Butchers Hill

The tri-annual property reassessment for most of Butchers Hill comes early in 2009. Send your property tax questions in advance to: bglassma@verizon.net. They will be compiled and submitted to our guest speaker for this month, Mr. Owen Charles, Supervisor of Assessments for Baltimore City, who will explain the Homestead Tax Credit, the assessment processes, and how to appeal your assessment.

The Neighborhood Design Center (ndc-md.org/) will present a Master Plan draft for Butchers Hill covering landscaping, lighting, facades, crosswalks, and an overall "sense of place" as well as storm water management to help improve runoff to the harbor and the Bay. They are looking for input so be prepared to share ideas.

We are still hoping to find a first class developer to make a proposal to the City for improving the empty lots at 2101-3 East Fairmount Avenue. Please have any interested parties contact me for more information.

The homeless shelter closed down October 8th, well before the promised deadline. The City deserves credit for both keeping their promises and giving back to the community.

There is still time (until mid-November) to vote for or against Butchers Hill becoming a CHAP historic district. If you haven’t received your informational packet and ballot, call 410- 396-4359.

The angle and permit parking surveys are done thanks to the efforts of 22 volunteers. 76% of those actually polled voted in favor of asking the City to do a study to determine if we are eligible for permit parking, although it was officially 64% since a “no response” counted as a “no” vote. Since the City only required 60%, we will proceed with the request.

Nine blocks (two already have angle parking) on Chester, Fairmount, and Collington were polled for angle parking. The City has a general guideline of 70% approval for instituting angle parking on a block by block basis. Six blocks exceeded 70%, two blocks were between 65 & 70%, and one block was less than 60%. I’m not sure how the city will handle the two blocks in the 65% range. They may decide that 65%+ represents a significant majority and that it is justifiable to convert the block to angle parking. After almost ten years of discussion, we are finally on the verge of settling the parking issue.

BEAUTIFUL DAY- BEAUTIFUL HOUSE TOUR!

The 2008 House Tour was a great success. Almost 250 people came, leaving with comments of praise.

Appreciation and congratulations goes to the gracious homeowners, who were on the tour, and to all of the house sitters. Thanks, as well, goes to backers and workers preparing for and helping with the tour: they were, Liz E., Tori S., Sarah R., Rick G., Howie E., Beth B., Kathy H., Sandy S., Roger E., Paula H., Craig T., and Sasha. Special recognition to Susan S. for her total brochure composition. For doing double duty helping out, we owe our gratitude to Lynn W. for tour publicity and committee help, and Barry G. for brochure ads and the post-tour gathering – kudos to both of them.

Of course, thanks go out to everyone who attended the function, especially all of you in the community for helping Butchers Hill and the groups we support.
Dee Lundelius and Sue Noonan

BHA HOLIDAY POTLUCK
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 6:00 PM

St. Andrews Orthodox Church Hall - Chester and Lombard Streets

It's our annual Holiday get-together for the whole community! Bring your family and neighbors. Children welcome-- we will have a Kid's corner with sitters. BHA supplies beverages and a meat entree. Please bring a dish to share to serve 8-10 people, such as a casserole, side dish, salad or dessert. Please bring a card with the name of your dish, and mention any ingredients that may be allergenic, such as nuts, seafood, wheat, etc. Doors open at 5 PM for reheating dishes and for set-up.

Volunteers are needed for setting up, clean-up or as sitters. Please contact Liz Elliott at eelliott@qis.net. Include your phone number & email address.

Meeting: 7:00 PM St. Andrew's Church hall, Chester & Lombard. Contact Barry Glassman, bglassma@verizon.net.
AGENDA: Owen Charles: assessments, appeals and homestead credits. Neighborhood Design Center: master plan for Butchers Hill. Presentation of the 2009 slate of officers for Butchers Hill.

The City has promised 21 trees this fall for the neighborhood. For each tree someone needs to sign a consent form. If you live near where one of the trees is to be planted, and are willing to volunteer to sign a form, contact Barry Glassman at bglassma@verizon.net.

Holiday Pot Luck – Liz Elliott – the Holiday Pot Luck Dinner will be Sunday, December 7th this year. Liz needs volunteers for set up and clean up – and other duties. If you are able to help, please let her know.

Land Use – Virgil Bartram – There are 12 properties on Lamley that will be presenting at the zoning commission meeting. There is a proposal to have the developers provide parking for five years.

CHAP – Everyone should return the postcard that they get in the mail to vote whether or not the neighborhood should become a CHAP district.

Crime Prevention – Carolyn Boitnott – It has been relatively quiet lately. There were two arrests from two different brothels in the area.

Question: What is going on with sidewalk construction? – Construction is currently in process at the 2200 block of Baltimore. The city repairs/replaces damaged sidewalks on a rotating basis. Next year it will be on the 2100 block.

The Artists Meeting
Howie and Terri produced yet another wonderful presentation of local artists.

I wish to express my gratitude to my wonderful Butchers Hill neighbors for their phone calls, flowers, and get well wishes during my recovery from a recent bike accident.

