Play Scrabble for a Good Cause

For nine years, participants in GHCC's Scrabble® Fundraiser for Literacy have gathered in the spirit of fun and games to support a good cause – fighting adult illiteracy in Baltimore City. This year marks the event’s tenth anniversary and with an estimated 100 players planning to attend, promises to be the best one yet with live music, a silent auction, food, beer, wine, and fun.

Over the years, the Scrabble® Fundraiser for Literacy has been attended by a wide range of Scrabble® lovers and even reunited friends and neighbors who had no idea of each other's dedication to GHCC's Adult Literacy & ESOL Program. GHCC recently caught up with veteran player and former literacy tutor Nancy Spritz, who fondly remembers the Scrabble® parties of years past and also talks a bit about why she continues to support the work we do.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your connection to the Adult Literacy & ESOL Program.

I became an Adult Literacy volunteer tutor several years ago and continued for a few years. Unfortunately, I had to stop volunteering, but I have remained very supportive of GHCC

You’ve participated in the Annual Scrabble Fundraiser for Literacy since it started in 2002 (only missing two years!). What keeps you coming back each year?

I love Scrabble and I love reading, so I feel strongly about developing literacy for adult learners—what a perfect combination and what a great way to raise money for a worthwhile cause! So much better than going to a fancy charity dinner!

What was the most inspirational moment in all your years of participating in this event?

Seeing so many people—more and more each year—dedicated to this cause, doing something intellectual, and having a great time, too. And the competitive Scrabble players are also awesome and inspirational—I can’t get close to their level!

What is your favorite memory from past years of the Scrabble Fundraiser (if it’s different)?

I won the 50/50 raffle two years in a row! Also, my 87 year old mother came with me for several years, and my son joined me a few times too.

What would you say to anyone considering attending the event as a player/participant?

You don’t have to be a good or even regular Scrabble player; there are all levels of players and everyone there will be patient and kind about your abilities. You’ll meet people from all walks of life, do something different and educational, and in the process you’ll support a meaningful, worthwhile, important organization that makes Baltimore City a better place!

As the first participant to register for the Scrabble Party, what do you look forward to with this year’s anniversary celebration?

More and more interesting people, good food, stimulating wordplay, and neat prizes. I always look forward to seeing the people that I met in the first few years, like the sweet little ladies from the Liberty Road Senior Center who can beat the pants off me!

Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 in support of the Literacy Program. What would you say to encourage anyone considering a donation or sponsorship?

You will be contributing to a hands-on organization which helps individuals directly and substantially, and you can be assured that your limited charitable dollars will be doing the greatest good.

Hope to see you there!

Come and play on Saturday, March 26 at Calvert School's atrium. We'll host informal pickup games from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and two competetive formal rounds for prizes. Tickets are $50 per player ($40 for students or 62+). All proceeds support GHCC's Adult Literacy & ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Program. Register here.

Waverly Ace Hardware: Your Neighborhood Hardware Store

GHCC was a big supporter of Ace Hardware moving into Waverly, and we're thrilled to see business taking off!  Our Community Economic Development program fosters business district development by connecting local businesses to our network of resources and partnerships.  Greater Homewood neighborhoods like Waverly Village are a perfect place to open a business.  To learn more about our economic development initiatives, visit our website.

Submitted by Rachel Machacek, Ace Hardware Stores

As we’ve opened up hardware stores in DC and Baltimore, we’ve focused on underserved communities that value small local business. After our success with Federal Hill Ace, we started looking in north Baltimore for a new location. We saw a lot of potential for growth and opportunity in Waverly and the community members really made us feel like they would embrace a local business. And they have!

Now that we’ve been open for the better part of a year, we’re becoming a hub for homeowners working on renovations as well as those looking for quick home maintenance items. We’ve also had a wonderful time getting involved with the community – particularly during the Waverly Winter Wonderland for which we took pictures of neighbors with Santa Claus.

The impending Lowe’s down the street is a source of concern for us. Our presence is still growing and we hope that the neighborhood will recognize that we are poised as a locally run business to offer not just jobs, retail, and services but also be a gathering spot for the community. We recently sponsored a pet adoption day and look forward to another in July, and we’re kicking off free bike workshops in April as part of an overall emphasis on providing community services in addition to selling hardware and home-maintenance products.

We've also worked on a strong Internet presence through Facebook, Twitter and a blog to provide up to minute info on sales and essential DIY advice.

Waverly Ace Hardware is located across the street from the Giant grocery store at 601 Homestead Street, Baltimore, and has plenty of free parking.
Store hours:
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
www.acehardwaredc.com

Join us for Neighborhood Bike Stop Workshop: Changing a flat

Saturday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Learn to change an inner tube with the pros @ Light Street Cycles. They'll be on hand at Waverly Ace on April 17 to give some quick and dirty lessons. Changing a flat is really quite easy! The workshop is free and we have bike racks outside the store. No excuses!

