Creating aConnected Columbia

As most of you are already aware, Columbia Association (CA) maintains more than 93 miles of

pathways around Columbia. Many residents enjoy using CA pathways for recreation, fitness and

transportation. In an effort to create a connected and comprehensive pathway system that will

encourage residents to bike and walk around town more, CA is in the process of developing an Active

Transportation Action Agenda (ATAA). As well, and soon, the Howard County government will begin to

develop a Bicycle Master Plan; and CA and the county have agreed to work cooperatively on the two projects

to minimize gaps and overlaps in the analysis.

MonthlyA PUBLICATION OF COLUMBIA ASSOCIATIONCAFEB 2012

CA MON TH LY 1

Learn about the Connecting Columbia project by visitingColumbiaAssociation.org/ConnectingColumbia.

2 Why I Serve: An Interviewwith Aquatics MasterPlan Task Force ChairCarlton Haywood

3 Behind the Budget

4 Be a Part of YourCommunity Events

THIS MONTH ON CA’sTELEVISION SHOW

On February’s TV show, learn about

the Connecting Columbia project;

get information on the restaurants

in Columbia that are gone but not

forgotten; dig deeper into the

Proposed FY2013 and Conditional

FY2014 Budgets; find out about

the recently implemented senior

discounts at CA; learn about CA’s

snow removal plan; and more!

Watch Columbia Matters

online anytime at

ColumbiaMatters.org and

YouTube.com/CATVchannel.

Facebook.com/CA.ColumbiaAssociation

Issuu.com/CA-ColumbiaAssociation

Twitter.com/CA_intheNews

YouTube.com/CATVchannel

ConnectwithCA!It’s easier than ever to find us.

Developing a 21st Century System for Biking & Walking

CA and Howard County Working Side-By-SideCA is mainly focused on improving the CA pathway system, but toreally improve connectivity for biking and walking, we will alsoinclude recommendations for the county roadway and sidewalk

connections and crosswalk and intersection investments that

may be needed to improve connectivity and safe routes. WhileCA is already at work on the ATAA — commonly known asConnecting Columbia, the county anticipates it willstart their own Bicycle Master Plan this spring, justat the time we are drafting recommendations. Thatis why it will be even more important that the countyand CA staff meet regularly as the studies moveforward. As a first step, county staff will be meetingwith the ATTA task force this month to brief thegroup of 16 volunteers advising CA on ConnectingColumbia on the scope and schedule of the masterplan. County and CA staff have long-standing andgood working relationships and recently appliedjointly for a state grant to undertake a feasibility studyfor a bike sharing program in Howard County.Prior to beginning the Connecting Columbia

project, CA team members spent time examining

the existing paths and searching for areas where there are disconnectsin the system, needed curb cuts to improve biking transitionsbetween pathways to roadways and opportunities for improvedlinkages. During this assessment process, CA began to identify mainpathways that could help residents get across Columbia with ease. CAprovided the results of the preliminary field work to Toole DesignGroup, the consultants for this project. Nationally recognized experts

in pedestrian and bicycle planning and design, theyalso know Columbia —company president JenniferToole lives in Hickory Ridge!

Next StepsThe Connecting Columbia project aims to improvethe CA pathway system and increase the amount

of bicycling and walking throughout Columbia by

developing an implementable agenda of priority

projects, including plans for a pilot signage

project to make it easier to navigate the pathwaysystem. Toole will also be making recommendations forroadway connections needed to create a more usable,convenient and safe system for biking and walking.“I think there’s great interest in this project because

continued on page 3

CONNECTINGCOLUMBIA

2 CA MON TH LY

Learn about the Aquatics Master Plan by visitingColumbiaAssociation.org/AquaticsMasterPlan.

