RRLR Neighborhood News Spring 2008
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Neighborhood NEWS Spring 2008 Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Improvement Association Cleaner Water on the Way by Ty Ford on Bellona Avenue from Brightside Road to Ruxton INSIDE Tuberculation—what a nasty-looking word! As water Road in the 1920s will be taken out of service. Water President’s passes through cast iron pipes on its way to our will flow through a newer 16” line installed on the Corner faucets, minerals and other substances react with other side of Bellona in 1969. the iron in the pipes. Over time these chemical According to John Hohider, vice president at Page 2 reactions result in a buildup on the interior surface Heitkamp, the company contracted to do the work, Holiday Party of the pipes called tuberculation. Reduced water the five-phase project will begin when the weather flow, strange looking, smelling or odd tasting water warms enough that water will not freeze in the in the Woods from the tap is the consequence. temporary above-ground bypass pipes. The project Page 3 Speed Cameras in Maryland Page 4 State Roads Projects Update Page 7 Cranes Flying in Towson Page 10 A Tree Falls in Riderwood will move from neighborhood to neighborhood until Several years ago, based on what was coming out of Page 13 the taps in our home on Ruxway Road, I was amazed October. Each phase will take four to six weeks. Each to hear about the move to sell bottles of Baltimore household will receive a notice which includes a Falls Road and water to tourists at shops in the Inner Harbor. They telephone number to call for questions or to report Bare Hills Past were obviously getting their water from a different leaks. Neighbors are asked to keep an eye out for and Future tap than mine, even though we are all part of the problems and report them as soon as possible. Page 14 same Baltimore City water system. According to Mike Mazurek, Engineer III and Project We had become so dissatisfied with the quality of Engineer for Baltimore County, the $1.2 million Notes from a our water that we installed one of those filters that project in our neighborhoods is part of $12 million Lazy Gardener that Baltimore County spends every two years to screws onto a faucet. We went through three of Page 15 them. The next step was a larger under-the-sink maintain the County water supply. filter. That worked for me. No weird odors, particles, Mazurek said water mains on Boyce, Carrollton, Emergency or nasty taste. I could now enjoy a glass of water Greenwood and Overbrook were cleaned and lined in Preparedness from the tap. 2006. Targeted for this new pass of cleaning and Begins With You But a cure is coming for many RRLRAIA lining are mains installed between 1925 and 1955. neighborhoods–a quintuple bypass beginning this Those lines serve homes on Ruxway, Springway, Page 19 spring. Five neighborhoods will have their water- Ballston, Roldrew, Willow, Maple, Roland, Old Orchard bearing arteries reamed out and lined with cement, and a short section of Ellenham. Mains east of preventing future tuberculation from compromising our water supply. In addition, the 10” pipe installed Continued on page 13 Ruxton-Riderwood- President’s Corner Lake Roland Neighborhood NEWS Dear Association Members, proposed expansion of the surface parking lot serving the Home and Hospital School on Spring 2008 I would like to take a moment to wish Copper Hill Road. The parking lot expansion everyone a belated happy and healthy 2008 was intended to address current and future before diving into what has already been a Table of Contents parking challenges faced by park patrons. very busy year for the Association board. 1 Cleaner Water on the Way While most residents are familiar with the 2 President’s Corner The Association board is addressing a myriad park’s current parking challenges, many did 3 Holiday Party in the Woods of issues in the Falls Road corridor. Old not know that the County had entered into 4 Speed Cameras Introduced issues like traffic congestion and pedestrian negotiations with Baltimore City to take over 5 Senior Living Options safety are familiar to most Association park management, which would include 6 Dripping With Facts members, while other issues like significant capital improvement projects that 7 State Roads Project Updates environmental mismanagement, requests for would exacerbate already stressed parking 8 Home Sales in Ruxton / commercial rezoning, and a possible Riderwood / Lake Roland conditions. agreement to transfer the 9 Grecian Shrimp After a great deal of management of Robert E. Lee Salad Recipe research, discussion, and 10 Cranes Flying in Towson Park from Baltimore City to debate on this issue, 11 Towson Happenings Baltimore County may the Association board 11 Every Vote Counts not be on everyone’s voted to support the 12 In Memoriam: radar. Ruxton Service Center County’s plan and Owner David Bowerman Given the breadth of issued a letter 13 A Tree Falls in Riderwood issues present in the (copy enclosed) 14 Falls Road and Bare Hills Past Falls Road corridor and which highlighted and Future the many City, County, 15 Notes from a Lazy the County’s Gardener on Composting and State agencies commitment to 17 Enjoy a Spring Walk in involved in resolving schedule community Robert E. Lee Park these issues, the input meetings prior to 17 Project Clean Stream likelihood of coordinated commencing construction 17 Sediment to Be Removed and integrated solutions from Roland Run of the new parking lot. seemed extremely small. 