Federal Hillsider The Monthly Newsletter of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association April 2013 A Few Important Updates By Eric Costello I hope that everyone is enjoying this plan available for public comment in spring weather and March Madness as the May / June time frame. well as getting ready for the Orioles to Grants Committee—there is a ton of take the field. There are a couple things money out there that we could be uti- I’d like to share with everyone on what lizing to help improve our neighbor- FHNA has been up to. Moving forward, One Piece South hood. We are considering creating a on an ad-hoc basis, in lieu of a Presi- Grants Committee to help supplement dent’s Letter, I will be providing some Baltimore Starts Off many of our efforts, such as the revi- important updates, similar to the ones talization of Robert Baker Park, the at Digital Harbor below. Community Garden effort at DHHS, High Community All-Stars—We see them Federal Hill Thinking Green, and in- each day in our neighborhood. They are stallation of more trash receptacles Before the folks that organize socials, the peo- and bike racks. If you have experience ple who help with block cleanups, the researching and / or writing grants, and neighbors who are always there to lend you have a few hours to contribute to a helping hand. We live in a great neigh- the neighborhood, please contact me borhood and we think it’s important to at [email protected]. recognize these individuals’ selfless acts Review of FHNA’s Finances—We of volunteerism throughout Federal Hill. conducted a review of FHNA’s financ- Moving forward, each month the Hillsid- es in early 2012, at the request of sev- er will profile one of these all-stars and eral neighbors. I am pleased to report all that they do to make our community that we found no instances of fraud or After the best in Baltimore. This month we criminal activity in the books. This re- will be starting off with Kathie McCles- view was a difficult task, as we were key, who, sadly, will be moving on to the provided virtually no records when next chapter in her life out in Chicago. we started in December 2011 and only Safe travels, Kathie, you will be greatly hard copy records from our previous missed. And don’t be a stranger! bank. Special thanks goes out to Lam- FHNA’s Strategic Direction—We have berto Camacho, Claire Bogdanski, heard from a lot of neighbors asking and Gayle McClure for making sure about what is the direction of the neigh- that FHNA has a clean bill of financial borhood and what is the FHNA Board health. In an effort to be even more doing to promote that direction. We have transparent, we will continue to pro- The Team developed two plans in the past: a 55-day vide a high-level Treasurer’s report plan in early 2012, and a 7-month plan at each General Membership meet- in summer 2012. We are back at it again ing and highly detailed reports at our and are currently working on a 1-year monthly Board meetings, which are plan for how FHNA’s volunteer efforts open to everyone. Questions or con- can continue to contribute to ensuring cerns can be directed to our Treasurer, that Federal Hill is the best neighbor- Gayle McClure, at GayleFHNA@ hood in the city. The goal is to have this gmail.com. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 2 INFORMATION PAGE FHNA Committees Consider Getting Involved
Please contact any of the Board members listed nearby and express your interest. You will be welcomed. Federal Hill Neighborhood Association Board of Directors Beautification/Green: Walt Saxon Block Captains: Open Officers Business Affairs: Jody Martin President: Eric Costello 410.528.1514 Hillsider: Jeannie Malkiewicz Vice President: Lamberto Camacho 202.607.1581 Gayle McClure Treasurer: Gayle McClure 410.230.9419 Bob O’Donoghue Secretary: Bob Merbler 443.629.0162 Ginny Gerhart Nicole Quinn Board Members at Large Liquor/Live entertainment Keenan Dworak-Fisher Board Member: Bob O’Donoghue 410.783.0174 Membership: Eric Costello Board Member: Ginny Gerhart 443.271.3218 Bob Merbler Board Member: Jody Martin 410.332.0539 Parking: Eric Costello Board Member Jennifer Nelson 410.727.0384 Preservation: John Thompson Board Member Mellisa Colimore 443.743.9290 Public Safety: Mellisa Colimore Schools Liaison: Jessica Damen Social: Nicole Quinn Bulk Item Pick Up Paul Quinn You may place up to three items out for collection. One day per Technology: Jennifer Nelson month is set aside for this collection. All citizens have to do is call Trees Rich Polan 311 and give the following information: Your address Your telephone # What 3 items Call 3 or more working days before your scheduled date. If you do not know your day, please call 311. Debris, Bulk Trash, Recycling & You may also schedule a collection at 311 Online. eCycling Drop-off Location: Western Sanitation Yard 701 Reedbird Avenue, 410-396-3367, To Request City Services Mon. – Sat., 9 am – 5 pm (Labor Day/Memorial Day) Call 311 6am to 10pm & 9 am – 7 pm (Memorial Day/Labor Day) or Online 24 hours at For additional locations go to: baltimorecity.gov/Government/ www.baltimore.customerservicerequest.org AgenciesDepartments/PublicWorks/BureauofSolidWaste
Recycling and Trash Schedule: Set out by 6 a.m. Trash on Wednesday (in cans with tight-fitting lids) Recycling on Friday REMINDER!! Please put your recyclable materials in paper bags, cardboard boxes, City recycle bins or any container clearly marked “recycle”; at the same location as your regular trash. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS. With single stream recycling, we send our materials to a processing facility which uses an automated system to sort and bale recyclables. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 3 Block Captain List BATTERY: 800 bl. Battery Ave., Andrew Gellene,[email protected] CHARLES: 700 bl. S. Charles St., Betsy Smith, [email protected] 800 bl. S. Charles St.(East Side), Bob O’Donoghue, [email protected] 800 bl. S. Charles St. (West Side), Robert Bennett, [email protected] 911 S. Charles (Henrietta Square), Mellisa Colimore, [email protected] CHURCHILL: Unit bl. E. Churchill, Andrew Swanston, 410-244-8541 100 bl. E. Churchill, Debra Nelson, [email protected] 200 bl. E. Churchill, Andrew Gellene, [email protected] Unit bl. W. Churchill, Robert Bennett, [email protected] COMPTON: 900 bl. Compton St., Valerie Woolston, [email protected] COVINGTON: 900 & 1000 bl. E. Covington St., Gary Ly, [email protected] CROSS: 100 bl. E. Cross St., Dave and Judy Dadds, [email protected] 200 & 300 bl. E. Cross St., Doug and Jill Forbes, [email protected] 400 bl. E. Cross St., Navah Langmeyer, 410-837-6470 100 bl. of W. Cross St. (North side), Ashley Pescrille; [email protected]; 410-244-4810 GRINDALL: 200 bl. Grindall (South side), Brynn Matkoski; [email protected]; 410-340-4706; Twitter: @Grindall_St 400 bl. Grindall, Michelle Li and Michael Lors, [email protected] GRINDALL’S YARD: Randee Askin, [email protected] HAMBURG: Unit bl. E. Hamburg St., Nancy Baum, [email protected] 100 bl. E. Hamburg St., Valerie Woolston, [email protected] 300 & 400 bl. E. Hamburg St., Michael Moriarty, [email protected] HANOVER: 700 bl. S. Hanover St.(between W. Hughes and W. Montgomery), Tony Raneri, Tonyhoya@ comcast.net 800 bl. S. Hanover St. (East side), Robert Bennett, [email protected] 900 & 1000 bl. S. Hanover St. (East side), Ashley Pescrille; [email protected]; 410-244-4810 HARDEN Unit bl. Harden Ct., Jon Paul Mathieu, [email protected] HENRIETTA: Unit bl. E. Henrietta St., Michelle Mills, [email protected] Unit bl. W. Henrietta St., Robert Bennett, [email protected] HENRIETTA SQUARE: Monthly C.O.P. Walk Mellisa Colimore, [email protected] HUGHES: Unit bl. E. Hughes St., Rich Polan, [email protected] Unit bl. W. Hughes St., Betsy Smith, [email protected] LANASA LANE: Thursday, April 25th, Randee Askin, [email protected] LIGHT: 7 p.m. 700 bl. Light St., Rich Polan, [email protected] 800 & 900 bl. Light St., Richard Kaminski 1000 bl. Light St., Nancy Baum, [email protected] Meet in front of Porter’s MONTGOMERY: Unit bl. W. Montgomery St., Betsy Smith, [email protected] at the corner of Riverside Unit bl. E. Montgomery St., Bob O’Donoghue, [email protected] 100 bl. E. Montgomery St., Walt Saxon, 410-703-9133 200 bl. E. Montgomery St., Susan Bridges, [email protected] Avenue and Cross Street MONTGOMERY SQUARE: Robert Bennett, [email protected] OLIVE: Unit bl. Olive St., Ashley Pescrille; [email protected]; 410-244-4810 PATAPSCO: Unit bl. Patapsco St., Patti Sumner, [email protected] Looking for Something POULTNEY: Unit bl. Poultney St., Martin Christensen, [email protected] from a Previous Edition of RIVERSIDE: 1000 bl. Riverside, Guy Quallich and Betsy Royal, [email protected] WARREN: The Hillsider? 