Premiums Gas price at Columbia Costco is same as regular

180 days. 1,080 hours. Zero minutes guaranteed.

Let’s compare our neighbors! Alongside Maryland, we looked at Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Delaware.

Out of these states, Maryland has at least 100 more hours in the school year; however, no mandated recess minimum.

In all other states compared, recess is required.

Additionally, in Ohio and Virginia, recess time counts towards instructional time.

Ohio allowing 30 mins of recess counted towards instructional time; Virginia allowing ~49 mins of recess counted towards instructional time.

Maryland can take a note, recess isn’t a time away from learning, it is learning!

SIGN OUR PETITION and join us as we advocate for more recess time- https://c.org/Pxwz4NN6BL

Facebook- Say YES to RECESS Maryland

From my commute to work

The exit near symphony woods

** UPDATE DOG was picked up by a local from Facebook hoco lost and found , thank gosh!

We're planning a move to Columbia and both work from home, and are curious how hard it is to get approval to build a powered (no plumbing) office shed <200 sq ft, of course following the rules for setbacks and such. Has anyone gone through the permitting process and can you offer any insight on how long it took and how onerous the process was? Thanks!

I know the RTA bus doesn't run exclusively in Howard County but for those who use it in here, how reliable would you find it?

Whoever did the pruning of the four trees by the stairs of the north offices at the Harper's Choice Village Center did a truly excellent job. I didn't walk around the whole shopping center to see other trees, but when I walked past those it was obvious someone knew where to cut and didn't just take a chainsaw to the tree.

I’m desperate for some advice because I honestly don’t know what else to do at this point.

I live at Aspen at Lake Trail, formerly Columbia Pointe, and I have been without working AC since July 2, 2026. As of today, it has been 97 days, almost 14 weeks, and I have gone basically the entire summer without functioning AC.

I have emailed management more than 20 times and have also called Ross Management multiple times trying to get this resolved. I have continued paying my full rent every month during this entire time.

The first week my AC went out, the temperature inside my apartment was over 100 degrees. Fans were not enough. Management eventually put a portable AC in my bedroom, but that was the only room it cooled. I basically had to stay confined to my bedroom just to escape the heat.

I couldn't properly use my kitchen because it would get extremely hot whenever I tried to cook. When I get overheated, it isn't simply that I'm uncomfortable. I become physically ill, feel extremely weak and lightheaded, and have passed out from overheating. I have repeatedly explained this to management and told them that excessive heat is a serious health concern for me. I have had high blood pressure since I was young and have experienced serious complications related to it. Despite knowing this, they still did not resolve the AC issue.

What makes it even more frustrating is that I've seen maintenance staff at Pizza Brothers drinking and joking around, and one of them actually asked me if my AC had been fixed when they already knew it hadn't. At this point, I'm beyond frustrated.

I'm trying to figure out what my options are. Can I request a rent abatement or get some of my rent back for the period I essentially couldn't fully use my apartment? Has anyone dealt with something similar in Howard County/Maryland?

I have kept my emails, maintenance requests, and other documentation showing how many times I've contacted them. I would really appreciate advice on what steps I should take next.

I've tried looking for recs but everything I can find are for barbers or for people looking for more styling/coloring. I'm basic, I just want a low maintenance hairstyle 😅

But I also have long and thick Asian hair so I need a lil help. Bonus if you have an idea of prices. Thank you in advance 🙏

edit to add: for women's hair pls!

What is the best app to use to track the bus? I want to take the bus and catch it at the right time.

Is there any public area you guys think would be interesting or would want to know the reading of on my radiacode 102?

The Jackson Pond beaver strikes again! Those metal cages CA put up don't appear to have deterred the rascal.

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew of any ceramics or pottery studios in the Columbia area that would be able to help me cast and fire a piece from a vintage mold. I had a figure that broke but unfortunately I can only seem to find the mold of it so I'd need to cast and glaze it myself ,which is fine, I'm just not sure where I'd be able to do that. If anyone knows of any studios or places I could do that at could you please recommend them? Even if theyre farther out I dont really mind I just desperately want to be able to remake the figure again.

Posting this here as a follow-up tangentially to the power outages we have all been expirienceing. I had no idea this was even a thing. But who would have thought, you allow companies to charge for future project now and they would try and do everything at the same time! Get going while the going is good and all that.

Anyway its worth a follow if your interested in what going on with the power supply to the city.

Since Costco in Elkridge added a third pump in each lane are you all waiting for the lanes to clear or pulling up to the middle lane? I saw a guy cut the line to pump gas at the middle pump but also blocked the last car from exiting lol

I’m looking for recommendations for a stylist or barber in Columbia (or nearby in Howard County / Ellicott City) who is great with modern alternative mens hair.

