Dear Friends:

2008 was a year of tremendous progress for the City of Baltimore. The results are in and they are undeniable. Together, we are making significant progress on the fundamental challenges we face as a great American city. Together, we have rededicated ourselves to the promise that Baltimore is on the cusp of great things—and that failure is unacceptable and never a foregone conclusion. For the first time in nearly five decades, more people are moving into Baltimore than are moving out. And the reasons why are simple: We are improving our public schools and public safety and our neighborhoods continue to get stronger. Families are choosing to stay.

On the public safety front, in 2008, homicides were reduced to the lowest level since the 1980s—the steepest one-year decline in more than forty years. Our police commissioner's strategy of focusing on Baltimore's most violent offenders is working. State efforts to strengthen our parole and probation system and federal prosecution of "Project Exile" gun cases are having a real impact. But perhaps the most important part of our success in combating crime in Baltimore has been the often-unnoticed efforts of community leaders, working with the police officers that patrol our neighborhoods. It is this continued commitment from the citizens working in partnership with police that will help us continue to make progress. Progress has not come easy and we have much work to do, but with progress comes hope—hope that we can be safer.

Together, we are changing our public school system for the better. In 2008, for the first time ever, a majority of Baltimore City Public Schools are meeting federal standards for adequate yearly progress. Since 2003, elementary and middle school Maryland School Assessment reading and math test scores have increased, in almost every grade. SAT participation has increased by more than 70 percent since 2001, and more city high school students are taking advanced placement courses. Our school system is on the path of major reform. These gains are the result of 80,000 hard-working students, their dedicated parents, talented teachers and volunteers, and innovative school administrators.

Throughout 2008, I had the opportunity to see firsthand a renewed commitment from the citizens in our city's neighborhoods. I have always said that neighborhoods are the heart and soul of Baltimore. And when our neighborhoods thrive, Baltimore thrives. Even in this economy, new optimism and investment have made it to our neighborhoods.

2008 reminds us that the price of progress is steep and always worthwhile. And that it's never too late to make Baltimore better, safer and stronger. As we begin 2009, and work to continue making progress, we should reflect on the words of Abraham Lincoln, who once said that the best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time. In 2009, together, we can make Baltimore a better place for families to live and prosper, one day at a time.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

City Council This Week

No meetings or hearings scheduled.

Community Events

For a comprehensive listing of holiday events in Baltimore,
check the City Council's online events calendar.

Through January 2

Ethiopian New Year Celebration
The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 5pm-8pm. World music, dance performances and the special exhibition, “Portraits Re/Examined: A Dawoud Bey Project.” 410-547-9000.

Free Winter Break Activities at The Walters
The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., The museum’s Family Art Center will offer free drop-in art activities from 10 am-3 pm. Young artists and their favorite adult companions can make star lanterns, jeweled votive candles or holiday greeting cards. Activities are suitable for children aged 3 and up. 410-547-9000.

Cold Weather Tips: Protect Your Pipes Pipes and utility meters can freeze when the temperature remains below 25 degrees for extended periods of time. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works offers the following tips to help protect water lines during periods of cold weather: Let a thin stream of cold water run from a basement faucet. The stream should be a continuous flow, about the thickness of a pencil. This water can be caught in a bucket or pail to be recycled later as laundry or dish water. If your pipe is frozen, gently warm it with hot air from a blow dryer at the point where it enters your house. Be sure you know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home. Check it periodically to ensure itworks properly. Periodically monitor your sump pump. A frozen drain pipe could result in a flooded basement. Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your house. Be especially alert if you have had frozen pipes in the past. Keep bottled water on hand. The Department of Public Works maintains outdoor water lines up to and including the meter. Water lines running from the meter to the house, as well as internal plumbing, are the responsibility of the property owner. For water emergencies in Baltimore City, please call 311. If you are outside the City, but in our service area, please call 410-396-5352.

