Bw Main Street News Summer 2009

Hamilton Lauraville Main Street

ISSUE 2, SUMMER 2009

Highlighting businesses…informing community

Tuesday Market at the Connections Where is the one place in y o u r neighborhood that you can find items to fill your fridge, freezer, pantry, vanity, shower, and garden and have dinner too? The Tuesday Market at the Connection of course! We opened the market on June 2nd with a few vendors and a few curious shoppers and we are now going strong with 47 vendors. We started with an empty, abandoned gas station lot. It was an

by Dawn, volunteer with HLMS

eyesore to the community. After Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street was able to obtain a lease from the City, a community meeting was held to brainstorm some ideas on what we could use the property for to benefit the majority of our neighbors. Many great ideas were formed, one of which was to have a farmers market. A call was made to local artists and volunteers to spruce up the lot. Piles of ugly stones were removed, mulch was spread, beautiful planters were constructed and filled with plants, the building was painted with some fabulous artwork and “The Connection” was born. It was decided to hold our market on a Tuesday afternoon/evening so that we weren’t competing with other

markets in the area. Our market organizers began to put a call out for vendors. What started with a handful of vendors has grown to fill up every available s p a c e with a waiting list of vendors that want to be a part of this very successful venture. This waiting list grows every single week. The two main criteria to be a vendor is that you have to either make the product, or grow the product to be able to sell it at the Tuesday Market at the Connection. Continue on back page

Inside this issue: Director’s Corner

2 

Harford Rd

2 

Main Street 4 Points

3 

Opportunities

3 

Main Street Retailer

3 

Invest in HLMS

3 

Calendar of Events

4 

Main Street People

4 

The 3/50 Project: A national campaign for a buy-local approach. In today’s bleak economic climate, the small business owners are seeing a major down-turn in sales. To combat this slump for retailers on Main Street, one grassroots effort is making a change. Dubbed the 3/50 project, it works like this: Choose the three local independently owned businesses you'd miss most if they went out of business. Make a commitment to spend $50 a month with at least one of them. (If you can spend $50 a month with each of them, even better!).

of Minneapolis states that "It's really an investment program. Customers are investing their dollars in locally-owned businesses, which, in turn, improve their customer service. "It's making a difference," she said.

The 3/50 Project, created by Cinda Baxter

Continue on page 2

According to the 3/50 website (www.the350project.net), if just half of America's employed population spent $50 a month in local businesses, it would generate more than $42 billion a year in revenue. Further stats: For every $100 you

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Director’s Corner

MAIN STREET NEWS, ISSUE 2, SUMMER 2009

by Regina Lansinger

It was sociologist Ray Oldenburg, Ph.D., who coined the phrase “Third Place.” What is Third Place? Nope. It’s not the bronze medal. Third Place is community. Assuming there are three important ‘places’ in our everyday lives, First Place is home, Second Place is the workplace and Third Place is our gathering place. Oldenburg suggests that beer gardens, main streets, pubs, cafes, coffeehouses, post offices, and other third places are the heart of a community's social vitality. Here on our Main Street, Harford Road, we have the great fortune of having all of Dr. Oldenburg’s third places – and then some. Without our Third Places, we would spend our lives going from home to work and back again. If you feel like that describes your life, and many of us do, then it’s time to explore your Third Places. And for residents of Hamilton-Lauraville, Third Place is a

short walk to Harford Road. Looking back, consider all the Third Place offerings so far. As a community, we have celebrated Holidays on Harford, the Inauguration Celebration, the Hamilton Art Crawl, the Lauraville Spring Fling, The Lauraville Block Party, First Fridays and the start of our own local marketplace, Tuesday Market at the Connection. Looking forward, we have the Tuesday Market every week from 4-8pm until the end of October, the Hamilton Festival on July 25th, the Lauraville Fair on September 26th and a Trick-or-Treat on Main Street. There are plans for other great things, too. In addition to these fun events, we have great businesses offering us a variety of Third Places every day and night of the week. Like ripe fruit ready for the picking, all we need to do is harvest what has grown on our Main Street. Be a part of your Main Street. Third Place never looked so good!  

