Happy November Oakenshawe Neighbors,
This month’s Oakenshawe Improvement Association (OIA) Newsletter includes:
- OIA October Meeting Recap
- Lost Items from Block Party
- Waverly Main Street
- Save the Dates and more!
OIA October Meeting Recap: Meeting Minutes
On Monday, October 16 at 6:30pm, OIA held its fourth and final quarterly meeting of 2023. The minutes recapping the meeting are below:
October 2023 OIA Agenda & Meeting Minutes
- Welcome
- Odette Update: The Councilmember was not able to attend. However, in July, the Councilmember mentioned she was introducing the ‘The Councilmember Mary Pat Clarke Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act’ which Mayor Scott signed into law to empower renters towards homeownership.
- George Atkinson Memorial Update: After consultation with Miye, the acknowledgement at the Block Party and the Memory Book that neighbors signed was deemed to be as much memorial as George would have wanted.
- Officer & Committee Reports
- Treasurer Report: OIA has collected $3,056 in dues and donations since the beginning of the year ($752 at the Parking Permit pickup and $2,304 at the Homewood Terrace block party) and spent $1,447 ($1,297 for the block party and $150 for miscellaneous expense). OIA’s account balance is $4,089.
- Membership & Communications Report: Block captains are going strong. The Green Space parents group is exploring a pay-as-you-order ‘Oakenshawe Acorns’ shirt for the kids around the neighborhood.
- Events Report: Karen, the committee chair, was absent on vacation. However, the board passed a resolution to approve up to $250 to buy new holiday lights to be used to decorate for future block parties.
- University Outreach and Safety Report: The committee hosted two ‘Welcome Walks’ to chat with incoming Hopkins & Loyola students, welcome them and remind them they live in a neighborhood. The board discussed the new speed cameras (an initiative led by the EUP Task Force), car thefts in the areas, the new Johns Hopkins Police Department draft policies, and concerns about students playing flip cup with alcohol in the Gateway Park. Neighbors were asked to take pictures of concerns with student houses (i.e. trash in the alley) to share with Hopkins and Loyola.
- Green Space & Trees Report: A large tree branch fell in the Green Space, which the ‘Dads Group’ plans to chop up. Anne is still working on tree pruning. Up to $500 was approved in Q1 2023 to pay for tree planting.
- New Business: The board discussed outreach with Union Memorial Hospital to encourage enhanced trash pickup around the property.
- Closing
Lost Items from Block Party
Are you missing the plate, tray, bowl, trivet, or napkin pictured above?
These items were left over after the block party on Homewood Terrace. If any of the above is yours, please reach out to johnhillegass@gmail.com if you want it back. John will hold on to these items until December, at which point they will find new homes.
January Parking Permit Pickup
OIA plans to host another parking permit pickup, coinciding with the January board meeting. The parking permit pickup provides an alternate option for neighbors who do not want to pick up their permit at the offices downtown or pay extra to have it shipped.
OIA plans to host the parking permit pickup *tentatively* on January 20.
More details to come in future newsletter updates.
Waverly Main Street
Last month, Jinji’s Chocolate opened in the old Waverly Town Hall. This is another great addition to the Waverly Main Street corridor on Greenmount Avenue. Whether it’s new classics like Red Emma’s, old classics like Herman’s Discount, or new spots like Poblano Mexican Grill and Chihuahua Brothers, don’t forget to shop small and support the renaissance of our neighborhood’s nearby commercial corridors.
Growing Greenmount Small Business Competition
On November 2, twelve businesses pitched as part of the Growing Greenmount Small Business Competition where six entrepreneurs will compete to win space in the Waverly Business District. Four retail-based businesses will receive 12 months of rent-free retail space Waverly Gateway building for their new retail start-up, plus a tenant improvement allowance to build out their space. Two additional office-based businesses will receive a rent-free, fully-furnished office suite, at the OfficeFlex Executive Center directly across the street. Announcements coming soon.
ZEHBRAS Crossfit Coming to Greenmount
ZEHBRAS is on a mission to help you live a robust, fulfilled life. ZEHBRAS plans to offer personal training, group classes, and nutrition coaching and is expected to open soon at 3313 Greenmount.
Save the Dates
Below are some important dates that you should add to your calendar.
- Monday, October 16: OIA Quarterly Meeting
- Saturday, October 28 at 5:30pm: Oakenshawe Halloween Parade
- Sunday, November 26: EUP Taskforce Community Cleanup
- January 20 *Tentative*: Parking Permit Pickup & OIA Quarterly Meeting
- Saturday, September 7, 2024: Annual Oakenshawe Block Party
Have feedback on the Oakenshawe Block Party on September 11? Fill out this survey and let us know how we can improve for next year.