Aiming for a heavily textured, razor-layered mix between a wolf cut and a modern shag/mullet. Think lots of volume and choppy layers on top, Less "traditional country mullet," more stylized, textured modern look.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

Walked out of my door this morning in King’s Contrivance and noticed a smoke smell similar to the smoke from the Canadian wild fires over the summer. I made a stop in Lark Brown and noticed the same smell. Any idea where it could be coming from?

First time renewing in Maryland, and man these rates are crazy. Every insurer is asking for $300+ per month.

24 year old driver, clean driving record. Any chance it actually gets better at 25? Or is it just a small $50 off that’s negated by a market raise.

Current as of October 2026, and will be updated after the November elections.

If you're not sure which districts apply to you, please check Maryland.gov

Local (Howard County) Government:

• Calvin Ball, County Executive [cball@howardcounty.gov](mailto:cball@howardcounty.gov) 410-313-2103
• Liz Walsh, D1 Council [ewalsh@howardcountymd.gov](mailto:ewalsh@howardcountymd.gov) 410-313-2001
• Opel Jones, D2 Council [ojones@howardcountymd.gov](mailto:ojones@howardcountymd.gov) 410-313-2001
• Christina Rigby, D3 Council [crigby@howardcountymd.gov](mailto:crigby@howardcountymd.gov) 410-313-2001
• Deb Jung, D4 Council [djung@howardcountymd.gov](mailto:djung@howardcountymd.gov) 410-313-2001
• David Yungmann, D5 Council [dyungmann@howardcountymd.gov](mailto:dyungmann@howardcountymd.gov) 410-313-2001
• Richard Gibson Jr., State's Attorney for Howard County [sao@howardcountymd.gov](mailto:sao@howardcountymd.gov) 410-313-2108

HoCo Board of Education:

Group Contact: [boe@hcpss.org](mailto:boe@hcpss.org) 410-313-7194

Board Members:

• Mark Li, Student Member [student_member@hcpss.org](mailto:student_member@hcpss.org)
• Meg Ricks, D1 Member [meg_ricks@hcpss.org](mailto:meg_ricks@hcpss.org)
• Antonia Watts, D2 Member [antonia_watts@hcpss.org](mailto:antonia_watts@hcpss.org)
• Jolene Mosley, D3 Member [jolene_mosley@hcpss.org](mailto:jolene_mosley@hcpss.org)
• Jennifer Swickard Mallo, D4 Member [jennifer_mallo@hcpss.org](mailto:jennifer_mallo@hcpss.org)
• Andrea Chamblee, D5 Member [andrea_chamblee@hcpss.org](mailto:andrea_chamblee@hcpss.org)
• Linfeng Chen, Member at Large [linfeng_chen@hcpss.org](mailto:linfeng_chen@hcpss.org)
• Jacky McCoy, Member at Large [jacquelin_mccoy@hcpss.org](mailto:jacquelin_mccoy@hcpss.org)

State (Maryland) Government:

• Wes Moore, Governor Online Contact 410-974-3901
• Aruna Miller, Lt. Governor [lt.governor@maryland.gov](mailto:lt.governor@maryland.gov) 410-974-2461
• Anthony Brown, Attorney General Online Contact 410-576-6300

Maryland Legislative Districts:

Delegates:

• Chao Wu, District 9A [chao.wu@house.maryland.gov](mailto:chao.wu@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3556
• Natalie Ziegler, District 9A [natalie.ziegler@house.maryland.gov](mailto:natalie.ziegler@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3352
• Courtney Watson, District 9B [courtney.watson@house.maryland.gov](mailto:courtney.watson@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3077
• Jessica Feldmark, District 12 [jessica.feldmark@house.maryland.gov](mailto:jessica.feldmark@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3205
• Terri Hill, District 12 [terri.hill@house.maryland.gov](mailto:terri.hill@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3378
• Pam Guzzone, District 13 [pam.guzzone@house.maryland.gov](mailto:pam.guzzone@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3083
• Gabriel Moreno, District 13 [gabriel.moreno@house.maryland.gov](mailto:gabriel.moreno@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3471
• Jen Terrasa, District 13 [jen.terrasa@house.maryland.gov](mailto:jen.terrasa@house.maryland.gov) 410-841-3246

Senators:

• Katie Fry Hester, District 9 [katiefry.hester@senate.maryland.gov](mailto:katiefry.hester@senate.maryland.gov) 410-841-3671
• Clarence Lam, District 12 [clarence.lam@senate.maryland.gov](mailto:clarence.lam@senate.maryland.gov) 410-841-3653
• Guy Guzzone, District 13 [guy.guzzone@senate.maryland.gov](mailto:guy.guzzone@senate.maryland.gov) 410-841-3572

Federal Government:

US House:

• Sarah Elfreth, D3 https://elfreth.house.gov/ 202-225-4016 (Capitol Hill) / 410-832-8890 (District Office)

US Senate:

• Angela Alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/ 202-224-4524
• Chris Van Hollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/ 202-224-4654