Dear Friends:

This morning, I joined with Wendy Kopp, Founder and CEO of Teach For America who was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, and members of the Baltimore City Council to announce a $50,000 city grant to the organization to help with local recruitment, training and support efforts for the next school year. Teach For America is a national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. More than 178 of the nation's most promising future leaders will be teaching in the Baltimore City School Public System as a part of the Teach For America program. These individuals will have a positive impact on the lives of at least 12,000 students in City schools.

Last week, the Board of Estimates approved the city's first grant to the organization. During this year's budget process, City Council leaders worked collaboratively with Mayor Sheila Dixon to find funding for several successful programs, including Teach For America, the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Scholarship Program, The Maryland Food Bank, and Baltimore's Healthy Neighborhoods Program.

Improving public education in Baltimore is a top priority of the City Council, and Teach For America helps us to put the nation's best and brightest to work in Baltimore's toughest and most challenging school classrooms. This grant demonstrates our City's continued commitment to improving public schools for our children. Baltimore City will continue to make smart investments and protect our priorities, including public education, despite tough economic times.

I would like to personally thank Council Vice President Edward Reisinger and Council Budget Chair Bernard C. "Jack" Young for their tireless efforts, working with Mayor Dixon's administration, to fund these wise investments in Baltimore's future.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

National Night Out Against Crime is Tuesday, August 5 The 25th Annual National Night Out will be celebrated across the country on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.   Click on map to find a Neighborhood Night Out in your area. For the last several weeks, we asked communities holding National Night Out events to contact us, and we have received responses from participating communities all over Baltimore. Check out our map of Baltimore Night Out Against Crime events and attend your community's event. Each community decides how it wishes to join in the celebration and in Baltimore, the evening has been celebrated with parades, cookouts, ice cream socials and candlelight vigils. To find out more about National Night Out, visit the website for the National Association of Town Watch at www.natw.org. Send us the good news about your Baltimore neighborhood! Do you have a neighborhood event or good news you would like to highlight? Let us know so that we can feature them in the Council President's CitySpot. 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, August 4

Hearing: Education Committee, Mary Pat Clarke - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0057R Informational Hearing - Baltimore City Public School System - Preparedness for the 2008-2009 School Year
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.

Part I - Progress of all capital improvement projects and the projected completion date; and Report on the development of a City-wide uniform suspension policy (some schools were designated by the State as persistently dangerous). Part II of this hearing will be held on August 18, 2008 at 5:00 pm.

Community Events

BALTIMORE RESTAURANT WEEK JULY 26-AUGUST 3 Baltimore Restaurant Week returns, and you can enjoy a variety of three-course dinners, in just about any cuisine that strikes your fancy, for only $30.08. Or try three-course lunches at select restaurants for just $20.08. And new this summer, many restaurants will also offer special culinary experiences, such as wine pairings, cooking classes, tasting menus and more. For a list of participating restaurants, menus, online reservations and parking info, visit www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, August 2-3, Poly/Western High School, Falls Road and West Cold Spring Lane, noon-9pm. A celebration of Baltimore's cultural diversity with music, dancing, and a variety of ethnic foods. Featuring a soccer tournament with teams from Cameroon, China, Nigeria, South Korea, and more. 410-396-3141.

Friday, August 1

Little Italy Outdoor Film Festival
High and Stiles Streets, Little Italy, 9pm. This year's festival continues presenting feature-length Italian-themed films on consecutive Friday evenings outdoors in the heart of Little Italy. Free and open to the public. Folding chairs are provided on a first come-first serve basis, although attendees may wish to bring a lawn chair to assure seating comfort and availability.
Featured film: Hairspray

Rec And Parks Outdoors Summer Concert Series
Beechfield Community, Yale and Beechfield Avenue, 6:30 pm.
For more information 410-396-7900 or www.baltimorecity.gov/recnparks.
Featuring: Baltimore's Big Band

Summer Sounds at the Square
Belvedere Square, 6-9pm
Free outdoor concert featuring: Junkyard Saints

Saturday, August 2

3rd annual Waverly National Night Out Kick-Off Parade
Greenmount Avenue between 35th and 29th Streets, 11 am. This is a can't-miss neighborhood event with plenty of music, step groups, and special guests like McGruff the Crime Dog. This year, there are two new ways that you can be part of the parade: Ride in the Baltimore Bike Pageant or enter your furry friend in the Best Pet Yet Parade. To register please contact Laura Kindseth at 410-258-6295 or lkindseth@greaterhomewood.org.

WeRecycle!, Inc. Residential Electronics Recycling Event
Montgomery Park, 1800 Washington Boulevard, 9am-2pm. A free residential electronics recycling collection event. Maryland residents will be able to dispose of all used computer and electronic equipment such as computers, monitors, printers, VCRs, scanners, copiers, fax machines, DVD players and digital phones. PLEASE NOTE: No TVs, home appliances, household chemicals, or commercial materials will be accepted for recycling. www.werecycle.com

Station North Monthly Flea Market
9am - 2pm, 100 block W. North Avenue between Howard St. and Maryland Ave.

