Neighborhood Notes: April 2024

Volunteers of the Year
Every year the CCA recognizes a few of our awesome neighbors for their volunteerism and community work. This year the award goes to… Kristen Mills (HDC Inc.) and Ted Hart! Thank you for your outstanding, impactful work with the CCA Buy-A-Brick Program and for your continuing commitment to our community. We appreciate you!

HHA B3 Bingo Fundraiser
Join us for Bmore B3, the annual PTO Fundraiser for Hampstead Hill Academy, on April 13 from 6-11 pm. Enjoy bingo with cash prizes, a silent auction, great food, and more. Details and Tickets. The CCA is a proud sponsor of B3 2024.

Patterson Park Rangers
After a three-year hiatus, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) Rangers are being redeployed to area parks. They will coordinate with BPD and BCSO to ensure enforcement of park rules. Read the full article in the Baltimore Banner. 

New Owners at Walt’s Inn photo

Walt’s Inn, everyone’s favorite spot for Karaoke at 3201 O’Donnell St., welcomes new owners Andrew & Ron. They love living in Canton and wanted to make sure to keep our neighbors singing. The property was built in 1920 and Walt’s originally opened in 1933 according to the liquor license filing. It’s been operating for 91 years! Hours have been expanded to Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, so please stop by and sing HELLO! https://www.facebook.com/waltsinn

Here’s what they promise:

1. To be great neighbors (we live here)

2. Rose & Dawn are going nowhere

3. Walt’s will be Walt’s, the corner dive karaoke bar you know & love, with cheap drinks and awesome karaoke.

4. New sound & karaoke system ordered

Canton Ace Garden Party
Canton Ace Hardware is hosting its Annual Garden Party on April 20 from 10 am-2 pm. The event will feature local gardening experts, giveaways, and 20% off plants, pottery, tools, paint, and more! The sale runs all weekend April 20 & 21 at 1022 S. Binney Street. Look for details on their website.

Music on the Square Concert Series
Music on the Square Concert Series continues April 12 with the old-time, bluegrass, country, and folk of Geraldine, Baltimore’s modern string band. Details and Tickets here or visit www.facebook.com/musicotsquare for more information. The concert series is held every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Church on the Square located at 1025 S. Potomac Street. https://www.facebook.com/events/942576290723576

Canton Library Events March 2024

Tammi Sauer & Vanessa Brantley-Newton: "Mary Had a Little Plan"
Friday, April 5 at 3:00 pm at the Church on the Square.  Meet the creators of this year's Imagination Celebration book!

This program for the whole family will take place at the Church on the Square at 1025 S Potomac St, Baltimore, MD 21224.

All registered in-person attendees will receive a free copy of the book while supplies last. To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 2pm.  Free street parking and bike parking are available. This program is part of the Imagination Celebration, celebrating children's creativity with special events, arts and crafts, and more throughout April.

Linda Rabben: "Through a Glass Darkly"
Saturday, April 20 at 11:00 am at the Canton Branch.
Exploring her new neighborhood after moving to Baltimore in 2021, anthropologist Linda Rabben noticed numerous stained-glass windows in houses, churches, and public buildings.  On-the-ground and archival research in the city and suburbs inspired her to write about the connections between decorative art elements in the built environment and Baltimore's long history of racial, ethnic, and religious segregation. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

About the Author:  Linda Rabben is an associate research professor of anthropology at the University of Maryland. She is the author of Sanctuary and Asylum:  A Social and Political History; My Brazil:  Reports from the Interior; Journeywoman:  A Writer's Story; and other books and articles on human rights and related subjects.

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, March 23 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Canton Branch.

Free Yoga, Abs Core, and Wellness Classes
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Engagement Center (at 1501 South Clinton Street in Canton) has Free Yoga Classes on Mondays from 5-6 pm. The instructor is amazing, and you don’t need CareFirst insurance to participate. Classes and parking are free. Some yoga mats are provided or you can bring your own. Other classes include Relaxation & Meditation, Stretch & Balance, and Zumba. To register please click https://www.carefirst.com/cec/, and select register for a class or event or go to CareFirst Engagement Center Events | Eventbrite.

