Friends of Herring Run Park and Morgan State University will host a community meeting regarding the master plan process for Herring Run Park on Tuesday, April 29th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Brehms Lane Elementary School (3536 Brehms Lane - enter cafeteria on Kentucky Avenue). Representatives from the Department of Recreation and Parks will be present at this introductory meeting, where you can learn about the process and identify important issues and opportunities.

 

Another new business recently opened in Lauraville. It occupies the lower floor in the same building as Rock Candy at 4321 Harford Road. Bediboo sells toys, slings, baby carriers, strollers, clothing, accessories, dress-up items, etc. including plenty that are not made in China. Hours are Tues-Sat, 10-6. For more info call 410-444-6060 or visit http://bediboo.com.

 

Clementine, a new restaurant at 5402 Harford Rd., is open for business as of Wednedsday, April 30! For the first month, Clementine will be open Wednesday~ 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. breakfast & lunch; Thursday~ 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. breakfast & lunch; Friday~ 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. breakfast, lunch & dinner; Saturday~ 8:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. breakfast, lunch & dinner; Sunday~ 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. breakfast, lunch & dinner. There is a BYOB policy until Clementine gets a liquor license. There will be a $5 corkage for wine, beer ( by the six-pack) and hard alcohol. Clementine will offer yummy non-alcoholic drinks (many house made), espresso and Zeke's coffee. The owners are baking their own muffins and mixing their own cream cheeses for bagels. Lunch options include entrees and great out of the ordinary sandwiches. The number is 410-444-1497.

 

" Hamilton Bizarre" Arts & Crafts Bazaar will take place Saturday, May 3, 2008, from 9 a.m. until noon at St. Dominic's Church parking lot, 5300 Harford Road. It is part of the Hamilton Art Crawl 2008, and it will showcase crafty items, merchandise, and artworks.  In the event of rain, the event will be held in the second floor hall of Faith Community Church, 5315 Harford Road.  Spaces are available for $25.  Artists, residents and vendors are eligible to participate.  For more information, and to register, visit www.hamiltonarts.org/crawl, or e-mail Annie Howe at demarisannhowe@gmail.com.

 

The Department of Transportation is hosting a public informational meeting on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. regarding the rehabilitation of the Argonne Drive Bridge. This public meeting will present design schematics for community review and input. Information will also be presented regarding traffic configuration during construction, and the construction timeline. It will be at the Ray of Hope Baptist Church – 3000 Parkside Drive (use lower entrance). For more information please contact either Lorrie Schoettler at 410-444-9188 or Gabriel Gaines at 443-984-4095.

 

The LIA is encouraging anyone who can to attend the City Council Hearing on Wednesday, May 7 at 5pm. The council will be discussing Group Home Bill 07-002. If this bill is passed it would remove a requirement that community input be taken when any more than four unrelated individuals are to be housed in a single-family home. It would allow a single-family home to house up to 15 unrelated individuals with not only no input from the neighborhood, but no notification of which houses are being occupied in this way. The proposed Zoning change would allow the density of group homes of all kinds (including student housing) to go up to 15 persons per home with no oversight by the neighboring residents. When you look at the data on how much space the average American lives in - 1800 sq. feet, 2.6 per household (2000 census) - having up to 15 persons per household crams the disabled clients into only 17% of the amount of space that the average US resident lives in. The idea that this is healthy and safe is driven by the promise of profit to the operators of these group homes. State regulation and enforcement of existing homes is already severely lacking.

Opposition to this bill is as much in the interests of the disabled, elderly and recovering clients of these homes as it is in the interest of the surrounding community.

The hearing takes place in Council Chambers which is located in the DuBurns Council Chamber on the 4th floor of City Hall. Whether or not you are able to attend, please contact your councilperson and ask them to oppose this misguided piece of legislation. Many councilmembers are under the impression (being put forth by the business interests which would benefit from the ability to set up more group homes - which are BUSINESSES) that current zoning regulations violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. The council members are being told they need to change this zoning law in order to avoid potential litigation on behalf of persons with disabilities. But a recent U.S. Court of Appeals ruling concluded that this area of law is still highly contested. The consequences of changing this zoning law now are much more real and dire than the consequences of waiting for a definitive answer from the courts.

