 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Current Newsletter |
| Archived Newsletters |
|
 |
|
May 2006
Spring is now in full bloom around the 'hood and now that we have had our planting lessons at last months meeting, paid our income taxes, had our "Clean Sweep" across the city, and paid our membership dues for the year we can now move forward with a clean slate for the nice weather. What's that...? You haven't paid your membership dues for 2006? Well, take this as your reminder. 
The Streetscape Committee, as we all know, has been moving forward with the mural project and has asked that we vote first on proceeding further, and secondly appointing an ad-hoc fundraising committee chairman to oversee and organize fundraising efforts. Your input will be greatly appreciated. This month we have seen some progress in regards to the environmental cleanup at Chester and Pratt. At the request of the surrounding neighbors and the executive committee, I drafted a letter to the property owner's addressing concerns about accumulation of trash, sidewalk, fence and overall speed of the project. The response was prompt, with the erection of a secure fence and the cleaning up of trash. Final grading of the property is not allowed by MDE (Maryland Department of the Environment) until the voluntary clean up phase by the owner is complete. One more note: the owner informs us that the toxins are not emanating from the property but are coming from somewhere else. I will be looking into this further to see what MDE thinks about the source of the toxins and if they are hazardous to the rest of the community. This month I have Candelaria Flores with Casa Baltimore coming to speak to us; Casa Baltimore provides many services for our Latino community here in Baltimore. Also on our Agenda will be Brian Greenan of Banner Neighborhoods to speak on their grants program for our neighborhood. If you have an ideas Brian may be able to show you the money. Lastly, congrats to Jason (formerly of Simon's) for completing the much anticipated opening of SALT, a new restaurant at the corner of S. Collington and E. Pratt. We welcome his return to neighborhood. --Richard Hackett. HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? Okay! We've had the rain! We've had the sun! You even had weekend rain and sun. How does your garden grow? (That's not just a query for contrary Marys.) You and/or your neighbor still have time to be ready for the June 25th Butchers Hill Garden Tour. Neighborhood artists want to show off their great creations in our gardens. Don't hesitate any longer. Send an email to Roxanne and Joe right now. Nobody knows of the wonders of our city yards and the horticultural talents of our neighbors unless we let them peak behind our houses. Let this be the year you "open your garden gate." --Sue Noonan. There will be a 50/50 drawing at the next General Meeting. Each attendee will receive a ticket for each dollar placed in the pot. At the end of the evening we will pick one lucky winner who will receive 50% of the pot. The other 50% will be retained by the Association. Bring your checkbook and come on out to our next BHA General Meeting. We will have new spring BHA merchandise for sale. Thank you to all who helped clean our neighborhood on the City-wide clean sweep day April 22nd: Peter, Meg, Sabria, Adam, Lynn, Brian, Nicole, Steve, Candice, Mary Ann, Andy, Oly, Alden, Delores, Anne, Richard, Kathy, David, John T, John B, Sue, Beth, Mike, Remington, Elder Collins, Elder Snow, Sandy and Carolyn. New neighbor packets are available! E-mail BHAmember to request a copy. BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS
MAY BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, May 3rd. Coffee & cookies, 6:45 p.m. Meeting 7:00 p.m. St.
Andrew's Church hall,
corner of Chester & Lombard Streets (entrance on Lombard). AGENDA: -Candelaria Flores of Casa Baltimore will give a presentation; - THE 1970'S IN BUTCHERS HILL, CONTINUED - Jay Finlayson first saw the unit block of North Collington Avenue when a co-worker at Shepherd Pratt. Tim Baldwin told him he had just bought a house in that block and Jay should too. Jay, a student at Loyola College at the time, was renting an apartment in Charles Village. His first impression of the area in the fall of 1976 was that it "felt like a bombed out war zone. There were only about four street trees in the area, few people on the street, many doors missing with wine bottles left in foyers." After looking at a house in the 2100 block of Fairmount and considering 12 N. Collington (at $9,000 too expensive for him), and a few others, he settled on 7 N. Collington, where he still lives. The purchase price was $3,350, and he got a rehab loan through NHS [Neighborhood Housing Services] for $10,000. With the $10,000 he was able to replace the roof, windows, doors, electric and plumbing systems and do a bit of additional work. When Jay moved into his new house he found one room that was in reasonable shape; this was his living space while he worked on the rest. Since his hot water heater and water pipes were broken he had to use a garden hose to supply water during his initial months there. NHS had just begun working in this area, which had been red-lined, and provided many first mortgages. Part of their program was also to help organize area residents to work together to improve the quality of the neighborhood. The area at that time had no special name, and a number of newer residents, including Jay, began to call their group the Choptank Association, since Collington Avenue had once been called Choptank. Jay remembers a meeting in the late 70's when staff from NHS, realtors and a marketing person met with about twenty of the residents to discuss a name for the neighborhood. The marketing person convinced them that Choptank was not a good name and that many