May 2007

MAY DAZE:

Good May to you all! I am very excited about this being the month of flowers. Let's hope all of your gardens benefited from the April rains. April ended with the city wide "Super Spring Sweep Thing" which was not only a way to keep our streets and alleys clean but a way to build a bond with your neighbors and I want to thank all that participated. We hope eveyone will maintain all of the good work that was accomplished.

In April we learned a great deal about what CHAP will mean to you and to the future appearance of our neighborhood. If you missed the last meeting you will have another chance to voice your opinion in June when I ask for a vote on whether we would like to move forward in the long process of becoming a CHAP district. If you did not attend the meeting, information is available on the BHA website and I have plenty of pamphlets from the city planning office to share with anyone who is interested. Email me and I will make sure you have information on the process before our June meeting.

This month we will have our Spring Flea Market on the 12th, so clean out your basements and get a booth. Tori Simms is our coordinator and she is always willing to accept volunteers to help make it as successful as last years event. We are still looking for Gardens for the tour which we hope to have in June. May also marks the first month that Patty Clark is taking over the newsletter duties.

—Richard Hackett
President BHA

*SPRING FLEA MARKET*

JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS IN PATTERSON PARK
by the FOUNTAIN
GREAT FOOD, GREAT MUSIC by the Paul Snyder Trio
and SO MANY BARGAINS!

MAY 12th, 9 AM to 3 PM
(rain date: May 13th)

Flea Market Volunteers are needed. One or two hours at set-up, during the day, or at break-down. Working the food booth or BH flea market booth would make this wonderful event a real success. It's a great way to meet more people, be outdoors in good weather, and see all of our many neighbors.

Drop off any donated items for the Butchers Hill booth (all monies benefit the Education Committee) any time after 6 AM on May 12th (rain date May 13th) at the entrance to Patterson Park at Lombard St. (on the grassy spot in front of the White House).

We need volunteers from 6 to 9:30 AM to help set up the Flea Market, including helping people find their locations, set up the food booth, the music pavilion, and the Butchers Hill booth.

We need volunteers from 2:30 to 4:30 PM to help with tear down.

We need volunteers to work the BH booth and the Food booth. Volunteers are needed for 2 hour increments from 7 AM to 4 PM.

For a $20 space to sell your goodies and bargains contact Bev Wall, (410) 675-0148. All information is available at www.butchershill.org.

For all other information contact Tori or Ray at 410-675-4948.

Look for the Butchers Hill Membership Table at the
Flea Market. We will be there from 9 AM to noon with lots
of fun new items for sale.

A CLEAN SWEEP ON BUTCHERS HILL

The Spring Clean-up on Saturday April 21^st, sponsored by the Butchers Hill Association Streetscape Committee, was a great success. Those who participated want to be sure their efforts are rewarded by all of us helping to keep it clean .

Participating with the City of Baltimore and Mayor Sheila Dixon’s Super Spring Sweep Thing, dozens of volunteers cleaned, swept, shoveled, and bagged debris from just about every street and alley in our neighborhood. Afterwards, many of the “sweepers” celebrated at a special Happy Hour hosted by the Life of Reilly Irish Pub & Restaurant at 2031 Fairmount Ave.

Almost forty folks signed up and claimed the City do-nated tools and bags to take back to their blocks for the best Spring Clean-up ever! Even more neighbors filled two dumpsters and cleaned yucky messes in alleys (special KUDOS to Barry, Greg, and John for tackling the incredible mess in the alley across from School #27).

Our Fairmount Avenue neighbors held a cook out, welcoming everyone, including passersby, to hot dogs cooked to order and sodas. Yum! What a wonderful contribution to the neighborhood!

The City provided tools and dumpsters; the Street-scape Committee provided guidance and support. The weather was perfect; the results – spectacular! Thank you all.

A note about the special paper bags that the city supplied: these are not to be used on regular trash days – they are for “special pickup” only. If you have extras, they can be returned to the White House.

Now, join your neighbors and celebrate our neighborhood by keeping it clean.

Here are some key steps you can take to contribute to a prettier and healthier community.

• Please clean up the litter around your house at least once a week. Many of us choose Saturday mornings as a good time to greet our neighbors while picking up.
• Do not put your trash out until the morning of collection day. Unless your garbage is in a rat-proof container with a tight-fitting lid, it is illegal to place it outdoors the night before collection.
• Please help keep the roads and gutters clear of weeds and leaves, remembering the back alleys. Even “natural” debris can attract and harbor unwelcome pests. Remember that residents are responsible for adjacent public areas.
• Remember that while it may not be your trash, this is your neighborhood! We can all contribute to keeping it clean by picking up whatever we see, whenever we see it.

