Workshop Outcome of the Harris Creek Watershed Feb.20,2010

The Workshop was successful in addressing Trash that was coming from Illegal Dumping on Vacant Lots and in Vacant Houses. Most of this was taking place in the middle part of the Harris Creek Watershed. The Community of 17 Neighborhoods appears to be coming together to be a spokesperson for this injustice. Calling 311,even though considered by the City DPW the procedure to do,just does not seem to be working. This Information was obtained from over 400 Questionnaires completed within the Watershed. It was learned that the City Housing Department has hired a number of Code Enforcement Officers whose job it is to go after Trash Violators. The number of Citations has more than doubled within the last six months. Community Leaders are asking that residents be able to directly work with these Housing Inspectors to get better results in cleaning Trash from our streets. We will attempt to do this at the next Trash Hearings at City Hall under Councilperson James Kraft's direction. This may turn out to be a Win-Win-Win situation. What is very much needed in these Neighborhoods is to restore the Trust that was lost by inaction and abuse over the years. It is the Plan of the Harris Creek Watershed to regain this Trust by action steps that will bring about Environmental Justice. The Community of Neighborhoods will then develop into a strong Watershed Association that can address Trash in all aspects and give Sustainability to the Watershed Project. We are gathering and asssessing the feedback information from the Workshop and shortly will be setting up the second Workshop to be conducted in about six weeks. Stay tuned in! Respectfully,Raymond D.Bahr MD BHWA

Cancelation of the Harris Creek Watershed Workshop Feb.13,2010

Snow.....Snow.....Snow.......and more to come.
The Harris Creek Watershed Workshop scheduled for this Saturday Fe.13 has to be canceled due to the Snow. It is being rescheduled for the following Saturday Feb.20,2010. Despite our excitement about this Conference,we could not ignore the obvious. People would put themselves at Risk,and this we did not want to chance this. We are planning to have it at St.Anthony's Hall at St Casimir's Church,but we need to confirm this. Stay tuned and if you have Questions,call me at 410-534-7655 or e-mail me at RDB60@aol.com.
We are excited because of the possible of New Initiatives that would include (1) a Landkeeper position who would work with City Housing to reduce trash violations and do Justice to these Neighborhoods (2) Hoop Greenhouse Farming that could make fresh produce available all year round at the City Schools and provide Education,Environment intoduction and "Green"jobs. This would enhance Proper Nutrition and help to offset Childhood Obesity and Adult onset Diabetes. (3) adoption of the "Humane Metropolis Baltimore" Initiative as advanced by Parks and People Foundation. (4) Facilitating the Community of 17 Neighborhoods in coming together with a StormWater Plan for the Harris Creek Watershed. Thus,You can see why we are Excited to have this Workshop. Respectfully,Raymond D.Bahr MD BHWA

Workshop for the Harris Creek Watershed (246) Project

The First Workshop for the Harris Creek Watershed Stormwater Project will take place Saturday February 13 from 9 AM to 1 PM at St.Anthony's Hall in Casinmir's Parish on the corner of O'Donnell and Kenwood Ave. Come, share in the excitement of this Project that is aimed at cleaning up City streets and preventing Trash from going into the Baltimore Harbor. This has been a "listening project" for us in that we discovered that years of abuse and illegal dumping on vacant lots had eroded the trust residents had for the City. It became obvious that we could not just push the Trash Problem unless we undertook the task to understand the injustice issues confronting residents in the Harris Creek Watershed. We could only build real Community by promoting Justice. On february 13,we (the BHWA) will be discussing our Mission,our Strategy and our Plans that will enable us to make this a Win-Win-Win situation for all concerned. Join us as we tackle the issues that divide us so that we can identify the concerns that bring us together. Success here will have us wind up with a Cleaner City and a Cleaner Baltimore Harbor. Raymond D.Bahr MD Harris Creek Coordinator BHWA 2/3/10