🍦Atholton Principal on leave for rest of year

Good morning, Columbia. A team of 100 Italian chefs gathered in London to cook and assemble a record-breaking tiramisu measuring 1,445 feet long. That's roughly five football fields of tiramisu. I can't decide if this is an impressive feat of culinary engineering or if somewhere a nonna is shaking her head in complete disappointment.

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

The building that broke Columbia's biggest stories for 33 years is getting a new one of its own.

Howard County and Columbia Concepts just broke ground on The Source, a 65,000-square-foot community center rising from the bones of the old Columbia Flier building on Little Patuxent Parkway. Designed by Columbia architect Bob Moon and home to the Flier until the paper folded in 2011, the building has sat in limbo since the County acquired it in 2014 — waiting for a follow-up story.

When it opens, the LEED-certified hub will pack in a 20,000-square-foot gymnasium with four basketball courts, food hall, recording studio, tutoring space, video game and game rooms, and arts programming. It'll also be the new home of Columbia Community Care's Peace and Justice Center.

Construction is expected to be finished in January 2028 with the official opening two months later. Click here to learn more.

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Fiona, a 90-pound Bernese-Pyrenees mix, has had a rough go of it — several home transitions through no fault of her own. She's looking for one final stop.

At five years old and freshly spayed, she's a calm, fully housebroken cuddler with a soft coat and a soft spirit. Walks nicely on leash, rides well in the car, knows sit and stand, has free roam of the house, and doesn't chew a thing.

A few things to know before you fall in love:

If that sounds like your house, Fiona's ready to be your loyal shadow. Find her at Hatton Rescue in Glenelg.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🚚 Meals plus Wheels Food Truck Night - Five food trucks park at the Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church from 5–8 PM.

🎷 Columbia Jazz Band Presents The One and Only Sammy Nestico - Dive into over 600 arrangements from this jazz giant, including hits like "Strike Up the Band" and "Basie Straight Ahead."

🍺 VINO Scholastico - Howard Community College's wine-tasting fundraiser features "The Great Grape Debate: Old World vs. New World" plus local food and student-made desserts.

📚 Lunch Date with History - Banneker Historical Park - Howard County Historical Society's "Small Museum Showcase" highlights our neighbors across the Patapsco River.

🛒 Fulton Farmers Market - Milk Lady Markets' brand-new spot on the historic Maple Lawn farm off Scaggsville Road, with farm produce, brick-oven pizza, mushrooms, and breakfast trucks. SNAP shoppers get 20% off.

🎈🐑 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival 2026 - One of the largest festivals of its kind with 250+ vendors, 600+ sheep, and 40+ workshops celebrating all things sheep, from hoof to handwoven.

🎸 M3 Rock Festival - Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Queensrÿche, Buckcherry, and more at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

🎈🌱 Native Plant Palooza - Robinson Nature Center's annual outdoor native plant sale features numerous vendors plus free guided plant walks at 12:30pm & 2:30pm.

🎈🧂 Spring Fishing Tournament (5 yrs +) - Early birds can compete in Howard County Recreation & Parks' tournament starting at 6 AM in Clarksville.

🎈🌱 Spring Plant and Flower Sale - Ridgely's Run Community Center's second annual sale supports their scholarship fund with everything from begonias to Boston ferns.

🎈🛒 Community Yard Sale and Block Party (All ages) - Columbia community gathering combines bargain hunting with neighborhood fun.

🛒 Clarksville Commons Farmers Market - Season opener for the producer-only market at Clarksville Commons on Clarksville Pike, where everything for sale is grown, raised, or handmade in the Chesapeake region. Bella Vita's veggies, Great Harvest's bread, and live music on the plaza.

🛒 Fulton Farmers Market - Saturday's encore at Maple Lawn — same Milk Lady setup with fresh produce, food trucks, and handmade crafts.

🎈🐑 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival 2026 - Final day of this massive celebration of all things sheep, wool, and fiber arts.

🌈 RESCHEDULED: Holi Celebration - Welcome spring with a colorful dance party, traditional Holi music, and more.

🎈🌱 Native Plant Palooza - Last chance to shop native plants at Robinson Nature Center's outdoor sale with guided walks at 12:30pm & 2:30pm.

🎈🎨 Drop-In Hat Pin Workshop - Celebrate Preakness spirit at Columbia Art Center creating decorative hat pins perfect for the racing season.

🎈💧 Swibits Sundays - Hit Columbia Swim Center for bouncing, sliding, climbing, jumping and splashing through the obstacle course.

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🏫 Atholton update: Atholton High principal Nick Novak won't return for the rest of the school year after a video aired of what HCPSS called an "emotional interaction" with students in the cafeteria. WMAR reported it shows Novak throwing wet paper at the group. Assistant principal Christine Schmidt is filling in.

🛑 All-way stop: The intersection of Old Frederick and Forsythe Roads in Sykesville will become an all-way stop on or about May 5, after studies flagged safety risks for westbound turning traffic. One-day job, weather permitting.

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66 🌡️ 41 | 🌤️ | 5% ☔ | 💨 NW 15 mph

63 🌡️ 44 | 🌧️ | 42% ☔ | 💨 W 9 mph

59 🌡️ 40 | 🌧️ | 29% ☔ | 💨 N 8 mph

62 🌡️ 43 | 🌤️ | 5% ☔ | 💨 NW 14 mph

70 🌡️ 53 | 🌧️ | 28% ☔ | 💨 SW 13 mph

Cured 1821 | Bronson Hoover | 6 PM
The Morgan Inn | The Fog | 6 PM

Bare Bones | Crush | 8 PM
Collective Encore | Mini Kiss | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Ian Trushiem | 6 PM
Kelsey’s Restaurant & Irish Pub | Scotty Pip | 6 PM
Manor Hill Brewing | Kenny Arbuckle | 5 PM
The Morgan Inn | Dixie Wind Band | 8 PM
Reckless Shepherd | M-Pre Party | 9 PM
Smashing Grapes | Marissa Zechinato | 8 PM
White Oak Tavern | Angie Miller | 8 PM

Bare Bones | Reflex Band | 8 PM
Collective Encore | Every Breath You Take | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Bob Butta | 6 PM
Kelsey’s Restaurant & Irish Pub | Miss Moon Rising | 6 PM
Oversea Distillery | Red 40 | 7 PM
The Morgan Inn | VooDoo! | 8 PM
Reckless Shepherd | Doc Marten and the Flannels | 9 PM
Smashing Grapes | Shelby Blondell | 8 PM
Sonoma’s | Con Anima Trio | 7 PM
White Oak Tavern | Bryan Ewald | 8 PM

Collective Encore | Danger Bird | 8 PM | Tickets
Manor Hill Brewing | Mike Finazzo | 2 PM
The Morgan Inn | The Soul Family Band | 2 PM
Smashing Grapes | Josee Molavi | 11 AM
White Oak Tavern | Jazz Brunch | 10 AM

Collective Encore | Bachelor Boys Band Showcase | 7 PM | Tickets

Thanks for reading Columbia Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who actually knows how to make tiramisu. Just one rule: they can’t have learned in a restaurant.