FEBRUARY 1999
President's Message:
THIS IS AN INVITATION to everyone to join us at our next General Meeting on February 3rd. For those of you who have stayed away or never attended, we are making some changes that we hope will fulfill our goal to make Butchers Hill a neighborhood whose membership is defined only by the streets that bound it (if you receive this letter, you're within our boundaries!)
--Speakers: Generally, only one speaker will be scheduled and will be limited to a subject that is relevant to us and our neighborhood.
--Committee Reports: This Newsletter will be the primary outlet for committee reports, thus freeing up meetings for other matters.
--Meetings: Meetings will start at 7:00 p.m. (coffee and cookies at 6:45), and every effort will be made to limit the meeting to 1 hour. Speakers will be asked to stay after the meeting to answer individual questions.
--Neighborhood Concerns: At least 15 minutes will made available for open discussion about any neighborhood topic a member wishes to address to the Executive Committee or fellow members.
Finally, my deepest gratitude to outgoing president Clint Roby for the leadership and vision he provided for the past two years. His low-keyed approach belies both his accomplishments and the incredible hours he devoted to our neighborhood. Our quality of life has improved thanks to him.
--Barry Glassman
SCORE! A look at the first 20 years in Butchers Hill
Trees and Street Landscaping
Trees make a difference! One new neighbor remarks that while house shopping, she found many other neighborhoods unwelcoming because they had no trees. Trees and streetside gardens were an early priority in Butchers Hill, and streetscape concerns remain strong throughout our neighborhood. In 1981, there was a major effort along Baltimore Street to install front gardens. John Boitnott remembers working in the rain on the day they delivered garden plants encased in "gumbo clay." Butchers Hill archives note that 37 gardens were put in that weekend, with more than 60 people helping.
In those days, neighbors themselves took responsibility for renting jackhammers to dig up concrete and plant their own trees. In 1983, 16 new trees were planted privately along Fairmount Avenue, and more were planted in 1985 and 1988. One neighbor on Pratt Street remembers planting his own tree, one that came from "somewhere near the Zoo."
Street trees do much better with TLC from their neighbors. Members of the Butchers Hill Streetscape Committee till and mulch many of our street trees, and request that homeowners take responsibility for watering their trees (sloooowly , to prevent runoff) during hot, dry spells in the summer.
Need a new tree or a replacement tree in front of your house? Call Butchers Hill neighbor John Papagni at 410-563-2661 for a "Tree Request Form": (and join our Streetscape Committee!)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12th, IS A CITY HOLIDAY.
THERE IS NO TRASH PICKUP.
PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR TRASH OUT!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
BHA GENERAL MEETING. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3rd. St. Andrew's Church, Chester & Lombard Sts. Coffee & cookies, 6:45 p.m. Meeting 7:00 p.m. NOTE THE TIME CHANGE!
Contact: Barry Glassman, 410-558-1080, bha@charm.net.
DEADLINE for MARCH Newsletter: Friday, February 19th. Drop off written items at 103 S. Chester Street; contact Steve: 410-342-3842, young@umbc2.umbc.edu.
Marketing Committee: Tuesday, February 9, 7 p.m. 2223 E. Pratt St. Contact: Rick Gilmour: 410-342-7061, gilmour@mdo.net.
CRIME PREVENTION & BLOCK REP. MEETING, Wednesday, Februrary 10th, 7:00 p.m. 2105 E. Baltimore St. Contact: Carolyn, 410-522-4991.
STREETSCAPE COMMITTEE, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7:30 pm, 2128 E. Baltimore St. Contact: Carol Richman, 327-0261, mmmount@charm.net.
RALPH YOUNG REC CENTER NEWS: ROLLER SKATING, Friday, February 12th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Each kid needs to bring one adult and each adult needs to bring 1-3 kids. You can bring a family member of a neighbor. Please bring your own skates if you have them! The Rec Center is located behind school #27. You can enter the main door off the parking lot of the Woodbourne Center or the rear door off the school playground on the 2000 block of Fairmount Avenue. For more information, call Carolyn at 522-4991.
Other Rec Center News: Mr. Smallwood, our Rec Center director, wants to reconvene an advisory council for the Center. If you are interested in serving, call Clint Roby at 563-1442.
Butchers Hill has an e-mail list for sharing reports about crimes in the area. This service is only for Butchers Hill residents or property owners. If you are interested in being on the list, please send an e-mail to Ritchie@Bellatlantic.net with your name, street address, and full e-mail address.
AGENDA FOR THE FEBRUARY BHA GENERAL MEETING (NOTE: TIME CHANGE: 7:00!)
- Representatives from our Neighborhood Service Center will discuss some new programs (including emergency aid), and review current and expanded programs. They will remain after the formal meeting to answer individual questions.
- Brief discussion on how best to use the Butchers Hill Education Fund;
- Open Forum.
RECAP OF THE JANUARY GENERAL MEETING:
- Election of officers as presented, with Bill Duffy as Parliamentarian and Alexis Johns as Member at Large (Jerry Roberson later agreed to chair the Legislative Issues Committee).
