City of Havre de Grace Weekly Briefing Week of Monday October 16, 2017

City of Havre de Grace Weekly Briefing
Week of Monday October 16, 2017

Headlines:
The Aegis: “Havre de Grace installing new walkways at Tydings Park.” View Article
Office of the Mayor:

On Saturday, October 14, 2017, Mayor Martin attended the 3rd Annual Havre de Grace Oktoberfest.
On Sunday, October 15, 2017, Mayor Martin attended a service at First Christian Church of Havre de Grace celebrating their 70th year.

Department of Administration:

Office of Marketing:

The City of Havre de Grace has launched #HdGProud, a new hashtag campaign to promote community pride and civic engagement. View Statement

Police Department:

This Week will be busy with the homecoming parade, game, and carnival so please be mindful of pedestrian traffic while driving.
Arrive early as parking will be at a premium with the events happening on Thursday through Sunday.
Reminder to follow all posted rules within the carnival

Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween is one of the best nights of the year for kids. By paying attention to a few safety tips will help to keep your little “monster” safe while trick-or-treating.

Plan a route of travel for trick-or-treating that you and your child are familiar with to avoid getting lost.
Trick-or-treat with a group, if possible.
Wear well-fitting masks to avoid blocked vision, and costumes that are short to avoid tripping or falling. Be sure your child is wearing a flame resistant costume.
Stay well lit by holding a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Make sure you walk and not run from house to house.
Only walk on sidewalks. If not possible, then walk along the far edge of the road and face traffic.
Look both ways before crossing the street and use crosswalks, if available.
Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at house that do not have lights on.
Parents check all candy before your child eats any. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers. Throw away any candy that is not in its original wrapper, or if it looks as though it has been opened.

Department of Finance:

Water/Sewer Delinquent Notices have been mailed. To avoid Turn Off fees and disconnection, please pay by Monday, October 23, 2017.
User Benefit Fees were due September 20, 2017. Please pay by Tuesday, October 31, 2017 to avoid additional penalties.
It’s Time To Prep your property for winter to prevent frozen pipes, water damage and wasted water!
Add Dye Testing of Toilets to your regular Maintenance Checklist. Leaking toilets is one of the leading causes of not only wasted water loss, but increased Water/Sewer bills. Also, because the leaking toilet water goes into the sewage system and must be treated, there are no remedies for adjustment to the increased fees on your bill. Testing is simple and doesn’t have to cost you any money. Of course, you can go to your local hardware store and buy a kit but all you really need to do is apply a non caustic liquid such as food coloring or even leftover coffee to the back tank of each of your toilets before going to bed. Do not flush!!! When you wake in the morning check each toilet for any color in the bowl. If the water is not crystal clear than your toilet is leaking, and you should replace the inside workings of your tank. This test can be run as often as you like but should be done at least every six months.
2nd Half of Real Estate Taxes are due by Friday, December 29, 2017 to avoid unnecessary penalties when paying by your banks bills, please schedule payments at least 10 days in advance of the due date. Post mark is not accepted, and payments must be received by the due date.

Department of Planning:

Building permits are required for sheds, fences, renovations, decks, and other alterations to buildings and property. If your property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, there may be State requirements to comply with also. When hiring a contractor, be sure they are licensed by the State of Maryland. Contact the Department of Planning (410) 939-1800 ext 1102 for permit fees and details.
Seasonal reminder to business and property owners: You are responsible for removing leaves, snow and ice from public sidewalks fronting your properties.
Home values and neighborhood quality are negatively impacted when property is not kept up. If you notice a property that has abandoned vehicles, appliances, furniture, trash, or tall grass and weeds, please contact the Department of Planning (410) 939-1800 ext 1102.

Department of Public Works:

Chapel Road will be resurfaced by Harford County starting October 23, 2017.
BGE will begin repairing sidewalks and repaving street the Week of October 23rd.
The culvert at the intersection of Chapel Road and Canvasback Drive is scheduled to be repaired within the next 30 days.
The split rail fence will be installed this week at the Burns Property.
Reminder: Since fall is here, keep your stormdrains clear of leaves, grass, trash and tree debris at all times to minimize flooding in the streets, and on your property when it rains.
Pet owners, take heed…When you clean up after your pet, do you dump the waste in the street or storm sewer? Do you leave it to decay on the sidewalk or the grass near the street? If so, you may be causing pollution or health problems.

