Abingdon Community Council eNews

Volume I Issue #14 November, 2012 C. David Copenhaver, Editor

Welcome to our latest issue of the ACC eNews. This eNews has been developed in an effort to reach out to the residents of Abingdon. Our purpose is to provide you an opportunity to become more informed and to encourage more participation at our monthly meetings! Please share this eNews with your neighbors. Why not plan to join us at our next meeting on Monday, November 26, 2012 from 6:30pm -7:30pm at the Abingdon Public Library, 2510 Tollgate Road, Abingdon, MD 21009? Join us and participate; take that leap of faith, you may find it rewarding! (For additional information, contact me at abingdoncc@gmail.com.)
(If at any time you wish to have your eMail address removed from our data base, just reply remove.)

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Abingdons Treasures: Neighborhoods

Each month a different Neighborhood will be highlighted. Please share interesting things about your neighborhood, send to abingdoncc@gmail.com

Box Hill South

Box Hill South is a populated place located in Harford County at latitude 39.468 and longitude -76.297. Originally known as Laurentum (Latin for Laurel), the area now known as Box Hill, was an estate of some 300 acres and part of Constant Friendship, a tract of 1,000 acres. It was surveyed November 2, 1695 for a Mr. Robert Deans and was acquired prior to the Revolutionary War by Colonel Thomas White of Philadelphia. Around 1800, Laurentum was given by Colonel White to his daughter and her husband, Acquila Hall. Here, on the hill overlooking the Chesapeake Bay and the Eastern Shore, they built a stone house surrounded by the laurel and vast boxwood gardens. In 1881, Laurentum was again a gift, this time to Colonel White's son, William G. Hall. The property was partially destroyed by fire in 1920 and only the walls were standing when Laurence M. Simmons, Esq., of Baltimore, an investment banker and patron of the arts, took possession in 1926. Among the remnants of Laurentum were several large boxwoods, vague reminders of a once beautiful garden. When he bought the property, Mr. Simmons renamed the estate "Box Hill". Using the original foundation of the stone house, Simmons constructed one of the most distinguished and totally unique homes in all of Maryland, choosing a combination of Georgian, early Maryland and old English architecture for his 15 room house. The living room with its unusual cornice is particularly attractive. The house contains 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, maid's quarters and has 6 fireplaces, a formal dining room and a library. The small stone and clapboard guest house built by the Hall family around 1780, called the School House, was at one time used as such by the many Hall children and those of neighboring families. In August 1965, Bosely & Ward Enterprises purchased the Box Hill Estate with the surrounding 330 acres from the estate of Laurence M. Simmons. Today it houses the corporate offices of Art Builders, Inc.
(Source: Box Hill South Homeowners' Association web site. Some changes were made.)

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Lisanti's DAC Comments Prompt Council Spat