Upcoming/Ongoing

RecycleMORE BaltiMORE! Effective January 2009, Baltimore City residents will be able to recycle more items. New items to be included in curbside single stream recycling: wide-mouth plastic containers used for margarine, yogurt, cottage cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream; empty prescription bottles (lids and caps do not need to be removed); plastic drinking cups; aluminum foil and aluminum pie pans; clean milk and juice cartons. New items to be taken to the citizen drop-off center and placed in container marked "rigid plastics”: rigid plastics which include milk/soda crates, buckets, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, totes, plastic drums, coolers, flower pots, water bottles, pallets, pet carriers, shelving, closet organizers, empty garbage/recycling bins. Info: 410-396-4511 or www.baltimorecity.gov/government/dpw/recycle/

Free Day & Evening Adult Basic Education and Literacy Classes, starts Jan. 6, Church of the Redeemed of The Lord Community Outreach Center, 4200 York Rd., 410-433-8878.

MLK "I Have a Dream" Contest for Baltimore City Public School Students Create an essay, painting, poem or poster about your dream and how it relates to Dr. King’s work. Cash prizes. Deadline is Jan. 15. mlkdaybaltimore@gmail.com

Free Job Seeker Classes offered by Enoch Pratt Library’s Herring Run Branch, 3801 Erdman Ave. Classes on job searching, networking, resume writing and interviewing. Begins Jan. 5 and runs throughout January, 6-8 pm. Must pre-register at 410-396-5317.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore’s Foreclosure Prevention Program offers emergency bridge loans to victims of predatory or exotic lending, or homeowners hit with emergencies such as illness or unemployment. Eligible low- to moderate-income homeowners can receive up to $5,000 in deferred loans. 410-327-1200.

Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN), sponsored by Parks and People Foundation, is accepting new members. The CGRN is an annual membership program to support community gardens throughout Baltimore City. It provides community-based groups access to material resources (tool, seeds, plants, mulch, and compost) training opportunities (green space planning, organization, and fundraising),and networking opportunities for sharing skills and experience among community greeners. Sarah Krones 410-448-5663.

Registration is underway for Adult Literacy and ESOL Program Classes offered by the Greater Homewood Community Corporation, 3501 N. Charles St., 410-261-3518.

New Conversations/Conversaciones Nuevas, Enoch Pratt’s Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave., Tuesdays at 11am. Practice casual conversation for beginning English and Spanish speakers, 410-396-1580.

Food Assistance provided by Project 100, an initiative of the Baltimore City Housing Community Action Partnership and New Psalmist Baptist Church, to help families with food security for 30 days in order to pay down other bills. It’s for residents of 21217, 21216, 21201, 21223, or 21229 who have children and do not receive food stamps or a utility subsidy from Section 8. 410-396-0893

Baltimore City Community College Launches Accelerated Associates Degree Program for Spring 2009. Baltimore City Community College has a new accelerated program for African American males to earn an Associate of Arts degree in one year. The program is entitled the "Quest." Info: 410-462-7745

Open Minds is Creative Alliance's free book-based after school program. New visual and performing arts courses, including mural painting, photography, music production and breakdancing are beginning at Wolfe Street Academy, Hampstead Hill, Collington Square and with EBLO-Mi Segunda Casa at John Ruhrah. Call Karen Summerville at 410-276-1651.

Conserve energy, save money and protect the environment with BGE’s PeakRewards program. If you have central air conditioning or an electric heat pump, you could save up to 15% year round in energy costs. www.bgesmartenergy.com/peakrewards

Power of Parents and Partners in School (P.O.P.S. Program) is a new program to encourage and address the needs of students who are expecting or parenting teens who have dropped out and want to return to school. Developed by the Laurence G. Paquin School. 410-396-9398/9399.

Baltimore Speaks Out! Program, a great opportunity for children ages 11-15 to learn about video/film production. Offered at Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Herring Run branch, 3810 Erdman Ave. 410-338-0947. Free.