Smart infrared-enabled traffic lights are being installed at the intersection of w. 29th and Huntingdon. The upgraded system will be able to detect the quantity of vehicles waiting to better manage flow of traffic and reduce the overall amount of time that cars are idling at the crossing. Reducing idling time reduces the emission of carbon dioxide and pollutants. City workers will also install pedestrian crosswalk signals.
Charmington's, the coffee shop located on the corner of the Miller's Court building at 2601 N Howard, will be adding outdoor seating. The owners cleared the last few regulatory hurdles this past week, and has tables and chairs on the way. The seating will be available from the time the cafe opens each morning until 7pm, except on Sundays when they close at 5pm.
On May 30th, GRIA will host a spring festival. More details to come. Anyone interested in getting invovled should contact info.gria@gmail.com.
Councilman Carl Stokes, speaking via text message, pledged strong action to aid the community in securing the Sisson street lot as open space for community enjoyment. He did not specify the tactics he plans to employ but expressed confidence that there would be resolution in seven to 10 days.
GRIA elected a new slate of directors and officers to serve on the group's board for the 2015–2016. Ryan Flanigan takes over as president; Blaine Carvalho moves to the VP slot; Julie Dael and Bill Cunningham continue as secretary and treasurer, respectively; Nellie Power, Maryanne Kondratenko, Peter Burkhill, and Craig Bettenhausen remain directors-at-large; Andrew Black, Jed Weeks, and Molly McCullagh join the board as directors-at-large.
Outgoing president Carvalho offered special appreciation of departing board member Betsy Childs on behalf of GRIA and city. She received a commendation from the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for her outstanding community service. Childs has served on the board in various roles since she helped found GRIA in 2006. She also served as Editor of this Newsletter from 2006 until this past fall. Childs said she will continue to be an active member of the group.
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