Monthly CA A PUBLICATION OF COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION
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APRIL 2016
CA passes budget New projects include tennis facility, Columbia Swim Center upgrades By Tripp Laino
Columbia Association’s Board of Directors voted earlier this year to approve operating and capital budgets for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, setting a path for some major improvements to CA amenities — including a brand new indoor tennis facility in Long Reach and a revamped Columbia Swim Center with new SplashDown flumes. Tennis is one of CA’s most popular programs, with 33 courts in several locations. Nine of those tennis courts are indoors; five of the indoor courts are at the Owen Brown Tennis Club and Bubble and four are at Columbia Athletic Club. The bubble, which opened in the late ‘90s, is reaching the end of its useful life. CA will be able to build a larger, better indoor tennis facility in Long Reach, across the street from Long Reach High School’s ball fields, off Old Dobbin Lane.
FISCAL YEARS
20172018
A planned tennis facility in Long Reach will have six indoor courts to supplement one of CA’s most popular programs.
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CA BOARD OF DIRECTORS2015-2016 Reginald Avery Oakland Mills 443-545-6714 Reginald.Avery@ca-board.org
Alan Klein Harper’s Choice 410-992-3025 Alan.Klein@ca-board.org
Dick Boulton Dorsey’s Search 410-884-2964 Dick.Boulton@ca-board.org
Nancy McCord Wilde Lake 410-730-2309 Nancy.McCord@ca-board.org
Brian Dunn Kings Contrivance 301-473-0077 Brian.Dunn@ca-board.org
Gregg Schwind Hickory Ridge 443-831-8847 Gregg.Schwind@ca-board.org
Janet Evans Long Reach 724-516-0550 Janet.Evans@ca-board.org
Andrew Stack Owen Brown 410-381-8897 Andrew.Stack@ca-board.org
Jeanne Ketley Town Center 301-596-1097 Jeanne.Ketley@ca-board.org
Chao Wu River Hill 240-481-9637 Chao.Wu@ca-board.org
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CA
Board Recap
t the Columbia Association (CA) Board of Directors work session held March 10, CA’s Board discussed potential changes to the membership structure. The March 24 meeting was after CA Monthly’s press time. The next scheduled Board of Directors meetings are April 14 and 28. Meetings typically begin at 7:30pm and are held at CA Headquarters, 6310 Hillside Court, Suite 100. For current CA Board of Directors meeting minutes and agendas, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Agendas. Podcasts from board meetings are available at ColumbiaAssociation.org/Podcasts.
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Letter from Long Reach
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A brighter future for Long Reach
he first residents moved into the village of Long Reach in 1971, and over the years it has grown to have more residents than any other village in Columbia. Long Reach’s four neighborhoods — Jeffers Hill, Kendall Ridge, Locust Park and Phelps Luck — have a diverse population of about 14,000, as well as beautiful green space and a lot of spirit. I moved to Long Reach in 2011 and was among those FILE Photo watching the decline in the village center with concern. As Janet Evans such a central piece of the overall village concept, the village Village of Long Reach center is intended to be a thriving hub. This aroused my Columbia Council Representative interest in Columbia’s history and Long Reach’s place in it, including what Long Reach has to offer now. As a part of my graduate thesis, I evaluated Long Reach on a “Placemaking Power of 10” basis — a concept to assess community assets and connections between them as an indicator of how the village can attract people. The number and variety of assets in Long Reach was pleasantly surprising: four pools, three community centers, Stonehouse, Columbia Art Center, Jackson Pond, the green space and athletic fields at Blandair Park, worship space and community garden plots, as well as events such as ArtReach and a variety of classes and camps. My assessment? For a suburban community the size of Long Reach, there is an impressive number of amenities that are fairly well connected through roads, sidewalks and trails. The largest gap identified was a lack of eating establishments within the village itself. Several initiatives on the horizon will directly benefit Long Reach. First and most critical is the revitalization of the village center. A request for proposals is expected to go out in May with a November target date for developer selection. Beyond that are CA’s Connecting Columbia and the county’s BikeHoward plans, which are focused on enhancing recreational and transportation connectivity through pathways and on-road bike lanes. These plans include projects and recommendations that could improve access in and out of Long Reach and provide a viable alternative to driving locally. Complementing this initiative is the county task force on complete streets. The task force, which includes CA representation, is intended to maximize safety for all forms of transportation, improving sustainability and connectivity within the community. Also, coming in the near future is the addition of CA’s new indoor tennis facility, which is scheduled for completion across from Long Reach High School in early 2018. As they say, Long Reach has “good bones.” It is great place to live and will have an even brighter future as existing Long Reach amenities are maintained and expanded and with county and CA initiatives supporting and advancing the quality of life. Come enjoy what Long Reach has to offer! Thank you, Janet Evans
Budget (from page 1)
The new air-conditioned tennis facility, expected to cost $9 million, will sport six new indoor courts, two viewing lounges, locker rooms with shower facilities, some office space and possibly a meeting room. “This is an exciting project for Columbia and welcomed by the village of Long Reach,” said Albert Edwards, CA’s director of construction. “The design and entitlement process is currently ongoing with a construction start projected for early 2017 and opening in early 2018, if county approvals stay on target.” Owen Brown’s indoor courts would then be turned into outdoor courts, keeping the club with 12 courts overall. Another exciting project is updating Columbia Swim Center, which opened in 1967, the same year as Columbia’s founding. The project has three parts: The first phase will bring back SplashDown’s water slides, with new flumes and a stair tower being constructed and a new piping system installed. The second phase will bring upgrades to the locker and changing rooms, improve the lobby and go toward making the facility compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The third phase will replace the wading pool. About $5 million has presently been budgeted, but the full scope of work for the project is still being determined.