100 bl. Warren, Virginia Becker 200 bl. Warren (North side), Alley Firey, [email protected]; 410-812-0600 201 Warren Apts., Virginia Becker Every issue from the past year is available 301 Warren, Harbor Hill Apts., Richard Kaminski 300 & 400 bl. Warren, John Rehmert, 410-752-5399 online (in color too). WILLIAM: Just go to FederalHillBaltimore.org 700 bl. William St., Walt Saxon, 410-703-9133 800 bl. William St., Debra Nelson, [email protected] and click on 900 bl. William St., Valerie Woolston, [email protected] 1000 bl. William St., Brynn Matkoski; [email protected]; 410-340-4706; Twitter: @ “The Hillsider.” Grindall_St WHEELING: Unit bl. E. Wheeling St., Jon Paul Mathieu, [email protected] April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 4 Upcoming Events compiled by Nicole Quinn Friday, April 5: Orioles Home Opener, 3:05 p.m. April 11: FHNA Social–BINGO Night! Come join us at Stalking Horse on Thursday April 11 from 5:30 pm–8 pm to play some BINGO! Light food will be available. Drink specials and prizes for all the lucky Bingo winners. $5 to play. April 13: The 4th Annual DigiBall 4.0. The DigiBall Gala, hosted by Digital Harbor High School and the Digital Harbor Alliance Inc., is a highly energized party that unites the school with the technology community, business sector, and neighbor- hood. Proceeds go to college scholarships for DHHS students. Food, drinks, music, and silent auctions. Baltimore Museum of Industry, 7 pm–11 pm - Tickets $75. April 18 - Third Thursdays of Federal Hill - Shop, eat and enjoy galleries, shops, and restaurants from 6-8pm. Enjoy a Wine & Cheese tasting at Big Jim’s in Cross Street Market from 5-7 pm. Be sure to get your Shop & Dine card and you can receive 10% off that night at participating restaurants. April 20 - Baltimore City/Federal Hill Clean Up Day - See page 23 of this Hillsider for details. April 25: The Baltimore Station will host its 21st Annual Homerun for Recovery fundraiser at Nick’s Seafood at Cross Street Market on Thursday, April 25, 2013. The popular event raises funds to support The Baltimore Station’s mission of providing rehabilitation services in a therapeutic residential setting to homeless men, mostly veterans, who are battling addiction. Hot & cold buffet, Nick’s famous raw bar, local wines and micro brews, great music, and live and silent auctions. All proceeds benefit The Baltimore Station. 6 pm - 9:30 pm. Tickets cost $65 in advance and $75 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at: www.baltimorestation.org. For more information, call 410-752-4454 ext. 207, or email [email protected]. April 27: Ravens Spring Football Festival. @ M&T Bank stadium, 12 noon. Tickets $25 April 27: The 5th Annual Charm City Fashion Show. Be sure to mark your calendars for an eclectic night of Fashion, Art & Music at Mother's on the Alley. We will be transforming Mother's into a sexy, provocative, titillating lounge with a runway & beautiful people. Will feature original clothing designers, boutiques, music, and art. VIP tickets $30/$40. Early Bird General Admission will be $10. Prices will increase closer to the event. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Woman of the Year Nominee Stephanie Clarkson for Lymphoma & Leukemia and Believe in Music Foundation. May 4: 15th Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. All-Day Race kicks off at 10 am! FREE for spectators! American Visionary Art Museum's annual race of wacky, imaginative, TOTALLY HUMAN-POWERED WORKS OF ART, DESIGNED TO TRAVEL ON LAND, THROUGH MUD, AND OVER DEEP HARBOR WATERS, constructed out of used bicycles, gears, and parts, created by lunatic geniuses who tinker around in the garage or backyard. Race starts behind AVAM on the north end of Covington St.
Message from the Liquor Committee’s New Chair
Hello. My name is Keenan Dworak-Fisher, and I am the new Chair of FHNA’s Liquor / Live Entertainment (L/LE) Com- mittee. This committee’s role is to help represent the interests of neighborhood residents in matters relating to the bars in our neighborhood, including those providing live entertainment. The bars operate under the oversight of various city and state agencies, with licenses describing the special activities they are allowed to perform. The agencies, in turn, look to local neighborhood associations to help inform them about neighborhood impacts. Our goals in this committee include playing an effective role in such interactions with oversight agencies and working directly with the bars to troubleshoot potential problem areas and promote practices that benefit the community.
Currently, the L/LE Committee is spending a lot of time collecting information. We’ve been in contact with other com- munity associations about their best practices, and we’ve been developing background information about the bars in our neighborhood—including, for example, recording what different privileges each specific license entails. As we do this, we are developing policies that we can use going forward to make sure that we can proceed in a fair and efficient manner. One further item that we’d like to build up as we go along is a catalog of personal interactions with the bars: how do they affect you as members of the community? Ultimately, these are the experiences we need to communicate to the relevant parties. So, please, if you have a minute, send me an email with any feedback you can share to: [email protected]. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 5 Saving you money is just the rst way we can help your business thrive. With Susquehanna Bank, you’ll establish a relationship beyond bank transactions. You’ll work with an individual who gets to know you and your business and can recommend the optimum banking solutions to meet your goal. If you share our belief that “every dollar counts,” let’s talk. Call 410.659.0800 or stop in to the branch at 215 Key Highway, Baltimore MD 21230 to start your business relationship with us.
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© 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank. MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058. 1954 Greenspring Drive, Suite 625, Timonium, Maryland 21093. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 6 Art in Vacant Storefronts By Ann Wiker / Art Exposure Have you noticed that some of our vacant storefronts in Since 2000, the Art Exposure venues have increased to in- Federal Hill are looking more artsy? Are you glad to see clude lobbies of office buildings, theatres, law firms, hotels, the brown paper gone from the windows and the vacancies cafes, and restaurants and medical, residential, and academ- appear more active? My organization, Art Exposure Inc., re- ic buildings. The artwork is rotated on a four- to eight-week cently received an Abel Foundation grant through the Fed- basis and is offered for sale. The program started with nine eral Hill Main Street Association to pay for art exhibits in artists and five venues. To date, more than 70 artists and 40 three local storefronts. The art will be changed on a regular venues participate throughout Baltimore, Frederick, Annap- basis. The hope is that these exhibits will improve the ap- olis, D.C., and Virginia. It is hoped that the artistic works pearance of storefronts while they are vacant. The exhibits encourage passers-by to appreciate the work of local artists also offer an opportunity to local artists to sell their work and to consider the role of art in everyday life. The audi- and gain exposure. Often the storefronts get more attention ence for these exhibits includes tourists, employees, and with the art exhibits in place, helping the spaces to be sold residents. Art Exposure also now assists artists in marketing or rented, which is a benefit for the neighborhood. their artwork through publicity packages, legal seminars, and workshops on professional development. Art Exposure Inc. was created in July 2000 when I ap- proached the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) In addition to helping artists learn the skill of selling art, Art to ask if I could put local artists’ work in vacant storefronts Exposure Inc. wants to incorporate art into the daily lives along Charles Street. The DPOB connected me with the ap- of more people and to make the art-buying experience less propriate building managers and business owners to gain intimidating. When you notice a piece of art in a window their permission, and I piggybacked the first exhibits of art- everyday, deciding if you like the art becomes a natural re- work onto DPOB’s First Thursday events. Grants from the active process: you’re able to view the art at your leisure Maryland State Arts Council and the Baltimore Office of without expectation for immediate feedback. Also, the ac- Promotion and the Arts paid the costs of display equipment tual sales transaction takes place in the venue where the art and the time spent on installations and removals. Building is hung, so the purchasing is informal. For many first-time managers who were not participating asked how they could art buyers, this low-key atmosphere makes art buying an take part. I reached out to more artists to become “members” enjoyable experience. of Art Exposure Inc. and created an application package to Art Exposure has exhibited art in the windows of the CVS ensure that the artwork would be professionally presented Pharmacy on S. Charles Street for years. Now there are and conservative enough for corporate settings. What I had exhibits at 1117 and at 1124 Light Street as well. A fourth thought was going to be a short-term project turned into an venue in Federal Hill is coming soon. For more informa- ongoing program and eventually an incorporated business. tion, visit www.artexposureinc.com
Harold Pinter’s Play, So Bo Got Talent?
