Better Schools. Safer Streets. Stronger Neighborhoods.
Issue #122: June 26, 2009

Dear Friends:

Yesterday, the Baltimore Economic Recovery Team (BERT) provided its first briefing to the City Council. Mayor Dixon established the multi-agency taskforce to ensure that Baltimore is maximizing funding opportunities through President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As their report notes, the City of Baltimore receives the federal stimulus funding through formula allocations and competitive grants. Each funding program has its own unique application, eligibility, procurement and monitoring requirements, as set by the federal agency that administers the program. Dozens of formula and competitive grant applications have already been filed.

I was especially pleased to learn that that Baltimore will be able to take advantage of the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program which is providing $5.2 million to support our public safety initiatives. Since February, I’ve been advocating for a comprehensive strategy to use the local law enforcement funds included in the stimulus package to bolster our crime fighting efforts. I’m very pleased to see this effort come to fruition. To learn more about the Baltimore Economic Recovery Team (BERT) visit: http://recovery.baltimorecity.gov.
The first quarterly taskforce report can be found here.

Newly Constructed Dwelling Property Tax Credit

On Tuesday, Mayor Dixon signed into law my legislation to extend Baltimore City’s Newly Constructed Dwelling Property Tax Credit for another five years. This credit is a vitally important incentive that encourages people to build and rebuild homes in Baltimore by allowing significant property tax rate relief for homeowners that invest in newly-constructed or rehabilitated houses. In addition to providing rate relief—more than $26 million over nine years—my legislation will allow qualifying homeowners who missed the application deadline going back to 2005 to apply for this credit.

Today, the Baltimore Sun’s real-estate blog reported on the legislation. The Sun noted, “It makes a real bottom-line difference for buyers, who get their property tax bills phased in. First year, half off. The amount due rises to 60 percent the second year, 70 percent the third, and so forth, which means it's not until year six that someone with the credit is paying the full amount.”

If you believe you were eligible for the property tax credit on or after January 1, 2005 but did not apply, I encourage you to act now. The legislation provides for a 60-day amnesty period, effective June 30. To find out if you are eligible, you may contact the Finance Department at www.baltimorecity.gov/government/finance or call them at 410-396-4940.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Citizen Alert: Trash and Recycling Days are changing
Monday, July 13, 2009.

Major changes in trash and recycling collections will take effect starting Monday, July 13, 2009. There will be no trash collection in Baltimore city on Monday, July 13, 2009. After that date, the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Solid Waste will begin picking up trash once a week and recycling once a week. Residents will then be limited to setting out three 32-gallon cans of waste on their trash collection day (96 gallons), but they may continue to set out an unlimited amount of recycling on their recycling collection day.

After Monday, July 13th, trash and recycling will be picked up Tuesday through Friday. Under the new schedule, if a holiday occurs during the week, Saturday will be the automatic make up day. There will be one point of collection for trash and recycling. Residents should set out their recycling where they now set out their trash.

Residents will be able to set out trashcans no later than 6 am and set out waste the night before, as long as it’s in a can with a tight-fitting lid. Using trashcans with tight-fitting lids has always been required by law in Baltimore City.

Postcards with the new days of service will be mailed to every address in Baltimore City. Residents can also call 311 or go to baltimorecity.gov or cleanergreenerbaltimore.org to learn their new days of service.

One PLUS ONE Press Release

Look up your new pickup days using the Imap website

To use the Imap web page to look up your new trash and recycling pickup dates:

Go to http://maps.baltimorecity.gov/imap.
In the upper right hand corner of the page, type your street address as follows:

In the first box labeled "Num.", type in your house number

In the second box labeled "Dir.", select street direction (if applicable) from the pulldown menu: N, S, E, W.

In the third box labeled "Name", type your street name, like "Fulton," not "Fulton Ave."

In the fourth box, select street type from the pulldown menu: AVE., ST. RD., BLVD. etc.

