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The Council is in recess until 2011. Hearings will resume Tuesday, January 4, and the first Council Meeting will be held on Monday, January 10.

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Have a Fun and Safe Holiday Season and New Year

Dear Baltimoreans,

This is the time of year to cherish our families and loved ones while celebrating the season’s festivities. I hope everyone has a safe, joyous holiday, and here’s to a happy new year for all of Baltimore in 2011!

Click here to see a special holiday greeting!

My “Jack’s Journal” newsletter will return Wednesday, January 12.

Bernard C. “Jack” Young
President, Baltimore City Council

Council's Nominating Committee To Fill 9th District Vacancy

After serving the 9th District of Baltimore City for almost 30 years, Councilwoman Agnes Welch announced her retirement on Monday, December 6, 2010. On behalf of the entire City Council, President Bernard C. "Jack" Young thanks her for her dedicated service to the city and its citizens.

The Vacancy Nominating Committee for the Baltimore City Council hereby gives notice to all registered voters who reside in the 9th District of Baltimore City that it will conduct public interviews, as required by law, with the intention of filling the vacated 9th District City Council seat.

All applicants must be citizens of the United States, above the age of 21, registered voters, and residents of the 9th City Council District for at least one year. 

The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 6 p.m. in the Clarence "Du" Burns Council Chamber (City Hall, 100 N. Holliday Street, 4th Floor). It will be televised on Cable TV25.

Interested persons should forward their resumes, a copy of photo identification with proof of age and address and a copy of their voter’s registration card no later than December 28, 2010 by 5 p.m. to:

Mr. Larry Greene
Acting Director, Office of Council Services
100 N. Holliday Street, Room 415
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-396-5614
410-545-7596 (fax)
Larry.Greene@baltimorecity.gov

Fire Department Encourages Fire Safety During Holidays

As we enter the holiday season, many people will engage in holiday-related festivities like shopping and sharing tidings of joy. The Baltimore City Fire Department would like to remind people to practice Fire Safety during the holidays.

Each year fires occur during the holiday season and injure approximately 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. The Baltimore City Fire Department would like to share basic life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe holiday season. By following some of the outlined precautionary tips, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

• Holiday Tree Fire Hazards - Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases within minutes.
• Selecting a tree for the holiday - Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out and is a fire hazard.
• Caring for Your Tree - Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Holiday Lights

• Maintain Your Holiday Lights - Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets - Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations

• Use only non-flammable Decorations - All decorations should be non-flammable or flame retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never Place Wrapping Paper in the Fireplace - It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.
• Artificial Holiday Trees - If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure that it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid Using Lit Candles - If you do use them, make sure that they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.
• Never Put Lit Candles On a Tree - Do not go near a holiday tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

COMING UP in BALTIMORE

UPS Hiring Temporary Workers for Holiday Season
UPS expects to hire about 50,000 temporary workers for the holiday shipping season, about the same number the parcel carrier brought on last year, company officials said. Those workers typically sort packages at UPS's air and ground stations around the United States. To find an opportunity close to you that conveniently fits within your schedule, please click on the link below and enter your zip code or state. The default setting for the job search is set to"Package Handler" as that usually has the greatest number of positions hiring.
UPS Job Search

Christmas Tree Pickup and Mulching
Monday through Saturday in January
Sisson Street Citizen Drop-Off Center, 2840 Sisson Street, and Reedbird Avenue Citizen Drop-off Center, 701 Reedbird Avenue
The Department of Public Works will provide tree mulching from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents may bring their own bags or containers if they wish to collect mulch for their own use. Community groups are also encouraged to bring bags or containers and collect free mulch for neighborhood gardens while supplies last. For residents who cannot bring their trees for mulching, the Bureau of Solid Waste will offer curbside tree collection from Tuesday, January 4, 2011, through Friday, January 28, 2011. Residents should set out trees on their regularly scheduled trash collection day at the same location where their trash is collected. All tinsel and ornaments must be removed from trees before they are set out for curbside collection or mulching.
For more information, call 311.

Highlandtown Holiday Train Garden
Saturday, December 4 through Saturday, January 1
Engine Company 41, 530 S. Conkling Street
Don't miss the train in a new Highlandtown tradition! This free exhibit showcases a model train garden built by volunteers and housed in the Conkling Street Firehouse in Baltimore City. It is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings in December.
For more information, visit highlandtowntraingarden.com.

Poinsettia Display – Walking Through a Winter WINDOWland
Wednesday, December 22 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 3100 Swann Drive
Take a walk through a winter windowland and revisit Lexington & Howard street, hub of old Baltimore's shopping district! Show runs NOW through January 2. Poinsettias available for purchase.
For more information, call 410-396-0008 or visit baltimoreconservatory.org.

Port America Chesapeake New Year's Spectacular
Friday, December 31 from 8:00 PM to 12:30 AM
Inner Harbor
Celebrate 2011 at the Ports America Chesapeake New Year's Eve Spectacular featuring entertainment at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater and midnight fireworks over the harbor water. 
For information, call 410-752-8632 or visit www.promotionandarts.com.

New Year's Eve at the Top
Friday, December 31 from 9:30 PM to 1:00 AM
Top of the World Observation Level, World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt Street
Party goers are invited to ring in 2011 with music, food and fireworks at the Top of the World Observation Level. Dance the night away to tunes from a DJ, enjoy a menu of delicious food and watch the midnight fireworks show over the Inner Harbor from 27 stories high. Tickets are $100 per person. For information, call 410-837-8439 or visit www.viewbaltimore.org.