Why I Serve:An Interview with Carlton Haywood, Aquatics Master Plan Task Force Chair

Planning for the Future

Columbia’sAquatics:

By Aria WhiteBy Aria White

Over the next 10-20 years, the demographics inour area are expected to change dramatically.Because of this prediction, the Columbia

Association (CA) has been developing an AquaticsMaster Plan this past year to help ensure that we cancontinue to meet the aquatics needs of our ever-changing community. We are now nearing the end ofthe project and are in the process of finalizing themaster plan.For those of you who don’t know, the final master

plan will document the existing conditions of CA’saquatics venues, assess the future needs of thecommunity and make recommendations for futureinvestments and enhancements of our aquaticsfacilities and associated programs.We reached out to aquatics experts for information

about the trends occurring in pool construction,enhancement features and programming. CAconsulted with ten aquatics management experts;nationally-recognized consultants; aquatics designprofessionals; and recreation and aquatics association

staff members. In addition, CA also conducted interviews with three other communities–two planned communities (Reston, Va., and

The Woodlands, Texas) and one jurisdiction (Portland, Ore). The result was a scan of

what’s going on aroundthe country related to aquaticsfacilities; the information from

the scan was put into a CA-published document,Aquatics Industry Trend Report.A large part of the master plan process has been

community engagement. In addition to the thoughtsand opinions of aquatics experts, we also took time tolisten to residents and CA pool users. We establishedan Aquatics Master Plan Task Force, made up ofcommunity members, to advise and provide guidanceto CA team members on the development of the plan.We also created an online Aquatics Commenting Tooland hosted public meetings and workshops to educatethe community on the master plan process.

Learn additional details about the AquaticsMaster Plan and view the draft plan online atColumbiaAssociation.org/AquaticsMasterPlan.

Like some other community leaders, Haywood’srole in community leadership began gradually,serving on one committee, then another, then another.“Since joining the CAAC, I have enjoyed working with theother resident volunteers and with CA staff, and theexperience has been rewarding enough that I’ve agreed totake on progressively more involvedroles as vice-chair and then chair ofthe CAAC,” Haywood says. He alsostarted as a member and thenbecame chair of the Sport & FitnessCommittee, which is an umbrellagroup for the golf, tennis, fitness andaquatics advisory committees.When he’s not serving the

Columbia community, Haywoodspends his time working as thedirector for Program Operations atthe Interstate Commission on thePotomac River Basin working toprotect Maryland’s water resources.And his passion for water extendsbeyond swimming and his day job;Haywood has also been involved inMaryland’s Tributary Teams since1995. The teams are composed of members of localgovernment agencies and non-profit watershedorganizations that provide feedback on the state’s initiativesfor restoring water quality in our streams and in theChesapeake Bay. “In recent years, I’ve chaired the MiddlePotomac Tributary Team and, currently, I lead the statewideStakeholder Advisory Committee for Watershed Implemen -ta tion Plans,” Haywood says.I’m sure many Columbia residents would agree that this

is a unique community because of all of its amenities and

offerings for residents. In order to ensure that the amenitiesand offerings are continuing to benefit residents, it’sessential that we have a core group of leaders to providefeedback and input on behalf of the larger community. “CAexists for the benefit of Columbia residents who are acommunity of diverse interests and so, to be successful, CA

needs input representing manypoints of view,” Haywood says. In hisleadership positions, Haywood sayshe brings to the table patience and aquantitative approach to problemsolving. He also adds, “A leader mustbe willing to acknowledge differentpoints of view and recognize that theleader’s responsibility is to promotea community agenda rather than apersonal agenda.”If you’re curious about how to

sign up for a committee, informationcan be found on the CA web site(ColumbiaAssociation.org). Forthose of you who are interested ingetting involved with CA, Haywoodsuggests talking to someone who’salready involved in the committee

you’re looking at to see if the committee’s schedule andmission are right for you. “Ask yourself if you want to getinvolved in order to find solutions that are right for thecommunity or solutions that are right for you.” Haywoodsays. “The most significant contributions come fromvolunteers who are motivated by the former rather than thelatter.”For more information about the Columbia Aquatics AdvisoryCommittee, which is currently looking for new members, visitColumbiaPools.org to download an application.