Finally, click the button marked "LOCATE." Your One Plus One pickup dates should come up in the box below.

Trash and Recycling Collection Maps

These maps are intended as basic guides for determining your new days of service. If you live near multiple collection areas, please call 311 or visit www.baltimorecity.gov to confirm your new days of service.

New Trash & Recycling Collection Days - Citywide
New Trash & Recycling Collection Days - Southwest
New Trash & Recycling Collection Days - Northeast
New Trash & Recycling Collection Days - Northwest
New Trash & Recycling Collection Days - Southeast

Other Important Points About Trash and Recycling Collection

Postcards with specific days of service will be mailed to all customer addresses beginning the last week of June. Many addresses will also receive automated calls directing them to www.baltimorecity.gov and 311 for details on their new days of service.

Your collection points for trash and recycling will now be the same. Recycling will follow trash, so if trash collection is at the rear of a property, recycling will now also be collected at the rear.

Yard waste remains unlimited and can be bagged or bundled and set out on trash collection day.

Bulk Service is unchanged. Citizens can still call 311 to schedule their bulk pick up of no more than 3 items per month.

Enforcement will be focused on failure to use trash cans, not volume and schedule. The City intends to allow at least a 3-month grace period for enforcement of new service requirements as we know citizens will need time to adjust to the changes.

Recycling Bins for Sale this Saturday, June 27th
2 locations, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute prking lot, Falls Road and Cold Spring Lane and at M&T Bank Stadium, Lot B, Hamburg and Russell Streets, 10 am to 2 pm. In anticipation of the switch over to One PLUS ONE waste collection, citizens will have an opportunity to purchase 18- or 25-gallon bins. Lids for the 25-gallon bins will also be available. DPW will sell 10,000 25-gallon bins, 5,000 18-gallon bins and 6,000 lids on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment must be in CASH ONLY. Receipts and rain checks will not be provided. The 25-gallon bins will sell for $12, 18-gallon bins for $5 and lids for the 25-gallon bins will cost $3 each.

NOTE: Yellow recycling bins are NOT needed to recycle. Citizens can use a cardboard box, a container of choice that is clearly marked as recycling material, paper bags or paper tied together with string. Yellow bins are for recycling only! Regular trash and debris will not be picked up from them.

 

Lockheed Martin Sponsors Local Students For Baltimore’s First Seaperch Underwater Robotics Demonstration

On May 21st engineers from Lockheed Martin’s Baltimore facility joined approximately 40 Baltimore City high school students when they demonstrated, for the first time, the SeaPerch Remotely Operated Vehicles that the employees helped the students build. The event, held at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, included teams of students from the Institute and the Maritime Industries Academy and was the culmination of a program that blended an academic curriculum with eight weeks of instruction on how to build a working underwater robot, called a SeaPerch. Both teams demonstrated three underwater robotic maneuvers with their SeaPerch vehicles.

Developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and based on the book How to Build an Underwater Robot by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen, the SeaPerch program is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Locally, Lockheed Martin engineers, along with Baltimore Polytechnic Institute teachers Ronald Roge and Michael Scott, and Maritime Industries Academy teacher Criselda Belarmino, tailored the program for Baltimore City Public Schools.

“SeaPerch is an outstanding underwater robotics program that shows high school students how they can excel and have fun in engineering,” said Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, an advanced technology engineer at Lockheed Martin’s Baltimore site. “It’s important that we use opportunities like the SeaPerch program to spark student interest and help to grow the engineers of tomorrow.”

“This program is a perfect example of how our kids can benefit from a partnership between city schools and public-spirited companies like Lockheed Martin,” said Dr. Andrés A. Alonso, Baltimore City Public Schools Chief Executive Officer. “Projects like the robotics program involve our students in science, math and technology in a way that’s meaningful and rewarding.”

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion. For additional information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com

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

Baltimore City Farmers Markets

This year Baltimore boasts more farmers markets than ever before. There has never been a better time to take advantage of the fresh local produce offered at locations all over Baltimore City.

