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March 2005
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Just to update everyone on a couple of land use items: After the Butchers
Hill Association overwhelmingly voted opposition to the proposed project
at 2101 E. Pratt St. at our January meeting, several members of the BHA
went to address the Planning Commission at the February hearing. Despite a
valiant effort, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve
subdivision and the four story buildings will be built.
On a brighter note, the builder of 100 S. Patterson Park Avenue has agreed
to remove one of the rooftop access structures on his building and greatly
reduce the size of the other two, in response to concerns from neighbors.
Spring is on its way, and now is the time to start thinking about those
gardens and planters. We have asked Home Depot to make the annual
presentation and answer our questions on planting. Also, the Friends of
Patterson Park will give us an update on the exciting spring plans for our
park.
--Dave Dyer.
NO TRASH PICK-UP ON FRIDAY, MARCH 25th (GOOD FRIDAY).
PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR TRASH OUT!
The new Streetscape Committee held its first meeting on Wednesday, 2/16,
and outlined priorities for projects in the coming year. Immediate
priorities include replacing the Butchers Hill signs throughout the
neighborhood, and effecting much needed repairs to the Duncan Street Park.
We are also working on repairs and improvements to the entrances to
Patterson Park, and planning mural projects in the neighborhood over the
longer term. Most of these projects will require additional funding
beyond the Association's budget, and the committee is pursuing such
resources.
Anyone with creative ideas for the neighborhood, with streetscape-related
concerns, or who is otherwise interested in getting involved in this
exciting new committee should contact Jeff Gabriel (978-884-5498;
email).
The next scheduled committee meeting is Thursday, March 10 @ 7:30 PM at 24
S. Chester Street.
Commodore John Rodgers, School #27. Education committee chair Martha
DelPizzo asks that we please remember MSA and Stanford testing days are
coming up in March and volunteers are needed for any of the days just to
be in the classroom with the teacher and hand out pencils, make certain
that students are working on the appropriate test section, distribute
snacks. Mrs. Shirey says it is a bit boring because you are NOT to help
the kids, just be there as a proctor. The dates are: March 1, 2 ,3, 4 and
March 16-22. Give Carolyn Boitnott a call at: 410-522-4991 if you can
assist any of those days.
The Patterson Park Public Charter School (PPPCS) had an open house at St.
Elizabeth's February 15th and it was very well attended. The school will
open in the Fall of this year and is well on its way to becoming an
education option for students within the community. Applications for the
2005-2006 school year are being accepted until March 15th and you may call
Stacia Huff for more information at 410-732-0617. The outreach
chairperson for the school is Heidi Paremske
(e-mail). A skating party
is planned for March 6th and all
are welcome. The toy store A Muse on Thames Street in Fells Point has
been allowing the PPPCS to use it's store to hold bake sales for the
school so if you are in the area on Saturday and see the goodies stop in
and show your support!
Mark your calendar now for the great
BUTCHERS HILLS EVENTS of 2005:
| FLEA MARKETS: |
June 4 and September 10
(rain dates: June 11 and September 24) |
| GARDEN/ART TOUR: |
June 26 (Roxanne and Joe Rehak, Chairs) |
| HOUSE TOUR: |
October 16 (Sue Noonan, Chair) |
Block Rep/Crime Prevention:
Wednesday, March 16th, 7 p.m., 2105 E. Baltimore St.
The committee meets monthly to share information from our
20 block representatives and to coordinate action. New block
reps wanted; if interested email or call me: Carolyn at
410-522-4991 or by e-mail.
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.
Community Representative, School 27 School Improvement Team:
Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991 (e-mail).
Education Committee:
Thursday, March 17th, 7 PM, 124 S. Patterson Park Avenue. Contact: Martha DelPizzo
410-522-6046, or by e-mail.
Land Use:
Tuesday, March 22nd, 7 PM, call for location.
The Land Use Committee reminds 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. Contact Virgil Bartram: 410-327-4964.
CHAP's number is 410-396-4866.
Marketing Committee:
Tuesday, March 8th, 7 PM, 2223 E. Pratt St.
Contact Rick Gilmour, 410-342-7061,
or by email. If you
want to recommend yours or a neighbor's garden or house for the Garden or House Tours,
please contact Rick.
Trash Committee:
Contact Sue Whitson, 443-527-1103, or by
e-mail (preferred).
