Commentary

If current polls are to be believed, Donald Trump could win this presidential election. But if he does win, it will likely not be with Maryland’s 10 Electoral College votes. In 2020, Trump received just 32 percent of the statewide vote, and in Baltimore, just 11 percent. Even if independent-minded Republican Larry Hogan wins this year’s Senate contest, Maryland will still be as blue as the Chesapeake.

To my fellow skaters in Montgomery County, I recently had the exciting opportunity to identify an issue within my neighborhood and work towards resolving it. And let me tell you, it’s a passion project that hits close to home for me — quite literally. I am a long-time resident of Germantown, Maryland. I have a strong personal connection to the Germantown Town Center area, as I utilize it for both leisure and community activities.

The work of building Frederick County’s future economy is always going on, as it must be. If a business community is not moving forward, it is dying. Resting on laurels is a disaster waiting to happen. The business community in Frederick and the government officials of the city of Frederick and Frederick County all recognize this reality. That is why they are enthusiastic in their support for innovative organizations and leaders.

This was going to be a column about fancy-pants horse dancing. You know, dressage. Four years ago, the American horse Mopsie made the world lose its collective, Olympic-watching mind with his rave-dancing performance in Tokyo. Equestrian events started Friday in Paris, and dressage continues this week at the Palace of Versailles.

Retired tennis great Roger Federer’s recent commencement speech at Dartmouth College went viral, and it’s easy to see why. The speech was a masterclass in effective communication, blending authenticity with approachability. As Baltimore faces its own challenges, Federer’s words offer valuable lessons for the city’s youth, showing them how to strive for excellence, remain resilient and think beyond their immediate surroundings.

Ten years ago, as a college graduate looking for a place to live, I chose Columbia. Not for the car-dominated suburbs, the fantastic school system or the amenities provided by the Columbia Association. I chose to live here because it was one of the few walkable and inclusive places in Maryland. The Lakefront Library, announced over a year ago, added to my excitement.

It had been nearly eight years since I visited southeastern Baltimore County to see what was happening at Sparrows Point, the site where Bethlehem Steel had been producing steel products and engaged in shipbuilding for the better part of a century. When I visited in 2016, steelmaking had already ended four years earlier. Shipbuilding had stopped much sooner.