Neighborhood NEWS THE RUXTON-RIDERWOOD-LAKE ROLAND AREA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION WINTER • 2016-17 Lake Roland Nature Center Officially Opened INSIDE by Nancy Worden Horst New GRAF On a sunny, crisp October morning President Baltimore County Executive Kevin John Lalley Kamenetz cut a bright green rib- PAGE 3 bon with a pair of oversized scissors to officially open the Lake Roland H Nature Center. Welcome, New The County Executive was joined and Returning by other elected officials including Board Members State Delegate Shelly Hettleman and PAGE 6 County Councilwoman Vicki Almond H as well as Baltimore County Director Neighborhood of Recreation and Parks Barry Wil- Gem – Good liams. Several special needs chil- Shepherd School dren from Mt. Washington Pediatric PAGE 10 Hospital, enthusiastic participants in programs offered by the Lake Roland The view of Lake Roland Dam and valve house on a beautiful fall day. H Nature Council, were also present Photo courtesy Siobhan O’Brien Budnitz Home Sales and participated in the PAGE 14 ribbon-cutting availability of the ceremony. spacious, airy and H bright room overlook- The Shops at The County Executive’s ing the 150-year-old Kenilworth remarks focused on Lake Roland Dam and PAGE 16 the importance of the valve house. Nature Center in serv- H ing all segments of the Rotating exhibits Royal Farms Plans community through its are planned for the for West Joppa accessibility and pro- Nature Center; the Road Store gramming. Kamenetz Baltimore Bird Club PAGE 20 also noted the Nature has already mounted a collection of bright- H Center’s access via Residents light rail — deeming ly-colored birds from Beware: The County Executive Kevin Kamenetz cuts the ribbon with assistance the Mid-Atlantic for the Park as ‘transit- from Lake Roland Nature Council President Larry Zeafla. Emerald Ash oriented recreation.’ All educational purposes. Borer Has of the elected officials Others pictured are LRNC Vice President Elise Butler, LRNC Board Several rescued or Arrived! member James Flannery, Delegate Shelly Hettleman, John Mast of recognized the vol- injured turtles, snakes PAGE 21 North Point Builders, Ed Hord of Hord | Coplan | Macht, Ken Wingate and a toad reside at unteer efforts of the President of North Point Builders, LRNC Treasurer Jeffrey Budnitz, members of the Nature Councilwoman Vicki Almond, Director of Recreation and Parks Barry the Nature Center. H Another Council as partners of Williams and, holding the end of the ribbon, Head Park Ranger The large room in the Successful the County and the Shannon Davis. Patients and staff from Mt. Washington Pediatric middle of the Nature Hospital are pictured in the foreground. Photo courtesy Siobhan O’Brien Budnitz Street Clean State in the Nature Center can be divided Center project. into two sub-spaces PAGE 22 The Nature Center comprises classroom, educational with occupancy ranging from 75 to 230 individuals H and meeting space with audio-visual capabilities and depending on the configuration of the room. The Falls Road areas for rangers, staff and naturalists to plan such building holds a maximum of 280 people and is avail- Construction imaginative programs as Pioneer Days, Creatures of able for rental to community and civic groups on a Brings Restored the Full Moon and School’s Out Days. Attendance at case-by-case basis. Trout Stream these programs has more than doubled thanks to the The front elevation of the Nature Center faces the PAGE 23 Continued on p. 5 H Ruxton-Riderwood- Lake Roland President’s Letter Neighborhood NEWS Dear Neighbors, development and green space has been in the news lately, and our Association is sensitive Winter 2016-2017 I am truly honored to have been elected President of your Association. As I see it, to the need for preservation. We also realize the need to continue to Table of Contents my job is to share informa- tion and listen to the needs work with business enti- 1 Lake Roland Nature Center and concerns of our com- ties, so future growth will Officially Opened complement and enhance 2 President’s Letter munity, so I enjoy getting 3 New GRAF President John Lalley out into the neighborhoods, our communities. 4 Welcome New President Clark Parriott meeting our residents and Each of us chose our 6 Welcome, New and working with local officials. neighborhood because Returning Board Members The Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake we believe that it offers 8 The Course of Towson University Roland Area Improvement safety, access to excel- 10 Neighborhood Gem — Good Shepherd School Association has an excellent lent schools and univer- 12 Chicken and Dumplings Recipe framework in place, and our sities, convenience to 13 Local Winter Celebrations Executive Director Peggy businesses and churches 14 Home Sales in Ruxton / Riderwood / Lake Roland Squitieri ensures that our and is a sound invest- 15 Kids Corner — Favorite organization runs smoothly ment. Would you like to Winter Traditions and efficiently. become involved with an 16 The Shops at Kenilworth — A Revitalization My goal is to build upon organization whose sole 18 Thank You, 2016 Patrons existing events that promote purpose is to promote 19 Shredder/E-Cycling Event community empowerment and help districts and increase the value of 20 Royal Farms Plans for your investment? West Joppa Road Store to become familiar with one another. I believe 21 Residents Beware: The Emerald most homeowners want to be good neighbors. We have a variety of committees and many Ash Borer Has Arrived! 