2023 Fall AshburtonNews Newsletter

Sun, Oct 31

Details to come. Free

Fall Festivals in Baltimore!

Sat, Nov 11 • 8:00 AM

Mount Olive United Methodist Church

From $25.00

COMMITTEES

Neighbors, we need your help!

To get involved simply send an email to the chair of the committee you would like to support.

Education: tonette.d.campbell@gmail.com

Fundraising: torikay@verixon.net

Housing: byron@conmcastnet

Newsletter: dolds@zebradesigns.net

Beautification/Events: kendra.abaidoo@verizon.net

Safety: Ropbin.Tigbnor@gmail.com

Communications: tyravmitchell@gmail.com

Community Development: Ddeleaver@gmail.com

Architectural Review Committee CHAP: Dawn@otiswarren.com and Noell1229@gmail.com

Public Relations: Phylliseva@msn.com

Fall Flavors

Sat, Oct 21 • 6:00 PM

Clay Pots...A Place to Grow

From $55.00

Sat, Oct 28 • 10:00 AM

Bark Social Baltimore

From $10.00

Harbor Harvest Children’s Fall Festival 2023

Sun, Oct 22 • 10:00 AM

Rash Field Free

Ashburton Harvest Festival

FALL FLEA MARKET

Bark Social Baltimore Presents: Fall Fest!

THE CATALYST INITIATIVE

Initiate! Ignite! Invigorate!

In February of 2021, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, along with 11 other United Methodist Churches, was selected out of hundreds of churches in the Baltimore Washington Conference to participate in the Catalyst Initiative. Under the leadership of Tori Burns, Mt. Zion’s team of six members made the three year commitment to extensive training and then, development and implementation of a plan of action to help grow our church and improve community relations. We were committed to thrive as disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our place in this world. We were challenged to learn and evaluate “Who Are We” as a church, as United Methodists, and as part of the Baltimore Washington Conference.

Our action plan led us to the direction of Nutrition for the Soul. The focus was on health and alternative practices and provided an opportunity to explore a plethora of topics while reconnecting with church members after COVID and extending an outreach too the community.

Open Table Fellowship (OTF) was the platform we selected for these sessions. During that time, we eat, interact with others and present information. Some activities are fun like cookouts, movie night, game night, Family Feud, bingo, trivia night, Christmas Caroline and cultural performances. Other activities explore serious topics: using the brain and meditation, vegan

cooking/eating, mental illness, coping with grief and winter clothes giveaway. Many topics were selected from an evaluation by participants which followed one of the OTF gatherings.

Mt. Zion’s vision was INITIATED by completing a congregational Readiness Survey to identify our specific needs. We IGNITED our plan into action after determining what values are most important to the church as we move forward. The catalyst team has attempted to INVIGORATE others as we implement our action plan via Open Table Fellowship.

That’s explaining “in a nutshell” what we have done since 2021!!! We have enjoyed the participation of Ahsburton residents in the past and we encourage your continued involvement.

Dorothy Randall, Membership Chairperson

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church

Ashburton Area Association upcoming election for Board Officers is coming up in October 2023.

Here is a list of the officer positions

Ashburton residents will be voting on:

• Board President

• 1st Vice President

• 2nd Vice President

• Treasurer

• Secretary

Ashburton general meetings are open to all residents of our community.

Meeting Date:

December 19, 2023 @ 6:30 pm

Meetings held at the Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) in the Fine Arts Building.

Cultivating the Next Generation of Conservationists

Hello Neighbors,

In addition cultivating community between the Ashburton and Callaway-Garrison neighborhoods with tree planting and pruning along the Callaway median, the Urban Tree Program (UTP) is also cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards in a partnership with the Nathan A. Pitts Ashburton Elementary/Middle School.

In classroom sessions, jointly led by our two community partners, Temple X and the For-Win-Ash Garden Club, a class of 6th grade students from Ashburton Elementary/ Middle spend six class sessions together on a visioning project followed by an experiential learning journey centered around the anatomy of a seed.

II their first session, students gathered outside to envision how to make their outdoor habitat more enjoyable and useful to the school and community. Next, students spent time cleaning up of the area by picking up trash. In subsequent sessions, students learned about the anatomy of a seed with a “Garden In A Glove” project. In this lesson students placed a different flower seed in each finger of a glove that they watched germinate. Then, they planted the seedlings in soil in small paper cups. Then into larger pots for outdoor planting.

Last spring, they finished with a session titled ‘Water, Water, Everywhere’ where students learned about the importance of water to plants and how our bodies use water; the similarities between people and plants in relation to water; and made a terrarium to learn about the water cycle.

We want to thank Ms. Jaden Gann, teacher for the 6th grade class, Terris King, II of Temple X Schools, and Jackie Dorsey, our lead from the For-Win-Ash Garden Club for facilitating these sessions and helping us deepen efforts to heighten awareness among our young environmental stewards who are at the heart of future environmental change.

Fall Foliage in Baltimore

One of the coziest cities in the US during Fall

Baltimore may not be the biggest city in the United States, but it surely is the most abundant one in terms of parks, forests, and beautiful nature in general. These conditions make Baltimore and its outskirts one of the most picturesque places in Maryland for your leaf-peeping adventure. Read on to find out about the perfect time to visit the city and its top three fall-foliage spots.