The Caretaker, to Run in April and May Waiting for your chance to shine? Show your stuff at the first annual South Performance Workshop Theatre presents The Caretaker, Harold Pinter’s clas- Baltimore talent show, sponsored by sic 1960’s play. A homeless man is invited by two working-class brothers to Riverside Stage and Salem Lutheran stay in their dilapidated London flat, setting in motion a tug-of-war between Church. Performers of any sort, visual domination and dependence, shifting treacheries, and emotional camouflage in artists in any media, here's your spotlight. an atmosphere of threat, mystery, and delusion. The Caretaker’s hilarious and Unusual, imaginative, silly, or just plain wildly terrifying sequence of events have made Pinter’s breakthrough play a weird talents especially encouraged. Fun, worldwide hit. Opening on April 19 and running through May 19. fame, and prizes in many categories, for all ages. Proceeds to benefit the Performance dates: April 19–21, 25–28; May 2–5, 9–12, 16–19. South Baltimore Emergency Relief Showtimes: 8 PM, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and 3 PM on Sun- Fund (SoBER). Email riversidestage@ days. gmail.com for details and to request an Tickets: $22 general admission; $15 for students with proper I.D. Purchase application. The show will be scheduled by phoning the theatre at 410.659.7830 or online at www.performancework- for Saturday evening, June 1. This could shoptheatre.org. be your big break! Address: 5426 Harford Road in Hamilton, Baltimore. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 7 Community All*Stars - Kathie McCleskey By Walt Saxon
We would like to send a big shout-out of thanks and good luck to neighbor Kathie McCleskey who is moving to Chicago as we go to press. Pictured here is Kathie hamming it up with Rob Dickerson, Hillsider printer and FHNA friend.
Since moving here in 2004, Kathie has been tirelessly volunteering her efforts to, and around, Federal Hill. In 2005, she and neighbor Claire Bogdanski started the Federal Hill Garden Club. She took on the position of Beautification Committee Chair for many years, stepping down when her travel schedule frequently kept her out of the country, but stayed an active member until her last moving box was packed.
Along with other neighbors, Kathie spearheaded the efforts to clean and maintain Robert Baker Park. Over the years, she worked with several local church groups and City Services, coordinating the on- going program to weed, mulch, and plant around the Park and we are all the benefactors of her efforts.
Kathie was also one of the founding members of the Baltimore chapter of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in 2010 and was one of the original members of the (neighborhood) Loop. She has been a frequent contributor to the Hillsider, and helped with many other FHNA activities including holiday parties for seniors, the Tree Lighting, and various other neighborhood projects.
Kathie—we miss you already! Good luck in your new city. Our loss is their gain.
Patronize Our Advertisers FHNA General The Federal Hillsider is created Membership Meeting and distributed completely by THAI YUM volunteers. The advertisers Tuesday, April 16th, “Baltimore’s Best you see on these pages provide Thai Restaurant” nearly all of the revenue for the 7 pm, Christ Lutheran Baltimore Sun, Oct., 2010 neighborhood association. In Church addition, every dollar in excess www.thaiyum.com of printing and distribution 1006 Light St., Federal Hill expenses goes back into your community. 410.528.2146 April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 8 Meet the Market (Cross Street that is!) Part One by Jeannie Malkiewicz We’d like to introduce you to some of the vendors of the Cross Street Market. I asked them each to tell you a few of their most popular or well-known items and their “hidden gem” – something you may not know about. Hope you find what you’re looking for!
Beauty Zone: 410-244-1552 Best Known for Jewelry and beauty items Hidden Gem: Caps/hats and sunglasses
Bruce Lee’s Wings: 410-837-6081 Best Known for Wings & Fat-ass Burger Hidden Gem: Pork Chops, BLTs
Cheese Galore & More: cheesegaloreandmore.com Best known for Try-before-you-buy and sliced to order cheese, homemade Asiago spread, California olive oil, roasted tomatoes, olives & other gourmet accoutrements, Zeke’s Coffee Hidden gem: Made-to-order paninis, gift baskets
Chicken Box: 410-727-7588 Best Known for Fried Chicken, Sweet & Spicy wings, shrimp and chicken salads Hidden Gem: Fried Mac & Cheese, corn nuggets, sweet potato fries. Great experience with catering - always ready for big or- ders
Cross Street Seafood: 410-727-7575 Best known for salmon, shrimp, rockfish and Chilean sea bass Hidden Gem: Local crabmeat and oysters
Fenwick Meats: 410-547-1777 Best known for high-quality steaks; boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pork, lamb & veal Hidden Gem: Homemade bratwurst and lunch meats, lottery tick- ets
Hot Corner Lees: 410-645-0241 www.hotcornerlees.com Best known for authentic Philly cheesesteak topped with home- made mac & cheese Hidden Gem: Daily seafood specials: fried fish subs, shrimp or crab cheesesteak, pit beef cheesesteak (Angus round slow-cooked on a charcoal grill with onions, bar-b-q sauce and horseradish) Mama’s One-Stop Bakery: Best known for Schmeer cheesecake, penny pies, whole grain and 12-grain breads, rolls and gourmet chocolates and mousse cake Hidden Gem: Chocolate-covered strawberries. We can accom- modate special or customized orders (additional time may be nec- essary)
Stay tuned next month for Part Two April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 9 Weight Control in Pets By Jill Shook, DVM, CityPets Veterinary Care & Wellness Some surveys have shown that about 40% of house- appropriate for age and weight, and portions should be hold dogs and cats are overweight, and about 5% are measured daily. Free-choice feeding is not recommend- considered obese. In fact, obesity is the most common ed. Treats should be healthy, like carrots, apples, green nutritional disorder of pets. Several factors can lead to beans, etc. (no grapes, raisins, onions, or avocado), and pets being overweight, including: not enough exercise, treats should be a very small portion of a pet’s daily ca- overfeeding in terms of portions and calories, and some loric intake. Exercise is very important, and most pets medical disorders like hypothyroidism seen in dogs. It are not getting the amount of exercise they really need. is also very common for pets to gain weight after being Most healthy adult dogs should be getting 40-60 minutes spayed or neutered. of true exercise per day. Good forms of exercise for dogs include fast-paced walking (walking a 15- to 20-minute It can be difficult to tell if pets are overweight and many mile), hiking trails with mild inclines, and jogging on people have preformed images in their head of what pets level surfaces. Cats should get 20-30 minutes of exercise should look like. Cats are a good example of this; people per day, divided into two or three 10-minute sessions. commonly assume that it is normal for cats to be heavy. Laser pointers, feather toys, and having them chase ob- Cats that are actually at ideal body weights are often jects are good ways to accomplish this. viewed by many as too thin. For both dogs and cats you should be able to feel, but not see, their ribs. When view- If you have questions about your pet’s weight, you should ing them from above, you should see a waist that is thin- consult your veterinarian. For more general information ner than their ribs or hips. When viewed from the side about nutrition, exercise, and weight control in pets you you should see a “tuck up” of the abdomen. Purina has a can visit the websites below. body-condition-scoring (BCS) chart commonly used by veterinarians. www.veterinarypartner.com www.purina.com In 2001 Purina published the results of a 14-year study that evaluated the effects of Saturday & Sunday Brunch food intake on body condition and certain house made bread & biscuits health parameters including overall life span. Forty-eight dogs were in the study; Pasta Mondays half were free fed for 15-minute daily feed- Music Tuesdays ings and the other half were fed 75% (lean jazz & acoustic fed) of the amount of their free-fed counter- part. Median life span was 1.8 years longer Wine Wednesdays in the dogs lean fed than the dogs free fed. tastings Dogs that were free fed also required treat- SoBo Hour @ the Bar ment for chronic conditions, such as arthri- Monday-Friday 5-7pm tis, 2.1 years earlier than lean-fed dogs.
