Monthly CA AUG 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
2 Columbia BikeAbout Returns Sept. 13; Volunteers Sought 4 Lakefront Summer Festival: August and September Schedule 8 Be a Part of Your Community Events
Excite Columbia returns this fall.
Find out more on page 5.
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Hit theTrails with Howard County’s Nature Quest and the Wegmans Passport to Family Wellness
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he excellent trail network in Howard County is already well-known. A new initiative is encouraging people to make sure that the trail network is also well-explored.
Columbia Association (CA), Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks (HCRP), and the Wegmans store in Columbia are teaming up to introduce Howard County’s Nature Quest and the Wegmans Passport to Family Wellness. The Passport to Family Wellness was first developed by Wegmans in 2005; it has now come to Howard County. The passport is a pocketsized booklet that guides participants through 16 trails in the county — eight managed by CA and eight managed by HCRP. Participants who take to the trails can record their progress within their passport by making rubbings of trail markers, which are located at designated points on each trail.
CA and HCRP will offer free giveaways to those who walk all eight of their respective trails. For those who walk six trails, Wegmans will offer a coupon for a free Wegmans product. Participants who walk all 16 trails will be entered into a raffle for a $100 Wegmans gift card or a gift certificate from CA or HCRP. The free Passports are available at the following locations: Columbia • CA Headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle • HCRP Headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road • Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane • Wegmans, 8855 McGaw Road (continued on page 7) C A M O N T H LY 1
Columbia BikeAbout
Returns Sepember13; Volunteers Sought oin Columbia Association’s (CA) Columbia Archives for the fun and informative annual Columbia BikeAbout, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13. This year’s free, family-friendly ride will begin at 9:30 a.m. at a new location — Wilde Lake Park. Riders can start up until 10 a.m. and are expected to complete the ride by 1 p.m. The 12-mile route winds through the villages of Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice and Hickory Ridge, taking them into the neighborhood that James Rouse, Columbia’s founder, called home, and
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then brings them along the stream that feeds Wilde Lake, and then into the Middle Patuxent Valley. Columbia BikeAbout highlights the history of Columbia, as well as the extensive pathway system and open space that contribute to Columbia’s high quality of life. This year’s features include fun facts about Rouse, a look at some of CA’s improvement projects, and a closer look at the future of Symphony Woods. The end of the ride brings a special treat: an old-fashioned picnic hosted at Wilde Lake Park by the Wilde Lake
Community Association and CA. Riders can purchase refreshments from food trucks and enjoy free entertainment. Pre-registration is encouraged via BikeAbout.EventBrite.com. Columbia Archives is also seeking volunteers to assist with traffic control and directions and to act as guides along the route. Flexible shifts are available between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Training — and a free T-shirt — will be provided for those who help. For more information, email Columbia. Archives@ColumbiaAssociation.org or call 410-715-6781.
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
LakefrontSummerFestival The 2014 Columbia Association Lakefront Summer Festival continues until September 13, with free concerts, movies and more at the downtown Columbia Lakefront.
August and September Schedule Friday, Aug. 1 • Movie: “Superman: Man of Steel” (PG-13), plus Dancin’ Under the People Tree Saturday, Aug. 2 • Concert: Darren Beachley and Potomac (bluegrass) Sunday, Aug. 3 • Concert: I&I Riddim (reggae) Monday, Aug. 4 • Movie: International animated award winner “Ernest and Clementine” (PG) Tuesday, Aug. 5 • Concert: Jean Watson (inspirational) Wednesday, Aug. 6 • Concert: SLY 45 (vintage rock to modern pop) Thursday, Aug. 7 • Concert: Jeni & Billy (Appalachian folk)
Friday, Aug. 8 • Movie: “Gravity” (PG13), plus Dancin’ Under the People Tree Saturday, Aug. 9 • Concert: TMD & the Brass SOULution (r&b/pop hits) Sunday, Aug. 10 • Concert: Columbia Concert Band (classics & pops) Monday, Aug. 11 • Movie: “Rio” (G) Tuesday, Aug. 12 • Concert: Kajun Kelley (guitar-driven rock) Wednesday, Aug. 13 • Concert: Columbia Jazz Band (jazz) Thursday, Aug. 14 • Concert: Lauren Black (pop/singer/songwriter) Friday, Aug. 15 • Movie: “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (PG-13), plus Dancin’ Under the People Tree
Saturday, Aug. 16 • Concert: Telesma (psychedelic tribal/rock) Sunday, Aug. 17 • Concert: Starvation Army Band (Dixieland) Monday, Aug. 18 • Movie: “Rio 2” (G) Friday, Aug. 22 • Movie: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (PG-13), plus Dancin’ Under the People Tree Saturday, Aug. 23 • Movie: “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (PG-13) Friday, Aug. 29 • Movie: “The Princess Bride” (PG), plus Dancin’ Under the People Tree Saturday, Aug. 30 • Movie: Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph” (PG) Sunday, Aug. 31 • Movie: “The Lego Movie” (PG) Friday, Sept. 5 • Movie: “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” (PG), plus Dancin’ Under the People Tree Saturday, Sept. 6 • Movie: “The Monuments Men” (PG-13) Friday, Sept. 12 • Movie: “Muppets Most Wanted” (PG), plus Dancin’ Under the People Tree Saturday, Sept. 13 • Movie: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (PG-13) All films begin at dusk (about 8:30 p.m.). Concerts are approximately two hours unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. on every day except for Sundays, when they begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/LakefrontFestival. C A M O N T H LY 3
Ron Fedorczak The Columbia Photographer Behind the Scenes By David Greisman
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hot by shot and year after year, Ron Fedorczak has captured the history of Columbia. He and his camera have been there as buildings have gone up and come down, as restaurants open and close, and when various events and festivals are held. For decades, these photos have been donated to the Columbia Archives.
