city and passed it on to a rewrite man.

In January of 1969, his first assignment for the evening sun was to cover howard county. Carson shared an office above the Wilde Lake village center with a morning reporter. He recalls reporting on the hilltop housing which replaced the substandard housing in Ellicott City and the shoddy workman ship of Ryland housing in Oakland Mills as well as the view of the Lark Brown road residents on the General Electric move into Columbia.

As a reporter, Carson has a detached view of Columbia because he tends to keep a distance from things he may end up writing about. He did however share his opinions on what hasn't worked in Columbia, specifically the lack of cohesion in downtown, affordable housing and transportation.

"It's not something that most people prefer to use because it takes a lot of time to get anywhere, the busses are noisy they're not that comfortable. You know, they stop a lot of places before you get to where you're going. It can take you a long time, so I think transportation's another big problem," says Carson.

Carson says the issues facing current and future Columbia are the downtown redevelopment and the revitalization of the village centers as well as the proposal for the 23 story tower. He says a lot of people are concerned about the school congestion and the congestion of major thoroughfares like Route 29.

Space: The Final Frontier

2009-04-15T11:07:00.006-04:00

Sorry Trek fans, no voyages today. But if you think about Columbia in the sense of space, then building on vacant lots or recently acquired parcels is the final frontier. Near the intersection of Broken Land parkway and Snowden River parkway buildings are being constructed. The same is true with the intersection of Route 175 and Thunder Hill road.

The lot I'm talking about however lies at the edge of the so called Oakland Mills village center across from Bangkok Gardens where the gas station used to be. Only recently have I found out that there used to be a gas station there--and that's what I love about Columbia, I discover something new everyday.

Everytime I ride the brown route to the mall, I try to imagine what could fill that vacant lot as the bus drives past. Why not build a skate park there? Yeah that seems like a good idea execpt that as soon as you leave said designated skate park you'd get hassled or busted for riding through the so called village center. Absolute bulls--t.

Correct me if I'm wrong but some people have proposed housing of some sort be built on the lot. I think the next logical idea would be to put a gas station back, perhaps with a Subway inside? Unlike the Sunoco in Owen Brown, I don't think it would get robbed because of the Howard County police trailer behind Bangkok Gardens.

In my opinion, this issue needs to be tackled and perhaps bundled with the redevelopment that the village center so sorely needs. It has no drawing power other than the sheer human necessity for bread and grain alcohol.

Stop In The Name Of The Law!

2009-04-14T14:31:00.006-04:00

Did you know its against the law to ride a bicycle through the Oakland Mills village center? I didn't know and I didn't give much attention to the black man sitting on the planter yelling at me to get off my bike. At first I thought what's his malfunction?

Last Friday, I was biking back from an interview with Linda Morris at the lakefront. I ride across the pedestrian bridge and took a detour through the village center to take a few pictures. On my way out, pedaling casually, the man stopped me and said I had to get off my bike and walk it or he'd call the police. "OK man, you do that, have a nice one," I replied coolly. Just to be sure, I read the list of rules on the corner of the block of stores on my way out.

Lo and behold, the use of rollerskates, scooters, skateboards and bicycles is prohibited. What a stupid rule I thought. While we're on the subject, Oakland Mills is as much a village center as Al Roker is a fortune teller. Sure it has the makings of a village center with a grocery store and a string of shops. But behind that, aside from the ice rink, there's nothing. It sucks.

As I pedaled out of the village center by Bangkok Gardens, I remembered the pale blue trailer near the bus stop that houses Howard County Police, oops. As I turned the corner, down the sidewalk, I glanced back in time long enough to see a cruiser rounding the corner. What a waste of resources.

The Walk Stops Here

2009-04-14T00:15:00.004-04:00

I live in the village of Owen Brown and I often bike through Dobbin and the surrounding villages. Wait, lets back track, which is hard because there aren't many paths in Dobbin to begin with.

On days when I know I'm in class, I try to plan a few posts ahead of time to keep you interested. Over the weekend, while biking to photograph the closing of Z-Pizza, I thought of writing about the lack of connecting sidewalks in the Dobbin area.

Turns out Wordbones beat me to it. He's written about the lack of sidewalks in the Snowden area but I consider the areas linked. While interviewing Larry Carson of the Baltimore Sun Monday, he also mentioned the issue.

I'll give you an example. Lets say you live on Downdale Place in Owen Brown. A sidewalk runs along the edge of Oakland Mills road. Its a nice day out and you feel like walking to Dobbin Donuts & Deli for lunch. As soon as you get to the brick church you notice there's no sidewalk on the other side of the road!

This is a common occurrence in the Dobbin/Snowden area. Across Dobbin road from the Blockbuster video, there is a path that runs behind Dobbin and Owen Brown and into Oakland Mills. Once you walk up the hill from that path you'll have difficulty getting to the other side.

The point I'm trying to make is that there are no sidewalks or crosswalks in places where there ought to be sidewalks. Columbia was supposedly designed to let residents walk to schools and village centers, why not restaurants and retail? There are sidewalks in some places and those simply stop as if to say "go back and get in your car and drive the rest of the way!"

Residents who live off of Carved Stone should be able to cross the street and walk to the strip mall for pho, but they can't because the sidewalk doesn't connect to the retail outlets. Instead they are required to either walk through a camoflauged cut or get in their car and drive.

The pedestrian and bicycling situation in the Snowden/Dobbin area is really f--ked up and needs to be fixed!

Columbia's Community Split On ZRA-113

2009-04-13T11:53:00.007-04:00

Derek Simmonsen over at the Columbia Flier brought this to my attention Monday. According to the report, of the 103 people who testified to the county planning board on ZRA-113, half were for it and half were against it.

Titled 51-51 Split, this report provides a snapshot of the community or at least those who are concerned and active within the community. To a certain extent I think every one of us feels a certain amount of apprehension at the thought of a developer coming in and restructuring our downtown area.

Perhaps its because we are sick of the way things are and we are worried things might get worse as a result? Maybe we think General Growth Properties has the right idea but the wrong vision? Whatever the case I don't think there are many of us who are opposed to any development. I think we can all agree that something needs to be done and that's a start.

The planning board begins closed session deliberation on the plan Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Speed Cameras in Columbia

2009-04-13T00:05:00.000-04:00

According to an article in the Columbia Flier, proponents for a plan to install speed cameras in Howard county like Ken Ulman and James Robey might just make it happen.

Speed cameras seem like a good idea right? Not in my opinion they don't. Why? Because speed cameras don't address the cause, they address the effect. If you're driving down Broken Land parkway and see a speed camera what are you going to do?

Slow down if your smart and when you pass, speed back up, right? So the speed cameras may in fact act as a deterrent when vehicles are within its field of view but as soon as they aren't they accelerate again.

Opponents in Annapolis disagree with the statement made by Ulman, linking the installation of speed cameras to public safety. They argue that its all about revenue. What do you think?

Linda Morris - Happy Child

2009-04-12T12:03:00.001-04:00

Linda Sachiko Morris isn't a resident of Columbia but she goes to school here, at Howard Community College. During our interview, she pointed out that her middle name pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, means happy child. As a child she's grown up in Wheaton and Laurel.

I first met Morris when I covered the SGA leadership series last Friday at Howard Community College. She comes off as articulate, energetic and intelligent. Its no wonder she has an interest in political science, a field she is well suited for. After meeting Mary Kay Sigaty through the Rouse scholar program, she asked Sigaty to speak to the SGA.

Morris went to high school at Reservoir where she developed a passion for journalism. She says she managed a 3.2 average even though she had a problem with attendance. While earning her associates degree in philosophy and religious studies at HCC, she ran for and won the position of SGA president.

Among her accomplishments as SGA president, Morris organized a Rock The Vote event, encouraging students to register to vote and worked with students to cook shepard's pie for the Grassroots shelter.

Finally I asked Morris "what is there to do in Columbia?" I could tell by her response that it was a hard question to answer.

Last Call For Z-Pizza

2009-04-11T19:34:00.006-04:00

When I worked for Atlanta Bread Company, I remember our manager boasting that we would outlive Z-Pizza and Orinoco Coffee. He said our pizza and coffee were better, I said he was an idiot. As it turned out, both shops outlasted ABC. Soon after it closed, Orinoco followed, along with California Tortilla. Now all that's left is the Asian cafe.

The fare at Z-Pizza is fair but I'd rather go to Jerry's for a pizza. Ultimately, I think that Z-Pizza had the same problem that ABC had. They entered an already competitive market with Ledo's, Jerry's, Pizza Hut, Vocelli's and Domino's. Part of the reason ABC failed was because Panera Bread was already operating and lets face it, ABC was a knock off that got knocked off.

Ryan, one of the managers at Z-Pizza told me the shop had closed at 8:00 p.m. He said they had run out of dough and toppings so they closed early, on their last day of business.

"From what I hear, its an issue between the landlord and the owner but I'm not really sure what really went on with them," says Ryan. "So I just found out Thursday that they were shutting down, Thursday morning."

Secret of the Pho

2009-04-11T14:52:00.008-04:00

In Owen Brown, there's a Vietnamese restaurant called An Loi. It's a small, hole in the wall restaurant known for its pho, pronounced fa. Every time I sit down for beef wrapped in grape leaves, a tri-color bean dessert or their famous pho, I see Vietnamese residents sitting down for lunch or dinner. A good sign.