Easter Egg Hunt
Church on the Square hosts their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, March 31 at 11:30 am at O’Donnell Square Park. Bring the kids to search for treat-filled eggs. COTS is located at 1025 S. Potomac St. For details, contact info@churchonthesquarebaltimore.org.

Community Compost Initiative – Seeking Grant Writer
The CCA is celebrating the second anniversary of the Community Compost Station where neighbors are invited to drop off food scraps and compostables for FREE! Located at the I Wonder Garden, the program has been an extension of the PPNA Community Compost Initiative and was funded by local company Pompeian, Inc. via a grant from Healthy Harbor.  Unfortunately, this grant is not available in 2024 so we are looking for new resources and may need to host a fundraiser. If you are a grant writer, we’d love your help! Please contact us at info@CantonContained.org.

Overhead utility problems? Dangling lines? Let us help.
If you have utility poles around your home with inactive, loose, or potentially dangerous lines hanging from them the CCA wants to know. We are continuing an initiative to motivate the utility companies to clean up Canton's overhead utilities but need information on the "problem poles" first. To report the location of a problem, fill out this form. Most utility poles have a metal tag with a number on them that tells BGE exactly where the pole is located. Please include this number if possible. Please note, the CCA is not the point of contact for problems with your service. We are merely trying to help facilitate the removal of non-functioning lines.

Baltimore City Water Service Line Survey
Baltimore City Department of Public Works and Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation are asking customers with unknown service line materials to submit information using this survey. Your responses will be used for the sole purpose of verifying water service line material as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Act, 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revision.

A service line is the water pipe that connects your home to the public water main. The service line conveys water from the main to the faucets, toilets, and other fixtures within your house and can typically be seen where it enters your home in the basement. All residents are required to take the survey at https://service-line-partnership-baltimoredpw.hub.arcgis.com/.

Reading Partners Baltimore
RPB empowers students to succeed in reading and in life by harnessing the power of community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring. All tutoring materials, lessons, and training materials will be provided. To volunteer.

Hatton Senior Center
Baltimore is home to 13 senior centers which offer different programs and services for older adults. In Canton, the Hatton Senior Senior Center, located at 2825 Fait Ave., is open Monday-Thursday 9:00 am-3:30 pm. Neighbors 55+ can take part in fitness and wellness programs, dining services, and lifelong learning classes. Seniors 60+ are eligible for the “Eating Together Meal” Monday, Tuesday & Thursday at 11:30 am for $2. Advance registration is required. For more information, call 410-396-9025 or email Adrienne.Blumberg@baltimorecity.gov. Look for more details to follow in future Life in Canton e-newsletters.

CCA NEWS

CCA Hybrid Public Meetings 2024
February 20, May 21, September 17, and November 19
Meetings are held at the United Evangelical Church at 3200 Dillon St. and live-streamed on the CCA Facebook page.

CCA Free Community Dumpster Days 2024
March 23, June 1, September 7, November 2
The dumpster will be located near 1011 S. Lakewood Ave, alongside Safeway just north of Boston Street from approximately 9:00 am until noon or until full. Plan to go early, as it usually fills fast.

Buy-A-Brick at O’Donnell Square Park or the Canton Dog Park
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 Merchandise
Support the CCA and look sharp, too. Buy CCA merchandise including hats, long-sleeve lightweight hoodies, CCA foldable, reusable tote bags, and more available at Canton Ace Hardware at 1022 Binney St.

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 / Volunteer Opportunities
The CCA has a variety of volunteer opportunities that enable neighbors to share their time and talent with the community. As we begin the new year, we’d love to see some fresh faces join our committees – especially our Public Safety, Membership, and Transportation committees.  CCA committees include Arts, Economic Development, Education, Marketing, Membership, Public Safety, Transportation, Social, Sustainability, and Volunteer. The CCA also oversees the Friends of Canton Dog Park & Friends O’Donnell Square, and partners with Canton Canopy, the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance, and the I Wonder Garden. (Details) To learn more, visit www.cantoncommunity.org/volunteer/ or please contact Amanda at volunteer@cantoncommunity.org.

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.