Better Schools. Safer Streets. Stronger Neighborhoods.
Issue #113: April 24, 2009

Dear Friends:

In these unprecedented economic times, we are called upon to make painful and difficult choices. The City Council fully understands the difficult fiscal outlook that the city faces. But it is during these times that we must also recognize the importance of protecting our priorities: public safety, public schools and services for our youth.

That is why this week I urged Mayor Dixon to work with the City Council to restore funding for the Department of Recreation and Parks to avoid closures of recreation centers, childcare centers and city pools. In a City Council resolution requesting budget action, I also urged the police commissioner to work with the director of recreation and parks to maintain a formal police presence in former Police Athletic League (PAL) Centers. I want to thank all of my council colleagues for unanimously supporting this resolution.

The mayor has done a good job crafting the proposed budget, but I believe that we can do better for our children and protect these critically important services. With this resolution we provided the administration an opportunity to make adjustments to the proposed budget before formally submitting it to the City Council for consideration on Monday.

It is vitally important for Baltimore’s young people to have access to constructive activities and supervised play. Many of our parks and recreation facilities serve the most at-risk children who lack quality open space and recreational facilities immediately near their homes. Summer basketball leagues, after-school programs, and many other activities offer constructive alternatives to gangs, drugs, and crime.

We understand that converting PAL Centers to recreation centers may be fiscally prudent; however, it is also important that our police officers continue to build positive relationships with our city’s youth. We can do that if the police commissioner agrees to maintain a formal, structured police presence in former PAL Centers.

I would like to thank Mayor Dixon for presenting a fiscally sound budget in these difficult economic times. By working together we can create a final budget that protects our city’s priorities.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Public Works Schedules "One Plus One" Presentations on Proposed Changes for Improving Household Waste Collections

The Department of Public Works is scheduling citywide community meetings to inform City residents about proposed changes to improve household waste services, including a presentation on the advantages of One Plus One waste collection followed by a question and answer session.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Fellowship Hall - 4640 Edmondson Avenue 21229

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
12th District – Councilman Bernard "Jack" Young
Bluford Drew Jemison (STEM) School – 1130 Caroline Street 21213

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
9th District – Councilwoman Agnes Welch
Calverton Elementary/Middle School - 1100 Whitmore Avenue 21216

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
5th District – Councilwoman Rikki Spector
Jewish Community Center, Park Heights – 5700 Park Heights Avenue 21215

 

Baltimore Youth Entrepreneurs Participate In “Do Business With China” Trade Mission Program With Sister City Xiamen, China

Submitted by Darlene Ajayi, NFTE – Baltimore Program Director

Twenty young entrepreneurs from Patterson High School and The Institute of Business & Entrepreneurship participated in the “Do Business With China” trade mission program with Baltimore’s Sister City Xiamen, China. The business event was sponsored last month by The Mayor’s Office on International and Immigrant Affairs. It offered students the opportunity to learn about the value of trade missions, cultural diversity and international business protocol as well as how to explore student exchange opportunities with their Chinese student counterparts.

Baltimore is a member of Sister Cities International, an organization established in 1956 after President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for people-to-people exchanges to increase global cooperation at the grassroots level. Baltimore’s participation in Xiamen’s annual China International Fair for Investment & Trade every September is just one example of the ongoing effort to create international entrepreneurial opportunities. In addition to recognizing this similar key landmark, students were educated on the unique subtleties and differences in Chinese business culture and professional etiquette by Daniel Green of Cooper Wallace, LLC, a member of the Baltimore Sister City Committee and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). The committee provided business cards to each student with their name and information translated in Chinese.

The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, whose mission is to teach entrepreneurship to low-income young people ages 11 through 18 so they can become economically productive members of society by improving their academic, business, technology and life skills. Since NFTE Baltimore’s inception in 2002, over 5,000 middle and high school students have taken the NFTE program, where they were given the tools to start and operate their own small businesses. Each year, students are provided with seed capital for their business ventures, attend field trips, participate in a wholesale buying experience, and take part in Business Plan Competition at the City-Wide and National levels.

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 to Fund Community Development with Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program Funds

In April the Board of Estimates approved the acceptance of a $4.1 million federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act grant for neighborhood stabilization. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) was established to assist communities in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The City will use these funds to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosed properties to be sold to low and moderate-income homeowners and to nonprofit housing organizations.

Properties eligible for acquisition and rehabilitation with NSP funding will be in stable middle-class neighborhoods where property values are threatened by foreclosed properties. The City has identified eight Healthy Neighborhoods as areas where NSP homeownership efforts would be concentrated. They are:

  • Belair-Edison
  • Waverly/Better Waverly
  • Brooklyn/Curtis Bay
  • Cylburn
  • Edmondson Village
  • Garwyn Oaks/Hanlon-Longwood
  • Baltimore Linwood
  • Reservoir Hill

NSP homeownership efforts will not be limited to these Healthy Neighborhoods areas, but can be undertaken anywhere the directed use of NSP resources will enhance other community development efforts. The City anticipates funding NSP requests from community organizations, citizen groups and CDCs whose neighborhoods have a foreclosed property that could destabilize or undermine the character of the neighborhood.

For more information, please contact the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Strategic Planning and Resources at 410-396-3237.

City Council This Week

Monday, April 27

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, April 28

Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee,
James B. Kraft – Chair
9:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0095R Informational Hearing - Trash in the Inner Harbor

Voting Session: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee,
James B. Kraft – Chair
9:15 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0214 Illegal Dumping - Penalties - Enforcement
09-0310 Building, Fire, and Related Codes - Service Charges and Permit Fees

Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee,
James B. Kraft – Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0322 Leash Law - Environmental and Civil Citations

Hearing: Public Safety and Health Committee, Bernard C. “Jack” Young - Chair
3:45 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0118R Investigative Hearing - Crime Alerts - Citywide Text Messaging
09-0121R Baltimore City Police Department - Online Transparency - Reporting Systems for Officer Related Shootings and Preliminary Crime Statistics

Thursday, April 30

Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee, Helen Holton – Chair
11:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0295 Fire and Police Employees' Retirement System - Benefits

Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development/Budget and Appropriations Committee
12:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
LO09-0043 City of Baltimore - Fiscal 2008 Annual Financial Audit

Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations/Land Use and Transportation Committee
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
LO09-0036 08-0163 - Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services - Promotion and Coordination
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.
RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 29, 2009

Community Events

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

April 25 - 26 BaltiMORE for LESS Weekend

Enjoy Baltimore's treasures for less with discounted parking and admission to local attractions baltimore.org/moreforless

April 24 - 26

Johns Hopkins Spring Fair
Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus, 3400 N. Charles St. Friday 12pm-7 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6 pm. The 38th Annual Spring Fair presents a weekend of live music, carnival games and rides. On hand will be arts and crafts vendors, food and non-profit vendors, and student group booths. www.jhuspringfair.com for directions and parking information.

Civic Frame Film Festival: Shades of Freedom
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, 830 E. Pratt Street. The event will be centered around the topics of both racial division and racial unity in the state of Maryland and the country as a whole. www.civicframe.org 443-263-1800.

Saturday, April 25

Children’s Day & Silent Auction Fundraiser to support The Clarence W. Blount Child Development Center
BCCC Liberty Campus, 12pm-4pm. Featuring a silent auction hosted by radio personality Marc Clarke, arts & crafts, face painting, dance, food and more. 410-462-7460. Free.

Open House for The East Baltimore Community School #368
1731 E. Chase St., 1-3pm. The school is still accepting enrollment forms for grades kindergarten, 1st and 5th. 410-319-0238 or 410-234-0660, ext. 262.

Carnival Cruise Line's Fun City: Baltimore
Inner Harbor, 10:30am-6:30pm. Ttravel to nine different "Fun Spots" located around the harbor and enjoy a day of entertainment, festivities, children's activities, music and much more. Free. baltimore.org/moreforless

First Time Homebuyer Workshop
Canton Public Library, 1030 S. Ellwood Avenue, 10:30am-12:30pm. Learn about buying versus renting tax advantages, the Federal $8000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, renovation loans, and much more. Free. www.greatmdhomes.com

ARTcetra 1st Annual Art Auction Fundraiser and Reception
Coppin State University Health and Human Services Building, 2601 W. North Ave., 5-9pm, www.coppin.edu/artcetra

School 33’s Lotta Art Benefit
Silo Point, 1700 Beason St. 6pm. An evening of art, food and fun by more than 125 local artists who have generously donated their work to benefit education programs and exhibitions at School 33 Art Center. www.school33.org

Brooklyn’s Earth Week Activities include a Main Street Market
3300 S. Hanover St., 10am-6pm. Featuring environmentally friendly vendors, recycling bins for sale and a shuttle bus from the Market to the new Masonville Cove Environmental Center, which officially opens with its new “green” building, Apr. 25-26, 10am-5pm with exciting exhibits. www.masonvillecove.org or www.togetherbrooklyn.org

Park Heights Teen Summit
Pimlico Road Arts & Community Center, 4330 Pimlico Rd., 2pm-6pm. Free food and entertainment. 410-664-4890.