Carlton Haywood, an avid swimmer in Columbia, knows what it means todedicate his free time to give back to a community that has given him somuch. Haywood, chair of the Aquatics Master Plan Task Force and CA’s

Sport & Fitness Committee, has been a regular swimmer in Columbia for more than10 years. He first discovered the opportunity to volunteer and join the ColumbiaAquatics Advisory Committee (CAAC) by visiting the CA Pools web site(ColumbiaPools.org). “I simply thought that because I value CA’s swimmingprograms I should contribute a little of my time to help,” Haywood says. “I had noparticular gripe or complaint; rather, I appreciated the benefits for the community.”

Carlton HaywoodAquatics Master Plan Task Force Chair

Columbia AssociationVideos Now on YouTube!

Behind Columbia Association’s BudgetInterested in learning where and how the Columbia Association(CA) is planning to spend money in the next two years?

Columbia Association (CA) is now accepting applicationsfor the Maggie J. Brown Spirit of Columbia ScholarshipAward, which is given annually to Columbia highschool seniors who have shown exceptional effortin providing community service to benefit Columbia

residents and those in the Columbia area. CA has been awarding this scholarship for morethan 20 years.This year, up to six $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors.

Applicants must live on CA-assessed property or have a parent who works full-time on CA-assessedproperty, have a minimum of a C-average and have demonstrated a history of volunteering andservice to the Columbia community.Applications can be found at ColumbiaAssociation.org/Scholarship. The deadline to submit

applications is March 15. For more information, please call 410-715-3161.

Maggie J. Brown Spirit of Columbia Scholarship AwardApplications Now Being Accepted!

At the end of 2010, CA launched its YouTube channel, YouTube.com/CATVchannel, to

make our videos more accessible online and on mobile devices.

CA will be using the channel to help Columbia residents receive updates and

become more aware of the programs and services being offered by CA. CA’s channel features

segments and episodes from CA’s TV show, Columbia Matters. To make viewing easier, there are

playlists on the channel that clump similar content together, including In-Studio Guests, Explore

Columbia, Discussions with Phil, Health with Dr. Oken, 50 Plus and Behind the Budget Videos.

Subscribe to CA’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/CATVchannel to receive notices when new

videos are posted.

continued from page 1

Bring your poochto Dog Day Afternoon!

Sat,April21•11am-2pm

Hopewell Park•Free EventColumbia residents and their canine friends are invited to an afternoon of entertainment, contests, treats and

fun activities for pets and their owners. Area pet vendorswill be on hand to supply information on how to keep

your dogs happy and healthy.Rain date Sun, April 22 • 11am-2pm

For more information, call 410-715-3104 or visit ColumbiaCalendar.org.

Don’t miss the fun!

DogDayAfternoon

SHARE YOUR OPINION ON THEPATHWAY SYSTEM IN COLUMBIA!Visit the interactive Google map to share your feedbackon the conditions and connections of the existingpathways: http://bit.ly/Ay0XRo.

Take the Connecting Columbia survey to let CA knowwhere and when you use the pathways and share yourcomments on areas in need of improvement:http://bit.ly/wOfNJg.

ColumbiaSPIRIT

of

2012

with higher energy prices and the focus on fitness these days,we’re thinking about how we can use our infrastructure sopeople can get around Columbia for short trips, without cars”says Jane Dembner, CA’s director of community planning.The Connecting Columbia project will culminate in an

implementable action agenda that establishes priorities for improve - ments to Columbia bicycling and pedestrian network. The projectis anticipated to be completed by early summer. Learn more byvisiting ColumbiaAssociation.org/ConnectingColumbia.

CA MON TH LY 3

CheckIt Out!

Check out CA’s Behind the Budget web site at

ColumbiaAssociation.org/Behind-the-Budget-

FY13-14 to learn the planning and thinking behind

the Proposed FY2013 and Conditional FY2014

Oper ating and Capital Budgets and watch corres -

ponding videos featuring CA team mem bers.

