I can see clearly now the rain is gone

Wow. Lots of rain in Columbia over the last few days. The National Weather Service estimates that almost nine inches of rain fell in Columbia. I'm sorry if I haven't made it clear until this point, but I'm a bit of a weather nerd. Here's a map of the precipitation.



Anyway, we've got much more to talk about today, and I've only got a few minutes before I'm off to another wedding (on Footballday no less!).

First, a prediction. There has been much speculation about who will be the Democratic nominee for County Executive, but the Sun today puts much of the speculation to rest, though inadvertently. In the Howard Speak Out section, there are four responses to the question posed this week, which was basically "Who should the Democrats run for County Executive." The responses give a clear indication that it will either be Courtney Watson or Ken Ulman.

By asking the question, the Sun activated the two camps, who then sent foot soldiers out to start digging trenches. Since other potential candidates are not even mentioned in the responses, I can only assume that they are not really serious enough to get supporters to write in. Therefore, it will either be Watson or Ulman.

In other news, Guy Guzzone's council seat will go to a woman. I don't expect a primary in this race for either party, and in Larry Carson's political column this week, he notes the two women who will run, although only one has officially declared. The two are Republican Donna Thewes--a PTA and community activist from North Laurel--and Jennifer Terrasa--a member of the Kings Contrivance Village Board and the county Planning Board who is also leading the push to build a fence around the Lake Elkhorn playground following the death of a child there last month. Thewes made her announcement in the midst of several GOP elected officials and Ehrlich cabinet secretaries, thus setting the bar for Terrasa's announcement, which is not official yet but will almost surely be accompanied by luminaries of similar stature.

Also in Carson's column is a mention of Ken Ulman's fundraiser from last week. Not much news from that, however.

Here's a nice letter to the Sun about the Charrette.

And, here's a funny story about a kid making moonshine on the shores of Rocky Gorge Reservoir. Unfortunately for moonshine aficionados, the kid got caught and they took his brew. Alas.

Even though I haven't read it all the way through, this is probably my least favorite post to date. But, I'm already running late for the wedding and there was a lot that needed to be said. There are even some stories I left out. I hope to come back with better writing and more substantive posts early this week, but I figured I owed it to you, my three loyal readers, to get something up today.