Baltimore City Council website
"Investing Where Baltimore Lives"
October 19, 2007

Dear Friends:

This month I had the privilege to join the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning as they announced a number of initiatives to enhance lead and asthma-related services to Baltimore residents and develop nationally replicable model programs. Next week, October 21-28, 2007 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Home Awareness Week. I learned a long time ago that in public service, it is best to focus on the issues we can actually do something about. Lead paint poisoning is at the top of that list. Not only can we do something about the prevalence of lead paint and the related alarming rate of asthma among Baltimore’s youth – but we are obligated to do something about it.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Home Awareness Week
October 21-28, 2007

Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning

100 Things You Can Do

Lead poisoning affects Baltimore's children disproportionately, and that is an injustice we simply must address. There are so many dangers outside the home we try to shield our children from – particularly in the City. It is unsettling to realize there are hazards inside our homes that may be just as dangerous to the health of our children.

Thousands of children throughout the country are still diagnosed with lead poisoning each year. Children under the age of 6 and pregnant women are at the greatest risk for lead poisoning, because lead causes the greatest harm to young children and developing infants. Even low levels of lead poisoning can cause hyperactivity, attention deficit disorders, aggressive behavior, learning disabilities and lowered IQ. High levels of lead can cause severe cognitive disabilities and even death. Studies have shown children who are lead poisoned are more likely to become involved with the juvenile justice system and are seven times more likely to drop out of school before graduation.

Lead based paint was used in homes throughout Maryland until 1978. Children exposed to lead rarely present symptoms until the poisoning is severe. It is critical that children be tested by their doctor until age 6; testing is the only way to know for certain if the child is being lead poisoned. And investigate the age of your home before you buy, rent or renovate. I urge you to get involved during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness Week. To learn more about the programs and services available in your area, contact the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 1-800-370-LEAD or visit www.leadsafe.org.

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.

BCPSS Chess Team Returns With Another Winning Team!

Last Saturday, The Rayner Ravens chess team at Dr. Rayner Browne Academy #25 traveled to Phoenix, Maryland for the MCA (Maryland Chess Association) Jacksonville Scholastic Championship and returned victorious. The Rayner Ravens are the 2007 Varsity Primary Grades Maryland State Champions. This is the first of the MCA's scheduled tournaments featuring the "Chess Rally," a system to determine a winner for a UMBC Chess Scholarship.

The Rayner Ravens played in the Kindergarten-5th grade section and won 1st Place Team Overall with a record of 17 wins. The most wins a team can receive is 20. The Ravens Chess Team is a member of the Baltimore City Kids Chess League led by Mr. Steven Alpern. Here are the results:

Fourth-grader Jordan Brown, Baltimore's third grade champion and 4th-ranked in the state for 3rd graders), won 1st Place Individual with a perfect record of 5 wins-0 losses.

Fourth-grader Jerome Hines, ranked #2 in the state for third-graders, won 4th Place Individual with 4 wins-1 loss.

First-grader Jordan Best holds 4th place in the state for kindergarten and first-graders. He won 'Top Under 900,' with 4 wins-1 loss.

Fourth-grader Ronald Best, who is third grade State Champion in Maryland and Virginia, finished strong with 4 wins-1 loss.

Third-grader Rashard Whitaker, ranked 3rd in the state for second-graders, drew a lot of attention from several coaches for his excellent chess etiquette. He finished strong with a score of 1 win, 2 losses, and 2 draws.

Also, we’re proud of Patterson High School junior Stephen Jackson, who won 'Top Under 1000'.

The Ravens wore light blue shirts with the logo for the Johns Hopkins Children Center on them. These shirts were donated to the team by the (NICU) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The team decided to play this tournament for all the sick children currently at the NICU.