RSVP to rachel@acehardwaredc.com

Attention Community Leaders! Recycling Education Grant Opportunity

Did you celebrate Earth Hour by turning out your lights on Saturday evening? Well, here's another way you can help the planet and get your community on board! Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) is partnering with the Mayor's Cleaner, Greener Baltimore Initiative to offer grants to community organizations, Community Relations Councils, and neighborhood umbrella groups who want to get the word out about Baltimore City's recycling program.


The City of Baltimore anticipates that significant education and outreach will need to be done to help residents take advantage of recycling opportunities, including the proposed One Plus One solid waste pick-up schedule of one day a week trash collection plus one day a week recycling collection.

Goals of this grant are to:
• Get more people recycling through neighborhood driven efforts
• Find out how many more people are recycling as a result of the neighborhood driven efforts
• Get people comfortable with recycling
• Provide recycling education to residents
• Provide accessibility to recycling bins if necessary

If you have a great idea for getting your neighborhood engaged in recycling, contact Aisha Samples, Program Assistant at BCF, at asamples@bcf.org or 410-332-4172 ext. 145. But hurry! The deadline for initial applications is Monday, April 6.

Interested in doing more to promote recycling in your community? Here are some more ways you can make a difference:
• Identify up to 5 households in your community who do not recycle who would be willing to try with the help of a “recycling coach”. Contact Hope Williams at hope.williams@baltimorecity.gov if you are interested in doing this;
• Discuss recycling at your community association meetings and include information about recycling in communications with your community. Recycling literature is available from the Initiative;
• Talk to neighborhood stores about being a bin sales site. Interested stores should contact Hope Williams;
• Sell recycling bins. BCF has a loan fund available for community groups that would like to purchase a large quantity of recycling bins to make it easier for your residents to purchase the bins.

Making Connections: Success Academy and Charles Village

By John Bernet, GHCC Community Connections Coordinator/AmeriCorps VISTA

On Saturday, March 22^nd, students from Success Academy in Baltimore City came out for a volunteer clean-up day at St. John’s United Methodist Church on the corner of 26^th and St. Paul Street. Over the course of two very productive hours, they cleaned out the garden and trimmed back the ivy along the front of the building and raked the side yards, making it look beautiful just in time for Spring to begin! They were joined by Pam and Christian Wilson from the Peabody Heights Resident Homeowners Alliance and Mrs. Carol Berman from the St. John’s congregation, all of whom helped to coordinate the effort with Success Academy Principal Kevin Brooks.

Following their time working outside, the students got a tour of the building and a run-down of all the wonderful services and programs the church provides. This was the first day of a two-part project, the second to occur around the week of Earth Day. Thanks to all the great students from Success Academy who participated, and the Wilsons and Mrs. Berman for providing lunch and an opportunity to see and learn about a very active local church!

This volunteer effort also marks the beginning of an active partnership between Success Academy and the surrounding communities that will see lots of volunteer and enrichment opportunities for the students.

Success Academy, an alternative school for city students on long-term suspension and expulsion, is located on the ground floor of Baltimore City Schools headquarters at 200 E. North Avenue.

Medfield Heights Elementary School Hosts First Reunion

Paul Smith graduated from Medfield Heights Elementary School in 1962 and is currently President of the Medfield Community Association.

Recently [Medfield Heights Elementary School] had the first reunion gathering. Approximately 150 graduates returned to share old stories and rekindle old friendships from quite a while ago. Some of the attendees still live in the neighborhood. It was great to see some of the guys and gals that I grew up with in Medfield. The turnout ranged from recent graduates to some not so recent.

The event had music, games, and refreshments provided by the Medfield PTA -- thank you, it was great!

Hopefully it won't be too long before we will have another reunion. We are not getting any younger.

It amazes me that the graduates from Medfield Elementary School would take time from their busy scheudles to return and share old memories. I guess it shows the character of the school and its students.

Community Greening Resource Network Accepting Applications

By Sarah Krones, Community Greening Resource Network Coordinator, Parks and People Foundation

A community planting project in Medfield

An initiative of Parks & People Foundation and Maryland Cooperative Extension, the Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN) is a membership program supporting Baltimore City community gardeners and greeners. By coordinating the resources available in our city, CGRN creates a comprehensive and consistent network so it’s easier to maintain the valuable green spaces in our communities.

There will be four CGRN sites around the city. At these sites, CGRN hosts for its members:

• Four annual Give-Away Days (providing seeds, compost, vegetable seedlings, bulbs, perennial flowers)
• Tool Banks with hand tools to borrow
• Workshops held by gardeners and Baltimore City greening organizations on gardening and greening related topics.

CGRN also provides to its members a 20% discount on renting power equipment, the "See Green" Newsletter (with a shared calendar of events, articles and more), networking opportunities, and annual celebrations.

CGRN is accepting applications for 2009 this fall! It is $10 for a year for a Community Garden Membership and $5 for an Individual Membership. You can find an application and more info at www.parksandpeople.org, or contact Sarah Krones at Parks & People Foundation at 410-448-5663 x 114, sarah.krones@parksandpeople.org.