October 2009 
Last month we demystified food shopping jargon and this month we’ll tell you everything you ever wanted to know about digital cameras, particularly pocket size. This is also our traditional “Artists of Butchers Hill” evening and we’ll have the pleasure of our own Howie Ehrenfeld making the presentation. Photography is certainly an art, and Howie is a pioneer practitioner in the realm of digital. He’s been a professional photographer for 30 years and had his own photo studio for 22 of them, has co-authored a book on Photoshop, has taught 13 years at MICA, and he teaches digital photography at the US Government Printing Office. Hopefully you’ll leave the meeting knowing what all those funny little icons on your camera mean, find out you don’t really have pixel envy, and learn the basics of how to get the most out of your digital camera and photo editing programs.
On another note.... I try to walk the neighborhood as much a possible and quite frankly, some areas aren’t looking too spiffy. I’m asking everyone to spend five minutes a day (that’s all it takes) to keep your sidewalks and gutters clean of trash and weeds. Five minutes even gives you time to do a few houses on either side of you if your neighbor is not so inclined. This is not a matter for finger pointing - it’s all about caring for the ‘hood that most of us love. Barry Glassman, BHA President
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bye bye bags, hELLO trash cans
As many of you are aware, housing enforcement has “discovered” Butchers Hill and are issuing $50 citations for people putting out trash in bags. Although we were promised more time to make the transition, they have obviously reneged. So, here’s the deal: Continued on page 3
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BUTCHERS HILL 2009
ANNUAL HOUSE TOUR
Sunday, October 18th
Noon to 5:00pm
Tis the season to see and show how diverse, interesting, friendly and fun a neighborhood can be. We've lined up a variety of different size homes, each decorated in the homeowner’s unique taste. Some are historic, some modern, some cozy and comfortable, and all are great for giving us ideas on what we can do with our own homes.
Invite your friends, treat your friends, come yourself, for sure! You can purchase the tickets right now in Butchers
Continued on page 3
LAST DUMPSTER OF 2009
THURSDAY, October 15
HELPS PREPARE FOR fall cleanup
SATURDAY, October 17
HOUSE TOUR
SUNDAY, October 18
UNFORTUNATELY, the 2009 City-Wide Fall Cleanup WILL NOT INCLUDE BULK TRASH, as in former years.
FORTUNATELY – the Streetscape Committee scheduled a dumpster for THURSDAY, OCT. 15TH, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in the unit block of North Chester. Please plan to get any large trash, bulk items ready for disposal that day. Saturday, October 17th, 9 AM, large brown paper bags will be placed on the intersecting corners of Fairmount, Baltimore, Lombard and Pratt so we can all get out and CLEANUP our TREE PITS, PLANTERS, STEPS, SIDEWALKS AND GUTTERS. Those brown paper bags (not too heavy) may be RETURNED TO THOSE CORNERS BY NOON, for a special 1 pm pickup by the city. If you would like to begin earlier and need bags, please contact: 410-558-0149 or sjs2201@verizon.net leaving address and number of bags needed.
Trash free tree pits & gutters, weed free sidewalks, sparkling steps and planters will greet the many visitors the next day, Oct. 18th, who walk from house to house during our annual Butchers Hill House Tour, which is one of our major fund raisers for the community. YOU, our wonderful neighbors, make Butchers Hill such a great place to live. THANKS IN ADVANCE for taking such pride in our neighborhood. Streetscape Committee |
October Community Calendar
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sept 27 |
Sept. 28
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Sept. 29
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Sept. 30 |
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7 Butchers Hill
GENERAL MEETING, 7 PM |
8 Executive
Committee
7PM |
9 |
10 St. Andrew’s
Flea Market
pg. 4)
Balt. Running Fest
(pg. 4)
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11 |
12
Land Use Committee 7PM |
13
Book Club
7:30 PM
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14
C.O.P. 7:30 PM |
15
Dumpster
(pg. 1) |
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17 Fall Cleanup
(pg. 1)
Barktoberfest 11am-4pm
(pg. 4)
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18
House Tour
Noon-5pm
(pg. 1) |
19
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20
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21 Block Reps
& Crime Prevention 7PM
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22 |
23 |
24 Great
Halloween Lantern Parade (pg 4)
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25
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26
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27
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28
C.O.P. 7:30 PM
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29
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30
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31
Halloween |
TRASH PICKUP **GRN ZONE: WEDNESDAY RECYCLING **GRN ZONE: FRIDAY
**RED ZONE: THURSDAY **RED ZONE: TUESDAY
**BLUE ZONE: TUESDAY **BLUE ZONE: THURSDAY
BHA Committees and Monthly Meetings
Crime Prevention/Block Representatives: Wednesday, October 21, 7 PM, Ralph J. Young Recreation Center (See page 4). Meets monthly to share information from our block representatives and to coordinate action. New block representatives wanted; if interested e-mail or call Carolyn: c.boitnott@verizon.net, 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. Protect your car from break-ins, do not leave anything valuable or tempting in your car, not even a quarter.