In the past I've asked HowChow and last night I asked the staff as well. "What's in the broth for the pho?" They say its a secret, that they can't tell me and that the recipe is too complex to whip up in 30 minutes. They know that I know that they know but they won't tell me what's in the broth.

The broth is slightly sweet, salty and buttery too! My tongue detects no spices or herbs. Every spoonful is a symphony and a mystery! So now I'm asking the readers of this blog for their help. Of course you win a prize if you can tell me what's in the broth!

Village Center Vitality

2009-04-10T17:24:00.002-04:00

There are nine village centers in Columbia. Almost all of them have undergone "revitalization" in some form or another. Some village centers have sit down restaurants, others have interfaith centers, but which village center can be called the best?

I'm asking readers for their opinions on the village centers. Which village center attracts the most residents? Which village center has the best mix of shops? Which village center has the best liquor store? In essence, which village center is your favorite and why?

I'm not done. Don't just tell me which village center is the best, tell me which one is the worst. Which village center deserves the most attention and why?

Jud Malone

2009-04-10T11:29:00.006-04:00

Jud Malone lives in Town Center. He moved from Atlanta to Columbia in 1994 with his wife. Malone grew up in Thomasville, in the segregated south. College deferment kept Malone out of the draft and motivated him to earn a degree in marketing.

Malone is a member of the Urban Land Institute and considers himself to be an advocate for affordable housing and a community activist. He also works with a community group called Columbia Tomorrow.

Malone now works with Columbia Tomorrow on issues such as cultural preservation, Symphony Woods, zoning regulation amendments and the revitalization of downtown.

Q & A: The Columbia Bike Guy

2009-04-09T13:52:00.006-04:00

After checking my analytics, I've noticed that the Athar Habib post is one of the most viewed on Columbia Blog Project. I've arranged an interview with Athar, another day-in-the-life type of piece.

In preparation for my interview, I'd like to give curious readers the opportunity to pose questions to Athar in the form of comments on this post. Please provide your full name with the question you are asking.

I'd like to thank Michael Prescott Davis for the picture of Athar accompanying this post.

Columbia Flier & Crime

2009-04-08T22:45:00.005-04:00

An article in the Columbia Flier, written by Luke Broadwater, really caught my attention. A while back, Long Reach village applied for a grant to deal with gang related problems. Two weeks ago, a friend of mine, lets call him Frank, told me he's seen an increase of gang related activity around town. Frank keeps a gun on him at all times and knows the streets.

Frank told me about an MS-13 gang member who threatened him and some friends outside of the Dunkin Donuts in the Harper's Choice village center. Frank says a blue four door sedan with tinted windows pulled up where he and some friends were sitting, smoking cigarettes, and hanging out. A hispanic man pointed a gun at the group and asked them if they had a problem.

Frank lives behind the Sunoco gas station in Owen Brown. He says there have been drug busts on his street (Kerry Hill court) before. Frank stays out of Knighthood Lane, Quiet Hours and Talisman Lane in Owen Brown. Like me, Frank uses the buses for public transportation. Every bus driver I've spoken to has told me in so many words that the brown route is no joke.

Another article by the Columbia Flier prompted me to scroll through the comments. Whether or not the murders and various crimes in Columbia are gang related isn't the issue. The fact that the police presence isn't great enough is. When I took the picture for this post, I asked the officers why they were walking around the village center at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday. They told me they make rounds to make their presence known when they have the time and that their work keeps them busy elsewhere.

I think the police presence needs to be stepped up in all of the neighborhoods. Redirect police resources away from trying to catch Johns in Jessup.

Sigaty Speaks At SGA Leadership Series

2009-04-07T09:47:00.006-04:00

Friday afternoon after their weekly meeting, the students of Howard Community College's Student Government Association received a visit from Howard County council members Dr. Calvin Ball & Mary Kay Sigaty.

"I was definitely excited to hear them speak, all of their insight was incredibly inspiring and interesting," says SGA president Linda Morris. "We're really grateful that they took the time to come speak at our meeting too . . . and their words were so motivating. Its great for students to connect with their community leaders and to see that they really are working to serve us."

The county council members answered questions about experiences and expectations, role models and recommended reading. Dr. Ball even brought his books with him, at the top of his list is Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends & Influence People.

The SGA discussed ideas for fund raising and community activism in the surrounding neighborhoods of Harper's Choice, Hickory Ridge and Town Center.

To "the" Readers of Columbia Blog Project:

2009-04-06T13:00:00.005-04:00

I say "the" readers because you aren't my readers. I don't control the conversation, I engage in it, because the conversation has been taking place since 1967.

The success of Columbia Blog Project has exceeded my expectations in three short months. Every morning, after I put in my contacts, I check my analytics. Today, I'm expecting CBP to break the 4,000 hit mark.

I don't measure the success in hits however. While making calls yesterday, one of the men who answered thanked me for what he called a great public service. As a journalist, I feel there is no greater compliment I could receive. For that reason, I've measured the success of CBP by the feedback.

Some of the feedback has been negative though. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank a certain someone. She recommended I create a disclaimer regarding comments. Aside from the rules of engagement set forth by most disclaimers, I've added a clause which states in simple terms; if you're leaving a comment, keep it pertinent to the post but if you just feel like taking me down a peg, don't waste your effort, I 'lol' . . . and delete the comment. If you'd like to send me hate mail, I'd like to read it and possibly post an excerpt. Here's the address: thegonzojournalist@gmail.com

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you the reader. If you've left a comment, thank you. If you've scanned a post or two, thank you. If you've downloaded the free podcasts or watched the video and sound slides, thank you. And if you'd stop . . . just for a minute--and tell me how I'm doing, I'd thank you for it.

Its funny, in every interview, I ask what's worked and what hasn't? So tell me how I'm doing? What would you like to see more of? What post concepts haven't worked well? I want to get to know you as well. Tell me about your blogging and info-snacking habits. When are you reading my posts? Are you scrolling when you should be working, or after dinner? Are you a daily digest, or a weekend web-head?

Delegate Bobo's Voting Advice

2009-04-05T13:16:00.003-04:00

During my interview with Elizabeth Bobo, she pointed out that prior to 2008, only stationary with a delegate's printed name was restricted from personal use. After 2008, the restriction was amended to include e-mail addresses.

Click HERE to listen to Bobo's response to the complaint filed by Jud Malone. The e-mails in question

Bobo says its up to the ethics board to decide whether or not she has done anything wrong. In my opinion when anyone asks you who they should vote for, your answer should be "research the candidates and make your own decision!" When a party affiliated politician offers advice about candidates, that candidate will most likely recommend the candidate who is either affiliated with their party or shares a similar view on the issues.

Jud Malone, who filed the complaint against Elizabeth Bobo, provided me with copies of the 2007 & 2008 e-mails, Ethics Committee letter and PIA request. Click HERE to view these documents.

When I walk into the polls at the Owen Brown interfaith center, I don't want people coming up to me and telling me who I should vote for. Only Bobo knows if people e-mailed her or if she e-mailed them but as Bobo said "there are opinions and there are facts," and the fact remains that she influenced the decisions of others using a state appointed email address.

I'm a journalist, not a politician so I don't know what is common practice in Annapolis but I don't agree with Bobo's actions. Is it right for any incumbent to use resources paid by the tax payer to influence elections of any kind?

March Crime Report

2009-04-05T13:02:00.009-04:00

This is a cumulative listing of crime in Columbia for 2009. Commercial crimes are green, residential are red and vehicle thefts are blue.

View Larger Map

Cy Paumier On GGP: Uncut!

2009-04-04T01:07:00.003-04:00

The last part of my interview with Cy Paumier focused on General Growth Properties. This portion is insightful to say the least and I feel that podcasting it will benefit the public. Click HERE to listen.

Do you agree with Cy Paumier's opinions on General Growth Properties? What are your opinions after hearing this portion of the interview?

Cy Paumier

2009-04-03T21:36:00.011-04:00

Go to any of the village centers and look around . . . what do you see? Most likely shops and concrete and bricks. Who worked on planning and designing those village centers? Cy Paumier did.

Paumier grew up in Canton, Ohio. He says growing up in Canton was somewhat similar to Columbia in the sense that the town had a concept of a village center and a black population close to 20 percent. Paumier received his bachelors in Ohio in landscape architecture. From there he went to Harvard for his masters in urban design.

By the time he was working on Nun's Island in Montreal, he heard about Jim Rouse and Columbia through the press. He moved into Bryant Woods in 1969 and went to work for the Rouse Company as land planner.

"The people that moved here in the early years were obviously pioneers in the sense that they knew they might be living next to an African American family or somebody else, some other nationality. So you didn't move here unless you were prepared to be a part of an integrated experience with people of all backgrounds. And I think that made for a rather exciting community. "

In 1972, with the economy in recession, Paumier left the Rouse Company and joined Land Research/Design International with several friends and former Rouse Company employees. LRD worked on The Woodlands among other projects. In 1976, LRD rewrote Columbia's zoning ordinance, mandating that no more than four town houses could be built in a row.

