Roughly Speaking

1:51: Book critic Paula Gallagher recommends some futuristic science fiction with a love story at its center — a novel that was crowd-funded through InkShares: "The Punch Escrow," by Tal M. Klein. 6:54: We hear about an abandoned "castle" in Baltimore that, with a little love and a few million bucks, could probably become a coffee house, farmers market or concert venue. It’s this old Valve House in Clifton Park. The Sun's Jacques Kelly calls it "the little castle on St. Lo Drive," a stunning architectural tribute to public works. Nick Redding, executive director of Preservation Maryland, talks about the prospects for restoring the Valve House. Plus, we catch up on a battle to save an old mill-worker neighborhood from the wrecking ball in Cumberland, in western Maryland, and Preservation Maryland’s role in helping to restore Ellicott City after last summer’s flood.Links:https://www.inkshares.com/books/the-punch-escrowhttp://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-valve-house-20161111-story.h