Canton Dog Park Etiquette

We would like to take a moment during this busy holiday season to reiterate a few gentle reminders about good dog etiquette for the season and beyond.

Because the park is centered in a residential area all of us need to be considerate of the surrounding neighbors. That's the reason we have posted "Quiet Hours" and they are very important. We all know that the city can be a noisy place but we would like to urge you to do your best not to add to it by allowing your dog to bark in the early morning hours before 9am.

Secondly, all city parks are closed from dusk to dawn and Canton Dog Park is no exception. It is understandable that with the days being so short right now in the winter season that it is difficult for some people to get to the park before dark, which is why we provide bags and trash cans on the outside of the park.

The rules of the Canton Dog Park were created with and approved by the City of Baltimore. They allow us to manage the park as long as we can maintain it as an assets to the community. If we could no longer do so then the city could take the management of the park away from us. This could result in restricted park usage such as they have in the soccer field next door. So please, in order to keep the park open and available we must do our part by following the posted rules AND by gently reminding others to do the same. The Canton Dog Park was built BY the community FOR the community and it is only with your help (and adherence the rules) that we will be able to continue to grow the City's only official dog park.

Pointer: Consumer Electronics Recycling

Wondering what do do with that old Betamax now that Santa's brought you a brand-new DVD player? The Baltimore Department of Public Works offers free year-round recycling of consumer electronics. Find out more on the CCA Recycling and Trash Services page, under "eCycling."

Lepto Linked to Rats, CDP Cleared

The recent outbreak of canine leptospirosis (lepto) that has caused concern among local dog owners appears to be the result of exposure to rats, and local officials and veterinarians have cleared the Canton Dog Park of any connection to the outbreak.

Gina Schwind, President of the Friends of Canton Dog Park, told the Canton Connection Online that a Baltimore Animal Control officer had visited CDP earlier in the week in response to a complaint. The officer confirmed that nothing had been found to warrant further investigation and that nothing has been filed. In fact, during his inspection, the officer told a representative of the Friends that it was one of the cleanest parks he had seen.

Schwind also spoke with several veterinarians at Eastern Animal Hospital, which has been responding to the outbreak. "None of them expressed concern over the park, " she said. An article in Wednesday's Examiner echoed this conclusion.

So far, all of the reported cases of lepto have been from dogs that frequent the Patterson Park area. "I want to be clear that I do not believe the dogs are passing it to each other, but getting it from area with high rat populations," Schwind explained.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common way to become infected is through exposure to contaminated water. "I urge [dog owners] not to let your dogs drink, swim or walk in water where rats could be nesting nearby, " Schwind said.

The all-volunteer Friends of Canton Dog Park maintain a rigorous disinfection schedule regardless of the weather, and change the drinking water frequently. Regular inspections are made to identify and clear any potential rat nests, and the grass is kept short.

Schwind encouraged Canton residents to contact her at dogpark@cantoncommunity.org or by calling the Canton Community Association's 24-hour voice mail line at (410) 342-0900 if they had any questions or concerns.

On a sad note, Preston, the most recently infected dog, died on Tuesday. The Canton Connection Online joins the Friends in extending its condolences to Preston's owner.

Dog Park Friends Allay Lepto Fears

A recent TV news story about an outbreak of canine leptospirosis in the 21224 area has the Friends of Canton Dog Park concerned that the park is being wrongly portrayed as "ground zero" for the disease.

Friends president Gina Schwind was quick to refute the allegation. "It is unfortunate that the reporter chose to film in and around Canton Dog Park, giving it a seriously negative image," she said. Schwind said she will contact the news director of WBAL Channel 11, the station that ran the story Friday night.

"After researching and contacting Eastern Animal Hospital (where the sick dog was filmed), I can confidently say that Canton Dog Park is NOT the source of this outbreak," Schwind said. None of the infected dogs have used the park recently, and volunteers follow a strict and regular disinfection routine at the park.

"I feel that Canton Dog Park is one of the safest places for dogs to come to," Schwind added.

Lepto is spread by urine, and can be passed to humans. Vaccines are available for both dogs and people. The WBAL report stressed that no cases of humans contracting lepto have been reported.

Canton Connection Online will continue to follow this story and update Canton residents as developments occur.

