July 30, 2016 is now a date none of us will ever forget. It's a date associated with tragedy and destruction, but as we have seen in the time since, it also reminds the world of the tremendous strength of the Ellicott City community.
The support of all of Howard County, as well as our neighbors in Baltimore County and beyond, is as heartwarming as it is necessary. Help has arrived in so many forms — multiple donations to the food banks, piles of cleaning supplies, even snow shovels of all things, deployed in August. The United Way of Central Maryland continues to accept donations through #ECStrong.
A variety of businesses have held fundraisers for the historic district. Tickets are on sale now for a Beer Festival at Victoria's Gastro Pub on Saturday, Aug. 27, from noon to 4 p.m. Accepting the #ECStrong challenge, Manor Hill Tavern and Land Design and Development are challenging businesses to raise funds. Tickets to the festival are $60 each, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to aid the historic district. Manor Hill and Land Design and Development will match the funds raised at this event.
Everyone is determined to assure a future for the historic district, and for this we are grateful. We can hope that when order is being restored, perhaps a few amenities on the town's wish list might be incorporated. For years we have wanted utilities to be buried underground, eliminating the unsightly telephone poles, and for years we have been told it wasn't financially viable to dig up the street to do that. Well, now the street is already dug up so how about it? This is not just aesthetics; it's a safety issue, too. Lissa Bounds grew up on Main Street, first playing and then working in her mother's (Enalee Bounds) Ellicott's Country Store. Lissa said, "The county has an opportunity to get this right this time with the sidewalks and Main Street torn up. Get the telephone poles out of there, bury the lines for Internet, cable, and electricity, and create a comprehensive plan for storm water that doesn't start in the Historic District ... that starts at the top of Old Columbia Pike, Frederick Road by St. John's Lane and Ellicott Mills at Rogers Avenue."
Just a few weeks before the storm, the historic district hosted a plein air paint out—"Paint it Ellicott City 2016"— during which dozens of painters took to the streets to paint our lovely town. It was fun to watch and it might be a bit bittersweet to view the results, but you can see the town through their eyes at an exhibit at the Howard County Arts Council, 8510 High Ridge Road. The exhibit is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and admission is free.
The Howard County Historical Society has an event coming up at its museum, 8325 Court Ave. You can park on the courthouse parking lot and walk over to the museum. On Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m., it is holding a concert featuring "I'm the Man." Tickets are $12 in advance, free to Society members with an advance registration. At the Society's space at the Miller Library, on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 20, it is hosting the Genealogical Society with its help desk.
Over at Banneker Park in Oella, on Aug. 13, it is presenting Dr. Ray Bosman and his critters for "Super Snakes" at 1:30 p.m. That evening is also the final concert of the season, with "Groovin' with Ben," from 6 to 8 p.m. On Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can trace your roots with a genealogy workshop and on Aug. 20 at 9 a.m., you can attend a "Beginners Bird Blitz, " and start learning how to name that bird tune.
The Howard County Fair ends on Saturday. Be sure to check out the Historical Society's table there.