22 Another Successful Street Clean Supporting and watching out for each other special events throughout the year. I encour- 23 Falls Road Construction Brings is what transforms a street into a neighbor- age you to call or email the office if you wish Restored Trout Stream hood. We are blessed with a membership that to participate. If you are feeling a bit more has a wide range of expertise and experience. adventurous, we are always looking for future Board of Governors Our goal is to tap into that knowledge base Board members, too. and address the issues and concerns of our President – Clark Parriott We live in a vibrant community and work hard 1st Vice President – Art Arthur residents. to keep it that way. The best is yet to come! 2nd Vice President – Laura Shmerler Treasurer – Tom McCord In the past 63 years, we have developed a Secretary – Paddy Morton partnership of neighbors, businesses and state Sincerely, Gina Adams and local government officials. The balance of Cynthia Allen Clark Parriott John Baer Shannon Brown Thomas Brown Jeffrey Budnitz Elise Butler Jamie Cahn Attention Potential Advertisers Joe Derr Trish Fallon Susan Law Would you like to include your Lauren Madsen Mary Brown McKenna Courtney Middelton business card in Neighborhood News? We’re pleased to Michael Muldowney Linda Murphy introduce business card advertising in future issues. Shannon Putman Rachel Seba Please contact Laura Shmerler Carlton Sexton [email protected] for rate information. Executive Director Peggy Squitieri Newsletter Committee: Neighborhood NEWS is published three times a year by The Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Courtney Middelton, Nancy Horst Graphic Production: Improvement Association, Inc., P.O. Box 204, Riderwood, MD 21139, tel: 410-494-7757. Chair and Editor Lauren Madsen DesignConcept.com Deadlines for copy, including announcements and calendar items, are February 15 for Spring issue, Laura Shmerler, Advertising Shannon Putman Printing: July 15 for Fall issue and October 15 for Winter issue. Advertisers contact: [email protected]. John Baer Rachel Seba MtRoyalPtg.com Barbara Guarnieri Nettie Washburn The masthead photo on the front page, courtesy of Nettie Washburn, offers an angled view of Rider House’s architectural detail. 2 New GRAF President John Lalley by Lauren Madsen for use as a resident manager’s home, office or other This past autumn the Greater Ruxton Area Foundation use.” In response, Manor Care utilized the house (GRAF) named John Lalley as president, succeeding as their office while the assisted living facility was Tom Weadock. John is an active community member under construction. Upon moving into the new facil- and Master Gardener ity, Manor Care donated the house to the Foundation who hopes to use along with a monetary contribution to help with the his green thumb and renovations. positive attitude to GRAF also assists neighbors in placing preservation continue GRAF’s mis- easements on qualified land in accordance with strict sion of beautifying our IRS guidelines. To date, GRAF has helped with 15 neighborhood’s public easements resulting in over 50 acres now protected spaces. John, born from development. and raised in Rux- Most importantly, John explains that GRAF’s fund- ton and a resident of ing sources are different from the Association’s. The Wagner Road for the past 35 years, Association is supported by membership dues while GRAF solicits knows and appreciates the natural tax-deductible donations, matching grants and land easements to beauty of the greater Ruxton area continue its vital work. Mostly, it relies on the generous support well. He has extensive knowledge of neighbors like you through annual gifting. So if you aren’t a of and experience with native plants, composting, flower beds contributor to GRAF, please consider making a tax-deductible and vegetable gardening and his yard received top honors in the donation via www.ruxtonfoundation.org. “Our biggest challenge 2014 Baltimore Sun garden photo contest. During his three-year right now is to continue to increase our fundraising to pay for the tenure with GRAF, he aims to encourage volunteerism among his maintenance of our active projects,” John explains. “We hope you neighbors. “People can contribute in more ways than by writing a appreciate what we are doing and will donate.” check,” he explains. For example, GRAF urges each member of the Ruxton community to be vigilant about picking up trash, main- taining their properties and helping with community projects, such as planting flower bulbs.