When to go

The golden season in Maryland is super short, and Baltimore is no exception. The leaves normally start turning orange in early October. And by the time the calendar approaches the end of the month, you can witness all flora turn red, yellow, and orange. After that, leaves start falling down, ending this fairytale time of the year. Thus, the best time to visit Baltimore for fall foliage is mid- to late October.

Where to go

While many may argue that Baltimore isn’t the top destination to watch rusty fall leaves, it does actually offer amazing places to enjoy the colorful season. Let’s see what there’s in store.

City parks

Baltimore has a terrific park system with many awesome

places to feel the fall vibe. The finest destinations are Druid Hill Park with its dense forests and tree groves; Patterson Park, crowded with lush knolls, oaks, and maple trees; and Cylburn Arboretum, offering amazing views of golden gardens, woodlands, and planted trees. So pick your favorite spot or go the extra mile and visit them all—you won’t regret it.

Liberty Reservoir

There are a few Board vacancies for qualified, motivated neighbors!

Simply write to Denise DeLeaer at ddeleaver@gmail.com to throw your hat in the ring! Please send your Email today!

Thank you!

This destination is the farthest from Baltimore on our list. Located in a 40-minute drive from the city, Liberty Reservoir offers ideal fall-adventure conditions. The area boasts lush forests with all sorts of red, orange, and golden trees, many no-name hiking trails, and, of course, a water reservoir. Water activities include kayaking, boating, and fishing. If you’re visiting the area for a short period of time, remember to book your accommodation beforehand (Baltimore is very busy this time of year).

Volunteer to become an Ashburton Area Association Board Member

Quick tips for Winterizing Your Home

Here are some quick tips to get you ready for frost, ice and snow.

• If you have any exterior plumbing, shut off faucets and let pipes and hoses drain. Bring in your hose and cover the spigot with a foam protector. This will ensure your hose doesn’t develop rips or tears over winter and will keep your spigot from freezing. Water that’s trapped in pipes can freeze and crack, causing leaks within walls.

• Clean your gutters of leaves and debris. This will ensure melting ice will flow freely away from your house instead of expanding and breaking inside your gutter or downspout.

• Trim branches near your house and on your property. The windy season often brings rotten branches and limbs down.

• Seal and fill cracks around doors and windows to keep cold air out and warm air in. Weather stripping and caulk are low cost ways to save big in your heating bill.

• Gather your snow melting and moving supplies near entryways. Wintery weather can appear overnight.

DID YOU KNOW ASHBURTON IS A Historic CHAP District?

What is CHAP?

In 1964, the City of Baltimore established the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP). The Commission was established to protect communities and historic structures within the City of Baltimore. The appointed CHAP Commissioners and the preservation staff carefully reviews more than 500 permit applications each year to assure that Baltimore City’s CHAP’s “Historic Preservation Guidelines” are applied to each case to assure that historic character is preserved. It is then given to local communities to hear residents’ inquiries about work to be completed at their homes. Find out more at: https:// chap.baltimorecity.gov

When was Ashburton established as a CHAP District?

Ashburton became a Historic CHAP District on December 22, 2011.

What are the benefits to the community?

1 - To protect the integrity and beauty of the homes in Ashburton

2 - Baltimore City Rehabilitation Tax Credits Property owners have welcomed historic designation in Baltimore City because it provides City, State and Federal rehabilitation tax credits to support reinvestment. Since,1996, Baltimore City has offered generous local rehabilitation benefits, administered by CHAP.

Ashburton CHAP Process

The Ashburton Housing & Zoning Committee has oversight of the process to assist with compliance to the rules and regulations set forth within the Ashburton CHAP district.

To complete work on the following, you must have approval with the Committee for the following on the exterior of your home:

Superstructure, Roof Deck, Paint, Windows Doors, Siding, Driveway, Fence

The process is as follows PRIOR to starting your work:

Step 1 – Send an email to AshburtonCHAPreview1920@gmail.com to request a hearing date. Meeting dates are the first Wednesday of each month.

Step 2 – Along with your email to request a hearing, attach a copy of your existing photos and plan or rendering and your Application to Proceed, (this document can be found at: https://chap.baltimorecity.gov/applications-procedures-guidelines - filled out in its entirety) to the email for the meeting. The Application to Proceed package can also be picked up at the Baltimore City Planning offices located at 417 E. Fayette Street. Failure to complete the application and attach your images will result in a delay to your application approval.

Step 3 – Within three days you will receive notification of receipt of your request for a meeting and the meeting date for your hearing.

Step 4 – Written approval will be given within three-five days of the hearing date or earlier Meetings will be held the first Wednesday of each month. You cannot proceed until you are given approval from Committee and CHAP offices.

Step 5 – If your request does not adhere to the guidelines then you can request a hearing to the CHAP Commission for approval.

*Failure to receive approval from the Committee/CHAP may result in a fine and stop work order from Baltimore City. It may also delay your permit from the Permit office of Baltimore City to proceed with your renovation.