Happy October Oakenshawe Neighbors,
This month’s Oakenshawe Improvement Association (OIA) Newsletter Update includes:
- OIA Quarterly Meeting: October 16
- OIA Terrace Party 2023 Recap
- Halloween Parade
- Jinji’s Chocolate in Waverly
- Save the Dates and more!
Join OIA Quarterly Meeting: Monday, October 16
The next OIA quarterly meeting is Monday, October 16 at 6:30pm. Join for updates from the President, Treasurer, and Committees including: Membership & Communications, Events, Greenspace & Trees, and Public Safety & University Engagement.
OIA Quarterly Meeting (July)
Date & Time: Monday, October 16 from 6:30-7:30pm
Location: The Waverly Enoch Pratt Free Library (400 E. 33rd Street)
Join your neighbors to discuss how to strengthen our community.
OIA Block Party on Homewood Ter: Rain & Shine
On Saturday, September 11, many of you joined us for the annual OIA Block Party on Homewood Terrace for food, music, fun, and — most importantly — each other!
A little rain can’t hold Oakenshawe back.
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to string lights, set up tables, lend coolers, grills, garbage cans, and extension cords, went shopping for supplies, chopped tomatoes, brought an entree or baked a dessert, and more. This is a signature event for OIA and the neighborhood and we are so glad to be able to continue this tradition with your help. We’ll see you at next year’s OIA Block Party on Homewood Terrace the Saturday after Labor Day.
Have feedback on the event? Fill out this survey and let us know how we can improve for next year.
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, October 29: EUP Taskforce Community Cleanup
- January TBD: Parking Permit Pickup & OIA Quarterly Meeting
- Saturday, September 7, 2024: Annual Oakenshawe Block Party
Community Updates
Oakenshawe Halloween Parade!
Join the Oakenshawe Halloween parade and trick-or-treating! Meet at the corner of Homewood Terrace/Guilford Terrace at 5:30pm on Sat Oct 28th. Kids and adults come dressed in your costumes to parade around the block and trick-or-treat in our neighborhood. Residents please be ready with some treats to hand out. Hope to see you there!
Jinji’s Chocolate in Waverly
“Jinji Chocolate is brightening the neighborhood! Belvedere Square’s loss is our gain – Jinji’s opened on 3100 Greenmount Ave (just off Waverly Main Street) this month, and our family could not be more excited. The date poppers (a pregnancy fav for this mom of 2!) and wide fudge variety are not to be missed, and the vegan-friendly and gluten-light menu provides something for absolutely everyone. Jinji and her crew are Baltimore gems that bring as much kindness and heart to the block as they do INCREDIBLE sweets – we’re so happy they’re here!!” – Bethan M., University Parkway. Learn more at Baltimore Magazine.
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!
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 October and we look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood.