🍦Clean off your cars!

Good morning, Columbia. Normally we find it a bit boring when small talk involves the weather but this week, it’s all anyone can talk about and we are here for it. A bit cold, but still here for it.

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

First of all. . . brrr. There’s nothing like a snowstorm immediately followed by near zero temperatures. Second, here’s what you need to know.

🏫 Schools are CLOSED. Can we make it a full week? That’s known in youth circles as a full freeze week. Ok we made that up. Still better than 67. HoCo School Predictions (a funny page on Facebook) is 87% sure kids will be off Friday, too.

📚 Libraries were open yesterday so there’s no reason they shouldn’t be today, but they did close a little early yesterday.

🌳 Parks were closed yesterday and likely will be the rest of the week. Check the government website for the most up-to-date information.

🧊 We are in a code blue through Friday which means community centers and 50+ centers serve as warming centers during business hours. You can also go to the Grassroots Crisis Center at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A, Columbia, MD.

🗑️ Curbside collection is on a slide scheduled which means Wednesday collection happens today, Thursday happens Friday, and Friday happens Saturday.

Oh, and there might be some more snow this weekend. Seems like the storm will hit the Carolinas and southern Virginia harder than here, but who really knows until it happens. . .

We’ve all been there: We’re digging our cars out from heavy snow and get to a point where they’re “good enough,” right? But here’s the thing: It’s always important to clean your car off completely, especially after a storm like this with so much ice.

That patch of snow on the roof of your car might seem harmless, but it could become a 30-pound snow missile traveling 70 mph. Not good. That’s what happened yesterday on I-97 to a sheriff’s deputy with our friends down the road in Anne Arundel County.

Fortunately, the deputy was okay — he got his car to the shop, and he was treated at BWMC for minor injuries. But this is a reminder to all of us that we shouldn’t neglect that important step of clearing off the roof of our cars before we drive anywhere.

Maryland’s Department of Education just released the class of 2025 graduation rates and while we’re doing better than average here in HoCo, we still dipped from last year. The class of 2025 graduated at a rate of 91.3%. That’s almost 5 points above the state average but 2.2 lower than 2024. Dropouts rose a bit, too, from 3.6% in 2024 to 4.95% in 2025.

How do we stack up against our neighbors? We’re higher than Anne Arundel County (88.9%) but they did manage a 0.4% increase versus 2024. We still have our #1 ranking statewide on niche.com, though.

Look at that spot! Max is at Howard County Animal Control who believes he is a great pyrenees with some husky in him. They believe that because in their words, “he can be vocal.” I bet he also loves the snow.

They also say for that reason he’s probably not suited for apartments or condos. But if you can get past the howling, Max is very friendly, tolerant, and about a year old. He loves playing and he’d love to play with you.

Max is waiting at Howard County Animal Control. Call 410-313-2780 Option 0 to see if he’s available and if you’re a good fit then go visit him!

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I had every intention of this being the last time I’d bother you about Howard County Restaurant and Craft Beverage Weeks. Because they were supposed to end on Sunday. However, the powers that be saw all this bad weather and said, “That’s no way for a good thing to end” and extended it. So, now they end February 8 i.e. we’ll bother you about this two more times. That’s it. We promise.

A list of restaurants who agreed to extend will be available Monday. For now, here’s the list.

Howard County’s Black Business Bazaar is back at the end of February — and vendor applications close soon. If you’re a Black-owned business or resource partner serving Howard County, this is your chance to shine. Categories range from retail and handmade goods to wellness and literary vendors. Approved vendors get one table and two chairs (but BYO tablecloth). Apply by Friday at midnight or you’ll turn into a pumpkin.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Especially with more snow in the forecast for this weekend, check social media pages or better yet, call before leaving so you’re not disappointed. And of course, drive safe!

🎈 = family-friendly events

All weekend long The Home Owners Expo | If Home Depot is DIY heaven, this is done-for-you heaven. Meet some of the best contractors around who’d love to keep (or get) your home in tip-top shape.

Rock of Ages @ Toby’s Dinner Theatre | Dinner and a show featuring the greatest hits of the 80s.

Friday Turf Valley’s 46th Annual Wedding Showcase | Getting married? Know someone who is? Meet dozens of vendors here to make it happen. Bonus: tickets include snacks and drinks | Tickets

Woodchopper’s Ball and the Thundering Herds by the Columbia Orchestra | Tickets

Saturday 🎈 Howard County Dance Festival | Featuring all HCPSS dance companies and the All-County Ensemble. Snow date = Feb 7 | Tickets

Pizza Trolley Grand Reopening | The pizza trolley (a real restored Ellicott City trolley) is back at Manor Hill Brewing this weekend after a brief winter sabbatical.

Winter Wellness Festival | An all-day festival by Yathā with yoga, meditation, sound bath, and wellness vendors to help you relax and recharge.

Sunday 🎈 Ballet Bouquet | A winter ballet showcase blending classical and contemporary dance with Japanese-inspired artistry, featuring Misako Ballet Company and special guests from NYC | Tickets

Trivia, Bingo, Karaoke, & Open mic nights

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

25 🌡️ 7 | 🌤️ | 3% 🌨️ | 💨 13 mph

24 🌡️ 8 | 🌤️ | 3% 🌨️ | 💨 7 mph

24 🌡️ 13 | ☁️ | 9% 🌨️ | 💨 9 mph

26 🌡️ 15 | ⛅ | 16% 🌨️| 💨16 mph

The Morgan Inn | Kylar Ray | 6 PM

Bare Bones | Misspent Youth | 8 PM
Blackwall Barn & Lodge | Patrick Donovan | 8 PM
Collective Encore | A Tribute to the Funk Bands | 8 PM | Tickets
The Common Kitchen | Janine & Rich Alcantara | 6 PM
Cured 1821 | Tim Young | 6 PM
Dive Bar & Grille | Mr. VCR | 9 PM
Kelsey’s Restaurant & Irish Pub | John Wickless | 6 PM
Looney’s Maple Lawn | Kitty Back | 9 PM
The Morgan Inn | John Haywood | 7 PM
Reckless Shepherd | In Too Deep | 9 PM
Smashing Grapes | Jennifer Schimpf | 8 PM
White Oak Tavern | Angie Miller | 8 PM

Bare Bones | Code Red | 8 PM
Blackwall Barn & Lodge | Madisun Bailey | 8 PM
Cured 1821 | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 5 PM
Dive Bar & Grille | The Experience | 9 PM
Kelsey’s Restaurant & Irish Pub | Richard Walton| 6 PM
Looney’s Maple Lawn | Big Machine | 8 PM
The Morgan Inn | Skatt-Daddy | 8 PM
Oversea Distillery | Ryan Watkins | 6 PM
Reckless Shepherd | So Fetch | 8 PM
Smashing Grapes | Patrick Cooper | 8 PM
Sonomas | Dance Little Sister | 7 PM
White Oak Tavern | Dave & Rebecca | 8 PM

Bare Bones | Crush | 8 PM
Blackwall Barn & Lodge | Andrew Bell | 11 AM
Cured 1821 | Sidestreet Duo | 5 PM
Manor Hill Brewing | Dan Bregman | 2 PM
The Morgan Inn | Soul Family Band | 2 PM
Smashing Grapes | Jason Kearse | 11 AM
White Oak Tavern | Jazz Brunch | 10 AM

Thanks for reading Columbia Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who just switched to a new internet provider and can’t stop talking about how much faster it is than yours.