Baltimore Downtown Farmers' Market
Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay Streets (under JFX Viaduct)
Sundays: 8:00 a.m. to Noon May 3-December 20

Harbor East FRESHFARM Market
1000 Block of Lancaster Street (between South Exeter Street and Central Avenue)
Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. June 6-November 21

Highlandtown Farmers' Market
3500 Block of Bank St. at the corner of Bank St. and S. Conkling St.
Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. to Noon June 27-October 31

Johns Hopkins Hospital Farmers' Market
601 North Caroline Street (Next to the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center)
Thursdays: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. June-October

Mt. Washington Whole Foods Market Farmers' Market
1330 Smith Avenue
Wednesdays: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. June 10-October 28

Park Heights Community Farmers' Market
5201 Park Heights Avenue (Pimlico Race Course Parking Lot)
Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 1-November 30

32nd Street/Waverly Farmers' Market
400 block of E. 32nd Street
Saturdays: 7:00 a.m. to Noon Open All Year

State Center Community Farmers' Market
201 West Preston Street
Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. June 10-October 28

Village of Cross Keys Farmers' Market
Parking Lot - Village of Cross Keys
5100 Falls Road
Tuesdays: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. June 2-October 27

Howard Park Farmers’ Market
Woodbine and Liberty Heights Avenues
Saturdays, 6am-1pm, June-December

Farmers’ Market at Baltimore Museum of Industry
1415 Key Highway
Saturdays, 9am-1pm, June-October

Hamilton-Lauraville Market Connection
4500 Harford Road
Tuesdays, 4-8pm June-November

Gardenville Farmers’ Market
St. Anthony's Church parking lot, 4400 Frankford Ave.
Saturdays, 7:30am-12pm, June-November

Henry Highland Garnet Park Market
W. Lafayette Ave. and Druid Hill Ave.
Fridays, 3-6pm, June-October

Tide Point Market
1040 Hull St.
Thursdays, 4-7pm July-October

University of Maryland Farmers Market
419 W. Redwood St.
Tuesdays, 10:30am-2:30pm, May-October

City Council This Week

Monday, June 29

Hearing: Public Safety and Health Committee, Bernard "Jack” Young - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0122R Informational Hearing - The Housing Authority of Baltimore City
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.

Tuesday, June 30

Hearing: Public Safety and Health Committee, Bernard "Jack” Young - Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0118R Investigative Hearing - Crime Alerts - Citywide Text Messaging

4:15 PM
09-0121R Baltimore City Police Department - Online Transparency - Reporting Systems for Officer Related Shootings and Preliminary Crime Statistics

Wednesday, July 1

Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee,
Helen Holton – Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0049R A Request for Constructive Change - Budgeting for Outcomes
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.

Community Events

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

Friday, June 26

The After-School Institute’s 10th Anniversary Fundraiser
Radisson Cross Keys Hotel, 5100 Falls Rd., 6:30pm-9:30pm. Enjoy entertainment, food, drink, raffle and silent auction. Tickets $45 & up. 410-580-0750, ext. 206 or rlin@afterschoolinstitute.org

Summer Sounds at the Square
Belvedere Square, 6-9pm. Friday night outdoor concert. Featuring: FINS, beach music.

Saturday, June 27

Arts in the Park Festival (Rescheduled)
Hanlon Park, Gwynns Falls Parkway and Longwood Street, 12pm-5pm. Hosted by the Garwyn Oaks Northwest Housing Resource Center.

City Sand 2009
Harborplace Amphitheatre, Noon-11pm. Enjoy sculptors building sand creations while enjoying live bands and kids activities. 410-332-4191.

Uplands Redevelopment Meet and Greet
Westside Skills Center, 501 N. Athol St., 10am-1pm. Meet the development team, learn about housing options, Uplands amenities, upcoming events, etc. 443-423-1191.

