Monthly CA A PUBLICATION OF COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION
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MAR 2015
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Excite Columbia to Host Spring Session Get a Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse at the Columbia Ice Rink World Food Passport Launches
Spring
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with CA
Breeze Into By Tripp Laino
Whether you want to help serve and clean up your community, line up the perfect bunker shot, hang out with the family dog or jump in the pool, CA has an event to help you plan the perfect spring day.
arch 20 marks the first day of spring, and Columbia Association (CA) has myriad wonderful events coming in the next few months to help you get out and enjoy the world in bloom. Whether you want to help serve and clean up your community, line up the perfect bunker shot, hang out with the family dog or jump in the pool, CA has an event to help you plan the perfect spring day. Of course, there’s also great year-round options that get even more fun when the weather’s nice, like CA’s SportsPark and SkatePark that offers minigolf, batting cages, a playground and of course, a 15,000 square foot area for skating. Inside this issue, we’ll take you through some highlights of what’s to come, but for more information, be sure to check the CA Monthly Calendar each month, or visit ColumbiaAssocation.org/Events. (See Spring, page 4)
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Pinterest.com/ColumbiaAssn C A M O N T H LY 1
CA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-2015 Reginald Avery Oakland Mills 443-545-6714 Reginald.Avery@ca-board.org
Nancy McCord Wilde Lake 410-730-2309 Nancy.McCord@ca-board.org
Michael Cornell River Hill 410-531-9340 Michael.Cornell@ca-board.org
Tom O’Connor Dorsey’s Search 410-336-9269 Tom.OConnor@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
Jeanne Ketley Town Center 301-596-1097 Jeanne.Ketley@ca-board.org
Andrew Stack Owen Brown 410-381-8897 Andrew.Stack@ca-board.org
Alan Klein Harper’s Choice 410-992-3025 Alan.Klein@ca-board.org
Russell Swatek Long Reach 410-799-1497 Russell.Swatek@ca-board.org
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CA
Board Recap
t the Columbia Association (CA) Board of Directors meeting held Feb. 12, the CA Board approved the draft conditional fiscal year 2016 Capital Budget (as amended), approved the annual charge rate of $0.68 per $100, with a 2.5% cap for fiscal year 2016 and approved the operating budget for fiscal year 2016 (as amended). The staff will also send comments to recommendations offered by the Columbia Downtown Housing Corp. The board’s Feb. 26 meeting took place after CA Monthly went to press. The next scheduled Board of Directors meetings are March 12 and 26. 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.
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President’s Update
Board Elections: a Great Venue for Involvement Dear Friends, Columbia’s annual elections will be held at the end of April. There will be seven seats open on Columbia Association’s (CA) Board of Directors, and seats also will be available on the various village community association boards. Even before Columbia was officially founded, James Rouse did a lot of community outreach. To this day, resident participation remains a cornerstone of Columbia. I encourage you to become involved. CA’s Board develops a strategic plan for Columbia Association, approves the biannual budget, and is involved in governance and policy setting. Ten of the members are elected from FILE Photo their respective villages. I sit as the 11th member Milton W. Matthews in a non-voting capacity, serving in essence as the Board’s chief adviser. In the end, my job is to get things done. Whatever the Board votes for or requests from the staff, it is my responsibility to make sure that it gets done on behalf of the organization and the community. When the new Board is seated this May, its priorities will include CA’s continuing involvement in the redevelopment of the Downtown Columbia area. CA’s Board is very involved with the work at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. I expect work to begin toward the end of the calendar year in the Crescent. And Howard Hughes Corporation has received approval for improvements at Merriweather Post Pavilion. The final months of 2015 will also see the Board working on the budgets for the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years. Board members should arrive with the understanding of their role in an organization such as CA, keeping in mind that the Board is made up of 10 voters, requiring a deliberative process. Bring your ideas. Do your homework. Attend meetings, of course. And understand that while you may reside in one village, you will represent the entire community. CA is a large organization that does a lot in the community and for all of Columbia. We also have partnerships that extend beyond our boundaries. I am offering to meet with anyone considering becoming a candidate for CA’s Board. I can be available during the workday, on evenings and even on weekends. If you’re interested, please contact my executive assistant, Janet Loughran, at Janet.Loughran@ColumbiaAssociation.org or 410-715-3111. Sincerely, Milton W. Matthews, Columbia Association President/CEO
Registration Opens for
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South American Culture Fest Coming in April Musicians, Exhibitors and Performers Needed
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olumbia Association (CA) is seeking South American musicians, bands, exhibitors, performers and food vendors for the upcoming “South American Culture Fest” hosted this April by CA and the Howard County Library System. This free family event will be held Sunday, April 26, from 1:30 to 4:30pm at Howard County Library System’s Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. The Culture Fest is a great place for individuals, bands, organizations and dance groups to participate in an afternoon of music — from Colombian Cumbia to Brazilian Samba — as well as dance performances and educational displays. Representatives from all of the Spanish-, Portuguese-, English-, French- and Dutch-speaking countries that make up South America are needed to participate. The highlighted countries include: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. At this free event, people are invited to show the Howard County community what makes their countries and cultures unique. Exhibitors may not sell items or services unless they are food vendors selling food. There will be no payment for performances. Photos of the exhibitors, performers and audience members will be taken at the event. Families attending the event will be able to pick up a “Culture Fest Passport” and complete it for door prizes by visiting exhibitors’ tables. Interested parties should contact Laura Smit, program manager for CA’s International Exchange and Multicultural Programs, by calling 410-715-3162 or sending an email to International@ColumbiaAssociation.org.