More information on the Ravens Chess Team

 

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, October 23, 2007

Hearing: Highways and Franchises Subcommittee, Ken Harris - Chair
9:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0637 City Streets - Opening - 10-Foot Alley
07-0638 City Streets - Closing - 10-Foot Alley
07-0594 Release of Right of Way - a Portion of a 16-Foot Wide Right of Way Granted to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore Through the Property of the Maryland Port Administration
07-0614 City Streets - Closing - Two 10-Foot Alleys and a 25-Foot Alley
07-0691 City Streets - Closing - A Portion of Lancaster Street
07-0732 Franchise - Private Sanitary Force Main and Sewer Pipe Under and Across a Portion of Duncanwood Lane and North Highland Avenue Rights-of-Way
07-0735 City Streets - Opening - Certain Streets and Alleys Lying Within the Area Bounded by North Avenue, Thomas Avenue, Presbury Street, and the CSX Transportation, Inc.Railroad Right-of-Way
07-0736 City Streets - Closing - Certain Streets and Alleys Lying Within the Area Bounded by North Avenue, Thomas Avenue, Presbury Street, and the CSX Railroad Right-of-Way
07-0751 City Streets - Opening - Water Street
07-0752 City Streets - Closing - Water Street
07-0639 City Property - Grant of Easements

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Ed Reisinger - Chair
1:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0703 Planned Unit Development - Saint Agnes Hospital
07-0767 Zoning - Conditional Use - Amending Ordinance 01-166
07-0694 Zoning - Conditional Use Parking, Open Off-Street Area - 511 Willow Avenue
07-0764 Planned Unit Development - Amendment - Harbor Point

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Hearing: Urban Affairs and Aging Committee, Agnes Welch - Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
06-0535 Mt. Royal Terrace-Reservoir Hill Historic and Architectural District
07-0610 Historical and Architectural Preservation - Interior Protections
07-0611 Historical and Architectural Preservation - Special List
07-0645 Fells Point Historic District
07-0779 Baltimore City Landmark List - Union Baptist Church

4:30 PM
06-0536 Urban Renewal - Carroll Camden - Amendment
06-0537 Urban Renewal - Middle Branch - Renewal Area Designation and Urban Renewal Plan **CANCELLED

Community Events

Friday, October 19

Voices on the Edge: An Intimate Evening of Spoken Word and Music Benefiting The House of Ruth
Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., 8pm-10pm, $15,
www.creativealliance.org, 410-276-1651.

October 19-21

Russian Festival
Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, 1723 E. Fairmount Ave. 410-276-6171

Saturday, October 20

Presentation: Learn the Signs of Gang Activity
State Center Auditorium, 300 W. Preston Street, 10:00am-noon
Hosted by Congressman Elijah Cummings. Attendance is free. 410-685-9199

Comcast Family Toon Day at Power Plant Live!
Port Discovery, Power Plant Live 10am-4pm 410-244-1030

Sankofa Dance Theatre Family Concert and Class Series
2901 Druid Park Drive, 3pm-4:30pm, 410-669-3786. Free, but registration is required.

Middle School Student Leadership Conference with Motivational Speaker Terri Williams
Douglass-Myers Maritime Park Museum, 1417 Thames St., 410-685-0295, Free, but passes are required.

Workshop: Small Office Home Office Loan Program (SOHO)
Small Business Resource Center, Johns Hopkins @ Eastern, 1101 E. 33rd St. Suite C307, 10 am-1pm. Call 443-451-7160 to register.

School 33 Art Center Open Studio Tour
October 20-21 Noon - 5pm, School 33 Art Center, 1427 Light Street
Visitors observe more than 100 of Baltimore's visual artists in their local studios during this annual tour. Bus tours available. Details at www.school33.org or 410-396-4641.

Citizens for Washington Hill Fall Yard Sale
Broadway (between Fairmont & Baltimore Streets), 9am-4pm, 410-563-2333.

Sunday, October 21

Fashion Week Welcome Reception
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St., 6:30pm-midnight, 410-225-3130, www.eubieblake.org, .Free.

Julliard Music Professor Sharon Isbin Guitar Master Class
Hope Presbyterian Church, 4748 Shelbourne Rd., 1:30pm-4:30pm, , Call for free pass, 410-247-5320.

Montel Williams & The Partnership for Prescription Assistance Bus Tour
Lexington Market, 11am The Partnership helps uninsured, underinsured and low-income Americans find programs offering patient assistance. 1-888-4PPA-NOW, www.pparx.org

Wednesday, October 24

Nathan Carter Foundation’s Benefit Concert featuring MSU Choir Alumni
Morgan State University, Gilliam Concert Hall, 2201 Argonne Drive 4pm 410-523-5306

6th Annual Maryland Hispanic Business Conference
BWI Airport Marriott info@hispanicbusinessconference.com

Upcoming/Ongoing

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. It is recommended that women age 40 and over have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. Women over age 50 should have an annual mammogram. In addition, women with an increased risk of breast cancer should talk to their doctors about getting a mammogram before the age of 40. Please visit www.thebreastcancersite.com and click to give a woman in need a free mammogram and register to receive a free pink ribbon pin.


HOSPITALITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND CREATED

In honor of the late Marcia S. Harris, former President and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland, the Marcia S. Harris Legacy Fund has been created to ensure that her name and passion for the foodservice industry live on. The Fund will be used for scholarships and recruiting young people into hospitality careers. Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to: Maryland Hospitality Education Foundation, 6301 Hillside Court, Columbia, MD 21046.

Mt. Vernon Ghost Tours
Beginning September 15, 7pm at the Belvedere Hotel. www.baltimoreghosttours.com

Urban Pumpkin Patch
Through Oct. 31, noon-6pm M-F and Sunday 10am-6pm Saturdays, First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, 210 W. Madison St., 410-728-5545.

ARTS & HUMANITIES MONTH: OCTOBER
Visit with the area's most talented artists throughout October in Hopkins Plaza from 11:30am-1:30pm.

Free Fall Baltimore Returns In October
More than 200 free arts events in 31 Days. www.freefallbaltimore.com

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth

A formal request for proposals has been issued for the University of Baltimore's 2008 national conference, "Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth." This public event, recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the city's extended period of unrest following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., will take place April 3-5, 2008 on the UB campus and sites near the campus. The RFP, available on the Baltimore '68 website invites scholars, organizers and the public to contribute original ideas and approaches to mark this singular event in Baltimore's history. Deadline for submissions is November 1, 2007.

Port Discovery Children's Museum: Five Friends from Japan!
October 13, 2007 - February 3, 2008, Port Discovery Children's Museum, 35 Market Place. No passport? No problem! Meet five special friends from Japan and learn about their similarities to and differences from you!

Black Professional Men (BPM) Rays of Hope Scholarship Program is accepting applications through December 1. 410-377-1023 www.bpminc.org

Halloween Skate
Oct. 26, Dominic "Mimi" DiPetro Family Ice Skating Center, Patterson Park, 7pm-9pm,
410-396-9392.

American Heart Association Start! Heart Walk (5k Walk or Run)
Oct. 27, Federal Hill Park, 8:30am, www.startbaltimoremd.org

Volunteer Central’s Make a Difference Day
Oct. 27, Kick-off at Our Daily Bread, 725 Fallsway, 8am-3:30pm, 410-366-6030.

Washington Village Development Association’s 2nd Annual Christmas Gift Fundraiser
Oct. 27, Shahrazad’s, 771 Washington Blvd., 7pm-10pm, $25, 410-322-7304.

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade
Oct 27, Patterson Park 8pm from Pagoda Hill, Pratt & Patterson Park Ave. Details at www.creativealliance.org

Hallo Bike and Skateboard Contest
Oct. 28, Carroll Park Bike and Skating Facility, 800 Bayard St., 12pm-4pm, 410-244-0833

Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Educational Forum
Oct. 29 and 30, Topics include Original Medicare, Parts A and B; Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program; Baltimore Mental Health Systems; Medicare Part D; Medicare Savings Program and more. For more information call CARE at 410-396-2273.

Project Reach One holds SAT Prep classes every Monday and Wednesday, 6pm-8pm, at Mt. Royal Recreation Ctr. Free 410-396-0848.

CollegeBound Foundation’s Fall High School College Fairs
November 1-9, held at various city schools, 410-783-2905.

Greater Baltimore Leadership Association’s 5th Annual Benefit Masquerade Ball
Nov. 10, Maryland Science Center, 410-523-8150.

The Baltimore Ravens are seeking nominations for the NFL’s Community Quarterback Awards. Nominations are accepted for community volunteers, 13 and older and are due by Oct. 31. www.baltimoreravens.com

The Best Buy Thanksgiving Parade
Saturday, November 17, 11am, Pratt Street.

Greater Homewood Community Corporation hosts a free Neighborhood Institute
November 17th, 10am-2:30 pm. Open to neighborhood leaders, block captains and community activists, this day-long training will include workshops on resources available for your community. Info: 410-261-3506 or email Olga Maltseva at omaltseva@greaterhomewood.org.

Night of 100 ELVISes
Friday, November 30th & Saturday, December 1st Lithuanian Hall, 851-3 Hollins Street 7pm-2am