A plea/reminder for all residents: Take a few minutes and clean up your front walk and gutter. If you have extra time, tackle part of your block or your whole block. There is LOTS of trash all over our neighborhood - things are looking pretty bad right now. Gutters are strewn with trash, bottles, containers, boxes, leaves, muck, you name it.

And for those that hadnt done this prior to the snowstorms, now all of that is on the sidewalks due to the shoveling.

Please everyone, lets take a few minutes and clean it up.

Hello all,

The next RNA monthly meeting will be Monday Feb 22 at 7pm at Salem Lutheran Church.

Major Bloodsworth from the City Police Dept will give the annual State of the District address

Then we will have our usual committee updates and handle any open issues.

Hope to see you there.

Hello all,

The City has changed their policy for requesting streets for snow removal. Over the past days, RNA has been working directly with Councilman Reisinger and city officials to give them lists of streets that still needed plowing or snow removal.

That policy has now changed. The City is now asking for all residents to call 311 (or go online) with any requests for plowing or snow removal.

Whether this change is a good idea or the best use of resources is doubtful. However, please be sure to report any areas needing attention asap so we can get those areas onto the list. Please spread the word and ask your neighbors to do so as well - we need as many people possible placing 311 calls.

Residents,

The snow has been challenging for everyone. I know everyone has pretty much had enough at this point. But, we need to be smart and work together on this.

I see some new issues developing that I wanted to address in the hopes of preventing them from turning into larger problems.

There is a building issue that needs to be clarified, and it is simple:
YOU DO NOT OWN YOUR SPOT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE SHOVELED IT!
Now, I know tradition is to put a chair or other inventive item in your spot to hold it. And, honestly, I am ok with this for a few days after a snowstorm, especially one as large as we’ve had. But, we are now a week out from the storm and that needs to stop. We cannot have neighbors threatening other neighbors or their vehicles over spaces.

I want to make some observations about our current parking challenge and suggest ways to solve it:

1. Shovel your space FULLY. This means front, back, and sides of your vehicle.
2. Put the excess snow on the sidewalk side of the car. Yes, this means walking the snow around when you are clearing the driver’s side of the car. Yes, it is more work.
3. DO NOT THROW THE SNOW INTO THE STREET!!!!!!!!
4. Clear your entire vehicle off – leaving snow on the roof is dangerous (it can fly off and strike other cars while driving and cause an accident) and it’s illegal.
5. If everyone follows these seemingly simple suggestions, our parking would resemble what we are normally used to.

Unfortunately, some people feel they cannot or will not follow the above suggestions. So, here are a few additional ones:

1. Get together with the people on your block and shovel the excess snow mounds (again, to the sidewalk) for the people that did not follow # 2 above.
2. Once you have the area clear, get everyone together and figure out a way to fit more cars into the space you have. Be PROACTIVE! Once you decide on a system – make sure people parking there follow it till the snow is gone.
Example: On my block, we took a large section where normally 7 cars can park parallel, angled them all in, and we parked 13 cars. That’s a gain of 5 cars in just one small section. If many people did that all over the neighborhood, we’d be ok and I wouldn’t need to be writing this message.
3. As always, help any elderly or disabled residents shovel spaces, walks etc.
4. Finally, as you are driving through the neighborhood in the next few weeks, SLOW DOWN!!! People are driving way too fast for the current narrow, and in many cases, one-lane roads we have in the neighborhood. Visibility is limited, drivers are trying to park in tight spaces and pedestrians are frequently walking in the street.

I’ve personally shoveled my two vehicles spaces and helped shovel out several neighbors’ cars, walks and roofs. So, I am not asking anything of anyone else that I have not done myself.

In closing, there are generally three types of people in the world:
1.Those who make things better
2.Those who do nothing
3.Those that make things worse

We are looking for lots of group # 1 in our neighborhood. Numbers 2 & 3 need not apply.

Brad Slater
President
Riverside Neighborhood Association

Until further notice, DPW is asking that all residents place their trash and recycling on the nearest corner for pickup (on the proper respective day).

Please be sure to continue to place all trash in a container with a lid.