Community Updates
Event | Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K, Nov. 23
Join community members for a fun-filled morning of tradition, family, fitness, friendship, and giving back on Thanksgiving morning at 8:30am for the Y Turkey Trot Charity 5k. This great community event supports an important center in our neighborhood that promotes health and service to so many! The run goes around the lovely Montebello Reservoir and if you sign up for the race, you can get a month of free Y membership if you join the gym at the same time.
Event | The Importance of Saving African American Sites, Nov. 30
Join the Society for The Preservation of Federal Hill & Fell’s Point at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum on Thursday, November 30th, at 7:00 pm. Lawana Holland-Moore, our speaker, will focus on the importance of preserving African-American sites as places of historical and cultural significance for future generations, with reference to the Ship Caulkers’ Houses, 1790’s wooden structures with ties to free Black Ship Caulkers living and working in Fell’s Point before the Civil War. These houses are owned by the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill & Fell’s Point, and undergoing restoration with the help of the Friends of the Ship Caulkers’ Houses. Tickets are required – donations are suggested, but the event itself is free.
Children of the World Co-op Playgroup
Before preschool, there are playgroups! Children of the World is a landmark organization, serving families in Baltimore for 34 years, that meets right in our neighborhood, in the undercroft of the Cathedral of the Incarnation on University Parkway. This multi-lingual, multi-national and multi-generational Co-op playgroup joyfully welcomes families from all across Baltimore to come together in a nurturing, loving, supportive and joyful setting.In the Co-op, children are given space and encouragement to play and make friends at their own pace; with open opportunities to make art and explore sensory fun activities, to build or play imaginatively, to read or to tinker. All with plenty of room to run and just be a kid! They offer an early-education playgroup program (6 months to 4 years old) that is affordable, promotes tolerance, and celebrates cultural diversity. We also offer parenting resources and adult English language instruction. From 9:30 to 11:30 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays our community of young families come together for a gently structured playgroup that includes circle and snack time, as well as outdoor play with more toys and our small playground. The team would love to meet you and welcome you to a free trial visit. Visit their website to learn more: https://cotwcoop.org/about/. Oakenshawe resident Bethan McGarry has attended with her kiddos since the Co-op re-opened in spring 2021, and would love to answer any questions you have about the program!
Councilmember Ramos Weekly Newsletter
Councilmember Ramos sends out a weekly District 14 newsletter (Oakenshawe falls within Council District 14) that includes updates on legislation in City Council, events, and more. This is a good resource to stay up to date on local news. Sign up for the Councilmember’s weekly newsletter on her website.
Oakenshawe Opines
If you have a local business review, poem, or story for the next newsletter you would like to see featured, submissions can be sent to John Hillegass at johnhillegass@gmail.com. Publication and editing decisions are at the discretion of the OIA Board.
Contractor Recommendations
Have you had a good experience with a contractor, handyman, landscaper or house cleaner? Are you willing to share with your neighbors? The Oakenshawe Improvement Association often gets emails from members asking for suggestions for repairs, home improvements or just help with the yard.
We have created this google doc for folks to add names and contact info for the ones you have liked and recommend. Help your neighbors and help a contractor with new business.Be sure to include your name and contact info!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11O2MFdA2L-baXLWVzym8VNKLc1E3FL5zRxBQvJYeWaY/edit?usp=sharing
OIA Block Captains
OIA’s Block Captains help communicate with neighbors, especially those who may not be on this newsletter. Thank you to the amazing volunteers listed below. Hopefully, most of you have already met your Block Captain.
| Block | Captain | Block | Captain |
| Barclay | Vanessa Proto | Southway 200-300s | Jessica Kohnen |
| Birkwood | Rachael Edgin | Southway 400s | Shannon Frede |
| Calvert | Laura Urban | EUP 200s | Ed & Karen Stokes* |
| Calvin | Davon Pulliam | EUP Guilford Hall | Need Volunteer |
| The Carrollton | Kevin Cleary | EUP 301-320 | Need Volunteer |
| Guilford Terrace (Even side) | Ben Wright | EUP 321+ | Bethan McGarry |
| Guilford Terrace (Odd side) | Co-Captains: Marcy Feeney & Anne Kern | University Place (Odds) | Robin Prescott |
| Homewood Terrace | Leah Glasheen | University Place (Evens) | Amelia Jamison |
| Oakenshawe Place | Jenny Sorel | Venable | Davon Pulliam** |
*Ed and Karen Stokes have agreed to help temporarily on the 200 block of EUP until we can find a permanent block captain.
**Davon Pulliam has agreed to help temporarily on Venable until we can find a permanent block captain.
If you know anyone who lives on a block without a captain, ask them if they are interested in volunteering or can think of a friendly neighbor who might be interested. Block Captains greet & welcome new neighbors, drop off flyers ahead of quarterly OIA meetings, seek volunteers for events, and gather contact information to keep OIA’s neighbor database up-to-date. If you are interested, please reach out to John at johnhillegass@gmail.com.
On behalf of the OIA Board, we hope you have a wonderful November and we look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood.