Monthly CA NOV 2014
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F C O L U M B I A A S S O C I AT I O N
4 How Haven on the Lake Benefits Your Body and Mind 7 CA Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Schedule 8 Be a Part of Your Community Events
With New Loop, Lake Kittamaqundi Comes you talk we
LISTEN!
Inspire
FULL CIRCLE
Columbia!
FEATURED THIS MONTH: Questions from Columbia Speaks. See them at InspireColumbia.com.
Join the Conversation! It’s easier than ever to find us.
By Tripp Laino
ColumbiaAssociation.org Facebook.com/ColumbiaAssociation Instagram.com/ColumbiaAssn LinkedIn.com/Company/ColumbiaAssociation Twitter.com/ColumbiaAssn YouTube.com/CATVchannel
t’s been a long time coming, but the wait is over: Lake Kittamaqundi is finally fully encircled by a pathway. “Columbia Association wants to encourage activity in downtown Columbia. This loop around Lake Kittamaqundi is a great destination for people, whether they are walking, jogging or bicycling,” said Dennis Mattey, CA’s director of construction. “It will also tie in nicely with
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the new nearby destinations including Whole Foods and CA’s Haven on the Lake.” The 1.5-mile loop project, which opens mid-November, began about 18 months ago with input gathered from the public. Three different designs were proposed for completing the path, including one in which a bridge would cross the lake. CA chose a more environmentally friendly option for (continued on page 5) C A M O N T H LY 1
Set for February Reopening:
Hobbit’s Glen Golf Clubhouse
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he new Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club clubhouse is scheduled to open in February. The new clubhouse will have a better layout and updated amenities, significantly upgrading the old facility, which was more than 40 years old and had undergone several renovations over the years. The reopened clubhouse will include locker rooms and a pro shop and will also mark the return of its award-winning restaurant, The Coho Grill. The project was budgeted at $6.4 million, and remains on budget.
CA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-2015
Reginald Avery, Oakland Mills 443-545-6714 RTAvery@verizon.net
Michael Cornell, River Hill 410-531-9340 MichaelCornell@comcast.net
Tom O’Connor, Dorsey’s Search Nancy McCord, Wilde Lake 410-336-9269 410-730-2309 Nancy.McCord@LongAndFoster.com TomFOC3@Verizon.net 2 C A M O N T H LY
Brian Dunn, Kings Contrivance 301-473-0077 BrianJDunn@gmail.com
Jeanne Ketley, Town Center 301-596-1097 TownCenterCARep@gmail.com
Alan Klein, Harper’s Choice 410-992-3025 AlanKleinCA@gmail.com
Gregg Schwind, Hickory Ridge 443-831-8847 Gregg.Schwind@Yahoo.com
Andrew Stack, Owen Brown 410-381-8897 Andrew.Stack@CA-Board.org
Russell Swatek, Long Reach 410-799-1497 Swatek1@yahoo.com
Columbia and Ellicott City:
IN THE TOP 10 AGAIN! NN/Money Magazine has again confirmed what those who live in Howard County already knew, naming the communities of Columbia and Ellicott City together as one of the top 10 best places to live in the United States. Columbia and Ellicott City were ranked at No. 6 out of 781 U.S. small cities, which were considered as those with populations between 50,000 and 300,000. “Though the two unincorporated places have their own unique feel, they function as a single city in many respects. For residents, that means shared access to parks, recreation facilities, and a diverse and outstanding school district. The area is also rife with good jobs — many of which require only a short commute,” raved the blurb on Columbia and Ellicott City.
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This is not the first Top 10 finish for Columbia and Ellicott City in the CNN/Money Magazine rankings. They were No. 4 in 2006, No. 8 in 2008, No. 2 in 2010 and No. 8 in 2012. The rankings in the odd-numbered years are for small towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. The best small city in America in 2014 is McKinney, Texas, according to the list. Rounding out the Top 10 are Maple Grove, Minnesota; Carmel, Indiana; Castle Rock, Colorado; Kirkland, Washington; Columbia and Ellicott City, Maryland; Clarkstown, New York; Ames, Iowa; Rochester Hills, Michigan; and Reston, Virginia. The other Maryland communities recognized in the Top 50 this year were Rockville (No. 24) and Bowie (No. 28).
