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.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Baltimore City’s most ambitious citywide cleaning initiative will be focused on cleaning public spaces and supporting city residents in each of Baltimore’s neighborhoods. This coordinated effort combines government services, community engagement, and cross-agency collaboration. Every single neighborhood will be visited, by the city agencies and partner cleanup crews, to address resident’s 311 service requests. Neighbors are encouraged to report issues to 311, to volunteer for cleaning events and to assist in the coordination of cleanups in their own neighborhoods.

The following agencies will be part of this coordinated effort:

• Department of Public Works (DPW): sweeping streets, clearing storm drains, removing graffiti, and rodent issues.

• Department of Transportation (DOT) will be filling potholes, clearing sidewalks, and mowing median strips.

• Baltimore City Recreation & Parks (BCRP) will clean tree pits, trim trees, and care for green spaces.

• Clean Corps will tackle alleys, streets, sidewalks and vacant lots, working alongside volunteer Baltimore residents. City residents can report 311 requests by calling 311 or online at https://311.baltimorecity.gov

If any Overlea residents would like to volunteer or be involved in the coordination of this clean up effort on October 15th, please contact OCA president Martin Nibali at: president@overleaonline.org

Coming to you this fall – a new 3-day event showcasing local and national filmmakers! In a partnership with the CCBC Essex Digital Media Production department, the juried Short Films portion of ArtsFest has become a separate event, to take place November 7th, 8th and 9th at the CCBC Essex campus.

It will be a weekend of original short film screenings, guest speakers, workshops and more. Submissions are still open for filmmakers 16 yrs old and up, with short films between 1 and 30 minutes long. Go to https://overleaartsfest.org/short-films-2025/ for submission and event info! No fees to submit, prizes for winners and free admission to the weekend festival. See you there!

34 Elmont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21206

Many renovation projects are underway at Holt Park! The woodland trail has been repaved, the amphitheater was recently cleaned and repaired, and landscapers have added water management berms throughout the grassy areas. The campfire ring has been entirely redone and expanded with new log bench seating. Improvements to the pond and to the interiors of the historic cabins are coming next. Educational arts and nature programs have continued and some fun new programs are planned. Find out more on the website: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/recreation/parks-directory/holt-park-and-center-for-the-arts.

Every spring and fall, Baltimore County’s Forest Management group plants trees throughout the county, offering residents tremendous benefits in terms of air quality improvement, cooling our communities and homes, biodiversity support, storm- water management, beautification, and helping people relax and recharge. In addition to tree planting along County roadways, individual homeowners can request a free tree to be planted in their front yards. Homeowners can even choose what tree species they’d like! Baltimore county residents can take advantage of this program by submitting a request before 8/29. To learn more, visit the County’s Project ReTree Site at https://baltco-forestmanagement-bc-gis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/project-retree.

Fall is the time to plant spring-flowering daffodil, tulip, crocus, and hyacinth bulbs. Get plants in the ground at least six weeks before the ground freezes–up until early November. Water plants as needed to keep the soil moist to the depth of the root ball, continuing to water until the ground freezes.

Mulch: Apply a 2-3” layer of organic mulch (e.g. shredded leaves, pine straw, or bark chips) around plants, keeping it several inches away from the stems or trunk. This conserves moisture and helps prevent winter freeze-thaw cycles that can stress plants.

Baltimore County Trash and Bulk Trash Pick-Up

Trash Pick-up: Friday
Recyling Pick-up: Thursday

The next bulk trash pick up date is November 11, 2025. For more info call call 410-887-2000 or go online to: Collection Schedule | Baltimore County Government https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/public-works/solid-waste/collection-schedule

Baltimore City Trash and Bulk Trash Pick-Up

Trash Pick-up: Thursday
Recyling Pick-up: Tuesday

Every month, city residents can put out up to three items for bulk trash collection but must call 311 before the scheduled date to request this service. Go online: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/pw-bureaus/solid-waste/bulk

These times are certainly unusual. There are days when I actively avoid the news about what novel approach to cutting government programs a nameless, faceless computer hacker has devised today. Much the way a hedge fund would liquidate assets in a company they were trying to look profitable, only to dress it up for a quick sale, or chop it up for parts, so we are carving up our government with a chain saw instead of a scalpel. There are a lot of good people, who have developed decades of expertise and competence in very specific subject matter. They are doing work that is sometimes repetitive or mundane, but none-the-less adds to a consistent data set we have been collecting for 250 years, or ensures breakfast gets delivered to underprivileged school kids who might not eat otherwise or makes sure the weather report is accurate. To see this class of public servants, who aren’t shilling for lobbyists or working on their next book deal, scapegoated as the cause of government graft by the very people who write the funding bills in the first place just makes me angry.

But, in the face of this, we must keep living our lives. As the president of your community association, I want to assure you, I am not in it for the money. (This is a volunteer position.) I know the impulse people feel to help their communities and to give back through service is real because I operate on that drive as well. And when our neighbor has to leave town to help her aging mother, we take in her mail, and care for her dog. When the snow comes, we clear the sidewalk not just in front of our house, but more. The Overlea Community Association is a voice for you in local politics, in business development, in beautification. But first and foremost, we want to help our community come together.

We want to empower you to be heard, but we also want to give you the opportunity to listen to each other. We want to encourage you to “love thy neighbor” if for no other reason than to live the Truth that people aren’t just self- interested, petty, and indifferent. Our struggles are shared. Our triumphs can be, too.

Martin Nibali
President, OCA