MAY 2001

As I write this, they are predicting snow-but it is Spring and we've already had a couple of "shorts" days. People are putting their potted plants and flower boxes out. The Garden Tour is three weeks away, so spring is in the air. Make sure you don't miss the May meeting, where we'll hear and see city gardening tips from Home Depot. You may even go home with a blooming prize.

Butchers Hill worked with the mayor's second annual spring sweep-up Saturday and we hope to work together later as a community to spruce up for Spring. Give us a hand, it makes the work go so much more quickly, when we all pitch in. Try to organize your block for a Monday or Thursday evening sweep up. Get the kids involved. It's almost fun when there's a group (and it gives us a chance to relax and play together when the work's done.)

There are a few events in coming up that you may want to mark on your calendar.

1. The State Attorney's office is hosting a "Community Prosecution Forum" at Tiffany's East (4116 E. Lombard) on Monday, April 30th at 7 p.m. The forum is to discuss "prosecution of crime in our community and how we can affect the process." Info: Angela Fraser, 410-878-8586.

2. Scrap Tire Amnesty Day is Saturday, May 5th at the Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road (at Garrison Ave.), 9-2. Info: 410-396-5916.

3. The Creative Alliance is winding up their Big Show No. 1: Working with a coffeehouse blend of music, performance, film, video and readings, plus a Big Show Awards presentation on Friday May 11, 8 p.m. at 314 S. Conkling St. $5/free for members.

4. A Dog Frisbee Contest in Patterson Park, Saturday, May 12 at 10 a.m. Info: 410-396-9392. 5. Sunday, May 20th is the Butchers Hill Garden Tour. You can purchase tickets at the meeting on May 2nd. Don't miss it! -Sue Noonan

"PLOTS, POTS, & POCKETS"
The SECOND ANNUAL BUTCHERS HILL GARDEN TOUR
SUNDAY, MAY 20TH, 1 - 5

Looking for inspiration to create your own urban Shangri La? Don't miss our popular Garden Tour on Sunday, May 20, from 1 to 5. This year's theme, "Plots, Pots & Pockets," sums up what you'll find along the way in the dozen private green spaces tucked behind, on the side, and in front of our neighborhood's distinctive homes. You'll be delighted by the variety of imaginative personal gardening styles in everything from pocket-sized patios to surprisingly spacious plots. The Tour will also showcase our community's three public gardens: Patterson Park; Duncan Street Park (between Pratt and Lombard Streets); and our work-in-progress, Castle Street Park (bounded by E. Baltimore, Washington, E. and Chester Streets). St. Andrew's Church will provide refreshments to ticket-holders during the Tour. Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 on the day of the Tour. The Tour starts at the White House, just inside the Lombard/Patterson Park Streets gate in Patterson Park. For advance tickets, call Co-chairmen Diane Snyder (410-522-9539) or Rick Gilmour (410-342-7061).

BHA COMMITTEE CHAIRS, COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND MONTHLY MEETINGS

New Alert: The police are cautioning residents not to accept service from people who knock on your door offering to wash cars or do clean-up work. Some of these individuals are connected with break-ins. Call Carolyn if you have any questions about this.

Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) conducts its walk-around on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of this month. We meet at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Patterson Park Avenue and Lombard Street. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Evan Helfrich at 410-342-2148.

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

Education: Larcia Premo (410-675-5634).

Land Use: Virgil Bartram (410-327-4964).

Marketing: No meeting this month. Contact Rick Gilmour (410-342-7061) .

Trash Committee: Tuesday, May 22, 7:00 p.m., 2127 E. Baltimore St. (The committee meets the last Tuesday of each month.) We work with the Sanitation Dept. to help keep Butchers Hill streets clean. Contact Sue Whitson, 410-522-3932.

Streetscape: Wednesday, May 23, 7 p.m., 2214 E. Pratt St. (The committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month.) Contact Noel Brown (410-534-8057), .

Book Club: Come join the Butchers Hill book club in Duncan Street Park (Duncan St. between Pratt & Lombard) on Wednesday, May 23rd, 7 p.m., as we read Being Dead by Jim Crace.

BHA Executive Committee: Monday, May 21st, 7:00 p.m., 2029 E. Pratt St. Contact: Sue Noonan, 410-522-6773.

Newsletter: The deadline for the JUNE Newsletter is Friday, MAY 25th. Drop off written items at 103 S. Chester St. Contact Steve, 410-342-3842, ; e-mail text only, no attached files.

No Butchers Hill Family Fun Night this month; the event resumes in October.

COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, BALTIMORE ST. & COLLINGTON AVE., SATURDAY, MAY 19th, 9 until full

MAY BHA GENERAL MEETING

Container gardens for all seasons will herald the arrival of Spring. The featured speaker at our May meeting is Home Depot's resident horticulturalist, Paul Stewart, who will share his often amusing ideas on how to care for your flowers, shrubs and favorite plant materials. The presentation will include the use of off-beat containers, window boxes, and pots suitable for small places and various exposures. Paul was with us once before and proved to be a popular advisor and consultant to our membership on how to be a successful urban gardener. The products of the evening's activities will be given away as door prizes to those attending. Be there to participate in planting demonstrations and ask questions. During working hours, Paul can be found at the Dundalk Home Depot on Eastern Avenue.

Minutes of the General Meeting, April 4, 2001: Kathleen Kotarba, from Baltimore's Commission on Historical and Architectural Preservation spoke on Historical Tax Credits and other tax incentives connected with restoration in Butchers Hill. Kyle Bressant-Page's slides showed neighborhood examples of exterior rehabs. The 2001 budget passed.

"We have so much strength when we work together as a community."

BUTCHERS HILL - AN INSIDER'S VIEW
In conjunction with the House Tour scheduled for October 14, Martha Simons will be hanging a show of photo illustrations at Simon's throughout October. This show will promote the neighborhood and the tour by featuring local imagery via the theme "Butchers Hill - An Insider's View." With help from Butchers Hill neighbors, Martha will be photographing interesting features of neighborhood homes-stained glass, stair cases, unique views from the inside out, crown moldings, fire places - you get the idea. Pets will be included as well. Your house doesn't have to be on the tour to be included in the show. For obvious security reasons, addresses won't be listed with the photos. Please help Martha to promote the neighborhood by letting her know of any great feature (or creature) in your home that she may photograph. Contact her at Stelladog@erols.com.

Baltimore BikeJam

Looking for something to do Memorial Day weekend? Make plans to wheel over to BikeJam at Patterson Park on May 26th from 9:30 to 5. BikeJam 2001 showcases bicycle racing and a variety of aspects of recreational cycling. Take in all the action from high speed ProAm and mountain bike racing, bike decorating, bike exhibits, entertainment, a bike parade, stunt cycling demonstration, children's activities, a bicycle themed art exhibition, food and beverage vendors, to a bike rodeo for kids featuring safety and education and lots more.

Bike Jam is being produced and presented by the Friends of Patterson Park and Lateral Stress Velo, a local bicycling club,. Lateral Stress Velo president David Scharff describes the event as "an opportunity for our community to share some fun and experience the excitement of bicycling."

Bike Jam kicks off at 9:30 with more than 350 USPro and elite amateur cyclists racing through Patterson Park at speeds of close to 40 mph. The thirty-lap course around the park is a United States Cycling Federation-sanctioned style road race. Short course mountain bike racing will follow, challenging off road racers with a city experience.

Throughout the day, there will be bands, street performers, informational and educational displays about bicycling, the latest in bicycling gear, bicycles to test ride and the very popular bike art display. Children can bring their bicycles and participate in a bike-decorating contest. Materials will be provided and creations will be a part of a bike parade.

The parade will also include high wheelers, antique bikes and unicycles. Children can also learn about bicycling safety and skills at a rodeo.

For more information, call 410-342-0600 or visithttp://www.bikejam.org

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

The Work of CHARLES "WINK" WINKLER at Simon's Pub & Eatery, MAY 7 - JUNE 4

Don't miss the artist, CHARLES "WINK" WINKLER, showing at Simon's Pub in May. His sculptures, most of which are masks, are eccentric and exotic. Charles Winkler, born in Baltimore in 1938, worked as a millwright at Bethlehem Steel for 11 years; he was in and out of the body shop business, riding the trick automotive paint craze of the 1960s. He graduated from the Maryland Institute, College of Art cum laude in 1974 and moved to New York in 1977, where he worked as a "rigger" (sculptor) constructing theater props and rigging for Broadway shows and music videos. He then returned to Baltimore in 1989 and can now be found working at his studio, "the boiler room," in East Baltimore. Wink's work will be at Simon's from May 7th through June 4th, with an opening reception on Tuesday, May 8th, from 6 to 9 p.m. See you there!

Artists Wanted: If you're interested in showing your art at Simon's Pub, please contact Carol Poppleton at 410/276-0333 or email her at: carpoppleton@prodigy.net.

UPCOMING BUTCHERS HILL EVENTS

Interested in any of these events? Rick Gilmour (410-342-7061) gilmour@mdo.net can refer you to the appropriate contact person.

