Today in Columbia: Let Patch Honor Your Military Hero
As the war in Iraq winds down, American troops are being sent home just in time for the holidays. Let us know if you're expecting a loved one to return home.
The Weather:
"Showers likely, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. South wind between 8 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Thursday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible." — The National Weather Service
Know a Soldier Coming Home from War?
Do you have a family member or otherwise know of someone returning home from war?
Patch would like to know so we can honor them in feature profile stories.
Or at the very least, send photographs and I'll create a photo gallery featuring Columbia's men and women of the military.
Send an email to marge.neal@patch.com if you'd like us to honor your military hero.
Deck the House:
Get your house ready for its Christmas (or other winter holiday) closeup!
Patch is holding a national house decoration contest, and we need pictures of your house all dressed up for a winter holiday.
Get the details and find out what you have to do to enter your house.
The grand prize winner 's school district will win $100,000.
Your Neighborhood Gallery:
Columbia Patch's new neighborhood photo gallery launched Tuesday, and it's all lonely and forlorn, with just the two photos posted to seed the project on display.
Check out Your Neighborhood Gallery, an online space that gives all residents the opportunity to post photographs and videos of life in Columbia — scenery, events, pets, birthday parties and anything else you want to share (family-oriented, of course).
We got it started. The rest is up to you!
Still Need Your Christmas Tree Stories:
A big shout-out to Ann Gonnella, who responded to my "plea" (I think she felt sorry for me) and sent an email detailing how her Christmas tree routine has changed over the years.
I'm still hoping to hear from more of you about your Christmas tree traditions.
Do you put it up Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas eve or somewhere between those two?
Do you leave it up until the needles are dry and brown, when removing it from the house can result in a trip to the emergency room, or does that baby come down the day after Christmas?
Real or artificial? Decorations pretty enough for a magazine cover, or more likely to end up as a "don't" example in a Christmas how-to book? Fancy and expensive decorations or construction paper school projects you can't fathom getting rid of? Tinsel or absolutely no tinsel?
Send your story to marge.neal@patch.com and be sure to include a phone number so we can talk in person!
My deadline to get this story turned in is Friday, so the time for you to stop procrastinating and send that email is now!
Headlines You May Have Missed Wednesday:
Maryland Holiday Shopping: A Tale of Dashing Through the Coupons
Solar Panels Shine a Light on Ellicott City School
Today in Columbia: Christmas Tree Stories Needed
Upcoming Columbia Patch Series: The State of Village Centers
hmj
2:17 pm on Thursday, December 15, 2011
Support our veterans ----- find a job for veterans in need. They should come first on our priority list.
bill bissenas
8:22 am on Friday, December 16, 2011
As a Vet, and having traveled extensively throughout the U.S., I can say that Columbia and Howard County are among the most anti-military places I've ever been. I was at a flea market several years ago and I had a table set up selling some items. I was wearing my Navy hat. The looks of derision and disdain from passersby was unreal. There are some in Columbia who honor the military but a large segment of the population, the progressives, leftists, and socialists, truly hate the miltary and all that it stands for.
Brook Hubbard
1:16 pm on Friday, December 16, 2011
Funny. Everyone I have ever met has supported the military 100%. In fact, we have active and reserve military in our local hobby group. I have yet to run into someone who has ever looked on an individual in military uniform (or bearing insignia) in disdain. Perhaps I run in different circles from this large segment of the population?