November 2006

BHA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Well I hope everyone has gotten past all the ghouls and goblins this past week. And no, I'm not referring to anything other than the “trick-or-treaters.” We seem to have had an increase in them over the years and we are happy to see that change.

October also saw a very successful and well attended house tour. When all is said and done, we expect the number of tickets sold to have been in the 350 range. The day was spectacular both from the weather to the coming together of the neighborhood to make things look good for our visitors. I want to thank all of homeowners for showing us their diverse homes. The volunteers, headed by Sue Noonan, who spent many hours planning and executing, are also to be commended for their efforts.

It seems that in December several of our committee chairs will be stepping down. Tori Simms will leave the Education Committee, and the US Army has selected Captain Remington Nevin, our Streetscape chairman, to spruce things up in Afghanistan. Seriously Remington, we wish the safest return from your tour overseas.

Please contact me at 410-327-2447 if you have interest in joining these committees.

This month we are hoping to have some special young guests at our meeting. The Banner Neighborhoods new art director, Eric Imhof, has asked us to allow his students to display some artwork, and of course the artists will be available for questions. Also this month I have asked Major Kundrat to give us an update on any ghouls and goblins he may have seen around the neighborhood.

-Richard Hackett.

ANOTHER GREAT HOUSE TOUR!

What a spectacular tour! The weather was perfect, the homeowners were gracious and enthusiastic, and we had close to 400 people tour the homes. We thank everyone who gave of their time and talent: the 12 generous homeowners; the house tour committee (Sue Noonan, Dee Lundelius, Co-Chairs; Publicity, Kathy Orr; Marketing, Leslie Lebrecque; Susan Scherz who did the program; Howie Ehrenfeld, who photographed the 12 houses; Barry Glassman, advertising; and volunteers Sandy Sales, Liz Elliott, Megin Renaud, Karen Tong, Lynn Writsel and Joan Paik). We also had 25 housesitter volunteers greeting the tour-goers and telling them about our wonderful neighborhood. We thank you all!

We also thank the Friends of Patterson Park and St. An-drew's Church who provided their facilities to support the tour and Coldwell Banker, Friends of Patterson Park, and Long & Foster for pre-tour ticket sales. Thanks also to our many advertisers, whose support is so important to making the house tour the financial success that it is. Most of all, thanks to all of you who went on the tour, cleaned up around the neighborhood, and otherwise supported this important event in its 27th year!

—Sue Noonan and Dee Lundelius.

FYI  (AN OCCASIONAL COLUMN)

311 WORKS: Folks who work at home take note: if you see trash that was missed by regular pickup and call before 2 p.m., a special truck can be dispatched. I saw my neighbor’s large contractor bags were missed in the regular trash pick-up. I called 311 explaining they were probably mistaken as con-struction trash (which won’t be taken), but that I could lift them with one hand and they were not construction trash. The 311 operator had me stay on the line while she contacted the agencies needed to get a special pickup. The trash was re-moved soon after.

And, speaking of trash, MONTHLY MAGIC isn’t so magic. Thank Carolyn, Erich, Sandy, and Steve for the removing the air conditioner left on the Collington lot, the mess at Patterson Park & Fairmount, the broken bicycle and other trash they kindly took to our monthly dumpster this past month. They do it because they want to live in a clean neighborhood, and welcome you to join in a clean-up the next dumpster day.

—Sandy Sales.

—NO TRASH PICKUP ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
ELECTION DAY (CITY HOLIDAY);
PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR TRASH OUT—

BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS

• Crime Prevention/Block Representatives: Wednesday, November 15 ^th, 7 P.M., 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 email or call Carolyn: 410-522-4991.
• 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 at 410-342-2148 or by email.
• Community Representative, School 27 School Improvement Team: Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991.
• Education Committee: The Education Committee is in need of a committee chair. Please contact Tori Simms 410.675.4948 or Martha DelPizzo 410.522.6046 if interested. This is a strong committee which does most of the work; the chair's role is to organize.
• Flea Market Committee: The Committee met to discuss changes necessary for the next flea market. The date for the next flea market is Saturday, May 12, 2007. The committee will begin meeting in January 2007. If you are interested in participating, please contact Tori Simms at 410.675.4948.
• Membership Committee: Wednesday, November 8 ^th, 7:30pm, 2110 E. Baltimore Street. Contact Kathy Hackett. The Membership committee meets on the 2^nd Wednesday of every month. E-mail bhamember@gmail.com to:
  • request a new neighbor packet
  • sign up for our monthly e-mail
  • order merchandise
  • nominate an outstanding neighbor for their service.
  NEW NEIGHBORS: See the Moving In link on our web site: www.butchershill.org. If you would like to receive our monthly e-mail with a preview copy of the newsletter, please e-mail bhamember@gmail.com.
• Book Club: Thursday, November 16^th, 7:30 PM, 2029 E. Pratt St. The selection for November is Perfume, by Patrick Suskind. Contact Anne Puckett, 410-675-8765.
• Land Use: : Monday, November 20 ^th, 7:00, 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 are happy to help with any questions. Contact Virgil Bartram: 410-327-4964. CHAP's number is 410-396-4866.
• Events Committee: Monday, November 6 ^th, 7 P.M., 2029 E. Pratt St. Contact Sue Noonan 410-522-6773, or e-mail.
• BHA Executive Committee: Tuesday, November 21^st at 7:30 P.M., 2110 E. Baltimore St. Contact Richard Hackett.
• Streetscape Committee: Streetscape is seeking a new chair; if interested, contact BHA President Rich Hackett.
• Newsletter: The deadline for the DECEMBER issue is Saturday, Nov. 25^th. Contact Steve Young.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP-OFF (paints, solvents, batteries, etc.): Poly-Western parking lot, off Cold Spring Lane. Saturday, October 28, 9-3 and Sunday, October 29, 11-4.

NOVEMBER BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, November 1^st.
Coffee & cookies, 6:45 p.m. Meeting 7:00 p.m. St. Andrew's Church hall,
corner of Chester & Lombard Streets (entrance on Lombard).
Contact Richard Hackett, richhackett@gmail.com.

AGENDA: Eric Imhof and the Banner Art Club; Major Kundrat (Southeast
District Police)

Highlights, October 4th BHA General Meeting. The complete set of minutes, prepared by BHA recording secretary Beth Needham, can be found at http://www.butchershill.org/association/minutes.shtml.

• For the October BHA General Meeting, Bill Duffy organized presentations by several local artists; thanks to Richard and Kathy Hackett for bringing the food and wine.
• The official opening date of the Southeast anchor of the Pratt Library (at Highland and Conkling Avenues) is April 27, 2007. A motion for the Butchers Hill Association to become a Friend of the SE Anchor Library was passed unanimously.
• A motion to approve a Nominating Committee for the 2007 BHA Executive Committee passed unanimously; the slate is Carol Richman, Barry Glassman, Kathy Orr, Deb Jennings, and Jennifer Winslow.

We repeat here, for the convenience of all Butchers Hill residents, some of the Trash Guidelines, the entire set of which can be found under the "About Butchers Hill > Moving In" link on our website, www.butchershill.org.

• Individual and Landlord responsibility
  • Residents must keep clean the sidewalk, gutter and alley that abuts their property. Rats are attracted where there is food (trash out all night) and cover (grass, leaves, weeds). They will then nest in the nearest yard, garage or house, depositing the viruses they carry wherever they travel. Butchers Hill supports strict sanitation enforcement.
  • Residents must remove snow to provide a public walkway three hours after snow has stopped falling, or by 11 am if it stops during the night.
  • Landlords are ultimately responsible for their property and the actions of their tenants. For buildings with three or more dwelling units the landlord is responsible for providing an adequate number of receptacles to store garbage between collection days.
• Regular trash (not recycling or bulk)
  • Pickup days: Tuesday and Friday, except Holidays. Time: from 7:00 am. Where: most residents put out their trash in front of their own entrance. Containers: Trash cans, 30 gallons or less, made of durable materials with tight fitting lids. Any container deemed too heavy by the Collection Crew will be left. Divide heavy items into manageable loads. Up to four cans/bags per household are allowed.
  • Christmas trees, bundled limbs and prunings, and bagged leaves may only be put out for the Friday pickup.
  • It is illegal to put trash out prior to the morning of trash pickup. If it must go out earlier, you may do so after 9:00 pm only in a tightly covered trash can.
  • Trash bags may be used only if they are set out the morning of collection.
• Bulk Trash Pickup At Your Address
  • Bulk pickup is once a month - the second Wednesday, by appointment only. You may schedule a pickup of up to three items by calling 311 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, as far in advance as possible, but not less than three working days, not counting the Bulk Trash day, prior to pickup.
  • Items eligible for pickup are: Furniture and mattresses (chair size or larger- small furniture must be broken up and bagged for regular pickup); Large appliances (counter-top size, small appliances must be bagged for regular pick up).
  • Bulk trash (and regular trash) will not pick up building materials. Plywood, boards, plaster, sheetrock, roofing materials are the property owner’s responsibility. City residents in cars or unmodified ¾ ton or less pickups may take such items to one of the five city locations provided for free legal dumping (note that some of these locations will not take sheetrock, since it causes problems for incinerators). Butchers Hill’s nearest location is at 6101 Bowleys Lane. For other locations and more information, go to http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/dpw/waste.html#dump.
• Recycling:
  • Please follow this newsletter's recycling calendar; you can also download a calendar from the Department of Public Works: go to http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/dpw/recycle.html. Recycling materials are not picked up with regular trash collection on non-recycling days.
• Violation Enforcement: Butchers Hill supports strict enforcement.
  • Most violations carry a $50 fine. Each subsequent violation can reach up to $500. Residents are held responsible if a person witnesses the violation or if an officer determines the violator. If a responsible person cannot be identified, a citation will be issued to the property owner of record.
  • To report violations, or if are the victim of illegal dumping, call 311.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