While on the topic of housing, Paumier comments that of all the townhouse developments in Columbia, his favorite happens to be the one where Elizabeth Bobo lives, in Harper's Choice.

So what hasn't worked in Columbia and what has? In Paumier's opinion, cul-de-sacs.

"Maybe the one thing that didn't work as well was the Cul-De-Sac which at the time everybody thought was God's gift to the city planners. But it turns out its probably safer to live on a Cul-De-Sac but it also doesn't help to encourage a sense of community because you don't get any linkage.”

Symphony Woods, he says was never fully realized because there was no real plan in mind for the open space area, no paths, no amenities, nothing but Merriweather Post Pavilion to draw people in and nothing after to keep them.

"No one's ever really cared enough about it to do a plan, CA hasn't been encouraged, nobody in the community has been saying we ought to create a great park there. So along comes General Growth [Properties], General Growth's got a couple hundred acres that they've got to develop right? They've got all the land in the world to develop, why don't they just focus on what they own. I mean they don't have to start taking CA's land . . . its crazy!”

Paumier agrees that 10 percent of the trees in Symphony Woods are dead and need to be removed. Sunlight, he says, is the key to a great park. With all of the trees, dead or alive, there isn't enough light getting through to make Symphony Woods a functioning park. Part of his plan is to remove the dead trees and install paths and a central water feature. He wants to see the woods become a children's park.

On the brighter side, Paumier says the education system has worked, the diversity has worked and the village center's he helped design still work.

"I think the neighborhood village concept is the single most important concept and to the extent that all but maybe one or two of the village centers are working.”

Jud Malone On Bobograms

2009-04-03T17:58:00.004-04:00

I just finished interviewing Columbia resident Jud Malone. Part of our discussion concerned Elizabeth Bobo & her (un)ethical e-mail controversy. From a journalist's perspective, one of the greatest benefits to reporting through a blog is being able to skip the editorial process. With that in mind, HERE is my conversation with Malone concerning Bobo. Tune in tomorrow for Bobo's response.

2010 Census Circling Angelina Addresses

2009-04-02T19:48:00.012-04:00

I hope the headlines hits on Google. Guest speaker David Alexander from the Baltimore Sun lectured our class today on SEO optimization, coding keywords for headlines like search engine slugs for spiders. I saw a 40ish-year-old blond woman in a shiny black sedan circling Angelina circle at 7:45 p.m., on my way to the mailbox.

At first I thought she was lost, looking for a house number, maybe a family member making a reunion? "2010 Census, I work for the government, we do this every 10 years . . . didn't you learn about this in school?" she said. I stared back at her blankly, its spring 2009 I thought. I remember feeling burned, searching census bureau data for sociology class assignments on the dot-gov site. 2000 never felt recent or accurate enough, but if they did it my way, the bill would give Geithner gastrointestinal distress, rivaling our field trip into Iraq.

Approachable, polite and eager to lengthen the life of her Marlboro light while time and light faded into the gray. I was walking to the mailbox with my copy of the Columbia Flier. I decided to place the ads at the communal mailbox as a sort of common courtesy & that's when I saw her. After learning she had ties to 75 and worked for Rouse, Mort & Robert, she rolled away. I photographed the car on a sort of afterthought impulse.

I will give one hundred grand to anyone who can locate Baltimore Sun deputy editor David Alexander. Good hunting--think of it like Highlights for hypertext

idX Brings Business To Columbia

2009-04-01T19:41:00.004-04:00

Earlier Wednesday, Wordbones reported on the idX move in Snowden from Odenton. After reading this, I got on the horn to Frank Grelle, the general manager of idX's Baltimore division to get the scoop.

idX manufactures shelves, tables and other store fixtures for Kohl's, JC Penney's, Marshalls and other retailers as well as financial institutions. Based in St. Louis, Mo, idX has offices in Louisville, Seattle, Toronto and Shanghai. The company bought out Russell Williams Ltd in 2005 which was originally based in Columbia but moved to Odenton.

idX in Odenton currently operates out of two buildings catty corner to each other. Grelle describes the move into the Snowden building as more efficient for the operation.

"As we continue to grow, I really needed to be in one building so that I don't have to move finished from the manufacturing building, onto a trailer, move them 50 yards and unload them into a warehouse."

idX is moving it's operation to 8901 Snowden River parkway because the new location has many more dock doors than their Odenton location. The additional space of the Snowden location will also allow Grelle to house all of his production lines under one roof and make the distribution process easier.

“We might ship to 15 Kohl's stores in a matter of three days, so when you've got limited dock doors, you can't stage in advance because you can't block a dock door. In the new building we can say this is store A, this is store B, this is store C, this is store D and we can stage the product that goes on to the truck that's going to that store in advance.”

So will the move into Columbia bolster the local economy and create more jobs? Grelle says yes, but not right away.

“The move probably by itself probably isn't going to create more jobs, you know, other than the jobs created due to tenant improvements to this facility, but by gaining these efficiencies in planning for the future, that's going to help us gain more business which will in turn create jobs.”

Grelle says the company hopes to complete the move into Columbia by July of this year.

Read Between The Lines

2009-04-01T11:16:00.006-04:00

An advertisement on the Explore Howard website caught my eye this morning as I scanned the site for something newsworthy to post on. I'm not an advertising major but I enjoy studying the semiotics of print and T.V. ads for their hidden meanings. What does this ad say to you?

Ok you've got a black woman holding a red bag, nothing out of the ordinary here. Shop the VC the ad reads, value & convenience very close to home. To me, the ads reads shop local, keep the village centers alive, don't hit up the big boxes.

Then it hit me. The ad for Columbia only lists six village centers! So what if you live in Owen Brown, Oakland Mills or Long Reach? Don't they have village centers as well? To me this ad says, stay out of East Columbia, it sucks, the village centers are dead. We've let developers come in and fuck them up and now we'd rather you didn't even bother going. Go to these upscale village centers instead.

Take Wilde Lake village center for example. What could that woman possibly have in that bag that isn't seafood, hair care products or alcohol? Would you rather her shop at a village center without a grocery store or a village center without a computer shop? The image of the red bag suggests the kind of shopping she could only do at big box or the Columbia mall.

So am I reading too much into this? Does the ad scream bias to anyone else, or should I put my contacts in before something hazardous happens?

Goodbye Giorgio's

2009-03-31T15:33:00.006-04:00

The doors have closed on Giorgio's Deli for good. A few years back, management changed hands and with it, the service. Residents I've spoken to remember Giorgio putting extra slices of meat on their sandwiches, something the new owners failed to observe.

The morning commuters, lunch rushers and Lincoln Tech students will have to find a new deli for sandwiches and salads. I remember reaching into the waist high ice cream freezer for the cups of Hersey's Strawberry ice cream that I couldn't find anywhere else.

I remember my father peeking behind the counter to greet Giorgio and catch up as he prepared our subs. Giorgio's was my first introduction to pepperoncini peppers, a taste I still find unpalatable. Beyond that I don't remember much more than muted flashbacks. What do you recall from Giorgio's and what will you miss?

Reporting On Symphony Woods

2009-03-31T12:45:00.005-04:00

I spent the weekend lashing together a video package on Symphony Woods. What follows are the views of Columbia residents. Do you agree with the views expressed by residents?

Three Sides to Symphony Woods

2009-03-29T17:23:00.013-04:00

This weekend, Ive been shooting a video package about Symphony Woods. I've walked around the various open spaces in Columbia, getting reaction shots from residents. I've interviewed Greg Hamm, Cy Paumier and Barbara Russell. Residents I've talked to seem to take one of three sides on the issue.

Some residents think General Growth Properties knows what's best for the woods and should revitalize the property. During my interview with Hamm, he stressed that the ZRA-113 plan was designed and influenced by GGP, and that the plan should not be seen entirely as GGP's.

Some residents think Symphony Woods should be left the way it is, the way Jim Rouse intended. Yes a third of the trees in the forest are dead. Yes few people actually use the park space. No, don't remove a single stump. Green space is a luxury in Columbia, and should be left undeveloped.

Finally, some residents believe Symphony Woods should be revitalized but not by General Growth Properties, claiming that the basis for GGP's plan is essentially to pull the company back from the brink of bankruptcy by acquiring the land and immediately selling it off to the highest bidder. These residents think the plan created by Cy Paumier should be enacted instead.

As a journalist, I believe in the subjective objectivity of each story, that its important to view the story from all sides. As a young resident with a vested interest in the future of my city, I'm not convinced GGP has the right idea or the right motives. I remember reading that two of Rouse's goals for Columbia were to respect the land and make money, obviously. I believe respecting the land is paramount. The market economy functions on the same rules as the natural ecology, adapt or die. I don't want to see any more development in Symphony Woods. I believe the woods should be revitalized, but not at the cost of residential and commercial units.

What do you think? Does it really matter that few people use the woods, that there aren't any paths running through the space? Do you care that the trees are dead and would you want them removed anyways? Are you sitting on the fence? Would you like to let it be? Or would you like to see what Symphony Woods can become?

Manpower Beats Back Repression

2009-03-26T19:41:00.004-04:00

Remember when there was a cell phone store nestled between Starbucks and Three Brothers Italian restaurant? Probably not because its been replaced by Manpower. I've biked past it many times on my way to Supreme Sports Club in Owen Brown. For a while, I've wondered what its about. Today, notepad in hand, I walked in and found out.