Here on Butchers Hill, we have only about 27 blocks (depending upon how you count blocks) and fewer than 870 houses. Together, with your help, we can “pick up and clean up” around ourselves for a more pleasant environment for us all.

BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS

• Crime Prevention/Block Representatives: Wednesday, May 16th, 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 e-mail or call Carolyn: 410-522-4991.

  -Police ask that residents call 410-666-DRUG to report repeated suspected drug activity, but always call 911 if you need immediate police response.

• 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 e-mail.

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

• Education Committee: Tuesday, May 22^nd, 7 PM, 232 S. Patterson Park Ave. We will continue with the Adopt-a-Teacher program with some modifications. See back page for more information. Contact: Tori Simms, 410-675-4948.

• House Tour Planning Meeting: Tuesday, May 22^nd, 7 PM at 2029 E. Pratt St. If you would like to help out with the tour, or suggest a house for the tour (your own, maybe) either come to the meeting or email Sue Noonan or Dee Lundelius.

• Membership Committee: Wednesday, May 9^th, 7:30 PM, 2110 E. Baltimore St. Contact Kathy Hackett, 410-327-2447. E-mail BHAmember@gmail.com to request a new neighbor packet. NEW NEIGHBORS: See the Moving In link on our web site: www.butchershill.org.

• Book Club: Thursday, May 24^th, 7:30 PM, 2002 E. Pratt St. Contact: Anne Puckett, 410-675-8765. The Book Club is not taking any new members at this time.

• Land Use: Monday, May 14^th, 7 PM, 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're happy to help with any questions. Contact Virgil Bartram: 410-327-4964. CHAP's number is 410-396-4866.

• BHA Executive Committee: Tuesday, May 15^th at 7:30 PM, 2110 E. Baltimore St. Contact Richard Hackett.

• Streetscape Committee: Thursday, May 3^rd, 7 PM at 2225 E. Lombard Street. The Streetscape Committee meets monthly the day after the General Meeting.  We will talk about what’s next after the Clean-up.  Contact Connie Brines, 410-539-2827.

• Flea Market Committee: Remember to mark May 12^th and September 15^th on you calendars!  Contact: Tori Simms, 410-675-4948. See article on the front page of the Newsletter.

• Newsletter: The deadline for the JUNE issue is Fri., May 25^th. Contact Patricia Clark.

MAY BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, May 2nd. 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.

AGENDA: Urban Forestry with the City Arborist, Rebecca Feldberg; and Vernese Osborne, City of Baltimore CERT (City Emergency Response Team) (see more information on the back page)

We will be raffling off a Butchers Hill shirt at this month’s general meeting!

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

Sign up Now to Become a Neighborhood Tree Steward: Attend the City's FREE Neighborhood Tree Steward Training Sessions in May!

Through classroom training and hands-on practice, Tree Stewards learn the basics of tree biology, planting, maintenance techniques and more. Upon completion of training, Tree Stewards make a commitment participate in the planning, planting, and maintenance of trees in their neighborhoods and parks.

Sign up for the May Neighborhood Tree Steward Training. If you have questions, contact Jahmilla Wilson, Recreation & Parks: (410) 396-0729, Jahmilla.Wilson@baltimorecity.gov.

SPRING ART SHOW!

Just in time for Mother's Day! On May 12th KIRSTEN LAPOINTE will open her studio at 2215 East Lombard St. for a show and sale from 10:00 am to 2:00pm. Choose from fine ceramics and garden mushrooms while visiting a local art studio and garden.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

We are continuing the Adopt-a-Teacher program with some modifications.

Commodore Rogers Elementary School is asking for board games and goodie bags for all teachers returning in the fall. We will be collecting funds to support this effort, and meeting in the late summer to stuff the goodie bags before distribution.

The Patterson Park Charter School will follow the standard format. Each teacher will fill out a sheet of “wants”. You can help by buying items from these lists and delivering them directly to the school.

We will kick this process off at the May meeting.

All participants along with faculty from both schools will be invited to a breakfast in Patterson Park at the pagoda.

If you are unable to attend this meeting and have any questions please contact Tori Simms, (410) 675-4948, or Martha Delpizzo, (410) 522-6046.

GENERAL MEETING:

This month Rebecca Feldberg, City Arborist and head of the City of Baltimore Forestry Division, will be the guest speaker at our general meeting. She will talk about the Tree Baltimore Program to double the green canopy in our neighborhoods. She will review ways to increase the survival rate and longevity of our trees and strategies for “reforesting” private property. Yes, even in the city! Along with Rebecca, Michael Morris, the Planting Coordinator, will join us. He and Rebecca are prepared to answer your general questions about trees and about getting more trees into our neighborhoods.

VACANCY ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

We are looking for someone to fill a vacancy on our Executive Committee. If interested please contact Rich Hackett.

COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, Tueday, May 15th, unit block S. Collington Ave. 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.