Station North Spring Music Festival
Station North Arts & Entertainment District, 5 pm-midnight. Festivities will be held at the surface lot at 2 E. North Avenue (the old Bank of America building), Joe Squared, Windup Space, Metro Gallery, Hexagon, I-Bar and The Zodiac. The festival celebrates the continuing revitalization of the North Avenue area, showcasing local music, artists and venues. Music highlights include performances by Big in Japan, Lafayette Gilchrist and Charlie Sayles. stationnorthspringmusicfestival.com

Sunday, April 26

Kick-off Event for Sharp-Leadenhall Heritage Center Campaign
Leadenhall Baptist Church, 1021 Leadenhall St., 3pm-5pm. Lecture and exhibit by Dr. Philip J. Merrill. 443-204-7740.

Monday, April 27

Free Family Events hosted by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore
West Shore Park, Inner Harbor, 10am-2pm. Enjoy a free Mommy/Daddy and Me Yoga class with Charm City Yoga, a petting zoo, RTTs (kid's roots rock band), and children's crafts.

Upcoming/Ongoing

92nd Baltimore Flowermart, May 1-2, 11am-7pm, Mt. Vernon Parks, also featuring a community greening demonstration garden in Mt. Vernon Square. www.flowermart.org

Musicians for Douglass-A Benefit Concert for Douglass High School, May 2, 6-8pm, Douglass High Auditorium, featuring Ethel Ennis, Judd Watkins, Whit Williams, Christopher Calloway Brooks and others. $25. 410-960-8041.

The Barclay School’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, May 2, 11am-2pm, 2900 Barclay St., food, games, artifacts, photos, music and fun. Former students and teachers are asked to stop by. Free. 410-396-6387.

Keeping Healthy Health Fair, May 2, 2pm-6pm, The Door, 219 N. Chester St., learn about nutrition, dental hygiene, exercise, free massages and more. www.thedoorinc.org. Free.

Baltimore City College High School Choir Annual "Knight of Music" Gala Concert, May 2, 7pm, Goucher College, Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., $15-$20. 1-877-4WE-SING (493-7464).

The League for People with Disabilities “Toast to the League” annual benefit to raise funds for The League’s Hecht Therapeutic Pool and to honor Congressman Elijah E. Cummings and Ms. Wheelchair America Juliette Rizzo, May 2, 7pm-11pm, 1111 E. Cold Spring Lane. $125-$225. 410-323-0500.

2nd Annual Boundary Block Party, May 2, 1pm-4pm, Eutaw Place and McMechen St. face-painting, dancing, a cookie-cook off, theatre and more. dancing workshops, and a flower pot decorating and plant station. www.boundaryblockparty.com

Morgan State University Choir Spring Benefit Concert, May 3, 4pm, Murphy Fine Arts Center. $20-$25. 410-366-1214.

Sign up for Team Baltimore for the Greater Baltimore March of Dimes March for Babies, May 3, Camden Yards, registration at 8am; walk at 9am, Camden Yards, 410-752-7990. Register at 410-396-6128. www.marchforbabies.org/teams/554285

7th District of Maryland Minority Business Enterprise Financial Summit, May 5, 7:30am-11am, CCBC-Catonsville The Theatre Bldg. Q, apply by April 28. financialsummitRSVP@mail.house.gov

Volunteers Needed to Help Rebuild the Playground at Stadium Place. The project will take place May 5-10. Also need help with office work, publicity, recruiting volunteers, etc. Contact the Greater Homewood Community Corporation at 443-756-6198 or friendsofourplayground@gmail.com.

Maryland Film Festival, May 7-10, Charles Theatre (and other locations), 1711 North Charles Street. The Maryland Film Festival is truly a world class film festival centered in Baltimore that brings filmmakers to Maryland as a way to encourage future production. www.md-filmfest.com

Ride for the Feast 2009, May 16-17, a 140-mile bike ride from Rehoboth Beach to Baltimore City to raise funds and awareness for Moveable Feast, the area's sole provider of meals and groceries for people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging conditions. www.rideforthefeast.org or call 410-327-3420, ext. 33.

Enoch Pratt’s Light Street Branch Goes Wireless and additional computers have been installed. Other Wi-Fi Pratt branches are Central, Northwood, Orleans, Roland Park, Southeast Anchor and Waverly.

Get a Free Orioles Ticket for your birthday. Any fan can get a free ticket to a game during the month of his or her birthday--unless the Orioles are playing the Yankees or Red Sox. Register online at www.orioles.com/birthdays and receive a voucher for a free birthday ticket.

MD HOPE (Home Owners Preserving Equity) State Hotline 1-877-462-7555. For assessment and possible referral to a housing counseling agency or a volunteer attorney for assistance in your foreclosure matter. www.mdhope.org

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.

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.

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.