Flush it down the toilet . . Put it in the trash.
When pet waste is washed into lakes or streams the waste decays, using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can kill fish also causing other issues detrimental to the River and Bay.

Thank you to all who help keep the City looking great by cleaning up after your pets!

SPOTLIGHT: Thank you to all those keeping the stormwater ponds, drains and pipes clear of debris and in working order! Preventative maintenance is a key element to improving the quality of water draining to the Bay.

Tydings Park Upgrade and Improvement Project Update:

Crews will continue pouring concrete this week, expanding and improving the walkways though Tydings Park.

Office of Tourism:

Carnival on the Chesapeake: Independence Day Fundraiser- October 19 – October 22
Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tea at the Steppingstone Farm Museum- October 21
Delighting of the Palm Trees Party-October 21

Cultural Center at the Opera House

Johnsmith (Folk Guitarist) on Monday, October 16 at 8pm
“Cameraperson” (POV Film Series) on Tuesday, October 17 at 8pm
Jonathan Carney, Concertmaster for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, on Thursday, October 19 at 8pm
Fostina Dixon and Winds of Change/Hollowell Peteraf Project (Double-Billed Concert & CD Release Party) on Friday, October 20 at 8pm
“Frankenweenie” (Children’s Film Series) on Saturday, October 21 at 11am. Come in your Halloween costume and get a bag filled with “treats”.
Deep Vision Dance Company on Sunday, October 22 at 3pm

Department of Economic Development:

The Havre de Grace Office of Economic Development is pleased to welcome and announce Toronjil Boutique at 101 N. Washington St., Havre de Grace, has expanded their new boutique space doubling their space and offering an expanded line of women’s fashion clothing and shoes. The shop offers the season’s latest trends in downtown Havre de Grace and a full makeup studio experience. Toronjil is a small family owned cosmetic company in the Delaware/Maryland area that has been in business since 2014 and provides products and services to customers globally. They provide scientifically advanced formulas, textures and trendsetting shades that are suitable for all skin types. Currently, Toronjil is celebrating National Spa Week for Every Body & Mind October 19-24, 2017. Stop by the store or visit them at www.toronjilllc.com or on Facebook for their extended hours or call 443-502-5886.
Stop by and visit Found Vintage, Co., offering “curated finds, handmade items and a DIY Studio,” at 141 N. Washington Street. Check out their Facebook page @foundvintageco and welcome the owner and creative heart and mind behind the finds Sommer Delp.
The Havre de Grace Office of Economic Development is anxiously awaiting the Small Business Saturday promotion kit from American Express. Once again, this year HDGOED signed on as a “Neighborhood Champion,” to secure canvas shopping bags, promotional materials, banners and other items to help promote the concept of shopping locally owned businesses on Saturday, November 25. These materials will in turn be distributed to the volunteer Havre de Grace Downtown Merchant Association.
The Aberdeen Library, 21 Franklin St., will host Four Gentlemen of the Greenspring Valley: Emerson, Plank, Ripken and Vanderbilt, from 2-3 p.m., Sun., October 22. This lecture presentation features information on Dr. Isaac Emerson, who invented Bromo Seltzer, the Vanderbilt family and their millions from railroads, the Ironman Cal Ripken, and how football led Kevin Plank to found Under Armour. These four have a curious connection to a few square miles in Baltimore County, and this program by Zippy Larson will trace their lives and fortunes from the 1800s to the present day. The program is free.
October 22 through 28, 2017 is Maryland Economic Development Week organized by the Maryland Economic Development Association, MEDA, to emphasize to the general public the importance of economic development in the State of Maryland. The week is designed to increase understanding of economic development’s contribution to the State’s business climate, job retention and growth, the tax base and overall quality of life in Maryland.
The Havre de Grace Office of Economic Development will participate in the Maryland Economic Development Association, MEDA, 2017 Fall Conference at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park, MD, Monday, October 23. The conference will focus on Maryland’s Unique Economic & Innovative Driver and demystify the process of doing business with the military. Maryland’s 12 military installations throughout the state help to strategically position our private sector industries for increased growth and profit margins. While many innovations and advancements take place “on base” in areas outside of our local jurisdictions, every community can identify opportunities to acquire these advancements and turn them into commercial applications for our companies. The 2017 MEDA Fall Conference is designed to address the many ways economic developers can position the companies in their region to take full advantage of these economic drivers and the variety of network opportunities available to all businesses throughout the State of Maryland.
Tuesday, October 24, the Small Business Administration, SBA, will host a Facebook Live Marketing with Video session “Creating a Big Impact for Small Business,” from 6 to 8 p.m. In celebration of Women’s Small Business Month, SBA is partnering with Animoto, Facebook and YouTube for a night of video marketing education offering actionable strategies for creating, optimizing and publishing video marketing content that will provide immediate benefits to your business. Details and sign-up information are available at www.sba.gov or at www.animoto.com/sba-live-event
SCORE will hold a live webinar on The Changing Roles of Virtual Assistants at 1 p.m. on Tues., October 24. Today virtual professionals do much more than simple administrative tasks from online business management to graphic design and more. Visit www.score.org to learn more or to find a business mentor visit www.score.org/find-mentor searching by keyword, industry, location or expertise. SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors with some 10,000 volunteers in 300 chapters nationwide. Founded in 1964, they have helped more than 10 million current and aspiring entrepreneurs through mentoring, workshops and education services. Since 2016 alone, SCORE helped create 54,072 new businesses and add 78,691 new, non-owner jobs to the American economy!
The Havre de Grace Library, 120 N. Union Ave., will host a Jewelry by Design program for adults, Wed., October 25, from 6-7:30 p.m. This free program will let you try your hand at handmade jewelry with a basic jewelry making lesion to make a pair of gold earrings and a pair of silver earrings with materials provided. This is an opportunity to try your hand and a hot trend that is leading to successful small business and pop-up start-ups.
Maryland TEDCO (Technology Economic Development Corporation) will host the 7th Annual Entrepreneur Expo bringing together all of Maryland’s entrepreneurial resources from across the state into one place, at one time. There will be 700+ of the region’s top entrepreneurs, small and large business executives, angel and venture capital investors, federal and state economic development officials, university leaders and legislators in attendance at the event billed as TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo & Stem Cell Symposium 2017 at the Baltimore Hilton, Wed., Oct. 25 from 8a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Elkton Alliance, Inc., a Maryland Main Street Community, and the Cecil County Office of Economic Development will host Barbara Wold presenting How Small Retailers can Survive in an Amazon World, Thursday, October 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. The free presentation will be held at the Elkton Town Hall (2nd floor) 100 Railroad Ave., Elkton. Register at Eventbrite or call 410-398-5076 or email info@elktonalliance.org.
Harford Community College is holding Harford Fest 2017 on Saturday, October 28, starting at 9:30 a.m. Events include the Heather L. Hurd 5K Spooktacular (www.harford.edu/heather); an Open House Showcase, oral history presentation, live music, food trucks, and family activities. The Open House showcase in the APFGCU Arena will be of particular interest to business owners with interactive displays and demonstrations and an opportunity to connect with educators and instructors in various career path programs at HCC.
In honor of Women’s Small Business Month industry experts will host a Twitter chat on business tips for women entrepreneurs hosted by the US Small Business Administration (@SBAgov) with tips and resources to help women start, grow and succeed in business. Follow along with the hashtag #SBAchat.
Registration is now open for the Small Business Success Virtual Conference, November 9, from noon to 5 p.m. This is a free online conference to help you test your new business ideas, listen to practiced advice on current business strategies, meet other business owners and chat with industry experts. The half-day event includes 10 educational webinars, business advance from mentors, freebies from sponsor booths and networking chat rooms for current and aspiring business owners. The virtual conference is presented by SCORE and Verisign. To register visit www.score.org and enter search for “Small Biz Success Virtual Conference.”