No Author. “Out of the Crab’s Claw.” Rural Cooperatives. March/ April 1998: Vol. 65, Issue 2, page 18. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. UMBC Lib., Baltimore, MD. April 2008.
The article discusses the achievements of the women’s Co-Op and how it “saved” Smith Island economically. The article explains what adaptations were made in order to meet heath and safety standards set by the state.
Evitts, Elizabeth. “Smith Island, MD.” AmericanProfile.com. 17 June 2001. www.americanprofile.com/smithisland
The article offers a description of the island and its culture (social and economic factors). The article makes Smith Island appealing to the reader that might want to visit.
Graham-Jones, Pierce. “Living on the Brink.” US News and World Report. 16 August 2004: Vol. 137, Issue 5, page 70-73. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. UMBC Lib., Baltimore, MD. April 2008.
The article discusses the erosion of the physical island and the island way of life. The article claims that Smith Island is “out of time.”
Horton, Tom. An Island Out of Time. Vintage Books. New York. 1997.
In his book, Tom Horton describes his experiences on Smith Island. The book is broken down into chapters describing, in great detail the geography, occupations, lifestyle, politics and social boundaries of the island. I have already read the majority of the book and have taken notes. I believe this will be one of my most valuable sources.
Kulman, Linda. “Living by the Law of the Bay.” US News and World Report. 15 July, 1996: Vol. 121 Issue 3, p77Search Premier. EBSCOhost. UMBC Lib., Baltimore, MD. April 2008.
The article discussed how environmental laws and heath code restrictions are infringing on the islanders traditional way of life.
Simmons, Melody. “Island’s Past and Future, in a Layer Cake.” New York Times. 31 March 2008: Section A, page 17. LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis. UMBC Lib., Baltimore MD. April 2008.
The article discusses the community on Smith Island. It also begins to discuss economic pressures and population concerns.
There was also a video about Smith Island that was viewed in one of my classes. I intend to retrieve its title (and then, hopefully the video).
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
"You wanna go where everybody knows your name..."
Linover
Baltimore, MD
Suburb
Description:
In the 1950s, many families- attracted by promises of affordable housing, new and upscale homes, and factors of convenience- moved into suburban homes. Linover, was no different. Just recently, the Linover community celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. It was a process of evaluation, re-discovery, and reflection.
There are two types of houses in Linover. Most are two-story, semi-attached homes connected to another home by one side. All of the rooms are nearly identical in each house. There exist only minor differences, like an extra bathroom in the basement, that home-owners created themselves. There are two-story, single homes scattered throughout the streets of the neighborhood and along both Kenlea and Leslie Avenues. These homes, like the semi-attached, are virtually the of the same structure inside and out.
I hope to gather a some information from a census report to attest to the education level, median income and occupational status of the residents of the community. More importantly, I would like to examine an age/sex pyramid to develop a sense of the high population of older residents (some that have lived in Linover for over 40 years) and the population of new residents (most of which seem to be young families).
There is a deep sense of community in Linover. That fact is very apparent when one accidentally refers to the place as “Overlea”, “Fullerton”, “White Marsh” or, even worse, “Parkville.” All of those names refer to locations surrounding the Linover area. Linover is often link to one of these other locations because of its size. But, no matter which neighborhood the community happens to linked to that week, Linover residents prefer to stress that they are from Linover.
Some of this community pride is a direct result of the community improvement association. While not every neighbor attends the monthly meetings, they most surely have taken advantage of the traditions but on by the organization. There are annual Easter Egg Hunts, Tree Lightings, Halloween Parades, Stream Clean-Ups, Bull Roasts and Scholarship Dances, that keep both the young and old engaged. These events receive very high attendance and participation and according to one resident, “are the things that make this community so special.”
While there is no official welcome committee, new neighbors are quickly encouraged to attend meetings, participate in events and to finish all the cakes the older neighbors have dropped off to say “hello.” Unfortunately, these new neighbors are also welcomed with gossip from the other neighbors and they, in turn, will become part of the cycle that runs through the small neighborhood.
