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May 2004 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Our May meeting is going to be a full one. The developers who own the three blocks formerly known as Chapel NDP will present their very ambitious building plan for homes, offices and retail stores on the property. They are asking for our input, and I am sure that many of us will have something to add to the discussion. There will also be updates by John Papagni on trees, William White on the parking committee, and Melissa Techentin of the Southeast Police Community Organization. Finally we will present and vote on the budget. Something for everyone; I hope to see you there! A REMINDER to all neighbors that the city trash collectors will not pick up building materials or any bag they suspect contains building materials. The only way to get rid of such materials is to use a community dumpster or take the materials down to the Quarantine Road Landfill, exit 1 on the Beltway. If you are a city resident with your own car, van, or unmodified pickup rated 3/4 ton or less, the service is free, and it's very easy since the dumpsters sit below the parking area. Don't forget that for other sorts of debris that the trashmen won't pick up you can always go to other city dumps-the ones nearest us are the Eastern Sanitation Yard (6101 Bowley's Lane) and the Northwest Sanitation Yard (2840 Sisson Street). Speaking of trash, if you are not already doing so, please be a good neighbor and put your trash out on the morning of trash day, not the day or night before (unless in a can). Bagged trash left over night (or longer) is unsightly and attracts rats. Putting trash out the day before, if it is not in a trash can, is a violation of city health code and is subject to a citation. Mark on your calendars! The Spring Patterson Park Flea Market is just around the corner: Saturday, June 5 (Rain Date: June 12). BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS Block Rep/Crime Prevention: Wednesday, May 19th, 7 p.m., 2105 E. Baltimore St. The committee meets monthly to share information from our 20 block representatives and to coordinate action. Several block reps are planning to hold block meetings to bring together more of the residents on each block to work on block needs. Anyone wanting to help with this please contact Carolyn at 410-522-4991 or e-mail c.boitnott@verizon.net. Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) has been regularly patrolling the neighborhood for over three years, and conducts its walk-arounds on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the 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 or via e-mail, ubik14@netscape.net. Community Representative, School 27 School Improvement Team: Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991. Education Committee: Thursday, May 27th, 7:00 PM, 124 S. Patterson Park Avenue. Contact: Martha DelPizzo 410-522-6046, e-mail mdelpizzo@comcast.net. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Land Use: Virgil Bartram (410-327-4964). The Land Use Committee would like to remind homeowners in the 2100 and 2200 blocks of E. Baltimore Street and the 2200 block of E. Pratt Street that you live in a City historic district. All exterior work and painting must be submitted to CHAP and Butchers Hill. We are always happy to help with any questions you may have. Call Virgil Bartram: 410-327-4964. CHAP's number is 410-396-4866. Marketing/House Tour Committee: Tuesday, May 11, 7:00 PM, 2223 E. Pratt St. Contact Rick Gilmour (410-342-7061), gilmour@qis.net. Trash Committee: Contact Sue Whitson, 443-527-1103, e-mail sbwhitson@hotmail.com (e-mail preferred). Parking Committee: Next meeting TBA at General Meeting. Contact: William White, 410-563-7941, e-mail: willilicious@hotmail.com. BHA Executive Committee: Tuesday, May 18th, 7 p.m., Simon's of Butchers Hill, 2031 E. Fairmount Ave. Contact: Dave Dyer (410-342-7655), or dave@viacapital.net. Newsletter: The deadline for the JUNE issue is Friday, May 21st. Contact Steve Young: young@umbc.edu. COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, SATURDAY, MAY 1ST On Saturday, May 1st, there will be a community Dumpster in the unit block of South Collington. No electronics, hazardous materials, batteries, paint, or appliances. The dumpster leaves between 10-11 AM, so get there the night before or early Saturday. The next scheduled dumpster is Saturday, June 5th, 100 block N. Collington. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the Dog Forum, a follow-up to the recent Patterson Park dog-area survey. The forum, sponsored by the Friends of Patterson Park, will be held May 1st from 10 to 12 at St. Elizabeth's Church Basement (enter on Lakewood Ave.). The forum will provide an opportunity for those wishing to express proactive and solutions-focussed comments on a proposed "dog area" in Patterson Park. RSVP: 410-276-3676 or e-mail: friends@pattersonpark.com MAY BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday, May 5th. Coffee & cookies, 6:45 p.m. Meeting 7:00 p.m. St. Andrew's Church hall, corner of Chester & Lombard Sts. (entrance on Lombard). Contact DAVE DYER, 410-342-7655. Agenda:
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN BUTCHERS HILL There are glimmers of good news on several fronts in the struggle to bring quality education to Butchers Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. The grass-roots effort to establish a charter school at the former St. Elizabeth's site is proceeding apace under the leadership of Stephanie Simms, who spoke at our February general meeting. Catherine Buccheri, a member of the Education Committee, is serving as a Butchers Hill representative to this charter-school group, and BHA has provided some initial financial support to the effort. At Commodore John Rodgers School (school 27), things are looking up after a period during which principals were assigned day by day to the school. Dawn Shirey is now assigned as Principal at least through June 2004, and, with any luck, for the following school years. Carolyn Boitnott, BHA's representative to the School Improvement Team (SIT) and a member of the Education Committee, has