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"Investing
Where Baltimore Lives" |
March 14, 2008 |
Dear
Friends:
 I have often shared with you in this newsletter my sincere commitment to strengthening Baltimore’s neighborhoods, directing the City’s resources and energy toward "Investing Where Baltimore Lives." That's why I was proud this week to kick off Women's History Month by announcing the launch of my
"2nd Annual Top Neighborhood Moms Contest." The contest honors those dedicated women who have given selflessly to keep Baltimore’s neighborhoods strong, clean, and safe. I am asking Baltimore neighborhood associations to nominate their "Top Neighborhood Mom," along with the reasons she should be recognized for her work. Nominees can be neighborhood moms or simply women who have given motherly love through their work for the community. I was so fortunate to grow up with strong female influence in my life, and I truly believe it made me who I am today. Baltimore’s neighborhoods owe a lot to many extraordinary women, and I am proud to publicly recognize them.
 Winners will be chosen from the Baltimore neighborhood associations submitting nominees. Each winner and a guest will be invited to join me at a special luncheon to honor Baltimore’s Top Neighborhood Moms at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Nomination forms will be made available through neighborhood associations, or by visiting www.baltimorecitycouncil.com. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 14, 2008.
For details on the contest and nomination forms, please visit our website
I look forward to reviewing the entries, and honoring the amazing women of Baltimore, who continue to promote the vibrancy of our neighborhoods.
Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council
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Maryland Community Services Locator Website Launched
 With funding from the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention, the University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) has created a new community services locator website. The MDCSL at www.mdcsl.org was created to help Maryland service providers and the general public more easily access local programs and resources.
The current website includes listings of substance abuse treatment and prevention programs, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meeting lists, Buprenorphine certified physicians, housing services, job readiness resources, parole and probation offices, public schools, and victim services, searchable by proximity to a given address. In the future, the MDCSL's program service listings will be expanded to include other community services, including health/mental health services, emergency food assistance, HIV/AIDS resources and more! For more information, contact the University of Maryland at mdcsl@cesar.umd.edu.
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Each
week in the President's
SchoolSpot,
Council President Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake highlights the outstanding
accomplishments of Baltimore City Schools students
and staff. |
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BCPSS Teacher Wins National Chemistry Contest
 Kathleen Lucot, a second-year teacher at Doris M. Johnson High School, is a grand prize winner of the National Chemistry Week Contest sponsored by Rohm and Haas Company. Lucot, who teaches English and Creative Writing, says she entered the contest because she thought she could help her friend and colleague Alysa Zellner, who teaches chemistry.
The award was a win for Lucot’s students: they received teaching materials, including booklets and a poster. But Rohm and Haas Company also chose another Baltimore school, George Washington Elementary, as the recipient for the Club Invention Program, a hands-on after-school invention club for elementary students intended to enhance their understanding of science, mathematics, history, and the arts. It was developed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Club Invention also provides teachers a valuable and challenging professional development opportunity to apply new teaching methods and view the learning environment in imaginative ways.
"I think it's important for teachers and friends of schools to keep their eyes open for opportunities like this. My students benefited, but so did those at another school, and all it took were a few minutes from me," said Lucot.
Since 2001 Rohm and Haas has provided more than $250,000 to National Inventors Hall of Fame in support of Camp Invention and Club Invention programs in cities around the country. National Chemistry Week is a community-based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This annual event unites ACS local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life. |
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
mwilliams@baltimorecitycouncil.com. | | |
City
Council This Week
Monday, March 17, 2008
City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
The Council meeting will be broadcast live on TV25.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, Jim Kraft - Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0019 Building Code - Dwellings - Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Hearing: Public Safety and Health Committee, Bernard C. “Jack” Young - Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0004R Inter-Agency Violent Crime Reduction Strategy
08-0009R Informational Hearing - Police Department Shortages and Suspensions
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Hearing: Executive Appointments Committee, Robert Curran – Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
EA08-0035 Jann Rosen-Queralt Member - Public Art Commission - 14th District
EA08-0039 Wilbur "Bill" Cunningham President - Planning Commission - 14th District
EA08-0042 Darlene Lizette A. Kennedy Member - Planning Commission - 11th District
EA08-0043 Matthews W. Wright Member - Planning Commission - 14th District
EA08-0066 Victor L. Bonaparte Member - Planning Commission - 6th District
10:30 AM
EA08-0045 Frank Bonaventure Member - Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals - 5th District
EA08-0046 Joseph J. Diblasi Member - Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals - 10th District
EA08-0047 Courtney McKeldin Member - Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals - 5th District
EA08-0048 Geoffrey Washington Member - Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals - 10th District
Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Ed Reisinger - Chair
2:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0030 Rezoning - 1110-1112 Race Street
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Hearing: Education Committee, Mary Pat Clarke - Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
LO08-0008 Informational Hearing - Middle School Children - "What's Up?"
