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August 2008
Why fly when you can walk, bike or ride? You live in Maryland! This month’s meeting will feature nearby things to do in Maryland. One of our speakers will be from Baltimore City Heritage Area Association. She will tell us about the many heritage walks and rides in the Baltimore area. The other speaker will be from the Maryland Wineries Association for those of you with a thirst for things other than just knowledge. She will have maps of the Maryland Wineries, tell us why some grapes do well only in certain parts of the State, and give us suggestions for a day of tastings or weekend excursions. We’ll also have maps to distribute including one with all the bike trails in Maryland and another with the designated scenic routes in the State. Finally, we are going to ask you to share your favorite day trip with the rest of us. So bring a pencil and paper to make note of all the great nearby getaways available to you. Homeless Shelter Update: To the best of my knowledge (although it’s been less than a month) the City has lived up to all its promises regarding public safety, sanitation, and supervision and there have been no reported incidents. They are installing a brand new basketball court next to the recreation center and have stuccoed the ugly cinder block wall next to 6 S. Castle. There are some other “give back” requests that we are still waiting to hear about. What they have not done yet is put all of the terms and conditions of the shelter in writing such as reiterating when the shelter closes among other things. I have been told to expect that letter shortly. Hopefully this whole episode will end up being a minor blip on the BH radar when all is said and done. Car Sharing: Baltimore City is forming a not-for-profit car shar-ing corporation and there is a good chance we could be one of the first neighborhoods to participate. Please go to www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/parking/car_sharing.php on the Internet for more information and especially to indicate your interest by signing up for their mailing list. Butchers Hill has had more responses than any other neighborhood—let’s build on that lead! —Barry Glassman. PARKING UPDATE: Just a reminder what all this parking brouhaha is about. We all have a problem finding a place to park, particularly in the evening and the Executive Committee is only aware of three means to alleviate the situation—-angle and permit parking and car sharing. I’ve said in the past that we won’t circulate petitions for either reverse angle parking/one way streets or Residential Permit Parking (“RPP”) until we have verifiable numbers for you. We’re getting close. It’s almost certainly going to be about 130 new places generated just in Butchers Hill and an additional 283 in Fells Prospect and Upper Fells Point by instituting angle parking. The problem is that the City Department of Transportation forgot to include one whole block and had Collington going the wrong way. I promise you by the time somebody knocks on your door, they will have accurate numbers. Following are a couple of bullets of either new information since the monthly meeting or new questions—
—Barry Glassman. EDUCATION COMMITTEE: This will be the 5th year that the Butchers Hill Association has supported the teachers at the two neighborhood elementary schools with the Adopt-a-Teacher program. This year we are collecting checks to convert to gift cards for each teacher to make their own selections. The final date to contribute to this program is August 15. This event has created enormous good will from the teachers who often support these efforts from their own pockets. Everyone who donates will be invited to the breakfast at 8 AM on August 22 in Patterson Park at the Pagoda, so the teachers and donors can get to know each other. We will distribute the gift cards at the breakfast. Please make the checks out to the Butchers Hill Association. You can give the checks to Tori Simms, Carolyn Boitnott, Martha Delpizzo or John Murphy before the 15th. The FLEA MARKET committee is looking for volunteers for the Sept 13th FALL FLEA MARKET event. Prior to the event: Poster distribution—days or evenings at your convenience along retail streets around the area beginning in late August. Spanish speaking individual for poster distribution. Friday before 9/12: clean tables and chairs; set up spots; put up signs. Day of event: 2 hours of donation requested. Grillers; food booth—collect money, take orders or distribute food; little red wagon sellers; set up (beginning early) BHA booth or food booth; traffic control for vendors; Butchers Hill booth; clean up (beginning at 3 PM). Please contact Tori Simms - 410.675.4948. Thanks for continuing to make this event an ongoing and growing success. 2008 SAVE THE DATES! Butchers Hill Events:
BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS
AUGUST BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday, August 6th, 7:00 p.m. St. Andrew's Church hall, Chester & Lombard. Contact Barry Glassman. August General Meeting Agenda: Things to do in Maryland This Summer.