18 Brochure Stirs Interest Since that time, Baltimore in History Therefore, the Association board, after County officials, including 19 Emergency Preparedness conferring with Association members and Councilman Kamenetz and representatives of Begins with You County planning officials, has decided to ask County Executive Smith’s office, have County Executive Jim Smith and Councilman reiterated their intention to hold community Kevin Kamenetz to consider creating a input meetings and have expanded the Board of Directors special Falls Road planning district to agenda to include a comprehensive master President – Fran Anderson address growth issues in an integrated and plan for park improvements. Unfortunately, 1st VP – Kris Culp 2nd VP – Elyse Jacob comprehensive fashion. The proposed just prior to going to press with this Treasurer – Julie D’Ambrogi planning district would be a tool to insure newsletter, I was informed that the County Secretary – Judy Wright future commercial and residential has delayed scheduling these meetings from Steven Allen development that would preserve the rural February until after further environmental Daniel Baird nature of this scenic byway. due diligence is completed this summer. Martha Bishai Jeffrey Budnitz In closing, I would like to elaborate on one Fran Anderson, President Linda Eisenbrandt of the issues I mentioned above. In Barbara Guarnieri September of last year, several residents Louise Hildreth Fred Hudson living near Robert E. Lee Park brought to the David Meese board’s attention Baltimore County’s Bliss McCord Helga Morrow Scott Murphy Kathy Palencar Neighborhood NEWS is published quarterly by the Ruxton- Nancy Worden Horst – Editor Newsletter Committee: Beth Purvis Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Improvement Association, Inc., Julie D'Ambrogi - Advertising Kimberly Warren – Chair Kent Walker P.O. Box 204, Riderwood, MD 21139 Tel: (410) 494-7757 Graphic Production - Candice Dalrymple Kimberly Warren DesignConcept Barbara Guarnieri Nettie Washburn Deadlines for copy, including announcements and calendar items, are February 1st for Spring issue, May 1st for Summer Printer - Devilbiss Printing Mary Sue McCarthy Tom Weadock issue, August 1st for Fall issue, and November 1st for Winter Bliss McCord Ande Williams issue. Advertisers contact: [email protected] Nettie Washburn Executive Director, Peggy Squitieri 2 Holiday Party in the Woods The weather gods smiled on December 15th and made 2007 a great year to attend the Holiday Party in the Woods. Fortunately, the forecasted snow held off that late afternoon as mittened children, holding tightly to their parents’ hands, followed the winding, lantern- lit path through the woods. Emerging at a clearing at the old rugby field off Bellona Avenue, they joined approximately 125 of their neighbors around a blazing bonfire, sharing holiday high spirits and warming themselves with cocoa and hotdogs. As children young and old speared and roasted marshmallows on sticks over fire pits, the wail of a fire truck siren was heard, heralding the arrival of Santa, who, in spite of his busy schedule, couldn’t resist a good party and took a few minutes to visit with the children and sing carols. This year’s party was such a success thanks to the efforts of many volunteers, among them Beth Purvis, who chaired the event, and her Below, board members Judy Wright, Bliss McCord, and Julie D’Ambrogi prepare hotdogs. Photos courtesy Beth Purvis. committee: Julie D’Ambrogi, Judy Wright, Ande Williams, Bliss wishes to thank Graul’s Market and The Daily Grind for their McCord, Nettie Washburn, Ted Root, Owen Knott, Peter Gerard, generous contributions of refreshments. Tom Mooney, Jamie Cahn, Mark McGrath, Scott Murphy, Tom Weadock, Toby Noyes and Chuck Curlett. RRLRAIA especially 3 neighborhoods. Local officials, in conjunction with a citizens Speed Cameras committee, selected the sites. Thirty fixed cameras have been slowly implemented in additional locations. These locations are Introduced in Maryland posted on the Montgomery County website. Implementation has been slow due to the need to coordinate some locations with the by Heidi Frank Maryland State Highway Administration. Speeding cars and trucks are a real problem on our Citations are issued for vehicles driving at least 11 miles narrow, rural roads. During the current session of the over the posted speed limit. Fines are $40, carry no Maryland General Assembly legislation has been points, and can be disputed in court.