Neighborhoods: Sign up for Mayor Dixon's Citywide Spring Cleanup - Saturday, April 19, 2008
Every spring the citizens of Baltimore band together with city government to sweep, rake and haul away the litter from our neighborhoods. While some neighborhoods concentrate on a particular trash trouble spot, others do an overall spring cleaning. Many use this as an opportunity to not only clean but also to green their neighborhoods through tree, shrub and flower planting and mulching. Numerous City agencies will also be on-hand for the event and will work to clear storm drains, remove graffiti,cut weeds, trim trees, and board vacant homes. The Department of Public Works will provide volunteers with gloves, rakes, brooms, shovels, bags and debris removal. To register for the Spring cleanup or for more information, citizens should call 410-396-1209.
Registration form
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Friday, March 14
Baltimore City Teen Night
Leith Walk Recreation Center, 1235 Sherwood Ave., 8pm-midnight
Participate in fun and safe activities designed for teens, by teens. Enjoy music, dancing, games, fashion shows and more. Free and open to teenagers 14-17. Info: 410-396-9222.
Celebrating Women’s History Month with Poetry, Prose, and Praise, "An Evening with Nikki Giovanni"
National Aquarium in Baltimore, 501 E. Pratt Street. Free with special Aquarium Fridays After Five admission price of $8.00 per person. 410-659-4200 or rstewart@aqua.org
Keepin it R.E.A.L. (Recreation Encouraging Anti-Violence and Leadership) Tour
Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks Ralph J. Young Center, 2031 Fayette St. to engage, empower, enlighten and entertain teens, ages 13-19, through FREE recreational activities. 410-396-9197
Saturday, March 15
Join Council President Rawlings-Blake for the official kick-off of the 11th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Druid Hill Park, 11am-2pm (Rain date, March 16). Hunts are free for children ages 2-7. 410-396-7900.
Annual Spring Flower Display opens at the Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens. Through March 30, 10am-4pm, 410-396-0180.
Wives and Daughters: Genealogy and the Female Ancestor
Enoch Pratt Library, Central Branch, 400 Cathedral St. Annual workshop features Maureen Taylor and Barbara Vines Little, 10:30am-3pm. Bring family photos. . 410-396-5430.
Sunday, March 16
Join Council President Rawlings-Blake at the 53rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 2pm, steps off at the Washington Monument, down Charles to Pratt to Market Place.
(PLEASE NOTE TRAFFIC ADVISORY)
Wednesday, March 19
25th Annual Lunch With The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Elephants
Lexington Market, South Parking lot, 12pm – 2pm,. 410-685-6169
Mayor Dixon’s Mayor’s Night In
City Hall, Curran Conference Room, 100 N. Holliday St., 6pm– 8pm. Join Mayor Dixon. Informative discussion on group homes and supportive housing. Please note: you must have a valid photo ID to enter City Hall.
Upcoming/Ongoing
United Black Fund of America Launches "Ending The Violence" Essay Contest
Youth ages 14-18 are encouraged to submit essays answering these questions:
- What are the causes of violence in your community?
- What is your strategy for managing or eliminating those causes?
- What steps do you take to implement your strategy?
