Patapsco Valley View
Posts
Cville Blooms w/ Historical Art, Woodstock Closes, Wildflowers Emerge

Cville Blooms w/ Historical Art, Woodstock Closes, Wildflowers Emerge

Ana Lohrmann
March 17, 2025

Happy Spring, Neighbors!

The season is changing, and with it comes closure and renewal. In this week’s issue we have both: A major closure impacts hundreds; and history is reborn in Catonsville.

Plus, find out what’s about to bloom in our local park. And, get FREE RITA’s!

In this week’s issue:

Catonsville's History to Come Alive Through Towering Art Installation
Woodstock Job Corps Closes, Impacting Over 200
Happening This Week
First Spring Wildflowers

A very special thank you to this week’s sponsor, my family’s trusted dental practice:

Want to advertise with us and reach our highly engaged community? Reply to this email for more information.

Catonsville's History Comes Alive Through Towering Art Installation

Screenshot from Catonsvilleartsdistrict.org

A groundbreaking public art project, "Signs of the People," is transforming Catonsville's streetscape by highlighting its rich history through 14-foot-tall interactive signs.

Led by the Baltimore County Arts Guild, the project features silhouettes of local residents pointing to ten historical sites along Frederick Road. Artists Eva Salmerón and Ciro Márquez designed the project to showcase Catonsville's cultural heritage, including sites like the town's first fire department and the home of a Black philanthropist.

Each sign includes area maps, site descriptions, and QR codes linking to audio guides and additional historical information.

Community involvement is encouraged, with nominations for featured silhouettes open until March 27, 2025. Click here to submit your nomination and contribute to a project that will become a permanent part of Catonsville’s streetscape!

The project is funded by a $52,000 grant from the former Catonsville Historical Society and supported by the Maryland State Arts Council, with installation expected by fall 2025.

_Source_{: Catonsville Arts District}

Woodstock Job Corps Center Closes, Impacting Over 200

The Woodstock Job Corps Center in Woodstock, MD will cease operations as part of cost-saving measures implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor. The closure, effective April 1, 2025, affects 117 employees and an undisclosed number of students.

The center, which has served the community since 1964, provided vocational training in various fields including construction, healthcare, and automotive repair. Specific programs offered included bricklaying, carpentry, electrical work, clinical medical assistance, and network cable installation.

The decision to close the center is part of broader efforts by the Department of Labor to address increasing program costs.

_Source_{: US Department of Labor}

Happening This Week

Want to have your event featured? Fill out this form and let everyone know!

Featured Events

🍦 Celebrate Spring with Free RITA’S Italian Ice!

Rita's of Ellicott City will be giving away free 6-ounce servings of Italian Ice in the customer's choice of flavors on Thursday, March 20th. See you there!

Join the Women of Valor Volunteer Team

Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of others? Do you want to be part of a compassionate community dedicated to supporting women and families facing domestic violence, housing insecurity, and other critical challenges? Women of Valor is calling for volunteers who are ready to help transform lives!

Learn more and register here.

Check out all the great programing at your local library this week!
Baltimore County & Howard County

Additional Events

Did You Know? These Are Blooming Soon Near You!

Patapsco Valley State Park comes alive in spring with vibrant native wildflowers, known as "spring ephemerals," which bloom briefly along woodland trails and riverbanks. These flowers are special for their fleeting beauty, lasting only a few weeks before disappearing for the year.

Highlights include Virginia Bluebells, with their bell-shaped lavender blooms thriving near streams and floodplains. Trout Lilies bloom briefly in shaded areas, named for their mottled leaves resembling brook trout markings. Spring Beauties cover the forest floor with delicate pink-striped petals, while Jack-in-the-Pulpit emerges early with its unique hooded structure.

The best time to see these wildflowers is from late March to early May. Visitors are encouraged to admire but not pick these flowers to preserve their beauty for future generations. The wildflowers can be found in damp woods and along trails throughout the park.

That’s it for this week’s view. Want to advertise with us? Reply to this email and let’s get started!

Until next time,

P.S. This newsletter is free, but the resources and time to produce it are not. Please consider supporting us.