Summer Live! Harborplace & The Gallery's Summer Concert
Harborplace & The Gallery is excited to bring a variety of musical acts to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Amphitheatre. Featuring: Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

Fundraiser for Children in Kenya with HIV/AIDS featuring JABALI AFRIKA in concert
The Windup Space, 10 W. North Ave., 9pm. $20 Tax-Deductible Contribution. 410-244-8855.

Lexington Market’s Back to School Health Fair for Children
Lexington Market, 10am-2pm. The Baltimore City Health Department will be on site providing free immunizations for children ages 2 months through 18 years. New requirements for hepatitis B and chickenpox for grades pre-K through 10th will also be available. Bring your child’s shot record. 410-685-6169.

First Annual Tug Fest
Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI) 1415 Key Highway, 10am-4pm. hosted by BMI and the Baltimore & Chesapeake Steamboat Co. Parade of vessels, live music, food and demonstrations. Free.

Sideshow’s First-Ever Sidewalk Sale
American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway, 9am-9pm, original arts & crafts, collectibles, books and more. 410-244-1900, Free.

August 2-3

World's Fair of Money
Baltimore Convention Center, 10am-6:30pm Sat. & 10am-2pm Sun. Mints from around the world, rare coins worth millions, free appraisals, family fun, latest U.S. mint releases and more. Free. www.money.org

Sunday, August 3

BMA Family Free Sundays
Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., 410-338-4397. www.artbma.org

Summer Live! Harborplace & The Gallery's Summer Concert
Harborplace & The Gallery is excited to bring a variety of musical acts to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Amphitheatre. Featuring: Peabody Ragtime Band

Jazzy Sunday with Fertile Ground and Trey Eley
Druid Hill Park near Safety City, 5-7 pm
For more information 410-396-7900 or www.baltimorecity.gov/recnparks.

Tuesday, August 5

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME

NorthEast Citizens’ PatrolAnnual Ride Around Celebration
3300 block Hillen Rd. at E. 33rd St., 6:30 PM. Come join the members of the NorthEast Citizens Patrol celebrate our 8th year anniversary at our annual Ride Around on “National Night Out” against crime. We will gather in the northbound lanes of the 3300 block of Hillen Road starting at 6:30 PM, and at 7:00 PM, we will ride through Northeast Baltimore in a police escorted motorcade. We will return to the 3300 Block Hillen Road at 8:30 PM for refreshments. Everyone is welcome to participate in this celebration of a 26% reduction in violent crime in Northeast Baltimore since the Patrol’s inception in January 2000.

Baltimore City Police Western District Communities
Frederick Douglass High School football field, 5pm-8pm. Come out and enjoy free food activities for kids & adults prizes giveaways school supplies and much more! Show Your Support! Turn your porch lights on!!

The Druid Heights Community Development Corporation presents Community Family Night At The Movie
Druid Heights Community Center Tot Lot, 2140 Druid Hill Avenue. 7:30 pm. Enjoy a FREE full length movie with your family and neighbors under the stars. Light refreshments will be served.

League Therapeutic Sensory Garden Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
The League for People with Disabilities, Inc., 1111 E. Cold Spring Lane, 10am. This new addition will help The League’s sensory garden – open to the public, qualify as a wildlife refuge and sanctuary under the guidelines administered by the National Wildlife Federation. More information at www.leagueforpeople.org. 410-323-0500.

No-Heat Sweets and Treats Cooking Class for ages 6-12
Enoch Pratt Library Southeast Branch, 3601 Eastern Ave., 10:30am, 410-396-1580. Free.

Wednesday, August 6

Outdoor Movie in Mount Vernon
East Park of Mount Vernon Place at dusk. The Friends of Mount Vernon Place presents a third summer of outdoor movies in the park. Bring your friends, lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and enjoy.
Featured film: RV - family comedy featuring Robin Williams.

Thursday, August 7

PEPSI First Thursday Lunchtime Concert
Hopkins Plaza, 12 noon-2:00 pm
Lunchtime concert featuring Eric Scott, acoustic/pop

WTMD First Thursday Concert in the Park
West Mt. Vernon Place, 5:30 p.m.
Featuring Carrie Rodriguez and Nicole Atkins www.wtmd.org

Flicks from the Hill
American Visionary Arts Museum, 800 Key Highway, 9pm. Outdoor film series. Museum is open & free between 5 and 9 pm on Flick nights. Free hands-on workshops in the Jim Rouse Visionary Center Classroom 5–8pm.
Featured film: Casablanca

Upcoming/Ongoing