Neighborhood Notes: March 2021

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Canton Library Reopens
The Canton branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library at 1030 S. Ellwood Avenue opens to the public on Monday, March 8.  The allowed capacity will be 25% with safety measures in place. Customers can browse and borrow from the collection, use the copier, and use the computers for up to two hours. Masks and temperature checks will be required. Open Monday through Saturday 10-5pm, with evening hours Tuesday and Thursday from 12-7pm.  

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CCA Volunteers of the Year
Congratulations to Zach Spedden and Julie Kichline for being named the 2021 CCA Volunteers of the Year. Zach and Julie Co-Chair our Marketing Committee and keep us on track behind the scenes, too. By day Zach is a Content Specialist, podcast co-host, and a volunteer with VOLO. By night he’s our go-to web guy/IT guy and helps with our analytics, forms and formats the newsletter as well. Julie writes the newsletter, drives our social media, helps plan events, serves on a few CCA committees and is our general liaison for community communications. Need a connection? Just ask Julie. When she’s not helping the CCA, you might know her from Kik-line Design, Baltimore Guided, Team LNC or The Goddess Craves. 

Easter Bunny at The Cardinal Tavern
The Easter Bunny will be at The Cardinal on Saturday, March 27. They’ll have a photographer taking photos. Kiddos and the young at heart are all welcome to come and have breakfast and get Easter Bunny pics! Details to follow at https://www.facebook.com/CardinalTavern2020/.

Virtual Yoga & Meditation on the Square
Yoga 7:00-8:00pm | Meditation 8:00-10:00pm Wednesday evenings online via Church on the Square. For more information check the event list on their FB page at www.facebook.com/cotsbmore/.

East Baltimore Winter Olympics
The East Baltimore Winter Olympics, a family-friendly scavenger hunt-like event held at nearby Patterson Park, will run from Thursday, March 4 through Sunday, March 21. Your $20 donation to the Friends of Patterson Park will grant you access to the scavenger hunt list, comprised of various park-centric activities and tasks that promote awesome local business partners. Prizes will be awarded to Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Details: https://pattersonpark.com/eastbaltimoreolympics. Questions, email eastbaltimoreolympics@gmail.com.

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Canton History Project
Canton resident Dr. Raymond Bahr is championing a campaign to place historic interpretive markers throughout Canton to share its rich and often buried history. The Canton Community Association recently approved two more markers, bringing the total to eight. One, featuring Industrialist and abolitionist Peter Cooper, will be at the SW corner of O’Donnell and Clinton Streets. The second, spotlighting the development of the Clinton Street waterfront and Rukert Terminals Corp., will be displayed at the end of Clinton St. south of Boston Street near the lighthouse. The next item for the Project is the placement of a Historic Panel documenting the escape of Frederick Douglass. If you would like to learn more about the ongoing marker program, email Dr. Bahr at RDB60@aol.com.

Reporting and Preventing Crime – Tip Line
The Baltimore City Police Department asks neighbors to report crimes via this TIP email: SEDtips@baltimorepolice.org. Security camera footage and photos should be included.

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O’Donnell Square Buy-A-Brick Program
Support the endowment to maintain O'Donnell Square Park with the purchase of a commemorative brick. Pay tribute to someone's love of the community or recognize birthdays, anniversaries, birth and wedding dates, businesses, or memorializing loved ones. The cost of a commemorative brick is $70. You may also purchase a replica of your brick with felt backing for an additional $35. We can duplicate previously purchased bricks, too. If you are not sure of the wording on your brick, email brick@cantoncommunity.org and we can help. 

Black-owned Business List - Use this link (https://bit.ly/2YnvhT7) for a map of Black-owned restaurants in Baltimore City, including Simply Marie’s, Knotty Pine, Black Acres Roastery, Shipyard Pub, Off the Rox, and Get It In Island Cuisine II in or neighboring Canton.

OPEN/CLOSED

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Mama’s on the Half Shell

After 2 months of being closed due to pandemic restrictions Mama’s on the Half Shell reopened on Wednesday, March 3. They will not be accepting reservations; dining is first come, first served Sunday-Thursday 12pm til 9 pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm til 10pm. For details visit https://mamasonthehalfshell.com/. 

