WIA April Meeting & Newsletter

A copy of the April Newsletter is linked to below.  Our community meeting will be held on April 4th at 7:45 PM at Harbel (5807 Harford Rd).  We will be discussing a BMZA request by Visions Catering to add a banquet hall at 5503 Richard Ave (just above Hamilton Ave).

http://www.scribd.com/doc/87499317/Waltherson-April-2012-Newsletter

Homicide: 4100 Idaho

Last night at round 11 PM an adult male was shot in the 4100 block of Idaho Ave in Waltherson near Belair Rd & Frankford Ave.  This incident is now a confirmed homicide.  We are requesting updates from the police as they become available.

Update: Individual shot multiple times after answering doorbell.  Police have no suspects at this time.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-ci-homicide-gardenville-20120326,0,43795.story

New Herring Run Sewer Line is Blasting Ahead

Public Works Director Alfred H. Foxx today announced a new phase in the sewer replacement work along the Herring Run.  As work on the new sewer line from Argonne Drive to Harford Road to near Parkside Drive progresses, planned use of controlled explosives will be done next week to break through bedrock. 

 

Beginning on Monday, March 26th, controlled blasting will be used to clear the way for the new line.  This intermittent work will occur for approximately one week between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.   This phase of blasting will be concentrated on the east of the Harford Road Bridge between Harford Road and Parkside Drive adjacent to the Herring Run.  At a later date this will occur at a location west of Harford Road and it is possible that more blasting will be required as construction moves northwest towards Argonne Drive.

 

Nearby residents will hear a siren prior to the blasts and may hear some muffled echoes from the explosives.  Vibrations should not be felt by nearby homes.   

 

The explosives used in the work are not stored on site.

 

This work is part of over $1 billion dollars in sewer upgrades throughout Baltimore City.  This $12 million phase of the Herring Run sewer replacement work began in August 2011 and is scheduled for completion in January 2013.  It consists of 2300 linear feet of micro-tunneling for the 54 inch sanitary sewer,    650 linear feet of open cut installation for the same line, 1200 linear feet of open cut for 8-36 inch connecting pipe installation and 15 new pre-cast manholes.

 

Director Foxx stated: “This work, and adjacent sewer upgrades, will resolve long-standing problems with sewer overflows into Herring Run.  It will also improve sewer service for our citizens in northeast Baltimore.  Herring Run Park is the heart of many neighborhoods and protecting the water quality there will only help to further enhance this beautiful part of Baltimore City.”

Police Alert Regarding Moravia Home Invasion

March 20, 2012 / Baltimore, Md - The Baltimore Police Department is asking for the public’s help to locate a robbery suspect.

On March 15, 2012, at 12:00pm, an 84-year-old woman was approached by an unknown suspect, outside of her home in the 3300 block of Moravia Road. The suspect was armed with a handgun and demanded money from the victim. The victim then entered her home and the suspect forced his way inside. The suspect took money from the victim before assaulting her. The suspect then fled from the location on foot. The victim was transported to an area hospital and later released.

The suspect is described as a black male, 30-40 years old, and approximately 6’1 in height. Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP.
  

-End- 

• 3300 Moravia photo.JPG

Home Invasion in Moravia-Walther

City police say they are investigating a home invasion robbery of an 84-year-old woman in Northeast Baltimore that occurred Thursday.

Police said the woman was outside her home in the 3000 block of Moravia Road, in the Moravia-Walther neighborhood near Lauraville, at about 12 p.m. when a man showed a gun and demanded money.

The suspect forced his way into the home, took money, and struck the victim in the face before fleeing. Police describe the suspect as a black male about 20 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall and wearing a dark t-shirt and dark pants.

"We were out in the neighborhood yesterday, and detectives are back again today looking for anyone that help us," said Detective Jeremy Silbert, a police spokesman.

Police disclosed the incident on their daily webcast, a new feature the agency rolled out last week to provide information directly to the public.

Anyone with information was asked to call district detectives at 410-396-2444.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bal-84yearold-woman-robbed-assaulted-in-northeast-baltimore-home-20120316,0,5980200.story

A Tribute to One of Waltherson’s Heroes

On February 25, 2012, 48 year old U.S. Army Major Robert J. Marchanti, II of the Maryland National Guard was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He joined the Army in 1984 and the Maryland National Guard in 1986.  Major Marchanti was a resident of Waltherson and a long time physical education teacher in the Baltimore County public schools.  He leaves his wife Peggy; their four children; and a grandchild.

A link to the Baltimore Sun article is below:

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-02-27/news/bs-md-national-guard-death-20120226_1_afghanistan-baltimore-county-american-soldiers

Waltherson Community Meeting Minutes 3/7

Nancy urged Waltherson to fight the closing of the Hamilton Post Office.  A vote was held calling for WIA to write letters to the Post Office and our State Representatives asking them to keep the Post Office open.  The motion passed.