Sustainable/Green Initiative Workshop
Clothing Warehouse, 1211 S. Charles St, 3-7pm. Local artists show how to construct functional accessories using recycled materials. 410-244-6554.

Drumming Up Community Remembrance Healing Celebration
400 N. Pulaski St. at the Tree Planter Mural, 12pm-3pm. Bring your own drum and enter to win African drums. Contact Denise 410-362-3244.

Cross Keys Movie Fest
The Village Square at Cross Keys, 5100 Falls Road. Feature: Cry Baby.

June 27-28

LatinoFest
Saturday noon-10pm, Sunday noon-9pm, Patterson Park, Linwood and Eastern avenues, 410-563-3160, www.latinofest.org.

Sunday, June 28

Federal Hill Main Street’s Jazz & Blues Festival
S. Charles and Cross Streets, 11am-7pm. Summertime music, food drink, arts & crafts and fun for everyone. FREE admission. www.historicfederalhill.org

Bolton Hill Garden Walk and Fountain Celebration
Fitzgerald Park, Wilson and Bolton Streets, 1–4pm. The Garden Walk showcases 10 Bolton Hill gardens and public spaces.

Monday, June 29

Sounds of Reggae Music
Enoch Pratt Waverly Branch, 400 E. 33rd St., 6pm. Radio host/producer Clint Thomas will discuss reggae music in celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month. 410-396-6053.

Tuesday, June 30

Saving Our Families: Impact of Addiction on Youth & Parenting
New Shiloh Baptist Church, 2100 N. Monroe St., 10am-3pm. A community forum and resource fair with youth and adult children of current and formerly addicted parents, drug treatment providers and more. Partnership of the Mario Do Right Foundation and Center for Urban Families. RSVP at 410-367-5691.

Homebuying Incentive Workshop
Enoch Pratt Central Library, Poe Room, 12pm-1:30pm. Bring your lunch to a presentation on Baltimore City homebuying incentives, such as loan and down payment assistance programs, tax credits and other real estate incentive offers toward the purchase of homes in Baltimore City. Register at www.livebaltimore.com/events.

PNC Concerts in Patterson Park Presents Mama Tried (Bluegrass)
Patterson Park, Pagoda Hill 6:30pm.

Live Baltimore Brown Bag Free Homeownership Workshop
343 N. Charles St., 12pm-1:30pm. Discover homebuyer incentive programs, tax credits and other real estate incentive offers for home purchase in the city. Welcome to bring your lunch. 410-637-3750.

TransForm Baltimore’s Form-Based Codes Workshop II
Neighborhood Design Center, 1401 Hollins St., 6-8-pm. Discuss in more detail, about how form-based codes might be used in neighborhood commercial areas. 410-396-1275.

Wednesday, July 1

Artspeaks Workshop
Creative Alliance @The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., 4pm-7pm. Fun, free art class for children with sickle cell and their families. RSVP by 6/24 to 410-963-5092 or rbuscemi@wepsicklecell.org. Free.

Films on the Pier
Fells Point Broadway Pier, 8:45 pm. Free movies every Wednesday this summer.
Feature: Ice Age

Thursday, July 2

First Thursday Lunchtime Concert Series
Hopkins Plaza, noon-2pm. Featuring Part Harmony, a cappella group.

Open Studio Day at Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower
21 S. Eutaw Street, 5-9pm. Visit, tour and purchase art directly from artists working in studios at the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower. www.bromoseltzerartstower.com

First Thursday Concerts in the Park
West Mt. Vernon Park, 5:30 pm. Featuring Guggenheim Grotto and Pressing Strings.

Jazzy Summer Nights
Hopkins Plaza, 6pm-10pm

Flicks on the Hill
American Visionary Arts Museum, 800 Key Highway. Screenings start at 9 pm; Museum is open and free between 5 and 9 pm on Flick nights. Feature: Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Upcoming/Ongoing

First Fridays in Canton, July 3, The Can Company, 2400 Boston St. Free outdoor live music 6-9pm and happy hour deals at participating Can Company restaurants. Featuring: Mambo Combo.

