ca monthly may 2015

KidsDayReturns June 6

Active TransportationAction Agenda HelpsImprove CA’s Pathways

CA Releases ThirdQuarter Finance Report

CA MON TH LY 1

MonthlyA PUBLICATION OF COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION MAY2015

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6CA 3

ColumbiaAssociation.org • Facebook.com/ColumbiaAssociation • Instagram.com/ColumbiaAssn • Twitter.com/ColumbiaAssn • YouTube.com/CATVchannel • Pinterest.com/ColumbiaAssnJoin theConversation!

By Tripp Laino

W ith more than 3,600 acres of openspace and 94 miles of pathways totake care of, spring and summermarks a particularly busy time for

Columbia Association’s Open Space teams. “This is when we really start ramping up spring

cleanup at our facilities,” Sean Harbaugh, CA’s assistant divisiondirector of OpenSpace Management,said. “It’s spring andeverything’s gettinggreen, so we’re doingprep at facilities,moving dead leaves and old mulch, as well as perennial andshrub pruning.”

Working behind thescenes in maintenance,

landscaping and other duties, the team of about 60staff members from CA’s Open Space andLandscape crews, plus some contractors, help tokeep CA’s open space in good condition for

(See Open Space, page 6)

Open Space ManagementCA’s Grass, Paths Prepared for Spring and Summer by

Photos BY david wright

Members of CA’s Open Space Management team, above and right, plant trees at Locust Park Neighborhood Center.

2 CA MON TH LY

Columbia’s Downtown isbeginning to take shape. Newbuildings are being constructed.Plans for the Crescent area wereapproved by the county PlanningBoard. Unfortunately,some of Columbia’svillage centers are laggingbehind.

Wilde Lake is anexception. Its renovationis underway, though onlyafter lengthy andcontentious meetingsabout that village center’sfuture. Long Reach VillageCenter, meanwhile, is next inline. Howard County Governmentdeclared the center to be a blightedarea; this was a necessary step inenabling the county to purchase amajority of the property and jump-start the revitalization process.

There’s now more informationavailable than when Wilde Lake’sredevelopment began, thanks to avillage center market studycompleted under a partnership

between CA and the county. A teamof consultants analyzed the currenteconomic conditions and suggestedpotential opportunities forColumbia’s village centers. Thatstudy included a separate appendix

for Long Reach.Hopefully, the study willhelp guide discussionsgoing forward regardingthe limits of what isfeasible and what mightsimply be wishful yetunrealistic thinking.

The county governmentis in the process of puttingtogether a renewal plan.Once that is approved by

the County Council, the governmentwould then request proposals fromthe private sector for bringing theplan to fruition. The county isholding four public meetings thatwill provide information to LongReach residents while seeking theirinput for the plan. The secondmeeting is scheduled for Thursday,May 28, from 7-9pm at Stonehouse,8775 Cloudleap Court in the

Long Reach Village Center.The county doesn’t own the entire

village center. There are also smallerprivately owned parcels. CA ownsStonehouse, which is the villagecommunity center, and theColumbia Art Center. Any plan putforward will take into considerationthe concerns of CA and the otherparcel owners, as well as villageresidents. I am looking forward toCA participating fully in theseupcoming discussions to achieve the best possible results for LongReach’s residents.

On that note, I have enjoyed theopportunity to serve mycommunity during these last twoyears and have learned so muchabout what CA is and has to offer.Unfortunately, distant familyobligations require an increasingamount of my time, so I need tomove on. The elections held in lateApril will bring a new representativefrom Long Reach.

