Author: Chao Wu

Chao Wu Maryland State Delegate, D9 ( Howard and Montgomery Counties)

2015 and Previous Orbital Launches from Jonathan’s Space Report

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/

2015 Orbital Launches
———————There were 87 orbital launch attempts. Three launches (2 US, 1 Russian)
failed to reach orbit. Two Russian launches reached the correct orbit
but had failures at payload separation. Of the 84 launches reaching
orbit, one (Vega VV04) did not receive an international designation.
These 84 launches included
– 25 Russian (14 Soyuz, 7 Proton, 2 Rokot, 1 Zenit, 1 Dnepr)
– 19 Chinese (16 CZ2/3/4, 1 CZ6, 1 CZ11)
– 18 US  (9 Atlas 5, 6 Falcon 9, 2 Delta 4, 1 Delta 2)
– 9 European (Ariane, Vega)
– 5 Indian
– 4 Japanese
– 1 Iranian
– 3 Russian/European Soyuz-ST launches from French Guiana.

 

Launch summary for 2014

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.

Orbital Launch Stats 2012

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.

Table of Recent (orbital) Launches

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

 

“The Dream” continues shining

When I first got to know Dr. Martin Luther King and his great speech more than 20 years ago far far away, I was deeply moved:

       I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

    I have a dream today!

It has been more than fifty years and now there is a day in the school calendar to honor his legacy. How does the same dream move forward and keep shining for everybody? I believe everybody in the community should think of it and find a workable solution.

Family, education, job and culture are the basics. Everything starts from family. Everyone should try his/her own share of effort. Together, the dream will continue shining.

MLK

“Dividing Howard” by Frank Hecker

I just finished reading the book “Dividing Howard: A history of CoDividing Howardunty Council Redistricting in Howard County, Maryland” by Frank Hecker.

The book is well written such that you can read it through fast and are not bothered into the details, still get enough understanding on how Howard County evolves over the years. It is the population which drives the changes and it is the population who are the master of the land.

You can get it from Amazon at $0.99. The link is http://www.amazon.com/Dividing-Howard-History-Redistricting-Maryland-ebook/dp/B006IBW4MW

It is also interesting that many names along our highway repeatedly mentioned in the book.

The author Frank Hecker wrote many articles using public data to inform residents. His website is https://civilityandtruth.com/.  They are a fun to read.

#HoCoBlogs

A surprise from CA board

My son fell off and was sewed several stiches just above his eye last Sunday.

Some CA staff and the CA board sent me a card with best wishes, together with a spider book. I was really surprised, joyful and appreciate their blessings.

Thank you all.

image

Executive Kittleman announces public meeting to discuss reopening Clarksville Post Office

USPSJust got the following message and hope our residents will have a chance to discuss this with USPS and the county government.  

We really need a USPS in our neighborhood.

January 12, 2016

Media Contacts:

Deidre McCabe, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 410-313-2022

David Lee, Director of Constituent Services and Community Partnerships, 410-313-2013

 

Executive Kittleman announces public meeting to discuss reopening Clarksville Post Office

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman, in conjunction with the United States Postal Service (USPS), today announced a community meeting on Wednesday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Claret Hall, 6020 Daybreak Circle in Clarksville, to hear from residents about reopening a post office in Clarksville. Kittleman directed his constituent services staff to reach out to USPS and help organize a meeting after hearing from residents about the issue during his Town Hall meeting in Clarksville in the fall.

Residents have inquired about reopening a USPS post office in their community since the former facility on Auto Drive closed in 2011. During Kittleman’s Town Hall, he heard from residents that traveling 10 miles to the post office on Ellicott Center Drive in Ellicott City, where they must go to retrieve mail and packages, is inconvenient and time-consuming.

Representatives of USPS will gather input from residents during the meeting about possible locations for a new facility. The meeting, which is being hosted by the River Hill Community Association, is open to the public.

Those unable to attend the meeting may submit written testimony on the proposal to Richard Hancok, Real Estate Specialist for USPS at: United States Postal Service, Facilities Service Office, P.O. Box 27497, Greensboro, NC 27498-1103; or richard.a.hancock2@usps.gov. Written testimony will be accepted until Tuesday, March 1.

