Great idea: Rethinking parking
From coast to coast and in middle America, more sensible parking policies are taking hold and may be the quickest path to urban revitalization. Parking is one of the primary […] The post Great idea:...
View ArticleCouple goes solar and restores a creekside forest in Myersville
“I’m all about being green. And I think I’ve finally achieved net zero when it comes to electricity.” Today, I am a retired federal employee with a utility bill of […] The post Couple goes solar and...
View ArticlePresentation (July 25th): Jim Schulman on Reinventing Prosperous Local Economies
Join us on Tuesday evening, July 25th, at the new McClintock Distilling Company, in downtown Frederick, for a free and informative presentation and discussion with Jim Schulman, the Executive Manager...
View ArticleThe Invisible Hand That Designed Your City
Lately I’ve been thinking about the invisible forces that shape our behavior. In an era of ubiquitous access to technology, we’ve become like Pavlov’s famous dogs. One quick glance at […] The post The...
View ArticleSmarter Growth Alliance for Frederick County letter on Draft Monocacy Scenic...
The following is a copy of a letter sent from the Smarter Growth Alliance for Frederick County (see the list of the 17 organizations that signed the letter below) to […] The post Smarter Growth...
View ArticleYes, Virginia…is trying to revive plans for outer beltway and new Potomac...
The following was sent out via email by the Montgomery Countryside Alliance. Over the years, the alliance has been diligent on this issue, working to head off any and all […] The post Yes, Virginia…is...
View ArticleOur Lawns Are Killing Us. It’s Time to Kick the Habit
Pristine turf grass lawns are as synonymous with America as baseball and apple pie. For those of us who grew up in the suburbs, waking up to the lulling drone […] The post Our Lawns Are Killing Us....
View ArticlePresentation (Aug. 1): Ron Kaltenbaugh on Climate Change: Science, Impacts,...
Please join us on Tuesday evening, August 1st, at the new McClintock Distilling Company, in downtown Frederick, for a free and informative presentation and discussion with Ron Kaltenbaugh, of...
View ArticleAssessing the Tree Canopy in the City of Frederick
For clean air and water, energy savings, and overall health, the city of Frederick has a goal of 40 percent tree canopy coverage. Tree canopy, the layer of branches, stems […] The post Assessing the...
View ArticleGreat idea: The public realm
More and more people are appreciating that architecture and urban design of streets and public spaces have the power to connect, engage, and inspire all of us. Complete streets are […] The post Great...
View ArticleJefferson Tech Park: Worst financial deal and biggest taxpayer giveaway!
I recently provided an update on what I consider to be the worst financial deal and biggest taxpayer giveaway in the history of Frederick County. The prior Board of County […] The post Jefferson Tech...
View ArticleJust Keeping Afloat
It’s just too much sometimes. Or not enough. I’m not sure which. Either way, there are times when I feel as if I’ve been flattened, or maybe just blunted, by […] The post Just Keeping Afloat appeared...
View ArticleCounty Executive Gardner Proposes Legislation to Improve Forest Conservation
County Executive Jan Gardner is taking the initiative to strengthen the Frederick County Forest Resource Ordinance in the face of a continuing and substantial decline in the amount of forested […] The...
View ArticleSupport the Frederick County-based Children of incarcerated Parents Partnership
Children of incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) is a non profit, non sectarian, all volunteer organization that I founded more than 15 years ago. After having a Dad who spent some […] The post...
View ArticleZero Waste Programs: Turning the Vision of the Circular Economy Into Practice
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2016 includes the Maryland Zero Waste Plan’s recycling and diversion goals, which are 80% recycling and 85% diversion by 2040. These are ambitious, […] The...
View ArticleCounty Argues Against Young/Delauter/Shreve DRRAs in Blentlinger Appeal
With all of the terrible news of the last few days, I wanted to share something positive. When the Court of Special Appeals (COSA) over-turned the Blentlinger Development Rights and […] The post County...
View ArticleBest laid plans: East Street Corridor Small Area Plan approved
It passed with little fanfare the other day, but the city finally approved the East Street Corridor Small Area Plan. Meant to guide future growth and development along East Street […] The post Best...
View ArticleBay Journal to lose EPA funding
Citing ‘shift in priorities,’ agency cancels multi-year grant for 27-year-old nonprofit news outlet covering the Chesapeake. It’s always awkward to become the news rather than simply report it, but...
View Article“Smart Growth” essential to preserving what we love about where we live!
What does “smart growth” mean to you? Certainly most Frederick County residents have heard of “Smart Growth,” as it has become a frequently used and increasingly familiar term over the […] The post...
View ArticleBecome a Chesapeake Steward this fall!
Do you ever wish you knew more about this amazing watershed we call the Chesapeake Bay? We can help! Come “back-to-school” with CBF in a six-week, professionally taught course on […] The post Become a...
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