Columbia Scholarship Award he deadline to apply for the 2015 Maggie J. Brown Spirit of Columbia Scholarship Award is March 15. Up to six graduating seniors from local high schools will receive $2,500 scholarships for showing a history of providing community service that benefits Columbia residents and those in the Columbia area. To apply, go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/Scholarship. For more information, call 410-715-3161 or email SpiritofColumbia@ColumbiaAssociation.org.
Excite Columbia C
olumbia Association’s (CA) citizens academy, Excite Columbia, returns soon for its spring session, and registration is now open. The six-week program will be held on Tuesdays beginning on March 24 and concluding on April 28. Classes are held from 6:30 to 8:30pm at CA Headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle and includes topics such as a history of CA and Columbia; a breakdown of what CA’s departments do and how CA’s annual charge is calculated and used each year, among many others. Erin McPhail, communications & events manager for CA, runs Excite Columbia and said while the main goal of the class is to educate residents on how CA operates and serves the community, it also allows for CA staff and community members to meet face-to-face. “It's great to meet all the different people we have in class and, more importantly, create a one-on-one relationship with our community members,” she said. Valerie Montague, a Columbia resident and recording secretary for CA Board of Directors, said she enjoyed the class and its insight into CA. She said she’s lived in Columbia for a long time, but appreciated the opportunity to hear about different departments at CA. “Because Columbia is so uniquely designed, not just physically but the way it’s [governed], you can learn more about how things work,” she said. “It’s really useful to know as a resident.” Excite Columbia is open to anyone 18 or older interested in learning more about CA. Registration is required. For more information or to register, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Excite.
Excite
Columbia
C A M O N T H LY 3
Spring Columbia Cleanup Day Saturday, March 21
Hobbit’s Glen Clubhouse reopening in April
Looking to volunteer in your community? Help keep Columbia’s acres of beautiful open space in pristine condition on Columbia Cleanup Day! This annual event runs from 9am to noon and has been held for six years, inviting community members to help clean Columbia. CA provides gloves, bags, trucks and crews to haul away the trash. Check with your village community associations or visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/ ColumbiaCleans to find your nearest cleanup site.
Fore! The new Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club clubhouse is expected to reopen in April. The new clubhouse will have a better layout and updated amenities, with significant upgrades to 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. For more information visit HobbitsGlenGolfClub.org.
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Wilde Lake. Find out more information about candidates and voting at your local village community associations.
Dog Day Afternoon Saturday, May 2
Searching for Spring Saturday, April 11 This free event at Columbia SportsPark, 5453 Harpers Farm Road, runs from 10am to 11:30am and includes crafts and balloons, an egg hunt (while supplies last), and a magic show for children ages two through eight. No admittance after 10:45am. Bring your own basket for the egg hunt! Advance tickets are required, and are available at your village community associations beginning March 9.
Village Elections Saturday, April 25 Village Board Elections are being held in all 10 villages, as well as CA Board elections in Dorsey's Search, Hickory Ridge, Kings Contrivance, Long Reach, Oakland Mills, River Hill and
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Woof! There it is! CA’s 9th annual Dog Day Afternoon promises to be the biggest one yet. Bring your family dog out to a day of fun, games, treats and activities, including the annual Cutest Canine Competition. Area vendors will be on hand to supply information about keeping your dog healthy and happy. For more information, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/ DogDay. Interested vendors can contact Erin McPhail at 410-423-1891 or Erin.McPhail@Columbia Assocation.org.
