Happy September Oakenshawe Neighbors!
This month’s Oakenshawe Improvement Association (OIA) Newsletter Update includes:
- OIA Terrace Party this Saturday, September 9
- Baltimore Jewelry Center – Donate Your Scrap Metal
- Contractor Recommendations
- Save the Dates and more!
*Correction: Last month we failed to mention the E. University Parkway Task Force’s leadership on pressing the city for speed cameras and other safety measures along EUP. We thank the EUP Task Force for their service to the wider community.
OIA Block Party on Homewood Terrace This Saturday
This Saturday is the OIA Block Party on Homewood Terrace! Join your neighbors on Saturday, September 9th from 5 – 9 pm for fun, friends, food, and drinks.
The price for attendance is $10 for individuals, and $25 for families and can be paid by cash, check, or Venmo. All Oakenshawe residents and neighbors are welcome.
To volunteer for the event, please reach out to OakenshaweNews@gmail.com.
OIA will provide grillables, drinks, and tables. As per tradition, every household is encouraged to bring a potluck dish based on your last name alphabetically. If your last name starts with an A-R, please bring a side dish or salad. If your last name starts with a S-Z, please bring a dessert to share. Unless you have something absolutely delicious to share and then no one will care what letter your last name starts with.
Logistics: Volunteers & Supply Drop Off
There is still time to help with supplies, party prep, setup, and hosting. Reach out to OakenshaweNews@gmail.com to sign up to volunteer or with any questions.
Volunteers Needed for:
- Stringing Lights at 11am Saturday morning
- Party Setup (Tables, Chairs, Decorations) at 2pm Saturday afternoon
- Check-in/Registration (1 hour shifts) during the party
- Grilling Hot Dogs and Hamburgers (1 hour shifts) during the party
- Cleanup at 8pm after the party
Supply Drop Off*
- Extension Cords (for lights) by 11am Saturday morning
- Coolers by 3pm Saturday afternoon
- Grills Drop Off by 4pm Saturday afternoon
- Trash or Recycling Bins by 4pm Saturday afternoon
*Please attach your name to your supplies so we can make sure they get back to you.
**The rain date is Sunday, September 10th**
Baltimore Jewelry Center – Donate Your Scrap Metal
A note from Oakenshawe resident Allison Gulick:
Support the Baltimore Jewelry Center, a local arts nonprofit, in reaching our summer fundraising goal by donating your scrap metal! Did you know that your unwanted gold or silver jewelry and silver housewares can become a cash donation to support the BJC! During the month of September, we are seeking donations of fine metal from the community. Will will then send donated metal to a refinery and receive cash in return to support our summer fundraising goal of raising $50,000.
Don’t have fine metal but have other metals like copper, bronze, brass, or nickel cluttering your workbench or your junk drawer? We will take those too!
Ways to participate:
- Bring your scrap metal to our culminating Summer Fundraiser event, Give A Scrap, on Friday September 29th, from 6-8pm
- Drop off your donation at the BJC any Saturday in September
- Mail us your scraps to 10 E. North Ave., Suite 130, Baltimore, MD 21220.
Encourage your friends and family to do some fall cleaning and bring them (and their scraps) to the Give A Scrap party! Interested in donating but don’t have time to visit the BJC, email your Oakenshawe neighbor Allison at allison@baltimorejewelrycenter.org and she’ll arrange a convenient pick up from your home.
Save the Dates
Below are some important dates in 2023 that you should add to your calendar.
- Saturday, September 9: Annual Oakenshawe Block Party
- Sunday, September 24: EUP Taskforce Community Cleanup
- Monday, October 16: OIA Quarterly Meeting
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
Community Updates
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.
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 September and we look forward to seeing you this Saturday at the annual block party on Homewood Terrace on September 9.