successful neighborhoods had the word "hill" in them. They knew that the area had been the home of many butchers in the mid 1800's, so it was suggested the area be called Butchers Hill. While some thought it too gory a name, the majority agreed and thus Butchers Hill was formed. Tim Baldwin, who lived at 16 N. Collington, became the first president of Butchers Hill, then considered as Fairmount to Lombard and Washington to Patterson Park. Jay followed as the second president in 1978. After his term as president, he turned his attention to assisting the Concerned Citizens group with its houses in the 2000 block of Baltimore St. Listed in an early publication of Butchers Hill accomplishments for 1978 are the following: "began plans for Castle Street Park, planted 50 trees in the neighborhood, had City roof the Gunther Mansion (2102 E Baltimore St) to stop deterioration, built senior housing on S. Duncan St., initiated Christmas caroling, a Butchers Hill festival & house tour, the city fair booth, a newsletter, neighborhood clean-ups, the addition of 50 new homeowners." --Carolyn Boitnott. (More on the early butchers and early names in a future edition.) SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY CONGRESS 2006, May 13th, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at Canton Middle School, 801 S Highland Ave. This free event will provide a forum for focussed discussion among the residents and organizations in Southeast Baltimore on issues that touch our entire community. Representatives from all organizations working in Southeast are invited to come to this event which aims to increase empowerment and collaboration amongst residents and organizations working in Southeast. For more information, contact Joel Miller or Elaina McWilliams at SEcongress@yahoo.com. Don't miss this year's American Visionary Arts Museum Kinetic Sculpture Race, COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, Thursday, May 25th, 100 block of N. Collington Avenue. 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 arrives around 10 AM and leaves around 2 PM. Please fill from the back. The next dumpster is scheduled for Thursday, June 22nd, unit block N. Collington. COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD WE NEED YOU!! At St. Michael Outreach Center we are working hard to reach out to the Latino community in Baltimore. The need is so great and the hands so few.
We invite you to be part of our team.
We need hard working hands willing to help us make a difference in your community. Contact Ana Rodriguez-Halpin at 410-732-2176 PATTERSON PARK CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENT BECOMES SCHOOL'S FIRST CARSON SCHOLAR Patterson Park Public Charter School is proud to announce that on Sunday, April 23, 2006, at an awards ceremony hosted by Dr. Benjamin Carson and his wife, Candy Carson, 4th grader, Marley Paremske, was recognized as a 2006 Carson Scholar, and awarded a $1,000 Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. Scholarship for her use to attend a 4 year college or university when she graduates high school. Marley's award winning essay on the topic of "What a Hero Means to You" was written about her 90 year old friend and neighbor, Ms. Rhoda, who Marley has developed a special relationship with since moving next door to her almost 9 years ago. She summed up why Ms. Rhoda is her hero by writing, "Ms. Rhoda does her best to take care of herself, her neighbors and her community. When I see her trying her best, it makes me want to try my best, too." 
By maintaining a 4.0 grade point average and demonstrating a strong commitment to her community as a volunteer with the Friends of Patterson Park and through work with developmentally challenged individuals at the Fells Point Corner Theatre, Marley was eligible to apply for this honor. Along with her essay, Marley's teacher, Mr. Rest, submitted four narratives about her academic and personal achievements. The Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity that was founded in 1994, by Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson and his wife, Candy, to recognize and reward students in grades 4-11 who strive for academic excellence (3.75 GPA or higher) and demonstrate a strong commitment to their community. The scholarships are awarded without regard to race, creed, religion or financial need. Scholarships are awarded for attendance at four-year colleges and universities upon the student's graduation from high school. Since its inception the Carson Scholars Fund has awarded over 1,700 scholarships. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Maribel Costa, 301 775 6390 cell, 410 558 0429 home. The Tree Steward Program Continues- WHEN:
WHERE: TIME:
To sign up for the Spring 2006 Neighborhood Tree Steward Training or if you have questions, contact Jahmilla Wilson, Department of Recreation & Parks: (410) 396-0729. Trunk Show--Just in time for Mother's Day: Please join Ellen on Sunday, May 7th, from noon until 3 p.m, as she unveils her latest purchases of fine silk scarves and handbags from her recent trip to Southeast Asia. Find that unique gift for Mom, that special someone, or, perhaps, even yourself. The location is at her house in Butchers Hill. For the address, additional information, or to arrange a private viewing, please contact Ellen at 410.591.1601. St. Andrew's Orthodox Church, corner of Chester and Lombard, will be having our annual Spring Flea Market on Friday, June 2nd, and Saturday, June 3rd, from 10 to 3. Clothing, white elephant items, kitchen appliances, jewelry, books, toys, furniture, and other items will be available for purchase. A bake sale will also be held, and refreshments such as pierogi, stuffed cabbages and hot dogs will be available for a nominal charge. All our neighbors are welcome!
|
BHA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE