Announcing the Canton Library Restoration Project!

The Friends of the Canton Branch are embarking on an ambitious, multi-year project to restore the Canton Branch to its rightful place as a centerpiece of our community, both as a functional modern library and as an irreplaceable historical structure.

The Friends will formally unveil the Library Restoration Project at the CCA's October public meeting, Tuesday, October 24 at 7:00 at the United Evangelical Church at the corner of S. East and Dillon. Representatives of the Enoch Pratt Free Library will also be in attendance.

The project's goal is to raise enough funds to undertake a comprehensive redesign of the building's interior layout to reflect modern uses and requirements while preserving the building's historic architectural integrity. It also seeks to develop an adequate and stable source of funding for services and programs at the branch.

The Friends, well known in the neighborhood for their used book sales on O'Donnell Square, Canton Memories, and the famous Canton Cooks cookbook, encourage all Canton residents to play a part in the project.

The iconic Canton Branch is the only one of the original Pratt libraries still in use as a library, and one of only two still in existence. It was built in 1886 and its exterior was extensively restored in 1986, as part of its centennial.

Volunteers Needed for Howl-O-Ween!

The Seventh Annual Baltimore Dog Festival will be held on Saturday, October 28th (details on our calendar). It features the ever-popular Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest, and it's one of the Canton Dog Park's biggest fundraising events.

The Canton Dog Park is still looking for volunteers who can help out with any of the following activities:

• Set-up: 11:30am - 1pm (moving and setting up tents, tables, chairs, merchandise, etc. from the Broom Factory office to the Can Company site, hanging signs, setting out displays, etc.)
• Registration: 1pm - 2:30pm (helping guardians register their dogs in the various categories for the costume contest)
• Merchandise sales: 1pm - 3pm and/or 3pm - 5pm (sell dog park merchandise)
• Raffle ticket sales: 1pm - 4pm (mix and mingle throughout the day selling raffle tickets)
• Clean-up: 5pm - 6pm (collapse tables, chairs, and tents and move back to Broom Factory office)

If you're interested and have time, please e-mail Kelly Pfeifer at dogpark@cantoncommunity.org.

Allan Roberts Educational Memorial Fund

The offices of Mayor Martin O'Malley and Fire Department Chief William Goodwin, Jr., issued the following announcement earlier today:

"As many of you know, the Baltimore City Fire Department suffered the loss of a firefighter who was injured while battling a fire and succumbed to those injuries a short time later. Firefighter Allan Roberts, the father of four young children - 13 year old Samantha, 11 year old Katie, 5 year old Jake, and 18 month old Danny. A memorial fund in honor of Firefighter Roberts has been established for the benefit of his children and their educational future. Anyone who would like to contribute to this fund may do so by sending donations to the address below. Please note that contributions will also be accepted at any M&T Bank location.

"We appreciate the kind words and sympathy expressed to Firefighter Roberts' family and his friends and colleagues in the Baltimore City Fire Department."

Contributions may be sent to:

ALLAN ROBERTS EDUCATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND
c/o M&T Bank – Fountain Green Branch
1201 Agora Drive
Bel Air, MD 21014

On behalf of our neighborhood, which has been so ably served by Baltimore City's superb firefighters for many generations, The Canton Community Association extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Firefighter Allan Roberts.

City Council President Dixon to Address November SEP-CRC Meeting

City Council President Sheila Dixon is the guest speaker at the November meeting of the Southeast District Police Community Relations Council (SEP-CRC), November 6 at the Southeast District police station. Details can be found on the CCA Calendar of Events.

"Please return your inquires, questions and issues that are crime related so I can forward them to President Dixon's office," writes Melissa Techentin of the SEP-CRC. "We would like to give her our concerns so she can tailor her speech and understand our issues that are specific to the Southeastern District." E-mails may be sent to Ms. Techentin at this address.

Maj. Michael Kundrat, Commander of the Southeast District, and Lt. Anthony Brown, in charge of district operations, will also be at the meeting to discuss crime and safety in the district and to answer audience questions.

The BMZA -- working for who?

Ever wonder how building projects, third-story additions, and other "interesting" architecturally-challenged projects get approved? Ever wonder "Who OK'ed that? Well, that would be the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals (BMZA). Most every other Tuesday down there its like the wild west...

Just remember, bad architecture lasts for generations.

Edward Ericson Jr. has the details in the City Paper. Check out the article here!

Pointer: Columbus Day Trash Pickups

How will the Columbus Day holiday affect your trash and recycling services? Find out on the CCA Trash and Recycling Schedule page.