The Community Law Center spoke about the services they offer community associations.  They encouraged us to call 311 repeatedly for nuisance issues and code violations.  If issues are not resolved they can be presented to the association and we can work with the community law center to address the issue.  A question was asked whether houses with boards over the doors and windows qualified as a nuisance property and we were told that if the boards are put up properly, boards alone were not a code violation.

The police spoke about crime in our neighborhood.  Crime is down in the district overall.  District wide there were 200 burglaries a month back in October and those have reduced to about 70 a month.  Waltherson had approximately 5 residential burglaries last month and overall our crime was about 20 incidents in the month, most of these affecting larcenies from businesses along Harford & Belair Rds.

Mike Hilliard reminded us the primary is coming up on April 3^rd and that there is a scam where people are posing as Comcast employees going door-to-door trying to fraudulently obtain money.

Mike Hilliard also mentioned preliminary plans for a Royal Farms at Harford Rd & Glenmore north of us.  It is unclear whether the Royal Farms at Harford & Echodale would close if these plans come to fruition.  He also mentioned a man is interested in purchasing the liquor license and establishment at 4825 Belair Rd, the location previously occupied by Club Uzo.

Helene asked if anyone was interested in participating in a two hour disclosure review for Home Owners Insurance to make home owners aware of what was covered by their policies.  She asked for those interested to contact her.

A question was raised about Bike Lanes on Walther and whether or not both lanes were still travel lanes.  Once the bike lane was painted the area between the bike lane and the curb became parking only.  The city is putting in measures to make this clearer and prevent driving in the shoulder.   Currently posts have just gone up in the lanes to prevent driving on the right side.  We explained that Nate Evans told us the plan the city presented to us was that the bike lanes would be extended to Eastern Parkway & Walther with a single lane of traffic between Harford Rd and Frankford Ave.

Meeting was adjourned.

Gun Distribution Ring Busted

A gun distribution ring was busted with simultaneous raids on 3 city homes and 2 county homes. One of the homes raided was on the 5000 block of Harford Rd, another home raided was on the 4500 block of Mary Ave just east of Belair Rd.  Details can be found in the Baltimore Sun article below.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-ci-gun-arrests-20120308,0,5783356.story

Baltimore Police & FBI Violent Crimes Task Force Seek Public Assistance in Identifying Armed Robbery Suspect

Baltimore, MD / March 7, 2012 - The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, comprised of FBI agents and detectives from the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore County Police Department is seeking public assistance in identifying the individual in the attached photos and video for his involvement in several armed robberies throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The incident depicted in the video occurred around 4am on March 6th at the Royal Farms store located at 1119 W. 41st. Street. The suspect entered the convenience store and brandished a silver revolver while demanding a store employee open the cash register and give him money.  The suspect then walked behind the counter, discharged a round from his firearm and took an unknown amount of US currency from the cash register before fleeing eastbound on W. 41st Street on foot.

The suspect is described as an African American male, approximately 35 years of age, approximately 5'7" tall, approximately 200 pounds, wearing a black coat with a hood, blue jeans, black shoes, and black gloves.  

This suspect is also wanted in connection with a February 21st shooting and robbery incident at a Royal Farms store located in Northeast Baltimore. At approximately 9:40 p.m. on February 21, 2012, two black males entered the Royal Farms, 5232 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD and committed a commercial armed robbery and shooting. The suspect was wearing a hood and dark jacket with orange or maroon markings brandished a silver revolver and stole cash and cigarettes.  He then approached a store customer and demanded the customer’s wallet.  As the customer tried to retrieve his wallet, the suspect shot the victim.

A $2500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects depicted in the attached photographs is being offered by the FBI. Anyone with any information should contact FBI Violent Crimes Task Force at 410-265-8080.
Any calls will be kept strictly confidential

VIDEO LINK CLICK HERE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZyj9J_WpQw

March Newsletter & meeting

A copy of the March Newsletter is linked to below.  The community law center will be out to discuss how we can address nuisance properties in the neighborhood at our meeting on Wednesday March 7th at Harbel (5807 Harford Rd) at 7:45 PM.

March Newsletter

Recycling Should Not Be Placed in Plastic Bags

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works, Office of Recycling, reminds residents that items set out for recycling collection should not be placed in plastic bags. When single stream recycling was initiated in 2008, recyclables could not be accepted in plastic bags. Plastic bags get wound up in collection and processing equipment, requiring maintenance that costs money and time, and creates inefficiencies for processing all the recyclables. When they wrap around the sorting equipment at the Materials Recovery Facility, the equipment must be shut down to cut the bags and remove them. Recyclables can be placed in cardboard boxes, paper bags or any container such as a laundry basket, bin or trash can as long as the containers are marked “Recycling.” Plastic bags can be recycled at many grocery stores and supermarkets. The Bureau of Solid Waste will initially collect recycling in plastic bags but will leave a flyer and/or a sticker informing residents to please discontinue using them. For additional recycling information, citizens can go online at www.baltimorecity.gov or call the Office of Recycling at 410-396-4511. To report a missed collection or to find out what your recycling day is, call 311.