Want a dot in the Rodgers Forge directory?

Then get your dues in by August 1 when the next directory is edited. You'll need to pay anyway if you want to go to the annual meeting in September and vote for board members, or run for the board -- only dues-paying residents are eligible to do so. Here's info on how to pay. It's $20/year per household.

(A few years ago the board started putting a dot next to the names of people who have paid their dues. I have a neighbor who stopped paying his dues because he found the dots obnoxious, but I'm told they have done their job in that the percentage of dues-paying households has risen. The board has also contemplated only distributing the directories to people who have paid their dues. .... Regardless of the dot issue, you need to pay dues to vote at the annual board meeting or run for the board.)

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Are any Rodgers Forgians deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan?

Is anyone from Rodgers Forge serving in Iraq or Afghanistan right now? I'd love to post profiles and photos of them if they or their families are up for it. ... The Diane Rehm show today had a discussion about military service, and the father of an active-duty soldier called in and said he felt many people were disconnected from the wars and that few people knew anyone serving overseas. I am one of those people -- I don't know anyone serving there militarily.

I think it would be good for the community to recognize these people's sacrifices, regardless of where one stands politically. You can contact me at kris (at) forgeflyer.com, please put "Forge Flyer" in subject line.

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Play yards recalled

Kolcraft, Carter's, Sesame Street, Jeep, Contours, Care Bear and Eric Carle Play Yards - The firm has received 347 reports of sides of the play yard collapsing unexpectedly, resulting in 21 injuries to young children, including bumps, scrapes, bruises and one concussion.

Details here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09265.html

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Pacifiers and shoes recalled

1. Pacifiers Recalled by Gromex Due to Choking Hazard
<http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09262.html>

2. Women's Shoes Recalled by Charles David Due to Fall Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack
<http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09263.html>

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Abrupt closure of Towson Catholic shocks parents

Here's the story in the Sun.

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I hear the sirens!

Don't worry, it's just Towson U doing some tests. Though when you think about it, wouldn't this be the perfect time to attack?

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Free vacation bible school

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
FREE – NO REGISTRATION FEE!!

WHERE: Immanuel Lutheran Church (Loch Raven Blvd at Belvedere Ave – across from Good Samaritan Hospital) – a few blocks east of Belvedere Square.

WHEN: July 13th - 17th from 9:00 am to 12 noon.

WHO: All children ages 3 (toilet-trained – no diapers, please) through rising 6th graders are welcome. Interested middle-schoolers are invited and encouraged to help.


Register today by calling Immanuel’s church office at 410 435 6861 or email Amy Elbers at ale1993(at)msn.com (please place VBS in subject line). Any questions may be directed to the church office at 410 435 6861.

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Rodgers Forge meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday)

Reminder: Dumbarton Middle School is not available, so the Rodgers Forge board is holding the public meeting at the home of the board president, at 201 Dumbarton Road. It's at 7 p.m. on July 8.

There will be no August meeting, so this is the last gathering before the annual meeting in September, where elections will take place.

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Towson U testing sirens Wednesday

"Towson University Police Department will be testing our emergency warning system sirens/speakers on July 8, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Please be advised that you will likely hear the audible tones, recorded voice message and live voice messages indicating that a test is being conducted. Please notify those who are working in your areas on July 8, 2009 at 10:00 AM that the siren tones and messages are a test and no action is required on their part. Please forward this message to anyone who you feel has a need to know. Towson University will be notifying local area hospitals and the media. Thank you for your cooperation."

Jerry Foracappo
Captain
Operations Support Bureau Commander
Towson University Police Department

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More details on the Towson Swim Club

The pool has a new website, and registration forms can be downloaded from the site. Above is an artist's rendering of how the club will look.

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Jim Smith won't run for comptroller

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith can't seek a third term and conventional wisdom said he'd run against Peter Franchot for comptroller. This article in The Baltimore Sun says otherwise.

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Do you know these people?

Update: The memory card is now with its rightful owner. Thanks, all!

I received this message today from a good Samaritan:

"Hi Kris,

Not sure if this is the best venue but since it worked great with the cat, I thought I'd give it a try with real people.

I emptied my 5 year old son's pockets today and found a flash memory card in it. When I asked him where he got it, he said he found it in the alley when driving his bike a couple of days ago. Although he doesn't remember the exact day, I suspect it was probably this weekend or the weekend before. He typically will ride his bike in one of the alleys on either side of Murdock Rd (between Bellona and Blenheim).

One of the kids in one of the pictures is wearing a Towson sweatshirt so I'm certain they have some kind of local connection.

Attached is a picture that might help identify the rightful owners of the flash drive.

If you or anybody else knows who these pictures belong to please let me know."

augustv (at) gmail.com

OK, part of me is thinking it would be pretty wild if it turns out this dad has a secret second family that no one knew about and we're outing him here on the Flyer. Sadly, they're probably just the nice, normal family they appear to be.

