Barbara Russell

The Columbia Association board of directors is trying to shed its reputation for bickering, but only weeks after village elections the group is arguing about guidelines limiting public speech. After an annual legal briefing with lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, the directors cannot agree on whether they were advised to - or should - withhold publicly expressing their views on an issue before the board discusses it. The disagreement comes after the elections produced a new board majority that favors more openness from the 10-member group, which also acts as the Columbia Council.

`Choose Civility' magnets available The Howard County Library has "Choose Civility" car magnets in stock. The magnets are part of an initiative that includes 40 partners, led by the library, to position Howard County as a model of civility. The project - funded by Friends of Howard County Library, The Horizon Foundation and Howard County General Hospital - is intended to enhance the quality of life in the county and emphasize the importance of civility for those who live and work here.

A former Columbia councilman wants to reclaim the seat he lost by seven votes last year. Earl Jones of Oakland Mills said yesterday that he intends to run in the election April 21. Councilwoman Barbara Russell, who defeated Jones, said she also intends to run. Yesterday was the first day that the village made candidate packets available, and Jones was the only person to pick one up, Village Manager Erin Peacock said. Candidates must return the completed packets by March 7 to get their names on the ballot.

The villages of Columbia, African Art Museum of Maryland, Howard County Center of African American Culture and Columbia Association will sponsor an afternoon program, "Roots of Howard County in Celebration of African-American History," from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 11 at Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia. Admission is free. The event, which will commemorate Black History Month, will include a visit to the African Art Museum of Maryland, displays organized by the Howard County Center of African American Culture, children's entries in the Columbia Association's "Images of Freedom" poster contest, a musical performance by Rae Bernard of Harmony of Sol and a panel of speakers that is to include Maggie J. Brown, Herman Charity, C. Vernon Gray, Morgan Rollins, Barbara Russell, Jean Toomer and Diop Wallace.

On December 31, 2004, DONALD ADOLPH; devoted husband of Cora L. Brown (nee Mc Cord); beloved father of Cynthia Kline, Barbara Russell, Donald A. Brown, Arleen Lynch, Craig E. Brown, Elliott B. Brown, Foster A. Brown and the late Jane Ann Dutcher; brother of Eleanor Lambert; survived by 21 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends may call the Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., of Bel Air at 610 W. Mac Phail Road, on Monday from 12 to 1 P.M. Grave side services and interment will be held at Holly Hills Cemetery.

Wilde Lake High School's PTSA meeting and choir concert -- which were postponed last week because of the death of a teacher -- have been rescheduled for tonight.The meeting and concert had been scheduled for last Wednesday evening, the same day that biology teacher Lawrence Hoyer died of a heart attack.Hoyer, who had taught at Wilde Lake since 1986, collapsed in the school moments after trying to break up a fight between girls from Howard and Wilde Lake high schools.A dozen students have been suspended because of the fight.

Here are the names of the 10 members of the Columbia Association Board of Directors and the election dates for them: DORSEY'S SEARCH VILLAGE Member: Tom O'Connor Term ends: April 30, 2009 Election: every two years Next election: April 2009 HARPER'S CHOICE VILLAGE Member: Cynthia Coyle Term ends: April 30 Running again? yes Election: every two years Next election: April 26 HICKORY RIDGE VILLAGE Member: Miles Coffman Term ends: April 30 Running again? undecided Election: every year Next election: April 26 KINGS CONTRIVANCE VILLAGE Member: Evan Coren Term ends: April 30, 2009 Election: every two years Next election: April 2009 LONG REACH VILLAGE Member: Henry F. Dagenais Term ends: April 30, 2009 Election: every two years Next election: April 2009 OAKLAND MILLS VILLAGE Member: Barbara Russell, chairwoman Term ends: April 30 Running again?

On June 13, 2005, GARNETT A. (nee Arthur), beloved wife of the late Houston J. Holliday Sr; devoted mother of Houston J. Holliday Jr. and his wife Michelle M. and Maxine N. Milburn and her husband the late Russell C.; loving grandmother of Michelle L. Holliday, Patricia Smith, Barbara Gelineau, Russell, Michael, John, David and Paul Milburn; also survived by nineteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at the family owned Leonard J. Ruck Inc. Funeral Home, 5305 Harford Rd (at Echodale)

Two Columbia Council candidates in Oakland Mills -- both of whom have called for Columbia Association President Deborah O. McCarty to resign -- faced the village electorate at a public forum last night, three days before voters will choose their next representative. Earl Jones, the incumbent, described himself as a "village advocate" who has been part of a minority on the 10-member council asking tough questions about the leadership and commitment of McCarty. "If you don't care about the villages, if you don't listen to the villages, you're probably going to have big trouble in a leadership capacity," said Jones, who sponsored a motion last month for the president's removal.

EVERYTHING'S UP in the air at the Columbia Association. Columbia's ruling body has no ruler. Its general counsel and community relations positions are vacant, and it has new board members. A pessimist might call this a leadership crisis, but for those with a positive outlook, this is a golden opportunity for growth. The planned community can use this time for introspection. Columbia could remain an enormous homeowners association of 87,000 or it could give serious consideration to incorporation.