An interpreter for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be available if requested seven working days prior to the meeting. Please call the Department of Citizen Services at 410-313-6400 (voice) or use Relay at 7-1-1, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For questions or more information about the Clarksville post office proposal, contact Richard Hancock with USPS at 919-420-5284 richard.a.hancock2@usps.gov.

CA’s World Language Cafe moves to East Columbia Library

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World Language Cafe

Columbia Association’s (CA) World Languages Café began in early 2013 as a way to provide great evenings of conversations and culture in more than a dozen different languages. Now, as the popular program approaches its third anniversary, the World Languages Café will start 2016 by moving to a different location and a different day of the week.

The World Languages Café will meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the 50+ Center at East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way in Owen Brown. Upcoming sessions will be on Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 22, April 26, May 24 and June 28. All sessions are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Individuals are invited to come and join the language table of their choice, whether they wish to drop in or stay the entire time. Tea, coffee and water will be available; vending machines with snacks are inside the library. People are welcome to bring food and beverages and may even choose to share treats with their table.

Languages include American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. Language tables are hosted by native speakers who will facilitate conversation. Most people who attend already have some fluency in the language and can put sentences together; these gatherings are not grammar or vocabulary classes.

The World Languages Café is a great place for individuals to speak a language they know or are learning, to converse in a friendly atmosphere, meet new people who enjoy learning about other cultures, increase their fluency by speaking and listening, pick up useful phrases to use when traveling and recall their childhood languages.

Check on what’s being offered each month, learn whom the table hosts will be or volunteer to become a host by emailing International@ColumbiaAssociation.org or calling Laura Smit, manager of CA’s International Exchange and Multicultural Programs, at 410-715-3162.

“Although the World Languages Café is moving to the 50+ Center, it is still open to be enjoyed by everyone of all ages,” Smit said. “CA is greatly appreciative of Wegmans for hosting us for nearly three years and providing a great place every month for World Languages Cafe participants to come, grab a bite to eat if they wish, and take part in an enjoyable multicultural program. Participants are now able to bring in outside food if they so desire. We think it would be fun if participants bring food that coincides with the languages being spoken.”

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, the International Book Club and the World Food Passport program. 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.

CA’s free clothing event

FreeClothingEventFree clothing and other items to be provided this month in Columbia through annual teen-led effort

Clothing and other items will be available for free to those in need on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Sunday, Jan. 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both distribution days will be held in Columbia at The Barn, 5853 Robert Oliver Place in the Oakland Mills Village Center.

Among the items available are shirts, dresses, pants, shoes, coats, hats, career clothes, socks and much more. There will be a limit on coats and shoes. Individuals coming to the distribution days are asked to bring their own bags.

This event is organized by Columbia Association’s (CA) Youth and Teen Center and its Teen Outreach Committee and is made possible thanks to generous contributions provided by community members. It has a significant impact. The previous year’s clothing drive brought in more than 20,000 items and served more than 1,000 families.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare for the event during the week before, from Jan. 11 through Jan. 15 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., as well as on the distribution days themselves, which immediately precede the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Volunteer opportunities on the distribution days including greeting guests and assisting them with bags; serving beverages and snacks to customers and other volunteers; restocking the clothing area as needed and keeping it clean; monitoring the number of people helped and items they receive; and working in the area where children will be while their family members look around.

Those interested in volunteering should contact Safire Windley at 410-992-3726 or Safire.Windley@ColumbiaAssociation.org.

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.

A Diverse Community (The Villager -2015-12)

A Diverse Community

During CA’s Board of Director’s meeting on Dec. 10, I was elected to be the chairperson of the Planning and Strategy Committee. We will hold another public budget forum on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane in the Wilde Lake Village Center. The public is welcome, we are always looking for your input.

On December 17 I attended and spoke (for myself) at the Howard County Board of Education meeting to promote the inclusion of the Lunar New Year into the public school calendar. I heard speeches from people having different ethnic and religious backgrounds and each one promoted calendar schedules that are more inclusive . Two words – “Rouse Vision” especially caught my attention. Columbia was founded on a vision of inclusion.