My special thank you to Monika H., Tom S., Steve Y., and Matt for taking care of my garden, getting my mail and ever willingness to assist me if necessary. Butchers Hill is certainly the “Friendliest Neighborhood.”
Meme de Carvalles

Leaves are loaded with phosphorus. If they are not managed properly when they fall from trees in autumn, they can end up in surface runoff. When that runoff flows into waterways, the phosphorus in the leaves can cause algal blooms, lower the level of dissolved oxygen in the water, and kill fish and other aquatic organisms.

If you don't have a good place to compost leaves, bag them for collection by your local municipal composting operation.

The most important thing to remember is to keep leaves out of waterways. That means not raking them into the road where they can be carried into rivers and streams.

(This especially relates to the streets where we do not have city cleaning. Bagging the leaves that fall into the streets, sidewalks, road gutters in front of your house and alleys will certainly help keep some leaves from reaching the harbor.)

Purchase A. Aubrey Bodine blank greeting cards for all your needs. For links to the photos and to shop for other merchandise, visit our shop online http://butchershill.org/shop/. Proceeds benefit the Butchers Hill Association.

CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE:> Thanks goes out to the 8 residents who walked with the police on October 22 as part of the SE Police neighborhood walks.

BE SAFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: Often we see an increase in break-ins and robberies during the holiday season. Now is a good time to survey the security of your home and take stock of your own activity as well as watching out for your neighbors. Be aware of those around you. Lock and empty your cars. Be sure your windows and doors are securely locked. Don't open doors to strangers. Keep areas well lighted. Don't advertise that you have a cell phone!

STREET SCAPE COMMITTEE:
It was good to see someone out, on every block and in our two pocket parks, cleaning gutters and pulling the last of those summer sidewalk weeds. This was the first Fall Clean up for a few of our block captains, as well as our incoming Streetscape chairperson. Fairmount Avenue wins the prize of the most bags collected. Keep up the good work, and THANKS TO EVERYONE for helping make Butchers Hill shine for the House Tour. A special thanks goes to the Friends of Patterson Park and to Celeste Amato and Val Ukwuoma of the Mayor’s office for providing tools and other equipment, also to Sandy Sales and Carolyn Boitnott for both surveying the neighborhood to identify areas needing special attention and for doing whatever it took to ensure a smooth day. A very special thanks to our out-going Streetscape chair, Connie Brines who, right before she packed her bags to get on a plane, delivered bags to the whole neighborhood and swept her block. We wish her the best in her new home and say, "Come back soon!"

REMINDERS: Place bagged leaves out on your SECOND weekly trash collection day – the city will collect unlimited bagged leaves on that second collection day.
Keep the street gutters around your home clean and clear of leaves and debris -- clogged gutters do not allow proper storm water run-off and contribute to flooding. In cold temperatures - this can mean ice on your street!

PATTERSON PARK RUNNING GROUP is forming to assist motivating fall/winter/spring, after work, safe running. New runner, or marathon veteran, everyone is welcome. If interested contact Alex with running times that work for you, and any other input: skinbike22@gmail.com or call 767-288-9133

DUMPSTER NEWS FLASH... Due to budget cuts in the city, starting in 2009, neighborhood associations will only be allowed 4 dumpsters per year. Tuesday, December 9th will be the last dumpster in Butchers Hill until Spring.

311 ONLINE... Did you know that besides calling the 311 One Call Center to request City services, you can also use the Baltimore City website and 311 Online? Choose 311 Online under Citizen Services on the City's home page, then follow the simple directions to enter your request. While you're there, you can check on the status of a previously submitted request by clicking the link to the 311 Service Request Status Lookup page. Just enter your tracking number in the space provided, click the search button, and we'll display the details of that request, including the status, status date, and outcome.

FREE TO A GOOD HOME!
St. Andrew's Orthodox Church, corner of Chester and Lombard, wants to give away a large porch swing in good condition. An electric stove/range is also available free. If interested call Fr. Ted at 410-276-3422, or stop by the church on Sundays at 11:30 AM to see items and inquire. You haul away, or if reasonably close by, we can help deliver. Thanks for your continued generous support.

Patterson Park Public Charter School... 27 N. Lakewood Ave., will hold Kindergarten Visiting Days, Nov. 6, 11 & 21, RSVP:410.558.1230 or www.pppcs.org

COMMODORE JOHN ROGERS #27, Pre-K to 8th Grade, 100 N. Chester St., CHILDREN’S BOOK SALE: Nov. 7 & 21, 2:30-3:00PM, Gently used or some new, 3 for twenty-five cents. 27’s MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAMS, the Clippers and the Lady Clippers have joined the citywide Middle School League and are competing well.

BEWARE OF MORTGAGE RESCUE STRATEGIES THAT SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE... Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE, Inc. (CCCS) is an accredited nonprofit agency that is dedicated to helping individuals and families resolve their financial problems. Maryland State License #4-01. Contact: Nancy Stark, 410-357-0614, nstark@mind2medias.com

Visit our website for complete General Meeting notes, newsletters, “moving in” information, BH history, BH Artists, and so much more at www.butchershill.org