Brunch: Saturday & Sunday Animals that are overweight, or obese, are 10:30 AM - 3 PM at a higher risk for several medical condi- Lunch: Monday - Friday tions including diabetes, joint disease, car- 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM diac disease, and worsening of arthritis and Dinner: Monday - Saturday certain respiratory disorders. It is ideal to 5 PM - 10 PM prevent pets from becoming overweight, Sunday and if a pet is already overweight, to start a 5 PM - 9 PM weight-loss program. It is important to feed 6 West Cross Street - Federal Hill pets balanced diets appropriate for their outdoor seating age and lifestyle. Food portions should be 410-752-1518 / www.sobocafe.net April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 10 Jones Family Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Jones Family Farms, located in Harford County, Maryland Also, count us as your headquarters for “burpless” cucumbers! (approximately 30 minutes North of Baltimore) is a 300- We have cultured several orange and yellow varieties acre vegetable and Christmas tree farm. For five farming of watermelon, as well as “honeylope,” a cross between generations, the Jones family has grown fresh produce, plants, cantaloupes and honeydews. Jones Family Farm also grows and flowers for the greater Baltimore and local surrounding Daikon radishes as a fall cover crop. Not only is this good Baltimore and Harford County communities. Farmer Jones is land stewardship, but the big crisp radishes are especially joined by his Master Gardener wife, Deborah, his daughters, good when harvested for oriental stir-fry recipes. And we grow Allison and June Ann, and his son, Reese. several varieties of eggplants, including Rosa (Italian), white, traditional purple, and finger eggplants, which are small and Know who’s growing your food… thin. We also harvest our own honey from the farm beehives, Now for the 4th year, we are offering an excellent value, our which is known to help reduce allergies to local plants. BUY LOCAL Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. In a nutshell, a CSA lets you contract for a weekly We have our own sweet corn-beginning in June-growing in the supply of delicious and nutritious vegetables picked daily by Harford County sunshine until the kernels are bursting with family members. Compared to most vegetables in the big box flavor—oh my, you will taste the difference, and what a treat stores—which may have been picked weeks ago while they it is! And homegrown Maryland Sassafras soil (categorized were still green—your CSA vegetables instead remain in the as prime productive farmland) tomatoes! Ah yes! Ever have a ground until they fully ripen. That means they contain the tomato sandwich? very best in terms of vitamins, minerals, and flavor and the time they are picked and you bring them to the table for your Jones Family Farm’s grows more than CSA farming is a win- family. Buy local on a $29 a week budget… win. Locally grown means you have better food for your family, and your financial investment stays in our community. It is not necessary to spend multiple dollars of your hard- Please check out our CSA program today, either online earned money on giving your family fresh local produce. By (jonesproducefarm.com), or call us at (410) 676-3709. NOTE: paying for your share ahead of the season, you are locking in Sign up now for 2013. Our program is ideal for you if you your weekly fruit and vegetable prices to feed your family. have ever been a part of a CSA and did not enjoy it because While you get a weekly supply of farm fresh vegetables you had too much produce you could not use. Remember, for your family, you will also know that you are helping an YOU are in charge of what produce you want for your family American farm family (us!) to better manage our resources. for the week. The CSA program allows you to purchase shares in advance of the season. We can then use those funds to purchase seed, fertilizers, or additional equipment needed to allow us to grow Neighbors Need Your Help! more delicious fresh vegetables. By Celine Plachez The downtown location of the Social Security Adminis- For only $29 a week, you can purchase a full share (8 items) tration (SSA) is closing their doors and relocating their and feed your family for the week. Also, what makes us unique offices to a new site. The on-site daycare center attached is that we provide CHOICE for your CSA share. YOU get to to this building (called Metrowest Daycare Center or chose what items you want for the week from the Baltimore Children’s Choice Learning Center, located at 300 North Museum of Industry Farmers market. Greene Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201) has notified parents and caregivers that they will likely close the Cen- Nothing matches the flavor and the nutritional value of fresh ter when SSA moves out. It’s an incredible facility that is picked, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Here at Jones centrally located, affordable, and NAEYC accredited, all Family Farm, we pick our vegetables at the very peak of of which were features that attracted the many families ripeness so you can enjoy the full goodness that happens only who live and/or work downtown. It has done a solid job of when a vegetable ripens on the plant. Throughout the growing preparing children for kindergarten, and many downtown season, our baskets and displays overflow with more than 40 families have benefited greatly from the Center. Working varieties of homegrown produce. We carry yellow tomatoes families need this daycare, so please help us to keep it in large, cherry or grape sizes for those who prefer less acidic open and sign the petition by going to the site below to tomatoes. We also carry an extensive selection of fresh picked remind political leaders how precious it is to have this “hot” peppers, from Jalapeno (a mild hot!) to Habanaro (a daycare in the area. super hot!) Our half-runner beans are a southern heirloom variety found exclusively at Jones Family Farm. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/917/495/352/petition-to- keep-metrowest-childcare-center-open/ April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 11
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Denise M. Markoff, DDS, FAGD 835 Light Street 410.561.6483 Baltimore, MD 21230 BaltimoreSedation.com FREE $100 OFF Sedation Consultation Comprehensive New Patient Visit New patients only. Value $110. Exp. 6/30/2013. Not valid with other New patients only. Exp. 6/30/2013. Not valid with other discounts. discounts. Used in conjunction with dental insurance. Does not include Used in conjunction with dental insurance. Federal Hill Smiles. exam and x-rays. Federal Hill Smiles. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 12
The Hill Street News by Jane Wehrle parking pad was demolished. I am KATHIE McCLESKEY and RAFAEL now told that either a theft—or the SAN JUAN just left my house a few legitimate removal—of a vehicle minutes ago. On Monday evening, from a parking pad was underway March 25, a group of Kathie’s friends the night of the loud noise, and the and associates gathered one last time fence was a casualty because of at THE HILL restaurant to raise a glass “inability to maneuver properly.” or two and to enjoy some great food As I said earlier, I’ll leave the lesson to mark her leaving Federal Hill for and conclusions up to you. exciting adventures in her new home in Chicago. Kathie will be living very close I’ve been delighted the past few to the heart of downtown and seems little months to learn a little more about intimidated by the prospect of colder JULES “SONNY” MORSTEIN, who has the needs—and the joys—of taking winter weather. That doesn’t surprise me served this area for several decades, was care of older dogs. One of my since she has tromped around the planet honored by the entire neighborhood with a mentors has been my new friend several times and lived in many different surprise thank-you party at spacious KEY EMILY CRANFORD, who has a cultures and climates. I had to include a TECH on Wednesday evening, March wonderful elder pet, GUINNESS. personal thank-you to her in this column. 