Follow Columbia Patch on Facebook
Check out our Facebook page for the latest news and community conversations.
Browse By
Monday, May 20, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Follow Columbia Patch on Facebook
Check out our Facebook page for the latest news and community conversations.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Bullied Columbia Teen Receives Thousands of Messages of Support After Mother's Social Media Plea
After Karen Brocklebank's son threatened to kill himself, she asked for support on social media and it came, in droves.
On Jan. 28, Karen Brocklebank wrote the first post on the Letters for Noah Facebook Page. The post described how her son was dealing with depression caused by bullying on social media sites and in his Howard County middle school. "This past weekend he posted on his Instagram account that he was planning to commit suicide on his birthday," wrote Brocklebank. "He also posted images of his arm where he has been cutting himself for the past two months." She was inspired to write about Noah's condition after sitting in the emergency room at his bed, where police had taken him after hearing about the Instagram post. "Noah has been dealing with bullying for the past year," wrote Brocklebank. "He has been feeling alone and left out, ostracized …
In this Article:
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Follow 'Frankenstorm' on Maryland Patch
Sandy has been re-classified as a hurricane. Follow its effects statewide on the Maryland Patch site.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Ulman Forum: Readers React
Reader responses ranged from supporting the county executive to raising further questions on county issues.
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman held his sixth public forum this week, and public safety drove much of the conversation, in light of the shootings in Aurora, CO. Ulman said during the Monday event the police department has "redoubled" efforts in communication plans after every such incident, as communities around the country seek to learn from the tragedy. Reader responses ranged from supporting the county executive to raising further questions on county issues. Patch reader Adam R said he didn't like Ulman's response to the questions about the Colorado shootings, saying: "Why can't you just say the truth that [Howard County] is doing everything they can to keep its citizens safe every night with the budget constraints of running a large…
In this Article:
H.R. Pufnstuf
10:18 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
It's true about Ian Patrick Hines.. Google him. You'll see that he was a spokesperson for the O'Malley administration. He's not a hoco citizen coming to the forum to objectively discuss issues; he's a highly partisan Glen Burnie resident visiting our county specifically to troll for Ken Ulman. more ›
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Grieving Community Stages Demos Against Bullying
A "freeze mob" on Tuesday at Howard High was one of several events aimed at bringing awareness to the emotionally charged topic.
After Glenelg student Grace McComas, 15, killed herself on Easter Sunday, her friends began a movement called "Blue4Grace" in which they wore blue at her wake to take a stand against bullying. Grace's parents said she was harassed online for months, according to The Baltimore Sun. "Can children not take a minute and realize they’re killing each other over petty things?" wrote one commenter on the Blue4Grace page. Students at Howard High School took more than a minute on Tuesday. Time stood still between second and third periods as they collectively paused during what is called a "freeze mob" while the song "Lean on Me" played. The demonstration is one of several events in Howard County over the next two weeks to combat bullying. Eugene …
In this Article:
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Poll: Does ‘Slacktivism’ Surrounding Kony Work?
‘I don’t even know if my heart will be there in a month’ - student Nathan Warfel.
There’s a new term floating around associated with the viral video regarding Joseph Kony, the Ugandan rebel leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Slacktivism. The video depicts what critics say is his notorious past of forcing young boys to be soldiers and girls into sexual slavery, and it has garnered more than 70 million views on YouTube. The video’s spread on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks is, by definition, “slacktivism,” according to a post on Mashable, a social media news blog. “These sharers and tweeters are slacktivists,” posted writer Zoe Fox. “They've expressed their support for a cause through an action that doesn't directly impact the organization or cause.” Howard Community College student Nathan Warfel, who is …
In this Article:
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Search for Next Music Superstar Finds Columbia Teen
Multi-talented Atholton High School senior Evan Johnson needs your vote in a national online music video contest.
Performers who can sing, dance and act are known in the theater and show business worlds as "triple threats." A new phrase will have to be coined to describe Columbia teenager Evan Johnson. The 17-year-old Atholton High School senior is a one-man band and also provides all of the technical expertise, from videography to sound engineering, to produce professional-quality video and audio recordings of his music. His talents and abilities were recently recognized when Johnson was named one of six finalists in "Find Your Voice," a music video contest sponsored by Facebook, Music & Arts, Yamaha and singer/musician Greyson Chance. Chance became a YouTube singing sensation after a video of him performing Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" went viral. He …
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Columbia Teen Finalist in Video Music Contest
Evan Johnson is one of six musicians in 'Find Your Voice' contest on Facebook.
Columbia teenager Evan Johnson has been named one of six finalists in a national video music contest. Johnson, a 17-year-old Atholton High School senior, is competing with five other teenage musicians in "Find Your Voice," an online contest sponsored by Facebook, Music & Arts, Yamaha and singer Greyson Chance. Aspiring musicians between the ages of 13 and 17 were invited to submit videos of themselves covering one of 12 songs on an instrument. Chance, the YouTube singing sensation who rocketed to fame after being discovered by comedian and talk show host Ellen Degeneres, and a panel of judges, reviewed hundreds of submissions and selected the most talented musicians based on their artistry, technicality and stage presence, according to a…
Wiley Coyote
2:30 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Thanks so much for the tip about Make A Star. Ive been browsing the site for hours since I saw your comment. I am a music connoisseur so I love to hear new stuff, but I also make my own music and have been looking for a place to share it to get known and maybe win a contest. Their site, makeastar.com says that they have given away almost $32k in prizes already with monthly cash prizes in multiple… more ›
Monday, September 26, 2011
Six Things to To Know About Columbia 9/26
Postponed bail review hearing, a bug in the mouth, and a chance of more (yes, more) rain.
1) The Weather “A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent ...” - From the National Weather Service. 2) Postponed Bail Hearing Today The bail hearing of Wael Ali, accused of killing his twin brother in 2007, was postponed until this morning. Check out new details of the case here. 3) Like Father, Like Son In another "slice of life" out of Columbia's day-to-day, we watched a father and son face off against each other in a high school soccer game. How many of you coach your kids' teams? 3) Featured Reader Comment “I once accidentally chomped down on a ladybug. It was very bitter.’” Columbia Patch Facebook fan Bruce Goldfarb, commenting on Friday's Photo of the Day of a brave beekeeper. 4) …
In this Article:
Zahra Riaz
7:58 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Noah, don't worry about those bullies, maybe they bully you because there is something in you that is not in them. Just remember that you have a whole future ahead of you and also think about the people who bully you, they will be satisfied if you kill yourself, and you don't want that.. I remember when I used to get bullied, I would come home and tell my parents and cry and would be depressed … more ›