Park Heights Fall Newsletter

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER FOR PARK HEIGHTS!

What’s Inside:

• Welcome / Did You Know?

• Spotlight: The Park Heights Saints

• At Home In Park Heights

• In The Schools / Tomorrow’s Leaders

• Healthy Eating, Healthy Living

SUMMER ‘10 IN PARK HEIGHTS RECAP:

3rd Annual Park Heights Festival:More than 2,000 friends and neighbors gathered to celebrate the Park Heights community at the 3rd Annual Park Heights Festival at Pimlico Race Course. The festival connected residents with local and city wide agencies, service providers, and community resources. Attendees had access to free health exams and screenings for HIV, high blood pressure, diabetes and more. PHR connected more than 100 youth to summer and afterschool programs, donated book bags filled with school supplies, and registered 15 people to vote. PHR set appointments for residents for future workforce development opportunities, and registered many residents for Park Heights Partnerships for Jobs and training for job skills as well. PHR educated the attendees on recycling, and residents also initiated a sanitation program

for the community. Our generous sponsors: LifeBridge Health, NeighborWorks, Park West Health System, Baltimore Community Foundation, PNC Bank, Park Heights Community Health Partnership.

Urban Garden Harvest:This year’s Urban Garden has been a huge success! The Urban Garden Initiative aims to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to Park Heights and

encourage healthy living in the community by transforming vacant lots into food producing gardens. There were a total 17 plot holders, and kids were

able to have raised plots as well. Participants harvested fresh greens, corn, squash, hot and green peppers, watermelons, strawberries and many more.The Urban Garden is supported in part by Pimlico Community Development

Authority and the Kaiser Permanente Foundation. It is located along Woodland Avenue between Park Heights Avenue and Reisterstown Road. If you have a green thumb and are interested in planting this coming Spring 2011, please

contact our office at 410.664.4890.

PHR’s Commitment To Youth:Park Heights Renaissance is committed to the youth of our community. This summer, PHR provided more than $48,000 to fund a wide variety of children’s programs, including nine summer youth camps; the PH Community Festival; the PH Summer Youth Leadership Program; and Pimlico School Summer Open House & Orientation. All total, these programs benefited more than 2,000 children in the community.

3rd Annual Park Heights Festival

Urban Garden 2010

DID YOU KNOW?

MOEDThe Park Heights Renaissance and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development created a Park Heights Partnership for Jobs Program. This partnership focuses on helping Park Heights residents look for a job or train you to a leading career. So far we have trained 32 residents who have completed training to work at Sinai, BCCC, North American Trade, and Johns Hopkins, to name a few. To find out about employment and training opportunities around Baltimore City contact the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development at 410.523.1060 or visit their Career Development Office at 2401 Liberty Heights Avenue – 2nd Floor (Mondawmin Mall).

PHR Clean TeamNo other single community redevelopment effort is as effective in improving the overall quality of life as cleaning up the trash. Litter drives down property values and reduces business revenue. It attracts crime, and creates the

perception that trash, crime and disorder is tolerated in the neighborhood. Worse, litter attracts more litter. These are the reasons Park Heights Renaissance is making its cleaning initiatives a top priority. PHR joined with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development to hire hardworking, dedicated Park Heights residents to form the Clean Team. Since its inception, the Clean Team has removed literally tons of trash from the streets, alleyways, vacant lots and open green spaces in Park Heights. The Clean Team also uses community service workers assigned by the Baltimore City Circuit Court to help make Park Heights the cleanest neighborhood in Baltimore.

Park Heights Resident Community Council (RCC)The RCC holds meetings the second Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Zeta Center at 4501 Reisterstown Road. The RCC is a group of concerned residents and other stakeholders dedicated to the renewed vision for Park Heights. Working in conjunction with public and private entities, PHRCC will focus on opportunities to create a model community of choice. So please come out to hear what’s going on!