GET A HEAD START ON YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING

The Butchers Hill shop has been restocked. We have pagoda T-shirts, Aubrey Bodine greeting cards with old photos of Butchers Hill and the Pagoda, Butchers Hill signs, golf shirts, button-down shirts and hoodies. Sales benefit the Butchers Hill Association and all these items make great holiday gifts. Details will soon be on our Website, and all items will be available for sale at our November meeting so don't forget to bring your checkbook.

MOVING SALE
Saturday, November 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We've got 20 years accumulation! Furniture, antiques/collectibles, Oriental items, silverplate, costume jewelry, household items, vintage clothing. Great prices.
2126 E. Baltimore St. (at South Collington).

The Parks & People Foundation has given Butchers Hill a grant of $1500, under its Partnerships for Parks program, to complete the repair work (mainly masonry work) already begun in Halcott Square (Duncan Street Park). We are planning a rededication ceremony for the park in June 2007, its 30th anniversary.

Call for nominations:

This year we would like to recognize some of our outstanding neighbors who work quietly behind the scenes to make Butchers Hill the best place to live! We count on them to do the jobs that no one else wants. Please e-mail your nominations for outstanding service to bhamember@gmail.com or drop off your nomination at our next meeting. Awards will be presented at our December meeting.

NEED MUSHROOMS? It's time once again for the FALL ART SHOW at Kirsten Lapointe's home. On SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, from 11:00 to 4:00 come to see those quirky mushrooms that show up on the garden tour! Get your tropical leaf trays, bowls, vases, butter dishes, cake stands and more. Come and see exciting new colors and patterns for fall-GET YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING DONE EARLY!

Make Sure It's "Home" for the Holidays
Chic, Urban, Colorful Interiors by
Joan Paik Designs
410-563-1753
Your neighborhood designer
for exquisite rooms or festive holiday accessorizing.
One hour complimentary consultation for Butchers Hill residents.

Sign Up Now to Become One of Baltimore's Neighborhood Tree Stewards:

Through classroom training and hands-on practice, Tree Stewards learn the basics of tree biology and physiology, tree identification, planting, & maintenance techniques. Upon completion of training, Tree Stewards commit to improve and protect their community forest by participating in the planning, planting, and maintenance of trees in their neighborhoods.

Attend the City's Free Training Sessions:

• WHEN:
  • Wednesday, Nov. 1 - Tree Basics
  • Saturday, Nov. 4 - Pruning
  • Wednesday, Nov. 8 - Tree ID
  • Wednesday, Nov. 15 - Planting & Soils
  • Wednesday, Nov. 22 - Plant A Tree
  • Saturday, Nov. 14 - Outreach
• WHERE:
  • 1900 E. North Avenue
    Baltimore, MD 21213
• TIME:
  • Wednesdays - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Saturday sessions are outdoor "hands-on" trainings from 10 AM to 12:30 PM.

To sign up for the November 2006 Neighborhood Tree Steward Training or if you have questions, contact Jahmilla Wilson, Department of Recreation & Parks: Jahmilla.Wilson@baltimorecity.gov or (410) 396-0729. Funding for this program has been provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, Thursday, November 16th, unit block S. Chester. For neighborhood residents only. No building materials, refrigerators, water heaters, washers, dryers, stoves, batteries, wet paint, automotive parts (including tires and rims), or hazardous materials. The dumpster generally arrives around 10 AM and leaves around 2 PM. Please fill from the back. The next dumpster is scheduled for Thursday, December 14th, 100 block S. Collington.

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