Stoneleigh Community Association 2015

I'm happy to continue helping my neighbors and neighborhood as vice president of the Stoneleigh Community Association after my 2-year term as treasurer.  January 20th, neighbors attended the Association's annual meeting and elected their new slate for the Stoneleigh Community Association's Board of Governors for 2015.  After several years helping my community in New Haven, CT, I'm to be helpful in our Baltimore community and am always enthusiastic about being helpful however needed.  I look forward to meeting even more Stoneleigh neighbors while helping to steward the community pool and our historic neighborhood.

Congratulations to Delegate Lafferty on his re-election!

I was proud to be part of Steve's re-election team as Steve and several volunteers spent a lot of time knocking on doors and listening to constituents.   As residents of Steve's district have appreciated his efforts on their behalf,  he again has been re-elected to Maryland's House of Delegates to represent the newly formed 42A.  Steve will bring seniority and experience to Annapolis as he begins his third term. 

Elected as the SES PTA Treasurer

I have recently been elected to be the Treasurer for the Stoneleigh Elementary PTA.  The PTA membership voted on the nominated slate at the end of the year picnic.  This position is for a three year term.  I look forward to being helpful!

I'm helping to Re-Elect Steve Lafferty, MD House of Delegates, 42A

I'm working to help re-elect MD House Delegate Steve Lafferty as our representative in the newly created 42A district.  I'm excited to learn more about Maryland politics and be helpful to our wonderful neighborhood and greater community.  Check out Delegate Lafferty's website!  While Steve is unopposed in the upcoming primary, Tuesday, June 24, 2014, he will face a Republican opponent in the November general election.  Steve is on the Primary ballot unopposed, but the more relevant primary is for Governor as this 3-way primary on the Democratic side results from the current governor's second term expiring at the end of 2014 as there are term limits here in MD.  Here's the link to 2014 Elections information from Steve's website.

Stoneleigh Community Association 2013

I'm happy to be helping my neighbors and neighborhood as treasurer of the Stoneleigh Community Association.  January 15th, neighbors attended the Association's annual meeting and elected their new slate for the Stoneleigh Community Association's Board of Governors for 2013.  After several years helping my community in New Haven, CT, I am excited to be welcomed into our new community and truly enthusiastic about being helpful however needed.  I look forward to meeting more Stoneleigh neighbors and with helping to steward the community pool and our historic neighborhood.

Hello from Baltimore

Hello from Baltimore!  After almost 8 years living in New Haven, CT, our family recently moved to Baltimore, MD.  We are settling in and meeting new neighbors and making new friends.  As in New Haven, I hope to be helpful in the varied roles I enjoy as a stay-at-home-Dad and "civic volunteer."

I hope the blogging I began in 2009, as I ran for Alderman to represent Ward 25 and our many friends and neighbors of Westville, will continue and be helpful to my new Baltimore neighbors of Stoneleigh.

Stay tuned...

Duck Pond Update - 6/2/12

Today, in weather more befitting the ducks, Mayor DeStefano welcomed friends, neighbors, dignitaries, and project partners to celebrate the West River Tidal Marsh Restoration project which included important components on the shores of the Edgewood Park Duck Pond.

The new Tide Gates will soon be fully operational but water is now flowing thru open gates.  From these pictures, one can see the new water level at high tide and how the path work and regrading still allow for good access to enjoy and use the Duck Pond as neighbors and visitors have for more than 100 years!

Volunteers helping to plant new native vegetation

Don Strait, executive director for the CFE/Save the Sound, spoke as his group led the project which included replacing the old tide gates and additional mitigation efforts at the Duck Pond to preserve access and enjoyment with the new tidal effect from the new tide gate configuration.  While allowing more tidal flow into the West River from the Long Island Sound the ecological benefits outweighed any inconvenience, however the regrading and boardwalk installation along the Duck Pond were necessary and appreciated efforts which mitigated most impediments to continued access and enjoyment of the Duck Pond feature within Edgewood Park.

Additional partners spoke including: Eric Schwaab, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Conservation and Management for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- NOAA's federal grant dollars and project leadership was integral.  Congresswoman DeLauro, a representative from Senator Lieberman, CT DEEP Commissioner Daniel Esty,  Restore America's Estuaries' Elsa Carlisle, CT State Senator Toni Harp, State Representative Walker, State Representative Pat Dillon also spoke and thanked all involved.