Resident Community Council Leaders:Vacarro Williams: Youth CommitteeDeborah Woolford: Health CommitteeEllen Parker: Sanitation and BeautificationDiane Tunstall: Senior CommitteeRev. John Lunn: Public Safety

WELCOME To Bold New Heights!

Dear Park Heights Residents and Friends:

We hope you enjoy the first edition of BOLD NEW HEIGHTS, the brand new newsletter all about our community. Park Heights Renaissance is excited to bring you the latest events, programs and developments that are happening right in our own backyard.

From tips to living a healthy lifestyle to details on how PHR can help you afford to make repairs and improvements on your property, we aim to bring you all the news you can use about the place we call home.

In Park Heights, we are a diverse group of people who share a common goal: to rebuild a community that offers enhanced quality of life and economic opportunity. So let’s work together to reach BOLD NEW HEIGHTS – healthy families, safe streets, better schools, beautiful and clean common areas, affordable and livable housing and a sound economy.

Have a safe and wonderful autumn!

Sincerely,

Julius “Julio” ColonPresident and CEOPark Heights Renaissance

Park Heights Clean Team

AT HOME IN PARK HEIGHTSHelp & Advice About Owning a Home in Park Heights

Neighborhood Loan Rehabilitation ProgramDoes your home need a little TLC? If your house is in need of repairs, PHR can help. The PHR Neighborhood Rehabilitation Loan Program has provided assistance for more than 55 families in the installation of furnaces, the replacement of roofs and porches, termite inspections and treatments, as well as many other home renovations. These loans are considered forgivable — that is, they are interest-free and repayment is forgiven if you continue to own or occupy your property for the following 10 years.

Economic Hardship AssistanceAs the number of foreclosures continues to rise statewide, PHR would like to assist Park Heights residents experiencing hardships with assistance in mediating and providing alternative solutions to prevent foreclosure. In addition, we want to work with families early on to prevent default. Please contact Saunie Tubman or Dominique Clark at the phone number below for a private interview or an invitation to an upcoming prevention class.

Truth In Lending / Home Buyers WorkshopAre you interested in purchasing a home? Park Heights Renaissance would like to assist in making that dream a reality. You can start by attending a home buyers workshop. We will assist you with clearing up your credit, creating a budget and identifying programs to assist with closing. Not to mention, Park Heights Renaissance now offers $3000.00 to anyone purchasing a home in Park Heights that occupies the premises as their primary residence. Saunie Tubman’s “Truth In Lending” Program helped its first Park Heights resident purchase a home this August. Ms. Dorothy Thomas, a 21-year resident of Park Heights, purchased her first home with help from Park Heights Renaissance and Live Baltimore.

If you are interested in becoming a homeowner or know someone who wishes to purchase a home, please contact Saunie Tubman at 410-664-4890 or [email protected].

MAKING A CHANGE IN PARK HEIGHTS

Park Heights Renaissance helped draft legislation with our 40th & 41st District legislators, such as Senate Bill 456/House Bill 279 that was passed and signed by Governor Martin O’Malley on May 5, 2010. The “Baltimore City - Park Heights Redevelopment Area - Alcoholic Beverages - Store Opening Hours” legislation states that liquor stores within the Park Heights redevelopment area cannot open before 9am. Prior to that, liquor stores in the area opened at 6am.

In 2000, Garrick Williams Sr. founded the A.F.E.C. Park Heights Saints with a group of 55 players. Ten years later, the organization includes more than 150 athletes ages 5-15, six different teams, 25 coaches and a growing group of cheerleaders. The Saints are part of the Metro Baltimore Pop Warner Football League, and at press time, all six teams are currently in first or second place in their divisions.

From May through the end of October, Williams coaches the children in the Pop Warner league and flag football. The teams practice and play home games at Lucille Park on Reisterstown Rd. Before Williams and volunteers came in and cleaned it up, Lucille Park was plagued by drug dealers. “We took an abandoned park and made it a clean, friendly, community place,” said Williams, who has lived in Park Heights for 26 years.

