Last Saturday night, I took my daughter to the Miller Library and attended the evening in the Stacks. Music, food, and people, even a cooking lesson were both interesting and enjoyable.
We were asked of our names by Howard County Times’ reporter. Then when we got home, my daughter asked me several times: Dad, did you buy the newspaper?
Now our photos actually showed up in the online version of Baltimore Sun.
Ref link: http://www.cinfoshare.org/2016-election/define-our-destiny-exit-poll-results
In my one-hour time slot, we registered five new voters.
We are hoping we will have a stronger voice in our local elections. CAPA will provide a platform for our parents to voice their opinions in this Board of Education election.
If we want change, let’s start with ourselves. If we believe in something, let’s act on it. Don’t rely on others’ good will or wait for your turn. As our logo says “Informed, involved and empowered”, we just need push ourselves to the negotiation table of election.
Votes and get out to vote. That really matters. To vote in a group can amplify our voice greatly.
We are going to expand our efforts to four Chinese language schools, grocery stores, and other facilities for the coming months before the primary election.
How do you like our poster?
The survey will be open through March 11, 2016, and can be accessed directly at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/County-Administration/Transportation. If you wish to make comments directly or have questions regarding the FY17 priority letter, please email Jefferson Miller at jpmiller@howardcountymd.gov or call the Howard County Office of Transportation at 410-313-3130.
The actual survey link is :
However, there is no project description for this traffic light. So you need send emails to the following email address jpmiller@howardcountymd.gov for this project
jpmiller@howardcountymd.gov
gmiller2@sha.state.md.us
mcrampton@sha.state.md.us
jconcannon@sha.state.md.us
guy.guzzone@senate.state.md.us
akittleman@howardcountymd.gov
vanessa.atterbeary@house.state.md.us
shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us
frank.turner@house.state.md.us
manager@villageofriverhill.org
One sample email can be as following:
Title : Traffic Light Request for the intersection between Linden Linthicum Lane and Clarksville Pike (108)
Content:
At the intersection of Linden Linthicum Lane and 108, there were two collisions on 2/22/2016, one involving a school bus. There was also a serious collision at that same intersection 2/21/2016. There have been many more accidents before.
The traffic is really bad during the rush hour. Drivers from Linden Linthicum Lane could not get into 108 and drivers from Clarksville Pike could not make left turns. The backup could be as long as one mile. There are River Hill High School and Clarksville Elementary School nearby. There are two churches nearby. There is Columbia Gym nearby. There are a lot of businesses in the River Hill Village center. All of them are within 0.5 miles or closer.
Please facilitate the process for building a traffic light before more accidents happen.
Thanks.
Put your name and street name (or exact address) there too.
https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1
It takes less than three minutes.
Tuesday, April 05, 2016
Maryland will be implementing “Same Day Voter Registration” during early voting for the 2016 Presidential Primary and General elections. More information will be posted when it becomes available.
You may register to vote any time voter registration is open. Registration closes beginning at 9:00 pm on the 21st day preceding an election and remains closed until the 11th day after the election.
Generally, any voter registration application received when registration is closed will be held by the election office and processed when registration re-opens. Your registration will not become effective and you will not be eligible to vote until registration re-opens and you have received your Voter Notification Card (VNC).
As long as you remain a resident of the county and keep your address current with the election office, your voter registration in Maryland is permanent.
From web:
http://www.howardcountymd.gov/DisplayPrimary.aspx?id=4294968461
is a threat to justice everywhere.
If you feel strong about something, you just need do something. We should not be afraid of making mistakes by doing nothing.
If you feel something is not right, you need speak up (may be difficult for somebody) or write an email ( will be much easier).
The community will be better if everybody get involved and contribute one way or another.
For table tennis lovers, we are having table tennis at Columbia Gym, every Thursday night from 7:00-10:00PM.
Enjoy and meet new friends.
Please join CA’s China Sister City Planning Committee. Unofficial Chinese version and English official version follow.