New Exhibit at Columbia Archives olumbia Archives continues to mark the events leading up to Columbia’s founding with the opening of a new exhibit, “Columbia It Is! The Plan Revealed.” An open house will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the Archives, which is located at 10227 Wincopin Circle in downtown Columbia in the American City Building. Registration is encouraged but not required. To register, go to ThePlanRevealed.EventBrite.com. Nov. 11, 2014, marks the 50th anniversary of the day in 1964 that James Rouse made
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his official presentation about his plan for Columbia in front of Howard County officials and residents. “Columbia It Is! The Plan Revealed” captures the year of intensive work that took place before then. The exhibit includes maps and diagrams, such as the first sketch of Columbia shown to Rouse; documents from the work group’s deliberations; correspondence and other original documents; and press coverage and public reaction to the plan. The exhibit will continue until May 2015 and is free and open to the public. Columbia
Archives is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. This is the third exhibit in the “Celebrating Columbia: 50 Years Ago Today” series, which traces the events leading up to Columbia’s official beginning on June 21, 1967. The series will conclude in June 2017, when the community celebrates its 50th birthday. For more information, please go to ColumbiaArchives.org or contact Archives staff at Columbia.Archives@ ColumbiaAssociation.org or 410-715-3103. C A M O N T H LY 3
Haven on the Lake Benefits Your Body and Mind C By Tripp Laino
olumbia Association has long offered recreational facilities and programs for nearly every sport and activity, but with the early December opening of Haven on the Lake, CA will add its first mind body wellness retreat, one aimed at rejuvenating both the body and the mind. Part of the experience at Haven on the Lake are the Healing Environments, including a movement and relaxation pool, a hot tub with a waterfall overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi, a steam bath, a cold plunge, a tropical rain shower, a sauna and a crystal salt therapy room. Many of the amenities, such as the hot tub and steam bath, are good not only for relaxation but have therapeutic benefits as well. The cold plunge can also be beneficial with recovering from sore, overworked muscles and can improve the immune system. The crystal salt therapy room infuses the air with Himalayan sea salt, which aids in treating a number of conditions, according to Rob Goldman, acting general manager of Haven on the Lake and CA vice president and manager of special projects. Among other things, it can help treat
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psoriasis, sleep deprivation, and circulatory and respiratory ailments. Unlimited use of healing environments costs as little as $10 per month per person for CA Package Plan Plus members. In addition to the healing environments, Haven on the Lake has three Mind Body Movement studios — Energy, Flow and Vitality — each designed specifically for certain practices and offering classes in a variety of disciplines. The Energy studio includes a yoga plank wall with stations that will accommodate beginners and experts and allow for a full range of motion, even in more advanced yoga positions. Yoga classes will be offered at a variety of skill levels. Adjacent to the Energy studio is the Vitality Studio, designed specifically for Pilates and featuring equipment for both chair and reformer Pilates. Additionally, instructors will be able to conduct reformer Pilates classes on a 7,000-square-foot veranda overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi. The third space is the Flow Studio, with precise controls over heat and dehumidification, allowing for Hot Flow Yoga in an arid environment. The space will also offer Tai Chi and QiGong classes. The Mind Body Movement program will also include aqua classes, Barre, Pilates
and Tai Chi. Haven on the Lake will also be the first wellness center in the area to offer aqua Barre classes in the pool. To offer wellness spa services, CA is partnering with The Still Point Spa, founded by Marla Peoples and Tori Paide. The spa will have 10 treatment rooms and offer services including acupuncture, Reiki, reflexology and massage therapy, holistic skin care, as well as body wraps and scrubs in wet treatment rooms. Haven on the Lake is one of the only spas in the area to offer specifically designed wet treatment rooms, Goldman said. Services also include waxing and a nail salon, and a naturopathic doctor and nutritionist will be available. Classes and spa services will be offered a la carte; no membership is needed, and a variety of memberships will be available. Though Haven on the Lake is for adults aged 18 and older, there is also a (continued on page 7)
Running Through November 30:
O H L t iNg C
DriVe
ollection boxes have been placed around Columbia for Columbia Association’s (CA) 6th annual clothing drive organized by CA’s Youth and Teen Center and its Teen Outreach Committee. Collection boxes have been stationed at:
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• All 10 village community association buildings • Columbia Art Center (6100 Foreland Garth in the Long Reach Village Center) • Youth and Teen Center @ The Barn (5853 Robert Oliver Place in the Oakland Mills Village Center) • Eggspectation restaurant (6010 University Blvd., Ellicott City)
The collection boxes will remain at these facilities through Sunday, Nov. 30. Those donating can bring in new and gently used clothes, shoes and accessories, including but not limited to ties, belts, hosiery, hats, gloves, pocketbooks and jewelry. Also important are coats and socks, children’s clothes, and career clothes for both men and women. These donated items will then be distributed to community members in need on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 9am to 2pm, and on Sunday, Jan. 18, from 11am to 2:30pm. Both distribution days will be held at The Barn, which is located at 5853 Robert Oliver Place in the Oakland Mills Village Center. Last year’s clothing drive served more than 500 families. Volunteering opportunities are not limited solely to the youth community. CA welcomes community members and organizations wishing to participate in the project. Those who are interested in earning community service hours by assisting with the collection, sorting, set-up and distribution should contact Safire Windley at Safire.Windley@ ColumbiaAssociation.org or 410-992-3726.
Lake Kittamaqundi Comes Full Circle With New Loop (continued from page 1)
encircling the lake, Mattey said. The loop is also part of CA’s implementation of the Active Transportation Action Plan, CA’s guide to increase the connectivity of its entire pathway system. Walk along the new section of path and you’ll notice that it is 10 feet wide, CA’s new standard for its main pathways and those with high use, allowing more room for those on two wheels and on two feet or four. Most of CA’s pathways are six to eight feet wide, but the Active Transportation Action Agenda calls for newer sections to be at least 10 feet wide. Other upgrades along the pathway loop include several new benches, perfect for resting during a walk or for taking in a view of the lake and its wildlife, and enhanced landscaping around the Kennedy Gardens. In addition, the path is lined by naturally growing vegetation, which helps control erosion. To bolster erosion protection from the adjacent Little Patuxent River, the installation includes rocks to armor both the stream bank and the isthmus. Also, a boardwalk will take people over the wetlands area on the north end of the lake, in keeping with environmental regulations. “I encourage everyone to come out and take a look — it’s absolutely beautiful,” Mattey said. “It’s been a great summer for plant growth, and we planted some new trees and shrubs and bushes. It is just wonderful.” Construction for the path was budgeted at $580,000 and the project is on schedule and on budget, according to Denis Ellis, director of capital improvements for CA. Ellis directs the team responsible for CA pathway design and construction. C A M O N T H LY 5
Keep Warm and Save Energy This Winter With Home Upgrades This Fall By Jeremy Scharfenberg
inter is coming — and Columbia residents can take steps now to stay warmer and save on utility bills when cold temperatures hit. Lots of energy is needed to keep our homes comfortable when it’s cold outside, and this can mean costly utility bills. One of the most cost-effective steps homeowners can take is to make sure their home is airsealed and insulated properly. Many of the older homes in Columbia have very poor attic insulation, resulting in significant heating needs. In fact, my townhouse in Harper’s Choice had no insulation at all in parts of the attic, so one of the first improvements I made was to add insulation. To help offset the costs of t h e s e i m p r o v e m e n t s , Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) offers incentives through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program. BGE will provide a rebate of up to 50 percent of improvement
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cost ($2,000 maximum), and CA’s Home Energy Ef ficiency Upgrade Cooperative can reduce costs another 15 percent — resulting in a net savings of up to 65 percent! These cost effective and simple upgrades to your home will provide
CA FY2016 Budget Schedule olumbia Association’s budget process provides ample opportunities for input. This schedule is for FY 2016, the second year of a two-year budget cycle. The CA Board conditionally approved the FY16 budget in February 2014. Testimony can be provided via email, fax, snail mail or by attending the planned public hearing on Nov. 13.
