Better Schools, Safer Streets, Stronger Neighborhoods
Issue #102: February 6, 2009

Dear Friends:

Today is National Wear Red Day. On the first Friday in February, women and men nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. The Red Dress reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action. National Wear Red Day provides an opportunity for all of us to unite in this life-saving awareness movement by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, tie, or Red Dress Pin.

On Sunday, Mayor Dixon and I will join members of Douglas Memorial Community Church in West Baltimore for a press conference to talk about the importance of women's heart disease awareness. Each year, St. Agnes Hospital partners with local churches to educate African American women about heart disease.

According to David Simpkins, a vice president at St. Agnes, heart disease kills more African American women than breast cancer, stroke and lung cancer combined, making it the number one killer of African American women in this country. Red Dress Sunday is a great opportunity to reach out to women in our community and alert them to their personal risk factors for heart disease. To learn more visit www.stagnes.org

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH), to have a healthy heart, it is critical to know the risk factors for heart disease; that is, the behaviors or conditions that increase your chance of getting heart disease. They are:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • Being physically inactive
  • Having a family history of early heart disease
  • Age (55 or older for women)

Having just one risk factor increases your chance of developing heart disease. And your risk skyrockets with each added risk factor. For African American women, the risk of heart disease is especially great. Heart disease is more prevalent among black women than white women, as are some of the factors that increase the risk of developing it, including high blood pressure and diabetes. 52 percent of midlife African American women have high blood pressure, and 14 percent have been diagnosed with diabetes. To learn ways to lower your risk, visit: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/lower-risk/index.htm

Finally don't forget to check out the Sister to Sister Foundation's Women's Heart Health Fair on Tuesday, February 24 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The fair will feature free heart disease screenings, fitness & cooking demonstrations and more. You can register online at www.sistertosister.org/register

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Plenty of Good News To Celebrate at The Institute of Business & Entrepreneurship

Submitted by Principal Janice Williams

Senior Jessica Boone, who is also the president of the Class of 2009, auditioned for a spot on the Baltimore City Public School System’s Educational Channel 77. Her audition was great, and Jessica was selected as the new anchorperson.

The Institute of Business & Entrepreneurship (IBE) entered a competition for a grant to open a student operated school-based store. The contest was sponsored by M&T Bank and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). IBE was awarded $2500 to cover start-up expenses for the store, known as the Warrior’s Den. The store sells school supplies, snacks, beverages and personal items. The school motto is "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work," and the Warrior’s Den is spiraling into a successful business venture, serving our students and community as we continue to employ the spirit of teamwork. It’s a great opportunity for students as we expand our school community and enter the entrepreneurial arena.

In an effort to meet the HSA testing requirements for our seniors and graduating juniors, IBE submitted 58 Bridge Plan Projects for approval. 55 of them were successful. Bridge Plan Projects are used for students who have not passed a specific HSA test and need to complete one or more project modules in the designated content area. They are submitted to a local review panel and the local superintendent for approval in order to meet the requirements for graduation.

Division One Scholarships For The Great Eight at Dunbar High

Congratulations to eight Dunbar High School football players who have recently signed letters of intent to Division I schools.

Almost all of these players had more than one school making an offer. Star running back Tavon Austin, named The Baltimore Sun’s Offensive Player of the Year three times, had 16 schools making offers totaling $3.5 million.

Players and their four-year scholarships:

Anthony Watters, Howard $189,000
Antonio Brown, Morgan State $151,400
Courtney Bridget, UNLV $189,000
Davon Muse, Central Michigan $162,904
Gary Onuekwuski, Temple $160,760
Horace Miller, Louisville $251,696
Sean Farr, Louisville $251,696
Tavon Austin, West Virginia $165,164

Also, congratulations to City College starting quarterback Ellis Foster. Foster accepted a full football scholarship to the University of Rhode Island. Foster says he will be allowed to play in his freshman year as a superback. The superback catches the ball from the slot position but is also used to throw the ball at times.

Send us the good news about your Baltimore City public school!