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Bubble Days at the Science Center

Bubble Days
Saturday, July 18 – Sunday, July 19
Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Maryland Science Center
601 Light Street
Baltimore, Maryland

The Maryland Science Center will be bursting with activities to celebrate wondrous soapy spheres and floating foam during Bubble Days, on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, 2009.

The highlight of Bubble Days will be “Bubblemania,” an interactive show featuring world bubble champion Casey Carle creating giant floating bubbles up to six feet in diameter, foamy forms stretching over 25 feet, bubble spaceships, bubble volcanoes, and fog-filled bubbles. Families can enjoy “Bubblemania” at noon, 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, the two-day celebration will feature other effervescent events:

* Bubble Workshops for children
* Bubble Factory, where children can concoct their own soapy solution and make a bubble wand
* Bubble Gum Blowing Contest


All activities are free with paid admission to the museum.

The Maryland Science Center is located at 601 Light Street at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. For information and tickets, visit www.marylandsciencecenter.org or call the 24-Hour Information Line at 410-685-5225, TDD: 410-962-0223.

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Standing water = mosquitoes

As you have probably heard, this is a horrible year for mosquitoes (well, a horrible year for humans, as mosquitoes are breeding in larger and larger numbers). My neighbor just mentioned, and my pal Internet confirmed, mosquitoes spend their lives within a few yards of where they hatch, so it's in all of our best interests to keep them to a minimum. Here's info from the University of Kentucky:

There are effective steps that individuals can take to minimize mosquito breeding on their property:

1. Dispose of old tires, buckets, aluminum cans, plastic sheeting or other refuse that can hold water. Empty accumulated water from trash cans, boats, wheel barrows, pet dishes, and flower pot bottoms. If possible, turn these items over when they are not in use.
2. Clean debris from rain gutters and unclog obstructed downspouts. Clogged rain gutters are one of the most overlooked breeding sites for mosquitoes around homes. Remove any standing water on flat roofs or around structures. Repair leaking faucets and air conditioners that produce puddles for several days.
3. Change water in bird baths and wading pools at least once a week and keep swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated. Ornamental pools can be aerated or stocked with mosquito-eating fish. Aeration / water movement helps because mosquitoes prefer quiet, non-flowing water for egg-laying and development.
4. Fill or drain ditches and swampy areas, and other soil depressions and remove, drain, or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar or sealant to prevent accumulation of water. Eliminate standing water and seepage around animal watering troughs, cisterns, and septic tanks. Be sure that cistern screens are intact and that access covers fit tightly.
5. Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.

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latest crime report

A relatively quiet week and nothing to report in Rodgers Forge. Though there was some vandalism at Loyola Blakefield. Here is the report.

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Is this your cat? Or know whose it is?

Update: The cat is now home, safe and sound. Yay, team!

Received this message today from RF resident: "We'd like to know if this big ginger tom cat belongs to anyone in the neighborhood. It's been at the back steps of two homes on the 300 block in the alley between Regester and Murdock. It hasn't attempted to return home for at least 3 days now. Please call 410-377-2698 if you have any information about this cat or if you are its owner."

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Your dues check to Rodgers Forge Association might have been stolen

The July newsletter reports that dues checks mailed between about April 1 and April 15 might have been stolen when a Rodgers Forge board member was mugged. The board asks that you check your records to see if it has been cashed. You might want to put a hold on the check, but that costs about as much as the annual dues.

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Fourth of July goings on

Read the list, courtesy of Charm City Moms. And more from the Towson Times. ... Do you have anything to add? Where do you go to watch fireworks?

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Baby floats and cribs recalled - death reported

1. Simplicity Drop Side Cribs Recalled by Retailers Due to Risk of Death from Suffocation

2. Aqua-Leisure Industries Recalls Inflatable Baby Floats Due to Drowning Hazard

I'm not including a photo of the baby floats because there are so many - including one we had last year - but click on the link and you'll see them.

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Change urged in Baltimore County Council schedule to allow more public input

Radical, isn't it?

Towson Times: "... Donna Spicer, a longtime community activist from the Loch Raven area, said moving the work session meetings would make it easier for the public to participate and make county government more transparent.

"That's where the action happens," Spicer said. "That's where the real information is."

Spicer wants the council's voting session -- which is held at night -- to instead be done during the day. Then, she said, the work session could be at night when the average citizen can go. ..." Read the full story here, and note the positions of Kevin Kamenetz and Joesph Bartenfelder, who are both considered to be front runners in the next race for county executive, replacing Jim Smith.