- 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 2nd and 4th 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, 410-342-2148, ubik14@netscape.net.
- Community Representative, School 27 School Improvement Team: Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991.
- Education Committee Tuesday, October 13th, 7PM, at 232 S. Patterson Park Ave.. Contacts: Tori Simms, Carolyn Boitnott or Martha Del Pizzo. Contact: Tori Simms, 410-675-4948, tori.simms@kimball.com.
- Flea Market Committee: The next meeting will be in Jan. 2010. Looking for volunteers. Without new people we will only have one flea market in 2010. Please contact Tori Simms, 410-675-4948, tori.simms@kimball.com.
- House Tour Planning Meeting No meeting this month. All are welcome and we’d be happy to see new faces. We can always use help. Contact Dee at DeeLundelius@verizon.net or Sue at SueNoon@cavtel.net .
- Community Initiatives: No meeting this month. Call Kathy Hackett, ktyhack@gmail.com, 410-327-2447. To request a new neighbor packetemail BHAmember@gmail.com. NEW NEIGHBORS: See the Moving In link on our web site: www.butchershill.org
- Book Club I: Tuesday, October 13th, 7:30PM, “A Tidewater Morning” by William Stryon, and “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery. Contact: Anne Puckett, anne_puckett@hotmail.com, 410-675-8765.
- Land Use: Monday, October 12th, 7 PM, at the White House, 27 S. 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: Thursday, October 8th, 7:00 PM, 2002 E. Pratt St. Contact Barry Glassman, bglassma@verizon.net
- Streetscape Committee: No meeting this month. This Committee’s focus is on education and assistance with trash and litter –keeping our streets healthy and attractive, free from trash, litter, and animal waste. **Maps showing our color boundaries for trash & recycling pickup are available at the General Meeting and in New Neighbor packets (see Community Initiatives). For trash guidelines, please see www.butchershill.org/about/trash.pdf Contact Rob Steinberg: rsteinberg@ariba.com or 443-603-9923.
- Newsletter: Wednesday, October 21st is the deadline for all articles, ads, and notices for the NOVEMBER issue of the BHA newsletter. Contact Patricia Clark: BHAnewsletter@gmail.com
Ë Ì Ë Butchers Hill GENERAL MEETING, October 7th Ë Ì Ë
Meeting: 7:00 PM St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Chester & Lombard. Contact Barry Glassman, bglassma@verizon.net
AGENDA: Butcher Hill Artist Night! Not to be missed.
2009 Fall Flea Market and Craft Fair Best Ever!!!
135+ vendors, fabulous weather, the jazz group – The Paul Snyder Quartet smooth & mellow, large quantities of buyers starting at 6:30 AM, wonderful donations to the BHA booth and food - perfectly prepared by Larry Bond of Bondoggies Catering, and so perfectly managed by Beth & Lynn that we ran out of hamburgers at 2:30! And it all looked easy due to the commitment of the committee: Barry, Beth, Lynn, Ray, Rick, Sandy, Sue & Tori.