Thank you all,Russ Swatek

Long Reach Village Center Renewal

Letter from Long ReachCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS2014-2015

Reginald AveryOakland [email protected]

Michael CornellRiver [email protected]

Brian DunnKings [email protected]

Jeanne KetleyTown [email protected]

Alan KleinHarper’s [email protected]

Nancy McCordWilde [email protected]

Tom O’ConnorDorsey’s [email protected]

Gregg SchwindHickory [email protected]

Andrew StackOwen [email protected]

Russell SwatekLong [email protected]

Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman,along with the Long Reach Village Board,has scheduled meetings to seek input fromresidents about the revitalization of the

Long Reach Village Center.Sessions will be held from 7-9pm at Stonehouse in

the Village Center on May 28, June 11 and Sept. 17. Howard County Government acquired the majority

of the Village Center property in October 2014 and purchased the former Safeway site in February2015. The county will develop a revitilization plan,

then seek private developers to purchase the center and implement the plan.

Each meeting will allow time for presentations as well as comments and questions from thoseattending.

For more information, visit the Long Reach VillageCenter redevelopment page on the county’s websiteat howardcountymd.gov/LongReachor contact Mark Thompson, Director of DowntownRedevelopment at 410-313-2350 or [email protected].

By Russ Swatek

Note: This is as of April 20;CA Monthly went to pressbefore the April 25 elections

Revitalizing Long Reach Village Center

Russ Swatek

S ummer might notofficially start until June21 by some counts, butCA is kicking things off

early with the annual KidsDaycelebration on Saturday, June 6.

“Summer with CA is indeed ourbest time of the year,” said ErinMcPhail, CA’s communications andevents manager. “KidsDay kicks offour family friendly events for thesummer. We have something foreveryone to enjoy, plus some goodprizes, fun and food!”

The free annual event is open tothe public, from 10am-2pm atColumbia SportsPark, 5453Harpers Farm Road.

Activities include all-you-can-batsessions at the batting cages andMini-golf, free for kids 13 andunder; teens and parents can

participate for a small fee ($5 forone activity, $7 for both).

Other free activities include amoonbounce, Zumba® for Kids,and arts and crafts. KidsDay alsofeatures a photo booth, facepainting, animal balloons, dancing,raffles and more.

“I absolutely love anyopportunity to meet members ofour community during CA events,and provide them with an avenue

to enjoy what’s really mostimportant to all of us — goodquality family time,” McPhail said.“I hope everyone can make it outto KidsDay on June 6th!”

Parents and kids can also learnmore about CA’s youth programs,classes, camps and other special

offers from various departments. Italso includes a variety of activitiesfor the whole family.

Food and beverages are availablefor purchase. For moreinformation, visitColumbiaAssocation.org or call410-423-1891.

CA MON TH LY 3

At the Columbia Association Board of Directors meeting heldApril 9, CA’s Board approved staff’s recommendation for repairsto preserve the Swim Center and a recommendation to replaceSplashDown, with directions to staff to explore other

configurations for the slide landing or otherwise replace with the same.The board also approved appointments to the Architectural Resource

Committee for FY16 and a recommendation from general counsel

to release closed meeting minutes. Additionally, board members approved a letter urging the Inner Arbor

Trust to take all necessary steps to complete construction on projects thathave been approved by summer 2016, including the new pathways;provide the public with a timeline for completion of its first project and asecond timeline with estimated dates for the completion of subsequentprojects; and an appointment of a Long Reach representative to the Watershed Advisory Committee, among other actions.

The board’s April 23 meeting took place after CA Monthlywent to press.

The next scheduled Board of Directors meetings are May 14 and 28.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 meetingsare available at ColumbiaAssociation.org/Podcasts.

KidsDayOffers Family-Friendly Fun for Everyone

Face painting is just one of many great family-friendly activities at KidsDay.

BoardRecapCA

“KidsDay kicks off our familyfriendly events for the summer.We have something foreveryone to enjoy, plus somegood prizes, fun and food!”Erin McPhail, CA’s communications and events manager

2015

4 CA MON TH LY

C olumbia Association completed three quarters of Fiscal Year 2015$4.3 million over the budgeted increase in net assets for the sameperiod. Total income of nearly $58 million was slightly under budgetfor the period, and approximately $1.2 million, or 2.2 percent higher

than the same period in FY14. Total operating expenses of $43.3 million were 9.8 percent below budget, and essentially flat compared to the same periodlast year. Three quarters of the way through this fiscal year, CA anticipatesending FY15 with an increase in net assets of about $5 million. Financialhighlights from several of CA’s department and division directors are below.

