C AMBRIDGE M APLE S TREET
H APPENINGS
V OLUME 1, I SSUE 4
FAR ME EVE R’S M A RY TH RKET UR 3:3 SDA OPEN AT 0-6 Y! THE :30 P .M COR . ACA N DEM ER O Y S F MU TRE I ET R &
J UNE , 2009 M APLE S TREET S IDEWALK P ROJECT P ROPOSED TIMELINE
M APLE S TREET S IDEWALK P ROJECT U PDATE
The Community Legacy Program has issued the official grant letter to the city, so we can finally begin the process of renewing our sidewalks in the Maple Street District. The first block we'll be working in will be Gay Street, between Race and High Streets. Our plan is to replace the deteriorating sidewalks, and install new streetlight fixtures like the ones downtown. We will also be talking to property owners about planting some trees along the street this fall. We are in the process of notifying residents and property owners about the project, and there will be a public meeting scheduled to make sure everyone has the information they need. This will be a big improvement to our district.
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June 2009: Block Survey of Gay Street, including tree inventory. July 2009: Public informational meeting. August 2009: Work begins to replace sidewalks and improve street lighting September 2009: Free tree plantings begin October 2009: Phase I Complete.
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M AYOR S TANLEY O PENS F ARMERS ’ M ARKET
Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley was on hand May 7th for the grand opening of the Cambridge Main Street Farmer’s Market. The Market is growing larger each week. This past week we had 13 vendors and next week we are expecting more. We have delicious fresh picked produce, beautiful cut flowers and potted plants, fresh just-picked strawberries, yummy cookies and cakes, herbs and greens, beautiful artisan breads, and natural meats. Kelly Carey is with us this year. She comes from Down to Earth Organic Farm which is located in Quantico. She has been farming for 7 years. She
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I NSIDE
THIS ISSUE :
C OMMUNITY C LEAN U P I NITIATED S OJOURNER -D OUGL ASS S UMMER S CHEDULE J AZZ F ESTIVAL R E -C AP E MPOWERMENT C ENTER A CTIVITIES
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Mayor Stanley greets Sharon Harris of Harris Farms, one of the many vendors offering fresh produce. Photo by Jill Jasuta
grows seasonal vegetables, greens and potted herbs. Stop by and say hello. Bill Edwards from S.B. Farms returns for another season. If you want low fat, nutritional red meat with excellent flavor, this is the place to come! The Ed-
wards family raise bison with the best of care--and careful attention to controlling nutrient and soil runoff into the Choptank River and thence the Chesapeake Bay. The Market is open each Thursday from 3:30-6:30.
M AIN S TREET N EWS AND N OTES
M APLE S TREET M AP 4
N EIGHBORHOOD E VENTS CALENDAR
4
P AGE 2
H APPENINGS
N EIGHBORS H ELPING N EIGHBORS : C LEAN U P D AY !
Hello Maple Street! I just wanted to share a quick update about a little neighborhood clean up project that was held on Saturday, May 9th. I’d like to introduce you to Ms. Quanetta Holt. she is an incredibly, positive, enthusiastic and proactive neighbor in our community. She was also the inspiration for the “Clean Up Day” initiative. Along with her two beautiful daughters, Queen and Qua’netia, we spent about an hour and a half filling three garbage bags as we picked up litter on the East side of High Street between Pine Street and Cross Street. Along the way we met some great neighbors and did a little bit to make our neighborhood look nicer. We make changes happen a little bit at a time. Thank you so much for your leadership Ms. Holt! If anyone else would like to work on their corner of the neighborhood, please let me know because I’d love to work with you!
Quonetta Holt and her daughters help with tidying up on High Street
Frank Stout, Commissioner-Ward 3 410-228-2005 fstout@ci.cambridge.md.us
E DUCATION O PPORTUNITIES
DEMONSTRATE OUR DEDICATION TO PROVIDING WORKING ADULT LEARNERS WITH THE SUPPORT SYSTEM THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN A COLLEGE PROGRAM .”
AT
S OJOURNER -D OUGLASS
24, 2009. Regular Hours resume Monday, July 27, 2009 Fall Semester Begins - Monday, July 27, 2009 For information, contact SojournerDouglass College at (410) 943-1171. Sojourner Douglass College is committed to your success.
“ WE
-S.D.C. M ISSION
Pre-registration for the Fall semester begins Monday, May 26, 2009, and runs through June (?). Registration and financial aid information may be obtained from the college office, located in the old St. Clair School at Fairmont and Rigby Avenues in Cambridge, or on-line at www.sdc.edu/ admissions.
Other events at SDC include: Graduation for Practical Nursing Students - Friday, June 26, 2009 - TBA. SDC Advisory Board Meeting - Wednesday, June 11, 2009 @ 6:00p.m. Sojourner-Douglass College Summer Office Hours 9:00a 5:00p starting June29 - July
J AZZ AND B LUES F ESTIVAL W AS A S MASH H IT !
On May 9th people from every neighborhood in Cambridge turned out for the Groove City Jazz and Blues Festival downtown. According to Jim Duffy, Executive Director of Cambridge Main Street, there was a record crowd. Their generous donations at the gate made it one of the most successful Main Street events ever. One of the highlights of the day was a performance by the Ragin' Unstoppables, a drum and dance corps comprised of local Cambridge kids. Plans are already underway for next year's event. The Jazz and Blues Festival is a tribute to the heyday of AfricanAmerican entertainment in the heart of Cambridge, when jazz artists would attract crowds from all over to the clubs along Pine Street in the mid 20th century. . Main Street thanks the many sponsors, vendors, artists, and volunteers who made it all possible.