But, MOSTLY we owe success to those who gave of their time, energy and knowledge: Carolyn, Tom, Don & Megan, Meg & Peter, Ann, Sue, Lorgia; Towanna, Barry, JoAnne & Bruce, Russell, JoJo, Jordan, Tony H., Tony J., Jim, Butch, Chris & Kristi, Kathy H, Kathy T, William, Tom & Cheryl, Tom C, Cate, Bill, Eric, Ray & Jeanne, John and Toni, Richard, Ranye and Chemia.
We NEED new people to join the committee for 2010 PLANNING IN JANUARY. Some of the existing members need to move on to other challenges, but have agreed to help with the transition. Without new people, we are going to one flea market in 2010, which did cause quite the controversy with the vendors. If you are interested, please contact Tori Simms. Everyone is welcome.
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DUE TO A LACK OF SPACE THIS MONTH WE ARE NOT PRINTING LAST MONTHS “GENERAL MEETING NOTES”. THE COMPLETE SET OF NOTES CAN BE FOUND AT THE BUTCHERS HILL WEBSITE: HTTP://www.butchershill.org
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Continued from Bye Bye Bags Pg. 1
DO NOT PUT YOUR TRASH OUT IN BAGS! It must be put out in a covered receptacle. You may put it out the night before pick up if it has a tight fitting lid. Also, the new law says receptacles must be removed from the sidewalk no later than 6:00am the day after the scheduled pickup (We have tried to get the city to have an approved screen or lattice to hide trash cans but it’s beyond their ability).This part of the new regulation hasn’t been actively enforced yet, but will be soon. I’d like to offer some suggestions to help you through this transition.
Recycle more which means less trash. Buy a smaller 20 gallon can at Home Depot for about $12. Put out an empty can first which is very easy to carry through your living room, dining room and kitchen and then put your bags in the can. In the evening carry the empty can back to your back stoop. Nobody will argue that putting out trash bags is much easier, but we do have to acknowledge there are many benefits to the new rules. Save yourself some serious money by complying.
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Continued from Annual House Tour on page 1
Hill at the Blue Door in Baltimore, 2023 E. Baltimore, or in Fells Point at either Long and Foster or Caldwell Banker Realty offices.
It's only $12 a ticket before the day of the tour so you will be saving $3 a ticket if you buy early. See you at the White House on the 18th. If you don't think we've made this convenient enough for you, just pick up your tickets at the October 7 BHA meeting!
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SEPTEMBER AT SOUTHEAST ANCHOR LIBRARY
October 24, Saturday – HAUNTED HAMLET
Haunted Hamlet at the Southeast Anchor Library will have Spooky Stories area with a giant magnetic poetry board using holiday & Poe themes with prizes. We will also have lantern making, hay rides, hot cider, food, music and a beer garden for adults. Volunteers are needed starting at 2 pm through 7 pm.
Gardeners, Landscapers, Plant People:
Rare Opportunity to get in on the GROUND FLOOR planning the future gardening/landscaping green space in front of the Southeast Anchor Library in Highlandtown. Just five dedicated community members are needed so we can sign up for the Community Greening Resource Network, which will provide free resources/tools/plants/soil so that we can manage the space. Contact Amanda Smit at asmit@prattlibrary.org, 443-984-3904.
PHILLY'S LIBRARY THREATENS TO CLOSE, Money is an issue everywhere, including Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. ACT LOCALLY - PLEASE DONATE time or money to help keep the many excellent programs alive at our Highlandtown, Southeast Anchor Library, at Eastern & Conkling.
When VOLUNTEERS SHELVE BOOKS the staff can devote their time to the children, teenagers and adults needing their assistance. Please give what and when you can.
Library staff must take furlough days, so all libraries will be CLOSED Friday, October 9th, and Monday, October 12th. Southeast Anchor Library will no longer be open on Sundays.
October 17, Saturday, 11am-5pm, there will be a Book Sale in the front of the library as part of the Highlandtown Main Street Sidewalk Sale.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE:
The October meeting of the Crime Prevention Committee will meet at the Ralph J Young Recreation Center ( note change of meeting place), enter off the school playground in the 2000 block of Fairmount, on Wednesday, October 21 at 7pm. In addition to talking about any concerns about crime we will discuss the new city trash collection process and how we might do a better job keeping Castle St. Park clean. If you haven't been to the Rec Center it is a chance to see this wonderful space. Carolyn Boitnott c.boitnott@verizon.net or 4 10-522-4991.