It’s been a busy time for Halcott Square, a challenge that our tiny neighborhood park has lived up to magnificently! On July 9, at the height of its summer glory, Halcott Square served as the venue for the BHA Potluck Picnic. This annual event was attended by many old friends and many new ones in the neighborhood. (See photos above.) It was one of our best Potluck Picnics ever, with near-perfect weather, great attendance, inspired conversation, and an abundance of delectable comestibles offered in style, as befits “Baltimore’s Friendliest Neighborhood.” Earlier, on June 28 (a typical, too-hot day in Baltimore), Halcott Square was rededicated to the memory of Charles M. Halcott after an extensive refurbishing spearheaded and guided by Steve Young. The rededication came 31 years to the day after the park’s original dedication. Charles Halcott died before he realized his vision and that of his neighbors for a quiet space in the midst of city noises and hassles. But fortunately, his wife Mary (cutting the cake in the rightmost picture below and at right in the leftmost one), shared that vision and worked for it equally with Charles. Mary spoke at the rededication, as did Butchers Hill President Barry Glassman, Steve Young, and Maya Garza, a representative of Jim Kraft’s City Council Office, who presented Mary with the Council’s resolution honoring her service. (Maya walked to the event from Mount Vernon!) In part, Steve talked about the many plantings contributed by neighbors to Halcott Square. Apparently, the original park plans called for only a few coneflowers and daylilies as color. But Butchers Hill folks knew how to do better than that! Hollies were planted by former neighbor and former BHA President Harry Rager. Daffodils and butterfly bushes from Cylburn arboretum were also planted by neighbors. Steve Young himself took a course to learn how to craft and maintain the park’s topiary. Many other plants in Halcott Square date from the mid-1990s, when Toni Francfort (leftmost in the photos below) serendipitously found the gardens of a retiring and relocating horticulturist. For several weeks, Toni and Steve dug plants out of the horticulturist’s garden, transported them to Halcott Square, and replanted them. Halcott Square’s famous “naked ladies” (wild amaryllis) are another of Toni’s gifts. Next? Steve is looking for a unique, “specimen” tree to replace the Amur maple lost from the front planter this spring. —Rick Gilmour.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, THURSDAY, August 7th, 100 block N. Collington. 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 and leaves around 2. Please use the open end of the dumpster to walk your items inside. Closed toe shoes required to enter the dumpster. Do NOT throw items over the side. There will generally be people inside the dumpster. HOUSE TOUR '08—Sunday, October 12 is the date for this years house tour. We could use one more house if you have a recommendation, or would like to participate yourself. Before that date we could use some volunteers to help distribute posters and sundry tasks. Then on the day we always welcome volunteers for house sitting assistance. If you are willing or available please email or call us. It's usually fun for all involved. All are invited to the Aug. 4 meeting at 7 at 2029 E. Pratt. Sue Noonan and Dee Lundelius, 410-558-1080. Better yet, sign up at the BHA August 6th meeting. RENEW YOUR BHA MEMBERSHIP! Membership with Butchers Hill Association is calculated by the calendar year. If you have not paid your dues for 2008, please plan to do so at the next general meeting or by mail using the form below. Dues are $10 per person per year. Many members on our roster have not renewed their membership yet. Please help. Your dues enable the BHA to continue serving your community and it provides vital communication between residents and the City government. BUTCHERS HILL HAS GREAT COOKS! The concept of "Potluck" was very lucky for all who came to the annual Potluck Picnic in newly rededicated Halcott Square in the 100 block of Duncan Street, postponed from July 9th to July 10th due to rain. Everyone pitched in, as they arrived, to make the event successful, including: great burgers and dogs grilled by Larry (of Bondoggie Caterers) and all the hard work of the Executive Committee bringing ice, coolers, beverages, tables, chairs and accessories provided by the Butchers Hill Association. But, by far, the best part was the dozens of wonderful, tasty homemade dishes contributed by neighbors. (Call Sandy, 410-558-0149 for items left at the picnic.) Eat, drink and be merry was well executed—sorry if you missed it. You will have another chance in December when Butchers Hill sponsors the Holiday Potluck. Mark your calendars. —Sandy Sales. Several window ACs for sale: $50 each. Most 1-2 yrs old, energy efficient, hepa filters, 8-10,000 BTUs. Call Sandy: 410-558-0149.
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