The GARDEN TOUR is coming soon: Sunday, May 20th. Please take a few minutes before the tour to pull weeds, wash windows, paint trim, clean gutters, put flowers out. Let's put on our best face for our visitors!

The trash committee has arranged for a community dumpster for Saturday, May 19 (the day before the Garden Tour), at the corner of Baltimore and Collington, from 9 until full (it fills quickly).

BHA President's Message:

At the meeting, take a look at the thank you notes from two classes at School 27. Please keep in mind that we rely on community donations (in addition to Mr. Larson's generous contribution) to continue BHA education fund. Rick Gilmour will assisting our treasurer, John Murphy, in presenting the budget this month.
-Sue Noonan

Our Butchers Hill web site was recently reviewed by the MuniNet Guide & Review, a newsletter for professionals in all levels of government from state on down. All the ratings for our newsletter and webmaster, Barry Glassman were between excellent and above average. "The Butchers Hill web site outshines the majority of other neighborhood web sites we visited. Targeted to residents and potential residents, the site . . . is a great resource for residents. . . . The Virtual Walk through the neighborhood is great; the captions that accompany the photos really help give the tour a personal touch."

Historic design and preservation of your home's exterior is the theme for our April General Meeting. Our guest speaker, Ms. Kyle Bressant-Page AIA, of Design Page and Cochran, Stevenson & Donkervoet, specializes in the architectural design and restoration of residential and light commercial buildings. Ms. Bressant-Page received her archictectural degree from the Pratt Institute School ofArchictecture in New York, and is a registered architect in Maryland. She will offer insight and ideas on how to enhance the exterior of your home and comply with the rules and regulations of the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP), since Butchers Hill is located in both a National Historic Register District and a Baltimore City Historic District.

BUTCHERS HILL ANNUAL EVENTS--Mark your calendars!

Interested in any of these events? Rick Gilmour (410-342-7061) gilmour@mdo.net can refer you to the appropriate contact person.

NO TRASH PICKUP, GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 13th. PLEASE DO NOT PUT TRASH OUT!

BHA COMMITTEE CHAIRS, COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND MONTHLY MEETINGS

Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) conducts its walk-around on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of this month. We meet at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Patterson Park Avenue and Lombard Street. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Evan Helfrich at 410-342-2148.

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

Education: Larcia Premo (410-675-5634).

Land Use: Virgil Bartram (410-327-4964).

Marketing/Garden Tour: Tuesday, April 10th, 7 p.m. 2223 E. Pratt St. Contact Diane Snyder (410-522-9539) or Rick Gilmour (410-342-7061) gilmour@mdo.net. THE GARDEN TOUR IS SUNDAY, MAY 20th.

Trash Committee: Tuesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m., 2127 E. Baltimore St. (The committee meets the last Tuesday of each month.) We work with the Sanitation Dept. to help keep Butchers Hill streets clean. Contact Sue Whitson, 410-522-3932.

Streetscape: Wednesday, April 25, 7 p.m., 2214 E. Pratt St. (The committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month.) Contact Noel Brown (410-534-8057), brownnola@aol.com.

Book Club: Come join the Butchers Hill book club as we read The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier. Discussion at 2100 E. Fairmount on Thursday, April 19th, 7:30 p.m. Call 410-522-6773 for more information.

BHA Executive Committee: Monday, April 16th, 7:00 p.m., 2029 E. Pratt St. Contact: Sue Noonan, 410-522-6773.

Newsletter: The deadline for the MAY Newsletter is Friday, April 20th. Drop off written items at 103 S. Chester St. Contact Steve, 410-342-3842, young@umbc.edu; e-mail text only, no attached files.

BUTCHERS HILL FAMILY FUN NIGHT Friday, April 6th, 6:30-8.00 p.m. Featuring Bingo, Board Games, and Prizes. Soda and cookies. Free for kids and adults who live in Butchers Hill. At the Ralph Young Recreation Center located behind School #27 (Commodore John Rogers). Call Carolyn for more information: 410-522-4991.

Household Hazardous Waste (paint, solvents, car batteries, etc.): Saturday, April 28th. Call for drop-off locations: 410-396-5916.

APRIL BHA GENERAL MEETING

AGENDA: Ms. Kyle Bressant-Page AIA will speak on historical preservation, and representatives from CHAP will be there to answer questions. Presentation of the BHA 2001 Budget.

Minutes of the General Meeting, March 7, 2001:
The Crime/Block Rep Committee shared detailed and useful information on Citizens On Patrol, the work of the Block Reps and surveillance equipment. Officer Penn noted that Butchers Hill's greatest problem is larceny from autos, shared many good security tips and advised that the Mobile unit will be doing seatbelt checks in our area. NUCOP representative Jean Blair and City Councilpersons Bea Gaddy and Nick D'Adamo spoke.

