September 2006

BHA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Well, welcome back everyone from your summer holidays, even though summer is not officially over until later in the month. While things begin to cool off in September, our schedule starts heating up. And we need volunteer help for many things.

The first of our duties for September is to make sure we get out and vote in the primary elections on September 12^th. Many important decisions need to made as to who we can count on in the upcoming years. Such as our Congressional seats-we have a congressman to choose and a senator as well as our local state legislature. Please vote!!

Our Flea Market is in full swing this month and we are looking for any volunteers who can assist on the morning of September 16^th (contact Tori; see next column). We are hoping to make this Flea Market the biggest we have ever had, as we have extended invitations to community associations in all of southeast Baltimore.

The House Tour, which is our largest fund raising event of the year, is scheduled for October 15^th. We are still looking for houses to be on the tour. To ease anyone's concerns, we have never had a homeowner receive larger tax bills or a security breach from being on the tour. It's a great event to be part of. Please contact Sue Noonan to become a part of this essential event for our association.

On a budget note, our Treasurer Greg Matanoski reported to the executive committee that through August we are operating a balanced budget so far.

On a personal note, I will be unavailable for the first two weeks of September, recovering from surgery. I ask that any urgent issues be directed to a member of the executive committee.

-Richard Hackett.

FALL FLEA MARKET

A DAY IN PATTERSON PARK by the FOUNTAIN
GREAT FOOD, MUSIC by the Paul Snyder Trio
and BARGAINS, BARGAINS, BARGAINS!

SEPTEMBER 16^th, 9 AM to 3 PM
(rain date: September 17^th)

Special thanks to Comcast, Mayor Martin O'Malley
and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts.

FLEA MARKET VOLUNTEERS are needed to support this fun neighborhood wide event!! It's a great way to meet more people, be outdoors in good weather, and see all of our far-flung neighbors.

1. Drop off any donated items for the Butchers Hill booth (all monies benefit the Education Committee) any time after 6 AM on September 16^th (rain date September 17^th) at the entrance to Patterson Park at Lombard St. (on the grassy spot in front of the White House). No need to price the items.
2. 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.
3. We need volunteers from 2:30 to 4:30 PM to help with tear down.
4. We need volunteers to work the Butchers Hill booth and the Food booth. The volunteers are needed for a minimum of 2 hour increments from 7 AM to 4 PM.

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. We will have Butchers Hill signs and shirts, aprons and caps, as well as greeting cards and other surprises.

COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, Thursday, September 21^st, 100 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 date for next dumpster is Thursday, October 12^th, unit block S. Collington.

BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS

• Crime Prevention/Block Representatives: Wednesday, September 20^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.

  • Police have asked that residents call 410-666-DRUG to report repeated suspected drug activity, but always call 911 if you want immediate police response. There has been an increase in car break-ins in the area. No matter how minor the damage, please call 311 to report, and ask for a police report number. The police can patrol better if they know where and when these events are occurring. Report suspicious people to 911 and let's have as much street presence as possible-sit out on your steps, say hello to all who pass, etc.

• 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, ubik14@netscape.net.
• Community Representative, School 27 School Improvement Team: Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991.
• Education Committee: Thursday, September 14 at 7 p, 232 S. Patterson Park Ave.. Contact: Tori Simms 410-675-4948, or email. Please remember to drop off your supplies to the Charter School or School 27 ASAP. Thank you again to everyone who contributed to the effort. It is most appreciated. The Adopt-a-Teacher breakfast was a smashing success-close to 80 people and all so appreciative!
• Membership Committee: Wednesday, September 13^th, 7:30pm, 2110 E. Baltimore Street. Contact Kathy Hackett. The Membership committee meets on the 2^nd Wednesday of every month. If you are new to Butchers Hill and would like a new neighbor packet, e-mail bhamember@gmail.com to request your copy.
• Book Club: Thursday, Sept. 21^st, 7:30 PM, 2029 E. Pratt St. The selection for September is Everything is Illuminated, by J. Foer. Contact Anne Puckett, 410-675-8765.
• Land Use: : Monday, September 18^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: Tuesday, September 19^th, 7 P.M., 2029 E. Pratt St. Contact Sue Noonan 410-522-6773, e-mail Tbolita@erols.com. The Flea Market and House Tour will be the topics.
• BHA Executive Committee: Tuesday, September 19^th at 7:30 P.M., 2110 E. Baltimore St. Contact Richard Hackett.
• Streetscape Committee: Thursday, September 14^th, 7:30 P.M., 30 S. Castle St. Contact Remington Nevin, 240-401-3628. WOrk continues on the Betsy Patterson Historical Mural on South Chester Street. Many thanks to Mike and Stephanie at Weikert Design, http://www.weikertdesign.com, for their assistance in designing our mural banner, and to our many project sponsors.
• Newsletter: The deadline for the OCTOBER issue is Friday, Sept. 22^nd. Contact Steve Young: young@umbc.edu.

SEPTEMBER BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, September 6th.
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: Meet our local school principals.

HIGHLIGHTS, August 2nd 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.