CA Pools Open Saturday, May 9 and 23 What better way to enjoy warm spring days than one of CA’s 23 outdoor pools and WaterParks? The Stevens Forest pool opens May 9, and all the other pools open May 23. Whether you want to learn to swim, improve your skills, or simply relax and cool off, Columbia’s pools offer the perfect respite for the summer. For more information, including pool locations and hours, visit ColumbiaPools.org or call 410-312-6332.
C A M O N T H LY 5
Columbia Ice rink
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Staff Works Hard to Keep Ice Nice
By Tripp Laino
olumbia Ice Rink has been serving figure skaters, recreational skaters and hockey players for more than 45 years, with thousands of people coming through the doors each year to use the facility. You might already know about the Zamboni you see driving between hockey games or skate sessions, but there’s a lot more maintenance happening behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly, and the ice, which only measures about an inch-and-a-half deep, in skating shape. Matt Moorefield, maintenance facilities manager, is in charge of ice maintenance and equipment operations, and helps maintain a smooth, even skating surface. Some of that work is done with the help of a computerized temperature maintenance system. Two small sensors mounted near the roof track the ice temperature, which can fluctuate during games and skate sessions. But even the simple act of smoothing the ice with a Zamboni requires planning. Moorefield keeps track of the route the Zamboni takes on each trip
Photo BY DavID WrIght
Matt Moorefield, maintenance facilities manager at Columbia Ice Rink, resurfaces the ice with a Zamboni.
around the ice, as mixing up routes is important to an even surface. Even the location where the driver activates the Zamboni’s resurfacing pad has to be noted, as repeatedly starting in the same place can create a dip in the ice, Moorefield said. A single Zamboni trip uses about 180 gallons of water, with a combination of warm and cold water
used for proper resurfacing. Moorefield isn’t alone in maintaining the ice — he’s part of a crew that’s on call 24/7. “You have to babysit the ice, even when you go home,” said Susan Cope, assistant manager. “We’re all on call. You’re always on call.” In addition to being on call for ice-related emergencies, part of Cope’s job is to help run camps at the ice rink. But even camps are not immune to snafus with the ice — Cope recalled one particularly memorable late-summer camp when the combination of quickly rising temperatures and a malfunctioning dehumidifier enveloped the ice in a thick haze of fog. “The kids had to wear lights,” she said, laughing. The ice rink closes annually in June and July for regular maintenance, including allowing the concrete slab under the sheet of ice to warm up and prevent permafrost, repainting the lines and ads by hand, and bringing the ice surface back. For more information about the rink, including hockey, open skate sessions and the upcoming Columbia Figure Skating Club Movies & Minions on Ice show, visit ColumbiaIceRink.net.
Lakefront Wednesdays
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Concert Series usicians are invited to apply by posting a video of a live performance on YouTube or Vimeo, and emailing the link to Communications@ ColumbiaAssociation.org. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 20. Artists can be from any genre of music, and all applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Any video submissions that do not meet the criteria, or which
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contain inappropriate or explicit content, will not be reviewed by CA. This year’s Lakefront Wednesdays concert series will premiere on Wednesday, June 17, and continue for a total of eight weeks of performances. For more information, please contact Communications@ ColumbiaAssociation.org or visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/LFW.
Explore the World, One Bite at a Time
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he range of restaurants in this area includes a variety of options from all over the globe, and Columbia Association’s (CA) new World Food Passport program is a great way to sample those cuisines. “You can get to know a culture in large measure through food,” said Laura Smit, manager of CA’s international exchange and multicultural programs. “The World Food Passport allows people to explore the amazing spectrum of food options and cultures represented around Howard County.” People can pick up their free World Food Passports from CA Headquarters, any of Columbia’s 10 village community associations, or the Howard County Tourism office in Historic Ellicott City. There is a limit of one passport per family. Diners can then eat at participating restaurants and get their passports stamped. Once a passport holder has stamps in each of six categories — Asia; Europe; Mediterranean and Africa; South Asia and Afghanistan; Latin America and the Caribbean; and North America — they can enter a quarterly raffle for $25 restaurant gift certificates. Those who achieve two, three and four stamps in all six categories move up in prize levels, with each level qualifying the diner to be entered from one to four times in the quarterly drawings: Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/FoodPassport for more information. If you are a restaurant interested in participating, contact Laura Smit at 410-715-3162 or International@ColumbiaAssociation.org.
