Meeting on Monday February 15th Cancelled Due to the Snow

The meeting scheduled for Monday February 15th is cancelled due to the snow. We will reschedule the speaker. In addition, the newsletter, Oasis, will not be delivered this month. We do not want anyone to risk delivering the newsletter in this weather. We hope everyone is staying warm. Please help your neighbors out. Make sure the elderly have enough food. We have seen some great examples of neighbors helping each other out, especially with shoveling. It is great to see our community band together. The next meeting will be Monday, March 15th at 7:30 pm.

Get to know your PCA Representatives: Board Member David Sinclair

David Sinclair is a full-time freelance editorial and commercial photographer based in Paradise. He is a graduate of Western Maryland College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, Economics, and Graphic Design, with Scholastic Honors in Art. His parents lived and attended school in Catonsville from 1952-68. He moved to Paradise from Carroll County in the spring of 2004 and became involved with the PCA later that year. He joined the association for the experience and to become more involved in the community.  His online ventures are www.davidsinclair.org & www.charmcityvictorygardens.com

Get to Know Your PCA Representatives: Meet Your President

Please check back regularly, as new representatives will be posted in the coming weeks. First up, PCA President Joe Pallozzi.

Meet your President

Joe Pallozzi, a founding member of the PCA and our current president, knows what it’s like to be involved.  Since moving to Catonsville in 1972, Joe has been a member of Catonsville Jaycees, a member and office of the Catonsville Elks, and involved in our local schools.  As well as serving as president of Westowned PTA, and being an active member of Catonsville Highs sports Booster club, Joe was a 9 year member and sometime president of the southwest advisory board to the board of education.  Currently, Joe is a retired police officer, a member of our county board of education, and continuing his involvement in the Elks as the state scholarship chairman.

Focus on Business: Lucy’s Café Serves Up Home Cooked Meals

Mary “Lucy” Branning has owned Lucy’s Paradise Café since May of 2006. Customers can either eat in or order carryout at this family diner open for breakfast and lunch six days a week. She has specials everyday including homemade soups; and Thursdays are pot roast days with fresh potatoes and carrots.

Branning took on this venture following 12 years at McCormick. Owning a Café was always something she wanted to try, and when the opportunity arose in 2006 she took the challenge. She has grown to employ four part-time employees and to be a local staple as a provider of home-style meals in Paradise. She enjoys seeing the people in the community grow and evolve over the years and tries “to make people feel welcome – like they’re coming to your home”.

An interesting program that she is now running regards US Soldier correspondence. Her nephew Patrick Flanagan is presently serving in Afghanistan. He expressed the need for more letters to the soldiers overseas and how much they appreciate any correspondence. Branning offers customers the supplies and encourages them to write a letter while at the Café; and she personally mails all the letters.

Although the past few years have been and continue to be challenging for Main Street, Branning has found much support from the Paradise community and its many regular customers. She expresses some concern for business safety citing recent burglaries at the liquor store and those at the cellular store, and she’s troubled with any upcoming vacancies in the shopping center. Also, she is disturbed about unauthorized dumping in and around her rear dumpster. Although Branning would like Paradise to be recognized more as part of the greater Catonsville community, she has enjoyed a positive and responsive rapport with BCPD and the County Government. With additional support from the community, the PCA, the BCPD, and Baltimore County, Branning is optimistic of her role in the Paradise business community and hopes to continue to offer good home-cooked meals to the greater Catonsville community in the future. If you have not had a chance to stop in, please do. The community is counting on you!

Mary “Lucy” Branning

Please click this image for a full slideshow of Lucy’s Café.

David Sinclair is a PCA board member & can be reached @ davidsinclair77@hotmail.com

Local News (from Nov. PCA meeting)

Ryan Fischer, a Baltimore County Code Inspector, was the guest speaker.

1. 90% of all his work is rodent and pest prevention.
2. Some residents complained of not getting responses from the website, or the phone message referring them to the website. Please let the PCA president know if your concerns are not being addressed, as Ryan has given his personal email for unresponsive issues.
3. Zoning codes are listed on the website, along with the results of zoning hearings.
4. Some residents complained that Paradise Motors were advertising oil change to the community, when they are not zoned to do so.

1. Cars parked illegally on the street are to be reported to the police. Cars parked on private property or in an alley are referred to zoning.

Old and New Business

1. Board member Jean Schnurr has volunteered to be secretary. There is now one opening for a board member.
2. Pam Fetch recommended the PCA join the Coalition for the Preservation of Southwest Baltimore County. This will be a topic in January.
3. Dave Horsch is concerned that a bike lane will not be part of the rebuilding of the I-695 Bridge. Joe Pallozzi is looking into the query.
4. There was a board meeting in December, which, among other issues, helped to decide where the money in the Treasury would go. There are several charities slated to receive monies.
5. Officer Ruby wants to remind everyone to keep your vehicles locked at all times.
6. Newsletter carriers are needed for half of Cherrydell Avenue. Please call Bette Taube if interested, even if only as an occasional delivery person.

