It’s going to be a Tasty Night in Overlea! Come join us on Tuesday, August 1st, 6-8pm. Save the date and stayed tuned for more information in the next newsletter, on Facebook or in the Community Bulletin. This is a wonderful event and it’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbors!

34 Elmont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21206

Holt Park is a jewel in our neighborhood. On your next visit walking the trails, make a point to stop by the Nature Center cabin to visit the critters. Ranger M. Tillery works with home school kids to support their science curriculum, and they have named the resident terrapin “Poppy.”

Until recently, Poppy’s habitat was a bit limiting. Alex Dusza from BSA Scouts Troop 16 has built a new habitat for our favorite neighborhood turtle as part of his Eagle Scout project. The new hundred-gallon tank includes a platform for Poppy to warm herself under the lamps, and plenty of water to swim in. Her habitat also includes some live clams to filter the water naturally and help keep Poppy healthy and happy. Thanks, Alex! The Nature Cabin is open on Saturdays from 12:00 – 3:00pm.

Make time to visit us and join in on the fun! Please pre-register for Holt Park programs on our website.

Save the dates for the 2023 season of this community treasure. The Overlea Farmers Market, organized by your Overlea Community Association, begins on Saturday, June 10 and runs every other Saturday through October 28. We’ll once again be in the parking lot of the Natural History Society of Maryland (6908 Belair Rd). So get those dates on your calendars now, and plan to support local farmers, bakers, and makers this season. If you’d like to help please email OCA president Melissa Davis: president@overleaonline.org.

Kids and teens now have their very own art show dedicated to them and their work! The 1st annual Youth Art Show will be on March 24th, 25th and 26th, 2023 at Holt Park & Center for the Arts, with a fun 3-day program of activities and entertainment.

The show is being produced in collaboration with Holt Park and local Girl Scout Troop 5335. All young artists between the ages of 6 and 15 living or attending school in Maryland are eligible to submit their artwork. Cash prizes and certificates will be given to the top winners. Art teachers and Scout leaders are welcome to connect with us at contactus@overleaartsfest.org to get involved.

Submissions are open through Monday, March 6th, so hurry! There is NO FEE to submit. Get all the details on our website.

Planting Trees, Removing Invasives

Our neighborhood has numerous historic trees, but as they age, many have been cut down. Plus, older trees often struggle with invasive vines that weaken them and make damage more likely in bad weather.

The Value of Trees

Trees increase the value of our homes, provide significant cooling in summer, offer countless environmental benefits, and improve Overlea’s appearance. To maintain the healthy tree cover that has long distinguished Overlea, we need to protect the trees we have and replace the ones that have been taken down.

“The Overlea Community Association (OCA) is launching two initiatives to protect our community’s diminishing tree canopy.”

MELISSA DAVIS, PRESIDENT OF THE OCA

Initiative #1 – 100 New Trees

The OCA has a goal of planting 100 trees in our neighborhood in the next year. We need your help!

The OCA is working on organizing free or significantly discounted Maryland-native trees for
Overlea residents. The OCA is happy to help neighbors plant new trees, as well.

If you’re interested in participating, please submit the form below!*

Initiative #2 – Removing Invasives

The OCA is addressing the harmful invasive vines that are damaging Overlea’s trees. All hands on deck! English Ivy and Japanese Honeysuckle threaten mature trees by weighing them down. The increased weight can create a hazard for nearby structures in inclement weather because it contributes to limb breakage and tree collapse.

If you’d like to help, please submit the form below!*

Yes — I want to keep Overlea green!

Follow the OCA on Facebook to keep up with the latest events and news.

We’re Still Composting

The OCA will continue to collect compost in the parking lot of the Natural History Society of Maryland (6908 Belair Road) beginning Saturday November 5 from 9:30-10:30 am. This will continue every other week, through the winter and spring, until the Farmer’s Market begins next year.

What Can We Take?

We accept all fruit and veggie scraps, egg shells, nuts shells, teabags and coffee grinds and filters. Please, no bones, yard waste, dairy, or meat. Many of our neighbors who routinely bring their compost will store it in their freezers until the collection day. The compost is taken to Ladybrook Farms in Monkton, Maryland where it provides feed for their free range chickens, ducks and geese. The chickens especially love pumpkins, gourds and fall squash!

Why It’s Important

The compost enriches the soil in which Ladybrook Farm grows the flowers sold at our Overlea Farmer’s Market. Composting helps reduce the effects of climate change by diverting food waste from landfills and promotes nutrient rich soil. In addition, it increases the water holding capacity of soil. And because the soil is less dry, composting works to reduce soil erosion. Food that is deposited in landfills is a large contributor of methane to the atmosphere, so it is important to reduce this waste as much as possible.

Hope to see you join the community effort to save the environment!

Help make our streets litter free!

Please join us this Saturday (11/12) for a neighborhood clean up. We will provide all the supplies needed.