Saxophonist Carl Grubbs Photo by Jim Duffy
Ragin’ Unstoppables—photo by Jill Jasuta
V OLUME 1, I SSUE 4
P AGE 3
S UMMER Y OUTH P ROGRAM , F ISH F RIES P LANNED
Summer Program Registration is now open to enroll your children, ages 1 and up, in the Empowerment Center Summer Youth Program. The program begins July 6, the Monday after Independence Day, and continues thorugh August 13. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Children are provided with an a.m. snack and a nutritious lunch. The program is funded through a grant from the Dorchester County Council. There is a full schedule of engaging activities planned including crafts, and reading. For more information or to register, contact Octavene Saunders at (410) 901-1397. Fish Fry Fundraisers The Empowerment Center is hosting a series of Fish Fries this summer to raise funds for the center’s programs. The next Fish Fry will be held June 27 from 10 a.m. –5 p.m. Sandwiches are $5 and beverages are available for 75c. For more information, contact Gary Gordy at (410)901-1397.
S URVEY S NAP S HOT : M ORE Y OUTH P ROGRAMS ARE N EEDED
Our neighborhood survey revealed that 22% of those that had an opinion indicated that the services provided by area youth programs were Good or Excellent. Comments from the 78% that thought the service was fair or poor included: “Church summer programs are all we have” “Does not include every type of neighborhood child” “Don’t have any services” “Need improvements, more things for kids to do, boys and girl club” “Need more activities, youth do not have any place to go” “No places for youth to burn energy” “Not enough activity, and not affordable” “We’ve tried to start one, kids walk the street” “Young people have no where to go, nothing to do”
30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Quality of Youth Activities
# of Respondents (n = 66)
29 11 1 Excellent Good Fair Poor No Opinion 13 12
M AIN S TREET N EWS AND N OTES
WIC Benefits Coming Soon to Farmers’ Market The Main Street Farmers’ Market is nearing approval for its application to participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program of the state Dept of Ag., which will allow income-eligible families to use Seniors & Women, Infant and Children checks to buy local produce. This is a great way to provide fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables for your family, and help support the farming families of our community. National Recognition Sought for Local AfricanAmerican History Cambridge Main Street has applied for a grant from the Maryland Historic Trust that would pay 90 percent of the costs to develop and submit an application for National Historic District status for the broader Pine Street community. From the time of the first free blacks owning property in 1801, through the Civil Rights Era to today, Pine Street has been pivotal in the history of the nation. If the application is successful, Cambridge Main St. will provide the 10 percent match and this will be fully funded. If it’s not successful, we will be unable to pursue this project this year.
Historic buildings, places, and events are all around
C AMBRIDGE M APLE S TREET
Cambridge Office of Housing and Community Development 705 Leonard Lane Cambridge, Maryland 21613 Phone: 410-228-1955 Fax: 410-228-1474 E-mail: housing@ci.cambridge.md.us
This newsletter is the direct result of your desire for better communications about the activities, public policies, and ideas that affect your community. Our survey indicates that almost 90% of the participants would like to have a regular newsletter to update them on happenings in the neighborhood. We will distribute this newsletter door to door in the Maple Street District, at neighborhood churches, and from community groups sucha s the American Legion, the Elks Lodge, and the Empowerment Center. Copies will also be available at the Dorchester County Public Library, the Robin Hood Shop, and the Pine Street Police Subs Station. If you would like to be added to our distribution list, please contact Lee Weldon, Maple Street Manager, at 410-2281955
THIS NEWSLETTER IS FUNDED IN PART THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND CAMBRIDGE MAIN STREET, INC.
MAPLE STREET DISTRICT- PHASE 1
E VENTS IN THE N EIGHBORHOOD
Saturday, June 13, 2009 Men of Waugh Church Breakfast Held at the Dorchester Elks Lodge, 618 Pine Street beginning at 7 a.m. Donation of $4.50 requested at the door. C-Safe Basketball Tournament Cornish Park, Wells and Douglas Streets. Children in grades 4 to 12 are invited to participate. Registration 9—10:30 a.m., first game begins at 10:45. Food and drinks provided. Sponsored by the C-Safe Safety Team. West End Yard Sale Community-wide yard sale at houses all over the West End of Cambridge. Sales start as early as 7 a.m. Check the Daily Banner for listing of specific addresses. play, food to eat, and a motivational speaker. Sponsored by the C-Safe Team. Donuts, muffins, fruit, coffee, juice and water will be served. Friday, June 26, 2009 Graduation Ceremonies— Sojourner Douglass College Practical Nursing Program Time to be announced. At the Sojourner Douglass campus, Fairmount and Rigby Avenues, Cambridge. For more information, call 410-9431171
Planning a neighborhood event with your church or organization? Let us know so we can let the community know! Contact Lee Weldon at 410-228-1955, or by e-mail: housing@ci.cambridge.md.us
For more information, contact (410) 901-1000, or weca@cambridgemd.org Saturday, June 20, 2009 Fathers’ Day Brunch Boys and girls, come out and bring Dad to our first annual brunch just for him. There will be games to