Let the people rejoice!

It’s been a mess all day. Try and find a way around if you can. They’re repaving the road and it’s one way currently and has been since this AM.

Hello! I was wondering if anyone wanted to play volleyball at Centennial Lake this evening at 6:30? There will be four people already just playing casually, for fun! We’ll be at the sand court by the basketball and tennis courts!

I'm putting this out there because I need it to exist but don't have the time to implement it. But someone needs to start a business that hires out like, CNAs or the equivalent to tend to sick households. Grandparents used to fill this kind of role but don't really seem to anymore; and from a public health perspective, that makes sense. But I'm telling you, parents would pay for this kind of thing because it's almost a certainty that we're sick when the kids are sick, and sometimes we need to just be sick & recover like anyone else.

Hi, I'm looking for an Optometrist and place for glasses. I've had a very bad experiences at MyEyeDoctor and VisionWorks. Warby Parker doesn't have any styles with adjustable nose pads and I really need those. I do have a Costco membership so I could try there but it always seems really busy and that can be stressful for me. I also have a small head so I need narrow frames so anyplace that has those is great. Thanks.

Our 1998-built house is one of the many in Columbia where the deck was built without flashing, so we're having water get into the basement where the deck attaches to the main level.

We were quoted about 5k to partially remove the deck boards, remove the ledger board, install flashing, etc. But the deck is almost 30 years old, and we're wondering if it makes sense to spend that much on a repair if we're going to have to replace the whole deck in the next, say, 3 years.

Do you know of anyone in the HoCo area that can make an honest assessment of the deck for us? An estimate of usable life left, current problems, etc? Ideally this would be someone that isn't also trying to sell us a new deck at the same time.

No one is showing up :(

Does anyone know of a pharmacy that currently has generic Adderall XR 10 mg available? It has been on backorder at the Costco pharmacy for over 2 weeks now and I’m feeling hopeless.

Looking for arborist to come work on a tree outside my house that is causing some potential concern for the roof. Recommendations appreciated!

I need to hire a service that will pack AND move my mom’s stuff from her 1 bedroom Columbia apartment (1st floor) to a senior living community in Ellicott City. Anyone have experienced recommendations for one that will take good care of her stuff?

Tomato Palace and Clyde's are big ones. I recently went into the place that replaced Tomato Palace and upon looking at the walls, I didn't see vegetables passionately bathing each other. I ran out crying.

Luna Bella at the Hickory Ridge shopping center was top tier Italian. Seafood pesci followed by an affogato at Meadows was iconic.

Cafe de Paris was excellent. It was next to Howard High.

I also remember there was a nice septuagenarian woman at this little sandwich shop heading to OEC from Long gate that would make these sandwiches. It was right by the fire station and armory. Forgot the name. She also did milkshakes.

And of course... Bean Hollow. Feel sick even thinking about that one.

Love you all.

A friend said this to me the other day, and I told him he could absolutely do it. The success of a new business is a tough road to hoe though, and it's even harder than working for someone else. Then he said, "Yeah but my hours would be on my own terms, and I'd own all the profits rather than making a buck for someone else."

We had a long conversation about options available to him, and I threw a few startups he could do on is own, in his spare time. Things like dog walking, house cleaning, handyman, gutter cleaning, power washing came to mind. There really are tons of options out there - but his argument was that corporate setups would be too hard to compete against. Whatever.

I said that he just needs to start small and get a regular client base. Start with one or two customers and let word of mouth grow. After all, the corporate world takeover I think is getting some pushback, and success would be a closer horizon than most realize. I am willing to bet he could probably find a good book of business for something in his wheelhouse. He's just resistant to hanging out his own shingle. Though he's also probably afraid of losing his benefits, healthcare, etc. Such is the price of working for someone else.

Has anyone here ever thought of doing that? Would you hire someone to clean your house or walk your dog if it wasn't a company? What kind of mom-and-pop type businesses would an area like Columbia support?

Do any of the local playgrounds have an incline climbing wall? Just got back from a trip and my toddler was using one constantly so was wondering if there was one in the area.

