🍦Tim Hortons on Broken Land Parkway

Good morning, Columbia. Welcome to Columbia Scoop, the local newsletter that would never mine all the M&M’s out of the trail mix.

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

The 2026 MCAP results are out, and Howard County students beat the state average on every test – again. Scores barely moved from last year. But hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

HCPSS came in at 65.9% proficient in English (MD overall = 51.7%) and 42.1% in math (MD = 27.1%) – the No. 2 math ranking among Maryland districts and No. 4 in English. Fifth and eighth graders beat the state science averages too.

That sub-one-point gain mirrors a statewide plateau, and gaps persist for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and Black and Hispanic students. “We know we still have opportunities to close persistent achievement gaps and become a great school system for every student,” Superintendent Bill Barnes said.

Bragging rights, per The Banner’s school-by-school breakdown:

One more for the history books: this was the last MCAP for grades three through eight. Those grades switch to a new test, MSTAR, next spring. High school, science, and social studies tests stay put for now.

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August starts Saturday. Here’s your two-day warning – and your game plan.

The 80th annual Howard County Fair runs August 8–15. That’s a lot of funnel cakes.

Merriweather barely takes a night off ("Weird Al" Yankovic this Sunday, then Thomas Rhett, Zac Brown Band, The Fray, and Kehlani), and the Lakefront keeps its Friday movie-and-dancing routine going right up until HCPSS starts back August 24.

The full guide has all of it, plus the deeper cuts: Y2K Night at the Lakefront, Midnight Mini-Golf, the Back to School Bash with a Brooklyn brass band, the rescheduled Caribbean American Heritage Celebration, and Toby’s trading Mean Girls for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

Read the full August guide here.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🎈🎶 Alysha Brilla - JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter brings her vibrant blend of Indo-Tanzanian roots, reggae, and soul to the Columbia Lakefront for free.

🎶 The Red Clay Strays - The fast-rising Alabama southern rock and soul band plays Merriweather Post Pavilion.

🍽️ The Art of Making Fresh Pasta - Chef Alba teaches you to make gnudi and pici from scratch at the Inn at Mary’s Land Farm.

🎈🐮 Laurel Farmers Market - Fresh local produce, artisan goods, and community vendors on Main Street through October.

🎈🎥 Movie Night: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - Bring a blanket to the lakefront for a free outdoor screening at dusk.

🎈💃 Dancin’ Under the People Tree - All-ages dance fitness under the People Tree sculpture at the Columbia Lakefront.

🎈🎶 Friday Music: The Vico Cycle - Free outdoor concert at Clarksville Commons blending rock, funk, blues, soul, and hip-hop.

🎈🌳 Building Woodland Fairy Houses - Kids 10 and younger can build fairy houses from bark, twigs, and pine cones at Belmont Manor and Historic Park.

🎈🎶 Columbia Concert Band - Movie music, marches, and medleys performed by ~90 local musicians at the Columbia Lakefront.

🏓 Round Robin Pickleball Tournament - A day of friendly competition with timed games at multiple skill levels at Owen Brown Tennis Club.

🎈🎶 SUMMER SOUNDS: Strykers Posse - Evening of reggae music at Harper’s Choice Village Center, part of the Summer Sounds Concert Series.

🎈🤡 "Weird Al" Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour - The parody legend returns to Merriweather Post Pavilion with new material and classic hits.

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🍩 Timbit by Timbit – Construction has started on Columbia’s first Tim Hortons (9891 Broken Land Parkway). The Canadian version of Dunkin’ coffee and donut shop just opened its first Maryland location in Eldersburg and people on Facebook are stoked, eh? No word yet aboot the opening date here but we’ll let you know.

🤝 Rhyme Time – The county’s Unity in the Community Resource Fair takes over Long Reach Village Center Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM with music, moon bounces, food giveaways, arts and crafts, raffles, and one-stop access to family services and resources. Admission and parking are free. Details here.

🎬 Reel Green – Marriotts Ridge junior Samantha Pickett and her little sister Georgiana, a Mount View eighth grader, are hosting the third annual Maryland Children’s Environmental Film Festival Tuesday at 5:30 PM at the Howard County Conservancy. On screen: environmental films by young filmmakers from around the DMV. It’s free and open to all ages, but seating is limited to just 40 chairs, so RSVP here.

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84 🌡️ 65 | 🌤️ | 2% ☔ | 💨 NW 12 mph

87 🌡️ 68 | ☀️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 NW 5 mph

88 🌡️ 69 | ⛅ | 23% ☔ | 💨 S 9 mph

84 🌡️ 68 | ⛈️ | 58% ☔ | 💨 S 9 mph

83 🌡️ 68 | ⛈️ | 46% ☔ | 💨 NW 6 mph

Bare Bones | David & Paula | 7–10 PM
Cured 1821 | Chordy | 6–10 PM
🌳🎵 Merriweather | The Red Clay Strays | 6:30 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | The Fog Acoustic Trio | 6–9 PM

Bare Bones | Random Logic | 8 PM–12 AM
Barn & Lodge | Andrew Bell | 8–11 PM
Collective Encore | Spiders From Mercury: A Tribute to Queen and David Bowie | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Gene Okonski | 6–11 PM
Hoco Brew Hive | Scotty Pip & Mike Vance | 7–10 PM
Looney’s Maple Lawn | Milk Mountain | 9 PM
The Morgan Inn | Erin James featuring Dylan Armour | 8–11 PM
Reckless Shepherd | Better Off Dead | 9 PM
Smashing Grapes | Eddie Botts | 8–11 PM
White Oak Tavern | Meg Murray | 8–10 PM

Bare Bones | FireKite | 8 PM–12 AM
Barn & Lodge | Mike Sharp | 8–11 PM
Collective Encore | U2topia | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Bob Butta | 6–11 PM
Kelsey’s | Richard Walton | 6–9:30 PM
The Morgan Inn | The Black Orchid Band | 8–11 PM
Reckless Shepherd | Vertigo Red | 8:30–11:30 PM
Smashing Grapes | Mark Gregan | 8–11 PM
White Oak Tavern | Mike Fizzano | 8–10 PM

Barn & Lodge | Jennifer Schimpf | 11 AM–2 PM
Cured 1821 | Bob & Aiden | 5–9 PM
🌳🎵 Manor Hill Brewing | Sophie Bernitt | 2–5 PM
🌳🎵 Merriweather | "Weird Al" Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour | 7:30 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | The Soul Family (Sunday Music Jam) | 2–5:30 PM
Smashing Grapes | Chase Lipka | 11 AM–2 PM
White Oak Tavern | Jazzy Brunch | 11 AM–2 PM

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 has a strong opinion about Tim Hortons versus Dunkin’. And I’m just gonna say it. Munchkins is an objectively better name but Timbits taste better.