In addition to teaching them the fundamentals of the sport, Williams, who has been a youth outreach worker at Sinai Hospital for the past 11 years, also teaches the players the fundamentals of life.

“I teach them about choices and consequences,” said Williams. He visits the players at school to make sure they are on the right track, helps their families with issues, and encourages them to perform community service. He’s taken players to Biloxi,

Mississippi to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and to work with seniors at local nursing homes. Williams also works with recruiters to help players earn scholarships to some of the best high schools in the area, including Gilman, Calvert Hall and St. Frances Academy.

But it’s not all work and no play for the A.F.E.C. Park Heights Saints. They’ve been on a trip to Miami, Florida to play in the Orange Bowl. And as a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, some of the children get to go to Salisbury University each summer to train in various sports, such as football and golf.

“Lots of people in the community are very supportive of us,” said Williams. “We are very appreciative of everyone.” The A.F.E.C. in the team’s name stands for Agape Family Empowerment Center, and its pastor, Cynthia Gaston, is one of the program’s biggest supporters. Park Heights Renaissance is also a proud supporter of the Saints. This year, PHR purchased the teams’ uniforms.

“The Park Heights Saints football program is an incredible asset to the families of our community,” said Julius “Julio” Colon, President and CEO of PHR. “It keeps the children safe and off of the streets, and the valuable lessons learned last a lifetime.”

For more information about the A.F.E.C. Park Heights Saints, please visit: www.leaguelineup.com/afecsaints

Park Heights Saints

SPOTLIGHT: The Park Heights Saints

Park Heights Saints

Pimlico Elementary/Middle School

It’s back to school time at Pimlico Elementary/Middle, and the students and their families have a wonderful variety of programs available to them this school year.

The Dream Academy is a special free mentoring program for students in grades 4, 5 and 6 who have a member of their household who is incarcerated. In addition to mentoring the children, helping them with their homework and reinforcing study skills, the program helps the children understand the process of what is going on with their loved ones. The Dream Academy is a holistic approach to mentoring, using art, creative writing and drama as an outlet for the students.

Primarily for school families but available to everyone in the community, the Pimlico Food Bank and Community Closet is open once a month for anyone with a need. Their theme is “Come for Coffee, Leave with a Bag for Dinner,” as people receive bags of groceries to make their grocery budgets stretch a little farther in this tough economy. The Community Closet is also open once a month to provide free clothing and shoes for men, women and children. Pimlico’s Food Bank and Community Closet are always accepting donations, as the programs are in operation year-round.

Pimlico also offers a Pre-GED Program for any parent or community member looking to improve their literacy. This program

is free of charge. And also new and exciting this year is a Chess Club for students, which is currently in the beginning stages.

For more information: Jackie PetersonCommunity Resource ManagerPimlico Elem./Middle School4849 Pimlico Road, Room 102(410) 396-0867

Northwestern High School

Northwestern High School has begun the 2010-11 academic year on a strong note, with more than 90% of the previous year’s faculty returning — unusual for neighborhood schools. The school has begun the Extending Great Options (EGO) process, where parents and the Park Heights community can help drive the direction of Northwestern. The faculty has formulated six pathways to develop: Medical, Military, Technology, Communications and Vocational. The school is also in the process of renovating its greenhouse to add to the agricultural science curriculum. Finally, Northwestern has begun the PENCIL partnership process, working with a local business to focus on leadership development of students and teachers, building and infrastructure improvements and academic achievement.