Coming to Canton Crossing

The CCA Economic Development Committee tells us that 3 new business are coming to Canton Crossing. Primo Hoagies is replacing Jimmy Johns, Kleen Barbers is replacing Hair Cuttery, and Uno Pizzeria is replacing Red Robin.  

CCA NEWS

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Get Lit Canton
The CCA Public Safety Committee is encouraging neighbors to Get Lit! No, not that way. We want residents and businesses to install exterior lighting to improve the safety of our neighborhood. If you’re interested in having café string lights on your block, just follow the instructions on this info graphic and text Chris Broughton text @ 410-241-4696 to get on his install list!  For more details on the procedure, cost, etc., visit https://www.cantoncommunity.org/news-and-notes/2021/2/5/get-neighborly-and-get-lit. 

Block Captains
The CCA is looking for Block Captains to increase communication and help bring about more organization from the ground up. Block Captains also play an important role in the Get Lit Canton project. If you are interested in representing your block, please email info@cantoncommunity.org and put Block Captain in the subject line. 

CCA Committees
CCA committees include Arts, Economic Development, Education, Marketing, Public Safety, Transportation, Social, Membership and Volunteer. The CCA also oversees the Friends of Canton Dog Park and Friends O’Donnell Square, and partners with Canton Canopy. And, last year the CCA founded a new community committee, the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance. New members are welcomed. Details can be found on our website at https://www.cantoncommunity.org/committees. 

Canton Anti-Racism Alliance
The Alliance hosts a virtual meeting the 4th Tuesday of every month to discuss and affect change to help Canton become a more welcoming, diverse, and inclusive neighborhood. Currently, we are planning a conversation with Dr. Lawrence Brown to discuss his book The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America. (Details/date TDA). To learn more visit www.cantoncommunity.org and put Anti-Racism in the search function or email President@CantonCommunity.org.   

Marketing
The CCA Marketing Committee meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month. For Spring, we are planning two popup events including a cleanup at O’Donnell Square Park in April and an event addressing sustainability in our community in June. We could use a few new members on our team. If you’re interested in learning more or sitting in, please email marketing@cantoncommunity.org.

Membership
The CCA Membership Committee dynamic duo Dorothy and Megan will be reaching out to encourage existing members to renew as well as inviting new neighbors to join. Individual, family, and business memberships are available. To join https://www.cantoncommunity.org/join-us. Look for a membership drive to follow this Spring! 

CCA Social Media - Follow us!
For the latest information about our neighborhood and other helpful community/city news, please follow our CCA pages on social media. Instagram @CCA_Baltimore and www.facebook.com/CantonCommunityAssociation.  

CCA Virtual Public Meetings 2021
May 18, August 17 and November 16 

LEGISLATIVE & CITY COUNCIL UPDATES (Office of the Mayor & Baltimore City Council)  

• Baltimore City Council Meetings – Upcoming digital council meetings may be viewed on Charm TV at http://www.charmtvbaltimore.com/. The next meetings are scheduled for Monday, March 8 and 22 at 5:00 p.m. 

• February City Council Highlights

  • Introduced a housing relief package to help residents having financial issues.

  • Introduced a local hiring bill designed to promote the hiring of Baltimore city residents in general and residents from disadvantaged neighborhoods in particular.

  • Held a hearing regarding water billing issues based on the OIG report that was released.

  • Held a hearing on the Workday rollout given all of the issues with city employees not receiving their proper paychecks.

  • Held a hearing on the COVID vaccination process and the issues surrounding the rollout.

• Free Utility Bill Consultation - The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland is offering free utility bill consultations. Volunteer attorneys will give residents free legal advice regarding their water, gas, and/or electric bills. Attorneys will advise on issues such as bill disputes, shutoffs, and questions about financial assistance that may be available. If interested in this remote service, call 443-703-3052 to register.

 • City Council Covid-19 Resource Map - Council President Brandon Scott has compiled Baltimore COVID-19 resources into an asset map. Visit bit.ly/bmorecovidmap for an updated list of food sites, health care clinics, and shopping options for seniors & people with compromised immune systems.