Dear Friends:

Last night, in Denver, I had the great privilege to witness Sen. Barack Obama formally accept the Democratic nomination for the Presidency of the United States. By any measure, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, it was a defining moment in American history. As I listened to Senator Obama’s inspiring speech, one specific message really hit home: Change doesn't come from politicians, it comes from people. Here in Baltimore, when you look at the progress that our great City has made in recent years, it is clear that real change is the result of the people of Baltimore coming together for a shared vision and working relentlessly to achieve it.

Council President with students from KIPP Ujima Village Academy

This progress is especially evident in our city schools. A new school year has started, and students in Baltimore City Public Schools are continuing to make significant progress. Earlier this week, we learned that average SAT scores are up for city high school graduates, bucking state and national trends. Also, SAT participation has increased by more than 70 percent since 2001, and more city high school students are taking advanced placement courses.

This new data, combined with other indicators released this summer, show that our public school students are making steady and significant progress. Since 2003, elementary and middle school Maryland School Assessment reading and math test scores have increased, in almost every grade. And, for the first time ever, a majority of Baltimore City Public Schools are meeting federal standards for adequate yearly progress. These gains are the result of 80,000 hard-working students, their dedicated parents, talented teachers and volunteers, and competent school administrators.

To continue this progress, students, teachers and parents will need our help this school year. Baltimore City Schools CEO Dr. Andrés Alonso issued a call for 500 citizen volunteers to support our schools. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please visit this website. Many different volunteering opportunities are available to suit your schedule, including tutoring and mentoring.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all the students, parents, teachers and administrators for a successful opening to this school year. Together, from the ground up, we can change our schools for the better and ensure a brighter future for generations to come.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Curtis Bay Gets Together for A Movie It was the seventh year in a row for the Curtis Bay Community Association’s annual Movie Night. Four hundred families who attended the community event were treated to family activities, food and drinks, a good flick and school supplies. Students took home more than 200 bookbags filled with school supplies to get them off to a great start to a new school year. 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

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Edward Reisinger- Chair
1:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0131 Zoning - Conditional use Convalescent, Nursing, and Rest Home (Assisted Living) - 3615 Gwynn Oak Avenue
(Rescheduled from August 6, 2008)

1:15 PM
08-0132 Zoning - Parking Lot District - Conditional Use Parking Lot - 204 Clay Street
Rescheduled from August 6, 2008

1:30 PM
08-0029 Rezoning - 1301 Boyle Street and 1414 Key Highway

Hearing: Budget and Appropriations Committee, Bernard C. "Jack" Young - Chair
5:00 PM LO08-0020 Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Overview
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee, Helen Holton- Chair
11:30 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0179 Parking Tax - Tax Rate

5:00 PM
Hearing: Urban Affairs and Aging Committee, Agnes Welch - Chair
08-0028 Urban Renewal - Key Highway East Industrial Area - Amendment

Community Events

MARYLAND STATE FAIR State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd. Timonium. Open through September 1st. $8 admission, $3 for seniors & children 6-11 and free for children under 6. 410-252-0200. www.marylandstatefair.com

Friday, August 29

Little Italy Outdoor Film Festival
High and Stiles Streets, Little Italy, 9pm. 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: Cinema Paradiso

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

Saturday, August 30

Cadillac Parade and Royal Theatre Fest
12 noon, Pennsylvania and Clifton Avenues.

Summer Live! Harborplace & The Gallery's Summer Concert
Inner Harbor Amphitheatre. Featuring: 8 Ohms Band (Horn Heavy Funk)

Saturday Sunsets at the Top of the World
World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt St., 27th Floor
Enjoy live jazz with a birds-eye view of the Baltimore skyline.
www.viewbaltimore.org 410-837-VIEW.
Featuring: Tom Reyes and Lovecraft

Sunday, August 31

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
LABOR DAY - CITY HOLIDAY

No City trash or recycling collection. Citizens whose regular trash collection day is Monday, are asked to place their trash out on their next regularly scheduled collection day, Thursday, September 4, 2008. Parking meters will NOT be in effect.