Here is a quote from the Columbia Association’s website that provides some background :

   Columbia is a well known example of the New Town Movement in the United States. It shares similarities with Reston, VA, Woodlands, TX, Irvine, CA and others. But it stands out in its innovative approach to planning that included a 6-month period of inter-disciplinary meetings bringing together experts in fields as diverse as education, recreation, sociology, transportation, and religion as well as architects and engineers. Columbia is also unique for its purposeful goal to be an integrated community at a time before the Fair Housing Act of 1968 made it illegal to discriminate in housing based on race, color, national origin or religion.

This is the vision James Rouse, Columbia’s developer, had more than 50 years ago. Today, with everyone’s effort, we have a more diverse community than ever. This diversity ofrace, color, national origin and religion, is still unfolding in front of us. To honor our diverse community’s requests reasonably is a big, important and difficult task for policy makers.

It is important for us to learn from other communities. Sometimes, it is easy to see the differences rather than the commonalities. However, with civility in mind, our diverse community can seek common ground, promote harmony, and find peace together.

I want to say Happy and Prosperous New Year to all of you.

 

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.

 

Village of River Hill

Water Temperature at CA pools

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CA pool temperature

Some residents told me the water temperatures at some CA pools were a little low such that they went to non-CA pools for swimming lessons. Actually CA provides different water temperature levels at different pools. Here is a summary:

Pool Name Temperature
Athletic Club Pool 90-92
Columbia Gym Pool 84-86
Supreme Sports Club Pool 79-81
Swim Center Main Poll 84-88
Indoor Wading Pools 84-86
Swansfield & Steven’s Forest 80-82

支撑我们的信念

ChaoWu

支撑我们的信念

伍超，马里兰

12/20/2015

12月17日晚上，我们马里兰Howard County的近百华人参加了Board of Education的公共听证会，要求在农历新年那天，公立学校放假，让我们有时间庆祝农历新年。我们的发言者当中，既有七岁的小孩，也有我们CAPA（Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County）的成员，还有很多家长。我自己发言的时候就是强调要公平对待各个社区，尊重我们社区的多样性；春节公立学校放假就是一个尊重我们亚裔社区的具体表现。

当天，好几百犹太人也出席了听证会。他们踊跃发言，捍卫犹太人的两个节日。由于历史原因，我们郡在犹太人的两个节日（Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur），公立学校都放假了。他们非常强烈的捍卫自己的节日传统，不畏惧其他社区对他们的看法；所以即使是个少数族裔，到处都有他们的声音，小到社区事务，大到国家政策。

对比我们的华裔家庭，我们可有自己的声音，自己的信念？我们第一代人和第二代人，作为一个少数族裔，我们可曾认真的参与，发出我们的声音？

一听说放假，有些人考虑的是，自己还要请假在家。他们考虑的是：我的假期就那么几天，还要从公司请假，多麻烦啊。在我们一些人家里，教育非常重要，超越了其它的一切。耽误几天课程，是不可以想象的。同时，如果学校春节放假，还有印度裔，穆斯林的假期，加上已经有的犹太人的假期，不用再说其他基督教，天主教的假期，的确给很多双职工家庭造成一定的困难。

还有一些人觉得，大家赶紧忘记春节吧。你都在美国了，还庆祝什么春节。这样好像显示对美国不忠心。或者美国社会给你够多的了，你还要求这要求那的，很过分啊。这样的想法，说明他们还没有了解美国社会的核心：尊重自己的传统，是美国社会非常提倡的；要求政府机构做什么，那是天经地义的。我们以及我们的孩子永远改变不了我们的面孔，也因此，我们是独特的一个群体；我们应该理直气壮的捍卫我们觉得重要的传统。无根之木不能长成参天大树，无源之水不能汇成海洋。华裔孩子不了解自己的传统，就会失去一个认识自己，巩固自己的机会。

我觉得呢，有些华人家庭，尽管经济上已经处于中上产阶级；但是思想上还不是。或者孩子已经是美国人，他们还没有想过这个问题。他们还没有意识到，当其他社区勇于发出自己的声音时，我们声音的缺失，就是对孩子未来的失职。春节放假，就像圣诞节放假一下，应该在所有华人，亚裔多的地方成为一个共识。这是我们为孩子做的榜样。为自己的信念奋斗，你会成为这个社会中值得尊敬的一个部分，你的传统会也被社会承认和尊重。