Do you have an exciting news item on achievements in Baltimore City Public Schools?
Let us know so that we can feature them in the President's SchoolSpot. Call Council President Rawlings-Blake's office at 410-396-4804 or send an e-mail to Marva Williams at marva.williams@baltimorecity.gov

City Council This Week

Monday, February 9

Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, James B. Kraft – Chair
10:00 AM Reeves Conference Room, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0228 Ticket Sale Regulations - Exceptions
WORK SESSION

Mayor's State of the City Address
2:30 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
The State of the City Address will be broadcast live on TV25.

City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
The Council meeting will be broadcast live on TV25.
Draft agenda

Tuesday, February 10

Hearing: Budget and Appropriations Committee, Bernard C. “Jack” Young – Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0096R Legislative Oversight - Departments of City Government
The following agencies are scheduled to attend: Dept. of Finance (Mid-Year Review); Fire Department; Dept. of Recreation and Parks, Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA).

Wednesday, February 11

Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, James B. Kraft – Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0272 Baltimore City Sustainability Plan
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.

Thursday, February 12

Hearing: Public Safety and Health Committee, Bernard C. “Jack” Young – Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0105R Informational Hearing - Baltimore Police Commissioner - Policy Change

Hearing: Urban Affairs and Aging Committee, Agnes Welch – Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0098R In Support of State and City Capital Investment in the Green House Residences at Stadium Place

Community Events

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

Friday, February 6

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
 Mondawmin Mall, 3-7pm. Free health screenings, health and wellness info, giveaways and more. 410-728-6642.

Romantic First Fridays at The Walters
Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., 5-8pm. Celebrate an early Valentine’s Day with music, cocktails, dance performances and art. No charge.

February 7-8

Baltimore Bridal Show
Baltimore's largest and longest-running bridal show. All of the area's leading wedding professionals will be on hand to help you plan your wedding day. For tickets and more information, www.baltimorebridalshow.com

Saturday, February 7

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: I-83 (JFX) TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURE
On Saturday the two right lanes of northbound I-83 Jones Falls Expressway (JFX) from Falls Road to the city/county line will be closed from 6am 3pm for a bridge joint repair. No ramp closures necessary. Motorists should be aware of the lane shift and exercise caution when traveling in the vicinity.

An Oldie But Goodie Talent Show
Presented by the Oliver Community, 7-11pm, Oliver Multi-Purpose Center, 1400 E. Federal Street. 443-413-8741.

Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open Studio Day
11am-5pm, 21 S. Eutaw St., www.bromoseltzerartstower.com

Sunday, February 8

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 2009 Concert Series
3:30-4:30pm, 7902 Liberty Rd. A world premiere of original & arranged spirituals, traditional & contemporary songs, creating jazz & classical styled gospel music under Bruce Jenkins Jr. Free.

Thursday, February 12

Why Are So Many Americans In Prison?
The Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus, Wyman Building Rm. 526, 4-5:30pm. JHU Social Policy Seminar Series featuring Univ. of CA-Berkeley Public Policy Professor Dr. Steven Raphael. Free.

Black History Month Celebration at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Feb. 6, 5-9pm, featuring an art exhibit from Heritage High School students; Lesole’s Dance Project from South African Culture, oratorical performances from Urban Leadership Institute students and more. Special pricing. 410-659-4200.

"The Civil Rights Century: The NAACP at 100"
 Johns Hopkins University, Feb. 6-7, a 2-day event with a keynote by Kweisi Mfume on Feb. 6, 7pm, Shriver Auditorium; on Feb. 7, 9am-5pm, Charles Commons, an address by historian David Levering Lewis. Info: 410-516-6385. Free.

Mayor Sheila Dixon’s 2nd Annual Black History Month Celebration, Feb. 7, 2pm-6pm, War Memorial Building, 101 N. Gay St. Keynote speech by Bill Cosby, student talent show, step show, vendors, Kinderman, Sankofa Dance Theatre and more. Free and reduced parking at Baltimore Street garage.

Enoch Pratt’s Booklovers’ Breakfast, Feb. 7, 8:30am-noon, featuring Poet Nikki Giovanni and musician-author James McBride, Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna St. 410-396-5494. $40.

