🍦CA removes three members for ethics complaint

Good morning, Columbia. There are three personality types at this time of year and three only:

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

If you've ever felt your HOA was a little too dramatic, Columbia Association would like a word.

Three Board of Directors members got the boot Thursday after an Ethics Panel investigation found they'd violated their fiduciary duty. The ousted: Reginald Avery (Long Reach), Karin Emery (Oakland Mills), and Eric Greenberg (River Hill).

Their offense? Filing what the panel called a "frivolous" ethics complaint against board chair Collin Sullivan back in September. Sullivan and fellow board member Bill Santos were cleared in December. In January, Sullivan filed a complaint about their complaint, calling it retaliation. The Ethics Panel agreed, and on April 9 recommended removal. Three weeks later, they were out.

Sullivan asked the three to leave the Columbia Council dais before Thursday's meeting even started, which went about as smoothly as you'd expect.

Greenberg fired back in a statement to the Baltimore Sun, arguing the decision "disenfranchised" residents of Oakland Mills, Long Reach, and River Hill, and accused CA of violating the Maryland Homeowners Association Act by handling the whole thing in closed session.

For tenure: Avery's served since 2014, Greenberg since 2021, Emery since 2023. All three have already been removed from CA’s website. The villages have pretty much free reign to pick their new representative. However, they can’t pick anyone who’s been removed because of an ethics violation.

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If your high schooler’s been doom-scrolling college reviews on TikTok at 11 PM, we have good news: they can stop.

The Howard County Public School System and the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) are throwing a free college fair this Wednesday, April 29 from 6–8 PM at Howard Community College's Galleria in the Academic Commons Building (10901 Little Patuxent Parkway).

Translation: dozens of admissions reps in one room, ready to talk programs, majors, dorm life, mascots, dining halls, and whatever else your kid wants to grill them on. No long drives or expensive flights, no awkward campus tours, and absolutely no TikToks (just kidding. We can’t promise that).

Park in the HCC East Parking Garage (enter on the third floor) or Lot A. Bring questions. Bring your kid (ideally in 10th or 11th grade). And bring a winning attitude! (I’m channeling my inner campus tour guide here).

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🎨 Dabble in Watercolor Workshop with Robert Coe - Build a solid foundation in watercolor with expert-led demonstrations and professional-grade supplies provided.

🎭 Try Improv, April 27 - Pay What You Can (No Experience Needed) - Try improv in a fun, low-pressure environment — no experience needed.

🍺 April Whiskey Explorers Club: Gin Tasting - We're shaking things up this month and welcoming our friends from Gunpowder Irish Gin for one spirits tasting you won't want to miss.

🎨 Textured Landscape Painting with Julie Gross - Expand your artistic toolkit exploring innovative texturing methods while completing two landscape compositions.

🎨 Maryland Show - Featured art from gallery artists celebrating Maryland themes with a reception Sunday from 2-5pm.

🎈 Family Fun Day - Morning family activities at The Mall in Columbia.

📚 AARP Fraud Watch: The Scam Landscape & Staying Safe - Learn proven resources and tools to help you spot and avoid identity theft and fraud.

🌱 Let's Chat-Garden - Build a garden that can handle real-life conditions with expert guidance, personalized support, and free seeds.

🎭 Toby's Dinner Theatre Presents: The Wizard of Oz - Family-friendly fun pretty much every night of the week.

👵 OAI Showcase: Your Circle of Connection - Explore how older adults can stay connected in Howard County at this free showcase at The Mall in Columbia.

🍺 First Friday Release of Lemon Shandy + Sunglasses Promo - Meet your new summer staple at Manor Hill Brewing with live music, plus buy two pints and get free sunglasses.

🍷 VINO Scholastico - Wine-tasting event at Howard Community College that funds student pathways, featuring The Great Grape Debate: Old World vs. New World.

🎈🎸 Mini Kiss - The Hottest Littlest Band in the World! The biggest Kiss tribute in the smallest package!

🎈🐑 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.

🎈🐮 Native Plant Palooza - Shop the annual native plant sale at Robinson Nature Center with free guided plant walks at 12:30pm & 2:30pm.

🌳 Forest bathing - Learn the mindful practice of forest bathing by immersing yourself in nature and using your senses at the Howard County Conservancy.

🐝 Native bee identification - Learn about Maryland's 400+ native bee species with Clare Walker from Irvine Nature Center in this hands-on identification workshop.

🎨 DIY Raised Planter Workshop - Create the perfect planter for your patio garden with all color choices yours to make.

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🪨 In case you missed it (big news from last week): County officials broke ground on the new 16-acre Cradlerock Park, The Milk Lady Farmers Market started operating in Fulton, County Exec Calvin Ball revealed a $2.5 billion FY27 operating budget, Zūm signed a 5-year, $120 million deal with HCPSS to keep bussing students.

🥃 Layoffs? Republic National Distributing Company, a TX-based alcohol wholesaler, posted a conditional WARN notice for 318 potential layoffs at its Jessup facility as a partial acquisition with Reyes Beverage Group nears closing. However, an RNDC spokesperson told the Baltimore Sun said many employees will be able to stay on with Reyes and a Reyes spokesperson said WARN notices are “standard, legal practice” in acquisitions and “does not reflect RBG’s plans.” ($)

🏎️ Slow down: Elkridge drivers: meet your new BFFs — speed humps. HoCo’s starting a traffic calming project on Loudon Avenue today, installing speed humps, signs, and optical speed bar markings to slow things down. Expect one-lane traffic and flaggers, weekdays 9 AM–3 PM, through late May. And don’t forget to slow down in the work zone.

🏛️ Power up: HoCo’s student school board member is about to get serious clout. A bill from this year's General Assembly gives the student rep — currently Erin Alistar — a vote on the budget, redistricting, school construction, consolidation, and transportation, starting July 1 (pending Gov. Moore's signature). Many districts don't let students vote at all. However, neighboring Anne Arundel County is the only district in the country to give its student board member full voting rights. ($)

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69 🌡️ 45 | ☀️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 NE 7 mph

67 🌡️ 50 | 🌧️ | 37% ☔ | 💨 S 9 mph

68 🌡️ 49 | ⛈️ | 87% ☔ | 💨 SE 12 mph

62 🌡️ 42 | 🌧️ | 40% ☔ | 💨 NW 16 mph

Cured 1821 | Kevin Howard | 6 PM

Collective Encore | ilyAIMY | 7:30 PM | Tickets 
Cured 1821 | Tim Young | 6 PM 

Cured 1821 | Bronson Hoover | 6 PM

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