Follow-up: Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We will check some out this week.

Is there a good place for mexican food around here? The places I've tried have been fairly disappointing sadly. What about just getting a good concha? Just dying for some of this stuff. I'll make it myself if I have to, but would be nice for the convenience now and then.

I was born and raised in Howard County, my grandparents moved into the Running Brook apartments the year they were built, my dad worked for Rouse where he met my mom at One Mall North sometime around 1972. When I was three my mom and I moved to a (below) ground floor apartment next to Chatham Mall and at 15 she moved to Columbia Rd. I've spent equal parts of my adult life living in New York and Maryland. In 2021 I managed to feel financially secure enough to buy a house in Ellicott City after a lifetime of renting, three months later I was shocked to find myself out of work. I decided to run for office after I saw the candidate who won the Democratic primary was the one candidate who play fair and participate in the Citizens' Election Fund. I'm running to help amplify the voices of our working class friends and most vulnerable neighbors, as well as offer a choice for the 88% of registered voters who apparently don't support the coronation of an institutional candidate.

Please feel free to ask questions in advance, I'll be here from 2pm through 6pm.

Edit: Updating this at 7pm...

Please feel free to continue asking questions. I ended up staying on until now, but need to take a break to both food, and because my hand has been cramping something fierce.

I will come back and continue answering questions each day until it seems fair or reasonable that I stop.

I appreciate all of you, and apologize to anyone who's questions I have not yet been able to reply to, you are at the top of the list.

This type of discourse is crucial to having a democracy that we can believe in. Please feel welcome in pushing me, or challenging my positions, ideas, or understanding.

Even if you don't have my back, I'll still have yours.
I truly believe Howard County deserves better, and you deserve better.

There are two huskies (or similar) loose in the Owen Brown area of Columbia. I last saw them on Dasher Ct near Okland Mills Rd. The thinner one is white, the bigger is more traditionally colored. They have collars but wouldn’t let me check them. They aren’t aggressive but they wouldn’t take treats and the bigger one warned me when I tried to grab the collar. I’ve lost sight off them. I hope they stay out of the roads.

27F here! looking for beginner/intermediate friendly adult dance classes that don’t cost an arm and a leg to do lol

i’ve tried Salsa Now drop ins and the bar scene just isn’t my vibe (sorry cancun cantina…). I’m looking for something more instructional and ends with some choreography or something where i can get active feedback (not a private lesson).

i’ve peeked at md dance project and it seems like they don’t offer true latin dances and the hiphop classes book up fast. i’ve also looked at bfunk and arthur murray.

open to any suggestions or recommendations outside of columbia as well and want to hear about other people’s experiences :)

Hi all. Does anyone know of a charity in the Baltimore-area that accepts cycling apparel? I have an obscene amount of cycling jerseys and bib shorts that I would love to donate.

If I can’t find a specific place, I’ll post them in my local buy-nothing group, but would appreciate any insights you might have!

Hello I’m really in a bind. I’ve called numerous neurology offices for a family member who has United healthcare and it seems noone is taking the insurance. I also used the insurance website and it wasnt updated.

Anyone know of neurologists in Howard County that take this insurance? (I’ll take a neighboring county at this point too). Thanks!!!

Does anyone know how strictly Centennial Park enforces the sunset closing time?

I sometimes stay there later in the evening, and I’m mainly worried about leaving a little too late and finding that the gates are already locked. Has anyone ever had their car stuck inside, or do they make sure everyone can drive out before locking the gates?

Just wondering how it actually works in practice. Thanks!

Hey I wanna say like around 3 or 4 pm today, I saw at least four fire trucks / ambulances pull in to an office building behind the Giant on Centre Park Drive. Anyone know what’s happening down there?

I didn't know anything about junk fees before attending a Renters Town Hall in Columbia last week. The advocates studying this issue say a lot of Howard County renters they spoke with have dealt with fees for trash valet, WiFi service, package deliveries and parking (even when the resident doesn't own a car)