Harford Road Happenings… Hamilton Street Festival On Saturday, July 25th, from 11-8pm, the Hamilton Street Festival will be sponsored by Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street. For many years, this festival has brought people to the business district to have a look around, listen to live music and enjoy a bite to eat without the hustle & bustle of traffic. This year, the plans are shaping up to be even better! Harford Road will be closed to traffic from Evergreen Avenue to Gibbons Avenue. The 5400 and 5500 blocks of Harford Road will be filled with two performance stages, one at Gibbons Avenue and the other on Hamilton Avenue. There will be at least a dozen performances by musicians, dancers and martial art students. Food will be served by our local restaurants. The Craft Mafia will make an appearance along with artwork from the Hamilton Gallery. Misting tents will be available again this year, courtesy of the Lauraville Business Association, to offer some relief from the summer heat. Activities, facepainting & games will keep the kids happy. There will be a market for fresh produce, as well as a pie eating contest - and more! Mark your calendar. Come to Hamilton business district to enjoy the community. Bring your family, friends and a healthy appetite. Enjoy your neighborhood. 3/50 project: Continue from front page spend for local businesses, $68 goes back to the community in taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. By comparison, if you spend $100 with a national chain, just $43 goes to the community. By going 3/50, many consumers are pitching in to save their neighborhood retailers by making a commitment to buy from local vendors. Still,

experts agree that it remains unclear whether buy-local campaigns provide just a short-term boost or a lasting impact on revenues. For more information on the 3/50 project, please go to their website at www.the350project.net. **** References for this article: ‘Local Efforts to Save Main Street Bring In Traffic’ Wall Street Online June 2009; ‘Can the 3/50 project save local businesses?’ Microsoft Office for Small Businesses.

www.HamiltonLauravilleMainStreet.org

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Main Street Committees Update Following are the four committee recaps: Design The Design Committee has several plans in the works to help beautify Main Street. Two ideas that can be see are the potted plants and bike racks along Harford Road in Hamilton. Economic Restructuring Economic Restructuring has been busy in the 1st year of HLMS! They have been compiling a list of every business in the Main Street district. Did you know that there are lawyers, dentists and accountants on the Main Street? There are many great businesses in the neighborhood. The committee is almost finished with the list and

Opportunities COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: For many high school students, finding a community service project that fits into the busy schedule of school, homework, sports and a part-time job, can be difficult. Maybe Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street can help. Community service is a requirement to graduate. Throughout the year, there are projects that could use some extra volunteer help. This summer, HLMS sponsors a Tuesday Market at the Connection. Every Tuesday evening from 4-8pm, some extra hands could be very useful to help make our market a success. Interested in helping out, having fun and fulfilling your service requirement? Check with the HLMS office to see if there is a project that fits your schedule! 410-319-7150.

is beginning to start on the fun part! They are compiling a directory of the businesses for both residents and business owners to utilize. The committee has very lively meetings with many differing opinions and skill sets, but they are always looking for more. Are you familiar with graphic layout? Are you interested in getting out and meeting business owners? Do you have ideas for how to help strengthen existing businesses or attract new businesses? Are you a fan of lively chats with interesting folks? Please join! Organization The Organization Committee has been busy with volunteer recruit-

Main Street Retailer:

SEON KIM’S CUSTOM TAILOR Under new management, and completely renovated, Seon Kim has carved a niche for herself at 5518 Harford Road in Hamilton. Ms Kim has been a dressmaker for over 29 years. Her many talents include tailoring, dressmaking, alterations, organic drycleaning and shoe repair. Her expert tailoring services, at very reasonable rates, keep her in high demand. Not only is Ms. Kim quite artistic in her workmanship, but you can find some of her beautiful oil paintings on display in her shop, as well as in Studio 55, at 5529 Harford.

ment and developing brochures and other graphics for HLMS. Please come and join us if you are interested in writing for our newsletter or like to represent HLMS at a community event. Promotion Promotions Committee has been busy assisting with the Hamilton Festival to be held on Saturday July 25, 11am 8pm. It promises to be bigger and better than ever with two stages of music, Aminicircus, fire breathers, stilt-walkers, kids activities, games, skateboard demonstrations, The Mustang Car Club and so much more. Watch for the upcoming Lauraville Fair coming in September 2009.