Upon entering I was greeted by staffing specialist Patricia Izydore. The inside of the store vaguely resembles the eclectic look and layout of a cell phone store. A few pseudo offices and coffee tables line the floor to ceiling windows. Ironically, the three employees manning manpower today, weren't men.

Branch manager Debra Provencher says Manpower is a job placement business based out of Milwaukee and a fortune 150 company with 4,400 offices nationwide. Izydore says Manpower has been in Columbia for 30 years and was previously located in Symphony Woods next to Toby's Dinner Theater. The company, which worked out of the 6th floor of an office building in Town Center, moved to its present location because of increased visibility and traffic.

Manpower, Izydore says, works to pair clients with associates. Most often walk-ins are placed in temporary jobs primarily in administration and warehouse work as well as professional and technical positions. The retention rate by client companies hovers around 40 percent.

Anyone interested in job placement at Manpower needs to bring two valid forms of I.D. and complete work history for the previous 10 years. For more information, call (410) 290-5176.

What does repression have to do with Manpower? I remember hearing economists debate the semantics of our financial situation . . . the worst since the great depression or a pseudonym recession setting us up for the fall to follow.

Last Friday I sat at my desk, streaming On Point. My cuticles twitched in sync with my corneas. My attention wavered on the line between listening to Tom Ashbrook & rewriting page 33 of Fear & Loathing: On The Campaign Trail '72. Solecism aside I thought repression seemed both logical and lexical.

It's fair to say Columbia feels the squeeze of Adam Smith's invisible fingers. Businesses press & fold like bills with pale faces, buried under Big cardboard Boxes. If you look hard enough you can find the silver edge in the empty windows. At a time when people seek and jobs hide, Manpower

Is Owen Brown Safe?

2009-03-25T19:35:00.004-04:00

My mother and I had an argument Tuesday night. She didn't want me going biking from our house on the edge of the lake to Supreme Sports Club at 9:30 p.m. Owen Brown isn't safe she said. You don't walk around the village I retorted, you drive to Giant and back for groceries. I ended up staying home and reading, but not because of our argument. The hot tub closes at nine. Lift weights and soak, its a tie in deal.

Our argument got me thinking though, is Owen Brown safe? Safety in Columbia is a relative subject. You generally don't see many people out walking or biking on a week night, even the bike guy is home by then. Is Owen Brown any less safe at night than it is during the day? The police still make rounds when they get around to it and the police helicopter can be heard and seen whizzing above the houses around Homespun lane.

Ask any Howard Transit bus driver, the brown route is no joke. I myself was almost mugged getting off the brown bus at the Owen Brown village center. Its a shame to have to carry pepper spray everywhere I go but it beats a beating.

For every person that reads, studies or walks out of the East Columbia branch library with a book, there's another from the housing ringing the school and village center walking in to check their Myspace page or chill.

The graffiti along the back wall of the Head Start building adds a nice touch and I especially like the Keno and scratch-off receipts that litter the school property. If you're lucky, you can find empty dime bags by the neighborhood pool and cop cars parked at the library and village center. To avoid armed robbery, Giant Food and the convenience store close early and Bank of America has a hired gun.

The village center isn't terrible but I'm sick and tired of the hoods that hang out in front of Jerry's, Owen Brown liquors and Giant Food playing the street game. The game works like this, hassle passers by for food, money or cigarettes. If you manage to intimidate a resident into giving you what you should get yourself, you win!

So who's right, my mother or I? Is Owen Brown safe or isn't it?

Parking Available At Arbitron

2009-03-25T16:20:00.007-04:00

If you're looking for a parking spot near the park and ride in Owen Brown, you might try Arbitron. The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday that the media research firm, now headquartered in Columbia is cutting jobs by 10 percent.

In a phone interview, company spokesman Thom Mocarsky said Arbitron is cutting 110 jobs, 80 of which are in the Baltimore area.

"It's the economy," Mocarsky said. "It's the changing marketplace. It's the need to re-evaluate and refocus the company." [Baltimore Sun]

787 of Arbitron's full-time employees, along with 269 part-time employees work in Columbia, 71 percent and 51 percent of employee totals respectively. According to the Securities & Exchange Commission, the jobs cuts are expected to save Arbitron $10 million in 2010. Arbitron will incur $8 million to $9 million in pre-tax expenses before the end of the first quarter, mostly related to benefits and severance packages pertaining to layoffs.

Lake Elkhorn Issues

2009-03-23T20:02:00.012-04:00

A post by Owen Brown News caught my eye today. The Committee for Lake Elkhorn Environmental Restoration is putting together a report on issues and eye sores concerning the lake. I live on the edge of the lake and bicycle around it frequently. After reading the post I decided to create a sound slides presentation of the problems I found.

Most of the problems are cosmetic and can be fixed easily. Paths need to connect to benches or trails, dead trees need to be removed and the dock platforms need to be replaced. Drains should be hidden by shrubbery and the dam needs to be either accessible to the people who walk on it, or completely closed off. One problem in particular stuck out at me.

The pavilion on the lake has a sign stating the restrooms are open and available to the public when the nature camp is not in session. What the sign doesn't say is that you need bolt cutters to get to them. The sign also states that a security attendant is on duty Monday through Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. I took this picture at 4:35 p.m. and I didn't see a security attendant in the office or anywhere on the property.

Residents with concerns or issues regarding Lake Elkhorn should email Elaine Pardoe at em.pardoe@verizon.net

Building Relationships

2009-03-23T15:18:00.005-04:00

Today I wrote my midterm essay for my independent study. This is class I'm writing this blog for by the way. The essay and the fact that I wrote it aren't relevant to this blog except for the fact that I mentioned Wordbones in it. The essay details how the link helps me build relationships through my blog based on the book What Would Google Do by Jeff Jarvis. Hopefully, Dr. Spaulding won't be the only person to read it.

How Can The Link Change Everything & Build Relationships? How Can The Link Change Everything & Build Relationships? thegonzojournalist5816

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Essays Academic Work towson university columbia blog projec

The Gonzo Lens

2009-03-20T23:51:00.011-04:00

The gonzo lens is a mix of participatory and community journalism and photography. Very few of these pictures qualify as newsworthy, yet they are the catalysts of the memories of the everyday.

This post represents many people and yet I'm writing about myself. This piece isn't an op-ed or a single piece of reporting, its self expression. This is what I do, I'm a journalism student. More basic than that, I'm a writer.

I have two midterms next Tuesday, two projects in the works and two blog posts giving me a hard time. But every once in a while its nice to write for fun. Not to say that writing can't be fun but it often isn't. I do my best work when I'm having fun.

While I type, Michael Bloomberg defends Timothy Geithner on the television behind me. Typing Tim into the Google toolbar on my browser prompted Google to complete his name based on relevant back links to him. He's a popular query it seems.

Presidents have said stupid shit in the past. Nixon proclaimed its not illegal when the president does it, Clinton said he didn't do it and Curious George let nucular weapons slip out in public. I will always remember Obama's special olympics slip-up. His comment isn't funny, his lousy 129 average is.

Patty Rouse: Memories of Columbia & Jim

2009-03-17T14:10:00.005-04:00

Patty Rouse sits in a small windowless office, her shelves are stocked with binders and files, her desk is piled high with papers.

"I've never had a paid job, I've always been a volunteer. I'm a volunteer here, I'm not on the payroll here," she says as she surveys the room of her Enterprise office. The pale blue walls are littered with plaques and pictures.

Her office will become the archives she says, once she gets all the files organized. At 83, she comes to work and work she does. Everywhere I look are stacks of files, even the chairs are occupied by files. "I'm trying to get this office organized to the point that they can understand whats in what pile and I've got a list of what's in the different drawers."

"Jim retired from the Rouse Company but he wasn't finished working. And he wanted to do something else and he had been inspired by what a group in Washington was doing with low income housing. He really got organizing in 79 and we got started in 80."

The goal of the new company was "to see that all low income people in the United States get the opportunity, you don't give them the housing you give them the opportunity to get the housing and to see that all low income people in the United States, not worldwide but in the United States get the opportunity to get into affordable housing."

I was surprised to learn that Enterprise takes up the majority of the American City building with the exception of the ground floor.

Rouse was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. There she met Jim in 1973, a year later they were married. They used to play tennis together in those years and Rouse comments that Jim did all of the cooking, she did the dishes. She spent her free time potting but she never made dishes, she says she was never that good.

35 years later, Rouse has had a parkway named after her and her husband. She likes the convenience and closeness of Columbia. She jokes that her old while station wagon only has about 70,000 miles on it because everything is close by. People often ask her why she never moved home after Jim died. She smiles and says that Columbia is her home and that's why she's stayed.

Bridging The Gap

2009-03-16T18:58:00.004-04:00

One of the failures of Columbia and most American towns and cities is that they are auto-dependent. In Columbia you can walk from your house to your local school or village center but outside of your village, you better have wheels.

Of course Columbia has a system of public transportation, but its not always a safe bet to ride it. I myself have been threatened with theft and a beating from a drunken black man who rides the brown route. This man has also been known to pick fights with men and harass women but as long as he's not threatening the driver there's not much to be done.

