Neighborhood Notes: February 2022

Hey Dog Lovers, we have good news! We are reviving the Friends of Canton Dog Park Facebook group so we can bring you updates on the dog park as well as make it a source for fun and community. We encourage our members to follow the page and to send us photos of you and your pups having fun at the park. (Marketing@CantonCommunity.org)

For anyone new to our community, the Canton Dog Park, located at 3221 Toone Street, provides an off-leash experience in a 2-sided park. One side is for smaller or older dogs and one for larger pups.  To learn or to donate to the park’s upkeep, please visit https://www.cantoncommunity.org/parks. To follow the group, go to https://www.facebook.com/CantonDogPark. We can’t wait to see your furry family pix!

HHA – Black History Month Dinner
Please join Hampstead Hill Academy’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee as they acknowledge and celebrate Black History Month at Family Academic Night on Thursday, February 17th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The event will be capped at the first 130 guests to follow appropriate COVID safety measures. Must RSVP via the form to attend.

Black-owned Restaurant List
One way to support our neighbors of color is to shop and dine at Black-owned businesses. Use this link https://bit.ly/2YnvhT7 for a map of Black-owned restaurants in Baltimore City, including Simply Marie’s, Knotty Pine, Shipyard Pub, Off the Rox, Halfsmoke Baltimore, Water for Chocolate, Sunga’s Café, Wacky Waffles Cafe, and Get It In Island Cuisine II in or neighboring Canton.

Canton Anti-Racism Alliance
The Canton Anti-Racism Alliance hosts a virtual meeting on the 4th Tuesday of every month to discuss and affect change to help Canton become a more welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and equitable neighborhood. As part of their work, the Alliance hosts “Conversation With” talks with Black authors and community leaders and is currently planning a Juneteenth celebration. All are invited to join. To learn more, email President@CantonCommunity.org. 

DPW Announces Bi-weekly Recycling
Due to a recent staff shortage, Baltimore City DPW will be collecting recycling on a bi-weekly basis. Canton is “week B” so expect pick up the week of February 7th and 21st.  To add additional support, the city will provide community recycling drop-off sites for residents to use in the week when their recycling collections are not occurring. The closest drop-off center to Canton, located at 3311 Eastbourne Avenue, will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more info, visit https://bit.ly/3Aqhnkg. The schedule will be in place for an undetermined length of time. For concerns, contact 311.

Link to the map: https://baltimoredpw.maps.arcgis.com/.../index.html...

Link to the FAQs: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/.../Recycling...

Link to the FAQs/Collections Update page: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/collectionupdate

Link to the Residential Drop Off Centers Info page: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/solid-waste/drop-off

Link to the Estimated Recycling Cart Delivery Date page: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/est-recycling-cart...

Link to the Recycling Services page: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/recycling-services

Composting is Coming
The CCA is excited to announce that a new composting program is coming to Canton! The PPNA Community Compost Initiative has graciously shared its grant with the CCA to set up a free food scrap drop-off site in Canton at the i Wonder Garden at Hudson and Baylis Streets. Neighborhood volunteers Allison Blood (PPNA), Cherisse Otis (i Wonder) and Julie Kichline (CCA) met to finalize the site plan. The projected start date is early March to be followed by a kick-off event on-site to introduce neighbors to the program. We will share more details on our social media and website next month.

Tour Hampstead Hill Academy
Hampstead Hill Academy, located at 500 South Linwood Avenue, is operated by the Baltimore Curriculum Project, a local non-profit organization celebrating more than two decades of service and student learning with research-based educational strategies, intensive teacher training and extensive support for principals. The school is currently offering personal tours by Mr. Matt Hornbeck, Principal at Hampstead Hill Academy. To arrange a tour, please email Geri Swann at gswann@hha47.org. To learn more information about the school and the admissions' process, please visit their website at www.hha47.org.

Winter Snow Removal
Neighbors, please clear the sidewalks on your block when it snows and be mindful of helping your neighbors, especially seniors or the physically challenged. In case you didn’t know, residents (including renters) are responsible for removing snow from the sidewalk in front of their houses. Per City Code, snow removal is required within 3 hours after the end of a snow or ice event unless the snowfall stops between 3:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m., in which case snow must be removed by 11 a.m. Failure to shovel the snow from the sidewalk in front of one’s residence/property can result in fines. (Okay, we’ve never seen this happen, but we wanted to let you know that this is a thing. Plus, it’s just a great way to #GetNeighborly!)

Baltimore City Comprehensive Master Plan
Over the next 2 years, Baltimore’s Department of Planning will lead a public process to develop a new Comprehensive Plan, Our Baltimore. The Comprehensive Plan team is seeking community-based organizations to join their engagement leadership team. Members of this team will design and implement creative engagement strategies that fit the needs of the community they serve and know. All organizations will be compensated for their time and expertise. Please submit your proposal today, or by Friday, February 18, 2022. For details and to learn how to participate, visit https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/planning-master-plan.

Public Safety Resource Groups / Tip Line

Reporting and Preventing Crime - BPD TIP email: SEDtips@baltimorepolice.org
Canton Neighbors-Security Camera Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/643027025787288/
Canton Public Safety: Canton Watch and COP Walks https://www.facebook.com/groups/362700647619731/
Community Safety - SE Baltimore https://www.facebook.com/groups/161059098133930/about/ Community Safety - Patterson Park https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommunitySafetyPattersonPark/

 CCA NEWS

CCA Virtual Public Meetings
Save the dates: February 15, May 17, September 13, and November 15

CCA Free Community Dumpster Days
Save the dates: March 12, June 4, September 10, November 5

 2022 CCA Board Election Notice
The CCA will hold its annual Board Elections on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, during the virtual CCA Public Meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. Board terms are for 2 years, and members attend monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, except December. In this election, 7 incumbents are running for re-election to the CCA Board of Directors: Denise Aversa, Amanda Bourgeois (VP), Adrienne Ekas-Mueting, Jayne Miller, Emily Todd, Vic Victoriano, and Michael Woollen. New to the ballot is Joe Montayne. Email info@cantoncommunity.org if you have any questions.

Buy-A-Brick Program
Support the endowment to maintain O'Donnell Square Park with the purchase of a commemorative brick which will be installed along the pathway by the east and west flower beds in the park. This provides a unique opportunity to 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! This duplicate brick is an additional $35, and we can duplicate previously purchased bricks. If you are not sure of the wording on your brick, email Brick@CantonCommunity.org and we can help you find the perfect wording.

Commemorative brick orders will be submitted 3 times a year to the brick company if the minimum order quantity has been reached for production. (For 2022, the planned dates are April 15, July 15, and November 1.) To order online, visit https://www.cantoncommunity.org/buy-a-brick/purchase?rq=brick.

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 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, the i Wonder Garden and the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance. New members are welcomed for all CCA committees. Details can be found on our website at https://www.cantoncommunity.org/committees.