That’s how Ken Ulman described the new Howard County Library Charles E. Miller Branch and Historical Center. The groundbreaking for the new building was held this morning in the parking lot of the existing library in Ellicott City. The new building will be roughly three times larger than the current branch.
This being an election year several local pols turned out to mark the occasion. Since it was about 40 degrees and damp they kept their speeches relatively short. In addition to Ken there was Congressman Elijah Cummings, Senator Jim Robey, Delegates Guy Guzzone, Gail Bates and Warren Miller and Council Chair Courtney Watson.In the audience were Councilperson Mary Kay Sigaty, Clerk of the Court Marge Rappaport, Board of Education members Frank Aquino, Ellen Flynn Giles, Larry Cohen and Pat Gordon and Maryann Maher, a Democratic challenger for one of the District 9A House of Delegates seats.
A few random observations:
Despite the cold Warren Miller wore no overcoat and spoke the fewest words. I didn’t see him smile once. Maybe it’s because he was cold.
Congressman Cummings drove himself to the event in his black Mercury Mountaineer.
While all the other dignitaries were given spades to “break the ground”, Ken Ulman was given a snow shovel.
The ground that was broken was actually a little mound of dirt on the sidewalk surrounded by mulch that was created just for the photo op. Since there was no sediment control fence in place on the site it will likely be awhile before the ground for the new building is truly broken.
Courtney Watson likes to wear the color red.
And speaking of Courtney…she noted that the current Miller library was built in 1962…the same year she was born.
The new library is planned for completion in December 2011.