大家好，CA的China Sister City Planning Committee正式啟動了。作為現在的China Sister City Planning Committee中的一員，很高興我們的CSCPC終於運行起來了。我知道大家都很忙；但是我期待大家以一種接力服務的精神參加社區活動。只要我們大家分散開來，一個星期甚至一個月貢獻一點點時間，就可以使得我們的力量顯示出來。
只要我們參與社區的各種活動，我們就不會消息閉塞，就不會被忽略。
在眾多城市中，我們選中的是江甦的溧陽市，風景優美，位置方便。其實對於我們來說，無論是南京人，北京人還是台北人，大家都是我們哈維郡的華裔。 別的族裔看我如是，我們又何必分彼此呢？
請加入到我們的姐妹城市的籌備過程中吧。感興趣的可以直接聯繫我。具體信息，也可以參考下面鏈接：https://chaowu2016.com/2016/02/16/join-cas-china-sister-city-planning-committee-now/
謝謝。
伍超
Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2016 at 11:19 AM -0800
Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Columbia Association seeking China sister city planning committee members
To: “David Greisman” <David.Greisman@columbiaassociation.org>
———————————
Columbia Association seeking China sister city planning committee members
Columbia Association’s International & Multicultural Programs Advisory Committee is seeking volunteers to join the China Sister City Planning Committee, which is exploring the possibility of a sister city relationship between Columbia, Maryland, and Liyang, China — a city of more than 780,000 people located in Jiangsu province between Nanjing and Shanghai.
The China Sister City Planning Committee consists of Columbia and Howard County residents who are working on developing a proposal that will be presented to CA’s Board of Directors. Committee members should have a genuine interest in China, be able to participate actively as a member of the committee and attend monthly evening meetings. The committee will include residents who are of Chinese heritage as well as community members with an interest in Chinese language and culture. The next committee meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at CA Headquarters, 6310 Hillside Court, located off Stevens Forest Road near the county vehicle emissions inspection station
If the CA Board approves the request to establish a sister city relationship, then committee members will assist with the development of international exchange programs for youth and adults in areas such as art, music, dance, education, sports, architecture and cuisine.
For more information, please contact Laura Smit, program manager for CA’s International Exchange and Multicultural Programs, by calling 410-715-3162 or sending an email to International@ColumbiaAssociation.org.
CA’s International Exchange and Multicultural Programs foster international understanding and celebrate the diverse cultures of Columbia. The goals of the International Exchange Program include developing new exchanges with Columbia’s three sister cities and creating new Sister City relationships in other cities and nations. CA also develops multicultural programs for the community such as the World Languages Café, Culture Fests and the International Book Club. For more information, go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/Multicultural.
About Columbia Association
Columbia Association (CA) is a nonprofit community services corporation that manages Columbia, Maryland, a planned community that is home to approximately 100,000 people and several thousand businesses. Additional information about CA is available at ColumbiaAssociation.org.
Increase penalty for party host offering alcohol to underage teenagers
There is a bill in the house of Maryland which will increase the penalty for party host who offers alcohol to underage teenagers. Please support it: 2016 HB 409.
I came in contact with the father who lost his high school son Calvin Li. The pain of losing a child is incomparable and may last forever. The father is now hosting seminars to educate parents, especially to Chinese American families. This is invaluable.
Some social media news indicated the party host who offered alcohol in the party which led to two kids’ death, is hosting another party and touting “Underage, no problem”. This is outrageous. Their son did not die in the car accident, fortunately. However, they forgot the pain caused to two other families.
We should add more deterrence to irresponsible parents like this.
There is a link to 2016 Maryland House Bill 409
https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB409/2016
I voted to support the rain tax as a CA board of director since there are more than 10 millions storm water management cost waiting for CA if the county does not take the job.
However, personally I don’t like the rain tax and want it to be repealed. I know it is really, really difficult to ask the government to stop collecting money from us after it began to do so.
It was actually not a tax, but a fee. The previous governor who supported the fee, realized it was a little shameful to add a new tax to our residents. They called it a fee.
This is just like United Airlines. They do not raise the fee on the air ticket, instead they created all kinds of fees: late fee, leg fee, luggage fee, insurance fee etc. They earned more money from fees than the actual air tickets. When I first heard the leg fee, I was really amazed by the creativity of the airline industry.
Anyway, how did they handle the storm water before this new fee?
If they really need money separately for the storm water management, just raise the tax. Don’t hide behind those fees:
If they need raise tax, just raise it. Don’t hide behind fees. I don’t mind paying more if it can be justified.