I'm not saying that all of the bus routes are bad but I did happen to meet a crazy gray haired ex marine who would pick a fight with a parrot if it spoke to him. Sadly, I carry pepper spray with me when I travel across Columbia. I've never had to use it . . . yet. So how do you get from East Columbia to West Columbia?

The pedestrian bridge is the only way for me to efficiently get from Owen Brown to Town Center. By the way, the path that leads to this bridge weaves through what I would consider a bad part of Oakland Mills. On many occasions I have seen the path guarded by would be gangsters with knives and blunts who like to stand shoulder to shoulder and block passers by.

The only alternative to this is to walk the grass covered median on Broken Land parkway. The median is wide enough for a sidewalk, yet none exists because the powers that be think it's more sensible for everyone to own a car. On Friday afternoons if you look for them, you can see orthodox Jews walk up and down this strip on their way to temple. The Columbia bike guy rides along the edge of the parkway even in places where no shoulder exists.

Something needs to be done to make Columbia more accessible. Is the expense of the taxpayer greater than the safety of residents?

Story Time With "Mr. B"

2009-03-16T15:23:00.006-04:00

Tom Brzezinski grew up in Catonsville, where he developed a passion for movies. Mr. B decided he wanted to be an educator and in 1965, began his 42 year career at Waterloo Elementary school at a time when the education system was changing. The days of librarians with buns were numbered.

Mr. B went on to teach at Bryant Woods & Clemens Crossing elementary schools creating a plethora of personas like farmer B to breathe new life into old media and foster a love of reading in children. Mr. B has been known to keep pets in the library and even a leprechaun! He often vocalizes the characters in books like Herschel & The Hanukkah Goblins and incorporates parents and even the king of Sweden into his curriculum.

But the magic doesn't end when the bell rings. Mr. B had the best Halloween house in town and has been Columbia's Santa since 1967. He remembers the teacher's hangout JK's Pub and the friends he's made there like Howard Zane. Columbia has changed a lot since Mr. B started teaching here, for better or worse. In spite of changes in education like No Child Left Behind and retirement, Mr. B teaches on!

(Each link is an audio file of Mr. B, available for download)

Q & A With Greg Hamm

2009-03-15T12:13:00.019-04:00

I First met Greg Hamm at the March 5th public hearing for ZRA-113. I had seen him before at other hearings nestled in the back with his cadre but had never approached him. When I informed him of my intentions he agreed to do the interview. I'm thankful for the opportunity.

Inside General Growth Properties is a labyrinth of meeting rooms, offices and corridors. I set up the GL-2 in a large conference room lined with window panels taller than most men, overlooking the lake front. Despite what I've been heard about Hamm in previous interviews, I find him to be affable, conversational and highly intelligent.

In fact we a sort of philosophical discussion after the interview in which I found Hamm to be a classicist. In the unfortunate event that GGP does go under, I have no doubt he will find a job teaching the love of wisdom to eager college students.

(Left) Bankruptcy Concerns ::::: (Middle) Debt To Pay ::::: (Right) Barbara Russell

(Left) 10 Year Phases ::::: (Middle) Keeping The Vision ::::: (Right) Housing Units

(Left) Night Life ::::: (Middle) Business Strategy

A Conversation With Barbara Russell

2009-03-13T19:04:00.006-04:00

"You ran into people wherever you went, except the mail box (laughs), never at the mailbox! When I would go shopping at the Giant in Wilde Lake, it would take me literally hours to get out of there, not that I was shopping so much but you know you'd have a conversation in every isle, in isle four with Helen and you know that's how it was with everybody. You'd go to the grocery store and you'd spend an eternity there because you met everybody you knew and you just had conversations."

One summer day in 1967, Barbara and Charles Russell were driving down Route 29 from Baltimore to visit friends in Rockville when they noticed the do not enter sign near the development of Columbia had been removed, so they entered. In July, they moved in, become two of the first 100 residents in Columbia.

"There was almost nothing in Columbia at the time, there wasn't even a village center. In fact, when we drove around there were these little muddy circles and we asked somebody what they were and they said oh those are going to be cul-de-sacs. And we said what the heck are cul-de-sacs?"

At the time, the Russells had followed their jobs at the Social Security Administration from California. Before moving to Columbia, they had lived in Woodlawn and even had to get married in Washington D.C., because it was illegal for an interracial couple to marry in Maryland.

"When I married Charles, my family was dead set against it and they felt and told me that they thought that I would forever be living on the fringes of society and my children."

Russell says that for most of the early residents, Columbia was their first experience in an integrated community. She recalls the day an older couple moved into the apartment above them. They mistook Charles for the maintenance man, requesting that he help them move in.

"So he did, he helped them move their stuff upstairs and when he was all finished he said let me introduce myself, I'm your neighbor Charles Russell, from the apartment down below."

42 years later, Russell thinks things have changed, that after James Rouse stopped driving the Rouse Company, the bottom line took the wheel instead of the vision. In her mind, the biggest problem of early Columbia was public transportation. When asked about current problems, she spoke about General Growth Properties.

"GGP is not giving anything to the county, it just wants the density and zoning changes worth billions and is not agreeing to pay for the costs of infrastructure to pay for affordable housing, to pay for cultural amenities, its not, it doesn't want to pay and hasn't promised to pay and hasn't agreed to pay for anything. And now it can't afford to pay for anything. And so it would be in my mind, a real rip if you will off to the taxpayers, to allow them to do that without any of the trade offs."

Columbia's Underboss: Bill Finley

2009-03-12T07:03:00.004-04:00

"Actually James W. Rouse and Morton Hoppenfeld got most of the public credit for the efforts. And that never bothered me. I knew and that Rouse said many times in public, "without Bill Finley, there would be no Columbia." During the high-speed pre-opening period 1965-1967, I had my fingers on over 100 projects in Columbia. I was good at that."

Finley was a World War II bomber pilot at age 20, completing 35 missions over German airspace. By June of 1951, Finley had created a degree in city planning and was the first person in the western United States to receive a BA and MCP for it at the University of California Berkeley. He was then recruited to be the first director of planning for the town of Richmond, CA.

Five years later, Finley had planned a new town in West Virginia and taught two semesters at Penn State. At 32, Finley was picked to head the National Capital Planning Commission where he would work with Morton Hoppenfeld and Robert Tennenbaum. Finley is perhaps best known for his work on Columbia as the manager of the Rouse Company planning workgroup.

Here is the best of my interview with Bill Finley:

Q: In retrospect, how does Columbia compare to any job prior or since?

A: "Working with Jim Rouse, Morton Hoppenfeld and Robert Tennenbaum and dozens of other creative people and having the support and funds to plan and build the beginnings of Columbia has been the professional highlight of my life. Rouse's idealism coupled with Morton Hoppenfeld's design creativity allowed us to put ideas into reality. I felt that the only planning worthwhile was that which ended up being built to serve people?

Q: Are there any memorable (specific) planning meetings you can recall and what made them memorable?

A: "Only the first night when every guest felt obligated to pour cold water on the idea of trying to plan for the 'perfect' city. I reacted strongly to their negativism and Jim went home depressed. Thereafter, everyone got the idea that we were serious in trying to get their positive input, with some exceptions."

Q: How did Foster City, CA influence the planning of Columbia?

A: "We learned from Foster City, CA that letting a new town become a municipality could result in the first few settlers overturning the long-range plan. It was a very important reason for keeping Columbia unincorporated and subject to county-wide rule. We guessed rightly that in a few years, our citizens would all but control the county. It was a gamble that paid off."

Q: Describe the impact of the republican controlled county government or Howard Research & Development's plan and the development process?

A: "The three man county commission were all very conservative. They had never even heard of a new town. They were not world travelers. The county attorney had to walk a fine line between his bosses and our development machine and the fact that we had paid cash for 13,000 +/- acres and weren't going away. Eventually, he was cooperative, I know that the county board members would have voted 2-1 to turn us down. It was a close call!"

Q: What were some of the most memorable concerns/pet peeves by the local neighborhood/homeowners associations?

A: "I actually didn't do much in dealing with the existing subdivision folks. We did have to answer the key questions about 'negros' and higher taxes. After that they were worried about property values and that no apartments would be built near them."

Gist of GGP Public Hearing

2009-03-10T01:42:00.007-04:00

Last week, I learned about the last public hearing over ZRA-113. Last Wednesday, I rented a top of the line GL-2 video camera complete with tripod. In preparation for the shoot, I took no chances, making sure both batteries and both backup batteries were completely charged. I even bought a used, wiped mini DV tape from the EMF rental office. I was set.

Thursday evening, I arrived at the Tyson 2 room after the public hearing had started. The last public hearing I had attended took place in the cafeteria of Wilde Lake High School. "This should be a smooth one." I said to myself upon entering the building. But when I finally made my way to the room where the meeting was underway, "f--k" I muttered to myself.

The actual meeting room was a 30 x 30 hot box. Waves of heat permeate the audience while waves of flourescent light made my attempts at a white balance futile. Not that there were many places to actually film a good sequence. Everywhere I looked, legs were shaking, pages were fanning and no one in the room looked a day under 35.

So after dropping the GL-2 idea, I did what any good reporter would do. I snatched out my Digital recorder, plugged in the microphone, and squeezed the two between my knees. With a chair in the second row as my news desk, I scribbled notes on the orange note pad I had originally sat on. What follows are the clearest recordings I could capture and present to you, my readers.

Toby Orenstein's Testimony
David Barrett's Testimony
Cynthia Coyle's Testimony
Barbara Russell's Testimony

Angela Dorn: A younger perspective

2009-03-10T00:06:00.004-04:00

Angela Dorn has lived near Jeffer's Hill Elementary for 17 years. When she was young, she says, Friday nights were spent at the ice skating rink or the roller rink. The rest of the weekend, Angela would hang out with her friends at the mall or around the neighborhood.

Dorn points out that while growing up in a diverse town like Columbia she had white friends and she had black friends, in fact she had a diverse mix of friends. She has noticed in the past that kids that came to Columbia from another town would usually only congregate with people of their race.

When asked about the most memorable places in Town, Dorn thinks for a bit . . . the lake front, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Dobbin Center, Sewells Orchard . . . and Allview. Dorn says these places hold meaning to her. Growing up in Owen Brown, I remember the good times I've had in Allview, the sick concerts at Merriweather, and of course skateboarding behind WalMart.

"I spent a lot of my time in those neighborhoods," says Dorn. I think of Dobbin Center. I could walk there from my house and my friends and I would always walk the paths to get to it."

Dorn, who lives near Jeffer's Hill has seen the has seen the new Baptist Church being erected near Locust Park. This was her response:

"I did not even really know there were a lot of religious centers being built. I knew about interfaith centers, but not those. I do not pay much attention to trivial things like that. If Columbia built itself with "Diversity" in mind, then there should be no reason for religious buildings of all types to be unacceptable."

Dorn thinks Columbia has expanded. The closer and closer Columbia gets to becoming an actual city, the more nervous she becomes. I've heard plans of high rises and things like that being built. I also heard a rumor about taking out Lakefront to do this. I think that would be a big mistake.

“I think there just needs to be more things for younger people to do! If you're not going out to eat, to the mall, or the movies, you are not left with a lot of options. An arcade or teen center with games and things would be fun and a great, cheap way for teens to spend their time.”

"Insulated but not immune"

2009-03-09T22:45:00.008-04:00

I rode past General Growth Properties today on my way to Columbia Archives. I looked at the barren trees and vines clinging to life and thought of the company. Today the company's stock closed at a measly 38 cents. Two years ago, the stock hovered close to 60 dollars a share. Assuming the company doesn't go bankrupt, now would be a good time to purchase controlling interest in the company and a seat on the board . . . if anyone living in Columbia actually had that much to piss away.

An article in the Columbia Flier, written by Derek Simmonsen caught my attention. Norman Rule, 47 year old business analyst and Columbia resident has found himself out of a job, even in a county as prosperous as Howard. In his article, Simmonsen wrote a detailed list of sinking ships with red flags.

Filene's Basement, EXPO Design Center and U.S. Foodservice are all digging graves beside Orinocco Coffee and Champion Billiards. Techlab has faded from view, along with Rocky Run and Atlanta Bread Company. Even the Dobbin Blockbuster is feeling the squeeze, with its floor space cut in half.

[Howard County's unemployment remains the lowest in the states, but the number of jobless people is the highest it's been in sex years, with 1,800 jobs were lost in 2008. And some economists predict thousands morejobs could disappear in the next two years. "Were insulated but not immune," said Dick Story, executive director of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. "We often tend to me the last in, the first out. ... But you can be sure that we're fully participating in the recession.] - Signs of the Economy, Columbia Flier

People will always go to the movies or buy a Subway sandwich, just without the $7.50 large popcorn or the additional potato chips or cookies. In spite of dismal times, a window sign caught my eye as I pedaled towards the Supreme Sports Club. The sign read Manpower. A small glimmer of hope for employment in these troubled times.

Schools & Churches

2009-03-07T12:44:00.006-05:00

St. John Baptist Church has started construction on a sanctuary and fellowship hall on a 10 acre plot near Locust Park. Construction of religious buildings in Columbia has been a rare sight in our town's 42 year history. Now this site has become an eyesore entrenched between Owen Brown and Long Reach.

On September 20, 2007, Howard County school board officials finalized a deal to exchange 10 acres of land off Tamar Drive and Route 175 in Columbia for a 41 acre plot near the intersection of Marriotsville road and Route 40 in Ellicott City.

The Howard County school board has become more aggressive over the last few years in acquiring acres for future school sites. In the transaction with St. John Baptist Church, the school board acquired the 41 acre plot owned by the church for $2.7 million. Roughly $1.7 million was spent acquiring the land, the other million went directly to the church.

Church leaders have said that the new site is more convenient for their congregants than renting space at their old location, off Route 108. Convenience does not justify building this church in my opinion. I grew up attending services at interfaith centers until high school.

Religion no longer has a place in my life, but I'm still an ardent supporter of communal congregation sites in Columbia. Of course there are worship sites outside of interfaith centers in Columbia, parcels of land that never sold to the Rouse Company but this site is an outrage to everything Columbia stands for.

Are our children's educations really worth a Baptist Church in Columbia? This is how it starts. I've heard from other residents that the Methodists plan to build an extension to the Wilde Lake interfaith center. If the Baptists get theirs, every denomination will want theirs too, starting a sort of turf war. This building is unacceptable and needs to be torn down!

Where do you blog?

2009-03-04T17:31:00.004-05:00

I commute to school, I live in Columbia. I publish most of my posts at school but I write most of them in Owen Brown. I find my voice and polish my prose in a niche in Cook Library.

Small brick squares available; Separated by windows with a desk lamp and plug.

The room smells like page paper. Not the hot off the printer scent but the dissertation under dust scent. The carpets are clean, people are quiet and there's a Starbucks upstairs, if that's your thing.

To my right are columns and rows of Easter egg colored tomes on vomit colored bookcases.
I try to stay off Facebook. I like to play Super Nintendo Games muted while I replay .dvf interview files questing for quotes. People like to write on the desks, the light panels even the bricks.

If you're ever in Cook Library, I penned some existential enlightenment on the stall of the 4th floor bathroom. I'll save you the trip:

Reality is defined by the perception of reality.

Ryan Ballengee Now

2009-03-02T20:07:00.003-05:00

At 25, Ryan Ballengee isn't much older than I but what he lacks in years he makes up for with his blog footprint. About a year ago, Ballengee started Columbia Now to start a conversation about the issues that face Columbia. Ballengee got his start in the blogosphere two years ago with Waggle Room, a golf based blog.

Ballengee says he thinks the purpose of his blog is to share his interest in local politics.
"I encourage people to share an opposing view," says Ballengee. "My feeling is that the conversation can be nothing but good for the community, so long as it is rooted in facts and is honest."

Columbia Now's readers come from all over Howard county, says Ballengee. He says the content speaks for itself and though the feedback is usually positive, his readers may not always agree with what he thinks.

"More or less, I talk most political or policy issues on Columbia Now because my undergrad degree is in business and my Masters is in public policy. So, in a sense, what I cover is really reflective of some of my personal interests."

So who is Ballengee following on the blogopshere?

"I try to read bloggers from all over the County. I read HoCo Freemarket, Columbia Talk, Tales of Two Cities, Jessie X, and read HoCoBlogs for blogs that I may not normally see. I really enjoy the food and restaurant blogs because they give me good tips on where to eat."

When writing his blog posts, Ballengee says he gets his information from the Howard County website, the Baltimore Sun or papers on Explore Howard. He also gets information from other blogs.

Ballengee closes out the interview with his top five tips for bloggers:

Have a passion for both your subject area and writing.
Be responsive to your audience.
Don't let your audience dictate how you communicate with them.
Be a credible source and back up opinions with facts.
Blogging is fun. If you aren't having fun, stop blogging and come back to it.

February Crime Report

2009-02-28T01:00:00.012-05:00

After running an idea past John Boyle, I've decided to post an updated map of Columbia every week, pinpointing all of the crimes that take place. Blue pinpoints are vehicle thefts, green pinpoints are commerical crimes and red pinpoints are residential crimes.

View Larger Map

Source Remorse

2009-02-27T23:36:00.006-05:00

"When you stand in the light of truth, the only place a lie can hide is under your feet."
-The Gonzo Journalist

Any journalism student will tell you that media law is a breeze. Memorize the terms, take the tests and forget most of what you learned after the semester ends, easy A. The last 24 electric hours have sent me to far corners of the internet. I've consulted experts, media law professors, even my old news editing text book.

Thursday night, Robert Tennenbaum took the offensive with a surprise attack on my senses. "Take down the post right fucking now," he shrieked. How do you explain to a screaming senior citizen that you're standing at a light rail stop in North Linthicum unable to check your blog, your email or even the MTA light rail schedule?

Shortly after the blitzkrieg, I got on the horn for technical assistance. Caller #5 had access to the internet and followed my step by step instructions, disarming the post and what I thought would be legal fallout. Then I recorded a statement as a podcast as a sort of personal PR move.