权利和利益不是沉默就能够得来的。虽然有时候是附带得来的，有时候是自己争取的。今天不同于六十年代，由于历史原因，我们华裔曾经缺失于美国民主，民权和民生的斗争大潮当中。所以在今天，我们一定要参与这个过程。否则，我们永远都是边缘化的社区。很多时候并不是因为歧视，而是因为我们不争取，不参与，不发声，使得我们自我失落而已。

很高兴的看到，我们很多人已经慢慢觉醒。与其在支持民主党和共和党这些问题上搞得面红耳赤，徒劳无功，何不从这些我们身边的事务上开始做起。

支撑我们的那些信念，平等，自由，博爱是需要我们参加到这个社会的事务当中，才能更好的散播开来。

本照片由钟申提供，谢谢。

联系方式：邮箱： superbwu@gmail.com，电话：240-481-9637.
http://www.chaowu2016.com

CA 2016 World Food Passport Program

CA 2016 word food passport

http://www.columbiaassociation.org/services/international-exchange-and-multicultural-programs/multicultural-programs-events/world-food-passport

The World Food Passport program celebrates the wide range of restaurants, cuisine and cultures available in Columbia/Howard County. It is designed to encourage a wide range of diners — from families with children to adventurous foodies — to explore international culinary diversity as they dine at local participating restaurants.

How It Works

Diners pick up a World Food Passport and take the Passport with them when dining at a participating restaurant [link that jumps to restaurant list at bottom]. Restaurants are grouped into six world categories. After eating, when paying their bill, diners can request one stamp in their passport in the appropriate category. Restaurant staff will fill in the name of the restaurant and the date. Once passport holders have one stamp in each of the six world categories of their passport, they can enter a quarterly drawing to win a $25 restaurant gift certificate. The first year of the World Food Passport program will run from March 16, 2015 to March 31, 2016.

Passport Pick-up Locations

Diners can pick up a free World Food Passport at any of the following locations.

  • Columbia Association Headquarters

  • 10 Columbia Village Centers

  • Howard County Tourism Office

  • Six Howard County Library System branches

 

One Community (The Villager 2015-11)

One Community

By Chao Wu
Finally, as a part of the FY17 and FY18 budget process, the CA Board of Directors has approved building a new indoor tennis court in Long Reach. We had more than 40 tennis players attending the last CA board meeting and the oldest player is 85 years old. I hope everybody will enjoy and use this 6-court indoor facility when it is built.

CA Board members have diverse views on pond maintenance especially when many board members realized the yearly maintenance fees are not cheap. Some ponds may be converted to wetlands in the future for better, easier and cheaper maintenance.

The CA Board has approved a living wage ($12.36/hr) for all full time employees. However, the Board did not approve a living wage for part time and temporary workers due to cost concerns. With the popular trend of paying a living wage or even a $15 minimum wage, the Board needs to think about how CA can pay our employees fairly and attract the best talent while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We are proud that we are leading the trend in this living wage battle. Neither Howard Community College nor Howard County government has a living wage program for employees.

Here, I would like to share some numbers on CA’s employee expenses. I really appreciated that CA’s Vice President Susan Krabbe prepared the following data for me:

Expenses distribution
Expenses 2015 2014 2013 2012
Full time $13,672,773 $14,793,132 $15,682,129 $15,129,935
Part time $5,224,247 $6,129,287 $6,605,219 $6,307,761
Temporary $2,000,883 $1,489,882 $1,460,667 $1,403,781
Total Operating Expenses $58,857,000 $57,932,000 $60,006,000 $55,654,000
Staff number
Staff Number 2015 2014 2013 2012
Full time 271 260 257 250
Part time 796 728 709 792
Temporary 659 699 628 692
Expenses distribution percentage
Salary (% of Total Operating Expenses) 2015 2014 2013 2012
Full time 23.23% 25.54% 26.13% 27.19%
Part time 8.88% 10.58% 11.01% 11.33%
Temporary 3.40% 2.57% 2.43% 2.52%

The average annual salary breakdown is:

Average salary
Average Annual Salary 2015 2014 2013 2012
Full time $50,453 $56,897 $61,020 $60,520
Part time $6,563 $8,419 $9,316 $7,964
Temporary $3,036 $2,131 $2,326 $2,029

Notes:
1. All salaries information is for the calendar year noted. The 2015 information is through mid-October.
2. The team member numbers are as of the summer maximum, either July or August of the years noted.
3. The team member numbers represent actual team members, not the number of positions.
4. Total expenses are for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2012, April 30, 2013, April 30, 2014 and April 30, 2015.