Tuesday, September 2

Start a New Conversation at Your Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Southeast Anchor Branch, 3601 Eastern Ave., 11am. Casual conversation for beginning speakers of Spanish and English. 410-396-1580.

Teen Choice Book Club
Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave., 4pm. 410-396-1580.

Wednesday, September 3

Wednesday Lunch and Leisure Series: Fun and Fitness Day - T'ai Chi workout
War Memorial Plaza, Fayette and Gay Sts., 12 noon. This event is FREE and open to the public. Presented by Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks. 410-396-7900.

Thursday, September 4

PEPSI First Thursday Lunchtime Concert
Hopkins Plaza, 12 noon-2:00 pm
Featuring: Part Harmony (a capella group)

WTMD First Thursday Concert in the Park
West Mt. Vernon Place, 5:30 pm
Featuring: Jeb Loy Nichols and Ben Taylor

Upcoming/Ongoing

BUYING INTO BALTIMORE Homebuying Fair/Neighborhood Tours: Eastern Region Get $3,000 toward the purchase of your new home in Baltimore City!* Saturday, September 13, Baltimore City College High School, 3220 The Alameda, Baltimore, MD 21218, 9am–2pm. Educational Workshops - Learn about the homebuying process and city incentive programs. Homebuying Fair - Meet with mortgage lenders, real rstate agents, developers neighborhood organizations and more! Neighborhood Tours - Choose from 4 different tours and view sample homes for sale. Take a guided bus tour or drive a tour yourself with provided directions. FREE ADMISSION. Register online at www.livebaltimore.com/bibeast or call 410-637-3750. *$3,000 awards to 50 participants who possess a valid homeownership counseling certificate and close on a house within 90 days of the event! Click here for more information.) Contracts signed prior to September 13, 2008 will not be eligible for the award funds.

 

More Medical Assistance for Maryland Families through the Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act During the recent Maryland legislative session, state lawmakers passed the Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act, which expands medical assistance eligibility to parents with dependent children with annual incomes up to $20,500 for a family of three. Parents and relatives caring for children can also apply to receive free comprehensive health care coverage, including doctor visits, low cost or free prescriptions and other services. Get more information at 1-800-456-8900, your local health department or www.marylandSAIL.org. Maryland Science Center Offers Transportation Grants to Maryland Schools Grants are to help offset travel costs on field trips during the school year. Any Maryland school booking and completing a visit in September, October, November or December can apply for a grant of $100 for use toward bus transportation. $100 grants are on a first-come first-served basis and limited to one grant per reservation. Limited funds are available. Call 410-685-5225. Attention Principals And Teachers: Free Educational Field Trips To Port Discovery Children's Museum Funding is available for over 13,000 children, Pre-K to 5th Grade. Exhibits and programs are aligned with Maryland State Voluntary School Curriculum and Maryland Reading Readiness Program. Pre and post lesson plans are available. To register, call 410.864.2664 or email kgulick@portdiscovery.org.

 

SEPTEMBER IS PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Benefit Concert Starring Patti LaBelle - Saturday, September 6, Pier Six Concert Pavilion on at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, please call 1-800-547-SEAT. The Great Prostate Cancer Challenge 5K Run/1 Mile Fun Walk, Sunday, September 14, 2008, St. Joseph Medical Center, 7601 Osler Drive, Towson, MD. To register for the run, please visit www.greatprostatecancerchallenge.com. Throughout October, free prostate cancer screenings will also be offered at the following local churches: October 4th – New Shiloh Baptist Church October 5th – New Antioch Baptist Church October 5th – New Psalmist Baptist Church October 12th – Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church October 19th – Empowerment Temple Early detection helps beat the odds against prostate cancer, so don’t miss this life-saving opportunity to take advantage of these free screenings. For more information or to schedule a screening, please call Nancy Cromwell at 443-738-8185.

Volunteers Needed for the 13th Annual Baltimore Book Festival, Sept. 26-28, Mt. Vernon. Visit www.myvolunteerpage.com or email BOPAvolunteer@promotionandarts.com to obtain a volunteer application. Festival hours: Friday 5-9pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am-7pm. The mid-Atlantic's premier celebration of the literary arts. www.baltimorebookfestival.org