One member's decision to speak out during the heated Development Advisory Committee meeting Oct. 17 about Walmart's plans to build in the south Bel Air area has sparked a bit of a fissure in the Harford County Council. Harford County Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti and Councilman Dion Guthrie, the two Democrats on the seven-member council, criticized Council President Billy Boniface for clarifying to The Aegis that Lisanti's comments at the Oct. 17 DAC meeting did not represent the council's. At that meeting, which only Guthrie attended, Lisanti testified through her legislative aide about her request for additional consideration of items such as lighting and the overall site design for the highly controversial Walmart store planned for Plumtree Road in Bel Air. County Council President Billy Boniface called The Aegis that day to clarify that her position had not been vetted by the council and she was not speaking on behalf of the council. That prompted Lisanti to send the paper a letter to the editor calling Boniface's action "completely irrational" and "pointless." Lisanti wrote that although the "charter requires the council to act as a body in legislative functions; it does not limit the freedom of expression." "As an elected official I hold sacred my duty to lead and speak [openly] on public issues facing our community. More importantly as a citizen of a free nation I am obligated to defend liberty without fear of scorn and public reprimand by those in power," she wrote, adding she hopes the incident was simply "an impulsive act or mere understanding." Guthrie also said Thursday that Boniface's comments were "totally out of hand." "She [Lisanti's aide] never said Mary Ann was speaking for the council; it was never implied," he continued. "Mary Ann is upset, and I don't blame her." Guthrie said he has written thousands of letters and spoken at a like number of meetings and events during his 10 years as a council member, and "it's never a situation where you are speaking for the council. You are on your own. You have a right to your opinion, after all. We all do this." Guthrie said he believes the county council president "sometimes thinks he's more important than the rest of us." "I'm only one-seventh of the council; Billy is only one-seventh of the council; Mary Ann is only one-seventh," he continued. "Sometimes Billy acts like he's the county executive. There's a substantial difference between the two [positions]." Boniface, meanwhile, explained that he was prompted to make the clarification by two other council members, whom he would not identify. "Two of them were concerned that her comments were being portrayed as the opinion of the council and just wanted to clarify that this was not the official position," he said. "I just didn't want there to be any perception that it was coming from the council." He said if she had a problem with his comments, she should have just called him, but he has not heard from her since last Tuesday and was not aware of the letter sent to The Aegis. "Normally council members don't go to DAC meetings and make [actions] like that," Boniface said, adding he has no problem with Lisanti speaking. "Ms. Lisanti is entitled to say whatever she wants. Quite frankly, I don't have a clue what she said that day," he said. Lisanti's comments had suggested "numerous conditions" for the Walmart project, including eliminating the access road at Bright Oaks Drive, reconfiguring Bel Air South Parkway to create a "safe vehicular and pedestrian linkage," requiring major road and sidewalk improvements at adjacent roads, requiring protection of the view shed by upgrading the building exterior and enhancing the scope of berms, requiring low-impact development that is environmentally sensitive, limiting the impervious surface, requiring security, requiring all lighting to be low-level, requiring all outside storage to be screened and requiring a water feature.
(Source: ExploreHarford.com by Bryna Zumer, Some changes were made.)

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Patterson Mill Fire Station to Be Dedicated Nov. 10th

After 20 years of planning and working with the Harford County government to bring the project to fruition, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company's new Patterson Mill substation is basically finished and ready to go into service. The station will be fully operational November 10th, Eddie Hopkins, Bel Air's fire chief, said. It will be dedicated the same day. "Personally, it's very satisfying," Hopkins, who is also Bel Air's mayor, said about the station's completion. "It's been a very long process." The substation, which cost $2.8 million to construct, was one of the first projects on David Craig's desk when he became county executive in 2005. Operated by BAVFC, it is also the first firehouse in Harford County to be built solely with county funding. Previously, fire companies would fund all construction of stations, or with a combination of Fire Company and Government funding. The purpose of the substation, Hopkins noted, is to "bring fire and EMS protection much closer to the Bel Air South area." The main station on Hickory Avenue is a little more than two miles away from the Patterson Mill station. There is also a substation in Forest Hill, Hopkins said. Coming out of the Bel Air station, he continued, takes "a good 7 to 10 minutes, depending on where we're going in that area to get to emergency calls." The company receives anywhere between 2,500 and 2,700 fire calls every year, Hopkins said, and close to 6,500 EMS calls. Having the substation "strategically located" in the Bel Air South community will bring protection much closer and create a better response time, he added. Another potentially huge benefit for residents is the possibility of lower insurance rates. Hopkins explained that homeowners who live within 5 miles of a fire station typically have lower insurance rates. He encourages people who live close to the Patterson Mill substation to call their insurance companies and see if their rates can be reduced. The station also "blends in better with the community," the fire chief said, and the nearby aesthetic of Patterson Mill Middle and High schools was in mind when choosing colors and designs. The site where the station is located, whose ownership is being transferred from the county to the fire company, was part of the same tract on which the school was built. "That building is for the community," Anthony Coliano, president of the Bel Air Fire Company, said. He called it the company's legacy to Bel Air South citizens. He insisted the distance from the main station isn't an issue when it comes to getting fire and EMS equipment to the community, but the amount of traffic and stop lights. "We like to be on the scene under six minutes," Coliano said. "That's almost impossible coming out of Bel Air. We need to be quicker." The station will have one engine and one medic unit for the time being. With Patterson Mill nearly done, BAVFC isn't looking for a break. "Once [Patterson Mill] is done," Hopkins said, "we'll look at putting up another substation in another jurisdiction." Hopkins, Coliano and crew already have a potential Route 22 substation project in mind, somewhere around the Campus Hills area.With the heavy development along the Route 22 corridor, and more likely to come, Hopkins feels that would be the most logical place to have another station . Hopkins hopes the public will come out for the dedication ceremony and open house Nov. 10th to see the community's new addition and, hopefully, be inspired to help out in any way they can. "There's something in the fire service for everybody," he said.
(Source: ExploreHarford.com by mgallo@theaegis.com. Some changes were made.)

