We’re Back!

Dear Friends and Community of Overlea,

We have made it halfway through winter, and dare I say sunnier days are ahead. While this pre-spring funk can get the best of us, I hope you are finding joy to keep you warm. I first want to extend a heartfelt ‘Welcome to the Neighborhood’ to all of our new residents. We have seen a tremendous number of home sales this last year! We are excited to connect with all of you and look forward to seeing you at one of our many community events. Be sure to check out our website (www.overleaonline.org), our Facebook page (Overlea Community Association), and stop by any of our events (our community potluck is April 27th!) Our board has been hard at work continuing to advocate for sustainable growth of our neighborhood. Thank you to Martin Nibali for attending the District 6 budget town hall on behalf of the community association to support an additional playground, electric chargers, and greater use of the Fullerton Rec Center. We have also had conversations with Councilman Mike Ertel regarding the quality of our roads, code enforcement issues, and zoning changes that affect our neighborhood. The OCA will stand against any development of additional gas stations in our district. We want growth along the Belair Road corridor that is safe and in the best interest of the community. This includes changes make it safer to use, more business friendly and walkable.

We have so many fun activities planned this year, and cannot wait to get started. Our Farmer’s Market is in its 9th year! Starting June 8th and running every other weekend through October., we will celebrate seasonal produce with local food vendors and so much more. Join us in the parking lot of the Natural History Society of Maryland on Belair Road. Speaking of the NHS, have you seen the Mammoth yet?! The NHS has a woolly mammoth skeleton on public display for the first time in the state of Maryland! So cool that this gem is right in our very own neighborhood. Be sure to check their Facebook page for their event dates, including nature hikes, paint nights, bird watching and more!

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has paid their dues for the 23-24 fiscal year. Because of your support, we are able to continue to hold these great events, work hard to beautify Belair Rd., and keep our neighbors informed on local changes that impact all of us. We could not do this without your support. If you have ever considered getting involved in your community, now is the time! We have many opportunities available, big and small. Please reach out!

Graciously,

Melissa Davis, OCA president

Overlea’s popular family arts festival will return to Holt Park on Friday, August 9th and Saturday, August 10th. Enjoy two days of art, music, food, workshops and fun! The theme is “Kaleidoscope,” so come in your most colorful outfits! The event opens on Friday evening at 6 pm with an art show preview party, wine tasting and live jazz music til 9 pm. Saturday activities run from 11 am til 5 pm, featuring the art show, live music, food, a wine & beer tent, silent art auction, Peoples’ Choice voting, family art & nature activities and free art workshops. Short Films will be available to view on our website. We will hold a Youth Art Show and the Juried Art Show on that same weekend. Artists of all ages can sign up to participate at https://overleaartsfest.org/submission-forms/ Submission deadline for art shows is in early June.

ArtsFest is FREE to attend and has activities for the whole family. Holt Park & Center for the Arts is at 34 Elmont Avenue, Baltimore, 21206. Watch our website https://overleaartsfest.org/ for regular event updates. See you at the ArtsFest!

Nominations are being accepted for leadership positions in the Overlea Community Association. OCA members in good standing can submit their name for consideration and a vote will be held in-person by secret ballot at our General Meeting in May. We are always looking for new board members, but have a direct need for leadership roles. Elected positions include President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Contact current president Melissa Davis Mspicknall1@gmail.com.

My father George B. Franz, a long time Overlea resident was an obsessed and crazed photographer. If you heard stories of him hanging out of trees, climbing high rocks, perched on precarious spots, close calls and injuries sustained, you would understand. He would go to no ends to capture the perfect image.

He considered himself a documentarist. He knew the landscapes he captured- urban and rural- were temporary. They would be gone eventually and he wanted to capture them before that happened. George took very few photos of daily life in Overlea. But the few he did take are enjoyed now and then on the Overlea Community Facebook page. He left behind thousands of photographs from all over Baltimore, the state, county and the world. Most of his photographs were never printed because they were not perfect to him.

He would develop every roll into negatives. Then every negative would be examined on a light board. I remember him sitting at the dining room table looking at each illuminated negative with a magnifying glass. The ones he thought were possibly acceptable, he would print in his basement dark room onto small photo paper 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Then they would be examined again. That’s when another cut happened.

Many years ago he gave me a shoe box full of these tiny castoffs. He told me to take what I wanted and return the rest. Each one had the negative taped on the back. I cherish these photos. What he thought of as imperfect, are more than perfect to me.

George and Helen Franz lived in Overlea on Manor Avenue from 1955 until 1996 when they moved to Oak Crest Village where they lived out their lives. My dad took over 20,000 photos in his life-time.

One of his castoffs from 1960 shown here, captures the kids on Manor Ave sleigh riding and having a terrific time!

Hey Overlea residents-it’s time to shine with what’s cooking in your kitchen! Enjoy food and fellowship with your neighbors at the Overlea Pot Luck Dinner! Bring your family and a dish of your favorite food creation. For planning purposes, respond with how many are in your group and what you’ll be bringing to the buffet.

In February, OCA board members met with 6th District County Councilman Mike Ertel to discuss neighborhood priorities. Every four years our representatives can recommend zoning changes through a process referred to as CZMP. (To learn more about CZMP, go to the Baltimore County Website at www.baltimorecountymd gov and enter CZMP 2024 in the search bar.)

The OCA recommended the submission of these changes:

• The expedited demolition of the burned property at the corner of Elm Ave. and Belair Rd.
• The OCA has successfully fought to keep a large gas station from occupying the corner of Fullerton Ave. and pushed for the AS designation be removed from several properties to prevent future gas pump construction in our neighborhood.
• We requested the installation of curb cuts, gutters, and handicap ramps throughout the neighborhood, as well as road repaving. After water, utilities, and BGE gas line work, many streets in our area are torn up and half-patched. We shared photographs with Mr. Ertel, and he agreed to push the issue with the County Executive. Maintaining our roads is vital for our residents and businesses. Home ownership in Overlea is on the rise with new families accounting for the majority of recent home purchases.
• The OCA requested legislation to limit live music in Commercial Revitalization Districts (CRD) to end at 9pm. Additionally, we requested that any venue offering live music provide off street parking and 30 days advance written notice to local community associations.
• Baltimore County and the State of Maryland are also considering requests for a playground at the Fullerton Community Center and public electric vehicle charging stations at Willow Ave. and Belair Rd. OCA members will receive updates on these issues in our emailed Community Bulletin updates. Join today.