Dr. Chao Wu
We are finally stepping into the year of 2016. There are two recent developments in our neighborhoods:
What is my New Year resolution? As the representative to the Columbia Council from River Hill and a CA board member, I resolve to:
What are CA’s short-term and long-term vision and mission? These are not easy to answer. However, we are always focused on creating and maintaining a dynamic and harmonious community.
Chao Wu, Ph.D.
River Hill Representative to Columbia Council
Columbia Association Board of Directors
Email: superbwu@gmail.com Tel: 240-481-9637 Website: http://chaowu2016.com
Disclaimer: This letter only represents Dr. Chao Wu’s personal opinion. It does not represent River Hill Board of Directors nor Columbia Association’s Board.
This Saturday noon, Join us at Miller Library for the Chinese New Year Celebration Event.
Calligraphy, painting, crafts, Red envelopes, Taiji, Kung-fu, and more….
We had two presentations Monday night at our monthly HOA meeting. One was for compost recycle from our very young residents. The other was from the watershed committee. I learned a lot from both presentations.
CA’s Board of Directors has 11 members — one representative from each of Columbia’s 10 villages plus CA’s President/CEO. Representatives from the villages serve either a one- or two-year term, depending upon each village’s bylaws. In late April 2016, six villages will hold elections for their representative to the CA Board of Directors:
| Village | Current Board Member |
| Harper’s Choice | Alan Klein |
| Hickory Ridge | Gregg Schwind |
| Oakland Mills | Reginald Avery |
| Owen Brown | Andrew Stack |
| Town Center | Jeanne Ketley |
| Wilde Lake | Nancy McCord |
Not on the ballot this year:
Janet Evans from Long Rich,
Brian Dunn from Kings Contrivance,
Dick Boulton from Dorsey’s Search and myself from River Hill.
Columbia Association (CA) will host two information sessions in February for those who are considering serving the Columbia community by seeking an opportunity to become a member of CA’s Board of Directors.
The sessions will be held on Saturday, Feb 20 at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., both at CA Headquarters, 6310 Hillside Court, located off Stevens Forest Road near the county vehicle emissions inspection station.
Talking points tonight are:
1: USPS will build a new post office in Clarksville. The project is approved already. There will be 30 days appealing time and move forward for a solution, i.e, look for a location.
2: a place with 5000 square feet, 40 parking lots, full operation , not just a small counter.
3: the old post office location,3000 square feet, is too small.
4: site review committee to make recommendation.
5: luck stone site was discussed.
6: probably the new post office will be operational in one year.
Please share your thoughts with Richard Hancok, Real Estate Specialist for USPS at: United States Postal Service, Facilities Service Office, P.O. Box 27497, Greensboro, NC 27498-1103; orrichard.a.hancock2@usps.gov. Written testimony will be accepted until Tuesday, March 1.
Recently, people asked me about the Columbia Flier’s subscription letter. I had to tell them that the subscription was not mandatory and most people do not read the fine print, anyway.
So you can just ignore those letters.
From Columbia Flier website:
http://baltimoresunmediagroup.com/media-portfolio/newspapers/columbia-flier/
The well-educated residents of Columbia have enjoyed the news coverage of the Columbia Flier for more than 40 years. Publishing every Thursday, the Flier covers diverse neighborhoods across the town, delivering 37,887 copies every week.
Columbia Flier Stats:
Circulation: 37,887
Source: CAC, 9/30/14
Unbelievable. It is so warm inside.
The snow in front of Columboa Gym is really deep. It is up to my daughter’s waist.
And we bought a cake for my son’s birthday.
We just held our public hearing for the fiscal year 2017-2018 Thursday night at Slayton House at Wild Lake. We thank those people who showed up and shared their thoughts with our board.
We also thank CA’s wonderful stuff and fellow board members who attended.
I just received a new email update from Jonathan’s Space Report, No. 721. I used to work on satellite navigation and I am always keeping an eye on this development.
