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Rec and Parks Director John Byrd

Howard County Recreation and Parks (R&P) Director John Byrd and his staff are across the board kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. Their offices are rather intimidating, however. I approached the front desk of their ultramodern facility on Oakland Mills Road–all bright colors and expansive windows–and told a young man with a friendly smile that I had a 9:30 a.m. appointment to see Mr. Byrd. He placed an index finger gingerly on his headset and said, “Colleen Morgenthau, here to see John.” He said the director would be right with me and motioned for me to have a seat in a chair … Read more

On Labor Organizing With Bryan Coster

A few months back, dear readers, I sent a Facebook direct message to Sue Geckle. She’s the president of the Ellicott City and Western Howard Democratic Club (EC&WHDC) and someone we can always turn to for help of any sort. The day I messaged her, though, I was inquiring about the position of Vice President of EC&WHDC. Colleen and I had heard both that position and that of secretary of the same club were available. “Robert, I was just going to message you about the same thing,” Sue said to me. It’s funny how these things work out, I thought … Read more

Events: Transgender Day of Remembrance Service at UUCC

I heard myself gasp, “Bruce…” in my sleep. And then immediately after that I heard Robert say, “Colleen! Colleen!” as he shook me awake. My eyes shot open to see him sitting up in bed next to me wearing that disturbed expression that people do when they’re trying to wake you up from a acting out a dream in your sleep. “What happened?!” he asked me. I felt dazed and breathless like Dorothy waking and recounting her dream at the end of The Wizard of Oz. I told him I had seen Bruce, my best friend from high school who … Read more

Andrea, 12, Ellicott City

How long have you lived in Howard County? 10 What’s the best thing about living in Howard County? The school system What’s one thing you’d change about life in Howard County? Nothing What’s your happiest memory of life in Howard County? Living with my grandparents What’s your favorite place to eat in the area? Pizza Hut What’s your favorite store in the mall? Abercrombie & Fitch and Nordstrom. What’s your favorite HoCo sports team—school, league, etc.? The River Hill Hawks Which village center is your favorite? River Hill What’s the most pressing issue facing HoCo? Development and pollution, If you … Read more

On Friendship With Latin America With Leslie Salgado

As I walked into the Starbucks in Wilde Lake Village Center, I thought about how I didn’t have a clear picture of what Leslie Salgado looked like. I was meeting her, the chair of Howard County Friends of Latin American (FoLA), a local advocacy group at 1:00 p.m. Oh, the joys of “Campaign Brain,” as Colleen and I have come to call the phenomenon of being overwhelmed by all there is to do in campaign season. Sure, it was the day after the election, but my head was still spinning, readers! We managed to meet up, of course. But still–I … Read more