As the year winds down and the air turns crisp, it’s a good time to reflect on what makes Overlea special — neighbors who care for one another. Whether you’re checking in on someone, helping with a project, or sharing a smile, those small acts strengthen our community. I’m proud to share that the Hillendale/Overlea/Parkville Task Force has been hard at work with Sharon Kihn from the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce and the Baltimore County Planning Department. Together, we’re moving forward on Community Improvement, Facade Improvement, and Commercial Revitalization grant projects that will make our neighborhoods shine. If you’d like to be part of this effort, please attend the Task Force meeting on January 28th. For details please email me at president@ overleaonline.org — your voice matters. The Farmers Market wrapped up another successful season, thanks to our wonderful vendors and volunteers.

And as we look ahead, we’re excited to gather again for the Holiday Tree Lighting. Bring the family for gifts, treats, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. We’ll also be collecting food donations to support our neighbors in need. Let’s keep building the caring, connected Overlea we all love.

With gratitude,
Martin Nibali
President, Overlea Community Association

Scott Fischer grew up on Virginia Avenue, just down the street from Casper Sippel Electric. At 14 years old, he began working there after school cleaning the shop. In some ways it became his second home.

Scott started with the company in 1993. More than 30 years later, he was presented with the opportunity to purchase the business in December 2024. His wife, Brandy, has joined him working side-by-side overseeing the office responsibilities.

Keeping the Sippel name was an easy decision for Scott. It’s his way of honoring the Sippel family and the impact they’ve had on the community. Casper Sippel Electric employs 30 full-time employees. Scott and Brandy’s long-term goal is to continue growing the business while serving the community with the same commitment and integrity it was founded on. It is because of Casper Sippel Electric that the Annual Tree Lighting event has been able to take place.

They have hung the tree lights for 12 years. A heartfelt thank you from the community to the Fischer’s for keeping this beloved tradition alive.

The beloved community arts festival that started as a 1-day event has evolved over the past 10 years. It quickly grew into a 3-day multi-media festival, then branched out into the Youth Art Show showcasing kids and teens. This year the Short Films Festival breaks off into its own event in partnership with CCBC Essex, which will host it in Spring of 2026.

As we pass our 10-year milestone and look ahead to the future, we are exploring fresh ideas and perspectives. The next Overlea ArtsFest events will move to the Fall with a narrower focus on specific genres. The 2026 ArtsFest will showcase Sculpture and 3D mixed media work and will return to Holt Park & Center for the Arts. We also hope to assist with plans for a permanent sculpture garden installation project at Holt Park in the near future. We are looking for volunteers to help with event planning, fundraising, grant writing, social media, accounting and day-of support work. If you’ve ever considered joining a grassroots team of community members for a good cause, we invite you to reach out. Come meet with our board to learn how you can share your talents and be a part of something fun! Contact Carol Stover at president@overleaartsfest.org. And check us out at https://OverleaArtsFest.org and @overleaartsfest on social media.

Diapers2Deposits (D2D) founded by Overlea resident Whitney Ramirez servicing youth, schools, families, and organizations, is a provider of financial literacy programming. It goes beyond the basics of saving and budgeting by offering a range of programs tailored to diverse audiences—from homeschool “drop-off” sessions to live online investing clubs for teens. The topics include entrepreneurship, investing, website-design basics, credit cards, budgeting and more.

For families and homeschoolers, D2D has drop-off enrichment programs: two-hour interactive sessions that combine lessons, games, reading, videos and activities in financial literacy. Their “Investors’ Club” is for teens (ages 10-17) and provides an online simulation of stock-market investing, watch-lists, portfolio practice, and coaching on financial decision-making. The Overlea community thanks Whitney for sponsoring vendors at the farmers market and delivering the OCA newsletters.

For more information or to discuss services please email: wramirez@diapers2deposits.com or visit their website: https://www.diapers2deposits.com

When the building has been hit with graffiti, the dedicated OCA volunteers have painted over it. Additionally, through the efforts of former Senator Kathy Klausmeier, exterior lights were installed, thereby reducing the amount of graffiti. Recently however, graffiti has appeared on the jersey walls of the bus loop. Painting over this would only provide a new blank slate and an invitation for more graffiti. Furthermore, standing in the loop would be dangerous.

Another concern is that the sidewalks in front of the building and the waiting area concrete floor are filthy. No one who uses the turnaround should have to be subjected to this.

These current issues are far greater than the Association and volunteers can address. OCA requests to MDOT to deal with these concerns have gone unanswered.

