🍦Hot Garbage Pizza is open

Good morning, Columbia. Justin Berk just predicted December 5 as the first measurable snow (>0.1”) of the season. He put a lot of sophisticated-sounding meteorological thought into that prediction (powered by his Ivy League atmospheric science degree). So with absolutely no qualifications, we’re predicting December 12. The Price Is Right rules (can’t go over). Loser owes the winner a large DQ Blizzard. Somebody make sure he sees this.

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

Early voting starts today. You can vote at any of Howard County’s five early voting centers from 7 AM to 8 PM every day through Thursday, October 29. Two are in Columbia: the Bain Center on Ruth Keeton Way and St. John Baptist Church on Tamar Drive. The other three are in Cooksville, Ellicott City, and North Laurel.

Not registered? You can register and vote on the same trip. Bring something official with your address on it, like a driver’s license, a paycheck or utility bill.

Most of the local drama ended in June. Vanessa Atterbeary won the Democratic primary for county executive, and there’s no Republican on the ballot, so Green Party candidate Nater Kane is her only opponent. Four of the five County Council races got settled in the primary too.

The one real council race is out west. District 5 is the only Republican seat on the council, and Democrat Cat Carter is challenging Republican Ryan O’Connor for it. No Democrat has held this seat since Ronald Reagan was president.

Three candidates are running for two at-large school board seats: Lanlan Xu, Linda Frascarella, and Columbia’s own Mark Covington.

You’ll also vote on three statewide questions and two county charter amendments. Question A swaps “he” and “she” for gender-neutral words in the county charter. Question B lets the county use its capital budget to help pay for affordable for-sale homes owned by the Housing Commission. Here’s the full sample ballot.

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If you thought youth sports were a lot as a regular parent, try running the whole league.

Howard County Rec & Parks announced its 2026 Community Sports Hall of Fame class this week. These are the folks that got up even earlier than you (and stayed up later) to make sure the fields were booked, the refs got paid (even when they sucked), and someone was bringing snacks.

Chris Jakubek spent 24 years in Howard County youth sports, including a run as president of the Elkridge Youth Organization. He co-founded the Memorial Day Stars and Strikes tournament, which is now the biggest youth baseball tournament in Maryland. He also started Maryland Youth Sports Officials, so if your kid’s rec game had an umpire, there’s a good chance Chris is the reason.

All three will be inducted on Tuesday, October 27, at the 22nd Celebration of Sports at Turf Valley. The keynote speaker is Joanna Lohman, who played for the U.S. Women’s National Team ⚽ and the Washington Spirit and is on the next season of The Amazing Race. Tickets are $49. Call or email Michael Blevins at 410-313-1668 to grab one or reserve a table.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🎭 Toby’s Dinner Theatre Presents: Summer - The Donna Summer Musical – Toby’s dinner theater brings Donna Summer’s story to the stage with food, music, and disco magic.

🎨 Faithful Circle Quilters Guild Chesapeake Bay Blues Quilt Show – More than 300 quilts, plus demonstrations, vendors, and a raffle for the award-winning Chesapeake Bay Blues quilt. Thursday through Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Howard County.

🎈👻 Halloween Costume Parades at Clark’s Elioak Farm – Put the kids in costume and march them around the petting farm. Parades at 11 AM and 2 PM Saturday and Sunday.

🎈🌳 Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees – Make a potion with a witch, catch a Halloween puppet show, and hit the trail stations at Robinson Nature Center. Mornings are for ages 0–4, afternoons for 5 and up. Saturday and Sunday, register by phone at 410-313-0400.

🎃 The Haunted Experience (7 yrs +) – A spooky hayride through the woods at Rockburn Branch Park for ages 7 and up. Friday and Saturday night, cash only at the gate.

📚 Frightreads Book Festival 2026 – Maryland’s number one Halloween book festival celebrates horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and thrillers with authors, artists, and creators. Saturday and Sunday at the Howard County Fairgrounds.

🎈🎃 Trick or Treat Turf Valley Towne Square – Dress up and trick-or-treat through participating stores and restaurants from 5:30–7 PM while supplies last.

🎈🎃 Haunted Trail at Hobbit’s Glen – A self-guided trail with glowing lights, spooky sounds, complimentary hot cocoa, cider, and mini pumpkin painting.

🍺 Wanderland Festival – The Brewers Association of Maryland takes over Symphony Woods with beer, wine, spirits, and cider from all five corners of the state, plus food, makers, and a kids’ area. Noon to 5 PM, rain or shine.

🧙 Hocus Pocus Day at Decadent Dessert Bar – Bubbling cauldron cupcakes, spellbook brownies, butterbeer, and photo ops at the Maple Lawn bakery. Come in costume and you get a Decadent Dollar.

🎨 Celebration of the Arts in Howard County – The 29th annual signature arts event features a culinary reception, art auction, and Rising Star performances at Howard Community College.

🎈🎃 Floating Pumpkin Patch – Kids jump in the heated pool at Roger Carter Community Center to fish out their own pumpkin. Bring a costume and a bathing suit. Ages 3 to 11, preregistration required.