20. Sneaky organizers from throughout Her love and care of this great She has been an invaluable personal and the residential, business, hospitality, and canine has become an inspiration professional friend and resource to me nonprofit sectors of the peninsula joined for me, and my husband Al and I during her residence in Baltimore. I guess forces to create an evening that was worthy are especially interested since we I am just going to have to trek back and of the wonderful man himself. Food, are the proud parents of 14-year- forth to Chicago to see her and Raf from music, a special “Sonny Theme Song,” old ESAU-DOG. I’ll be writing now on. She has taught me a lot. testimonials, great drinks, even a few tears, more about Guinness soon, but I and lots of cameras were part of the gala, especially wanted to highlight some as a multi-generational crowd let the long- facts that I now know, thanks to my time unofficial Mayor of SoBo know just new friends. This great pet, by the how much his efforts have meant to the way, was trained as a therapy dog, community. If you were unable to be there and came into Emily’s life through that night, be sure to drop by MORSTEIN’s an adoption after a death related to JEWELERS at 1114 Light Street to extend the 9/11 tragedy. First, Guinness is your own personal thank-you message. As 14 years old too and has both sight always, Sonny will be very glad to see you. and mobility challenges. Many other Mr. Morstein, thank you for all you have dogs—and persons—do too, so I done and continue to do for Federal Hill- urge impatient motorists to consider SoBo. such possibilities when pets and their caretakers move a little slowly across On to some alley-related news: There is the street. Besides, pedestrians have a lesson in here somewhere that I will the right-of-way. Also, be sure to leave for you to determine. I am, as most keep your older pet hydrated, as she of you know, a true night owl, possibly may not drink as often as she once part vampire. Recently I was startled by did on her own. Present that water loud demolition noises in a nearby alley often as a “temptation.” Exercise at approximately 2:15 AM. Police cars and opportunities for healthy play very soon arrived, and my curiosity could are especially important at this age take no more, especially when Baltimore’s too. And, of course, provide more Finest began to give assertive instructions potty breaks if necessary, with to persons unseen. When I opened the door shorter, more frequent walks. This is with an inquiry, one male and one female a great time in your pet’s life to give cop assured me that at that point there was back all that unconditional love that no reason for concern, and I took them at your best friend has given to you. their word. But the next day, I saw that the fence behind a nearby house and next to a April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 13 Registration is now Federal Hill Neighborhood Association open for the National Social Committee presents: Federation of the BINGO Night! Blind (NFB) DOT DASH 8K! Come get to know your Neighbors of Federal Hill! Form a team with family and friends, Thursday, April 11 or run solo through a great 8K course 5:30-8pm that starts at the NFB Jernigan Insti- tute and goes through Locust Point @ Stalking Horse and Fort McHenry before finishing back at the NFB. All proceeds from Everyone is Welcome! All members and the race will go to the NFB, a national Non-members. Bring your kids! nonprofit based in Baltimore.
$5 to Play Headquartered at 200 East Wells Street Light buffet, drink specials, prizes and a Raffle for a baseball in South Baltimore, the NFB is the Autographed by Orioles catcher largest and oldest organization of blind Matt Wieters! people in the United States. With over fifty thousand members, we have af- Hope to see you all there! filiates in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and seven hundred local chapters. Our mission is the full integration of blind Americans into society on a basis of equality. To achieve our goal we conduct innova- tive programs that empower blind peo- ple of all ages and provide them with the necessary skills to compete with their sighted peers in the classroom, on the job, and in the community.
Help us to change what it means to be blind and make the hopes and dreams of blind Americans a reality by run- ning or walking the DOT DASH 8K!
Who: Anyone! When: June 2, 2013 Where: NFB Jernigan Institute 200 E. Wells Street Fresh Ahi Tuna Specials at Jernigan Place
Pick up your 2013 Good Neighbor Card for For more information and to register, discounts go to: https://nfb.org/dot-dash-8k. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 14
April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 15
Trash Facts PHONE: 410-539-7757
Did You Know... DISCOUNT LIQUORS • Over 350 storm drain OUTLETS empty into the Inner BEER - WINE Harbor, Patapsco River, and Chesapeake Bay? • Baltimore City has 50,000 storm drain INLETS and over 1,000 miles of drain pipe? 901 South Charles Street Baltimore Maryland 21230 • The storm drains in Federal Hill lead directly to the In- Free Delivery with Minimum Order ner Harbor and the Patapsco River? Bring in this ad and receive $1 off a six pack every Monday • When it rains, storm water carries whatever is on the sidewalks and in the streets straight to these drains? • When you sweep your sidewalk debris or throw trash in the gutter it is almost guaranteed to go directly into the Inner Harbor and Chesapeake Bay? • The City does NOT clean the street gutters (except Charles and Light Streets). If your gutter is clean, thank a neighbor or the rain.
What Can I Do? • Don’t litter. • Pick up trash (even if it’s not yours). • Put your trash in a can with a lid. • Sweep the sidewalk and gutter in front of your house. • Keep the storm drain on your block clear and clean of trash and debris (including leaves). • Like One Piece South Baltimore on Facebook. • Get Involved One Piece At A Time.
Special Thanks to Blue Water Baltimore for the facts and tips.
Have You Seen Lucky?
Last October, the Hillsider did a story about a baby blue jay who had fallen from his nest in June and had been abandoned by his parents. He was taken in by RW, the Birdman of Montgomery Street, who fed him, gave him a home in his second floor bed- room, raised him and even helped him learn to fly.
With no fear of humans, Lucky made friends all over the neigh- borhood until he disappeared last fall. RW tells me that jays sometimes migrate the first year and we hope that is what Lucky did. If Lucky comes back this spring RW, who is moving to east Baltimore, would like to hear about it. Call Bob O’Donoghue at 410.783.0174 and he will let the birdman know that his protégé has returned to Federal Hill. April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 16
di · [s]sec′· ting the Baltimore Rowhouse (and exploring its impact on life in the City) by Jim Hall Part 3 - the parts and materials of the Baltimore rowhouse continued - Windows, Doors, Roofs, Chimneys and Insulation windows must shed rainwater.) Almost all of the City’s rowhouse have Let’s first get straight on of the names for some of been built with double-hung windows. the window parts. The window frame is the outer-most part Another window configuration is the fixed sash of the window, the part that holds everything together. It is window. As the name states, this window has no moving parts. the part of the window that fits inside the brick opening and It turns out that very few fixed sash windows can be found in is fastened to the brick. Slots are built into the inside of the Baltimore’s rowhouses. In a sliding or slider window, the two frame to support the moving parts of the window. Sometimes a sash slide sideways past each other. The sliding window is pocket is added beyond the frame and hidden within a vertical difficult to make watertight. It is essentially a modern design slot in the adjacent walls to house cast iron sash weights. The that was not used in Baltimore rowhouses. weights are attached to a cord that, with the help of a pulley There are three types of windows that are inside the frame, help balance the weight of the sash so they made up of hinged rather than sliding window can easily move up and down. sash. In a hopper window, the upper part of From the time of the Civil War on, Baltimore the sash opens inward– this was the type of specialized in the bull nose frame around its windows and window that was often used for the transom doors. This refers to the decorative design along the outside window over the front door. In an awning edge of the frame. Frames are usually made of 1-inch thick window, the lower part of the sash opens wood stock. In a bull nose frame, the front edge of the frame outward; and in a casement window the two is a ¾ inch half-cylinder, not centered on the sash are hinged to the opposite sides of the outside edge, but flush with the inside face frame and open outward. Seldom were awning or casement of the frame. This leaves a ¼ inch by ¼ inch windows ever used in City’s rowhouses. deep reveal (slot) on the brick side of the Muntins and mullions are the wooden dividers that frame. The frame with its bull nose outside separate the individual panes of glass within the window edge is wrapped around the top and sides of sash. For architectural and decorative reasons, these wooden the window with 45° miters at the comers. dividers were sometimes made in different widths. In these The frame rests on the sill below. There are cases, the narrower strips of wood dividers are called muntins, hundreds of possible decorative treatments while the wider, vertical bands of wood dividers are called that could be milled into the outside edge mullions. of the window frame, but tradition has always been a strong As you will learn below, the need for muntins and element in Baltimore’s rowhouses and after the Civil War, mullions within a window sash was lessened, as the available City builders almost always chose the bull nose frame. size of the glass sheets grew larger. Here is a useful convention The sill is the bottom part of the window. It is the big for describing the number of panes of glass in window sash. piece of wood or stone or later the row of bricks that sits at the The term 4/4 is verbally spoken as four over four. The term bottom of the window