metal shelves. He began providing the “He’s everywhere, and wherever he Archives with photos, including is, he’s documenting what’s going on images he shot in the years before. in Columbia. Nobody else I know is He’s been volunteering since he doing that,” said Barbara Kellner, was in high school and has been director of the Columbia Archives. involved with numerous “His photographs are groups and events. He such a valuable resource,” had previously worked as she said. “A picture a marine engineer, is worth a thousand working on ships out words. Documents tell at sea, and also taught at one part of the story, an engineering school on but a photograph really Maryland’s Eastern Shore. puts it into perspective. Fedorczak shies away We are constantly asked from attention. Anyone is for photographs from allowed to use his photos, Columbia events and of Ron Fedorczak and Archives staff joke that people. And if we didn’t they had to beg him to ask that he be have his photos, we really wouldn’t credited when the photos are published. have that resource to provide.” “He’s so generous,” Kellner said. Fedorczak moved to Columbia “Not only with his time and his from Pennsylvania four decades ago. money, but generous in spirit. He He had gotten a teaching job in loves Columbia.” Baltimore, and he had friends in this new community in Howard County. “I came to visit them and I was From top right: Ron Fedorczak, impressed with the whole idea, and the with camera in hand, photographs city itself,” he said. “It was different.” Columbia’s birthday party celebrations; passersby stop to He’s been shooting photos since, all watch a drum circle at Lake in film. Kellner began as a volunteer Kittamaqundi; Fedorczak, with the Archives in 1983 and recalls kneeling, with Columbia Fedorczak helping put together their International Folk Dancers. 4 C A M O N T H LY
Why We Excite Attended Columbia
By Erin McPhail
olumbia Association has completed two sessions of Excite Columbia, a citizens academy that provides residents with insight into CA’s formation and functions. With the new session kicking off on Sept. 16, we reached out to some of our alumni.
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Why did you take Excite Columbia? Sharonlee Vogel of Long Reach: To not only
learn more, but more importantly, to hear the perspective from CA’s view, which is very broad. Knowing CA’s overview and garnering more background gives an in-depth perspective. Monica Parikh of Hickory Ridge: Our family recently moved to Maryland. I thought it the perfect opportunity to invigorate my interest in public affairs with local knowledge of Columbia’s operations. Lorraine Seelaus of River Hill: I was anticipating becoming a team member in the Member Services Center. Excite Columbia seemed like it would provide a lot of Columbia history and a deeper look into the inner workings of CA.
I imagined that to not only be generally interesting, but I thought it would help in my position of serving CA’s members.
What did you enjoy about Excite Columbia? Marianne Heritage of Town Center: I liked the community atmosphere created in the sessions. I learned a lot from the other people in class, too. Roger Chang of Kings Contrivance: I most enjoyed meeting a cross section of our community in the class and learning from key staff members of the Columbia Association, their duties and responsibilities. Seelaus: I really enjoyed listening to the many speakers on the agenda. I was very impressed that we were addressed by many of the department heads as well as the CA president. I learned about services and departments that I never even knew existed within CA, such as Watershed Management. I also enjoyed the opportunity for dialogue with others in our class. We had a diverse class in terms of age, background, and ethnicity.