 

HARBEL will be having its annual flea market on Saturday, May 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the front lawn at 5807 Harford Road. There will be great fleas, flowers, and food (baked goods) – Pick up a gift for Mother's Day!   Donations of baked goods and fleas are appreciated.  Spaces are $20 each.  To reserve a space call Nancy at 410-444-2100.

 

As part of the Baltimore Festival of Maps (March 16 - June 8, 2008), The Walters Art Museum.s Maps: Finding Our Place in the World exhibition will feature neighborhood maps made by residents through workshops organized by Art on Purpose. These artistic map-making workshops were held in the fall of 2007 with youth and adults from 23 different Baltimore communities. Come celebrate community artwork and see the artistic map created in and about Hamilton Hills/Lauraville. This map will be on display at the Walters from May 21st to 25th. For more information please visit www.artonpurpose.org or call (410) 243-4750.

A Reception & Community Event for Lauraville's map will take place on May 23, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. In addition to viewing the map and meeting neighbors, workshops will be offered by the Community Law Center on how to avoid mortgage fraud and prevent real estate scams from destroying your community. The reception is free and open to the public. Ride the bus to the reception on May 23rd for free from Faith Community U.M. Church (5315 Harford Rd), but reservations are required! To reserve a seat contact: Annette Jones-Wilson, 410-254-3245 or claytomatoes@comcast.net or Emily Slaughter at 410-243-4750 or eslaughter@artonpurpose.org.

 

The Donovan Fund Film Series

Saturday, May 17th - I Remember Mama (1948), with Irene Dunn, in Honor of Mother's Day

Saturday, June 14th - Destry Rides Again (1939), with Jimmy Stewart, in Honor of Father's Day 

Saturday, July 12th - King of Hearts (1966), with Alan Bates, for Bastille Day 

Film discusssion facilitated by Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Assistant Professor, Film, Video & Theatre Dept., Villa Julie College

All films begin at 7 p.m. at Rock Candy Theater, 4321 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214. Tickets must be reserved in advanced. There is a suggested donation of $10/person. To purchase, please call: Chris Muldowney, 410-366-1980 x271, or e-mail cmuldowney@fcsmd.org. Proceeds will benefit the Donovan Fund, which assists medically fragile Baltimore City seniors with fixed incomes. The fund helps Seniors pay BGE bills and purchase much needed items such as mattresses, air conditioners, hearing aids, and medical equipment.

 

Friends Of Herring Run Park -

A Committee of the Herring Run Watershed Association – Adventure Outings has some exciting adventures planned.  Each adventure/outing will be about 2 hours. Recommendations and suggestions are welcomed. All outings and adventures are at your own risk. Please dress according to the weather of the day of the activity. Always wear closed-toed shoes and carry drinking water no matter the weather.  All times and distances are estimated. Please register before the outing by email to parkrangerlady@gmail.com or for more information please contact Molly Gallant at 410-448-5663 ext 128. Please call for directions or with any questions.

 

Friday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a walking tour of Morgan State University. See historic buildings and learn to navigate the Campus. Discover bridges, ponds and connections to Lake Montebello. This walk is ranked "Medium." Please meet at The Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering Complex located off of Hillen Road.

 

Saturday May 12the Friends plan a "Hard" bike ride, departing from Lake Montebello near the playground. The ride will go to 895 through the park. It features a combination of paved trail, sand/dirt trail, and street riding. Bring your patch kit and a spare tube. This round trip adventure is about 8 miles. It is not recommended for people under age 10.

 

There will also be an "Easy" bike ride around the lake at the same time, with possible bikes to rent. It's 1.3 miles around the lake.

 

Saturday, May 17 there will be an "Easy" exploration of the lower portion of Herring Run Park beginning at 10 a.m. Meet at Sinclair Lane and Shannon Drive. A stream crossing and dirt trails are expected.  This will be about a 3 mile walk.  It is not recommended for people under 10.  Friendly dogs on leashes are welcome. 

 

The Greater Lauraville Home and Garden Tour will take place Sunday, June 8 from 1-5 p.m. Tour begins at the Greater Lauraville office at 3009 Montebello Terrace. Tickets $7.50/adult, children under 15 are free. Call 410-444-9188 for more information.

 

The Lauraville Improvement Association Summer Potluck will take place Tuesday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m.

 

The Greater Lauraville Parade and Fair will be September 27, 2008.