🍦Who is Truth Thomas?

Good morning, Columbia. If you haven’t seen any Artemis II photos yet, go look some up now and just be amazed. We are so back (in space).

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

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Howard County has a poet laureate. And he's sticking around.

County Executive Calvin Ball reappointed Truth Thomas to a second two-year term — the gig is his through March 2028. Thomas has been the county's inaugural Poet Laureate since April 2024, showing up at civic events, giving public readings, and doing what good poets do: making people feel something about the place they live.

The program launched in 2023 in partnership with the Howard County Arts Council and HoCoPoLitSo. Two years in, it looks like a keeper. And you couldn’t script a better name for a poet laureate if you tried.

P.S. HoCoPoLitSo is the Howard County Poetry & Literature Society.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🪕 Baltimore Old Time Festival: Charm City Junction with Caleb Stine - Charm City Junction and Caleb Stine perform at Encore as part of the Baltimore Old Time Festival.

🥚 Adult Flashlight Egg Hunt (21+) - Howard County Recreation & Parks hosts a flashlight egg hunt for adults.

📚 An Evening with Claire Kingsley - Bestselling author Claire Kingsley visits for a conversation and signing tied to her Haven Brothers series.

🎭 MACC Bash 2026 - The annual fundraiser for the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts at the Miller Branch Library.

💕 Charm City Romanticon 2026 - A multi-day romance book convention at Turf Valley with panels, signings, and after-hours events. Runs Friday and Saturday.

🎈 🌎 GreenFest 2026 - Howard County's largest Earth Day celebration, connecting residents with local sustainability organizations and green initiatives.

🎈 💙 Autism in the Park - Free event for Autism Acceptance Month presented by the Autism Society of Maryland and Howard County Rec & Parks. Shuttle bus available from overflow parking. Rain date is April 12.

🎶 Columbia Orchestra Presents: Cinematic Pops - The Columbia Orchestra performs iconic film scores.

🎨 2026 Artists Open Studios Tour - Maryland's annual statewide open studios event. Visit working artists in their personal studios in Ellicott City and beyond. Free and self-guided, April 11–12.

🎈 👑 Royal Garden Party at Clark's Elioak Farm - A storybook-themed garden party at Clark's Elioak Farm.

🌿 Wellness Day at Manor Hill - Manor Hill Farm's first-ever wellness event, with yoga in the hop field, health and fitness vendors, DJ Levi, Life Acai food truck, and farm-brewed beer. 12–7 PM.

🎈 🔦 Eggstreme Flashlight Egg Hunt (11–15 yrs) - Howard County Recreation & Parks hosts a flashlight egg hunt for tweens and teens.

🎈 🎭 Toby's Dinner Theatre Presents: The Wizard of Oz - Toby's current production runs Tuesday through Sunday with evening and matinee performances.

🎈 🎨 Visionary Women 2026 - Columbia Art Center exhibit featuring work by 78 local female artists. Free to visit during gallery hours through the end of the run.

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🏛️ County Fights Back – Howard County filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit from the developer behind the proposed Elkridge ICE detention center, arguing its ban on private immigration detention facilities doesn't conflict with federal law. Developer Genesis GSA Strategic One had its building permit pulled in January — and the county says Genesis never even sought the required public notice or comment in the first place. ($)

📋 Calling all upstanding citizens – HCPSS is looking to fill four openings on its Ethics Panel: one now, three more after July 1. Any Howard County resident 18+ who isn't a school employee, current student, or board member is eligible to apply. Send a letter of interest and résumé to [email protected] by April 8 (tomorrow!)

🚒 History, Restored – After more than two years of locked doors, the Ellicott City Firehouse Museum is back open — with refreshed exhibits, restored bells, a refurbished fire pump, and new signage to guide visitors through the space. The museum has been a Historic Ellicott City staple since 1991.

🧠 Not what I was doing in high school – Four Mount Hebron High School juniors — Saanvi Kakarlapudi, Ahana Roy, Amitha Sabbani, and Tanvi Anand — took first place at the international Paradigm Challenge with MindLink, a wearable device that helps dementia patients track daily tasks and stay independent. The prize: a $10,000 scholarship split four ways, a trip to LA, and a day at Disneyland. I definitely never won anything like that for my egg drop science fair entries. ($)

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53 🌡️ 30 | ☀️ | 2% | 💨 NW 15 mph

54 🌡️ 33 | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 E 7 mph

Cured 1821 | Dave Leoni | 6 PM

Collective Encore | Tornado Rose and Seneca Creek Bluegrass Band | 7:30 PM | Tickets 
Cured 1821 | Noah Dion | 6 PM
Judge Bench Pub | Irish Music | 7 PM

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