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to help with clean-ups
and to watch the dumpster once it has arrived. Please contact me at (443)
527-1103.
Parking Committee:
William White, 410-563-7941,
(e-mail).
BHA Executive Committee:
Tuesday, March 15th at 7 PM, Simon's of
Butchers Hill, 2031 E. Fairmount Ave.
Contact: Dave Dyer (410-342-7655),
or by email.
Streetscape Committee:
Thursday, March 10th, 7:30 PM, 24 S. Chester
St.
Contact Jeff Gabriel (email).
Newsletter:
The deadline for the APRIL issue is Thursday, March 24th.
Contact Steve Young (email).
The Baltimore Community Fellowships Program announces the eighth round of
its Community Fellowships which provide up to ten awards to individuals
who whish to work in Baltimore City in public or community service. The
goals of these fellowships are to encourage public and community service
careers, to expand the number of mentors and role models available to
youth in inner-city neighborhoods, and to promote initiatives and
entrepreneurship that will empower those communities to increase and
improve the quality of life for the residents. Applicants may either
apply for a fellowship to work at a nonprofit organization or apply for a
fellowship to start a project. The application deadline is April 4th.
For more information about Community Fellowships or to request an
application, call the Open Society Institute-Baltimore at 410-234-1091.
The Maryland SPCA 2005 March for the Animals, Sunday, April 3rd, 11-2
(even if it's raining cats and dogs), Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus. For
more information, call 410-235-8826, ext. 133 or go to
www.mdspca.org.
MARCH BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, March 2nd. 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: Presentation by Home Depot Lawn and Garden;
Presentation by
Friends of Patterson Park.
HIGHLIGHTS, Feb. 2nd General Meeting. (The complete set of minutes,
prepared by Beth Needham, can be found on the Web
here).
Councilman Jim Kraft spoke to clarify rumors surrounding his support for
the development of 2101 Pratt St. by Stonington Partners. He wrote a
letter of support and presented copies of it together with copies of a
letter of support from Fells Prospect. The letters included some
qualifications. Kraft said he believes that the project is far more
acceptable than what could have been built with the existing zoning. |
After discussion and questions, Kraft urged people to attend the Planning
hearing 2/3/05 and voice their own opinions. He also promised to monitor
the project as it goes along to ensure they meet zoning and permits
requirements. | Kraft also noted that there is a project underway to
review zoning for all Butchers Hill, Upper Fells Point, and Fells Prospect
- moving everything to R8. Reach Jim Kraft at 410-396-4821,
jkraft@baltimorecitycouncil.com,
jkraft@verizon.net.
Marilyn Nunnally, President of Sisters of St. Andrews, noted that they
decided to put together a cookbook as a fundraiser for their many
charitable efforts. It contains 300 recipes from members of the church
and costs $18 (see Community Bulletin Board).
Sue Noonan noted that the Sisters have
held an open house for us during the House Tour every year. We should
return the favor by supporting their efforts.
Carolyn Boitnott (substituting for John Papagni) noted that the project to
make all Butchers Hill a CHAP area is proceeding. 100 properties have
signed up, but there are 800 properties total, and we need 50% to sign up.
We need more volunteers. Anyone that wants to help should contact Ann
Stacy.
Christopher Schisler from the Hunting Ridge neighborhood discussed their
CHAP area process. They have 500 single family homes. They started in
2000 and didn't get CHAP designation until 2003. The process entailed
writing letters, collecting signatures, a hearing with the CHAP
commission, a hearing with the city council, and a hearing with the mayor.
They had some unexpected benefits. The surrounding areas that originally
weren't interested now want to join. And the neighbors have become more
neighborhood- and community-centric.
Butchers Hill Committee Chairs made brief presentations on each committee.
(For the monthly committee meetings, see here. For more information on
any committee, contact the chair. All meetings of standing committees are
open to any BHA member at any time.)
MEET BUTCHERS HILL'S NEW WEBMASTER - HAL LAURENT
He calls himself a shy person, but he sure seems to have what it takes to
"get up and do what needs to be done." Musician, furniture maker, baker,
brewer, and computer meister, Hal Laurent has recently taken over the
webmaster's job for www.ButchersHill.org.