CA PHONE NUMBERS CA Headquarters .........................................410-715-3000 CA Membership Service Center.................410-730-1801 Aquatics Office ............................................410-312-6332 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 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 ............410-715-3080 School Age Services ...................................410-715-3165 Supreme Sports Club..................................410-381-5355 Wilde Lake Tennis Club .............................410-730-3767
C A M O N T H LY 7
March Community Events Bernice Kish Gallery Through March 28 Andrei Trach: “Relentless Spirit” Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm; Friday: 9am-5pm; Saturday 9am-2pm. Carole Black, gallery director gallery@wildelake.org Solo exhibit by Andrei Trach: oil on wood.
Art in the Afternoon with John Milton Wesley Sun. March 1 • 3-5pm Historic Oakland Manor • 410-730-4744 Wrap up Black History Month with the reminiscences and eclectic musical offerings of longtime Columbia resident John Milton Wesley.
Lifetime Transitions: Seminars for Older Adults Tuesdays, March 3, April 7 and May 5 • 5-7pm The Hawthorn Center A trio of seminars designed to help you make sound decisions as you transition to senior life. March 3 • Aging in Place April 7 • Legal and Financial Considerations May 5 • Senior Housing Options
Family Night Bingo Fri. March 6 • 7:30-9pm The Hawthorn Center • 410-730-7327 Cards are 5/$1; Drinks $.075 Snacks are free.
Baby Expo Sat. March 7 • 10am-2pm Owen Brown Community Center events@owenbrownvillage.org Variety of vendors, presentations, raffle prizes and more! Visit columbiababyexpo.com for more information.
Creating a Rain Garden Sat. March 7 • 10am Claret Hall • 410-531-1749 or newsletter@villageofriverhill.org Learn what a rain garden is and how to create one. This is a Master Gardener presentation. 8 C A M O N T H LY
Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Events to learn more about great events happening in Columbia!
Perennial Gardening with Paul Beares
Appraisal Roadshow and Vendor Fair
Thurs. March 12 • 7:30-9pm Amherst House • 410-381-9600 Dawn Linthicum, Events and Information Coordinator • Plan for flowers and plants that return to brighten your garden every year! Snacks will be served; call Amherst House to register.
Sat. March 21 • 9:30am and 11:30am Kahler Hall • 410-730-0770 • Call Susan or visit events@harperschoice.org Tickets are limited for each show. $12 for one item, $5 for one additional item. Advanced registration is required. Visit Antiques2015HCCA.EventBrite.com for more information and to register. Spectator tickets also available.
Workshop: Estate Planning and Elder Law Essentials Thu. March 12 • 7-8:30pm Historic Oakland Manor • 410-730-4744 Explore topics such as wills, trusts, incapacity, asset protection, etc. Presented by the law firm Elville & Associates.
Afternoon Tea Sun. March 22 • 3:30-5pm Oakland Manor • 410-730-4744 Cost $28.00 plus tax per person. Reservations and payment required three days in advance.
Family Bingo Fri. March 13 • 6:30-8:30pm Historic Oakland • 410-730-4744 Free for Town Center residents; $5 for non-residents. Tickets required.
Columbia Clean Up Day Sat. March 21 • 9am to noon Help clean up Columbia’s Open Space areas.
Creating Columbia Mini-Course Mon. March 23 • 2 to 3:30pm Slayton House • The mini-course session originally scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16, was postponed. The free session, “Columbia Gets
the Go-Ahead,” illustrates the pace at which James Rouse worked to meet the opportunities and challenges of building Columbia. Please call 410-715-3103 for more information or email Barbara.Kellner@ ColumbiaAssociation.org
Pruning — by Master Gardeners Tues. March 24 • 7pm Stonehouse • 410-730-8113 Master Gardeners will present a session on pruning. Learn the right way to prune and what tools to use. Free, but registration is required.
Cupcake Decorating Fun Fri. March 27 • 1:30-3:30pm Stonehouse • 410-730-8113 Grades 4-8 are welcome to join and discover different techniques to decorate cupcakes. $5/person. Registration is limited and required.
CA Summer Camps Open House Sat. March 21 • 12-3pm Columbia Athletic Club Come meet your camp counselors! There will be drawings, entertainment and giveaways. For more information visit ColumbiaCamps.org.
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