Federal Hillsider The Monthly Newsletter of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association May, 2012 President’s Letter Dear Friends and Neighbors, I would like to extend a very special thanks to everyone who participated in the Mayor’s citywide neighborhood cleanup that took place on April 21. The event was a huge success for our community and could not have been possible without the exemplary planning and organization of Director at large Kelly Sheehan, Beautification Chair Walter Saxton, Block Captain Chair JP Matthew, and Educational Liaison Jessica Damen. Despite a few minor challenges such as 400 fewer bags guaranteed by the city, no tools, and a dumpster that was almost never delivered, approximately 300 volunteers from all corners of our community pulled off the most successful volunteer led effort of Federal Hill’s own Phyllis Friello, second from the year! Even a number of students from Digital Harbor High left above, won GOLD at the US Adult National School and members of our business community pitched in to Figure Skating Championships in Chicago, Ill. lend a hand, making this event a truly comprehensive effort. April 10 - 14, 2012. Congratulations! (continued on page 3)25 10 Ways to Celebrate AN HISTORIC PICNIC ON Mother’s Day In Federal FEDERAL HILL Hill Come and join us!!! 1.Buy her some jewelry from Morstein’s Jewelers - Page 3. Sunday, May 6, from 12 noon-2 pm 2. Take her to Brunch at the Rusty Scupper - Our beloved Federal Hill was named to mark Maryland’s Page 11. ratification of the U.S. Constitution, an event celebrated 3.Take her for stroll around the park and the with a huge picnic atop the hill on May 1, 1788. Inner Harbor. Stop by the American Visionary Arts Museum. The Neighborhood Associations of Federal Hill, Federal 4. Have some sushi at Matsuri - Page 4. Hill South, and South Baltimore have joined together to 5. Take her to dinner at the SoBo Cafe - Page celebrate this historic milestone with a picnic of our own! 13. 6. Buy her some flowers from the Cross Street All residents of the areas represented by these neighborhood Market. associations are invited to attend. 7.Give her a gift certificate for some pampering at Apothecary Wellness - Page 14 Bring a dish to share and celebrate spring and our wonderful 8. Visit one of our local artists’ galleries. Federal Hill community with your friends and neighbors! 9.Thai Yum always delights - Page 7. 10. And CVS is always open for the last minute CARD you forgot to buy!!!!! May, 2012 www.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: Kelly Sheehan Officers Business Affairs: Lamberto Comacho Community Outreach : Jane Wehrle President: Ryan Hada 443.326.9200 Finance: Claire Bogdanski Vice President: Eric Costello 410.528.1514 Hillsider: Jeannie Malkiewicz Treasurer: Lamberto Camacho 202.697.1581 Gayle McClure Secretary: Bob O’Donoghue 410.783.0174 Bob O’Donoghue Nicole Quinn Board Members at Large Legislative Affairs: Ryan Hada Liquor Eric Costello Board Member: Kelly Sheehan 410.322.8026 Membership: Eric Costello Board Member: Claire Mullins 410.727.3411 Bob Merbler Board Member: Bob Merbler 443.629.0162 Kelly Sheehan Parking: Lamberto Comacho Preservation: Becky Swanston Bulk Item Pick Up Public Safety: Open You may place up to three items out for collection. One day per Schools Liaison: Jessica Damen month is set aside for this collection. All citizens have to do is call Social: Open 311 and give the following information: Technology: Jennifer Nelson Your address Claire Mullins 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. Federal Hillsider www.federalhillbaltimore.org May, 2012 - Page 3 (President’s letter continued from page 1) Overall, a 30-yard dumpster was packed to the gills with literally thousands of pounds of debris and trash. The next citywide cleanup is scheduled for October 27, 2012. Last but not least, I would also like to recognize Dave Rather of Mother’s Bar & Grille for his generosity in hosting a complementary lunch for all participants following the cleanup. Thank you Dave! Regarding Live Entertainment, FHNA, in cooperation with other neighborhood associations, most notably South Baltimore Neighborhood Association (SBNA), have invested hundreds of collective man-hours in an effort to identify and define a set of