You can also view the Proposed FY2013 and

Conditional FY2014 Operating and Capital

Budgets online at ColumbiaAssociation.org,

click on the “Budget” tab or watch the Behind

the Budget videos at YouTube.com/CATV

channel.

February Visit CAmonthly.org for event detailsand a listing of many more events!

4 CA MON TH LY

COMMUNITY EVENTS

BeAPartOf It!CA Summer Camp Early RegistrationNow-Tuesday, February 28Information: ColumbiaCamps.org orCamps@ColumbiaAssociation.com.

Master GardenerSeminar: Creating a Backyard HabitatThursday, February 2 • 7pmKahler Hall. Information: 410-730-0770.

Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton HouseFebruary ExhibitThursday, February 2 throughMonday, February 27 Free Reception: Sunday, February 12Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House.Information: 410-730-3987.

Family BingoFriday, February 3 • 7-8:30pmThe Other Barn. Information: 410-730-4610.

Camp Oasis Summer CampRegistration BeginsMonday, February 6Stonehouse. Information: 410-730-8113.

Hickory Ridge Village Board MeetingMonday, February 6 • 7:30pmHawthorn Center. Information:info@hickoryridgevillage.org.

Town Center Village Board MeetingWednesday, February 8 • 7pmHistoric Oakland Manor. Information:towncenter@columbiavillages.org.

Free Gardening Seminar:Creating a Rain GardenThursday, February 97:30-9pmAmherst House. Information: 410-381-9600.

Wine Glass Paintingfor Valentine’s DayThursday, February 9 • 7pmKahler Hall. Information: 410-730-0770.

Family Movie Night:“Cloudy with a Chanceof Meatballs”Friday, February 10 • 7-9pmClaret Hall. Information:villageofriverhill.org.

CA Teen and Middle School Advisory Committee’sNinth Annual Battle of the DanceFriday, February 10 • 7-9pmThe Other Barn. Information: 410-715-5523.

Fancy Flowers CupcakesFriday, February 106:30-8:30pmColumbia Art Center. Preregistration isrequired. Information: 410-730-0075.

Valentine’s Dance(Grades 6-8)Friday, February 107:30-9:30pmColumbia Gym. Information: 410-531-8984.

Casino NightSaturday, February 11 • 7-10pmOwen Brown Community Center.Information: 410-381-0202.

Out of the Bins Art SaleSaturday, February 1111am-4pmSlayton House Theatre. Information:wlevents@columbiavillages.org.

Salon Series: WhatMakes a Great Film?Wednesday, February 15 • 7pmColumbia Art Center. Information: 410-730-0075.

Grow It, Eat It! Spring VegetableGardeningWednesday, February 15 • 7pmOwen Brown Community Center.Information: 410-381-0202.

Dorsey’s SearchResident ArchitecturalCommittee MeetingWednesday, February 15 • 7pmLinden Hall. Information: 410-730-4005.

Rainbow TheatreFriday, February 17 • 10amSlayton House Theatre. Information:wlevents@columbiavillages.org.

Columbia AssociationTeen Advisory Committee’sDance Party for Howard County High School StudentsFriday, February 17 • 7-10pmThe Other Barn. Information: 410-715-5523.

55 and Better Meet and GreetTuesday, February 21 • 7pmClaret Hall. Information:villageofriverhill.org.

CA Board MeetingThursday, February 23 • 7:30pmCA Headquarters. For updated datesand times, please visitColumbiaAssociation.org.

Free Bellydance ClassThursday, February 23 • 5:30pmColumbia Gym. Information: 410-531-0800.

Sunday Afternoon Tea at Historic OaklandSunday, February 26 • 3:30-5pmHistoric Oakland Manor. Information:410-730-4744.

Have a question or comment? E-mailCAmonthly@ColumbiaAssociation.com.