opening. It is slightly pitched on top means that the top sash of a double-hung window has four to help drain rainwater. The front of the sill is often projected panes of glass and the bottom sash has four panes. a small amount in front of the brick wall with a drip edge The story of window glass is proud part of America’s (a small reveal cut into the bottom of the sill near its front history. The first windows in the colonies had no glass at face that causes the water to drip along the slot rather than all. But when glass finally arrived from England it was very slide across the bottom surface of the sill and into the bricks expensive and only came in small panes because of the way it below). was made. Molten glass was gathered on to the end of a long The sash are (the plural of sash can be sash or sashes) metal pipe and then blown into a cylinder of metal. After the the moveable parts of the window. A double-hung window hot glass bottle was pulled out of the mold, the top and bottom has two sash that move up and down past each other in the were cut off with a big pair of shears and thrown back into tracks built into the frame. (Have you ever noticed that the top the furnace, the remaining glass cylinder was then slit with sash is always on the outside? This convention makes sense the shears and laid on an iron table to flatten. That’s why the when you think about how the two overlapping window sash continued next page April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 17 panes were so irregular and small. above the regular top floor windows and below the gut- Anyway, that wasn’t good enough for Americans for ter of the roof. (see later for more information about this very long. Very soon the New England inventors/mechanics anomaly) were making machines to mechanize the process. Quickly, the And in some other rowhouses, all of the windows machines got larger and more efficient. The cost of the glass are the conventional height, but are really skinny. I mea- went way down and the possible size of the glass sheets went sured some: they are 2 feet or less in width. At first I way up. To make huge sheets of glass the manufacturers were couldn’t understand why these windows were of such a soon pouring molten glass onto beds of molten metal. strange shape. Then the light bulb in my head went off: Americans loved the larger sheets of glass in their A rowhouse with 3 windows across the front (remember windows. They were modern and up-to-date. They were easier to clean, easier to see through, and let in more light. that the door replaces one of the windows on the first And Baltimore builders, in their eagerness to sell their houses floor) is wider, has more status, and is more valuable as quickly as possible, bought the largest sheets of glass that than an old 2 window wide rowhouse. Of course, when they could obtain for their windows. the windows were really that narrow, the rowhouse itself Recently, the story of window glass has taken a actually didn’t have to be any wider at all– it just felt new turn. The windows in new rowhouses are now almost wider. It’s like the item at the grocery store that is priced always double-glazed. This means that each pane of glass is at $3.99: everybody knows that price is really 4 dollars, really two sheets of glass held from ¼ inch to 1 inch apart but in the human brain, the price still feels like it is in the by metal spacers around the perimeter of the pane. Argon is 3 dollar range. Personally, I think the builders of those usually used to replace the air in the space between the panes narrow window rowhouses knew what they were doing. to keep water vapor from condensing inside; and the entire ensemble is sealed with a rubber compound. Double-glazing shutters significantly reduces heat loss and heat gain through the glass Probably the last shutters on rowhouses in Baltimore of the window. The industrial revolution hasn’t stopped yet. that had any real purpose were on the rowhouses from the City’s early 1700’s. Before glass, these solid panels of wood A simple formula helped the builder size and ar- were actually used to close the window opening during cold range the windows, front door, and other elements on weather, rainstorms, and at night; to provide privacy; and to the front wall of the Baltimore rowhouse. The overall keep out the riffraff and angry Indians. Shutter dogs, a small shape of the typical window was a sort of plump, vertical piece of cast-iron hardware fastened to the outside wall, were rectangle with the height being about 2 times the width used to hold the shutters open. In the late Victorian times, a of the window. There were almost always 2 or 3 equally Patented cast-iron shutter hinge was invented to keep the spaced windows on the upper floors with the door cen- shutters open which eliminated the need for the hard-to-reach tered below the left-most window or windows. shutter dogs. After the arrival of glass, shutters on the upper floors In the early history of the rowhouse all of the were made with louvers, which provided ventilation while blocking most of the rain if the residents forgot to close windows were the same size. Later in history and in the the windows. The louvered shutters also provided privacy, middle and upper-class houses the first floor windows especially at night. Solid panel shutters were used on the first became taller, usually about 3 times their width. Some- floor for privacy and to keep bad people from climbing into times there was even a very shallow, decorated cast-iron the house. balcony that projected out from the base of the first floor Sometime after the 1700’s, rowhouse shutters really windows. And the cellar windows were usually directly were hardly ever closed. They became purely decorative. below, but usually less than 2 feet tall. It is shocking how Shutters were an integral part of the front of the Georgian style almost all of the Baltimore rowhouse builders followed rowhouses. Besides, they made the rowhouses of any style these unwritten rules, probably unconsciously, from the look stable and dignified. They gave the buildings a domestic very beginning through today. air. Ok, but I will tell you one thing: molded plastic shutters nailed to the brick wall on each side of rowhouse windows still make me cringe. On the other hand, shutters that are too Here are two interesting variations on the size narrow to cover the window opening (when or if they were of windows found on the front of Baltimore rowhouses: ever closed), just make me laugh. The top rows of windows of some earlier gable-roofed rowhouses are squashed to only 2 to 3 feet in height. They are located in a ½ story high band of brick just continued next page April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 18
doors If water lingers, the shingles become saturated and the roof Wood panel doors were a common element through leaks. In fact, shingles of any sort would not have worked on all two hundred and fifty years of the the City’s new flat rowhouse roofs. Baltimore rowhouse. The rich had Wood shingles weren’t the only roofing surface fancy panel doors; the poor had simple available to cover the City’s early gable roofs. Some of the panel doors. The panels varied in size, houses of wealthy ship captains and merchants, and some layout, and numbers. Some were thick public buildings, were covered with slate shingles. Slate is (the front door) and others were thin a strange rock; although classified as a metamorphic rock (the doors inside the house). Why (melted as it is formed), it consists of a bed of sedimentary clay were wood panel doors chosen for all or volcanic ash that has been only partially metamorphosed of the two hundred and fifty years? (melted). Of course, its ability to be quarried into large, thin Think about it. There weren’t many sheets makes the rock useful for covering roofs. choices because doors had to be built The thin sheets of slate that are to be used for shingles out of individual boards assembled are cut into relatively uniform rectangles or other decorative and fastened together– we had not yet shapes. Two holes that are drilled at the top of each shingle are invented plywood. used to nail (often using copper nails) the shingles to the wood deck or spaced-out wood boards below. (The overlap from the gable roofs next higher row of shingles covers the holes and the nails.) If you scrutinize that early lithograph of Baltimore Slate shingles make a very long-lasting, sloped roof. Town that shows the settlement when it had only a couple With maintenance, a slate roof can last more that a hundred of handful of houses, you won’t see any rowhouses. What years. Most importantly the roof is fire resistant. But the you do see are small wooden buildings, covered with wood shingles themselves are shingle roofs that slope from a central ridge down toward the very delicate and cannot front and back of the little buildings. As the town grew, the be walked on. And the gable roof became the roof type of choice for the town’s new slate roof with all of collection of rowhouses because its generous slopes allowed those overlapping rows the wood shingles to shed water without leaking. Some of the of rock is very, very roofs had dormers on the front and back slopes of the roof to heavy. Thus, because