African American Heritage Festival, July 3-5, Friday 5-10pm, Saturday noon-10pm and Sunday noon-9pm, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 410-235-2227 ext. 211, www.aahf.net.

Baltimore's Fourth Of July Celebration, July 4, 9:30pm, Inner Harbor.

Caribbean Carnival Festival, July 10-12, Friday 5pm-10pm, Saturday and Sunday noon-9pm, Druid Hill Park. 410-230-2969. www.bmorecarnival.com

Robert W. Coleman Community Organization Flower Mart, Saturday, July 11, 2-6 pm rear 2200 blk. Walbrook Avenue (Quiet Place park). Live entertainment, arts and crafts, free plants for as long as they last, door prizes, games, educational material and community information.

Youth Talent Showcase (YTS) hosted by The Baltimore Education and Cultural Institute, July 12, 1pm, Reedbird Park in Cherry Hill, youths 5-18 participate in a non-competitive event to display their creative talents. www.whatfits.net/yts.htm or 240-475-6175.

Baltimore Museum of Industry Green Kids Camp, July 13-17, 8:30am-4:30pm daily. For children entering 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. Green Kids Campers participate in hands-on engineering experiments, crafts, games, urban beautification programs, and field trips, all with a focus on the environment. $175 for non-members, $160 for museum members. To register contact Lori Finkelstein at 410-727-4808 x 146 or e-mail lfinkelstein@thebmi.org

Baltimore Green Construction Event and Vendor Fair, July 16, Holiday Inn-1100 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Towson, MD, 9am-1pm. An opportunity for small, minority and women-owned construction firms and contractors to learn about green building, green initiatives affecting contractors, green construction opportunities, and more. Register at info@sbrcbaltimore.com or 443-751-7400.

Artscape, July 17-19, Mount Royal Avenue & Cathedral Street/Charles Street,
Bolton Hill neighborhood & Station North Arts & Entertainment District, Friday, 12-10pm, Saturday, 12-10pm and Sunday, 12-8pm.The region's premier celebration of the arts featuring continuous musical performances by local, regional and national talent on four outdoor stages, indoor and outdoor visual arts exhibitions, film, theater, the Artists' Market with crafts and works of art for sale, opera, dance, fashion, literary arts activities, street theater and special activities geared towards children. www.artscape.org

Women’s Business Forum, July 29, Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel, 401 W. Pratt Street, 2nd floor, 6pm-8pm. This is an opportunity to network with business women in and around the City of Baltimore and various city agencies representatives. The event is free and registration is required. Discount parking is available. RSVP to the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development at 410-396-3818 by Friday, July 24th.

International Festival, August 1-2, Poly/Western High School, Falls Road and West Cold Spring Lane, noon-9pm daily. A celebration of Baltimore's cultural diversity with music, dancing, and a variety of ethnic foods. www.baltimorecity.gov/ifest or 410-396-3141.

Professional, business attire clothing donations are needed for The Bon Secours Outreach Center, which provides job readiness training. Clients need clothes and shoes for job interviews. tonia.mccoy@sba.gov 410-962-4392 ext. 316.

Assistance to help low-and fixed-income residents with cooling and heating bills is available through the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP). Call the OHEP hotline at 410-396-5555 or visit the office at 2700 N. Charles St.

Mentors Needed for Community Law In Action (CLIA) is organizing a new mentoring program to connect 100 young people with 100 adult mentors. The youth are all rising 9th and 10th grade students from four Baltimore City schools--Lemmel & Garrison Middle Schools and Forest Park & Douglas High Schools. Mentors must be over 20, live in the Baltimore Metro area, and be dedicated to mentor for at least one year. Angela Hanks at 410-706-3940 or anghanks@gmail.com.

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.

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