Several observations:
1. CA spending on the staff expenses is gradually decreasing over the last four years. This indicates CA is working more efficiently.
2. Average expense for full time employees is also decreasing. Actually, I am not sure whether this is good or bad.
3. CA is hiring more full time employees. For part-time and temporary employees, the numbers fluctuate a little bit.
I attended the River Hill Community Association’s Volunteer Appreciation Party and was overwhelmed to see so many people contributing their time and effort to making our community better. I also would like to thank our Association’s staff for their highly efficient and effective work.

I just want to say “Happy Holidays” to all, my dear residents.

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.

Eight New Developments around River Hill

Just got an email and noticed there are many more commercial developments around our village. Here is the list:

The numbers are the application numbers you can use to find more information on the county website , https://opendata.howardcountymd.gov/Planning-and-Zoning/Residential-Site-Development-Plans/uw3g-gz3x

Development around Village of River Hill
Project Submission Project Village Zoning Status
WP-16-058 10/29/2015 Coleman Fiat is seeking an extension beyond 180 days to submit the original Mylar plans corrected to meet the requirements of state and local government agencies. Near River Hill B-2 Under Review
F-15-110 10/29/2015 Final Plan for Phase I of the Enclave at Tierney Farm development located east of Route 108 and west of Guilford Road. Phase I includes 50 single-family homes. Near River Hill R-ED Under Review
ECP-15-080 10/13/2015 Environmental Concept Plan for Simpson Oaks development east of Quiet Night Ride on Grace Drive for 103 single-family detached and 81 single-family attached homes. Near River Hill CEF-R Under Review
WP-16-046 9/25/2015 Developer is seeking a waiver petition from regulations governing on-site forest retention including leaving state champion trees, trees 75% of diameter of state champion trees, trees larger than 30 inches in diameter and providing recreational open space. Near River Hill R-12 Approved – November
WP-16-038 9/17/2015 Developer is seeking a waiver petition from regulations governing on-site forest retention including leaving state champion trees, trees 75% of diameter of state champion trees, trees larger than 30 inches in diameter and specimen trees in an undisturbed state. Near River Hill CEF-R Decision Deferred November
F-16-033 8/29/2015 Proposal to add a new automobile dealership “Antwerpen Hyundai “south of Auto Drive and north of Route 32. Near River Hill B-2 Under Review
S-15-007 7/13/2015 Sketch plan for 103 single-family homes, 19 single-family attached Moderate Income Housing Units and 62 single-family attached housing units proposed north of Grace Drive and east of Quiet NightRide. Near River Hill CEF-R Submit Revised
ECP-13-073 6/17/2013, 8/21/13 River Hill Garden Center redevelopment. Near River Hill B-1 Submit Revised

2015 CA new awards

Columbia Association (CA) is grateful to be honored once again in Howard Magazine’s annual awards, in which readers vote on the best that Howard County has to offer in 74 different categories.

CA received four first-place awards:

  • Best Golf Course: Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club
  • Best Gym: Columbia Gym
  • Best Pool for Kids: Swansfield Pool and Mini-WaterPark
  • Best Workout Class: BodyPump at Columbia Association

CA also received a total of seven honorable mentions in six other categories:

  • First Date: Columbia Lakefront
  • Gym: Supreme Sports Club
  • Kids’ Activity: Columbia SportsPark
  • Kids’ Activity: SplashDown
  • Personal Trainer: Bonnie Pace (Columbia Gym)
  • Place to Enjoy the Arts: Columbia Art Center
  • Pool for Kids: River Hill Pool

“I’m thankful that Howard Magazine and its readers recognize the role Columbia Association serves through our wide range of programs and services,” said CA President/CEO Milton W. Matthews. “These awards demonstrate the commitment CA team members have to fulfilling our mission, and we will continue to pursue our vision of making Columbia a community of choice — today and for generations to come.”

