January 2008

PASSING THE TORCH

It has been a great pleasure serving you over the past two years and I hope that my service continued the tradition of quality presidents of the past. So, I pass the torch to a new president. As you may be aware, there will be an election of a new executive board this month. I will continue my service as a member-at-large if so elected.

I hope that everyone has considered Butchers Hill Association in their New Year resolutions. It is the people of this neighborhood that makes it a great place to live. I know that in the past some have felt we are a bit of a closed group. I am living proof that we are not, I have only lived within the boundaries of Butchers Hill for three years and two I have served as President. The members of the Butchers Hill Association welcomed me with open minded and friendly attitudes. I have never been associ-ated with a better group. This is not to say everything is perfect but few things are. So I ask you to consider serving on a committee or volunteering sometime this year as we continue to be Baltimore’s friendliest neighborhood.

As a reminder, you must be a member to vote for the new slate of candidates. Having your membership dues early in the year allows us to plan for the years events. Mem-bership committee members are available at the meetings or you may mail or drop off your check at the white house.

I would like to thank you all for the thoughts and prayers I have received over the past two years regarding my medical conditions. Cancer, autoimmune disorders and now Glaucoma are not easy to overcome, but with friends supporting you anything can happen. Kathy and I appreciate all of you.

—Richard Hackett

SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING STARTS
8 JANUARY 2008

No More Plastic Bags
No More Monday Pickups
No More Separating Paper from Plastic

No More Plastic Bags
Did you know that the so-called Blue Bags that we for-merly used for our recycling are, in fact, not recyclable? Those plastic bags we get from the supermarket and the drug store clog up the recycling equipment. They must now be discarded as refuse – or return them to the market, or stuff them into Patterson Park poop bag containers. So there’s an important reason why the recycling rules are changing.
New Rule – do not recycle plastic bags.

No More Monday Pickups
All our recyclables will be collected on the same day, saving us all time and expense. Your current paper recycle collection day will become your new single stream recycling collection day. For most of us, that means Recycling Day is the 2^nd and 4^th Fridays.
New Rule – do not put out any recyclables on Mondays.

No More Separating Paper from Plastic
“Single Stream Recycling” means that all our recyclables will go into the same container.

Accepted Material:

• Plastic – bottles, jars, and containers with numbers 1-7 on the bottom
• Glass – bottles and jars
• Metal – food and beverage containers made of aluminum, tin, and steel
• Paper – mail, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, cereal boxes, office/school papers, books – of any color

• Plastic bags
• Window glass
• Waxed boxes or used food containers
• Aluminum foil

Choices for Recyclable Bins

You choose the recyclable bin that’s best for you!

• The City is offering recycling bins in 2 sizes – big 25-gallon barrels are $12 and smaller 18-gallon hand-bins are $5. These are available for sale at 111 Kane Street, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 2 pm.
• You may use any container that is clearly marked as recycling material. In other words, simply mark RECYCLING and your house number on some convenient container you already have, and use that to set out your recyclables.
• You may also use a cardboard box to hold and set out all your recyclables.

More Information on a cleaner, greener Baltimore
Call 311 or go to www.cleanergreenerbaltimore.org

GOOD CHEER, GOOD FOOD - HOLIDAY POTLUCK A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

On Sunday, December 2, about 80 Butchers Hill neighbors celebrated the season at our annual BHA Holiday Potluck at St. Andrews Hall. The superb food contributed was abun-dant and delicious, as usual. The beverages and festive camaraderie flowed, and everyone had a great time. The willing workers (too numerous to mention) who volunteered to set up before the event and clean up afterwards, did a wonderful job, and we thank all of them for their cheerful helpfulness. Very special thanks to Sandy Sales, whose experience and assistance were invaluable to the success of this festive event. For those who missed it, we look forward to seeing you next year!

Liz Elliott, Chairman

BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS

• Crime Prevention/Block Representatives: Wednesday, January 16th, 7 PM, 2105 E. Baltimore St. The committee meets monthly to share information from our block representatives and to coordinate action. New block representatives wanted; if interested e-mail or call Carolyn: 410-522-4991.
  Police ask that residents call 410-666-DRUG to report repeated suspected drug activity, but always call 911 if you need immediate police response. Protect your car from break-ins, Do not leave anything valuable or tempting in your car. GPS’s are now a favorite theft item.

• Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.): Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) has been regularly patrolling the neighborhood for over six years, and conducts its walk-arounds on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of the month. We meet at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Patterson Park Ave. and Lombard St. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Evan Helfrich, 410-342-2148.

• Community Representative, School 27 School Improvement Team: Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991.

• Education Committee: No meeting this month. The Education Committee ended the year by presenting checks to both PPCS and Commadore Rodgers for their use to buy much needed equipment. Both new principals are moving forward with their vision for the schools. If you are interested in supporting either of the elementary schools in the neighborhood, please contact Tori Simms, Carolyn Boitnott or Martha Del Pizzo. Contact: Tori Simms, 410-675-4948.

• Flea Market Committee: Monday, January 14th, 7 PM, 232 S. Patterson Park Ave. A new year and a new time to work on the next flea market. Save the 2008 dates. May 10 and Sept 13. Contact: Tori Simms, 410-675-4948.

• House Tour Planning Meeting: There will not be a meeting this month. If you would like to help with the tour email Sue Noonan or Dee Lundelius.