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Rodgers Forge teen gives up presents to raise money for battered women

How cool is this girl? She's turning 16 and says all she wants is for people to donate money to the House of Ruth. Way cool, Carrie Sharkey! ... Here's the article in the Towson Times.

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Rodgers Forgian discusses gardening in the latest issue of Urbanite

Story in Urbanite about/by a Rodgers Forge resident who grows veggies in his yard.

"... A garden can both feed and pull together a community. Recently, a little girl and her aunt stopped to stare in wonderment at the strange plants growing in my yard, and I sent them off with a few tips and a head of lettuce. My neighbor Jamie said that the day Joe and I came over to help him start his compost pile and plant his tomatoes was just about the best thing that has happened to him since he moved to Baltimore." -- full story

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Child in Ellicott City dies after being left in hot car

Ugh, another horrible story of a child being accidentally left in a car. Let it be a cautionary tale for all of us. I've heard the recommendation that you leave something you need (your purse, cell phone, etc.) in the back seat by your child so that you will be sure to go in the back of the car when you arrive at your destination.

A change in schedule is usually the culprit in these cases. This happens to people of all education levels, economic levels, races, etc. It's just so sad.

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Poison ivy in Rodgers Forge

Leaves of three, let them be!

One of the people on my block had to go to the hospital recently because her yard was full of poison ivy and she didn't realize what it was and -- thinking it was an ordinary weed -- spent hours pulling it out of the ground.

Above are some photos of poison ivy in Rodgers Forge (see it hiding amongst the nice ivy in the lower picture?), and here's advice on what to do if you come into contact with it. There's also a nice piece here written for kids.

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Minutes from Rodgers Forge board meetings

Seeing as how we are all part of this community and it's helpful to know what's going on, here are the minutes from recent Rodgers Forge board meetings.

In 2005 the board voted to post the meetings on its own website, but that has not yet been done. I'm told they have had trouble finding someone to maintain the website.

Here's what I have. It's pretty interesting.

May 2009

April 2009 not yet available

March 2009

February 2009

January 2009

December 2008

November 2008

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Next Rodgers Forge board meeting is July 8

Dumbarton Middle School is not available, so the board is holding the meeting at the home of the board president, at 201 Dumbarton Road. It's at 7 p.m. on July 8.

See you there!

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Latest crime report

Here's the report.

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Make sure your dues are paid if you plan to vote for board members of the Rodgers Forge Association

The Rodgers Forge Association will hold elections for new board members at the Annual Meeting this September. Only people whose dues are paid are eligible to vote for members -- or to run for the board. So make sure your dues are paid ($20 per household) if you'd like to participate in your community. Here's dues info.

The July meeting is the only board meeting prior to the Annual Meeting, as I'm told there will be no August meeting. The upcoming meeting is July 8 at the home of board president Janice Moore at 201 Dumbarton Road. This is an open meeting for anyone to attend.

Your RF directories have the bylaws in them and explain how you can run for the board. If there is a contested district seat, "paper ballots shall be distributed, all General Members present shall have one vote." (A general member is someone who lives in Rodgers Forge and has paid dues that year.) Paper ballots are used for all at-large seats, even those that are not contested.

All district representatives serve one-year terms, so you can run for those every year. Here is a list of the different districts. As you can see from the information below, some are not filled.

Here's info from rodgersforge.org about whose terms expire when:

The members of the Rodgers Forge Community, Inc. Board of Governors for 2008-2009 are:

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President - Janice Moore

Vice President - Lawrence Swoboda

Treasurer - Kate Hammond

Recording Secretary - Kate Canada

Corresponding Secretary - Jay Dunn

AT LARGE MEMBERS

ALLEN, Ginny - Term Expires 2009

CAMPBELL, Doug - Term Expires 2010

DUNN, Jay - Term Expires 2009

DUVALL, Jean - Term Expires 2009

GERDING, Don - Term Expires 2010

HAMMOND, Kate - Term Expires 2009

MANAHAN, Michele - Term Expires 2010

MONTESSORO, Ada - Term Expires 2010

MOORE, Janice - Term Expires 2009

O’HARA, Norma - Term Expires 2010

SHERMAN, Nancy - Term Expires 2009

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES

1 CARTER, Jason

3 LAWRENCE, Fran

4 ZIELKE, Carol

5 SCHOFIELD, Janine

6 WILLIAMS, Rob

7 SWOBODA, Lawrence

9 HOFFMAN, Ayfer

11 CANADA, Kate

All district representative terms expire in 2009.

All Board members may be contacted by emailing: board@rodgersforge.org. If you are interested in becoming a district representative on the board, please let us know.

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Nobody asked them, but ...

Interesting post on the Rodgers Forge Farm Initiative commenting about a piece that ran in the June issue of the newsletter.