written a letter of support for Mrs. Shirey, emphasizing the need for continuing and effective leadership. Mrs. Shirey is concentrating in several areas at Commodore John Rodgers. She has implemented a focus on discipline that stresses rewards for good behavior while re-emphasizing discipline for behavior lapses. Students at the school have reached goals in reading, but not in math, so the school has adopted new programs like "math in the morning." Over the longer term, Mrs. Shirey is looking to solve demographics problems caused when students are transferred to Commodore John Rodgers for just one school year -- their final year of elementary school. School 27 is also benefiting from private-sector input not only from Butchers Hill, but also from the Streuver organization. These efforts got off to a shaky start when the school was without a permanent principal, but under Mrs. Shirey's leadership, things are getting back on track and new opportunities for volunteers are being created. The Butchers Hill Education Committee is coordinating and invigorating these activities under its new chair, Martha DelPizzo. Martha believes strongly that schools must be a vital part of any successful community. She has a doctorate in education; has taught in Junior High, Community College and University in three states; has developed curricula for adult learners; and has been involved in teacher education. "I'll be happy," she says, "when schools are a vital part of our neighborhood - when lots of us volunteer at schools and when school kids can come knocking on our doors to sell stuff supporting school activities." Know a local teen who's looking for a summer job? Please share the following information about employment for ages 14-21 with the City of Baltimore. The registration period is from March 1 to May 28. Applications can be picked up at these locations: Eastside Career Center, 3001 E. Madison St., Baltimore, 21205, 410-396-9030 (MTWF: 9-5; Th: 12-7:30); Northwest Career Center, Mondawmin Mall, 3rd fl., 2401 Liberty Heights Ave., Baltimore, 21215, 410-523-1060 (MWThF: 9-5; T: 11-6:30); Baltimore Works Career Center, 1100 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore, 21201, 410-767-2155 (M-F: 8-4); Southwest Career Center, 201 S. Arlington Ave., Baltimore, 21223, 410-396-3670 (MTThF: 8:30-4:30; W: 12-7:30); Workforce Reception Center, 100 W. 23rd St., Baltimore, 21218, 410-396-6214 (MTWF:8:30-4:30; Th: 12-7:30). When application is returned, the applicant must have, in addition to the completed application, a Social Security card; a birth certificate; an ID (Maryland ID, school ID, or report card); and all necessary signatures for minors (under 18). A SELECTION OF EVENTS IN PATTERSON PARK THIS MONTH
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD ARTWORK @ SIMON'S OF BUTCHERS HILL GREGG SIMONTON Gregg Simonton (b. 1958) is a self-taught painter and a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He works primarily in oil, punctuated with various media. The basis of his work deals with portraiture. These self-described "damaged portraits" are an amalgam of gravel parking lot ethics, a Southern Baptist upbringing, and an urban flavor of overblown pop culture. He attempts to find a common ground through the vacant stares of his subjects, be they an acclaimed musical artist, or an anonymous woman in men's briefs. "PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE I'M NO LONGER ACQUAINTED WITH" This series of scaled down paintings, all completed this year, reflect people who, for one reason or another have passed briefly through our lives. These people, though gone from our physical life, have left their impression, and found a home on the outskirts of our memories. St. Andrew's Orthodox Church (corner Lombard and Chester) will be having its annual Spring Flea Market on Friday, April 30th, and Saturday, May 1st, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clothing, white elephant items, kitchen appliances, jewelry, books, toys and other items will be available for purchase. A bake sale will also be held, and refreshments will be available for a nominal charge. All of our neighbors are welcome!" The Friends of the Canton Library will hold a Book Sale on Saturday, May 22nd from 9 to 4. If you can donate any children's books, cookbooks, or popular novels (please, no textbooks or encyclopedias!), please drop them off at the library no earlier than one week before the book sale. For more information call Mary Jurkiewicz, 410-558-1881. The Canton Library is located on O'Donnell Street one block east of O'Donnell Square. Spring Pottery show and sale! Kirsten Lapointe will be opening her studio and garden for a show of functional pottery. Many pieces will include fresh flowers just in time for MOTHER'S DAY. Please come for some wine, cheese and art: May 8th from 11 to 5 at 2215 E. Lombard Street. Three sections of stockade-type wood fencing, 8' long x 6' high, free for the taking. Contact Steve: young@umbc.edu. Baltimore's Bicycle Advisory Committee and Department of Recreation and Parks present the second annual Tour du Parks bike ride on Father's Day, June 20, 2004. A 32 mile loop circles the city going from park to park. A 15 mile option tours the Gwynns Falls Trail. $25 adults, $15 teens, includes tee shirt, water bottle, rest stops, and post ride festival. Proceeds benefit Friends of Baltimore Parks groups. For details or to register, log on to www.tourduparks.org or see brochures at Patterson Park's White House or area bikeshops. One of the great things about living in Butchers Hill is our proximity to downtown and other major employment centers, sparing many of us the suburbanites' curse of a lengthy and frustrating commute by car. Join hundreds of bike commuters and kick off Clean Commute Month with Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 7, 2004. Join a Bike2Work rally at downtown Baltimore, Towson, Annapolis, or BelAir for food, a T-shirt, a chance at prizes and camaraderie with fellow cycle-commuters from 7 to 8:30 AM. For details, log on to www.Bike2WorkCentralMD.com. Save money, get fit, feel righteous, and have fun!
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