Dear Friends:

I often say we need to be safe to have a present, and educated to have a future. But just as important as public safety and education are to the people of Baltimore, the public health of our residents, including our region’s preparedness for the unexpected, is equally as vital.

This week, I was proud to stand with the American Red Cross, along with officials from our Police and Health Departments, in calling for all Baltimoreans to give the gift of life by donating blood. The community blood supply is easy to take for granted. But ask any trauma victim, or cancer patient, or blood disorder sufferer what it’s like to take the blood supply for granted only to find yourself dependent on it to survive.

The fact is, only about 5% of the eligible population actually donates blood. At the same time, about 95% of the population will either need blood at some point in their lives, or know someone who will. When a member of my family was rushed to the trauma room several years ago, we depended on the community blood supply as much as we did the skills of the doctors at Shock Trauma. Fortunately, enough blood was available then, but officials at the Red Cross are reporting that donations have dropped dramatically during the summer months and they need a strong response from the Baltimore community to replenish a rapidly depleting supply.

Human blood can not be manufactured in a laboratory or reproduced artificially. It is a substance so complex that it can only be donated by another person to save the life of a stranger. I urge you to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.my-redcross.org to schedule an appointment to donate blood. Please encourage your friends to do the same.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Maryland Clean Indoor Air Act Effective February 1st

Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 was signed into law on May 17, 2007. The Act prohibits smoking in indoor areas open to the public except in limited circumstances. The Act specifically prohibits smoking in public meeting places, public transportation vehicles, and indoor places of employment. The Baltimore City Health Department has set up a website to provide the community, health providers, and business owners with information.

Open Society Institute–Baltimore Announces a Call for Applicants:
2008 Baltimore Community Fellowships

Interested in using your professional skills, talents and life experience to make a difference in Baltimore City? The Baltimore Community Fellowships Program seeks dynamic activists interested in implementing projects that address pervasive social problems in underserved communities in Baltimore City. The Fellowship spans a term of 18 months, beginning fall 2008.

For more information on eligibility and selection criteria, please call OSI-Baltimore at 410-234-1091 to reserve a spot in one of our information sessions.
**Application Deadline: March 14 by 5:00pm**

INFORMATION SESSIONS
Wednesday, January 30
Thursday, January 31
Wednesday, February 6
Wednesday, February 13

City Council This Week

Monday, January 28, 2008

City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
The Council meeting will be broadcast live on Cable TV 25.

January 23-27, Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. Friday, 11am-9pm, Saturday, 10am-9pm, Sunday, 10am-6pm Baltimore’s largest and oldest boat show celebrates its 54th year by with more than 700 new boats and booths showcasing the latest marine equipment. 410-649-7000 www.baltimoreboatshow.com

Baltimore Winter Restaurant Week: January 28-February 3 It was a hit in the Summer of '06. It was an even bigger hit in the Summer of '07. Now the culinary extravaganza that is Baltimore Restaurant Week makes its Winter debut. Enjoy specially selected three-course dinner menus for just $30.08. Some restaurants also offer a three-course lunch for $20.08. www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com

Saturday, January 26

MSP Polar Bear Plunge
Sandy Point State Park, 1100 East College Parkway, Annapolis. Registration begins at 9am, first plunge at noon, and second plunge at 3pm. Participants take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay to support Special Olympics Maryland. Join in on the state’s most successful single-day fundraiser. Details (410) 789-6677 or www.plungemd.org.

Last weekend for QuestFest, a two-week festival celebrating visual theatre.
QuestFest features groundbreaking work from exceptional performers and companies dedicated to the use of movement, gesture, and digital media to tell stories. Performances held at Towson University, Baltimore Theatre Project, Creative Alliance at the Patterson, and Round House Theatre in Silver Spring. www.questfest.org 410-539-3091.

Historic Tax Credit Informational Forum
Lovely Lane Methodist Church, 2200 Saint Paul Street, 10am
Co-hosted by Charles Village Community Benefits District and Baltimore Heritage, Inc. Planning to repair, improve or renovate your property? You may be eligible for a State Historic Tax Credit. Recover 20% of the cost of repairs, improvements or renovations and/or reduce a possible increase in the assessed value of your property resulting from repairs, improvements or renovations. For more information, contact David Hill, Executive Director,Charles Village Community Benefits District at 410.889.9373. To see a list of historic neighborhoods which qualify in Baltimore City go to maps.baltimorecity.gov/imap. More information on the tax credit program is available at www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net

Tuesday, January 29

Free Glaucoma Screenings
Krieger Eye Institute of Sinai Hospital, 2401 Belvedere Ave., 4:30 pm. The Baltimore City Health Department, The Polakoff Foundation join together to fight glaucoma in Baltimore by providing monthly glaucoma screenings and education. www.fightglaucoma.org or call 410-601-7295.

Wednesday, January 30

Mayor Sheila Dixon hosts Mayor’s Night In
TOPIC: Protecting your Home Against Foreclosure and Abusive Real Estate Practices
City Hall, Curran Conference Room, 4th Floor, 6pm-8pm
Residents and communty leaders are invited to join us for a discussion on protecting your home against foreclosure and abusive real estate practives. Receive valuable information from the Baltimore Homeownership Preservation Coalition about preserving and strengthening homeownership and promoting neighborhood stability by preventing foreclosures. This meeting is open to everyone interested in this topic.

NOTE: Photo ID is required to enter City Hall. Seating is limited in the Curran Room. Please arrive early.