Invest in Main Street Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street is a nonprofit corporation. Main Street’s mission is to encourage commercial revitalization along Harford Road in Hamilton and Lauraville. Main Street had several successful social events highlighting businesses during its first 6 months. As we draw a close to Year One and head into the new fiscal year, please consider contributing to Hamilton Lauraville Main Street. All money donated goes towards the running of Main Street events and covers the costs of permits, advertising, and transportation. Please become a Main Street Sponsor! All contributions to Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street are tax-deductible. By sponsoring Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street you are supporting the economic well being of the entire community. Name: _______________________

Joke Corner I can sizzle like bacon. I am made with an egg. I have plenty of backbone, but lack a good leg. I peel layers like onions, but still remain whole. I can be long, like a flagpole, yet fit in a hole, What am I? » ANSWER on Page 4

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Address:_____________________ Phone:_______________________ Email: _______________________ Contribution: __________________ Cut and Mail with Check made payable to HLMS, 5500 Harford Rd, Baltimore, Maryland, 21214

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MAIN STREET NEWS, ISSUE 2, Summer 2009

Calendar of Events

Main Street People

Visit our website for a complete list of events! June to Oct

Jan – Dec July 25 Sept 26 Oct 31 Dec 5

Tuesday Market at the Connection, 4:00 – 8:00 pm (4500 Harford Road) First Friday (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) at the Hamilton Gallery Hamilton Street Fair Lauraville Fair Halloween on Main Street Holidays on Harford

Be sure to check our website & blog for updated event information. Check often for new and updated information. www.hamiltonlauravillemainstreet.org www.hamiltonlauravillemainstreet.blogspot.com ************ Committees meet the on the Second Thursday of the month at the Main Street Office, 5500 Harford Road, Second Floor (Entrance on Hamilton Avenue) You are invited to join us!

Please send an email to: [email protected]

Tuesday Market Connection (continued from front page) A partial listing of items available to purchase are: handbags, meats, jewelry, pickles, hair products, fresh produce, barbecue sandwiches, t-shirts, stained glass, plants, flowers, seafood, snacks, jams, jellies, veggie burritos, pies, ice cream, pet food, make-up, fragrance oils, cakes, grilled corn on the cob, soups, eggs, coffee and a variety of other prepared foods. There are often some musicians performing as well. The list may vary from week to week, but it is all local and a lot of fun. We must ask that you leave your pets at home. The Health Department doesn’t allow pets in an area where food is served. Parking is available on both sides of Harford Road & on the BCSB lot after 4:30 pm. Please come out & support this wonderful addition to our neighborhood.

Hamilton Lauraville Main Street 5500 Harford Road, Suite 201, Baltimore MD 21214 Phone 410-319-7150, Fax 410-317-7151 www.HamiltonLauravilleMainStreet.org Program Director—Regina Lansinger Board of Directors President - Richard Marsiglia, Hamilton Vacuum Vice President - Jeffrey Smith, Chameleon Cafe Treasurer - Jim Streett, Harvest Fare Supermarket Secretary - Wendy Childs, Great Soul Wellness Studio Board Members Tom Rhodes, Zeke's Coffee; Jason Sullivan, Executive Director, Fells Point Main Street; Pam Wallace, a wholesale representative for Lines by Alan Greene; Nathan Estabrook, of Estabrook & Company Accountants in Lauraville. A fond farewell to Lesley Brown, president of the Waltherson Improvement Association, Luis Hernandez, board member of the Greater Neighborhoods of Lauraville, and Ken Suter, owner of Family Respiratory & Medical Supply Corporation. Thank you for your service as members of the Board of Directors for HLMS.

Volunteers A great number of wonderful and creative volunteers helped out over the last few months to create Tuesday Market at the Connection. HLMS couldn’t have been successful without you. Thank you for your service to the community. Our hats are off with a huge shout out to our fabulous volunteers for their time at The Art Festival during the Hamilton Art Crawl. You were all so dedicated to getting things done and that can’t be appreciated enough. Thanks to you everyone enjoyed a great day. Your service to the community is inspiring.

Joke Corner Answer: A snake.

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