CA RELEASESTHIRD QUARTER

FINANCIAL REPORTFOR FISCALYEAR

Sport and FitnessThe division completed the period $238,000

and 7.5 percent better than budget, but is 4.3percent behind FY14. It is expected that Sportand Fitness will be $764,000 below budget forthe year, due primarily to the impact on feeincome from the delayed opening of Haven onthe Lake and the construction of the Hobbit’sGlen Golf clubhouse, among other initiatives.

Highlights from the third quarter included theopening of Haven on the Lake in January, hiring475 outdoor pool lifeguards and restructuringthe Personal Training department after hiringthree fitness supervisors. Additionally, SupremeSports Club saw its heaviest use on record withmore than 3,000 visits in a 24-hour period.

Community ServicesThe Community Services Division finished the

third quarter $488,000 ahead of budget, andexpects to finish the year $219,000 ahead ofbudget. The positive variance is partially due towriting off $190,000 of fee-related expenses inthe first quarter, related to the State of Marylandassigning a $190,000 bond bill grant from CA toInner Arbor Trust Inc. for the design andconstruction of Symphony Woods Park.

The third quarter subsidy from the annualcharge helps support CA programs including: the Columbia Archives, the Sister Cities program,Art Center, and Youth and Teen Center. It alsoprovides support to the village associations in theamount of $4,218,000 for various village projectsand community centers.

Communications and MarketingThe communications and marketing team had

many successful media campaigns, including

articles about the “Columbia It Is” exhibit at theColumbia Archives, the Lake Kittamaqundipathway loop and the CA budget hearing, amongothers. Press pick-up included the Associated Press,Columbia Flier and Baltimore Sun, among others.

The team communicated with the public andCA members via email, social media campaigns(including the launch of a Pinterest page),publications and video packages. The team alsoimplemented a new eNewsletter, CA MonthlyDigest, which goes to all members and all otheremail addresses associated with CA. On thebranding front, new signs are being created tohighlight areas where CA has work in progressfrom the Open Space team and ColumbiaMatters Radio was launched March 1 inpartnership with HCC radio.

Community Building and Open SpaceThe Community Building and Open Space

Service Bureau completed the third quarter ofFY15 nearly $2.1 million better than budget,and essentially even as compared to the sameperiod in FY14.

Noteworthy accomplishments during the thirdquarter included completion of the ColumbiaMarket Study final report, which identifiescurrent market conditions and future potentialopportunities for Columbia’s village centers, andthe relationship of the centers to other areas inColumbia; presentations to various organizations,including Howard County Watershed StewardsAcademy, Chesapeake Executive Council’sCitizen Advisory Committee and 20th AnnualMaryland Water Monitoring Council; monitoredplanning and land use development initiatives inColumbia; and updates to the online Planningand Development Tracker.

Getting outside for a hikeor leisurely stroll issimple thanks toColumbia Association's

94 miles of networked pathwaysand CA’s Active TransportationAction Agenda aims to improvethat network.

In the two years since the ActiveTransportation Action Agenda,informally known as ConnectingColumbia, was approved byColumbia Association’s Board ofDirectors, CA has completed morethan two dozen recommendedprojects aimed at providing a moreconnected Columbia for pedestriansand cyclists.

The action agenda aims toimprove and expand the pathwaynetwork’s infrastructure byconnecting key destinations forpedestrians and bicyclists, developpathway principles and designguidelines and to educate andencourage people to use them.

Unfamiliar with navigatingColumbia? Columbia Association:Pathways app is available on iOSand Android, and puts access to allother amenities right in yourpocket. Features include a compass

tool, GPS point location and linedistances. Users can also find more information about villagecenters and facilities by clickingappropriate icons.

