FALL 2003

Community Relations - Mike Hilliard, Director

A lot has been accomplished in Northeast Baltimore since my last column in September:

  • The new Frankford Estates has broken ground and is on its way to enhancing the housing market and the quality of life in Frankford.

  • The old bowling alley on Harford Road is now the home of a custom cabinetmaker.

  • A new beauty spa has opened at 6305 Harford Road. 

  • Here at HARBEL we have conducted two leadership forums, one facilitated by the Community Conferencing Center on how to resolve conflicts within a community and the other run by Delegate Joe Boteler on how to lobby the Maryland State Legislature.  On January 15th we will hold a third forum featuring the President of the Baltimore City Council, who during a luncheon with the attendees will address your concerns about the future of Northeast Baltimore.

  • We have received a grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation that will enable a committee of Northeast Baltimore leaders to allocate $10,000 to community projects in Northeast Baltimore.

  • Harford Road from Parkside to the County line is slated to become a state Enterprise Zone, which will lead to tax incentives, low interest loans, and grants that will retain current businesses and attract new ones.  

I have been in constant contact with community leaders as we work together on a weekly and sometimes daily basis to resolve quality of life, crime prevention, and zoning issues.

Within the last several months, Al Packer Ford found they were unable to insure the NorthEast Citizens Patrol’s Command Car.  Al Packer has in turn donated the car to HARBEL, and Karen Fike a State Farm Insurance Agent located at 7233 Harford Road graciously agreed to insure the car at no cost to HARBEL and the NorthEast Citizen’s Patrol.  Karen is a great example of a local businessperson who truly cares about the community she serves.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen for her generosity, and I hope those of you that read this column would also take the time to thank her for her significant contribution to the future operation of the NorthEast Citizens Patrol.

In December 2003 a member of the Baltimore Police Department who has made a significant contribution to the public safety of Northeast Baltimore retired from the Department.  Sergeant Drew Hall was a great example of what a law enforcement officer should be.  On a daily basis he displayed how he deeply cared for the communities, businesses, and people of Northeast Baltimore.  We will miss him as a member of the police department, but he has agreed to join HARBEL’s staff in a volunteer capacity as a Crime Prevention Consultant.  In this capacity, we will still be able to continue taking advantage of Drew’s considerable wisdom, knowledge, and experience.

In my previous career with the Baltimore Police Department, I had the privilege to work for another law enforcement professional who consistently exhibited his love of Northeast Baltimore.  Bert Shirey served many years as the commander of the Northeast District before he went on to become the Department’s Chief of Patrol, Acting Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner.  He too is a man of great wisdom, knowledge, experience, and integrity, and we are very fortunate that he has agreed to join HARBEL’s Board of Directors.  I am looking forward to again working with Bert and being able to take advantage of his sound and thoughtful advice.

Since coming to HARBEL, I have been sending out a weekly E-mail entitled HARBEL Events, which enumerates the upcoming events sponsored by HARBEL or of interest to its members.  If you have not been receiving this E-mail and would be interested in it, please send your E-mail address to me at harbel.necop@juno.com.

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