• Remington Nevin (Streetscape): Thanks to the Dept. of Transportation and Jim Kraft for getting all 50 BH signs up. Mural project is fully funded; a vinyl banner on the scaffolding acknowledges donors and BHA. The mural should be partly completed by the House Tour.
• Sue Noonan (Events): We still a need more houses for the House Tour (in its 26th year). If interested or you know someone that is interested in having a house on the tour, please contact Sue or Dee. Tickets $15 the day of the tour and $12 in advance. | The annual BHA picnic in July was very successful; thanks to Betsy for organizing the event. The Garden Tour was also a success: the BHA earned more than $1,000. The fall Flea Market is coming up; Tori and Ray are looking for volunteers.
• Martha Del Pizzo (Education): The Maps Program (to purchase maps for the charter school) has not been very successful so far. If you know a developer or a real estate agent, please nudge them to help out the local school.
• Carolyn Boitnott (Crime Prevention): Plant thefts have slowed. Be sure that your house is secure and watch out for your neighbors. Don't leave anything in your car. The committee needs block reps. If interested, let Carolyn know. There has been an increase in rats. Carolyn will bring literature to the next meeting. One thing to remember is that they are attracted to water-try to minimize the water that they could have access to.
• Guest Speaker Mike Ferreira (Black Knights and Banner Football League) gave an interesting and informative presentation about his experiences with the Black Knights. He appreciates the support he and the team has received from the community in the past and really needs our help this year. For only $25 a player can have a jersey with his/her name on it. Brian Greenan of Banner Neighborhoods also spoke about the need for more volunteers to help in the football league. The goal is to give the kids time with adults that are good role models.

PATTERSON BOWL SCORES POINTS WITH FANS IN BALTIMORE

Did you know that Baltimore is home to the nation's oldest operating duckpin bowling alley? Patterson Bowling Center has been serving Baltimore's bowlers since 1927. Patterson offers league and open play duckpin bowling at its alleys in East Baltimore, just a few blocks south of Butchers Hill. It is owned and operated by Charles and Theresa McElhose, Catonsville residents.

Patrons of the center include locals and tourists. Most of the bowlers are walk in customers from the area. Since duckpin is an East Coast game, many visitors are curious about it and some come from other states to check it out. One of the many reasons the center is popular with locals is that patrons of age are welcome to bring their own beer.

Duckpin bowling is different from 10 pin bowling in a few ways. First, the balls are smaller and usually weigh about 3 1/2 pounds, and they do not have finger holes in them. Also, players get three balls instead of two during each frame. Duckpin is known to be less of a burden on the body, making it enjoyable for people of all ages to play. Most bowlers consider it to be a more challenging game than 10 pin. No one has ever bowled a perfect game of duckpin! The highest score on record is 278 (out of 300). It is a good form of low impact exercise.

Charles offers a few tips on playing the game. Start by gripping the ball in front of you with both hands, like you're grabbing someone's hand to shake it. Don't run to the line. Keep your throwing arm next to your body as you bring it back and forth. Lock your elbow to keep your arm straight and strong. Use a forward-backward-forward motion when preparing to throw the ball.

Although League Play isn't as popular as it used to be, Patterson Bowl still has plenty of leagues to join. One of the most popular options is the Las Vegas league, where every player wins the prize at the end of the league - a trip to Las Vegas including airfare and hotel. The best bowler also wins some spending money. Charles describes that league as a "budget vacation" since participants pay $26 a week to be in the league, in essence saving that money and putting it toward their trip to Vegas.

The snack bar at the center is reasonably priced and offers soda, coffee, chips, hot dogs, nachos, soft pretzels and ice cream. Patterson hosts parties for people of all ages. For example, a block of Chester Street recently held a neighbor party there. If you want to reserve a lane in advance, you can call ahead.

Patterson Bowling Center is located at 2105 Eastern Avenue, just past Chester Street. For more information please call 410-675-1011 or go online at www.pattersonbowl.com. For open play bowling, rates are $4/game per person. Shoe rental is $2. There is an online coupon for $1 off shoe rental online at their website. Summer open play hours are (in effect until mid-September): Monday and Saturday 1 - 10 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 1 - 9 pm, Friday 10 - 10, Sunday 2 - 9 pm.

-Karen Tong.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

HELP FOR THE BUTCHERS HILL HOUSE TOUR, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15^TH, 12-5.

We are still short a house or two for this year's tour. Please contact Dee or Sue if you have a prospect for us. We will also be needing volunteers on the day of the tour. This tour is the major money-maker for the BHA. That means the funds for educational support, the Black Knights football team, almost a dozen community assistance organizations, our newsletter, Patterson Park, our mural, our two local parks, and the list goes on. The tour requires community participation and support. Please open your home, volunteer to house-sit or lend us a hand in other ways. Come to the September 11^th Events Committee meeting at 2029 Pratt if you want to find out what you can do. If you have questions or offers, contact Dee Lundelius, 410-558-1080 or Sue Noonan, 410-522-6773.

St. Andrew's Orthodox Church, corner of Chester and Lombard will be holding its annual CRAB FEAST on Sunday, September 24th, starting at noon. The menu will consist of HOT steamed crabs, pit beef, pit ham, pulled pork, potato salad, cole slaw, sodas and beer. Dessert will include fresh fruit bowl and sheet cake. Tickets are $30 per person. Deadline to purchase tickets is September 17th. Please call 410-276-3422 for ticket information. | We will be having an indoor craft fair on Saturday, December 9th in the parish fellowship hall. Tables will be available for interested local crafters to display and sell their items. If interested, please call Fr. Ted at 410-276-3422 for more information.

Details from the new mural going up in the unit block of South Chester Street (-thanks to Remington Nevin):

Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, was torn between his love for Betsy, and his loyalty to his brother Napoleon - who fiercely opposed their whirlwind romance and marriage.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Patterson and son "Bo." Bo would grow up in Baltimore, living a distinguished life in our neighborhood absent his Father's influence.