Statement

Almost a week later, I've received a lot of buzz about the "dust up" over the Tennenbaum post. Some people have commented anonymously that I have a one sided political agenda, or that I am portraying Tennenbaum as the "bad guy." Let me dispel the myths and half-truths.

This blog has no political agenda. When I interview residents about their Columbia experience, I publish quotes about what has worked and what hasn't. Robert Tennenbaum is not the bad guy. In fact I would encourage anyone who sees him to stop him and buy him a cup of green tea. I thoroughly enjoyed our interview, Tennenbaum has some amazing stories to tell. We may not have always agreed on things, but as the young people say, its whatever.

No Hard Feelings,

Jack Cole

Final Hearing for Downtown Plan

2009-02-27T13:07:00.010-05:00

General Growth Properties released its fourth quarter earnings report Monday with a warning that it might seek bankruptcy protection. For those of you who don't know, GGP is the second largest owner of malls in the country and owns the mall in Columbia as well as the Harborplace in Baltimore.

[The company, which owns the mall in Columbia is in default on nearly $1.2 billion worth of debt and has slightly more than $2 billion worth of consolidated mortgage debt and unsecured bonds that mature later this year, according to its earnings report. -The Columbia Flier, Feb. 26, 2009]

GGP has dropped its dividend, reduced its staff by 20 percent and put most of its development projects on hold. The company is still trying to sell the Harborplace and other properties.

Meanwhile, behind the white walls of the GGP castle at lakefront, the company and many Columbia residents are working out the details of the new 30 Master Plan for downtown.

I urge all residents with a stake in the future of their city to attend the final public hearing on the plan, March 5 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Tyson 2 room of the county offices at 8930 Stanford Blvd in Dobbin. This is your last chance to make your voice heard and your opinions known, don't waste it!

Click here for details.

Columbia's Architect: Robert Tennenbaum

2009-02-27T11:44:00.016-05:00

Robert Tennenbaum, 72, not only lives in Wilde Lake, he helped design it as the Chief Planner & Architect for Columbia. A job posted on a bulletin board brought him to Washington and the Year 2000 Plan ultimately brought him, Morton Hoppenfeld and William E. Finley to Jim Rouse. Tennenbaum recalls the day when he Morton Hoppenfeld took him on the drive that would change the course of his career.

“So we're driving up 29, it was a two lane road. We get up to about 29 and Route 32, the old Route 32, and he said okay. He says okay look both sides until I say stop. So I looked at both sides, I see trees and fields, some stuff growing like corn and grass areas with cows and all very rural, very nice. Hilly land and oh there's a small subdivision, oh there's another subdivision. Then he said okay you can stop, when we got to 108, right up the road. He said, Finley and I are working with the Rouse Company, we're going to plan a new city here, would you join us? I said okay.”

Tennenbaum says one of the big problems in Columbia has to do with the affordable housing. He believes its a good idea, but the management and maintenance of some of the properties has become lax over the years.

"It's the people that come from the outside, from the inner city of Baltimore that come down and causes problems. Long Reach is a prime example of this. Too many section eights in one area, now that's a major problem that Howard County has not addressed.”

The issue of design review came up a lot in our interview. Tennenbaum comments that its a crucial step in the development process, one that has been overlooked in the past and has been the central focus of public planning meetings between the Howard County council, Columbia residents and General Growth Properties over the new 30 year master plan.

“Owen Brown was ruined when the village center was changed. It was a very nice village center. Giant owns it, and then when Giant wanted to increase the size of the supermarket, it totally screwed it up.

Tennenbaum says the Rouse Company, at least of the last 15 years should have changed their name to the bottom line company. When asked about General Growth Properties and phases, he explains that phases actually hinder development because the developers can't for see the future and need the flexibility to change their plans with the times. He believes the new GGP plan needs to be approved without phases.

Tennenbaum says that before Rouse Company sold to GGP, it was run by a bunch of MBA bottom liners.

“They [Rouse Company] totally ignored the community. And even the press didn't have the guts to go and say what are those bulldozers doing here? You never knew what was going to happen until the bulldozers came on the site and started scraping the land."

Tennenbaum is disappointed by some of Rouse Company's development decisions, including the gated apartments build around the mall. He says the four foot fence around the apartments is a joke, a marketing ploy and that it wasn't built with Columbia's principles in mind.

Though Tennenbaum left Rouse Company in the early seventies, he continues to fight to maintain Symphony Woods, village centers and the vision that Jim Rouse had for the city.

"The land sales guy, the guy who's trying to sell the land and create income for the Rouse Company would go to the top people and say the architects are causing problems. The top guys would say f--- em, you know, sell the land we need the money. That's what's been happening over the years.”

Podcast: Tennenbaum Interview

2009-02-27T01:02:00.022-05:00

Thursday February 26, 2009 at 7:42 PM. I returned a phone call from Robert Tennenbaum in which he threatened to sue me if I did not remove the interview I posted, then revised. I believe the truth should be presented objectively. That is why I've posted the interview files as podcasts. These are parts 1-3 of my interview with Robert Tennenbaum, Wednesday February 18, 2009 at the Lakeside Cafe.

Part 1 - CLICK HERE
Part 2 - CLICK HERE
Part 3 - CLICK HERE

Bill Santos on Blogging

2009-02-24T09:04:00.005-05:00

Bill Santos, 42, is the engineering manager of the national archives and a Columbia native. He moved away from the people tree for college and replanted in Wilde Lake in 2000, with his wife.
Santos keeps his ear to the ground and his finger on the pulse of Columbia issues.

In the fall of 2006, Santos started Columbia Compass.

"As stated in the [Columbia] Compass tag line, the blog is intended to navigate the social, political and cultural world of Columbia, Maryland. Admittedly, the blog has been more about politics than the social and cultural aspects of Columbia. That has been more of an evolution than a conscious decision."

Santos says he hopes his blog will reach out to both natives and ex-patriots of Columbia.

"For those that live locally, I hope to provide perspective on the goings-on in the community. For those living farther away, I hope to provide a connection back to Columbia."

Santos doesn't tailor his content. Sometimes he hears a quote from a local official or reads one in the paper and gets a 'spider sense' feeling to write about it in his blog. Other times he reads something that evokes nostalgia, passion or joy and writes about that instead.

"With respect to information, I do a lot of research. I would say about half is web-based. The other half is reading books (I have a crazy collection), attending meetings and talking with people."

Santos follows Tales of Two Cities, a hyper-local blog similar to Columbia Compass. The difference he says, is that the author Wordbones writes from a business perspective. He also follows Dinosaur Mom, 53 Beers on Tap, Columbia 2.0 and Hometown Columbia.

"All of them are very good bloggers," he says. "The Howard County Maryland Blog and Hedgehog Report are also well done."

Santos offers some advice to new bloggers and his top 5 tips.

"My advice to beginning bloggers is to find something you are passionate about and keep it narrow. If you like what you're writing about you are more likely to stick with it."

You will never have enough time to write everything you want to write.
Be honest.
People who post anonymously are wonderful people, except when they are posting anonymously.
Give credit often.
Attend the Blogtail happy hours.

Michael Oberman

2009-02-19T10:56:00.009-05:00

"It was getting late so Janis says why not go back to my hotel room and we'll do the interview there. So I went back and shared a bottle of whiskey with Janis and I actually had the opportunity to sleep with Janis. And my journalistic ethics combined with the fact that I didn't find her very attractive, kept me from making the point.”

Michael Oberman, 61, followed his girlfriend Marijane to Columbia eight years ago. He prefers Washington D.C. because of the subways, nightlife and the Ethiopian food, all of which are non-existent in Columbia.

Oberman runs Michael Oberman Consulting LLC and teaches nature photography at Slayton House. At 15, he started as a copy-boy for The Washington Star. By 19, he was a music critic and wrote the column "Music Makers"; interviewing artists like Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and David Bowie.

“I also did concert reviews. My column had something at the end of it every week called Notes & Half Notes, which was my album pick of the week which led me to be on the mailing list of every record company and every record album mailed to me for free, so that was a big perk.”

When his brother left journalism for Mercury Records, he left for Warner Bros. Records and went on to manage artists such as Claude Jones. Oberman got his start in nature photography by shooting album covers.

“If somebody puts in the tag of great blue heron, the first photos that are going to pop up are going to be mine. I've got more great blue heron photos than maybe anyone in the world. In 2007, one of my photos was named one of the top 16 nature photos of the year by The Nature Conservancy and was in Parade magazine.”

Oberman says if you want to be a nature photographer, be patient.

"When people wander, nothings happening, that's when the eagle flies over that they miss.”

Oberman frowns on the invasion of Columbia by big box retailers and the shape of the public transit system. He says the lake front is underdeveloped and can be improved dramatically.

Like many residents, Oberman is polarized over the new 30 year master plan and doesn't think Columbia has kept up with the times by maximizing the drawing power of Town Center.

"We need more affordable housing for young married couples, young singles etc. But then you also needs jobs for them here where they're not commuting and there isn't a great deal of work to be had in Columbia.”

Emily Lincoln's Vision

2009-02-19T04:03:00.011-05:00

Emily Lincoln says that in the early days, some realtors sold homes selectively based on race and put sold signs on homes until they could sell to a diverse buyer in a sort of forced integration.