For more information: Samuel Walker, III Community Resource ManagerNorthwestern High School6900 Park Heights Avenue (410) 396-0646

IN THE SCHOOLS:What’s new in the Park Heights Community Schools

Youth Leadership Program

This summer, Park Heights Renaissance implemented a Youth Leadership Program for 20 young people ages 13-18 from the Park Heights community. The pilot program focused on civic engagement and youth leadership. Program Director Kenneth Morrison assisted the students in developing a community garden and organizing several events throughout the summer, including a community clean-up, a political forum featuring representatives from the 40th and 41st districts, and a Baltimore City Youth Speak Out to address afterschool programs, drug abuse and education. The group also created several public service announcements (PSAs), tackling topics such as teen pregnancy and youth violence. Seven of the 20 students traveled to Ghana to help build an orphanage. Park Heights Renaissance partnered with Griots Eye, Pimlico Road Youth Program and Baltimore City Youthworks to make the program possible. For summer 2011, PHR would like to reach out to 100 students. Because of the summer program’s success, PHR is currently seeking funding to implement a Fall Youth Leadership Program.

For more information, please contact Kenneth Morrison at 410-664-4890

Field Trip

TOMORROW’S LEADERS

High Blood Pressure: Prevention & TreatmentAbout 1 out of 3 adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in the U.S. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms. That’s why it’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly, and take these steps to a healthy heart.

• Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

• Avoid sodium by limiting the salt you add to your food. Be aware that many processed foods and restaurant meals are high in sodium.

• Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active.

• Don’t smoke and limit alcohol use: no more than one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men.

Tips courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.

HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY LIVINGTips From PHRSponsored by Kaiser Permanente

STICK A FORK IN ITRecipes for Healthy Eating

Low-Fat Turkey ChiliIngredients:

• Ground turkey, 1 pound

• Onion, minced 3/4 cup

• Margarine, 2 tablespoons

• Water, 3 cups

• Garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon

• Chili powder, 1 tablespoon

• Dry parsley flakes, 1 tablespoon

• Paprika, 1 teaspoon

• Dry mustard, 2 teaspoons

• Canned red kidney beans, drained, 1 15-1/2-ounce can

• Tomato paste, 1 6-ounce can

• Pearl barley, 1/2 cup

• Cheddar cheese, shredded 3/4 c

Directions:

1. In large sauce pan, cook turkey and onions in margarine until turkey is browned and no longer pink in color, about 9 minutes. Drain; return turkey and onions to pan.

2. Add remaining ingredients except the cheese to turkey mixture; bring to boil, stirring frequently. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Uncover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Serve over cooked macaroni.

5. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of cheese over each serving of chili.

Recipe courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

FALL EVENTS CALENDAR:11/11/10 RCC Meeting (Resident Community Council) 4501 Reisterstown Road 5:30-7:30pm

11/13/10 Community Leadership Training 4151 Park Heights Ave 4:00-6:00pm

11/20/10 Truth in Lending Workshop 4151 Park Heights Ave 11:30-4:30pm

12/04/10 Sustain/Maintain & Foreclosure Prevention Workshop 4151 Park Heights Ave 11:30-3pm

12/09/10 RCC Meeting (Resident Community Council) 4501 Reisterstown Road 5:30-7:30pm

12/11/10 Community Leadership Training 4151 Park Heights Ave 4:00-6:00pm

12/18/10 Truth in Lending Workshop 4151 Park Heights Ave 11:30-4:30pm

RESOURCE CENTER:

To rsvp for any of our classes or workshops, please contact Park Heights Renaissance at 410.664.4890

To receive assistance from medical, fire or Police personnel for an immediate life threatening situation 911

To report Child Abuse/Neglect (410) 361-2235

Homeless and seeking temporary shelter (24 hrs.) (800) 81-shelter

Gas Leak (410) 685-0123

First Call for Help (410) 685-0525

Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222

Public Assistance (410) 361-4600

Sexual Assault Hotline (410) 828-6390

Domestic Violence Hotline (410) 889-7884

Clogged Storm Drains, flooding, open fire hydrant, water service or sewer complaints and other water related matters (24 hrs.)

311

Crisis Center West (410) 396-0260

Food Assistance (410) 396-6606

Weather-related (ALL) (410) 545-NEED

Snow Removal 311

Zeta Senior Center 410.396.3535