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.

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CA’s Past Image Lingering

Last week during the CA’s stakeholder dinner, Maryland state delegate TH raised the issue that during 2005-2006 CA outsourced the software development and the delivered software eventually failed to work. I was surprised to hear something bad associated with CA’s image back to 2005 since I moved here after 2010.

Tonight, I just searched around and googled out only one article discussing  that issue:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/columbia-association-to-debate-outsourcing/article/70040

Columbia Association to debate outsourcing

By Examiner Staff Writer • 7/10/06 12:00 AM
————————————————————-
It seems no further investigation was done, at least I did not see any online report. Maybe some of our current board members still remember that incident.
The interesting part is the last paragraph:
Two top Columbia Association staff members ? Raffia Siddiqui, vice president of administration and chief financial officer, and Donna Dupree, director of marketing and communication ? returned June 30 from a three-month trip to India to supervise the programming overhaul.

CA Going Green (The Villager 2015-10)

Going Green
By Chao Wu

CA News
The Columbia Association (CA) is preparing for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 budgets. It is my first time sitting on the Board of Directors for CA and the process is very interesting. I have some things to share:

1) In the new proposed budget, in a capital project directly related to River Hill, we will replace CA plans to replace the current River Hill Pool wading pool with and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant(AD) beach entry wading pool. that includes The modifications will include interactive play features, a slide and additional shade cover to protect the children and parents sitting at the wading pool. from April to October 2016.

2) Ponds are expensive. CA has around approximately 40 ponds. We spent around 1 million dollars on a pond in the last several years for safety and to meet new regulations too. CA is currently conducting a comprehensive survey on of all the ponds ( the survey results will be available next year) now. This study will enable us to will understand the full cost on of maintaining our ponds.

3) Residents are really concerned. We had more than 30 residents attend the October 8 CA board meeting who spoke out on the Dannon Garth Pond in Long Reach during Oct 8th meeting. That was the first time I saw so many residents attending CA’s board meeting.

4) There will be more board meetings to discuss the budget. They are held on Oct. 22, Nov. 12 is the next time the draft budget will be discussed. and more. The boards will vote on this new budget in February 2016. We are still looking for resident inputs.

Going Green
“Going green” is coming to many people’s minds because we realize that we need a sustainable development compatible with our environment.

CA has always been focusing on “Going Green”. CA is taking several strategies to achieve the goal such as: use using more green/renewable energy sources and increase utility efficiency.

Furthermore, going green is both a choice and a life style. Each time in summer, when my son and I walk into the men’s change room in the Columbia Gym and my son is trembling because of the low temperature, I do not feel the “going green” strategy is implemented there.

“Going green” requires us to use less energy if possible. In the winter, we could choose to wear a sweeter sweater at home with for comfort. In the summer, we can choose to wear a shirt without a suites in office to stay cooler. When we wash heavy items such as clothes,/blankets, and quilt covers, we can hang them in the backyard and let the nature do the dry workd (remember to obtain Architectural Committee approval for a clothesline.) When we go to Giant and buy small stuff,items, we can try to walk there if possible. Furthermore, we can use many outdoor facilities in our neighbourhood for exercise.

CA is working to provide convenience to our residents’ life for exercise. We are connecting and widening more trails such that we can hike and bike with longer distances and more safely. CA is maintaining lakes with excellent landscaping such that while walking along it, we can also enjoy the beautiful lake scenery.
In the past Saturday morning, I hiked with some other folks in our beautiful trails for an hour. While walking, some leaves were flying around, and some were following my steps, with and there were so many colors.

I really love this 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.

Launched China Sister City Planning Committee

Last Sunday, the China Sister City Planning Committee had the first meeting at the Howard Community College. We even had a high-school student serving in our committee.

We elected Ms. Han Jun Has as the chair and myself as the vice chair. We are working closely with Columbia Association to bring a new sister city for Columbia.

The Chinese city candidate is Liyang City, Jiang, Jiangsu Province. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liyang. or http://www.jiangsu.net/city/city.php?name=liyang.

Anybody who are interested in this project can contact me.