It was romance that brought Hal to Butchers Hill. When he met his wife,
Peggy Evans, more than a dozen years ago, she was already living in the
2100 block of Baltimore Street. Hal was born an "army brat" in Alabama,
and moved around a lot, eventually hitting the Baltimore suburbs. He
spent the best part of a decade in pursuit of higher education at Towson
University, ending up, as he says, with "three quarters of a music degree
and a whole degree in computer science." His day job has always been
computers, and he has worked and watched while the companies that employed
him have grown through mergers: DEC became Compaq, and that became Hewlett
Packard.
His hobbies, however, are what Hal loves. He claims that a hobby should
be "expensive or time-consuming, or preferably, both." With his musical
background, he participates in both the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra and
County Council, a bluegrass group. He is multitalented musically, capable
on all kinds of instruments - piano, strings, and even some brass.
Hal is multitalented too, in his other pursuits: he loves woodworking,
making furniture and other "stuff," including a half-finished guitar. He
cooks, pursuing yeasty endeavors in both bread making and beer brewing.
He also dabbles in musical recording, and is the webmaster for the
Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra, but he hasn't (yet?) gotten into
computer-composed music.
Several years ago, Hal volunteered to deliver the Butchers Hill Newsletter
on parts of Duncan and Moyer streets, and last fall, when word went out to
the chat group that Barry Glassman was looking for a successor webmaster,
Hal volunteered. It was a pretty smooth transition, although Hal did have
to spend some time figuring out the Java scripts, style sheets, and HTML
that had been written by others. He has recently posted the Association's
Bylaws, and is always looking for other new content.
A "night person in a morning person's world," Hal prefers to communicate
via e-mail and chat groups. You can contact him by
email.
--Rick Gilmour.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
TAX PREPARATION: CPA Tax Specialist offers personal service and
reasonable rates. Barbara Gilmour, 410 342 7061 (evenings preferred).
The SAINT ANDREW'S COOKBOOK is here! As a major 2005 fundraising activity
for Saint Andrew's Church (corner of Lombard & Chester), the Saint
Andrew's Parish Sisterhood has published a cookbook of some 300 recipes
from parish families. It will be available for purchase for $18 at St.
Andrew's Church Hall (Lombard and Chester), Sundays between 11 and noon.
You can also order a cookbook and have it mailed to you. Send a check
payable to "Saint Andrew's Sisterhood" (add $2.00 for mailing) and send it
to Marilyn Nunnally, 11730 Route 99, Marriottsville, MD 21104. Marilyn
can be contacted at (410) 442-1647.
LEAD DUST ALERT
As many of us know, the southeast corner of Pratt and Chester is scheduled
for redevelopment in the near future. Plans call for the current
structure to be demolished in the first phases of this work. The
structure was once the Gibraltar Garage, built in 1926 using stone
recovered from the demolition of a church. It has been painted white at
least since the 1970s.
During demolition and the carting away of demolition debris, you can
expect increased amounts of lead-containing dust to enter the atmosphere
and to settle out near the demolition site. A study conducted by Johns
Hopkins in the East Baltimore Empowerment Zone a few years ago indicated
that fall-out of lead-containing dust increased more than 40 fold during
demolition and more than six fold during debris removal. This occurred
even while the demolition sites were being wetted down.
People inhaling dust from the cloud created by demolition, people and pets
tracking the fallen dust into their homes, and people and pets playing
outside where the dust has fallen can be expected to have increased
exposure to lead and therefore increased risk of lead poisoning.
Lead is especially hazardous for children and perhaps to pets, but it is
also bad for adults. It is important to minimize breathing dust raised
during demolition and debris removal, and to avoid, as much as possible,
tracking it into your house. It is also important to clean up any dust
that is tracked in. While the dust is around, toys should not be left
outside, sandboxes should be covered, and outside play equipment should be
washed regularly.
The good news is that lead removed from this large structure during
demolition will be forever gone from Butchers Hill.
Some brochures on lead hazards will be available at the BHA General
Meeting. You can also contact the Coalition to End Childhood Lead
Poisoning, 2714 Hudson St., 410-534-6447,
www.leadsafe.org.
(This item is based primarily on material provided by the Coalition to
Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning. The Baltimore City Health Department
did not respond to my requests for information.)
--Rick Gilmour
-NO TRASH PICKUP ON FRIDAY, MARCH 25th (GOOD FRIDAY).-
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