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EDUCATION COMMITTEE:
To honor the teachers and administrative help at the two schools BHA supports, Commodore John Rodgers and Patterson Park Charter School, the Education Committee invited them to join BHA in the park on Saturday, Sept. 19 to enjoy the pagoda, the flea market, the music, the beautiful setting and a free meal. A postcard, created by Leslie L, was distributed to all.
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ALERT: WATER BILLING SCAM
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works and the Department of Finance have received word from numerous concerned senior citizens. They informed us that they have received calls stating that they are past due on their water bills and that their water will be cut off. These citizens are not past due and this type of information is not relayed in this manner, but rather by mail.
There has been no demand for money to be sent anywhere but we are concerned that someone may show up at a citizen’s door and try to collect. This would be particularly likely if they feel the person is vulnerable based upon the phone conversation.
Citizens receiving such calls should ask for a name and a call back number. If a citizen has captured the number on caller ID or *69 that should also be reported to the Baltimore City Police by calling 911 or the local police district.
Be aware of criminals who may pose as utility workers to try to gain entrance to your home and your wallet. If you suspect illegal activity please call 911. The Department of Public Works would not ask to enter your home unless you called us and asked for such assistance. |
An Invitation from St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church:
"St. Andrew's Orthodox Church, corner of Chester and Lombard, will be having our annual Fall Flea Market on Friday, October 9th, and Saturday, October 10th, from 10 am to 3 pm. 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 pieroghi, stuffed cabbages, home made soup and hot dogs will be available for a nominal charge. All of our neighbors are welcome!"
SEPTEMBER IN PATTERSON PARK
October 10th, Saturday – 2009 Baltimore Running Festival. For more info www.thebaltimoremarathon.com To volunteer at the waterstop, email volunteer@pattersonpark.com
October 17th, Saturday - 5th Annual BARCStoberfest Fundraiser “Strut Your Mutt” Walk, and Silent Auction (raindate 10/18) Corner of Eastern & Linwood, 11am– 4pm, walk from noon-3pm.
The 5th annual fundraiser for BARCS is a festival for animal lovers and is the canine social event of the year! The event is a fun-filled Saturday for the whole community (and their pets!) that helps to raise awareness and much needed funds for the 12,000 animals BARCS takes in each year. There is something for everyone at BARCStoberfest! Participants will enjoy a silent auction, pet costume contests, local artists & vendors, adoptable pets, animal health & welfare experts, pet demos, and more!
For more information and pre-registration please visit www.baltimoreanimalshelter.org or call410-396-4695
October 24th, Saturday – Great Halloween Lantern Parade! (raindate: 10/25) Join the 10th year of the Halloween Lantern Parade with a new route, over 1200 paper lanterns, spangled stilt-walkers, constellation stars, ribbon rockets, whimsical floats, the Bone Band and lots more community-made magic! Be sure to come early for the first ever pre-Parade festival! For more information, go to www.lanternparade.org.
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Visit our website for complete General Meeting notes, newsletters, “moving in” information, Butchers Hill history, Butchers Hill Artists, and so much more at www.butchershill.org |
COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, Thursday, October 15th, unit block N. Chester. For neighborhood residents only. No building materials, batteries, wet paint, automotive parts (including tires and rims), or hazardous materials. The dumpster generally arrives around 10 AM and leaves around 2 PM. |
THREE TRASH TIPS:
(1) REPORT ALL TRASH CONCERNS, PROBLEMS, INCIDENTS TO 311 (on line 24 hrs) immediately. Be prepared to take down number operator gives you, as proof you called.
(2) USE A METAL CAN, plastic is easily chewed through and voids the purpose of a can by becoming a “rat restaurant”.
(3) Using smallest can you need, take it to the street empty. Carry trash in plastic bag(s) to can, insert, put lid on tightly. No mess, no heavy can. When empty, wipe outside with sani-wipe and bring back into house.
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