There is an elementary school and a high school within walking distance and buses to pick up students attending area middle and high schools. There are several shopping centers, within walking distance, if you choose to make them so. Linover is a prime location, only minutes away from the beltway, a mall, and forms of entertainment.
Argument:
It was not until the 1960s that many criticisms of the suburbs began to emerge. Critics claimed that the suburbs were too homogeneous (every house was designed in the same style and all of the residents seemed to be of similar economic class and race). The suburbs lacked diversity and therefore, culture. There was nothing to do in the evenings or weekends and a car was necessary to access entertainment elsewhere. Standard suburbs were also criticized for their inefficient use of resources (they took up too much space and spread everything out creating urban sprawl). Linover, however, battles some of the stereotypes of the American suburb while still remaining true to its history and establishes community through tradition and acceptance. Linover has the benefits of a suburb, with the feel of a small town.
*I also thought about arguing something along the lines of the diversity of age, using the age/sex pyramids. Linover is a thriving community because of tradition (upheld by a lot of the older residents) and because of the adaptations created in response to the new families.
Baltimore, MD
Suburb
Description:
In the 1950s, many families- attracted by promises of affordable housing, new and upscale homes, and factors of convenience- moved into suburban homes. Linover, was no different. Just recently, the Linover community celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. It was a process of evaluation, re-discovery, and reflection.
There are two types of houses in Linover. Most are two-story, semi-attached homes connected to another home by one side. All of the rooms are nearly identical in each house. There exist only minor differences, like an extra bathroom in the basement, that home-owners created themselves. There are two-story, single homes scattered throughout the streets of the neighborhood and along both Kenlea and Leslie Avenues. These homes, like the semi-attached, are virtually the of the same structure inside and out.
I hope to gather a some information from a census report to attest to the education level, median income and occupational status of the residents of the community. More importantly, I would like to examine an age/sex pyramid to develop a sense of the high population of older residents (some that have lived in Linover for over 40 years) and the population of new residents (most of which seem to be young families).
There is a deep sense of community in Linover. That fact is very apparent when one accidentally refers to the place as “Overlea”, “Fullerton”, “White Marsh” or, even worse, “Parkville.” All of those names refer to locations surrounding the Linover area. Linover is often link to one of these other locations because of its size. But, no matter which neighborhood the community happens to linked to that week, Linover residents prefer to stress that they are from Linover.
Some of this community pride is a direct result of the community improvement association. While not every neighbor attends the monthly meetings, they most surely have taken advantage of the traditions but on by the organization. There are annual Easter Egg Hunts, Tree Lightings, Halloween Parades, Stream Clean-Ups, Bull Roasts and Scholarship Dances, that keep both the young and old engaged. These events receive very high attendance and participation and according to one resident, “are the things that make this community so special.”
While there is no official welcome committee, new neighbors are quickly encouraged to attend meetings, participate in events and to finish all the cakes the older neighbors have dropped off to say “hello.” Unfortunately, these new neighbors are also welcomed with gossip from the other neighbors and they, in turn, will become part of the cycle that runs through the small neighborhood.
There is an elementary school and a high school within walking distance and buses to pick up students attending area middle and high schools. There are several shopping centers, within walking distance, if you choose to make them so. Linover is a prime location, only minutes away from the beltway, a mall, and forms of entertainment.
Argument:
It was not until the 1960s that many criticisms of the suburbs began to emerge. Critics claimed that the suburbs were too homogeneous (every house was designed in the same style and all of the residents seemed to be of similar economic class and race). The suburbs lacked diversity and therefore, culture. There was nothing to do in the evenings or weekends and a car was necessary to access entertainment elsewhere. Standard suburbs were also criticized for their inefficient use of resources (they took up too much space and spread everything out creating urban sprawl). Linover, however, battles some of the stereotypes of the American suburb while still remaining true to its history and establishes community through tradition and acceptance. Linover has the benefits of a suburb, with the feel of a small town.
*I also thought about arguing something along the lines of the diversity of age, using the age/sex pyramids. Linover is a thriving community because of tradition (upheld by a lot of the older residents) and because of the adaptations created in response to the new families.
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