guiding principles most appropriate for our communities. After soliciting feedback from our general membership, area establishments, and city officials, I am pleased to report that we have reached a tentative working agreement that we believe is fair, flexible, and most importantly representative of all stakeholders. The results of those efforts appear below. Ryan Hada FHNA President Morstein’s Jewelers 1114 Light Street 410-727-3232 FHNA Live Entertainment Acceptable Criteria For those of you who missed April’s General Membership 3- Sound Levels: All live entertainment cannot exceed sound Meeting, here are the criteria approved unanimously by levels specified in the Baltimore City Health Code. In addition, in the FHNA Board, and overwhelmingly passed by our circumstances in which any amplification is used in conjunction Members. with live entertainment, all windows and doors must be shut. 1- History of the Establishment: The establishment 4- Parking Plan: As required by the Baltimore City Zoning Code, should not have a history of repeat violations of applicable the applicant should identify how it plans to maintain or decrease Liquor or Zoning laws, or previous suspensions of a Liquor the parking load on the neighborhood. Specifically, the application License. In addition, any establishment applying for live should provide for the development and maintenance of such a entertainment should have had a liquor license for at least plan. two (2) years prior to applying, in order to demonstrate that such a history does not exist. 5- Neighborhood Relations: Any applicant agrees to provide the Neighborhood Association ample notice of 30 days, and a copy 2- Hours and Days: The business must close its doors at of its application to ensure it meets the criteria set here. If ample 2:00 AM with no extended hours of operation under any notice is not provided, the neighborhood will formally request circumstances. Live entertainment should be limited to the Zoning Board postpone a hearing until ample notification is two (2) specified days per week and one (1) floater day (at provided. In addition, FHNA agrees to conduct future negotiations the discretion of the establishment). It is not to take place in good faith to determine if an amendment to the variance will be outside of the following hours on the following days: supported by FHNA, provided the establishment has a variance 5:00pm – 11pm on Monday through Thursday; 5:00pm that has been in place for at least one (1) year and no violations – 1:00am on Friday and Saturday; and 9:00am – 6:00pm have occurred. This in no way indicates that FHNA will support on Sunday, to ensure local businesses are not adversely an amendment, only that it will have good faith discussions with affected and to facilitate the removal of the entertainers the establishment. and their equipment well before closing and the dispersal of customers from the area at closing. Page 4 - May, 2012 www.federalhillbaltimore.org Federal Hillsider welcome home Surprisingly spacious house on charming Hamburg Street. Live in the heart of Federal Hill for under $250K, and still have ample room for your furniture, abundant closet space, eat-in kitchen, entertainment ready brick patio, 3rd] \ ]] square footage. Randee Askin 26 Years of dedicated service It used to be Poultney Street (and still is) but to buyers and sellers the City has now has also designated it as email: [email protected] Howard Way in honor of longtime resident \ and FHNA block captain Bob Howard Federal Hillsider www.federalhillbaltimore.org May, 2012 - Page 5 Upcoming Events - compiled by Nicole Quinn April 27 - May 6: B&O Railroad Musuem: A Day out Silent Auction! 1-4 p.m. Artwork, Gift certificates, jewelry, with Thomas. 9-4pm gift baskets, vacations, activities, balloon artist, face painting, moon bounce, crafts, animals, pony rides, music, food, fun and May 3-5: BOOK SALE: The Friends of the Light more! All proceeds benefit educational programs and services Street Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library will be at FHPS. If you have a silent auction item or service you wish holding their spring 2012 book sale in the lower level of to donate. Email us at fhpspringfl[email protected]. the library on Thursday, May 3 (1 to 7 p.m.), Saturday, May 5 (10 a.m.