President’s Corner from Oasis Jan 2010

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great holiday.  The neighborhood looked wonderful with all the lights and decorations. As you take them down, remember to light up your porch lights to keep the winter’s dark away, especially if it’s snowy or icy.  It looks like it’s going to be one of those winters.  Remember to shovel your walks within 24 hours of any storms, and if you can, pitch in to help your neighbors who can’t shovel, and clear sidewalks of any vacant homes near your house.

Our January speaker will be Clyde Trombetti from Solid Waste Management. He will be speaking about the new recycling regulations that go into effect February 1^st of this year.

Thanks,

Joe Pallozzi

November Gardening

By David Sinclair

It’s November and we’ve been receiving some mixed signals from Mother Nature regarding weather. Whether it’s frost, rain, or temps in the mid-seventies gardeners should begin to pull their fall crops as the temperatures slowly drop throughout the month. You can still plant rhubarb into the middle of the month, and even some garlic cloves to root during the winter. This is a great time for a cold frame to protect “salad” crops from the occasional nighttime dip into the thirties, and to shield from the surplus rain. Use the falling leaves to winter-over asparagus. Continue any soil preparation for the spring with compost and additional lime & sulfur. Plant some Winter Rye in empty beds to make the soil more friable and add organic matter.

Email dave@charmcitygardens.com with any questions or comments.

Meeting Next Monday at 7:30. Don’t forget to renew Memberships!

Membership Application-November 2009-October 2010

Membership Application to

The Paradise Community Association, Inc.

Membership Year: November 2009 to October 2010

Mail to: Paradise Community Association, Inc., P.O. Box 21245, Catonsville MD 21228

Name(s): ________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________

Phone Number: ___________________________________________

E-mail: _________________________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________________

Dues: $15.00 per household per year for residents under the age of 60, $7.00 per household per year for residents age 60 and older, and $25.00 per year for businesses located within the Paradise community boundaries (non-voting status.)

I want to make an additional donation to the Paradise Community Association in the amount of: _____________

Please include this completed form with your payment, even if you are renewing your membership. Checks should be made payable to the Paradise Community Association, Inc. Thanks for your support!

Who You Gonna Call for Zoning and Code Issues?

Information compiled by David Sinclair

Recently, some Paradise residents have raised questions regarding lawns, alleys, rats, road construction, new home construction, and the increased volume of neighborhood home foreclosures – and the upkeep of their property.  Often such issues are relevant zoning and code compliance topics.  Where to direct concerns can be confusing. The Baltimore Co. Code phone number (general code) for Complaints & Enforcement is (410) 887-3351.

Zoning -Zoning issues generally pertain to land use.  The area within Paradise is zoned as Residential (DR 5.5, 10.5, or 16 which represent units per acre) and Business Local (BL).  DR 10.5 & 16 can be found primarily north of Frederick Road, DR 5.5 & 10.5 can be found primarily south of Frederick Road, and BL near the intersection of Frederick Rd. and Paradise Ave.  There is an excellent interactive map that outlines cite-specific zoning within our area located at Baltimore County’s website: www.baltimorecountymd.gov. For general zoning information call (410) 887-3391.

New Development Issues -When concerns arose over local government discussion to increase the density zoning in areas south of Frederick Rd., the Paradise Community Association (PCA) directed these concerns toward Sam Moxley & Jim Smith at the county council. The county council also worked with the PCA regarding concerns during the development of Paradise Village. If you have further or similar issues, please contact Department of Permits and Development Management Code Enforcement at (410) 887-3373.

Flood Management, Drainage, and Mosquitoes – Most recently, Paradise residents have expressed disdain over the drainage pond at the development, specifically that the scum water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Flood management, drainage ponds, and mosquitoes are now established land use issues that can be taken to Department of Permits and Development Management Code Enforcement (410) 887-3373.

Road/Alleys – Residents continue to voice concern over road and alley issues. Road/Alley repair & maintenance should be directed to the Department of Public Works (410) 887-3300.

Rodents – (County Code § 13-7-301 Subtitle 3) Keeping an area rat free is the responsibility of the resident, rat-proofing of new construction is the responsibility of the developer. Animal control will not come out to take care of a specific rat issue.  If there’s an issue in your neighborhood, work with your neighbors or contact the code enforcement anonymously at (410) 887-RATS. Keep trash solely in covered trashcans.  Google “Rid Rats Program” to get some good preventative information on the county’s web site.

Weed Control – (County Code § 13-7-401 Subtitle 4) Property upkeep and lawns is also a growing issue with the increased amount of foreclosures.  Growth of grass, weeds, or other rank vegetation is not to exceed a height of one foot.  Citations will be issued when a complaint is filed.  “Persons in control” of the property have to be in compliance of a notice within 5 days.  After 7 days the lawn will be cut by the County, at the expense of the “person in control”.  If unpaid, a lien will be placed on the property.  If you’re able, work with your neighbors to keep foreclosure lawns at a manageable height.  Issues regarding weed control should be directed to the Department of Public Works (410) 887-3300.

I hope this helps dispel some of the confusion on who to call for Zoning and Code issues.