How Fells Point Got Dug Out

A story published this afternoon at the Baltimore Sun's website, and probably in line for tomorrow's print edition, depicts the owners of two Fells Point bars taking matters into their own hands to get the streets around lower Fells Point dug out for this weekend:

Friday was a turning point for Ron Furman. That day, he decided to become a vigilante plower.

The owner of Max's Taphouse in Fells Point was walking in the neighborhood when he said he slipped and fell on ice at Lancaster Street and Broadway.

"I almost broke my neck," Furman said. "I just said that was it and went up and got the tractor."

The Upperco resident said he plowed out side streets and parking spaces through the weekend as well as Monday morning, starting at 5 a.m.

He said he decided to take matters into his own hands, rather than complaining that it's someone else's responsibility to get the job done.

"Sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do to get things done," said Furman, owner of Max's for 23 years. "We can't always rely on the government to take care of it."

Then again, "not everybody has a tractor," he said. "I was fortunate and I could bring it down and help out."

Furman said he plowed from Friday night until the sun started shining on Saturday, building a giant snow mountain in the Fells Point square by clearing out the spaces surrounding it. He also plowed the east side of the 700 block of Broadway and planned to hit the west side as well.

Last weekend, Max's held its Belgian Beer Fest, and although business was good, Furman said, but not outstanding.

"We were off, and I think a good part of it was the weather," said Furman. "It was real strong, but not the numbers that we expected."

More at the link/article.

(Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum)