Neighborhood News: December 2024
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Shop Small for the Holidays
Support local businesses by shopping small this holiday season. Here are a few to support in our community.
• Canton Games - Baltimore’s best source for all your gaming and collectible needs. 2101 Essex Street | 410-276-2640 | www.cantongames.com
• Best Day Ever - a fun gift shop featuring everything you need for a wedding, baby shower, birthday, or housewarming party. 2915 O’Donnell Street | 667-212-3919 | www.bestdayevermd.com
• Canton Ace Hardware - an employee-owned hardware store stocking household tools, garden supplies, home decor CCA merch & more. 1002 S. Binney Street | 410-327-0404 | www.acehardwaredc.com.
• Chesapeake Wine Company - a boutique wine & spirits shoppe offering retail, rotating BTG & cocktail list and small plates w/no corkage fee. 2400 Boston Street | 410-849-9111 | details.
Highlandtown Train Garden
A SE Baltimore holiday tradition continues. The Highlandtown Train Garden is FREE to the public and is located at Engine House #41 at 520 S. Conkling St. Open from 11am to 5pm on the following days: Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21-31, 2024 and January 1, 2025. For school/group visits and volunteer opportunities, please contact Joe Manfre at joesocst@aol.com.
Music on the Square (Graphic)
Music on the Square Concert Series continues with the 2024-2025 season bringing roots music to Canton! Check out the music of Becky Tracy & Keith Murphy + Nate Sabat on Friday, December 13 at 7:00 pm. Becky and Keith are dynamic performers of traditional music from Newfoundland, Quebec, Ireland, France and beyond. Drawing from the rich and thriving tradition of American folk music, Sabat delivers expertly-crafted original songs and choice covers with the upright bass as his lone tool for accompaniment. $25. Church on the Square is located at 1025 S Potomac Street, Baltimore, MD 21224. Click here for TICKETS.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks & Celebrations
Pre-firework entertainment takes place along the Inner Harbor from 8 to 11:45 p.m., followed by the fireworks and drone show that will occur simultaneously at the stroke of midnight. For more details about NYE activities, check out Visit Baltimore.
Many Inner Harbor museums also have extended hours on New Year’s Eve. The National Aquarium is open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The American Visionary Art Museum is open from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Port Discovery will be open from 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. and is hosting its annual Noontime New Year Event at 12 p.m. The Maryland Science Center is open from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Exchange Club Scholarship Program
The Exchange Club of Highlandtown-Canton is now accepting applications for its 2024-2025 college scholarship program. The scholarship will be awarded to one college-bound high school senior who lives in East or Southeast Baltimore (within zip codes 21224, 21231, 21205, or 21202). The decision of whom to award the scholarship is based on a combination of financial need, demonstration of exemplary citizenship, service, and good character. Applications are accepted through January 31, 2025 for qualifying high school seniors to apply. The winner will be announced in the Spring of 2025. APPLY HERE. Congratulations to Camila Calero, Baltimore City College Class of '24, winner of last year's scholarship!
Canton Library Programs
Join your neighbors at the Enoch Pratt Library Canton Branch for these classes in December, 2024. The library is located at 1030 S. Ellwood. Questions, email CNT@prattlibrary.org.
Jack Burkert: "Twentieth Century Baltimore"
Join us for an afternoon Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 2pm to 3pm with historian Jack Burkert. If you want to know where your city is going, it helps a lot to know where it’s been. Stories large and small, some heartwarming, a few heartbreaking, the predictable and the surprising. Ten decades of history in one volume, from Baltimore's Great Fire to Y2K. This is the story of Baltimore, its people and events: large and small, and how people worked, lived, and enjoyed all things Baltimore. Copies of the book will be available to purchase.
Create @ Canton
Join us for a cozy, casual crafting night, Create @ Canton, for a chance to indulge in a delightful evening of creativity and community. Bring a friend! Thursdays, December 5 & 19, 2024 6pm to 7:30pm.
In Stitches Club
Whether you knit, crochet, cross-stitch, needlepoint – or have another favorite craft – bring your work in progress to join us for a morning of crafting, conversation, and camaraderie. Saturday, December 28 from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
Elev8 Baltimore Volunteers Needed
Elev8 Baltimore is seeking people age 50 or older to help children in k-3rd grades to learn to read. By volunteering as a reading tutor, you can help change a child’s future. For more info, or to apply, contact AARP/Volunteer Coordinator George Butin at volunteer@elev8baltimore.org or call 667-256-5004.
Elev8 Baltimore provides out-of-school time opportunities and coordinates school-based health services, resources, support and outreach for families in Baltimore. By partnering with schools and the surrounding community, their goal is to make sure that every student is ready to succeed in high school and beyond. In addition, they help young people with social services and other community resources.
Special Olympics Fundraiser
Special Olympics has opened a Baltimore City branch after many years of not having a local office. They are hosting a fundraiser on December 5 from 6-10pm at the Peabody Heights Brewing at 401 E. 30th Street. For more info, or to volunteer, email Shae Jordan Brodey at sjbrodey@sobaltcity.org or call 443-206-8159. Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy, and benefit from participation in individual and team sports.
DPW Leaf and Christmas Tree Collection
Leaf collection season continues through January 9, 2024. Bagged leaves (up to 5 bags) are collected on regularly scheduled trash collection days. Residents can call 311 to schedule special Monday pickups of up to 20 bags of leaves. Read more details about leaf collection. Christmas Tree pick up is also available - info at https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/.
Public Safety Resources
The Holidays and crime seem to go hand-in-hand. To protect yourself from porch pirates, auto break-ins, and more, follow the helpful suggestions to reduce theft and increase safety found on our website. You can also use this new service www.PorchPair.com to reserve a delivery spot with a local participating business.
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.
CCA NEWS
How to Support the CCA this Holiday Season
1.) Become a CCA Member
Joining the CCA is a gateway to meeting neighbors and supporting local businesses in our community. Meet awesome people and learn about our neighborhood and how you can engage to not only have fun but help others, too. You’ll also receive a subscription to our monthly e-newsletter, Life in Canton, and some cool CCA merch. Individual memberships start at only $10/year; business memberships at $250. For details, visit https://www.cantoncommunity.org/join-us.
2.) Shop CCA Merchandise – Did you know you can “Shop the CCA” to benefit our community? Check out our cool navy blue and lime merch at Canton Ace Hardware. Select from dog bandanas, baby onesies, limited edition hoodies, and more. Don’t forget to pick up a CCA foldable, reusable tote bag, too. They make a great gift at only 2 for $15! Available for purchase at Canton Ace Hardware or email info@CantonCommunity.org.
3.) Volunteer with Us!
Random CCA Merch $20, CCA Membership $10, Volunteering with the CCA, priceless! To learn about our committees, events, and community volunteer efforts or to become a Block Captain, visit https://www.cantoncommunity.org/committees.
4.) Buy-A-Brick at O’Donnell Square Park or the Canton Dog Park (Brick Dog pix)
Support the endowment to maintain O'Donnell Square Park and/or The Friends of Canton Dog 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 $100. 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, emailbrick@cantoncommunity.org and we can help. (Note: the program is under transition and new bricks may take several months to be installed.)
CCA Board Election Notice
The CCA will hold its annual Board Elections on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, during the CCA Public Meeting which begins at 6:30 p.m. Board terms are for 2 years, and members attend monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of each month. For more info or questions, email info@cantoncommunity.org.
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 Facebook.