Oakland Thrills

With the Oakland Mills village election fast approaching, it important to revisit (briefly) the role of the Village Board.

In the view of this author, if one wishes to advocate on behalf of their neighbors, via service on the volunteer board of directors of a community association, it is best if one is – in word and deed – neighborly.

I have seen several village boards in action, and it strikes me that the Board members who demonstrate a certain generosity of spirit as well a dedication to their entire village are the ones who are best equipped to fulfill the service mission of their community association. 

With that in mind, I believe that returning Bill Woodcock and Marcia White to the Oakland Mills Village Board would represent a move in the right direction.  Both are experienced community activists, are highly knowledgeable about local issues, and care deeply about Oakland Mills. 

I don’t know Daniel Kirk-Davidoff personally, but I’ve heard positive feedback from trusted sources on his qualifications.  His candidate statement includes some thoughtful solutions (which is tough to do in a couple of hundred words or less).   Finally, Fred Eiland's background as a Community Organizer, and former Board Member, provides respectable credentials for another term on the Board.  

I encourage all of my OM readers to mark their ballots for White, Woodcock, Kirk-Davidoff and Eiland in the April 25 election.  More information about the election can be found here:  http://oaklandmills.org/?page_id=136.

Stay tuned, as more will follow.

Wine, Wilde Lake and Picnic Watch 2014!

While not a true state of doldrums, the months of July and August tend not to be periods of high drama when it comes to the political scene, at least not in Maryland nowadays.  The new late June primary now provides the opportunity for a pre-Labor Day respite from the crushing grind and manic pace of the trail.  Not a full R & R trip by any means, but a chance to re-group and launch into the General Election with a slightly more humane campaign schedule…at least until September rolls around.

Meanwhile, back in the Great Lake State, a reindeer farmer-and-Santa-Claus-impersonator-turned-U.S. Representative is facing off against a foreclosure attorney-misery profiteer for the GOP nomination for U.S. Congress in Michigan’s 11^th Congressional District.  Truth > Fiction. The outcome of that match-up will be decided on August 5.

In other news, Howard County needs some vineyards and wineries.  While not (yet) an expert on the various soils and micro-climates of possible sites (presumably in the western part of the county), I have to believe, given the success of vineyards in and around Mt. Airy (the Frederick Wine Trail), that oenophiles should have some HoCo destinations from which to choose.  It goes beyond wine, of course.  Wineries tend to be excellent sites for weddings, celebrations, family gatherings, live music and a host of other happenings featuring general merriment. 

In other, other news…I am going through the Board of Education Primary Election returns now.  Why? Because I have odd hobbies. Beyond that, I am hoping to uncover some intriguing precinct-level voting results. With any luck, I will post those findings between now and the end of the month.

Turning to my neighborhood, I am delighted to report that my good friend Yolanda Epps has been appointed to the Wilde Lake Village Board.  She is razor sharp and dedicated to our community; I know she will be an excellent member of the WLVB.   

Speaking of the Village, don’t forget that the Second Annual Wilde Lake Old-Fashioned Picnic will occur on Saturday, September 13 and will run from 11 am to 3 pm.  Good people, good food, good entertainment.  Who can ask for more?

Stay tuned, as more will follow.

Community (disambiguation)

Civic engagement is important.  It offers the individual an opportunity to interact with his or her neighbors, to help build (or renew) a sense of community. 

Community can provide people with a feeling of belonging…or othering.  It is a source of identity.  It is what ends the phrase that begins with “We are…” 

Beyond the declarative, there are the interrogatives.  Are we simply people who live within close proximity or are we something more? What can we accomplish if we talk honestly about our fears and hopes about our common home?  What can happen if we reason together?

In Columbia, Maryland, service on a village board is one way to help shape programs and policies that impact our community.  There are some talented, thoughtful and caring people who serve on these boards.  I am glad they are my neighbors. 

Last May, when there was a vacancy on my local village board, in Wilde Lake, I decided to apply for a position.  I wanted to become more involved in my local community. I thought I could do some good. I was delighted to be appointed.

Thus far in the 2013 – 2014 term, we have worked on some important issues.  We have advocated for our residents and property-owners during a time marked by transition.  As anyone who visits our village center knows, revitalization is well underway.  Soon there will be new homes filled with new neighbors, all just a short distance from neighbors who have lived in Wilde Lake for years, sometimes decades.   Our merchants – those established and those yet to open their doors – will also help shape the latest evolution of our village.   This is a time for great optimism…for the progress-minded.

I hope to continue playing a role in these developments.  It just won’t be as a member of the Wilde Lake Village Board in the 2014 – 2015 term.

Between existing and emerging obligations, I did the math and realized I couldn’t dedicate the amount of hours necessary to do the position right.

Another choice. A tough one, but it feels like the correct one.

I will fulfill the responsibilities of my position for the remainder of the current term. 

I hope the next Board thinks very carefully about our community…not just the past, which is important to know, but also the present and future.   For the next Board, I hope there is a commitment to a pioneering spirit, a willingness to consider bold new ideas to help ensure the vitality of Columbia, and a rededication to the familiar principle that undergirds our larger Howard County community: Choose Civility.       

Stay tuned, as more will follow.

 

Quiet Storm

Yes, an evening post.  Mixing it up. Change is good for the humors.

When I started this blog, I promised to talk about my local community.  Not tonight.  Not at length anyway.  The week ahead is chock full o’menace and I need some time to reflect, to enjoy the silence that Dave Gahan talked about.  Embrace the tranquility before the thunder.

I serve on the Wilde Lake Village Board.  I was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board for the 2013 – 2014 term back in May of last year.  The filing deadline to run in the April elections draws near.  This Thursday, in fact.  At 9:00 pm local time.

I have made my decision as to whether or not I will run for a full-term. I would go ahead and tell everyone my plans but the keyboard seems to be resisting.  Perhaps it is relishing in the peacefulness of the night too. So, I will just post the “news” tomorrow.

Stay tuned, as more will follow.