Baltimore City Council website
"Investing Where Baltimore Lives"
March 28, 2008

Dear Friends:

This week I stood with Governor O'Malley and Mayor Dixon to promote tax savings vehicles that can provide welcome relief to thousands of low- to middle-income Baltimore residents. Nationwide, we’re all experiencing the effects of a slow economy. Now more than ever, taxpayers need to make sure that they receive every dollar they qualify in tax credits. Each year, it’s estimated that nearly $30 million worth of tax credits go unclaimed by eligible Baltimore residents alone. That’s $30 million that can feed our families, heat our homes, and educate our children. The Earned Income Tax Credit is important for all Maryland families, but it has particular impact here in Baltimore. Baltimore is a City built by working families; an economy that’s sustained not only by the doctors, the lawyers, and business owners—but by laborers, union workers, and men and women who work hard for a living, but whose lower wages make them increasingly vulnerable in an unstable economy.

For many lower income residents, the process of filing taxes can be intimidating. The Baltimore CASH Campaign provides free tax advice and tax preparation for low- to middle-income Baltimoreans. I encourage all eligible City residents to take advantage of the tax services offered by the Baltimore CASH Campaign. They will help you with your filing and will ensure that you receive every dollar you are entitled to. For the working people of Baltimore, the earned income tax credit can provide the help needed during a difficult time, or the difference between making ends meet and making time with family. To find out more information on tax credits and services that you may qualify for, please consult the links at right.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Each week in the President's SchoolSpot,
Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake highlights the outstanding accomplishments of Baltimore City Schools students and staff.

2008 Maryland State Scholastic Chess Championships

Earlier this month, Baltimore City Public School students competed in the 2008 Maryland State Scholastic Chess Championships. It was the largest scholastic chess tournament ever held in Maryland. The popularity of chess in Maryland schools has increased rapidly over the last three years, and the tournament doubled in size this year to include 500 players competing in eight divisions. BCPSS entered four divisions with teams from twelve different schools. They were Alexander Hamilton, Graceland Park, Hilton, Pimlico, Dr. Rayner Browne and Woodhome Elementary Schools; Cross Country, Mt. Royal and Roland Park Elementary-Middle Schools; and Federal Hill Preparatory, Hampstead Hill Academy and Wolfe Street Academy.

BCPSS Chess Project schools had some outstanding results and won the following trophies:

  • Wolfe Street Academy #23 took the second place team trophy in the Primary division and two individual trophies.
  • Cross Country E/M #247 took the third place team trophy in the Elementary division and two individual trophies.
  • Dr. Rayner Browne Elementary #25 took the fourth place team trophy in the Elementary division and one individual trophy.
  • Hilton Elementary #21 took the eighth place team trophy in the Elementary division.
  • Graceland Park Elementary #240 took the tenth place team trophy in the Elementary division.

Wolfe Street Academy and Cross Country Elementary-Middle are eligible to send teams to the National Elementary Chess Championships that will be held May 9-11 in Pittsburgh. This will be the first year that BCPSS has been represented at these championships and it is an opportunity for Baltimore City students to compete with the best scholastic chess players from across the country. For more information about the BCPSS Chess Project, contact Steve Alpern at salpern@bcps.k12.md.us.

Barclay School Student Takes Second Place in Baltimore Spelling Bee

Congratulations to Allegra Chan, a 5th-grader at the Barclay School for her 2nd place finish in the 3rd Annual Baltimore Bee, held on March 15. The spelling bee competition was co-sponsored by Educate Online and Ravens tight end Daniel Wilcox’s Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. Foundation. Good luck to Baltimore Bee winner Hereford Middle School student Emily Randall as she competes in the National Scripps Spelling Bee in May.

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

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, Jim Kraft - Chair
11:30 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0018R Informational Hearing - Bureau of Accounting and Payroll Services - Payroll Activities

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Hearing: Executive Appointments Committee, Robert Curran – Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
EA08-0049 Dr. Anne O. Emery Chair - Baltimore City Commission for Women - 6th District
EA08-0058 Angela D. LaPrade-Neal Member - Baltimore City Commission for Women - 13th District
EA08-0065 Patricia Tunstall Member - Baltimore City Commission for Women - 8th District
EA08-0068 Thurman W. Zollicoffer, Jr. Member - Board of Trustees, Employees Retirement and Elected Officials Retirement - 4th District

Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Ed Reisinger - Chair
2:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0017 Planned Unit Development - Amendment 2 - Harbor Point

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee, Helen Holton - Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0015 Sale of Property - 950 South Caroline Street

11:00 AM
08-0007R Informational Hearing - Maryland Homestead Property Tax Credit

Hearing: Urban Affairs and Aging Committee, Agnes Welch - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0005 Baltimore City Landmark List - American Brewery
08-0006 Baltimore City Landmark List - Bolton Square
CANCELLED - TO BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE
08-0007 Baltimore City Landmark List - W.E.B. Du Bois House
08-0008 Baltimore City Landmark List - Riverside Park
08-0009 Baltimore City Landmark List - Roland Park Water Tower
08-0010 Baltimore City Landmark List - Upton Mansion
08-0023 Urban Renewal - Carroll Camden - Amendment

Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Ed Reisinger - Chair
5:05 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0024 Rezoning - 1501, 1601, 1629, 1633, and 1645 Warner Street; 2110 and 2119 Haines Street; 1501, 1525, and 1551 Russell Street; 2102 Oler Street; 2104 Worcester Street; Block 840, Lots 14 and 15, and Block 844A, Lots 5A, 6, 7, and 8/9
08-0025 Planned Unit Development - Designation - Gateway South

Community Events

Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth
Three Days of Scholarship, Art, History and Civic Dialogue at the University of Baltimore
April 3-5, 2008

After 40 years, the legacy of the events that took place in Baltimore and more than 100 other American cities in April 1968 is still contested. Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth seeks to explore the causes and effects of the social unrest after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in April 1968 and the efforts at civic healing that followed and still continue. One of the project’s chief goals is to place those events within a larger historical context, allowing our community a deeper more comprehensive understanding of where we have been and where we are going. Through the testimonies of those who bore witness, as well as through the work of artists, civic activists, students and scholars, we hope to spark further conversations about what happened and why.