CA will continue to offer the fun Wibit® inflatable water play features at Hawthorn Pool once SplashDown reopens. Columbia Swim Center is home to 11 of CA’s 23 indoor swim lanes; by working on this project in phases and limiting work to the summer months, these lanes will be available for the most in-demand times. CA hopes to finish the last phase in 2018. Other projects in the upcoming fiscal years include facility improvements and construction at Columbia Ice Rink ($2.2 million) and ADA-compliant wading pools and repairs at River Hill ($370,000) and Hawthorn ($425,000) pools. For more information and the complete budget, please visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Budget. Budget includes annual charge cap increase The budget for fiscal year 2017 increased the annual charge cap from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent to help pay for planned capital improvements to the amenities and facilities enjoyed by Columbia’s residents and guests. The annual charge rate of 68 cents per $100 of assessed value is staying the same. CA believes that the average residential annual charge will increase by approximately $6.67 as a result of the cap increase. For information on the cap increase, go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/Budget and click on “FAQ on Increase to Annual Charge Cap.”
CA releases fiscal information CA finished the nine months between May 1, 2015, and Jan. 31, 2016 $2 million better than budget, and approximately $1.7 million below the same period in FY15. At this point in the fiscal year, CA projects finishing FY16 with an increase in net assets of approximately $3.6 million. Financial highlights from several of CA’s divisions are available online at ColumbiaAssociation.org/Budget.
CA PHONE NUMBERS CA Headquarters ............................................410-715-3000 Customer and Member Service Center.........410-730-1801 Aquatics Office................................................410-312-6332 Columbia Archives .........................................410-715-6781 Columbia Art Center.......................................410-730-0075 Columbia Association Camps........................410-715-3165 Columbia Athletic Club ..................................410-730-6744 Columbia Gym ................................................410-531-0800 Columbia Horse Center..................................301-776-5850 Columbia Ice Rink ..........................................410-730-0322 Columbia SportsPark/SkatePark ...................410-715-3054 Columbia Swim Center ..................................410-730-7000 Columbia Youth and Teen Center ..................410-992-3726 Fairway Hills Golf Club ..................................410-730-1112 Haven on the Lake..........................................410-715-3020 Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club..................................410-730-5980 Inclement Weather Hotline............................410-715-3154 Indoor Tennis, Columbia Athletic Club...........410-720-0149 Owen Brown Tennis Bubble ...........................410-381-7255 The Racquet Club at Hobbit’s Glen................410-730-6601 School Age Services ......................................410-715-3164 Supreme Sports Club .....................................410-381-5355 Wilde Lake Tennis Club ................................410-730-3767
Speakers Series event to feature UMBC president Join us for “Diversity Matters: Building on Columbia’s History as an Inclusive Community,” featuring University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) President Freeman A. Hrabowski III. Named one of “America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News & World Report and one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by TIME magazine, Hrabowski is sure to inspire us as we think about the value of diversity in Columbia. This Community Building Speakers Series event is sponsored by CA and the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County. Hrabowski will speak from 7:30-9pm on Thursday, May 5 at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Road. Registration is appreciated, but not required at CADiversityMatters.eventbrite.com. Child care will be provided upon request. C A M O N T H LY 3
April Community Events Lifetime Transitions: Free Seminars for Older Adults
Eastern Europe and Russia Culture Fest
Tuesday, April 5 • 6-8 pm, Aging in Place Tuesday, April 19 • 6-8pm, Legal Considerations Tuesday, May 3 • 6-8pm, Senior Housing Options The Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring • Please call 410-730-7327 to sign up in advance.