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• Nov. 13: Public hearing for additions, deletions to the Conditional FY16 budget. • Dec. 5: This is not a meeting. Summary of proposed changes and board-approved threshold adjustments is due to the Planning and Strategy Committee (PSC) and the CA Board. • Dec. 11: PSC will deliberate on the Conditional FY16 budget with proposed
benefits this winter and year-round. For more information please go to retrofitbaltimore.org/columbia or bgesmartenergy.com/residential. Jeremy Scharfenberg is Columbia Association’s energy manager.
additions and deletions. This meeting is open to the public. • Jan. 16, 2015: This is not a meeting. Threshold adjustments to the conditional FY16 budget, including proposed revisions, are due to the PSC and the CA Board. • Jan. 22: PSC will deliberate on the Conditional FY16 budget. This meeting is open to the public. • Feb. 12: CA Board discusses and votes on the FY16 budget revisions and annual charge rate. This meeting is open to the public.
CA Board Recap A
t the Columbia Association (CA) Board of Directors meeting held Oct. 9, the CA Board heard presentations on the Inner Arbor and several construction projects, including Haven on the Lake. The CA Board also approved civility principles to guide discourse at meetings and work sessions, and it approved a borrowing resolution for a revolving credit note. A meeting was scheduled for Oct. 23, after CA Monthly went to press. The next scheduled Board of Directors meeting is Nov. 13. There is only one CA Board meeting scheduled for November. Meetings typically begin at 7:30pm and are held at CA Headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle. For current CA Board of Directors meeting minutes and agendas, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Agendas. Podcasts from board meetings are available at ColumbiaAssociation.org/Podcasts.
IMPORTANT CA PHONE NUMBERS
CA Headquarters ..............................................410-715-3000
CA Membership Service Center ..................410-730-1801
CA and HCPD Offer
Safety Tips olumbia Association has partnered with the Howard County Police Department to offer public safety tips and information via videos and articles. “We are always looking for ways to remind citizens that there are many things they can do to prevent becoming a victim,” said Howard County Police Chief Gary Gardner. “These public safety messages provide us with an opportunity to engage residents and to reinforce our belief that they play a vital role in keeping our communities safe.” Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/PublicSafety to see those messages.
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Haven on the Lake
Benefits Your Body and Mind
Aquatics Office..................................................410-312-6332
(continued from page 4)
Columbia Art Center........................................410-730-0075
KidSpace for children while their parent enjoys the retreat. The space features typical KidSpace programming, as well as like-minded programs for children, such as yoga and nutrition classes. Haven’s hours will be from 5:30am to 10pm Monday through Friday, and from 7am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday. About 100 jobs will be created at opening. Goldman said classes will be offered as early as at 6am, allowing people to get in a workout before heading to work. The new facility has 100 dedicated parking spaces at the south entrance for use by visitors, while the north entrance shares parking with Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market will also be supplying Haven on the Lake daily with fresh squeezed juices, prepared lunches and snacks, which will be sold at the Haven on the Lake café. Haven on the Lake has a number of packages for use of the healing environments, classes and spa treatments, with a wide range of prices, as well as a la carte availability. For more information, visit HavenOnTheLake.org or call 443-864-0557.
