You know what's really fantastic about living in Rodgers Forge? The neighbors.
Hands down. People move here because it's a kid-friendly and welcoming environment with really great schools. Sometimes, though, people move away either because they've decided they need more space or because of a job. About two years ago my neighbors-turned-good-friends, Tim Coman, Lisa Beyer and their son Ian, moved to Austin, Texas, for Tim's job. Tim is an art director in the video gaming industry and Lisa is a writer.
But this January, they had the opportunity to move back to Baltimore and they came running to the Forge. Austin was nice but Rodgers Forge is home and they are so excited and happy to be back. Tim's new gig with Big Huge Games in Timonium is a dream job come true. Especially since the company just released its first game, DomiNations, which its Facebook page says is "an innovative strategy game that allows players to lead the world's greatest civilizations from the Stone Age to the Space Age for ages 12-plus," and which has received more than 26,000 combined downloads on Google Play and Apple and was also an Editor's Pick. That all means it's successful and kind of a Big Huge Deal in the gaming industry. According to Tim, "The game has really taken off. Being featured on App store and Google play was huge for us. It's a really good group of people here. They've really put a lot of effort into making the game these last two years and I'm excited to be a part of the team." It's so awesome having the Coman-Beyer family back home and doing what they love.
Gretchen Canova-Gabor, Brandon Road, entered the National Association of Professional Organizers BaltimoreGet Organized Photo Contest at the encouragement of Laura Abell, Stoneleigh resident and professional organizer. Recently, Gretchen discovered that she was selected as one of the grand prize winners! Here's the important part for Gretchen. She is a mom raising an almost 3-year-old daughter and struggles with organization due to her Attention Deficit Disorder. She found that there aren't many resources or much support for women with ADD, but hopes her story might spark folks to take action and seek help. Even if it's something as seemingly small as getting better organized. Gretchen's Grand Prize score included organizational sessions with NAPO;a $500 IKEA Baltimore gift card; and a therapeutic massage to free the mind and body of mental and cellular clutter. I am completely green-eyed over Gretchen's good fortune but also incredibly joyful for her good fortune.
Special happy birthday greetings to Isabel, 12, and Helene, 6!
Do you have some positive news? No matter how small an accomplishment, I would love to hear about it and feature you and your good fortune in a future column. Feel free to email me: krodasada@gmail.com.