Register Now Excite Columbia will resume on Tuesdays, Sept.16-Oct. 21 at CA Headquarters. Classes are held once a week beginning at 6:30p.m. For more information or to register, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Excite or call 410-423-1891. We have a seat waiting for you!
Gloria Smith of Long Reach: I enjoyed getting to know the others, the interactive environment of the class. I definitely enjoyed learning the information. I learned information that people who have lived here numerous years did not know.
How has Excite Columbia helped you? Vogel: I knew quite a bit to begin with.
Excite Columbia filled in a lot of gaps and gave additional background, even for a long time resident. And for those attending who were fairly newcomers, it proved a great resource. Heritage: I understand more about the initial development of Columbia, how it has changed over the years and the struggle to make new changes. Parikh: My participation led me to pay close attention to announcements of CA developments and elections. I even submitted my name for election to the Village Board! I was not elected, but I thought it important to at least offer an option. All of those elected were incumbents, which shows that the community really values their current leaders. That’s a good thing! Chang: With this improved understanding, I am better able to serve the community as a volunteer and chairperson of the Columbia Association Senior Advisory Committee. Smith: I loved it and will encourage others to attend! C A M O N T H LY 5
Free Energy Management Tools Provide Guidance and
Help You Save Money By Jeremy Scharfenberg
olumbia Association (CA) uses informative tools to track its energy usage and identify opportunities where it can be more energy efficient — and you can, too. CA’s energy management program uses the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®, a powerful online tool that records energy usage trends and benchmark performance. CA is not alone; approximately 40 percent of all commercial building space in the United States is benchmarked with this tool. CA also maintains a detailed utilities database, which tracks and reports energy and water use associated with its operations. These tools help CA prioritize its investment in energy efficiency projects and monitor performance over time. Columbia residents can turn to Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), which provides an online tool called the Smart Energy Manager. This online tool provides detailed energy usage information for your
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home, a comparison of energy usage with an average home, cost saving tips, and a customized Home Energy Report. BGE’s Smart Energy Manager is only available for homes equipped with a smart meter. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also provides an online tool called My ENERGY STAR, which provides energy saving tips, action step commitments, a knowledge center, details on numerous ENERGY STAR programs, and tracking of energy cost savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions. My ENERGY STAR provides detailed and useful energy management information. These tools can help you take more control of your energy usage to save money, reduce emissions, and make our community more sustainable. Please go online, get empowered, and help us make a difference today! To learn more please visit EnergyStar.gov and BGE.com/ SmartEnergy.
Jeremy Scharfenberg is CA’s energy manager.
NOW AVAILABLE CA Public Information Guide 2015 f you’re interested in learning more about Columbia Association, be sure to check out this year’s Public Information Guide. It features an overview of CA’s services, programs and amenities and helps show residents what they get for their annual charge dollars. The guide for Fiscal Year 2015 includes information on 2014 projects, 2015 upcoming projects, CA’s history and governance, CA’s board of directors, the CA annual charge, CA’s budget, Columbia’s villages and more. You can view this year’s Public Information Guide at http://bit.ly/ca2015info.
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CA Board Recap
IMPORTANT CA PHONE NUMBERS
t the Columbia Association (CA) Board of Directors meeting held on June 26, the CA Board recognized the six recipients of the Spirit of Columbia scholarship awards; approved appointments to two villages’ architectural committees; discussed oversight of CA’s advisory committees; and selected a date (Oct. 18) for a community input meeting. At the July 10 meeting, the CA Board voted to endorse the current Inner Arbor plan for Symphony Woods. Among other items from the July 10 meeting: CA staff and the Board Operations Committee are working together to recommend strategies for reviewing CA’s charter and by-laws; and the External Relations Committee will be meeting with a facilitator to develop ways to design and publicize the community input meeting that is scheduled for Oct. 18. The July 24 meeting was held after this publication had gone to press. The next scheduled Board of Directors meeting is Thursday, Aug. 14. There is only one CA Board meeting in August. Meetings are held at CA Headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle. Meetings typically begin at 7:30 p.m. For current CA Board of Directors meeting minutes and agendas, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/agendas. Podcasts from board meetings also are available at ColumbiaAssociation.org/podcasts.