The OCA recently met at the turnaround with Maryland State Delegate Nick Allen to ask for assistance. Community leadership has asked him for help to compel MDOT to address these issues and provide permanent appropriate solutions. Please contact Delegate Allen to express your support of his efforts to compel MDOT to do the right thing. If you use the bus turnaround for public transportation, he really needs to hear from you. Call 410-841-3365 or email: nick.allen@house.maryland.gov

At the Tree Lighting event this year, we’ll be collecting food and monetary donations for local food pantries serving the Overlea Community. Canned vegetables, cereal, coffee, (no tea or hot chocolate), pancake mix and syrup, family size instant mashed potatoes, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and jelly, canned soups, canned tuna, mayo (small jars), and gift cards to local grocery stores are all great donations. If you’re able to help, please contribute to those in our community experiencing food insecurity at this time.

Here’s the link to St Michael’s Food Pantry Make a Contribuition page. The QR code goes to the same page.

The Overlea Community enjoys committed energized volunteers who work incredibly hard to nurture and expand our neighborhood to reach its full potential! You can support the Overlea community by paying annual membership dues for fiscal year July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. Your dues help pay for the newsletter, community advocacy, the Farmer’s Market, Potluck dinners, the Annual Tree Lighting event, the Belair Road flower pots, the website and so much more. Membership is per person, paid yearly, (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). Use the coupon below or pay online.

Mail your dues to:

Overlea Community Association
P.O. Box 18895 Baltimore, MD 21206

Or pay by PayPal online at: www.overleaonline.org/information/membership/

If dues are a barrier to you, please reach out to Martin Nibali about alternatives (president@overleaonline.org). If you have mailed dues and it was returned from the post office, this is a post office error. Leadership has done everything possible to have this corrected, but it has not helped. Please do not remail or throw it in the trash.

For more info, contact Debi Brocht by email at brochtdebi[at]gmail.com.

Dear Neighbors,

These are busy times in Overlea—and while the world around us can often feel uncertain or overwhelming, I continue to be inspired by the strength, generosity, and spirit of our community.

I’d like to share some updates and invite you to be part of what’s happening right here in our own backyard.

First, mark your calendars! The 2nd Annual Movie Night is coming up on Friday, September 20, at the Overlea Fullerton Community Center. We’ll be showing 50 First Dates—a crowd favorite—bring a chair, a friend, and maybe even a blanket to enjoy an evening under the stars with your neighbors. It’s free, fun, and an opportunity for adults to spend some time with their neighbors.

Meanwhile, our work continues to advocate for thoughtful improvements along the Belair Road corridor. In collaboration with the Baltimore Community Foundation, we are participating in the planning process to ensure the voices of Overlea’s residents are heard—on both the City and County sides of the line. We believe this is an opportunity to shape a corridor that works better for everyone— safer, greener, and more connected.

The Overlea Farmers Market is also thriving in its new location at Spruce and West Overlea Avenues. Thanks to all who continue to support the local growers and artisans! If you haven’t yet stopped by, I encourage you to check it out—it’s a great way to spend every other Saturday morning.

And right across the way, the Maryland Natural History Society is hard at work improving the exterior of the building. This long-overdue facelift is a welcome sign of the growing momentum in our community, and we can’t wait to see the finished result.

At the heart of all this progress is something deeper: the belief that we are stronger together. Whether it’s sharing a laugh at Movie Night, picking up produce at the market, or taking time to help shape the future of Belair Road, our acts of participation make a difference.

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’  Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

— Fred Rogers

Thank you for being one of those people.

With gratitude,
Martin Nibali President,
Overlea Community Association

The Overlea Farmers Market is partnering with local organization Breadcoin to increase the community’s ability to buy from local farmers and food vendors. The mission of Breadcoin is to restore the dignity of choice and make sure that food insecurity does not happen in isolation. This mission is aligned with the goals of the farmers market: provide access to fresh food and create a place for the community to gather. The beauty of Breadcoin is that you do not have to qualify or apply. Just stop by the community table at the farmers market and ask for Breadcoin. If available, these coins can be used at any food vendor, including hot food. For more information on Breadcoin, visit their website at www.breadcoin.org.

For Overlea residents on the west side of Belair Rd. you may not have noticed the next round of utility work that began this spring, just after the BGE work that finished up last year. A representative from the county spoke at the spring OCA meeting to provide details on the project. Here are some updates: the project includes watermain replacement in the Overlea neighborhood east of Belair Rd. bordered by Belair, Kenwood and Fullerton. The work performed by Cossentino Contracting is expected to last approximately 2 years until spring 2027. They’ll be working in multiple locations at once to meet the schedule.

Currently, they are on Linden Avenue and the cross streets –Maple, Overlea, Willow, Madeline, E. Elm, and Apple. They should complete Fullerton Avenue work before school begins in late August. While they are installing the new watermain, they will temporarily patch the road on a weekly basis. Once the work is completed, they will repair or replace the roads as needed. Residents should be notified of parking, street closures and service interruption. Contractors do not need to access your yard or home unless there is a problem. The work is done in the street only. For questions contact OCA Infrastructure Volunteer Cory Scott at corsco@gmail.com.