picture by Jennie from Clay Street

Blog by Ellis from Clay Street

Clay Street was full of positive energy over the weekend. It’s an infectious energy. It feeds you and makes ya want to do more for the neighborhood.

On Saturday I got a call from Bob about a nice lady named Loraine who had just finished settlement on her house the previous day. She obtained the house through Habitat for Humanity and let me tell ya, this lady put in some WORK. They don’t call it sweat equity for nothing. So back to the story, Bob said “he man, let’s walk down to her house for the ceremony.” Apparently, Loraine’s house was the 100th Habitat For Humanity house in the Anne Arundel area and there was a big celebration about it. Bob and I tried to wait on Grinns as long as we could to walk with us but we decided to go without him. We walked the whole length of Clay down to Brickyard Hill. The streets were quiet. Honestly, we didn’t even know where Loraine’s house was… we just decided to start walking and if we saw a massive group of people, most likely that was where we should be.

We got to Loraine’s house, which by the way is absolutely beautiful, and found the group of about 60-70 people. They were all there for Loraine. Some family, some new neighbors… even Mayor Moyer and County Executive Leopold showed up. It was a great day! Loraine’s church friends were there and so were many of the people that have helped get the house together over the last few months. And last but certainly not least, numerous homeowners of Clay St were there to welcome her into our wonderful neighborhood.

I got a question for ya… if Clay Street is ’so bad’ then why did the mayor show up with no security? There’s something for ya to think about. Hell, most people didn’t even know she was there at first! She was just another face in the crowd until someone asked if she had made it which in my opinion says a lot about her. She was there just like the rest of us. I had a chance to talk to her for a few minutes after the ceremony about the neighborhood too. She seemed impressed with the progress the neighborhood has made on it’s own and said that there was more progress to come. Mayor Moyer hung out for quite awhile with the crowd after the ceremony. And although she was there for a good thing… sorry Ellen… I gotta tell ya, it wasn’t too cool of you to park illegally in front of my friends house. HAHAHA!

After an impromptu Brickyard Hill Happy Half-Hour with Oliver & Jennie & Others, we hit up a picnic a few blocks from the house where speeches and congratulations continued for Loraine and for Habitat For Humanity. Grinns even unveiled the new stickers and T-shirts for Clay Street. Can’t wait to get one.

I feel real good about our neighborhood after all that went down yesterday. There was so much positivity in the air. Like I said it was infectious. Some of us have talked about volunteering to help with the numerous units that are part of the Phase One redevelopment plan which kicks off in December 2008. I’m gonna be there. Any day I can.

I know a lot of people work hard down here. And truth be told, I haven’t been as involved as I’d like to be. But ideas are flowing and people are sharing more and more ideas with each other. I’m noticing more people becoming pro-active. In some ways, the progress on Clay is taking on a life of it’s own. And THAT is something we can all be proud of…

The Music Has Returned… One Note At A Time.

GET TO KNOW THE CONTRIBUTORS TO  “I LIVE ON CLAY STREET”  like ELLIS and JENNIE by CLICKING on the BROWN BOX UP TOP RIGHT and JOIN US IN THE SOCIAL NETWORK.   GET INVOLVED.   OUTSIDE OR INSIDE OF CLAY, WE ALL BENEFIT WHEN SOCIETY COMES TOGETHER…peace

Popularity: 51% [?]

Situated on the Navy Stadium side of Clay Street, oh don’t forget we are less then one mile from the stadium as well as downtown, there is an amazing section of Clay Street called Brickyard Hill.  There are some longtime homeowners and Clay Streeters that have been extremely diligent in their devotion to their landscaping and their curbside happy hours, more on the curbside affairs coming soon.  For now please take note of some home gardening that can compete with anywhere in Annapolis.  In fact, if the rest of Annapolis is not careful, Clay Street could wind up taking quite a few awards home across the board…

Please sit back and enjoy this video submission from Brickyard Hill’s own mysterious videographer…

Popularity: 83% [?]

“Today was a good day”  \”It Was a Good Day\” Ice Cube

The Capital called today.  They were curious as to what Clay Street thought about the recent crackdown that is the “Capital Safe Streets” program.  

First, off top I do not speak for everyone back here.  For some they are comfortable with me representing what they are thinking because they think the same as I do, however I am sure there are some who are not quite with everything that I think or at least they won’t vocalize their support for my thinking just yet.  You see, I am still very much in the sizing up period of the neighborhood.  That there in and of itself is a story and for now though, we will stick to the subject.  

The Capital called and they wanted an opinion as to whether or not I thought things were improving in the neighborhood and of course, I replied “yes”.   Have the entreprenuers begun working elsewhere?   If you have been reading the stories on here as of late you know that I feel things have changed back here.  Apparently, Clay is not unlike elsewhere in town and crime has quieted.  

Is there a big game in town?  Is George Bush here?  Ahh it must be the boat show!  You see in the past when things would quiet in the neighborhood it was because the boat show was in town, or Navy had a big deal going down, or  how about when several of the world leaders were about 10 blocks away?   There was no crime then, not a hair dropped without a police presence.  Its not quite at those levels right now.   There are still nights it is a convention on the corner with some of the neighborhood favorites still making moves. Its better living for the most part though, no question about that.

You know what is a very tell tale sign though?   The kids are playing.  Every night when I come home some of my neighbors kids, at times as many as 8 or 9 probably ages ranging 5-10 years old are out running and chasing each other around the yards.  Our court is filled with the sounds of kids laughter.  It really makes you feel good.  One of them even learned how to ride his bike the other day.  First day without his training wheels.  We all remember that day.  I was there, I saw his mother was beaming “its his first day without training wheels, we just took them off!”     

I am enjoying my neighborhood.  A gentleman who lives just two doors down pulled me aside late one night when we were just outside chatting it up and said “come here lemme show you something”.  At that he turned a canvas around and it was about a half finished painting of a woman’s picture he had, unbelievably detailed work.  He had just been outside painting when I had came out for some air.   He showed me several other pieces, I am going to commission him to do some family portraits.

The Capital was really digging for what seemed like a positive PR play for the new police chief and you know what, let them have it.  The man is paying attention.  He is getting out and meeting people.  Thank you my man.  

One thing to please keep in mind Chief, make sure those that do get locked up get educated, rehabilitated, and given a second chance.  We all deserve second chances.  We do though need to make those chances count and the way we do that is by making sure people are educated.  Another thing to remember not everyone learns the same way and not everyone has the same teachers.  Sometimes a teacher is television set in the neighbors house because Mom and Dad aren’t around and Grandma has too much on her plate. 

But, really though, who gets the credit for things going okay on Clay?   Who cares.  Its better that’s what matters party people.  

Peace
Grins 

Popularity: 64% [?]

CLAY STREET STAND UP!!!

Your very own Zastrow Simms is going to HOLLYWOOD!!!  ”Pip and Zastrow: An American Friendship” the film about Zastrow’s friendship with Pip Moyer is going to be having its World Premiere Film Festival Screening at the American Black Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA on August 7-10.  

Please join us in extending all the producers, directors, staff, and people involved with the flick especially the man himself Mr Zastrow Simms in a big Clay Street Salute (put your guns down fellas–put your two fingers up)…PEACE!!!!

Popularity: 100% [?]

This comes from Baltique, or Our Man.
For more on his work visit:  www.ourmaninberlin.com  or www.youtube.com/user/baltique

Popularity: 100% [?]