CA Headquarters...............................................410-715-3000
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CA Membership Service Center...................410-730-1801 Aquatics Office ..................................................410-312-6332
Columbia Art Center ........................................410-730-0075
Columbia Athletic Club ...................................410-730-6744 Columbia Association Camps.......................410-715-3165
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
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
Supreme Sports Club .......................................410-381-5355
The Racquet Club at Hobbit’s Glen ............410-715-3080 Wilde Lake Tennis Club...................................410-730-3767
Summer Shutdown Schedule ach year, CA closes its facilities for cleaning, renovations and upgrades. Facility-only members are welcome to use CA’s other fitness facilities during that facility’s shutdown period. Here are the remaining dates: Columbia Athletic Club: Shutdown from Aug. 4-Aug. 17, reopens Aug. 18. Indoor tennis will be closed for shutdown as well. Columbia Ice Rink: Shutdown began in June and continues through Aug. 10. Reopens Aug. 11. Columbia Swim Center: Shutdown began in July and continues
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through Aug. 10. Reopens Aug. 11. Supreme Sports Club: Shutdown begins at midnight Aug. 18 and continues through Aug. 24. Reopens at 5 a.m. Aug. 25. During Supreme Sports Club’s shutdown, Columbia Gym will remain open 24/7. It is located at 6151 Daylong Lane in Clarksville in the River Hill Village Center. Also, the pool at Supreme Sports Club will be closed from Aug. 15-Aug 25 for replastering. And Supreme Sports Club Arena closes Aug. 18, with renovations anticipated to be completed by early October.
Hit the Trails (continued from page 1)
Ellicott City • Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, 5001 Meadowbrook Lane, Ellicott City • Roger Carter Community Center, 3000 Milltowne Drive, Ellicott City Elsewhere in Howard County • Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville • North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel For more information, please call 410-313-4700. C A M O N T H LY 7
August
COMMUNITY EVENTS
“Seussical,” presented by Slayton House Conservatory Fri, Aug. 1 • 7pm and Sat, Aug. 2 • 3pm Slayton House Theatre 410-730-3987 • Tickets are $10 for the general public and $8 for students with ID and seniors over 65. Columbia Swims Sat, Aug. 2 and Sun, Aug. 3 • 5-6pm Talbott Springs Pool (Sat) and Running Brook Pool (Sun) ColumbiaAssociation.org/ Pools Children’s Tea With Parents and Grandparents Sun, Aug. 3 • 3-4:30pm Historic Oakland 410-730-4744 • Cost is $12 plus tax per person. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space limited. Reservations required. National Night Out Pool Party Tue, Aug. 5 • 6-9pm Dasher Green Pool 410-381-0202 • Free event for Owen Brown village residents. National Night Out Ice Cream Social Tue, Aug. 5 • 6-7:30pm Vantage Point Road Park 410-730-4744 • Free event for Town Center residents. Call or email tcvillage@ columbiatowncenter.org to register.
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Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Events to learn about more great events happening in Columbia!
Oakland Mills Community Association Pool Party Wed, Aug. 6 • 6:30-8:30pm Tickets $3 for ages 3 and older. Location disclosed after ticket purchased. 410-730-4610
Introduction to Colored Pencil Workshop Sat, Aug. 23 • 9:30am-3pm Columbia Art Center 410-730-0075 $60 Residents/ $70 Non-Residents
Deer Management Workshop Thu, Aug. 7 • 7-9pm The Other Barn 410-730-4610
Braided Bead-Wrap Bracelet Sat, Aug. 23 • 10am-noon Columbia Art Center 410-730-0075 $25 Residents/ $35 Non-Residents
CA Board of Directors Meeting Thu, Aug. 14 • 7:30-11pm CA Headquarters 410-715-3000
Senior Seminars: Lifetime Transitions Wed, Aug. 27 • 5:30-7:30pm Hawthorn Center 410-730-3456
KidSpace Adventure Day Mon, Aug. 18 - Fri, Aug. 22 7am-6pm KidSpace Locations: Columbia Athletic Club and Columbia Gym • For grades K-6. Full Day (7am-6pm) is $50 per child, half day (7am-1pm) is $25 per child. ColumbiaAssociation.org/KidSpace
SAVE THE DATE: Annual Family Luau Fri, Sept. 5 • 6-8pm Supreme Sports Club 410-381-7559 CA Members, $10 per immediate family; Columbia Cardholder, $12 per immediate family; Non-Members, $14 per immediate family. SAVE THE DATE: River Hill Health Fair Sat, Sept. 13 • 11am-2pm River Hill Village Center 410-531-1749 SAVE THE DATE: BikeAbout Sat, Sept. 13 • 9:30am Wilde Lake Park BikeAbout.Eventbrite.com SAVE THE DATE: Caribbean Culture Fest Sun, Sept. 28 • 1:30-4:30pm Miller Branch Library 410-715-3162