Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, commenting most on the possible uses of a historic building in downtown Columbia, a story on speed cameras in operation during spring break, and coverage of a Laurel bank robbery. Poll: What's the Best Use of the Howard Hughes Building? “If it needs $20 million in ‘base building improvements,’ it should probably be torn down. A brand new building could be built for less than that. – Ohai “I believe the building should be utilized in a manner such that it is occupied at capacity during normal business hours and should also …

  The grammar police showed up in the comments section of Howard County Patch sites this week, fittingly, on a story about school board candidates. Other stories that garnered the most comments include: a post on policies regionally regarding feral cats, efforts to help Main Street businesses in Laurel and debates over whether Maryland residents are taxed too much. School Board Challengers Snag Education Association Endorsement “ ’We like Allen Dyer,’ said Lemle." Of course they do, he's a socialist. The HCEA is endorsing a pile of leftists who will ensure the union gets it's ‘fair share’ of …

Columbia Patch columnist and parent Kate Yemelyanov struck a chord with readers this week with her plea to have a school board that “functions more as a platform for the concerns of the community and less as a stage for the individual biases and dysfunctions of its members.” Her sentiments came at a time when the school board has come under heat for its contentious debate and decision in February to eliminate formal middle school reading classes and for its conflict management during meetings. In February, Paul Lemle, the president of the Howard County Education Association suggested that the…

Howard County readers took their comments to Patch sites this week, commenting most on stories about the feral cat overpopulation problem in Laurel, the same-sex marriage bill in Maryland and Rams Head Tavern in Savage. Here is a selection of some of our most noteworthy comments. State Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill "Now comes the referendum. With funding and political support from churches and the black community, we can overturn the gay marriage law." — bill bissenas "Sadly, Bill is correct and ignorance and hate are likely to prevail." — Brook Behind the Counter: Rams Head Tavern "I …

Readers continue to respond, debate and complain on Patch sites acorss Howard County. This past week, readers questioned the decision to place three Mexican restaurants at one intersection and the wisdom and long-term effects of shifting some of the financial responsibility of the state teacher pension system to local jurisdictions while one reader learned of the existence of Howard Community College athletics. The HCC men's basketball team finished the regular season with a 12-12 record and earned a berth on the NJCAA Region XX tournament. Assistant Coach Jay Nowaskey has partnered with …

  Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking most to posts about Gov. Martin O’Malley’s views on gay marriage,  the bag tax faltering in the General Assembly, an Ellicott City teen with a second-time cancer diagnosis who has inspired the web phenomenon “Zaching,” and the Howard County school board’s decision to eliminate middle school reading classes.  'Zaching': Maryland Teen With Brain Cancer Inspires Web Phenomenon "What an incredible young man. Not a lot of people could maintain his message of ‘never give up, never give in.’ Praying he beats the odds …

  Patch has compiled the most blunt, thoughtful and outrageous comments on Howard County Patch sites this week. Readers talked the most on how to find the right dog for your family, Gov. O’Malley’s gas tax proposal, the Great Pool Debate in Columbia and how the community of Savage has embraced Burmese families. Community to CA: Keep Jeffers Hill Lap Pool Open "People will not accept pool closures as a result of shoddy accounting. They will also not accept closures that unfairly burden the four oldest villages in Columbia with the most economic challenges while heaping more resources onto the …

Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking most to stories about a mystery photo in Savage, Howard County’s opposition to pension shift costs, Maryland gay marriage legislation and a cat adopted after being featured on Ellicott City Patch. Where in Savage Is This? "Lived in Savage for 23 years....and have seen that photo many times. Did you know that the “original” water pipes were made of elm wood? The county found them when they put in the modern pipes...I think it might be near the current post office. No more picket fences, and they widened the street …

Howard County readers took their thoughts to the comments sections last week on Patch, talking most about stories about the Howard County school district’s decision to acquire land in Elkridge, the evolving village of Wilde Lake in Columbia, the bag tax’s possible spread in Maryland, a new bridge proposed for Columbia and the police chief’s response to accusations of DUI quotas. A New Bridge For Columbia? One Group Hopes So “Is the bridge actually unsafe or do people just use their feelings to determine that it's unsafe (if it is unsafe it should be replaced, of course)? Isn't it enclosed …

Just in time for the upcoming “Be Nice On the Internet Week,” Patch has compiled the most blunt, thoughtful and outrageous comments on Howard County Patch sites. Readers talked the most this week about stories on Howard County Schools being open Monday and the decline of the Laurel Mall. What's Your Opinion on Howard County Schools Being Open Monday? -- “In my opinion 50% of the Education process for K-12 should be concerned with socialization skills, the rest should be academic. I feel learning to live and work with your neighbors and others is crucial to succeeding in our America. I don't …

Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking most to stories about a Glenelg home invasion, the Salvation Army’s struggle for donations, a reported UFO sighting in Elkridge, Gov. O’ Malley’s thoughts on jobs and new plans for the Wilde Lake Village Center in Columbia. Police Say Glenelg Home Targeted by Robbers, Reward Offered: “Suggestion: Don't ever open your door to strangers."-  Suzanne Waller  UFO Reported in Elkridge: “Ok, wow, this is real easy, folks... I live very close to this area (about a 1/2 mile away, at least as the, uh, 'craft' flies lol), and …

Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites last week, but in a different way, dare we say—a delightfully civil way? Two readers debated each other about the value of a new $29 million library in Ellicott City in a mini-poetry slam: An excerpt from Bob Smith’s poem, in the comments section: "I don't know what they have to say It makes no difference anyway Whatever it is, I'm against it! No matter what it is Or who commenced it I'm against it!”  And Ohai’s response: "I could just whisper to you But I think I'd rather shout It's better to be thought a fool than to speak and remove …

Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking most to stories about a ‘historic’ bill passed by the Howard County Council protecting transgendered people from discrimination. Here’s what readers had to say in our comments section: A DESTRUCTIVE CHOICE: "Yet another victory for the intellectually challenged. What….behavior is being changed here?! What this bill will do is keep people from speaking out against this very psychotic and destructive choice. Isn't it interesting that so many males want to be females? Guess all that feminism worked." — Veridicus …

Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking most to stories about crime in Howard County,  the impending winter, Howard County’s plea for more school funding and whether Wegmans will compete with existing grocers when it comes to Columbia in 2012. WINTER IS COMING, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT "Snow was fine when I was a kid and Mommy made sure I was dressed all warm and school was closed and all of that. Now, after the first moments of beauty, it's just a hassle!" — Hillary Anne Kotler HOWARD COUNTY ASKS STATE FOR MORE SCHOOL FUNDING “The HCPS budget is already …

Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking most to stories about the community reaction to a women-only swim program in Columbia, whether it’s okay to shop on Thanksgiving, a reader survey on Elkridge Patch and a North Laurel man who died in a car crash. BACKLASH AGAINST WOMEN-ONLY SWIM PROGRAM: “There is no place for religion in public facilities. This is an open society, and we have no obligation to cater to any religious need.” – Phil Elliott “I am so incredibly proud of my daughter Katlin, who tonight addressed Columbia Association's Board of Directors, …

Readers took their opinions to Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking to stories about an Elkridge teen who died after being shot by police, female-only swim times in Columbia, a debate in Prince George’s County and Laurel on whether to get rid of slot machines, a discussion on whether schools should be banned from starting earlier than 8 a.m. and Howard County school redistricting. ELKRIDGE TEEN DIES AFTER BEING SHOT BY POLICE: "...I'm not interested in defending or negating the actions of the police. I'm interested in seeking compassion and understanding for Jeffrey and his family …

Readers took their opinions to the Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking to stories about whether Howard County should remove formal reading classes from its middle schools, whether a school redistricting plan should be approved, an Elkridge man who was in a police-involved shooting, and whether ‘falling back’ from Daylight Saving Time is a good idea. COLUMBIA “Who came up with this bonehead idea? Hello... do you think that maybe the reason that 90% of your students are reading on grade level is because they had reading classes. ...hello...? you think...” – Roger MacDonald on a story …

Readers took their opinions to the Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking to stories about a life sentence for a fatal stabbing in Columbia, a PTA president’s resignation in Elkridge, a marathon runner from Ellicott City, the election in Laurel, and Savage-Guilford Patch Editor Brian Hooks’s impending departure from vegetarianism. COLUMBIA: “Sad. Sad. Sad. The damage has been done and now the children are left to shoulder the burden. How do they grow past this and not let it affect their future relationships?” – Reader Peter Monaghan on a story about a man sentenced to life for fatally…

Readers took their opinions to the Baltimore County Patch sites this week, flocking to stories on whether the Owings Mills Mall should be torn down, a residential independent living facility coming to Catonsville, a brutal hatchet slaying in Lansdowne and the possible location of a controversial water tower in the Reisterstown/Owings Mills area. OWINGS MILLS: "The management is like putting Dr. Kevorkian in charge of a pediatric ward,” - Bill Bralove on a story about whether the Owings Mills Mall should be torn down. CATONSVILLE: “If we wanted to live in a CONCRETE JUNGLE ....we would move to…

Readers took their opinions to the Howard County Patch sites this week, flocking to stories about plans to bring up to 800 residential units to downtown Columbia, a Howard County police sweep where officers reminded area sex offenders they are “forbidden from participating in Halloween,” a debate over a new Elkridge middle school site, and Howard County Library’s efforts to partner with local schools. COLUMBIA: “Please, no more apartments needed in Columbia or Howard County. They don't pay their own way. They only push up everyone else’s taxes.”- JH, on a story about a proposed downtown …