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Clocks 'Fall Back' Sunday As Daylight Saving Time Ends

Daylight saving time will end this weekend, when clocks "fall back" one hour to standard time, starting at 2 a.m. Sunday. That means an extra hour of sleep for many. Maryland State Fire Marshal William Barnard is recommending that residents change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at the same time that they turn back their clocks. Barnard says that having working fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can double a family's chances of surviving a home fire or instance of unsafe carbon monoxide levels.

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Residential Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Scheduled

A happy home is a chemical/hazardous free home! On Saturday, November 10th from 10am - 2pm, the Local Emergency Planning Committee in cooperation with Harford County Office of Recycling is offering Harford County residents the opportunity to safely dispose of their household hazardous waste products. These items include such materials as oil-based paints, cleaning products, bleach, pool chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, and mercury thermometers. The collection will be held at Mulch & Compost Facility of the Harford Waste Disposal Center, located at 3241 Scarboro Road in Street. The event is free and open to all Harford County residents. Businesses, Industrial or Commercial Farm Waste will not be accepted at this event. Proof of residency will be required. For more information on what is being accepted at this event, please contact the Harford County Office of Recycling at 410-638-3417.

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Dates to Ponder:
Free Health Fair for People with Diabetes: Free
November 5, 2012 4:30pm 6:30pm 500 Upper Chesapeake Dr, Bel Air, Maryland This free health fair is presented by The University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology. It will be held at The Upper Chesapeake Medical Center and will feature breakout education sessions, vendors from meter, pump and pharmaceutical companies

Election Day
November 6, 2912 7:00am 8:00pm Every vote counts!. Website: http://www.harfordvotes.info/

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County Holiday
November 12, 2012 In Observance of Veterans Day Harford County Government offices will be closed Harford Transit buses will NOT be available. View Complete County Holiday Schedule...

Patterson Mill Middle/High School 6th Annual PTSA Bingo

November 16, 2912 7:00pm 10:00pm Patterson Mill Middle/High School, 85 Patterson Mill Road, Bel Air. Doors open at 5:30pm., games start at 7pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Vera Bradley, Longaberger, Autographed Ravens item and Scentsy Bingo. Vocellis, Chick-Fil-A, snacks, candy, and drinks will be on sale. Contact Michele Deane 410.776.3503 or Sue Parks 410.803.9015. You can also purchase tickets at the school office between 10am and 2pm. (see Susan Gray). Proceeds benefit student programs and enrichment at both the Middle and High School. micheledeane4@verizon.net

Aluminum Christmas Tree Exhibit

November 17, 2912 Historical Society of Harford County, 143 N. Main Street. Largest collection of decorated and lighted vintage aluminum trees on the East Coast on display. Adults $4; Children $2; 6 & under free. 410.838.7691

County Holiday
November 22, 2012 Thanksgiving Day; Harford County Government offices will be closed Harford Transit buses will NOT be available. View Complete County Holiday Schedule...
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County Holiday
November 23, 2012 Day after Thanksgiving; Harford County Government offices will be closed Harford Transit buses will NOT be available. View Complete County Holiday Schedule...
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Open House
November 24, 2012 7:00pm 9:00pm Harford Community College Observatory Members of Harford County Astronomical Society will set up telescopes and binoculars for a public viewing session. Parking at Harford Technical High School. Email: harfordastro@yahoo.com Website: http://www.harfordastro.org

Christmas Open House

November 29, 2012 Kefauver Lumber, 1333 W. Jarrettsville Road, Forest Hill. Great sales and give a ways! 410.692.6115

The Nutcracker
November 30, 2012 8:00pm HCC, Amoss Center, 401 Thomas Run Rd. 8pm. A tradition for young and old alike with magnificent scenery, gorgeous costumes, and exquisite dancing. $8-$15. 443.412.2211

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Members:
Cynthia Hergenhahn, Chairperson C. David Copenhaver Carlin Cook Earl Grey Gregory A. Beaty Joan Hamilton Recording Secretary: Donna Copenhaver

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