"In his latest essay for the Rodgers Forge newsletter, Jay Dunn writes nostalgically about "just a few of the things that are disappearing in our country." It just so happens that four of the 12 disappearing things he lists are either directly or indirectly related to agriculture -- and are just the sorts of things that our organization is trying to address. Here are the four farming-related items that Jay lists..." -- read more

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Robberies and graffiti

From Karl Pfrommer:

ROBBERY & THEFT
FOLLOW UP ON RUXTON BURGLARIES
ROBBERY AT YORK & GITTINGS

19 Jun 2009
6300 BLOCK YORK RD
Identifier: 091700774
Time: 11:39 am.
Robbery Unarmed
ASSAULT AT YORK & GITTINGS

20 Jun 2009
6300 BLOCK YORK RD
Identifier: 091710169
Time: 01:37 am.
2nd Degree Assault (Not Domestic Abuse)

ASSAULT AT CHARLES & BELLONA

17 Jun 2009
6400 BLOCK CHARLES Street, N
Identifier: 091680979
Time: 14:09 (2:09 pm.)
2nd Degree Assault (Not Domestic Abuse)
THEFT IN STONELEIGH

15 Jun 2009
600 BLOCK KINGSTON RD
Identifier: 091661762
Time: 16:02 (4:02 pm.)
Theft - Other

Following up on the three burglaries in Ruxton. There were three burglaries in Ruxton, on Darnall Rd., at Bellona & Joppa Roads and on Circle Road respectively. Tuesday night, at the Precinct Community Relations Council meeting, Captain Al Jones told me that these Ruxton burglaries have been occurring since May, 20, seven burglaries thus far. They appear to be committed by the same people. They all use vehicles. One burglar is a black male. The others are two white males. The white males were seen in a dark colored Jeep.
Incident Number 091591175
Darnall Rd
Incident Date June 08, 2009
Incident Time 03:28 PM
Incident Description Burglary, 1st Degree


Incident Number 091591540
Bellona & Joppa
Incident Date
June 08, 2009
Incident Time 06:16 PM
Incident Description Burglary, 1st Degree


Incident Number 091631417
Circle Road Incident Date June 12, 2009
Incident Time 05:53 PM
Incident Description Burglary, 1st Degree

At approximately 02:30, Friday morning, June 26, two young teenagers, a WM and WF were observed heading to the back of DMS when our RFCOP phoned 911. He observed the boy and girl spraying graffiti tags on the school. The children may have heard the phone call being placed to BCPD. The RFCOP lost track of the individuals. Three marked patrol cars responded to the school. The police searched the school grounds and surrounding areas but did not find the teenagers.

The following are the words that were sprayed on the school- TAG, Skezo, and TOAD. Other graffiti was also found sprayed on the gym windows. Those tags were probably done a few hours before the Friday morning event. They were not observed by RFCOP patrolling earlier Thursday evening before sunset.
Description of the teens- WM, dark hair, was wearing black t-shirt and shorts. WF, brown hair tied up on her head, white T-shirt, green(?) shorts.

Please notify me if you have any idea who these people are.
--Karl

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Green Spring Station now has a Saturday farmers' market

"Green Spring Station now hosts a weekly outdoor market each Saturday, June - November. The market comes out of the gate strong with 20+ vendors participating. Included in the mix are Bees by the Bay, Charles Street Gourmet, Hawks Hill Creamery, Baltimore Dog Bakery, The Mushroom Stand, Stoecker Farms, Zeke’s Coffee, Lisa Anne’s Toffee Apples & Sweets, Locust Point Flowers, Gunpowder Bison and more, all promising a great incentive to buy local. The market runs outdoors on the parking lot from 2:00-5:30pm.

[Rodgers Forge resident] Marge Wildey serves as market master and is the owner and operator of Green Spring Station’s The Nut Farm, a staple in the project for 30 years."

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Flea market on York Road this Saturday

Flea Market 0927

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Baltimore County lawmaker seeks to ban fliers in doors

He says it's a nuisance and a source of litter. Others say the ban would stifle free speech and could even impact community newsletters. Here's the story in The Towson Times.

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Do you have a front-loading washing machine? Is it moldy?

Last weekend we bought a front-loading washer from someone on Craig's List. My husband picked it up and when he got it home, I discovered it smelled like mold. I went online to see the best way to clean it and discovered that mold is a HUGE issue with front loaders. I've been scrubbing the rubber seal repeatedly and have done empty washes with bleach, baking soda-and-vinegar, salt and tea tree oil. It's gotten better and our clothes come out smelling clean (we wipe it down, leave the door open when not in use, etc.), but I was wondering about others' experiences.

Do you have, or have you had, a front loader -- and if so, have you had a problem with mold?

PS: Photo is from Insightful Nana

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Are schools doing enough to educate kids about whales?

Interesting piece...


In The Know: Are Our Children Learning Enough About Whales?

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