🍦Two new ice rinks?

Good morning, Columbia. In honor of Chuck Norris’ life, we’d like to encourage you to adopt the message from his final Instagram post (a video of him sparring just a week before his death at 86): Don’t age. Level up.

RIP Chuck.

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

Howard County might be getting its first-ever county-owned ice rinks.

County Executive Calvin Ball announced plans to propose $3.5 million in the FY27 capital budget for two full-sized NHL-regulation rinks at the Meadowbrook Athletic Complex in Ellicott City. Right now, Howard County has exactly one rink, driving many skaters to neighboring counties in search of ice time.

There are over 50 school-based teams in the Maryland Student Hockey League alone, plus figure skating clubs, adult leagues, and recreational skaters all currently competing for ice time in short supply locally. Phase one is still in the budget proposal stage, so don't sharpen your skates just yet — but the groundwork is being laid.

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This house is listed with Anthony Friedman of Northrop Realty but you better guess fast. Offers are due at noon.

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🍧 Snowy Spoon: Remember Snoballs Sweets and Treats? It’s back with a new owner and a new name. Snowy Spoon is officially open in the Kendall Hardware parking lot (12260 Clarksville Pike) and warm weather can’t stick around fast enough.

🥖 Dough, no: Panera is closing its Jessup fresh dough facility in May, leaving about 120 people looking for work. The move comes as Panera shifts from baking in its cafes daily to third-party contractors par-baking and freezing its products, which are then shipped to cafes for final baking. ($)

🎊 So many questions: Meriwether Arts and Culture Center announced an all-day festival for teens on Friday. It's called MYFest. Details are scant, but they promise more are coming next week.

⚖️ Not so fast: The developer behind the proposed ICE detention facility in Elkridge has filed for a preliminary injunction that would force Howard County to stop enforcing its emergency ban on private detention centers — and reinstate the project's permits — while the two sides fight it out in federal court. Howard County has until March 31 to respond.

🌹 Au Revoir, Main Street: Le Jardin Rosé Bistro Cafe is leaving its Old Ellicott City Main Street spot on March 29 — just five months after opening — and relocating somewhere to be announced soon. The owner's farewell post put it best: "This is not goodbye — it is simply a pause."

🏗️ Room for the Parents: After a decade of planning and approvals, Erickson Senior Living broke ground on Oxford Hills — a 1,100-unit community in Clarksville that will include a public five-acre park with a dog park when it's all done. Phase one wraps in late 2028 with 172 units.

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54 🌡️ 33 | ⛈️ | 31% | 💨 NNW 18 mph

51 🌡️ 34 | ☀️ | 3% | 💨 NW 6 mph

59 🌡️ 46 | ⛅ | 3% | 💨 S 10 mph

Cured 1821 | Dave Leoni | 6 PM

Collective Encore | HFS | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Dwayne Adell | 6 PM

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