• Membership Committee: Wednesday, January 9th, 7:30 PM, 2110 E. Baltimore St. Contact Kathy Hackett, 410-327-2447. E-mail BHAmember@gmail.com to request a new neighbor packet. NEW NEIGHBORS: See the Moving In link on our web site: www.butchershill.org

• Book Club: Tuesday, January 29th at 7:30 PM. The book to discussed is “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. Interested in joining? Please contact: Anne Puckett, 410-675-8765.

• Land Use: Monday, January 21st, 7PM, at the White House, 27 South Patterson Park Ave. The Land Use Committee reminds homeowners in the 2100 and 2200 blocks of E. Baltimore St. and the 2200 block of E. Pratt St. that you live in a City historic district. All exterior work and painting must be submitted to CHAP and Butchers Hill. We're happy to help with any questions. Contact Virgil Bartram: 410-327-4964. CHAP's number is 410-396-4866.

• BHA Executive Committee: No meeting in January. Check back next month!

• Streetscape Committee: date change! Thursday, January 17th, 7 PM at 2225 E. Lombard Street. The Streetscape Committee generally meets monthly the day after the scheduled General Meeting. Date change is for this month only. Contact: Connie Brines, 410-539-2827.

• Newsletter: The deadline for all articles, ads, and notices for the FEBRUARY issue of the BHA newsletter is Wednesday, January 23^rd. Contact Patricia Clark.

JANUARY BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2ND

Meeting 7:00 PM. St. Andrew’s Church hall, Chester & Lombard. Contact Rich Hackett.
AGENDA: Election of Butchers Hill Association officers for 2008 (see below). State Senator George W. Della, Jr. will speak about the Special Budget Session recently held in Annapolis and its effects on us. He will also tell us about some of the major issues coming up in the regular session in January, his insights and views on those and other issues. Senator Della has represented our district in the State Senate since 1983 and is a member of the Finance Committee, among many others.

Nominations for Butchers Hill Association Officers for 2008: The Nominating Committee will present the following slate at the January 2^nd meeting of the Butchers Hill Association. Nominations from the floor may be made at that time, provided the nominee has consented to serve. You must be a Butchers Hill Association member to vote. See the membership form on page 4.

• President: Barry Glassman
• Treasurer: John Murphy
• 1st Vice President: Remington Nevin
• 2nd Vice President: Liz Elliott
• Corresponding Secretary: Ann Puckett
• Recording Secretary: Beth Needham-Braun
• Parliamentarian: Greg Matanowski
• Member at Large: Richard Hackett
• Member at Large: David Wong
• Member at Large: Toni Holter

FAREWELL MR. ED

Mr. Ed died at the end of November of what most would call old age. He was about 80 years old. While many in our community never knew him, his commitment to keeping alleys and vacant yards clean needs to be recognized. The last years of his life were spent in the 2100 block of Fayette, prior to that he lived for a while on S. Collington. Even at his age he was always willing to help with some of the most “trashy” projects. May we all catch abit of the “keep it clean spirit” he had.

Carolyn Boitnott

Junior Achievement comes to School 27 or rather eighty 3rd through 6th graders from school 27 went to JA Biz town. On December 4 almost a fourth of our students spent the day learning how a town operates. When they returned they admitted to being tired and acknowledged now understanding why adults are tired at the end of the work day. They learned to write checks, deposit paychecks, and a bit about economic responsibility. They assumed many jobs a small town would have. Jobs included serving in a realty office, selling air filters to businesses so their air would be clean, reading the BGE meters, appraising property, serving as CFO of a tech shop, and product designer. One student reported "I worked hard as I could so I wouldn't get fired." All expressed thanks for the volunteers from various businesses who were there to help and all seemed to have a great time.

Carolyn Boitnott

YARD WASTE NOT AFFECTED BY THE NEW SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING PROGRAM

The new single stream recycling program will not affect yard waste. Yard waste is not a part of the same contract as the mixed paper, bottles and cans; and the yard waste does not go to the same facility. Yard waste is taken to Leakin Park where it is mulched, and the mixed paper, bottles and cans are taken to our contracted vendor’s facility where it is sorted, baled and then marketed.

Yard waste will continue to be collected in plastic bags on the 2nd trash collection day of the week.

By city law, trash is supposed to be set out in trash cans so that would be an easy distinction, (trash in cans, leaves in plastic bags) however for those residents who typically don’t use cans and set out plastic bags, should separate their material; one pile for trash and one pile for bagged leaves. An even easier distinction for leaves would be to use the clear plastic bags.

When yard waste is collected on the second trash day, trash crews come through first to collect the trash. Then they return a second time to collect the bagged leaves. They are using the same vehicle, but they should not be taking leaves together with the trash. If you should see this, please contact Routine Services at 410-396-8450 and report this behavior, and be sure to give them the truck number.

Tonya Simmons, Recycling Coordinator – City of Baltimore – Department of Public Works, Bureau of Solid Waste

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

House Tour Report: Once again thanks to everyone for your support and participation in the Butchers Hill House Tour. Despite poor ticket sales we netted about $3,000 dollars, mostly thanks to Barry's efforts in adding to advertisements in the brochure.

-Sue Noonan

Radiator Covers Wanted!

Have any old radiator covers in your basement or storage taking up space? We need metal and/or wood radiator covers of various shapes and sizes. We will haul them away for you. Please contact Ray at 410-563-1309.

DUMPSTER VACATION – January and February

Why not January and February? The dumpster must be watched the entire time it is in the neighborhood to prevent illegal dumping that could cause us to lose this privilege. Usually these months are too cold to ask a volunteer to do this job. The next dumpster will be in March - see the February Newsletter for date and location.