provide light, air, and a little bit of headroom to the bedrooms of the extra cost of the or attic upstairs. slate itself, the extra cost (One of the aspects of the gable roof that surprised of the careful installation process, and the extra cost of the me is that almost all of the roofs of Baltimore’s early working additional structural strength required below, the cost of a and middle class rowhouses that I have seen have only one slate roof was, and still is, much more expensive than the cost dormer on the front and one on the back of the sloped portion of its wooden alternative. of the roof. The dormer and its window are centered along The gable roof, with its wood or slate shingles, the front wall and are rather large (the windows are almost remained the principal roof type for all Baltimore roofs always as wide as the windows in the brick walls below, but including the early rowhouse roofs, until after the Civil War are always significantly shorter). It is true that these larger when different roofing materials that replaced the wood dormers created more headroom in the room behind, but why shingles allowed the introduction of the new, exceedingly was there only one?) cheap, and soon to be ubiquitous, flat roof. In the 1600’s and 1700’s, wood shingles were made from logs cut down from the local forests. Only the heartwood flat roofs of the log was used. First the logs were hand-sawn lengthwise (Actually, the flat roof on a Baltimore rowhouse isn’t into quarters. And then a mallet and froe (ax) were used to flat. Oh, well. They are almost flat though, but in order to shed rive (split) out thin strips of wood along the grain from the water they do slope very gently from the front cornice to the quartered logs. The thin strips were then dressed (planed) on rear wall of the house.) a shaving horse with a drawshave. It wasn’t until the early Anyway, sometime soon after the 1880’s the flat roof 1800’s, that steam-powered sawmills replaced this labor- took over, and almost all of Baltimore’s rowhouses from then intensive hand fabrication of wood shingles. on were built with flat roofs. There were many reasons: the Wood shingles provided a cheep and effective roofing flat roofs didn’t send sheets of water on visitors heads at the surface. Actually, wood shingles make a very successful old- front door but carried all of the water to the back yard and the tech roof, but only for those roofs with moderate to high alley; they were cheaper because they only needed one gutter slopes. Because wood shingles aren’t waterproof, they only and downspout; and most importantly, they were significantly work when water moves rather quickly across their surface. continued next page April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 19 cheaper than pitched, gable roofs because they needed fewer rubber resins), placed over cracks or gaps in an existing roof, and shorter structural members, less sheathing, less roofing or used to tie existing roofing materials to adjacent surfaces material, and significantly lower brick party walls. and then sealed to itself and to the adjacent surfaces with the The arrival of the flat roof came hand-in-hand with flame of a blow torch; the butyl rubber roof membrane, the Baltimore cornice. The roofs themselves were originally glued to the sheathing; and a latex roof coating, painted on covered by standing-seam sheet metal (for fire protection). an old or new roof and imbedded in a thin sheet of fiberglass The sheet metal was sometimes copper, but more often, mesh. All of these new materials stay flexible through huge because of the significantly lower cost, was terne metal. temperature changes and will last for almost a lifetime– the Terne metal was the local term for terne coated sheet industrial revolution has not topped out yet. steel. Terne itself is an alloy coating that was used to keep chimneys (often pronounced chimleys in the old the sheet steel from rusting. Huge rolls of sheet steel were Baltimore vernacular) hot-dipped (unrolled and run through a tank of the melted The smoke from the fireplaces, stoves, and furnaces alloy)¬. Historically, the alloy was a mixture of 20% tin and of houses needs a chimney to get to the outside air. The 80% lead (Oh my gosh!). Today, terne metal is still available, chimneys for old Baltimore rowhouses were built as part of but the lead has been replaced with zinc in the ratio of 50% the party wall, often one for the front rooms and a second tin and 50% zinc. for the back rooms– and in deeper Terne metal must be painted. If the paint is maintained, houses a third for the rear addition. terne metal can last a lifetime or more. Today, terne coated Older rowhouses have a simple stone stainless steel, or copper is commonly used to replace the or brick cap to protect the top row original terne metal roofs, as either material does not have to of the chimney brick; after the Civil be painted and will outlast the terne metal. But because the War, most chimneys were capped slope of the flat roof was so shallow, the earlier tern metal with a brick arch. standing-seam roofs often leaked at the seams and sooner, than latter, rusted out. Thus began the ubiquitous tarpaper and insulation tar Baltimore rowhouse roof. What’s that? Until the recent decades, Baltimore That tar roof, or saturated felt, or tarpaper with rowhouses didn’t really have any. If the house got too cold, mopped hot asphalt tar roof, used on Baltimore’s rowhouse the resident simply piled more wood on the fire. When the roofs today, is actually a rather new invention. The first heat and humidity became unbearable, they escaped to the rolls of tarpaper to be used with asphalt tar for roofs were front steps, or the park, or (if they could afford it) the Eastern manufactured in the year 1900. This new material was Shore. (see next) immediately put to use to repair or replace the leaking terne What about those surrounding nine-inch thick brick metal roofs. And because the new roofing system was so much walls? Well, you might not realize it, but brick and mortar cheaper, it quickly took over the market for covering the flat are lousy insulators: both hot and cold (the lack of heat) roofs of the Baltimore rowhouse. temperatures pass right through the solid materials rather And over the last hundred years of Baltimore’s flat quickly. (That reminds me of the old story of the cheap rowhouse roofs, the City’s rowhouses have became a roofer’s middle-of-the-row rowhouse resident: if neighbors on both paradise, since they always leak and require more tar, some sides of his rowhouse kept their houses warm enough during tar paper, and even more tar every few years after that. But the winter, the resident in the middle could get so much free they leak anyway. heat through the walls that he might not ever have to turn on Why do tar roofs always leak? This endemic his own furnace.) problem is directly related to the properties of the asphalt Today, as the cost of gas and electricity continues to itself. The volatile components of the asphalt are continuously escalate, this rather blasé attitude toward insulation has come off-gassing, especially given the extreme heat of a roof in to an end. Almost all renovators today add relatively thick Baltimore’s summer sun, creating a black, residual mass that insulation above the ceilings of the top floor of the house and over time becomes quite brittle. And with any movement in frame out and add insulation to the front, back, and exposed the roof at all, and roofs are always moving because of the side walls. But just as important as the insulation itself, is large daily changes in temperature, the brittle, black material the need to block the movement of outside air that can pass looses its adhesive abilities and becomes filled with small and through the hundreds of miniature slits and holes in and around large, deep cracks. And when rainwater inevitably stains the the walls and window and door openings into the interior of bedroom ceiling again, it is time to call the roofer. the house. And this work has to be done very carefully to Today, technology has changed the reality of the prevent trapping moisture inside the walls which can result flat roof again, and has put a lot of roofers out of business. in the rotting of the wood members and the growth of molds This new technology includes torch down roofing sheets inside the walls. (fiberglass mesh saturated and coated with asphalt mixed with Next Month - The rooms of the rowhouse April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 20 Cycling from Your Front Door in Federal Hill By Navah Langmeyer Winter is almost over, and it's time to start thinking about get all the way to Patapsco Valley State Park on this route. those first lovely bike rides of spring! I certainly am looking forward to cycling in temperatures well above freezing, af- Head north to Druid Hill Park for hills (on the trail through ter months of dark, cold morning bike commutes. I know a the park), or intervals (around the lake), or just to enjoy an number of people who ride regularly, driving out of the city easy spin. The loop around the lake has a dedicated bike with their bikes on their car racks to get to trails. While I'll lane, often ignored by pedestrians so stay alert. Park Avenue do