🎈🎃 Trunk or Treat – Free Halloween fun at Columbia SportsPark with physical challenges, obstacle courses, games, and decorated trunks full of treats.

🎈🥕 Old Ellicott City Farmers Market – Last regular market of the season in Tiber Park on Main Street. 9 AM to 1 PM.

🎈🛠️ Downtown Columbia Maker Faire – The Greatest Show & Tell on Earth returns to Merriweather Park with workshops and demos on robotics, digital art, painting, sculpting, and more. Noon to 4 PM.

🎈🎃 Happy Haunted Hayride (2-7 yrs) – A gentle daytime hayride designed for younger kids, with fun instead of fright, at Rockburn Branch Park West. Admission is $5, cash only at the gate.

🎈⛸️ Halloween Ice Skate – Come in a safe-to-skate costume for spooky music, disco lights, candy giveaways, and free popcorn at Columbia Ice Rink.

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🍕 Garbage Day – Hot Garbage Pizza is now open on Tiber Alley in Old Ellicott City. Owner Geoff Gill named it after the leftovers pizza his grandma Angie made. The menu is five pies on dough that rests at least 24 hours, and the namesake (caramelized onions, apples, bacon ends, and cheddar) usually sells out. So go early. You can also grab a six-pack or a bottle of wine to go. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 4 PM (Wed/Thu) or 11 AM (Fri–Sun) to 9 PM. Check out the menu.

🚶 Mind The Gap – Crews started building a sidewalk on Snowden River Parkway between Route 108 and Tamar Drive this week. It will close a gap in the sidewalk and make it easier to walk to Long Reach High School. Expect the right southbound lane to close at times on weekdays between 8 AM and 5 PM. The county expects to finish by mid-November, weather permitting.

🍲 Meal Ticket – Feast & Fettle, a prepared-meal delivery company, celebrated a ribbon cutting for its $5 million, 25,600-square-foot kitchen and warehouse in Elkridge. About 30 people work there now with plans to hire 150 more by early 2027 when it starts cooking meals on site. At full capacity, the Rhode Island-based company will employ 250 people.

🐾 Pet Project – Did you know Howard County Animal Control runs a pet food bank? It gives pet food, litter, and other supplies to owners on a fixed income or between jobs, so they can keep their pets instead of giving them up. It runs 100% on community donations, and it’s getting a little low right now. Want to help? You can drop off dog food, cat food, or cat litter at the shelter on Davis Road in Columbia, or order off its Amazon wish list.

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65 🌡️ 45 | ☀️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 N 10 mph

62 🌡️ 38 | ☀️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 NE 8 mph

61 🌡️ 40 | ☀️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 E 3 mph

64 🌡️ 42 | ☀️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 E 2 mph

68 🌡️ 47 | ☀️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 W 5 mph

🌳🎵= Outdoor concert

Collective Encore | Dueling Pianos Featuring The Flying Ivories | 7 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Bob Butta | 6–10 PM
The Morgan Inn | Garrett Mabe | 6–9 PM

Bare Bones | The Chucks | 8 PM–12 AM
Barn & Lodge | Mark Scott | 8–11 PM
Collective Encore | Don’t Back Down: Celebrate The Music of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Kevin Howard | 6–11 PM
Kelsey’s Restaurant & Irish Pub | West City | 6–9:30 PM
Looney’s Maple Lawn | Social Drinking | TBA
The Morgan Inn | John Haywood | 7–10 PM
Reckless Shepherd | The Betty White Stripes | 9 PM
Smashing Grapes | Jennifer Schimpf | 8–11 PM
White Oak Tavern | Dan Ingham | 8–10 PM

Bare Bones | HighTest | 8 PM–12 AM
Barn & Lodge | Grayson Moon | 8–11 PM
Collective Encore | Double Duran: The Ultimate Duran Duran Experience (Matinee) | 1 PM | Tickets
Collective Encore | Double Duran: The Ultimate Duran Duran Experience | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Tim Young | 6–11 PM
Kelsey’s Restaurant & Irish Pub | Miss Moon Rising | 6–9:30 PM
Looney’s Maple Lawn | Kono Nation | TBA
The Morgan Inn | Black Orchid | 8–11 PM
Reckless Shepherd | Shake The Room | 8:30 PM
Smashing Grapes | Jordan Mills | 8–11 PM
White Oak Tavern | Antony Frijia | 8–10 PM

Barn & Lodge | Stephen Henson | 11 AM–2 PM
Collective Encore | Candlelight: Halloween Classics | 5:30 PM & 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Haunted Maryland | 5–9 PM
🌳🎵 Manor Hill Brewing | John Benjamin | 2–5 PM
The Morgan Inn | Sunday Funday Music Jam with The Soul Family Band | 2–5:30 PM
Smashing Grapes | Sara Jones | 11 AM–2 PM

Thanks for reading Columbia Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who is always trying to leave bananas out to make banana bread but forgets about them every time, and as a result, their house is the preferred abode of every single fruit fly ever.