“I'm sure that the house we bought was one of those houses because it was already up and it was appeared sold but the sales person said oh it just fell through and I think I could get you this house.”

Lincoln has been an associate broker with Remax for 40 years. She first heard about Columbia in October of 1969, while working for a Missouri senator. Her husband spent his lunch hours searching for a house.

Like many early residents, the Lincolns moved to Columbia for the affordable housing. In November, they bought one for $18 thousand and moved in the day after Thanksgiving.

“People come here now largely for the schools, although I think a lot of minority people come here for the acceptance for the welcome that they have and the feel. I always notice mixed couples white man and black woman or the reverse would be very comfortable here.”

Bring Back The Vision

Lincoln is a staunch supporter of General Growth Properties and their plan to revitalize downtown Columbia. That's why she started Bring Back The Vision, a volunteer organization that educates the public about the new 30 year master plan.

“I think what we need is exactly what GGP is offering, which is a downtown that's walkable, where you can go from Symphony Woods to the mall to the lake front if you're willing to do that much walking. Where you can go and shop and sit outside and have coffee and wine with friends and that's what we miss and that's what we don't have and that's what we're not going to have unless people get behind GGP and it's effort. Stop seeing it as the greedy developer.”

Lincoln has a message for prospective residents. Participate and look ahead to all that Columbia can be. There can be so many wonderful cultural opportunities she says.

Who is the Columbia bike guy?

2009-02-17T15:51:00.014-05:00

You've seen him pedaling across Columbia. Who is the Columbia bike guy?

Athar Habib rides his bicycle across Cradlerock way, Broken Land parkway, even route 29. Athar is visible between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., seen pedaling towards your car, or waving to you. I've seen Athar at The East Columbia Branch Library, Target off route 175, Giant Food in Owen Brown and across from Howard Community College, on Turnabout lane.

Look at the top left glass panel, zoom in and you can see me taking Athar's picture on a rather cold Thursday morning. A ghosting of my bike can be seen near the center of image.

Thanks For Mentioning . . .
I took this photo of Athar March 20, 2008; published the article May 14, 2008 and revised it so you can read it February 17, 2009.
Thanks for Mentioning

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Essays Academic Work jack cole the columbia bike gu

I was taking MCOM-409 Literary Journalism at Towson University. I interviewed Athar and people who know him, transcribing exactly what people said and how they said it.

A Google search of Athar Habib sends you to my site. I've revised and improved the article's clarity and content. -phrases inside hypens- represent my voice. ~Italicized phrases are thoughts~ and Facebook posts are written as seen.

John Boyle & communal mailboxes

2009-02-16T22:03:00.007-05:00

As an Owen Brown resident, I'm interested in what goes on. I don't have the time or desire to walk Elkhorn when it's dry and 45 F outside. It'd be cool if Patuxent Publishing Company delivered an Owen Brown weekly straight to my communal mailbox?

John Boyle has a communal mailbox too but with the Internet he delivers to a niche audience with Owen Brown News, a hyper-local blog. Boyle has a voice in his writing and tells you what's going on, straight up.

“My blog is about the Village of Owen Brown. The activities within the village, local issues that may affect village residents, calls to action or volunteer opportunities that neighbors can help with, etc. I blog because there's a fair amount of information out there that folks are interested in, but (because we're all busy) aren't likely to find on their own. I just pull the information together so that IF folks are interested, they can see what's going on.”

Boyle acts like a virtual village peg-board. He says it's not original reporting but he interprets the need to know from the noise, clean and free.

“Right now, I'm primarily pulling information from other sources (blogs, newspaper and government websites) and getting info that's passed along information from the Owen Brown Village Board. I also have some neighbors who are catching on to the fact that this is a good way to get the word out about activities that they're involved with that affect Owen Brown residents.”

Boyle and I both use Hoco blogs like a virtual communal mailbox. Ask Novello or Newburn about the Analytics but like the concrete and metal boxes, the neighbors don't get their mail at the same time.

Boyle links to other community activists and blogs with pertinent interests and keeps tabs on his friends. Not literally.

“I'd say that Wordbones (A Tale of Two Cities) is the blogger that I follow the closest. I always find his posts worth reading.”

Boyle's advice; find a point of view, let the focus of your content evolve and pace yourself.

Kathy Brodkin

2009-02-15T22:55:00.004-05:00

Memories of the First Resident

“We had the first FHA mortgage in Columbia and they built a little square concrete step outside our back door as a gift for being the first mortgage and the first FHA mortgage in Columbia.”

Kathy Brodkin, 90, was the first homeowner in Columbia. Her husband Peter, who worked for The Baltimore Sun at the time had heard about the new town. The first time Brodkin came to Columbia, bulldozers were dredging Wilde Lake, eight months later in 1968, she moved with her husband Peter into 10713 Faulkner Ridge Circle from Baltimore City.

Brodkin grew up in rural Connecticut with an RFD postal number and a four digit phone number. If she missed the bus to school, she faced a three mile trek.

Brodkin had no concept of racial segregation until she went to an all white high school in Water Town, CT. She recalls the family housekeeper, a black woman, whom she respected like her mother and firing her babysitter in Baltimore because of a racist remark.

“We had found this really great babysitter for our kids and she was with us for a while. Then one day my daughter said something about a nigger and I was like where did you hear that?"

Before the Brodkins moved to Columbia, they never had diverse neighbors like Herbert and Marion Simmons who live near her to this day. She recalls frequent visits with her neighbors, like Ruteena Blake, the local president of the NAACP

“In 1968 to have a neighbor living across the street that was a black family, that was awesome, we were so excited when we found out were were going to get black neighbors!”

She also remembers the first Christmas in Columbia. Mr. B was Santa she says and all of the shops served alcohol to the adults while the kids received candy canes from Santa.

Of course the neighborhood had it's share of excitement from time to time, like the exhibitionist who went door to door exposing himself, or the Peyton Place neighbors.

“The people next door to me, the wife was out sneaking down the street in the back yards behind our fences and meeting the husband of somebody down the street. They were having an affair. And it was so shocking that they actually had to move, they were so embarrassed to be in the neighborhood.”

Brodkin says one year, after the fireworks at the lake front, she and her children picked up pieces of paper and bottles to clean up the area. That was the year Columbia lost its innocence when one of her children showed her a condom among the trash.

Sam Berkowitz

2009-02-10T00:16:00.005-05:00

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. In the following days, riots ensued all over the country. Sam Berkowitz, a clinical psychologist, recalls the ripple effects in Crofton, Maryland.

"You could only get into Crofton through I think there were two gates on Route 3, two entrances. And there was a committee that went down, from what I heard, didn't see it, but this vigilante group went down with shotguns to protect the town itself.”

In 1972, Governor George Wallace spoke at Merriweather Post Pavilion and won 70 to 80 percent of the vote in Crofton. Berkowitz saw this as the handwriting on the wall.

In 1973, Berkowitz moved to Wilde Lake with his family where he met Ron Klein, a psychologist who was on the planning committee. Klein started the Family Life Center in Wilde Lake, a non-profit providing mental health services to residents where Berkowitz worked as an adjunct. Berkowitz says he served on low level committees with Barbara Russell.

“As far as I know, I knew of only one black family in Crofton, in fact they had a screening committee that my understanding was to not include minority groups coming into Crofton, so this was very very different.”

Berkowitz says he moved in next to a black family and learned that the first child born in Columbia had interracial parents. Our neighbors were friendly, he says, adding that they would often visit with their children.

Columbia, he says, has lost its small town feel and that along with the over-commercialization disappoints him. He says Columbia could do without the cookie-cutter housing lots as well.

“What they did get right was the quality of the schools and the racial mix I think has been very successful. I think the quality of the schools have lived up to the high expectations."

36 years later, Berkowitz has no regrets about moving to Columbia. He says the city is just want he and his wife wanted for their children.

Introduction

2009-02-07T17:43:00.003-05:00

To many residents, Columbia is a town without a past. Before the Rouse Company developed the area, it was a patchwork of farms with pockets of real estate. Then in 1967, James Rouse unveiled his vision of what a town should be.

"Visions describe what best should be, could be - if and when mankind has the will to make them real." -James Rouse

This January, I had a vision of what could become an important conversation about Columbia through the voices of its residents. I decided to write this blog to capture those voices, and to create a conversation about the people who live in Columbia, all 97,000 of them.

I attended planning meetings for the new downtown, read through articles in Columbia Archives and spoke with residents. On February 1st, I began tracking down original residents with a copy of the 1969 phone book I obtained from the archives. Every resident with an e-mail address received a copy of this letter:
___________________________________________________________________
Hello Resident,

My name is Jack Cole. We spoke earlier on the phone. First off, thank you for taking my call. As you can imagine, I really only have about thirty seconds to get my point across before people usually end hang up.

I'm a graduating senior of journalism at Towson University and a resident of Owen Brown. This semester, I'm taking an independent study in the form of journalism through blogging. I'm in the process of creating a comprehensive review of Columbia, in all of its facets. Currently, I'm trying to get to know Columbia's first residents: who they are, where they came from, what they were expecting and whether or not their expectations were met.

I would like to set up a date and time when you would be available for an interview. The only days I am not available are Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I can be reached through e-mail at this address: jcole9@towson.edu.

Thank you for your time and interest,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________