that to meet up for a group ride or to get to an organized is a relatively quiet street to take north. Get over to Falls event, it's always seemed a little silly to me to put one inex- Road and the Jones Falls Trail. A bit past the Baltimore pensive, healthy, clean mode of transportation (a bike) onto Streetcar Museum on Falls Road, switchbacks on the right a second expensive, sedentary, polluting mode of transpor- go up to 28th Street, which leads right into Druid Hill Park. tation (a car), in order to use the first mode for recreation. Come back to Federal Hill on a parallel route, or cross east This article is about skipping that second mode as a Federal through the Johns Hopkins campus to St. Paul Street (with Hill resident, and starting a ride from your front door. excellently timed lights for cyclists) or a little farther to the Guilford Road bikeway. I've written a bit about cycling in the city in previous ar- ticles on bike and bike/transport commuting. It can be a Lake Montebello is another loop around a reservoir, which challenge. That said, there are a number of excellent places is good for a gentle pedal or hard intervals. The bike section close to Federal Hill to ride in the city, which require rel- of the path is wider than that around Druid Lake and is more atively small amounts of time spent on dicey roads. With respected by pedestrians. Herring Run Park, with its own smart scheduling, dealing with motor vehicle traffic can be unpaved trail, is adjacent. Take Gay Street to the Fallsway, minimized. then head up the Guilford bikeway and cross over on 33rd Street to get there. So, where to ride? If you really and truly cannot bring yourself to ride a bike For a short, easy ride in a very pleasant setting, spinning through the city, catch the Light Rail at Hamburg Street and out to Fort McHenry is a nice way to spend a little time. go south to the paved BWI Trail and Baltimore & Annapolis Fort Avenue is a straight shot, with new bike lanes even, Trail, or north to Woodberry Station (close to Druid Hill but those looking for a quieter route can wind around the Park), or farther north to the Hunt Valley Shopping Center smaller streets (always obeying road signs, particularly one- and the unpaved, packed North Central Railroad Trail. way signs). Once out to the point, take it slow on the bike/ pedestrian path circling the Fort, with consideration of all Finally, if you want the safety of numbers for your first path users, and enjoy the views. rides in the city, check out the Baltimore Bike Party, baltimorebikeparty.com. This group ride happens on the Another easy, pleasant ride is around the Inner Harbor on last Friday of every month, starting from the Washington the Promenade, early on a Saturday or Sunday morning Monument in Mount Vernon at 7 pm. Each month has a (when bikes are allowed and the crowds are thin). Continue theme, and the rides are now attracting up to several hundred on past Harbor East on the roads along the water to Fells people. Point and beyond, as well. For more Baltimore bike route ideas, look online for in- For those looking for longer rides, I recommend getting formation. Local bike shops (Light Street Cycles and Race on the Gwynns Falls Trail off Washington Boulevard just Pace in Federal Hill and others around the city), Biking in south of Carroll Park. To get to the trail, I usually head west B'more, mapmyride.com, and bikely.com are all good re- on Ostend, then zigzag a bit to get to the northeast corner sources. Go ahead—get out on your bike and leave the car of the park. The trail is slightly hilly in places, reasonably behind! well paved, and runs through trees along the running wa- ter. Watch out for broken glass, fallen branches and leaves, and sand in a few low spots. Upon reaching Franklinstown Road, either continue on the trail for an unpaved, off-road ride, or head west on the road out to Dogwood Road for one of the best road rides around the city. Some side roads pro- vide good hill repeats, if you're looking for that, and you can April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 21 Fourth Annual DigiBall Fundraiser Set for April 13
Past 3-Year’s Proceeds Tops $155K; Benefiting Students Achieve 98% College Retention Rate DigiBall makes its fourth annual appearance April 13 at the Bal- timore Museum of Industry. As in previous years, the Ball will include food, drink, and live music. And also as in previous years, it will be a showcase for the remarkable Digital Harbor High School, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
It’s a fund-raiser, but for all the right reasons. All money raised from admissions ($75 per ticket, $50 of which is tax-deductible) and other activities (including an amazing silent auction) goes to college scholarships for DHHS graduates. The bottom-line on scholarships, according to Jonnie-Kay McLean, vice president of the Digital Harbor High School Alliance, co-sponsor of the Ball: $155,000 in three years. And those scholarship recipients have had a 98 percent college retention rate. Much of the scholarship money has been used to bridge the gap between grants and loans and the real (and alarmingly increasing) cost of attending college.
Who received the scholarships? For one, Ashley McClure, a 2008 DHHS graduate, who is now a fifth-year pre-med student at UMBC, a Meyerhoff Scholar, and someone who will be treating you someday. “The DigiBall scholarship helped fill in the gaps,” she said, “and it meant so much to me and others who came be- hind.” She is one of a family of eight.
Or Timothy Bowen, a self-described “South Baltimore boy with FHNA General Membership an attitude,” who is now in his senior year at College Park. Meeting But the DigiBall has community benefits as well. Residents of Federal Hill, most of whom do not have children in Baltimore Tuesday, April 16th public schools, voluntarily partner with Digital Harbor staff to provide time and money to help students. They’re encouraged by 7 pm, Christ Lutheran Church the energy of the Digiball.
Dr. Andrea Bowden, assistant principal of Digital, counts the ben- efits: • It is a true partnership between faculty and staff of Digital Harbor and the Federal Hill community. • It showcases the positive accomplishments of DHHS. Law Offices of Edward J. Maher, P.C. • It allows student recipients not only to receive needed funds, Representing landlords in Maryland since 1997 but also to meet some donors and form lasting relationships Phone: 410.539.5505 with them. tedmaherlaw.com [email protected] • It features local food, beverages, services, and talent and al- lows patrons to have a good time.
Enjoy! April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 22 JUST LISTED JUST LISTED JUST LISTED JUST
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office: 410-547-5710 www.live21230.com
FEDERAL HILL FEDERAL HILL $179,000 FEDERAL HILL $295,000 $70,000 1BR, BA. Beautiful condo 3BR, 2BA. Federal Hill with upper loft. Wall to 2BR, 2BA. Walking dis- charmer! Open floor plan, tance to stadium. 2 car wall carpeting, spiral stair- hardwood floors, finished case, tall ceilings & lots of parking, hardwood floors, basement, fenced in yard. storage space. wall to wall carpeting, spacious kitchen. BA7997226 BA8027748 Chris Reda BA8035372 Steve Murphy 410-547-5715 Jody Buck 410-547-5710
FEDERAL HILL FEDERAL HILL $249,900 FEDERAL HILL $385,000 2BR, 2.5BA. End of group $110,000 2BR, 1.5BA. Storefront with large parking pad. Open 3BR, 1BA. Brand new available in the heart of floor plan, 2 master suites, renovation! Features Federal Hill. 2 Level Apt, hardwood floors and much stainless steel appliances, featuring hardwood floors more. hardwood floors & plenty roof deck with great views. more upgrades. BA8019276 BA7948440 BA8031312 Jeff Washo Jim Gunsiorowski Jody Buck 410-262-6256 April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 23
ONE PIECE SOUTH BALTIMORE Kick-Off on Baltimore City Clean-Up Day Saturday, April 20 9 am to 1 pm
Coffee and Donuts at the Dumpster at Warren and William Street (900 Block) Bags, gloves and tools available. Volunteers Welcome! We have projects for you or your group. Contact Walt Saxon at 410-703-9133
Take the One Piece Pledge and receive a free vinyl decal April 2013 Federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider Page 24
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NEW LISTING RENOVATED BRIGHT & BEAUTY SPACIOUS PATTERSON PARK FEDERAL HILL FEDERAL HILL $329,000 $359,000 $394,900
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PLEASE JOIN US FOR A BOOK SIGNING AND HAPPY HOUR
Young Thurgood Book Signing and Happy Hour with Larry Gibson
Hosted by the Federal Hill Office of Prudential Homesale YWGC Realty Wednesday, April 10, 2013 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm 1011 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 Contact: 410-727-0606
Larry Gibson will be joining us for a book signing, brief discussion and Happy Hour.
LOCALLY OWNED. NATIONALLY KNOWN.
'FEFSBM)JMM0GmDFt-JHIU4USFFU ©2012 BRER A liates Inc. An independently owned and operated broker member of BRER A liates Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used XXX1SVEFOUJBM)PNFTBMFDPN under license with no other a liation of Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.