Spring 2014 Tree Report
Thanks to the over 60 volunteers who participated in Mt. Vernon’s two street tree planting events this spring. MVBA’s tree effort planted 61 new street trees throughout the neighborhood during the spring of 2014. We also completed much needed mulching of trees in the Mt. Royal Avenue corridor.
We are excited to announce that MVBA has received a $10,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to create 45 new tree pits over the next year and to expand 40 of our smallest existing tree pits. Look for the work to create and expand tree pits to get going over the summer and into the fall of 2014. Suggestions for locations of new tree pits are always welcomed – email trees@mvba.org if you know of a place near your home or business where you’d like to see a tree added.
We are also continuing to make progress on removal of dead trees and stumps by working closely with TreeBaltimore and the City’s Forestry Division. You’ve probably noticed numerous places where stumps have been taken out for next fall’s planting season.
As we continue to step up our tree effort, we are constantly looking for funding to purchase needed soil amendment ($5 per bag), mulch ($3 per bag), and tree gator bags ($20 per bag) to help our trees survive. If you are interested in contributing to the effort, please visit www.mvba.org and click on tree donations.
Red Maple
Recently, MVBA has received numerous complaints from business owners and residents about excessive noise and congestion in and around Red Maple at 930 North Charles Street due to promoter and dj-type events at the restaurant. There was an initial meeting in early May between MVBA and the owner of the establishment to address these issues, but problems continued, particularly on early Sunday evenings. During a second meeting on May 29, the owner informed MVBA that the Sunday night events had been cancelled and that he plans to replace them “with a family-friendly“ evening with special food and drinks suited for younger guests in addition to their regular menu. which has always been known to be excellent. To date, it appears that the Sunday dj-type events have indeed been cancelled and there have not been any recent complaints. However, we ask members to note any problems in the future and to record those incidents with photos and/or videos and to send them to both president@mvba.org and 311 and to call 911 if the police are needed. Let’s give this business a
chance to be successful without problem events by patronizing Red Maple while we continue to patronize the outstanding businesses that have always been a credit to the community and we have dozens of those to choose from!
Mt. Vernon Place East Square
At the request of the neighborhood, and on a trial basis, the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy has made a section of the East Square closest to Saint Paul Street a clean and green area where picnicers, families with young children, and the Saturday morning yoga class can count on fresh clean grass to enjoy. Pet owners are being asked to keep their dogs off of this one portion of grass.
IN”SPIRED” ART
First and Franklin Presbyterian Church
September 5 – October 3
The Art Under the Spire Gallery of First and Franklin Presbyterian Church will be exhibiting a juried mixed media show of art inspired by the church’s architecture.
We are currently looking for pieces to exhibit. Please contact the church using on of the email addresses below by August 10 if you would be willing to lend us your art work for the show.
Jean Trout ggtia@comcast.net
Dorothy Janzen dorothy.janzen1@gmail.com
Betty Schroll jschroll@msn.com
or the church office information@firstfranklin.org
Extended Summer Hours at Three City Drop-off Centers
Extended summer hours at three of the City’s Citizens’ Convenience Centers are now in effect through Saturday, August 30, 2014. . Baltimore residents can drop-off residential waste, bulk trash, recycling and eCycling at these three Bureau of Solid Waste centers located around the city, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m..
Extended summer hours locations:
Western Citizens’ Convenience Center at 701 Reedbird Ave
Eastern Citizens’ Convenience Center at 6101 Bowleys Lane
Northwest Citizens’ Convenience Center at 2840 Sisson Street
State Center Farmer’s Market Opens for Summer
The State Center Community Farmers Market will be opening from May 14th through November 12th on Wednesdays from 10 am – 2 pm. The goal of the market is to provide State Center surrounding communities with access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Window Box and Planter Competition: Nomination Deadline Extended
You can still nominate yourself for the Window Box and Planter competition being sponsored by MVBA. The competition has be renamed in honor of long-time Mt. Vernon resident Larry Peterson who passed away this spring and the deadline for nominations has been extended to July 1. As a reminder, there will be four categories in the competition: 1) single-family homes, 2) small multi-family buildings (8 or fewer units), 3) large multi-family buildings (larger than 8 units), and 4) businesses and institutions. Please send an email to nominate yourself and any questions to competition@mvba.org by July 1. Judging of the window boxes and planters will be done by a committee led by Andrew Lowrey.
Literary Walking Tour of Mt. Vernon
June 21, 2014 at 11:00am
Tour starts at 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Take this guided 90 minute walking tour with the Maryland Humanities Council, past Mount Vernon’s elegant mansions and majestic cultural institutions. Follow in the footsteps of the many famous authors, poets, and editors who sojourned in Baltimore’s cultural hub.
Registration is required for this free tour. Please call (410) 685-4186.
The Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles Street | Phone: 410-547-9000
The Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize 2014 Finalists
June 21, 2014 – August 17, 2014
10 AM – 5 PM
Trivia Time!
Back when The Owl Bar was a Prohibition-era speakeasy, one had a recite a short poem to be allowed inside. Just what was that four-line poem?
Answer: “A wise old owl sat on an oak/ The more he saw the less he spoke/ The less he spoke the more he heard . . ./ Now wasn’t that a wise old bird? ”
Hallelujah it’s Summer!
Which means it’s the perfect time for getting together with friends and outdoor entertaining. Easy to make in a batch, here’s Jackie Chandler, Owl Bar Manager and Mt. Vernon local’s favorite springtime cocktail:
Strawberry-Basil Collins
1 cup Gin (we recommend Hendricks)
Bunch fresh basil leaves, chopped
4 Fresh Strawberries, sliced
1 cup bottle Champagne
Place the strawberry and basil leaves with just a splash of the gin into a cocktail shaker, and mash well with a cocktail muddler. In a pitcher or punch bowl combine champagne and the rest of the gin and gently stir. Add basil-strawberry combination to pitcher or bowl with ice and stir. Serve in a tall collins glass.
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