We’re meeting up at the Overlea Bus Turnaround at 10am. From there we will walk up Belair Rd. tidying up as much as we can. Below is a map of the general area (in red) we’ll be focusing on. Hope to see you there. If you can’t make it, at least give us a friendly honk if you’re driving by!

Baltimore County Department of Aging (BCDA) along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) welcomes all the qualifying residents of Baltimore County to register for an appointment at our regional application assistance events.

In addition to getting help with the application process, we will have various internet/wireless service providers available for you to learn more about and/or set up your service.

Who Qualifies?

There are four (4) ways your household can qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP):

• Based on your household income – Single – $27,180, Couple – $36,620, Trio – $46,060
• If you or anyone in your household already receives a Lifeline benefit
• You may qualify for the ACP through a participating provider’s existing low-income program
• If you or someone in your household participates in one of these programs you are automatically eligible for ACP:
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
• Medicaid
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
• Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program
• Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year

Greetings!

It’s officially my second year as President of the Overlea Community Association and we have made so many moves! Check out this article outlining some of strides that have been made here in Overlea. Our Overlea Farmer’s Market is in full swing with new vendors, including beef jerky, tie dyed clothes, yarn, beeswax lotions and so much more. Be sure to stop by every other Saturday morning between 8:30am-12:30pm at 6908 Belair Rd. Our remaining market dates are July 30th, August 13th, August 27th, September 10th, September 24th, October 8th, and October 22nd.

ArtsFest is also upon us! Three days of local vendors, art, performances, a film festival and more! Mark your calendars for August 12th, 13th, and 14th, at Holt Park, located at 34 Elmont Ave.

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered and attended the Fullerton Fireworks this year🙏. What a fantastic show! Events like these can’t be done without the hard work of MANY volunteers. It was so great to get such a community treasure back in the neighborhood.

If anyone is facing food insecurity this summer, BCPS is offering a free summer food program. Details can be found on their website at www.bcps.org. The closest location is Parkville Middle School. They will offer lunches Monday-Friday from 11-11:30 am. You may also go to www.marylandfoodbank.org, type in your zip code, and view a list of food banks near you. Inflation, job loss, and illness affect us all, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

I will end with a reminder to vote in the upcoming election. Non-presidential elections typically have low voter turnout, but this year Maryland elects a new Governor and it’s incredibly important that your voice is heard. Local elections matter, and they tend to have the most impact on our day-to-day life. Thank you for being so invested in your community! Please reach out to get involved.

Melissa Davis, President, Overlea Community Association, president@overleaonline.org

UPDATE: 08/26/22

The OCA board has learned that 7-11 and the developer behind the 7-11 gas station and convenience store proposed for the corner of Belair Rd. and Fullerton Ave. have decided NOT to appeal the administrative ruling that denied all the requested special exceptions.

As far as we are aware, the project will not move forward.

THANK YOU to all the Overlea and Linover residents who shared their concerns and testimony, whether written or in person. Your involvement is crucial as together we advocate for sustainable development and improvements in our community.

The Pittsburgh-based developer Pentek has proposed a large 7-11 fuel station, convenience store, and fast food restaurant on the properties at 7403-7407 Belair Rd., the intersection with Fullerton Ave.

The Overlea Community Association does not support this 7-11 or the developer’s requests for zoning variances. We have serious concerns about the safety and traffic impacts of such a large store at this failing intersection, which we expressed to the developer and in testimony for the zoning hearing.

The developer requested special exceptions to zoning law for this project at a hearing on 6/13/2022. All requests were denied in a decision issued 6/24/2022 (case number 2021-0269-SPHXA). The developer has 30 days to appeal.

The OCA encourages all community members to help continue our fight for sustainable, beneficial development in Overlea. If you are interested in a “STOP 7-11” yard sign, it comes free with your $25 good neighbor OCA membership. These dues help us keep our neighborhood programs running and make Overlea an even better place to live.

Sign up for email updates and future calls to action at https://www.overleaonline.org/news/stop-7-eleven/

One of the great things about a community farmers market is they are also business incubators. The Overlea Farmers Market often gives new businesses the space and opportunity to expand. Brothers BBJ (beef jerky) is operated and produced by four brothers who live in the community. They offer great products with many flavors. Stop by for a sample Hon’s Honey employs and supports women recovering from abusive circumstances. They sell local honey, bar soaps, lotions and creams. Stop by and learn about their efforts and their terrific products.

Highview Ave. and the end of Fuller Ave. received a SERIOUS renovation! Your Overlea Community Association has worked closely with Councilwoman Cathy Bevins for several years on this much needed project. She relentlessly advocated on our behalf, for new sidewalks, curbs, and handicap ramps. These road areas had deteriorated greatly and the work was very much needed. If you have not seen the repairs, check it out. The results are amazing! Thank you Councilwoman Bevins for your tireless efforts for much needed improvements tor the Overlea Community.