#HoCoTech
http://www.planet4589.org/space/
The 92 orbital launch attempts in 2014 (including Proton and Antares launch failures):
Russia 36 (8 Proton, 2 Dnepr, 22 Soyuz, 2 Rokot, 1 Strela, 1 Angara )
USA: 24 (9 Atlas 5, 1 Delta 2, 4 Delta 4, 6 Falcon 9, 3 Antares, 1 Zenit-3SL)
China: 16 (1 Kuaizhou, 9 SBA CZ-2D/4B/4C, 6 CALT CZ-2C/3A/3C)
Europe: 7 (6 Ariane 5, 1 Vega)
Japan 4 (4 H2A)
India 4 (3 PSLV, 1 GSLV)
Israel 1 (1 Shaviyt)
Orbital launch statistics 2013
------------------------------
Russia 33 (+2 fail), USA 19, China 14(+1 fail), Europe 5, Japan 3, India
3, South Korea 1 - for a total of 78 to orbit + 3 failures to orbit
(some of the 78 also failed to reach their intended orbits). I am
counting Soyuz-at-Kourou and the Sea Launch failure as Russian. The
story of recent years has been the strong rise of China as a launching
state; but this year the noticeable thing is the return of Russia to a
dominance of the launching statistics not seen since the fall of the
USSR. This includes nine Proton launches (all but two for non-Russian
customers) and 15 Soyuz launches including two from Kourou and 8 ISS-related ones.
The year also saw 209 payloads orbited thanks to the late surge of mass
cubesat deployments; this compares with 134 payloads launched last year.
Countries of ownership, 2013 payloads:
USA 87
Russia 28
China 18
UK 9 (arguable, assuming formal ownership of
two SES satellites to SES Satellite Leasing UK.)
ESA 7
Germany 6
S Korea 6
Japan 5
India 5
Canada 4
Spain 3
Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Ecuador,
Netherlands, Peru, Vietnam - 2 each
Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Estonia, France, Italy,
Israel, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan,
Poland, Qatar, Singapore, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine,
South Africa: 1 each
These 209 payloads include 51 amateur/academic, 37 business/commercial, 74 civil, 47 defense
(there is some overlap, of course). Six of the payloads (LADEE, MOM, Maven, Chang'e-3, Yutu, Gaia)
are now beyond Earth orbit.
Total 78 attempts:
Russia 24, China 19, US 16, France/ESA 10, India 2, Japan 2, Iran 1 + 2 fail?, North Korea 1+1 fail
The Iranian launch failures, as noted above, are not confirmed. This is the first year in which
the number of Chinese launches has exceeded the corresponding US total.
Date UT Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission INTL.
DES.
Nov 2 2104 Yamal-300K ) Proton-M/Briz-M Baykonur LC81/24 Comms 61
Luch-5B ) Comms 61
Nov 10 2105 Star One C3 ) Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA3 Comms 62B
Eutelsat 21B ) Comms 62A
Nov 14 1142 Meridian No. 16 Soyuz-2-1A/Fregat Plesetsk LC43/4 Comms 63A
Nov 18 2253 Huan Jing 1C ) Chang Zheng 2C Taiyuan Radar 64A
Xinyan-1 ) Tech
Fengniao 1A/1B ) Tech
Nov 20 1831 Echostar 16 Proton-M/Briz-M Baykonur LC39/200 Comms 65A
Nov 25 0406 Yaogan Weixing 16) Chang Zheng 4C Jiuquan Sigint? 66A
YW-16 Subsat 1 ) Sigint? 66B
YW-16 Subsat 2 ) Sigint? 66C
Nov 27 1013 Zhongxing 12 Chang Zheng 3BE Xichang LC2 Comms 67A
Dec 1 0202 Pleiades 1B Soyuz ST-A/Fregat Kourou ELS Imaging 68A
Dec 3 2044 Eutelsat 70B Zenit-3SL SL Odyssey Comms 69A
Dec 8 1313 Yamal 402 Proton-M/Briz-M Baykonur LC39/200 Comms 70A
Dec 11 1803 X-37B OTV-3 Atlas V 501 Canaveral SLC41 Spaceplane 71A
Dec 12 0049 Kwangmyongsong-3 F2 Unha-3 Sohae Test 72A
Dec 18 1612 Gokturk 2 Chang Zheng 2D Jiuquan Imaging 73A
Dec 19 1212 Soyuz TMA-07M Soyuz-FG Baykonur LC1 Spaceship 74A
Dec 19 2149 Skynet 5D ) Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA3 Comms 75A
Mexsat-Bicentenario) Comms 75B