Baltimore County Christmas Tree Pickup

Each year, Baltimore County offers curbside pick up of Christmas trees for residents, and takes them to be recycled.

Tree pick up will begin the week of January 10, 2011, and to ensure your tree is taken, it must be placed out at the curb by January 15. They will not be collecting from alleys, so even if you live in a neighborhood like Rodgers Forge, where trash is generally collected from the alley, make sure your tree is out in front of your house at the curb.

Baltimore County officials also caution to make sure that there are no decorations on the tree, so if you have tinsel or anything of that sort, it must all be removed before placing out for collection.

Should you miss the collection, you can also take your tree to one of three places in order to have it recycled & made into mulch.

Those locations are: Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility off Warren Road in Cockeysville, Western Acceptance Facility in Halethorpe, and Eastern Sanitary Landfill Solid Waste Management Facility in White Marsh off Pulaski Highway.

So, if you had a real tree for Christmas, just make sure to have it taken down by the 10th to ensure it can have a second life as mulch for the County!

Happy New Year!

 

**HERE IS THE INFORMATION FOR Baltimore County Tree Collection 2012**

Towson New Year’s Eve Celebrations

If you live in Towson or the surrounding Baltimore County areas, and don’t want to head downtown for the NYE celebration, there are a few options open to you to ring in 2011.

The Melting Pot in Towson has a special menu and drinks as a New Year’s Eve special. They say reservations are filling up quickly!

Cafe Troia in Towson also has their regular menu and special menu to ring in the new year.

The Stoneleigh Lanes bowling alley, also in Towson, has a band, The Stents , playing, and specials from 9pm until 1:30am. Price depends on age, families & children are invited and welcome!

In Sparks, the Milton Inn has $100 per person special dinners celebrating the end of 2010. Reservation seatings are available as late as 10 pm.

The new Magooby’s Joke House in Timonium (located at the old Timonium Dinner Theatre) has a New Year’s Eve bash, but you’ll have to call to find out if there are any tickets still available. Doors open at 7:30, show begins at 10.

There are a number of other restaurants and bars in Timonium having New Year’s Eve parties, including Liberatore’s & Michael’s.

So enjoy New Year’s Eve in Baltimore County — a great place to be!

West Towson Elementary Sign to be Replaced

The brightly lit neon-ish sign at West Towson Elementary School will be removed and replaced early next month.

Neighbors of the new school had complained to the Baltimore County Council and asked for a redesign. It is a very tall sign with LED lights that blinked information in red all day & night.

In a letter from Joe A Hairston, Superintendent of Baltimore County Schools, dated December 22, 2010, to Vicki Almond & David Marks, County Councilmembers covering the 2nd & 5th Districts, it states that the sign will be removed and replaced with one deemed more appropriate for the area, location, and neighborhood.

Charles Street is an historic “Scenic Bypass”, and some felt that the signs could threaten that designation.

The combination of the issues created a problem where a solution has now been set in motion. Thanks to Superintendent Hairston and Councilmembers Almond & Marks, West Towson Elementary School & Charles Street will be restored to a setting to which all should be happy about.

I look forward to seeing the new signs!

New Year’s Eve at Port Discovery in Baltimore 2010

To celebrate the last year of 2010 and prepare to welcome 2011, Port Discovery is having a mid-day event on Friday for those who may not make it to midnight!

Dubbed “Noontime New Year”, this should be a great time for kids & adults alike.

This year’s theme is “A Masquerade Bash”, so revelers should come in their favorite costume to celebrate.

Beginning at 10 am, number decorating and sound sandwiches kick off, while 11 am starts the Mardi Gras mask making and Egyptian juggling lessons.

At 12:30 & 1, Eric Energy will be doing an interactive science show, while 1:30 & 2 Uncle Pete Fun with Kids shows will occur.

Many other exhibits and New Year’s activities will be going on throughout the day, culminating in the Drum Countdown, with milk & cookies to celebrate the day & prepare to welcome 2011!

So come to Downtown Baltimore early in the day and miss the big New Year’s Eve crowds in the cold that night!

21093 Home Sale Statistics November 2010

The Lutherville-Timonium zip code of 21093 did not fare very well in home sales for November 2010 versus the same time last year.