Printed maps are available for a small fee; visit your villagecommunity center or the Customerand Membership Service Center atCA’s headquarters for a copy.

Improving the pathway network

In the last year, several significantaccomplishments have comethrough, highlighted by thecompletion of the LakeKittamaqundi pathway loop, whichmeets CA’s new 10-foot widthstandard for primary pathways. The 10-foot width aligns withnational standards for multi-usepathways. CA will also beginimplementation of new pathwaybridges in 2015 to meet this new10-foot wide standard, starting withthe bridge from Vantage Point to Lake Kittamaqundi.

Others widened to meet thisstandard include Oakland MillsRoad to Lake Elkhorn and thepathway intersection at Little

Patuxent Parkway and VantagePoint Road to Lake Kittamaqundi.CA also partnered with HowardCounty Government, providingeasements to allow the constructionof the Blandair Park to HowardCounty General Hospital pathwayto be completed.

CA continued implementation ofits pathway signage program this

year including signage from LakeElkhorn to Maryland Rt. 108 andto Stevens Forest NeighborhoodCenter, designed to help usersnavigate the pathways more easily.

2014 marked the first year ofpedestrian and bicycle counts,which counted use at key pathway

CA MON TH LY 5

Extending the Reach of our Communities’ Pathways

Photo BY J.M. Eddins Jr.

CA's 94 miles of pathways offer opportunities for family recreation and fitness.

ConnectingColumbia

(See Pathway, page 7)

6 CA MON TH LY

Partner of the YearAward for CA

Open Space(continued from page 1)

CA has received an ENERGY STAR Awardfor Excellence from the U.S. Department ofEnergy and U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency for our work promoting energyefficiency in Columbia!

For more than two years CA has promotedthe use of ENERGY STAR products and

greater participationin all ENERGY STARand associated BGESmart Energy Saversprograms. CA was

selected based our numerous communityengagement activities including developing andpromoting energy education videos andimplementing our home energy efficiencyupgrade cooperative.

The awards for 2015 recognize 128 of the 16,000 active ENERGY STAR partnersand CA is only the seventh organization inMaryland to win the award.

Free outdoor yoga classes will be held every second Sunday June through September, 6:30-7:30pm.Please contact Haven on the Lake 410-715-3020 for more information.Pre-registration is required. Check-in will occur day of event.

SUNSETCOMMUNITYYOGA June-September6:30-7:30pm

Haven on the Lake and Whole Foods Present Outdoor

facilities, park areas, pathways and certainneighborhood areas, Harbaugh said. CA’sfacilities are mowed weekly, and theneighborhood open space areas on a bi-weekly basis.

While winter weather provides uniquechallenges for staff, summer is not withoutits own challenges. Thunderstorms bringhigh winds and rain which bring downtree limbs and cause other damage.

Crews search for and remove downedlimbs around facilities and pathways afterstorms. If the damaged tree is around afacility, it gets removed, but in open spaceareas, the trees are sometimes downed and moved to areas free of pedestrians,Harbaugh said.

CA receives calls from the communitythat let them know about debris or otherconditions, if they occur. If you see an area of concern on CA property, call 410-312-6330 or email [email protected].

“People are coming out of hibernationand they tend to visit the outdoor areas morenow,” he said. “With almost 4,000 acres ofproperty, and 94 miles of paths, there’scertainly a lot to explore and enjoy.”

residents to enjoy all year long, but thingsget a little hectic when the world begins tobloom.

Crews plant tens of thousands of flowersaround CA facilities, as well as locationsnear welcome signs and village signs. Theteams are also preparing to provide supportfor CA and community events like DogDay Afternoon, KidsDay and LakefrontWednesday Lunchtime Concert Series.

Another major aspect of care is mowingthe grass, which is a bit more strenuousthan home lawn care, given the largeamount of grass to maintain. CA’s mowersand landscaping equipment pull doubleduty: in the winter, they’re outfitted withplows to help clear snow, and they’reswitched over to mowing in April.

