Earth Hour March 28 8:30pm

Earth Hour is a global initiative to engage individuals, businesses, governments, and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour (Earth Hour) and make a collective statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when more than 2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008, the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people in 35 countries switching off their lights.

Now, more than 2,000 cites, towns, and municipalities in 82 countries have joined the 2009 campaign. Locally, the District of Columbia, Arlington, Fairfax County, Fall Church, Baltimore, Montgomery County, and the City of Greenbelt are registered as participants. The goal for this year is to have 1 billion people participate by turning out their lights.

Click on the link above for more information.

Oella Historical Society Events

Sunday, April 5, 2009 from 2:00-5:00PM at the Still Life Gallery (8173 Main Street, Ellicott City). The Society is a sponsor of a book party for the newly released book by Alison Kahn and Peggy Fox , Patapsco: Life Along Maryland's Historic River Valley Patapsco Valley. The book is a collection of oral history narratives, essays, and photographs, with a foreword by Robert Coles. (For more information about the book, visit www.upress.virginia.edu/books/kahn.htm )

Monday, April 13, 2009 from 7:00-8:30PM at the Oella Company. The April meeting of the Oella Historical Society to discuss progress on our Oral History Project, the Oella Beautification Project, website development, and future events.

Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 9:30AM-12:00PM. (Meet at the Oella Company parking lot).
A walking tour, led by Charles Wagandt, will follow the mill race trail up to the Union Dam. Please RSVP for more details (Chris Innes, innes@smart2.net).

New members are always welcome.

Parking tags have been mailed out

The HOA parking tags for Long Brick Row, Short Brick Row, and Spring Street residents who do not have driveways have been mailed out. When you receive them, please place one of the 2008/2009 stickers on the tag (if they are not already on there) to show that they are current. Please begin using the tags immediately. Residents whose accounts are in arrears will not receive tags.

As described in the letter previously sent to all homeowners, residents will receive two numbered permanent tags and one numbered tag labeled "Guest." The Guest tags are for temporary use only. Using a Guest tag to permanently store a vehicle is not permitted.

Violations of the parking policies may result in fines or towing.

Car key found on 700 block of Oella Ave--Did you lose it?

A neighbor found a car key with what appears to be a dealer tag attached. The rain has blurred the print on the tag, but it may read "Buckley." There is no auto manufacturer indicated on the key. Have you lost it?

Baltimore County offers free legal counseling for home foreclosures

The county is offering several free legal counseling sessions to residents facing foreclosure on their homes. They are scheduled as follows:

March 18, 5:30-8:30pm Randalstown Library, 8604 Liberty Rd.
April 22, Catonsville Library
May 13, Rosedale library
June 17, Dundalk library

Information: Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation, 410-887-3124

Ecoella: Are you throwing away money?

The Baltimore Sun reports that the sale of paper, cans, and bottles collected from our recycling bins saved taxpayers $5 million last year. Saving the county money helps keep our taxes in check. That's the good news.

The bad news is that residents are only recycling about a quarter of the recyclable items. That means 75% of recyclables were tossed in the trash!

Are you recycling? If you are, can you find ways to recycle more?

Check the county recycling information by clicking on the link above.

You can you help the earth and keep money in your pocket.

Mark your calendars...Annual Oella Cleanup, GOCA events

The Oella HOA Landscape Planning Committee will be holding a neighborhood cleanup on Saturday May 16 at 11:00am.

Each year, volunteers get out there to help weed, pick up trash and debris, and make your neighborhood nicer....all for free!

We currently have group organizers for Long Brick Row/Mill Race Trail, Short Brick Row, Spring Street, and Timber Point. We could use people from Lillies Lane, Stone Row, and Pleasant Hill/ Mary Jo Way to head up efforts in your neck of the woods. If you are interested in serving as a group organizer, in helping out with the cleanup, or in receiving landscaping committee e-mails, please contact Amanda at laueram@yahoo.com or post a comment to the blog.

Need an incentive? We plan to have refreshments this year! Who can't use free food in these tough economic times?

Stay tuned for more details.
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Upcoming GOCA events (call Jay Patel at 410-461-3118 for more information):

Sun April 12, 1-3 pm Children's Easter egg hunt

Sat May 2, 8-11am Spring cleaning & tree planting (Coopers Run stream near Trolley Trail); meet at Country Store, 425 Oella Ave.

Wed June 10, 7pm GOCA meeting & election of officers

Interest in food growing class?

The Baltimore County Master Gardeners offer food growing classes to groups of 8-10 people. Is there an interest in setting up an Oella class? Please respond by leaving a comment or e-mailing Amanda at laueram@yahoo.com if you are interested.

March 9 board meeting agenda (7pm Westchester Center office)

1. Call to Order – 7:00pm

2. February Meeting Minutes – Discuss/Revise/Approve

3. Treasurer’s Report – Scott
a. Delinquency report & status of legal action.
b. Discussion of budget in light of delinquencies and how much caution we should exercise in on-going projects.

4. ARC Update – Scott
a. outstanding requests/violations
b. new ARC member

5. Guidelines Committee - Steve

6. HOA Landscaping & Common Areas – Amanda
a. river view trimming
b. plowing & salting
c. bids for 2009 grounds maintenance

7. Parking Committee – Anne, Amanda & Marcia

8. Old Business
a.Recordation of Millrace Trail easement.
b. Mill Liaison – Anne, Marcia & Steve -Trail connection
c. No Trespassing / HOA owners only signs on Millrace Trail
d. HOA archive documents and materials review – Amanda, Marcia and Anne
e. Reserve Studies.
f. Tree at Stone Row
g. Grading / Storm water run-off issue behind Short Brick Row below Pleasant Hill

9.New Business
a. Signs – Realtor & Phoenix Builders on south end of Spring Street.

10.Questions, comments from residents.

11. Adjourn

Parking Tags Coming Soon to Several Lots

Everyone should have received a letter from the management company regarding the implementation of parking tags for use in HOA-owned lots. We will be phasing in the tags which will hand from rear-view mirrors. Tags will be distributed to Long Brick Row, Short Brick Row, and Spring Street ~mid-March once the latest delinquency reports are in. If you have not paid your dues, you will not receive tags. If you do not have valid parking tags, your vehicle may be towed or you may accrue fines.

You will receive two permanent tags and one guest tag (temporary use only). HOA members are not permitted to have more than two vehicles permanently parked in the HOA lots. Ruthann Shae of American Community Management will handle the towing.

Folks with driveways, garages, or private parking pads will not receive tags.

If you have a motorcycle, please contact Ruthann for further instruction.

Electronic Payment/Direct Debit Address

Please be aware that the direct debit form and electronic payments should NOT be sent to the P.O. box listed on the HOA dues coupons. Please send it (along with canceled check) to the address listed at the bottom of the form:

A/R Direct Debit
ACM
9198 Red Branch Rd.
Columbia, MD 21045


OR fax it to:

410-997-8876


OR fill out the online form linked above.

Another Oellan in the news

Oella resident Bonnie Dugan was interviewed in an article (written by Oellan Marcia Ames) in the Catonsville Times. The article is about women who collect dolls for Alzheimer's patients. Click on the link above to read about it.

April 25 Earth Day Celebration at Banneker Museum (Oella Ave.)

Mark your calendars. Details will be posted as they become available.

Plowing is in progress...

...spotted the plow at Long Brick Row ~12:30pm.