Sunday, April 10 • 1:30-4:30pm Howard County Library System, Miller Branch • Enjoy an afternoon of Eastern European and Russian entertainment and food. Pick up a passport, visit country tables and fill it out for raffle prizes! Laura.Smit@ColumbiaAssociation.org 410-715-3162
Tuesday, April 5 • 6pm For ages 14 and up. Includes canvas to take home and all painting supplies. $20 tickets must be purchased in advance; light refreshments will be served. More information and painting at OwenBrownVillage.org 6800 Cradlerock Way • 410-381-0202 events@owenbrownvillage.org
Landscaping with Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens
Maryland Pride Paint Night
Lively Arts for Little Ones Presents Chris Campbell: Music for Kids
Friday, April 8 • 10am Introduction to the arts for 2-5 year olds. $5 for ages 2 and older. The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Way events@oaklandmills.org 410-730-4610
Searching for Spring Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 9 • 10-11:30am Crafts, balloons, egg hunt and magic show. Free tickets for children; Columbia residents only. Columbia SportsPark, 5453 Harpers Farm Road • 410-381-9600 Contact Dawn Linthicum kcevents@columbiavillages.org
Tuesday, April 12 7-9pm Call to register for this free event! Stonehouse, 8775 Cloudleap Court 410-730-8113 or events@longreach.org
Columbia Solar and Home Energy Cooperative Information Session
Thursday, April 14, 7-8pm RSVP at RetrofitBaltimore.org/Columbia. Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring Energy@ColumbiaAssociation.org 410-381-3269
Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Events to learn about more great events happening in Columbia!
Get out
and
vote! Village elections will be held April 30
Spring Flea Market at Amherst House
Saturday, April 30 • 9am-noon Come find bargains at our annual flea market! Amherst House, 7251 Eden Brook Drive • 410-381-9600 Contact Dawn Linthicum, kcevents@columbiavillages.org
Long Reach Spring Flea Market
Weddings and Events Showcase
Sunday, April 17 • 2-5pm Free admission. Planning a wedding or other special event? Visit with caterers, photographers, bakers, florists, DJs, and many others at Historic Oakland’s popular events showcase. Register at ColumbiaTownCenter.org. Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road • 410-730-4801 • Lori Tracy — info@Historic-Oakland.com Tuesday, April 26 • 7-9pm Learn the ins and outs of using coupons. Learn how to get started, where to find the best deals and how to organize your shopping trip. Stonehouse, 8775 Cloudleap Court 410-730-8113 • events@longreach.org
Extreme Couponing 101
Shredding and Electronics Recycling
Saturday, April 30 • 9am-1pm Limit three bags of items to shred. TVs, computers, and electronics accepted. Free to Hickory Ridge residents; $3 shred fee for all others. The Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring • For a complete list of acceptable items, please contact info@hickoryridgevillage.org.
Saturday, April 30 • 9am-noon Shop or sell — Contact Stonehouse for more information. Long Reach Village Center parking lot; 8775 Cloudleap Court • 410-730-8113 events@longreach.org
Spring Village Yard and Plant Sale
Saturday, April 30 • 9am-noon Free to sellers, but bring your own table. No rain date. Plants supplied by Emerge, a local nonprofit that supports the developmentally challenged through cultivating plants.• Vantage Point Road Park • Contact Barbara Gumpert, events@columbiatowncenter.org 410-730-4744
Oakland Mills Annual Plant Sale
Saturday, April 30 • 9am Annual plant sale on Election Day. Plant prices vary. • The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Way • 410-730-4610 events@oaklandmills.org
The Bernice Kish Gallery Exhibit
Through May 7 Paul Kerris, “Graphic Stylings” Charles Bowers “Natures Colors Textures Patterns” • The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane • Carole Black, Gallery Director gallery@wildelake.org 410-730-3987
Save the Date! Dorsey’s Search Ride
Saturday, May 21 • 9:30am Kid-friendly, short bike ride exploring the paths of Dorsey Hall. For more information, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Archives. 4 C A M O N T H LY