The sidewalk at Thomas Johnson is snow covered.

The city is trying to open the schools on Tuesday.

We would like to get a group together to dig a pathway through the drifts. (9:00am Monday, 2/15)

Please bring shovels if you have one; otherwise, we will have some extra shovels that can be used.

Thanks!

Hello all,

I am sure everyone is weary from shoveling snow and many have yet to see a plow or get their vehicles free.

The city (and I) am asking for everyone to work together wherever possible to shovel your walks, alleys and free your vehicles. I know on my block yesterday, a large group of residents worked together to free vehicles, shovel walks for elderly neighbors, and yes, even clear some sections of the street.

The city is focusing on the primary routes first (such as Key Highway, Light Street, Fort Ave) then secondary roads (like Randall, Jackson, Clement) finally they will get to smaller side streets that may be one way and very narrow as they will have to bring smaller equipment in. If you live on one of these streets, please email ragsobo@yahoo.com to let us know if you have yet to see a plow. We have notified the city of many but its best to be sure.

The city is also asking residents to help shovel out bus stops and storm drains if possible. So, if you have extra energy, please do so.

There is more snow in the forcast, so also keep an eye on any roof areas that may need to be cleared if you can SAFELY do so.

Finally, we are all in this together, so remember that many of your fellow neighbors are having the same challenges with access and parking as you are so remember to take it in stride as best you can. Hopefully Spring comes early...

Brad Slater
President
RNA

Due to heavy snowfall resulting in many inaccessible streets and alleys, scheduled Bulk Trash Collection is CANCELLED for the week of February 8 (Monday 2/8 through Friday 2/12). Bulk Collections will be rescheduled and Citizens will be contacted by Solid Waste with their new collection date.

We ask that Citizens tune in to local news for updates on impacts to trash and recycling collections and urge citizens, as always, to properly contain trash in cans with tight-fitting lids, to keep rats out and to keep litter in its place.

We thank Citizens for their patience as we work together to tackle this weather emergency and insure delivery of essential services.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake Reminds Citizens of Responsibilities

In the days following the storm, residents are responsible for clearing snow from walks, vehicles.

BALTIMORE, MD. (February 6, 2010) – As the last of the snow falls on the city, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake reminded residents of their responsibility to begin clearing snow from their residences. In the coming days, it will be important for people to clear snow from footpaths, vents and inlets to facilitate the city’s speedy recovery from this historic winter storm.

As of 5:00 p.m. today, anywhere from 25 to 30 inches of snow have fallen on the city. The city remains in Phase II of its Snow Emergency Plan. People should not drive unless it is absolutely important, and cars cannot be parked on Snow Emergency Routes. The Mayor asked residents and businesses to be patient while city crews work to make secondary roadways passable and safe. The City's Snow Team has an enormous task of removing more than 2 feet of wet, heavy snow and is working diligently to make Baltimore ’s roadways safe for travel.

“From clearing the primary and secondary roads to answering emergency calls, the City is doing its part,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “Now it is time for the people of Baltimore to work together.”

The Mayor listed responsibilities of Baltimore residents:

· Continue to stay off the roads to make room for snow plows.

· Neighbors should work together to clear snow from around fire hydrants. Significant snowfalls like the one this weekend create drifts that make hydrants difficult to find and will put communities at risk.

· All snow and ice should be removed from the entire width of public sidewalks in both residential and business areas. There is an ordinance regarding snow removal that identifies the responsibilities of citizens in removing snow from sidewalks, resulting in fines up to $50. Property owners are reminded that snow removal is required within 24 - 48 hours after the end of a snow, ice, or wind event.

· All snow and ice must be removed from a vehicle before operating;

· Do not throw snow into the street when clearing off vehicles and sidewalks, keeping snow as close to the curb as possible;

· Storm drains and inlets must also be cleared of snow and ice. Keeping them clear allows melting snow to flow away, preventing the flooding of intersections and basements.

Tues., Feb. 16, 4:00-7:00 PM, Salem Lutheran, 1530 Battery at E. Randall on Riverside Park (410-576-0487). For menu and more, check us out on the web, www@salemsouthbaltimore.org