For more information on registration and fees:
Phone: 410-837-4079
Email: Baltimore68@ubalt.edu
Web: www.ubalt.edu/baltimore68

Friday, March 28

7th Annual City of Baltimore Procurement and Outreach Fair
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane, 8am-12noon
The fair will include workshops on contracting opportunities, certifications, prequalification requirements, workforce development services and more.

The Stadium School Youth Dreamers present Starry Night, a Hairspray-themed Celebration
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, 7pm-10pm. www.youthdreamers.org, 410-952-7003.

Baltimore City Teen Night at 3 City Recreation Centers
Coldstream Recreation Center, 1401 Fillmore St., 8pm-midnight, 410-396-6746.
Collington Square Recreation Center, 1409 Collington Ave., 8pm-midnight 410-396-9201.
Samuel F.B. Morse Recreation Center, 424 S. Pulaski St., 8pm-midnight 410-396-3717.
 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.

Senior Friendly Fridays
Patterson Park Recreation Center, 2601 E.Baltimore Street, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
With activities like water aerobics, line dancing, performers, art lessons, and more. Info: 410-396-9156

Friday Night at the Walters
Walters Art Museum, 5pm-8pm, www.thewalters.org. Free

Saturday, March 29

Orioles Fanfest
Oriole Park at Camden Yards 333 W. Camden St., 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Orioles are giving fans an early look at the 2008 team. The club hosts an open workout and FanFest celebration. The event features autographs and question and answer sessions with current and former players and coaches. Info: 410-685-9800

Disability Income Tax Day
 Northern Community Action Center, 5225 York Rd., 10am-3pm
Northwest Community Action Center, 3314 Ayrdale Ave. , 10am-3pm
People who have at least $3,000 from wages or certain benefits from Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Veterans Affairs may be eligible to receive the economic stimulus payments. This year, they must file to receive the payments. Register at 410-333-6109.

Beyond the Compass, Beyond the Square Community Celebration
Mt. Vernon Place Park, 1-4pm. 410-837-4636 Free.

Sunday, March 30

Greek Independence Day Mid-Atlantic Parade
Eastern Avenue and Haven St. Highlandtown, 2-4 p.m.
To commemorate the 187th anniversary of Greek Independence. The parade begins on Eastern Avenue at Haven Street in Highlandtown and ends near St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

The John and Berthe Ford Annual Lectureship in Asian Art: Rama and His Foes in Southeast Asian Art. March 30, 3pm, The Walters Art Museum, Graham Auditorium, 600 N. Charles St. Forrest McGill, Chief Curator and Wattis Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

Lecture: "Picturing/Mapping the Fire in Baltimore"
Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, 1 p.m.
Join Baltimore historian Wayne Schaumburg for a talk on one of the most pivotal events in Baltimore history—the Great Fire of 1904. Info: 443-573-170

Sexual Diversity Awareness Week
Loyola College through April 4, series of events, Loyola College, free, but tickets required, Info: spectrum@loyola.edu

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

Monday, March 31

Opening Day - Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 3:05 pm
PLEASE NOTE TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Thursday, April 3

Criminal Justice Day Symposium: "Peacemaking Not Warmaking"
Coppin State University, 9am-6pm

Upcoming/Ongoing

The Small Business Resource Center's Local Contractor Development Program (LCDP) announces its Spring 2008 Contractor's College

The Small Business Resource Center's Local Contractor Development Program announces its Spring 2008 Contractor's College. These classes are being held to help develop and build capacity in MBE/WBE contractors, so they can be in a better position to compete and grow their companies. Baltimore is in a unique position to assist minority and woman-owned businesses (MBE/WBE) to grow. Over the next few years Baltimore City will be engaged in a number of major capital projects. Mayor Dixon, along with the SBRC is committed to helping qualified minority and women owned businesses to competitively bid on these projects. To ensure your success, the Mayor provides support to the LCDP Contractor's College.

For information on course schedules and fees, please see the LCDP Contractor's College website.


Fairy Tale Fling, April 5, 10am-2pm, Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave., 410-396-1580.

Family Festival of Exploration, April 12, 11am-4pm, The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., Free.

The Baltimore City Health Department is accepting nominations for the Sebastian Russo Memorial Award. It recognizes healthcare providers who have made significant contributions to their fields by providing dedicated and compassionate service to low-income individuals and families. Deadline is April 30. www.baltimorehealth.org. 410-396-4388.

Baltimore Rising’s Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program (MCIP) needs mentors for youths whose parent or guardian is in jail and is taking referrals for children who need mentors. Kamala Green at 443-984-1013.

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

Baltimore International Academy, a public charter school, is now accepting applications for students interested in full immersion education in one of four tracks: French, Chinese, Russian or Spanish. Open Houses will be held at 7 pm on April 22 and May 20 at 3515 Taylor Avenue – the campus of the Maryland School for the Blind. More information is available from the school at (410)426-3650 or baltimoreinternationalacademy@yahoo.com.