Columbia Cleans Up It's Act

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

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?

Spring Cleaning in Columbia

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