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

I invite you to join Councilman James Kraft and Baltimore City homeless service providers on Thursday, December 21 in commemoration of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. A memorial service will take place from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in War Memorial Plaza (100 N. Holliday Street, directly in front of City Hall).

If the grave consequences of life on the streets weren’t already apparent, the arrival of long winter nights draws increased attention to the troubling and growing problem of homelessness. Lower temperatures, higher housing and energy costs, and insufficient shelter resources contribute to the premature deaths of many of our neighbors. For the past 16 years, hundreds of communities nationally have come together on or about December 21 – the first day of winter and the longest night of the year – to remember those who died without a secure place to live. Last year in Baltimore, we remembered 83 individuals.

The local observance of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is being organized by SHARP, a coalition of public, private nonprofit, and faith-based social service providers working to “Stop Homelessness And Reduce Poverty.” In the past, organizations and individuals in Baltimore have helped commemorate Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day by attending the service, by offering prayers, by collecting items for distribution to homeless individuals, and/or by otherwise supporting homeless service providers. At this year’s memorial service, we will be collecting new blankets for distribution to homeless individuals. I hope you will join us for this year’s memorial.

I also invite you to submit the names people you know who died without a regular place to stay in 2006 so that we may remember them. For additional information or to include individuals in this year’s memorial service, please contact Adam Schneider at Health Care for the Homeless (443-703-1398).

Thank you for honoring our departed friends and neighbors and for helping the broader community to remember why they died.

"Celebration of Transit" party!

Season's Greetings Baltimore citizens and transit riders!

The Transit Riders Action Council cordially invites you to our 2nd Anniversery social party at our December 11th membership meeting to be held at 710 E. Lombard St. Room 30 at the Baltimore City Community College Harbor Park Building from 6 to 8PM. Accessible by the #7 and #10 MTA buses and Shot Tower Metro Subway Station. Garage and meter parking available nearby.

This event is a FREE event for those interested in learning more about public transit in the Baltimore area and how they can get involved.

We'll have plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages, along with memorabilia from Baltimore's past transit as well as pictures and props from transit around the world.

We will have up-to-date, ACCURATE information with what we've accomplished, what we're working on and what's going on in the Baltimore area transit scene. Those interested in learning more about the Red Line project and the Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative (GBBI) 2007, are especially encouraged to attend!

Come and share with us your interests, transit stories, and concerns!

Two Rivers Park, what's in store for 2007.

A new page on the web site answers this question and much more.

Canton Club moving to a new location!

Canton Club Health & Fitness (CCA Business Member and noted advertiser in the Canton Connection) is undergoing an impressive transformation! In January 2007, the NEW Canton Club will be located above Bo Brooks Restaurant @ Lighthouse Point. The health club will have floor to ceiling windows with a panoramic view of the harbor and cityscape. Canton Club is going to have all new equipment and will still be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for members.

While the health club will be growing in size, they hope to maintain the same small club atmosphere that both Canton Club and Tindeco Fitness had created over the past 8 and 20 years. Canton Club will still remain the lower cost health club in Canton. Current rates are $55/month for 1 year contracts with NO initiation fees until the end of the year. Memberships at the NEW Canton Club are being limited to ensure consistent equipment availability and the highest level of personalized service.

Canton Club will also be starting a running club for members & non members in the Canton community. This running club will be a joint program between Canton Club Health & Fitness and Fells Point Running Shop. Starting in January the Canton Club will be coordinating group runs around Canton. This is a great chance for people to stay in shape through the winter and a chance to run safely around the neighborhood and meet new friends with a common interest. Call Jonathan Venuti at 410-276-5544 or drop John an email here.

For more information, visit the Canton Club in their current location at 2809 Boston Street in the Tindeco Wharf Building across from Bay Café or call 410-276-5544, visit the web site, or drop them an email.

Father Kolbe Kids Ring in the Season at the Canton Library!

While the weather outside was less than frightful, the holiday cheer was certainly delightful on Saturday afternoon, December 2nd at the Canton Library.

The Friends of the Canton Library have made it an annual tradition to invite the kids from Father Kolbe School to officially kick off the holiday season with some holiday songs in the Library Garden.

Afterwards, a good time was had by all as refreshments were served, courtesy of the Friends of the Canton Library.

To learn more about the Friends of the Canton Library and Father Kolbe School, please check out the links in this blog entry to their respective web sites.