- New BHA President Barry Glassman opened with comments on BHA goals
- Committee Chairpersons introduced themselves and presented goals for the year
- Streetscape: focus on Duncan & Castle Street Parks; status of corner planters
- Newsletter: revise format and increase circulation
- Membership: attract renters into the BHA
- Marketing: June 19 proposed as our "flag day"; 20th anniversary of the house tour; new membership packages being developed
- Crime/Block Rep Committee: call for more block reps
- Land Use: focus on vacant houses.
- Suggestions were given for future speakers.
RECAP OF THE JANUARY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING:
The Committee agreed to fund an increase in the format of the monthly Newsletter, with colored banner, and increased circulation. The Education Committee has $1300 in a separate account; it was suggested that this money be moved into the general fund. A motion made to donate up to $225 annually to School #27. Suggested topics for speakers: neighborhood tax credits, the Creative Alliance, police & block reps, the neighborhoods of the Patterson Park Development Corporation. Vacant houses were discussed and their situation will be continually updated.
BHA COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
BLOCK REP/CRIME PREVENTION: Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991. The committee meets monthly to share information from our 20 block representatives and to coordinate action. Over the last 18 months, we have been effective in getting corrective action at 17 properties in our neighborhood. We work with the SE Police, the housing inspectors, and the Community Law Center. While our 20 block reps are well distributed throughout the neighborhood, there are 35 linear blocks or small clusters of alley properties in Butchers Hill. If you are interested in working with us, please call Carolyn at 522-4991. A block representative would be asked to work with neighbors on their block to address issues of crime and grime.
EDUCATION: Nancy Newman, 410-732-3701.
LAND USE: Virgil Bartram, 410-327-4964.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES: Jerry Roberson.
MARKETING: Rick Gilmour, 410-342-7061 gilmour@mdo.net. The Committee met Jan. 12 to review plans for 1999. We're all looking forward to the Patterson Park Flea Market and Antiques Fair on June 19 and to marketing the 20th annual Heritage House Tour on October 17. Save these dates, and save your treasures for the Flea Market! The Marketing Committee also needs your ideas on new items of merchandise to offer to Butchers Hill members and residents (see our Web Page for current BHA merchandise). Tote bags and travel mugs are two suggestions-what else would you like to buy? Give your ideas to Wendy Hoggard, Merchandise Chair, at the next meeting, or contact Wendy or Rick by telephone.
MEMBERSHIP: Jennine Auerbach, 410-675-7976.
STREETSCAPE: Carol Richman 410-327-0261 mmmount@charm.net and Steve Young 410-342-3842 young@umbc2.umbc.edu. Topics for our February meeting will be Corner Planters, Update on Tree Planting, 1999 Goals. Contact: Carol Richman, 327-0261, . NOTE: There will be a HEARING, Wed., Feb. 3, 5 p. m., in City Council Chambers: Highways & Franchises Subcommittee to discuss issuing minor privilege permits for newspaper and drop-off boxes.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
VOLUNTEERS are needed at our elementary school. On Tuesdays through Thursdays, children behind in reading and math skills participate in a two hour after-school program, 2:30-4:30. After a snack, they participate in an hour of remedial work in math and reading in small groups, and then have a 40 minute period of cultural arts, which can be anything from a craft project, an art lesson, a film, singing, or some other music appreciation. If you can give two hours a week or just one for either the tutorial part or to share a craft or an artistic talent or interest (or even on a one-shot basis, please call Carolyn (522-4991) and she will get you connected with the school.
DON'T FORGET TO GIVE YOUR HEART AWAY THIS VALENTINE'S DAY! Sterling silver hearts and other great stuff at Megin Diamond's studio. Call 410-327-0967.
FIVE DOLLAR DISCOUNT AT THE MORNING EDITION CAFE! Butchers Hill Friends: Join us for Dinner Friday or Saturday evenings, and receive a FIVE DOLLAR DISCOUNT PER PERSON from your Guest Check ($5.00 discount for one, $10 for two, $20 for four, etc.) upon presentation of the Newsletter. The Morning Edition Cafe is at the corner of Patterson Park Avenue and Fayette Streets.
ATTRACTIVE, SPACIOUS ONE BEDROOM APT.: Betw JHH & FSK on S. Linwood; unfurnished; 2 fls + yd; carpeted; H2O & heat included; lg rms, exposed brick kitchen, paneled bedrm, many closets & outlets; washer/dryer-ready; cable pre-wired, 5 doors fr Patterson Pk; SD , refs & cred chk; 1 yr lease; no pets; $450 mo; 410-732-2364.
SECO SWEETHEART DANCE, a benefit for the community organizing programs of SECO (Southeast Baltimore Community Organization). Friday, February 12, 1999. 8:00 p.m. to midnight. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Hall, Ann St. at Aliceanna, in Fells Point. For ticket information, please call 410-327-1626.
SE Neighborhood Service Center:
General Information: 410-545-6518
Director: Diann Baker: 410-545-6510
Public Works (trash, etc.): 410-545-6530
Police, Sgt. Sharpe: 410-545-6513
Housing Inspection: 410-545-6521
Health Department: 410-545-6532
Sanitation Enforcement: 410-545-6515,6,7
1439 |