“This year and last year gave us quite abit of a curveball with how late itsnowed,” Harbaugh said. “The timing hasbeen a challenge, but our guys do afantastic job of keeping our grounds ingood operating condition.”

Mowing at CA includes all of our

CA MON TH LY 7

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 ...................................410-715-3164

Supreme Sports Club ..................................410-381-5355

Wilde Lake Tennis Club .............................410-730-3767

CA PHONE NUMBERS

C olumbia Matters Radio is a new, fast-paced 30-minute programabout Columbia Association and its partners produced by CA and Howard Community college. Its hosts are Mary Weeks, the producer

of Columbia Matters TV and Cris Oviedo,an HCC alum, and HCC Radio’s program director.

Columbia Matters Radio airs on HCC Radio on Sundays at 1:30pm and Mondays at 9:30am. Listen in via howardcc.edu/hccradio. Log on to SoundCloud.com/ColumbiaAssn to listen anytime.

Pathway(continued from page 5)

intersections. The 2015 counts willtake place from May 23-30.

Awareness and educationIn addition to maintenance and

new projects, CA worked to improveawareness and education for pathwayand roadway users. Projects includedorganizing an ad hoc committee thatmade recommendations to the countyto develop a share the pathway androad civility education campaign; andpartnering with the HorizonFoundation to host transportationand urban design expert Mark Fentonas part of CA’s Community BuildingSpeaks Series.

CA partnered with HowardCounty Government in several ways,including advocating for new pathwayconnections: a proposed sidewalkalong McGaw Road and DobbinRoad to Oakland Mills Road; and amulti-use pathway along the west sideof Cedar Lane between Harper’sChoice Village Center and HowardCounty General Hospital to connectto the planned pathway betweenBlandair Park and the hospital.

CA staff worked with Howard

County’s Department of Planningand Zoning to highlight intersectionsin need of safety improvements.Howard County Government wasalso a partner in a pair of feasibilitystudies, a potential pathway extensionfrom Lake Kittamaqundi to theexisting Patuxent Branch Trail ofabout three miles, and a grant-fundedstudy on the feasibility of a bike-share

program. The study found that a bikeshare is feasible andrecommended a pilot program in central Columbia.

Additionally, this summer, theHoward County Police Department’sCommunity Outreach Division willhave a squad of officers designated to patrol the pathways by bicycle.

For more information aboutConnecting Columbia, visitColumbiaAssociation.org/ConnectingColumbia.

Columbia AssociationAnnounces New Radio Partner

In the two years sinceConnecting Columbia wasapproved by CA’s Board of Directors, CA hascompleted more than twodozen recommended projectsaimed at providing a moreconnected Columbia forpedestrians and cyclists.

8 CA MON TH LY

MayCommunity Events Visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/Events to learnmore about great events happening in Columbia!

Harper’s ChoiceRed Ribbon Yard SaleSat. May 2 • 8am-NoonHarpers’s Choice VillageContact Susan Coghlan, [email protected] Visit harperschoice.org for a map of participating streets.

Shred & eCycle EventSat. May 2 • 9am-1pmLocation: The parking lot between KahlerHall and the Bain CenterContact Susan Coghlan, [email protected] • Limit threebags/small boxes of material forshredding. Visit harperschoice.org foreCycling information and restrictions.

River Hill Pull and PlantSun. May 3 • 10am-1pmMeet at the Columbia Gym6151 Day Long Lane, ClarksvillePull more invasive species near the bigpond by the Columbia Gym. We’ll alsoreplace them with native plants.

Afternoon TeaSun. May 3 • 3:30-5pmHistoric Oakland Manor, 5430 VantagePoint Road • 410-730-4744Cost $28 plus tax per personReservations and payment requiredthree days in advance.