Sales were down 43.86% with only a little over $8 Million selling, versus over $14M last year. Average Timonium home sale prices were down 7.15% from $340,288 to $315,967. Here is the report.

The good news is that the days on market also dropped from 120 last November to 84 this one.

This was very different from the two Towson zip code statistics. 21204 had a jump of 44% in sales price while 21286 had an over 9% increase in price.

Timonium house prices have had a rough year with prices, and I am hoping to see a better year for the area in 2011.

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas to my friends who celebrate!

This year has been one of ups & downs, and Christmas is a great time to reflect and celebrate the time with our family.

Of course, my son is sick, so tonight’s festivities have been canceled, but we will hopefully see everyone at some point this week.

I wish good health and happiness to all!

Merry Christmas!

Baltimore Restaurants Open Christmas Day 2010

Many people in the Baltimore area look for restaurants open on Christmas Day because often places are closed.

Last year I compiled a list of restaurants in Towson open Christmas Day. This year, I am expanding into Baltimore City because one restaurant sent an email sharing that they would be open!

This year, The Prime Rib in Baltimore will be open for dinner Christmas Day. Call for reservations, and enjoy some delicious steak or seafood for a lovely night. (The Prime Rib, 1101 N. Calvert St. 410-539-1804).

Fogo de Chao in Downtown Baltimore will also be open Christmas Day from 4-9 pm. Again, make sure to call for reservations.  (Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse, 600 E Pratt St, 410-528-9292.)

Sotto Sopra in Mt Vernon has confirmed they will be open as well, but many reservations are gone — there are 4 seating times later in the day still available. (Sotto Sopra, 405 N. Charles St, 410-625-0534.)

P.F. Changs in Towson will be open on Christmas Day, confirmed on their website. They will be open from 3 pm- 9pm. Reservations are highly recommended. P.F. Chang’s Towson Town Centre, 410-372-5250.)

I am sure there are more, but these are the ones I have confirmed that are open. If you are out Christmas night for dinner, I may just see you!

21204 Towson Home Sale Statistics November 2010

The 21204 Home Sale Statistics for November 2010 had both highs and lows.

The amount of sales dropped slightly, about 3%, over the same period last year. Here is the report.

The good news is that the average sales price jumped over 44% to $516,938 from $358,083. There were 17 new houses listed to bring the total to 73 currently on the market. Eight went under contract, and eight also settled.

Luckily the days on market dropped from the October Towson Home Sales Report from 292 days down to an average of 102, a huge difference in that month!

As we head into the end of the year, it will be interesting to see how these numbers flux again, and when the end of year report is ready, I look forward to sharing the results of the entire 2010!

21286 Towson Home Sale Statistics November 2010

The 21286 zip code of Towson, MD had decent home sales statistics for November 2010.

Towson real estate encompasses 21286 and 21204. The zip codes have very different market areas and statistics!

The average sold price in 21286 was up 9.36% over the same period last year. That is great news for Towson homeowners! Average sales price went up from $321,777 last November, to $351,887. The total sales dropped 12.51%in the same time, and only 20 homes sold versus 25 last year, a drop of 20%.

17 new homes came on the market, and 15 went under contract in November, leaving a total of 107 currently for sale in 21286.

This tells me that the 21286 home sales market is fairly stable, and I hope to see that for the whole year as I look in January at 2010.

Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Improvement Association Holiday Party In The WoodsDecember 18, 2010

The Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Improvement Association (RRLRAIA) has its’ annual Holiday Party In the Woods scheduled for Saturday, December 18, 2010 from 4-6 pm.

If you live in Towson in the neighborhoods in the Association, you are invited to join in! Last year’s Holiday in the Woods party was snowed out with our first two foot accumulating storm on December 19, 2009.

Hopefully this year will happen & all can come enjoy!

There will be a visit from Santa, caroling, and good times with neighbors.

The party is located at the Olde Rugby Field in Ruxton between Robert E. Lee Park & the Light Rail (make sure to park on L’Hirondelle Club Road).

Make sure to wear boots, dress warmly, and leave your pets at home! Bring a flashlight — it will be dark!!!!

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