THE CASTLE STREET PARK/PLAYGROUND is getting closer to being a reality! We would like to invite all Butchers Hill residents to view what we hope to be the final plans, and to offer your comments. This will take place on Monday, April 9th, 7:00 pm at the basement meeting room of The Church of God at the corner of Chester and Baltimore Streets. We are also looking for donations of supplies and services including the following: Demolition, grading, tree and brush removal, colored concrete paving, concrete unit pavers, mulch or "tuff turf"' for playground w/ timber edging, concrete stairs, metal railings, wood trellis, swings, benches, trash receptacles, lighting, bike racks, trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover. Every donation is potentially one more piece of playground equipment. If you know of any contractors or retail establishments that may be willing to contribute, please let me know as soon as possible.
-Barry Glassman (410-558-1080).

The Butchers Hill Community Development Corporation wishes to express its sincerest gratitude to Jubilee Baltimore for their generous gift of $1,000. This donation will allow us to aggressively address vacant house issues in our neighborhood. In particular, I would like to thank Charlie Duff and Lisa Stachura for all their cooperation over the past months to make Butchers Hill an even better neighborhood to call home.
-Barry Glassman.

GIST STREET

The Gists were a prominent and prolific early family in Baltimore. Christopher Gist, the first of the family to reach the New World, settled here in 1682, long before there was a Baltimore town. His son Richard surveyed the Western Shore of Maryland, and in 1729 was appointed to the commission that laid out Baltimore's first settlement. Richard's son, another Christopher, was a scout and explorer in the 'western' United States-Kentucky, Ohio, and western Virginia. He preceded Daniel Boone's Kentucky explorations by 18 years. During the frontier ("French and Indian") wars, Christopher accompanied George Washington on his trip to Fort Duquesne and helped save Washington's life.

Many Gists fought in the Revolutionary War, themost famous being General Mordecai Gist. He was part of the Baltimore Independent Company, the first Maryland outfit formed for service in the American army. By 1779, he had risen from captain in the volunteers to Brigadier General in the Continental forces. Mordecai Gist distinguished himself at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Camden, and Yorktown.

In each of the first three actions, Gist took command when his commanding officers were either away, or wounded. At Yorktown, he was present at Cornwallis's surrender. In May 1779, when the British threatened to invade, General Gist was called home by Maryland's Governor and ordered to take charge of the state's defense. In 1780, General Mordecai Gist was given official thanks by the Continental Congress for his successes at Camden.

Although Butchers Hill no longer has a Gist Street, there is still one in northwest Baltimore parallel to Reisterstown Road.
-Rick Gilmour.

NO TRASH PICKUP, GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 13th. PLEASE DO NOT PUT TRASH OUT!

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

Judith is also showing new work at Resurgam Gallery, 910 S. Charles Street (Federal Hill), from April 5th to 29th, with two other Baltimore artists. The opening reception for that show is Friday, April 6, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Artists Wanted: If you're interested in showing your art at Simon's Pub, please contact Carol Poppleton at 410/276-0333 or email her at: carpoppleton@prodigy.net.

HELP! 5-year-old lame male cat "George" needs a home. Loves to be brushed and sit on laps, gets along with other cats. Moves around well inside, but because of a damaged nerve in shoulder should not go outside. Has had all shots. Is currently being cared for by a person with cat allergies and cannot stay. Call Ann, 410-522-3050 or Carolyn, 410-522-4991.

Anyone interested in a plot in the garden next to Castle Street Park (behind Simon's) should call Barry at 410-558-1080.

Hi everyone! I'm participating in the Baltimore National MS Walk on April 21st with a pledge goal of $500. I will be at the April BHA meeting if you are interested in sponsoring me or signing up for the walk yourself. Thank you very much!
-Becky Proctor.

A REMINDER TO ALL: The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Easter this year on Sunday, April 15th, the same day as Western Easter. This means that St. Andrew's Church (Russian Orthodox in America), at the corner of Chester and Lombard Streets, will celebrate Midnight Mass on Saturday, April 14th. At midnight, the church bells will ring for about 15 minutes to mark the Resurrection of Christ. Residents, particularly new neighbors, may be startled by the church bells at midnight, so please be prepared.

SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE INFORMATION:

• General Information: 410-545-6518
• Director: Diann Baker: 410-545-6510
• Housing Inspection: 410-545-6521
• Recycling: 410-396-4572
• Customer Service: 410-396-4515
• Illegal Dumping: 410-396-4707
• Rat Rubout: 410-396-1916

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