Long Reach MasterGardener: Creating anOutdoor Garden Space/RoomTue. May 5 • 7pmStonehouse • 8775 Cloudleap Court410-730-8113

Kings ContrivanceFlower Transfer Coffee and Bagel EventThu. May 7 • 10-11:30amKings Contrivance CommunityAssociation • Amherst House 7251 Eden Brook Drive • 410-381-9600Make a card and a piece of fabric usingflower transfer! Bagels and coffeeprovided. Please call to RSVP. KC residents only.

Town CenterCreating Columbia Mini CourseThu. May 7 and Thu. May 14 • 7pmHistoric Oakland • 410-715-3103 5430 Vantage Point RoadColumbiaMiniCourse.eventbrite.comDiscover highlights of the work that wentinto the early planning of Columbia.

Snow White presented byKaydee PuppetsFri. May 8 • 10amRainbow Theatre at Slayton House10400 Cross Fox Lane • $5Contact Carol [email protected]

Hickory Ridge Flea Market Sat. May 9 • 8am-Noon The Hawthorn Center 6175 Sunny SpringAntiques, clothes, craft items andbusiness products from a range of sellers.

Owen Brown Community Yard SaleSat. May 16 • 8am-3pmNeighborhoods in Owen Brownwith Red Ribbons • 410-381-0202Please visit our community yard sale. All participating streets will have a redribbon tied to their street sign. Visit owenbrownvillage.org to see participating streets.

River Hill RideAboutSat. May 16 • 9:30 amRiver Hill Village Center6020 Daybreak Circle, ClarksvilleRiverHillRideAbout.eventbrite.comFree 2.8-mile self-guided ride on marked trail in River Hill. Perfect foryoung families1

Long Reach Village Yard Sale Sat. May 16Long Reach Village • 410-730-8113

The Bernice Kish GalleryMay 14 - June 9Reception: Sat. May 16 • 2-4pm10400 Cross Fox Lane • 410-730-3987Gallery hours: Mon.-Thu.: 9am-9pm;Fri.: 9am-5pm; Sat.: [email protected] Prettyman “Contemporary Images”April Rimpo “Exploring Cultures through Color”Floyd Roberts, SculptureCarole Black, Gallery Director

Columbia Art CenterFamily Art FrenzySun. May 17 • 1-3pmCome and enjoy a free family friendly art activity!6100 Foreland Garth • 410-730-0075Art.Staff@ColumbiaAssociation.orgColumbiaArtCenter.org

Art in the Afternoon with John Milton WesleySun. May 17 • 3-5pmHistoric Oakland Manor • 410-730-47445430 Vantage Point RoadTake an enlightening journey throughAfrican-American history with theeclectic musical offerings of longtimeColumbia resident John Milton Wesley.

Faculty/Student Annual ExhibitionMay 14 - June 21Reception: Tue. May 19 • 5:30-7:30pm6100 Foreland Garth • 410-730-0075Features a variety of art created by instructors and students of Columbia Art [email protected]

Hickory Ridge 50+ Lunch Thu. May 28 • 11:30am-1pm,The Hawthorn Center 6175 Sunny SpringHoward County Office of Tourism willencourage you to vacation in your ownbackyard with information on places tovisit in Howard County. $5 per person.Call 410-730-7327 to reserve your spot.

Be Creatively Social at The Other Barn Thu. May 28 • 6:30-8:30pmOakland Mills • 410-730-46105851 Robert Oliver [email protected]/oaklandmills.org$25/Advance reservation required byMay 20; Includes wine, cheese, painting,supplies and canvas.

River Hill Annual Flea MarketSun. June 7 • 10am-1pmRiver Hill Village Center parking lot6020 Daybreak Circle, ClarksvilleShop for treasures! Household,antiques, books, furniture, toys,clothing, etc.

Hickory Ridge Ice Cream SocialFri. May 29 • 7-8:30pm The Hawthorn Center • 6175 Sunny SpringCelebrate the start of summer with a big bowl of ice cream and toppings. $2 per person or $5 per family. No reservation necessary.

Save the date!Hobbit’s Glen Golf ClubClubhouse grand openingMay 31. All are welcome.

ca monthly may 2015

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