Attempting to fill FOEP president Semi Semi-Dikoko's shoes (absent due to illness), I closed the press conference part of the day's celebration by thanking - on behalf of the Friends of Edgewood Park  - all the partners involved, especially the team from CFE/Save the Sound for listening to and communicating with the Edgewood Park neighbors and friends throughout the project.

for earlier project updates and additional info: click here.

Duck Pond Update 3/9/12

 
(click here for Project Plan and plan info)
CT Fund for the Environment's John Champion shares the following update:

The mild weather has enabled Schumack, the contractor at the Duck Pond, to make significant progress in the last month. On the west side of the river, near the soccer fields, the area that required re-grading in order to protect the fields from  elevated flows has had most of the work completed. What needs to be finished is the fine grading and raking and the seeding of the area. This work will be completed when the temperature gets to about 60 degrees and does not get too cold in the evening.

At the Duck Pond, the path leading from the bridge at the base of the Chapel St bridge has been shaped and brought to the rough grade to accept new asphalt, replacing the old that was removed. The forms for the concrete that will support the elevated boardwalk have been set. I expect concrete to be poured within a day or so. The edge of the pond has been reshaped and hardened (rocks and gravel installed) so that access to the Pond will be maintained when the SRTs are installed and functional and additional water is added to the system. An area that will serve as an open classroom and canoe launching site has been shaped and hardened. The outlines of the finished product are taking shape.

The phragmites along the river near the service road and the phragmites close to the Chapel and Boulevard area of the Pond have been cut down by DEEP. Phragmites is an invasive species and has invaded many areas along the river. Since it has a very strong root system, many treatments over a period of years will be required to permanently change the vegetation to a more native system.  Evidence of how the river eco system can be improved can be viewed at the river bank near the Barnard School bridge. The DEEP has been controlling the phragmites there for several years and the results open a vista that also provides access to the river.  

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, contact either John Champion or Gwen Macdonald at Connecticut Fund for the Environment, 203.787.0646. Thank you for your continued support and patience.

Thanks Yale

Thanks Yale!  This week, Yale's contractors are replacing the fencing along Central Ave.  As one of the main routes into our neighborhood, I had asked them to replace the ugly chain link fencing.  I know the neighborhood appreciates this improvement!

Duck Pond Update: 2/9/12

2/9/12  Work continues at the Edgewood Duck Pond.  I'm helping to keep folks up-to-date on this project.  For more background on this project, please link to: Work Begins

John Champion shares the latest:

Either next week or the week after, DEEP is going to send a crew to cut down the Phragmites at the Duck Pond. I will not know until the morning of his visit what day he will be out there. On the east side of the river, he will access the work area from the service road on the Boulevard. On the west side of the river, he will need to access the work area through the Parks Headquarters parking lot. I advised him that should check in at the front desk to gain access. He will be doing cutting and does not think that it will take a significant amount of time.  

This will be a long process and this cutting is the first step. I did point out the plantings on the east side of the pond that he needed to be careful around and he seemed confident that he would cause no collateral damage. For an example of what the result may be, you could take a look at the area next to the river on the south side of route 34. The view of the river has been restored and the open area is a big improvement. 

Other information this week-Terry Contracting has begun to move equipment into place on route 1 in preparation to start investigating the concrete apron at the tide gates. This apron was installed at the time that the original tide gates were built and Terry has to work around it in some way to install the coffer dam. They have also completed submittals for the 48” stainless steel pipes which are now ordered. All of the submittals for the DOT permit have been submitted and we expect that the steel for the cofferdams is going to be delivered this week and next week.

Schumack construction (the contractor at the Duck Pond) has installed a silt fence on the west side of the river in preparation for the delivery of soil to build up the area that may too low to prevent some minor flooding of the soccer fields. They intend to grade that area next week when/if the ground freezes so that access area is not chewed up and damages the field. MMI inspected the layout of the pathway and boardwalk this week and requested that the surveyor return and stake out the center line of the path is several additional areas. The City Plan Dept, Parks and MMI have approved a change in design to the railing of the boardwalk so that it is less bulky and will require less maintenance. CFE will negotiate these changes with Schumack.