14th Annual Black Heritage Art Show, Feb. 6-8, Fri. 5-9pm; Sat. & Sun. 11am-7pm, Baltimore Convention Center, line-up includes actress Jasmine Guy, singer Devon Howard and Radio legend and line dance master Randy Dennis. 410-521-0660. blackheritageartshow.com. $8 admission.

The Pulse of Africa, Feb. 7, 2pm, The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. It’s a celebration featuring West African music, dance and folklore with musicians playing traditional instruments and dancers performing in masquerade and on stilts. 410-547-9000. www.thewalters.org

Family Day-African-American History Month, Feb. 8, 1pm-5pm, BMA, N. Charles & 31st St., A celebration of art with storytelling, art masking and hip-hop and Afrofusion dance and music. Free. 443-573-1700 artbma.org

Author Lecture with political observer and culture critic Jabari Asim, who discusses his new book, What Obama Means, Feb. 9, 6:30pm, Enoch Pratt Central Library, Poe Room.

University of Baltimore’s 2nd Annual Black Heritage Festival, Feb. 14, 11am-6pm. enjoy poetry, dance, music, step shows, a book fair, a fruit giveaway, face paintings, arts and crafts, Afro-Caribbean dishes ,tips on healthy lifestyles, fitness, diabetes and AIDS awareness and more. Info: renee.presha@ubalt.edu

Lexington Market’s Black History Month Celebration, features free concert series daily (except Sundays) all month long. Enjoy narrated skits and dances based on African, Caribbean, Jazz, Blues, Gospel, or Big Band Swing/Jazz themes and exhibits from Great Blacks in Wax, African-American authors, crafters and a special presentation from the Buffalo Soldiers in full uniform.

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/

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.

Winterfest 2009: "A Celebration of Diversity" Feb. 15, 2-5pm Northwestern Senior High School, 6900 Park Heights Ave., a family event with music, arts and crafts, sports, home classes and more. Free. 410-365-3792.

College Goal Sunday, Feb. 15, 2-4pm, Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Dundalk campus, a one-day event to help students and families complete FAFSA, the application for college financial aid. Mark Gay at mgay@ccbcmd.edu

10th Minority Business Summit, Feb. 19-20, The Baltimore Hilton, 401 W. Pratt St. 410-235-4427 www.minoritybusinesssummit.com

Free Fundraising Workshop, Feb. 21, 9am-1:30pm, Morgan State University Clarence Mitchell Engineering Building Library. Understand core principles of fundraising and develop winning proposals, etc. Register at http://iur.morgan.edu

Women’s Heart Health Fair, Feb. 24, 8am-4pm, Baltimore Convention Center, Hall A. Free heart disease screenings with immediate results, fitness & cooking demonstrations and more. 410-616-8943. sister2sister.org

Dr. Maya Angelou to speak at UB School of Law’s 2009 Feminist Legal Theory and Feminism Conference, Mar. 6, 6pm, The Lyric Theatre. The conference explores the concrete ways in which feminist legal theory is (or is not) changing the law. Free. Must pre-register at http://law.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page=931

Survivors Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) is offering a $1000 scholarship to a graduating Baltimore City public high school senior who has lost an immediate family member to homicide. Deadline is April 3. For details, contact Robin Singletary Haskins at 410-361-9301.

Registration is underway for 2009 Northwood Baseball League. Every Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm & every Saturday 11:30am-2:30pm, Morgan State University’s Montebello Complex, Room 124, 2201 Argonne Dr. 410-444-4872.

Registration is underway for Spring 2009 Forest Park Neighborhood Football League, for youth players, 5-15, Call Coach Quinton at 443-744-6346 or Coach Curtis at 443-506-9985. fplittleleaguer@aol.com

Free Tax Prep Clinics hosted by The Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service through March 7. 12pm-5pm Wednesdays; 9am-2pm Saturdays. Various city locations. For wage earners making $26,000 or less. Call for an appointment 410-234-8008.

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.

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.