The winner will receive a $1000 cash award, and follow up discussion groups will be televised for a national campaign. Help us start the talk about community violence! Send your essay to:
United Black Fund of America, Ending The Violence Essay Contest, 2500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020. Deadline for entries is April 4, 2008.
For more information (202) 783-9300 or www.ubfinc.org
HOLIDAY NOTICE: Good Friday is March 21. Baltimore City Public Works offices will be closed.
No municipal trash pickup; parking meters will remain in effect.
Pre-registration is underway for the "Why Women Cry Conference III," March 24, 9am-4pm, Sheraton Baltimore, 101 W. Fayette St. Women’s health issues will be discussed, www.sisterstogetherandreaching.org . 410-383-1903. Free
Get Involved: Apply to be a Member of the Pratt Advisory Council
The Enoch Pratt Library is now accepting applications for the Pratt Advisory Council.
The Council meets bimonthly and is an important conduit for community concerns and discussion of library-related issues. The Council is composed of community representatives, as well as representatives from Library staff, the Board of Directors, the Mayor's Office, and the City Council. Pratt Advisory Council members are appointed by the Library Board of Directors and serve an initial two-year term with an option for a second two-year term. To apply, please send your contact information and a brief resume and/or statement indicating why you would like to serve on the Council to pac@prattlibrary.org or mail to: Office of the Assistant Director,
Enoch Pratt Free Library,
400 Cathedral Street,
Baltimore, MD 21201.
Neighborhood Design Center Now Accepting Project Assistance Applications
Do you need design or planning assistance for a neighborhood improvement project or your non-profit? The Neighborhood Design Center is accepting project assistance applications for its Spring Cycle. Applications are due April 1, 2008. They can be downloaded in either PDF or Word format from NDC's web site: www.ndc-md.org. Click on "Get Assistance" and then "How to Apply". For more information contact Irene Poulsen at ipoulsen@ndc-md.org or 410-233-9686 x105.
Patterson Park Public Charter School announces Open Enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year, Jan. 22-March 20. Open enrollment for kindergarten. Limited space for first through seventh grades.
27 N. Lakewood Ave. 410-558-1230 www.pppcs.org
Western High School Classes of 1968, 1979, 1987 and 1988 are planning their class reunions. Email publicity@whsaainc.org for more details.
MTA Announces Bus Route Modifications
Effective February 17, 2008 MTA has made route modifications to 10 local bus lines throughout the Baltimore Region. The new timetables are now available online at www.mtamaryland.com. Riders can also request that timetables be mailed to them by calling 410-539-5000.
Baltimore Healthcare Access, Inc. is announcing a new initiative to protect the health and well-being of city residents. Through this initiative, city residents can call 311 for screening and referral to a range of health insurance programs and low-cost healthcare options. www.bhca.org
The Bar Association of Baltimore City is pleased to offer its Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) to the general public. This service features a panel of attorneys who provide a wide range of legal assistance ranging from Asbestos to Worker's Compensation. Those referred to private attorneys will be able to receive a reduced fee half-hour consultation, which is waived for certain case types. This service also occasionally features volunteer attorneys who are able to answer basic legal questions over telephone for no charge. For those who qualify, the LRIS also offers reduced fee legal services for the elderly. For more information call 410-539-3112 between 9:00am and 4:00pm Monday-Friday, or email info@baltimorebar.org.
Baltimore CASH Campaign: Free Community Tax Preparation
Families and individuals can have their taxes prepared for free at one of more than 13 CASH Campaign locations in the City. Qualifying families and individuals can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and other valuable tax credits.
Call for an appointment at 410-234-8008.
www.baltimorecashcampaign.org
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service provides free representation to low-income individuals with IRS tax disputes, including denial of earned income tax credit, IRS audits, filing back taxes, and setting up payment plans. Call 410-547-6537 between 9 am-1 pm, Monday-Thursday.
Also, small community-based nonprofits working to strengthen low income communities are eligible for pro bono legal help from the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Community Development Project. Get help with reviewing contracts, negotiating leases, preparing employee manuals, and many other legal issues. Call 443-451-4064 or email jocarol@mvlslaw.org
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