Columbia Association Camps ......................410-715-3165
Columbia Athletic Club...................................410-730-6744
Columbia Horse Center ..................................301-776-5850
Columbia Gym....................................................410-531-0800
Columbia Ice Rink ............................................410-730-0322
Columbia Swim Center ...................................410-730-7000 Columbia SportsPark/SkatePark.................410-715-3054
Columbia Teen Center ....................................410-992-3726
Fairway Hills Golf Club ...................................410-730-1112 Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club ..................................410-730-5980
Indoor Tennis, Columbia Athletic Club .....410-720-0149
Inclement Weather Hotline...........................410-715-3154
Supreme Sports Club ......................................410-381-5355
Owen Brown Tennis Bubble..........................410-381-7255 Wilde Lake Tennis Club ..................................410-730-3767 The Racquet Club at Hobbit’s Glen............410-715-3080
C A M O N T H LY 7
November Canine Sampler Tue, Nov. 3 • 7-8:30pm
Historic Oakland 410-730-4744. Dog tips from local dog expert Skye Anderson. Free.
Artfully Wilde Fri, Nov. 7 - Sat, Nov. 8 Fri, 5-9pm; Sat,10am-4pm
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Creating Columbia “Columbia It Is! The Plan Revealed”— Opening Exhibit Reception Tue, Nov. 11 • 7-9pm Columbia Archives 410-715-6781
CA Board of Directors Slayton House • 410-730-3987 Meeting Thu, Nov. 13 • 7:30pm Mom & Son Sports Night CA Headquarters 410-715-3000 Fri, Nov. 7 • 6-8pm Columbia Gym 410-531-8984. KidSpace/ PPP Members, $10 per family. Columbia Cardholders, $12 per family. Non-Members, $14 per family.
SplashDown Teen Night Fri, Nov. 7 • 7-9pm
Columbia Swim Center ColumbiaPools.org. $4 Admission with valid Howard County School ID.
Paper Shredding Event Sat, Nov. 8 • 9:30am-noon
Stonehouse • 410-730-8113. Long Reach residents only.
Movie Night Every 1st, 2nd & 3rd Saturday • 6-9pm
11/1: Athletic Club; 11/8: Supreme Sports Club; 11/15: Columbia Gym ColumbiaAssociation.org/ KidSpace.
Gallery Tour Sun, Nov. 9 9:30am-3:30pm
Columbia Art Center 410-730-0075. $45 per person.
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Ladies Night Out: Holiday Greens Workshop with River Hill Garden Center Fri, Nov. 14 • 7-9pm
Stonehouse • 410-730-8113. Cost $30/person. Advanced registration is required and space is limited.
Family Fun Bingo Fri, Nov. 14 • 7:30-9pm Amherst House 410-381-9600
Girls’ Night Out: Hand Painted Metal Mirror Fri, Nov. 14 6:30-8:30pm Columbia Art Center 410-730-0075. $25 per person.
Paint ’N pARTy Tue, Nov. 18 6:30pm
6800 Cradlerock Way 410-381-0202. Must purchase tickets in advance. Space is limited. $20 per person. For more information please visit owenbrownvillage.org.
Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Events to learn about more great events happening in Columbia!
Prepare to Care Thu, Nov. 20 • 6:30-8pm
The Hawthorn Center 410-730-7327
Lively Arts for Little Ones Presents: “Lucky Stars Puppets” Fri, Nov. 21 • 10am
The Other Barn 410-730-4610
Reception for Oakland Mills Volunteers Fri, Nov. 21 • 6:30-8:30pm The Other Barn 410-730-4610
Holiday Craft Fair Sat, Nov. 22 • 10am-3pm Historic Oakland 410-730-4744
Holiday Craft Shop Sun, Nov. 23 • 2-5pm The Hawthorn Center 410-730-7327
SplashDown Snack-n-Slide Fri, Nov. 28 • noon-4pm Columbia Swim Center ColumbiaPools.org.