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"Investing
Where Baltimore Lives" |
November
9, 2007 |
Dear
Friends:
This
week, I joined Mayor Dixon in recognizing the Baltimore
Interfaith Hospitality Network (BIHN), a group dedicated to
serving Baltimore's homeless families by providing them with
the basic human needs: shelter, safety, and sustenance. BIHN
recognizes the humanity of homeless people in Baltimore, and
provides the necessary services to diminish the pain of
homelessness. Attempting to get back on your feet and provide
for your family is difficult. When it is compounded with the
overwhelming despair of homelessness, the most basic
provisions can often make a lasting impact.
As we
prepare to celebrate Veterans Day this weekend, we are
dreadfully reminded that a disproportionate number of homeless
citizens are veterans. Baltimore is no exception to this
national trend. Those brave men and women who once protected
the American way of life often come home to difficulty
reentering a society with which they were once familiar, but
now find overwhelming when coupled with the stressors of
military service. This weekend, I will join Governor O'Malley
and other officials at the groundbreaking for the expansion of
South Baltimore Station, a full service homeless shelter that
will soon offer an additional 42 beds dedicated entirely for
homeless veterans. These brave soldiers answered when our
nation needed them. While we all strive for the day when
shelters like this are no longer necessary, it is nonetheless
our responsibility to answer when they need us.
In that
spirit, I look forward to working with Mayor Dixon and her
administration in the implementation of Baltimore's
comprehensive plan to end homelessness in ten years, which
will be introduced soon. It is this bold vision of progress
that will define the next four years, as we proudly accept the
honor bestowed on us by the people of Baltimore. I invite all
citizens of our City to lend their voice to this process, as
we move Baltimore forward together.
Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council
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Each
week in the President's
SchoolSpot,
Council President Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake highlights the outstanding
accomplishments of Baltimore City Schools students
and staff. |
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It's Another Successful
International Fair at Digital Harbor
High
Nearly
23 different countries were represented during
Digital Harbor High School's
Second Annual International Festival. The event
was held last Friday and featured
stations with informational displays on
countries, including Mexico, Honduras, Vietnam,
the Philippines, Liberia, and Guinea. ESOL
Instructor Kathleen Callaghan spearheaded the
event. She worked hard with students and staff to
prepare an attractive, fun, educational, and
interesting experience. Some teachers and staff
wore traditional clothing from countries such as
India, the Philippines, and Guinea. Music and
dancing from other countries and cultures were
also shared. Visitors tasted samples of food
dishes, like Mexican mole, Filipino sticky rice,
and Salvadoran horchata.
Principal
Brian Eyer says the annual fair is important,
"because exposure to different cultures and
customs are vital as we continue to celebrate the
diversity of our student body." The Digital
Harbor High family encourages everyone to attend
next year's event.
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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,
November 13, 2007 Hearing: Highways and Franchises
Subcommittee, Ken Harris - Chair 9:00 AM 07-0772
City Streets - Closing - Dallas Street and a 2.5 Foot Wide
Alley 07-0773
Release of Right of Way - for Various Existing Variable Width
Rights of Way Granted to the Mayor and City Council of
Baltimore through the Property of the Baltimore Development
Corporation, Formerly Known as Hollander Ridge 07-0788
City Streets - Opening - Certain Streets and Alleys Lying
Within the Area Bounded by 24th Street, Howard Street, 25th
Street, and Maryland Avenue 07-0789
City Streets - Closing - Certain Streets and Alleys Lying
Within the Area Bounded by 24th Street, Howard Street, 25th
Street, and Maryland Avenue 07-0791
City Streets - Opening - Philpot Street and Wills Street,
Lying Within the Fells Point Urban Renewal Area 07-0792
City Streets - Closing - Philpot Street, Wills Street, Block
Street and Dock Street, Lying Within the Fells Point Urban
Renewal Area 9:30 AM 07-0794
City Streets - Opening - Certain Streets and 3 Varying in
Width Parcels Located in Hollander Ridge 07-0795
City Streets - Closing - Certain Streets and 3 Varying in
Width Parcels Located in Hollander Ridge 07-0797
City Streets - Opening - a Certain Street and Alleys Lying
Within the Area Bounded by Pleasant Street, St. Paul Place,
the Orleans Street Viaduct, and Calvert Street 07-0798
City Streets - Closing - A Certain Street and Alleys Lying
Within the Area Bounded by Pleasant Street, St. Paul Place,
the Orleans Street Viaduct, and Calvert Street 07-0831
City Streets - Opening - Milliman Street, a 10-Foot Alley and
Portions of 2 Alleys 07-0832
City Streets - Closing - Milliman Street, a 10-Foot Alley, and
Portions of 2 Alleys
Wednesday,
November 14, 2007
Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Ed
Reisinger - Chair
12:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber,
4th floor, City Hall
07-0756
Rezoning - 1654 East Pratt Street RESCHEDULED FROM OCTOBER
31, 2007
07-0826
Rezoning - 1110 Race Street
07-0827
Rezoning - 107-115 West Heath Street, 1700 Clarkson Street,
and 138 West Barney Street
1:00 PM
07-0734
City Streets - Closing - A 10-Foot Alley
07-0805
Zoning - Conditional Use Convalescent, Nursing, and Rest Home
Assisted Living) - 5312 Valiquet Avenue
07-0807
Rezoning - 2595 Carroll Street
1:30 PM
07-0813
Planned Unit Development - Amendment 2 - North Charles
Village
07-0835
Planned Unit Development - Amendment 4 - Canton
Crossing
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations
Committee, James Kraft - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns
Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
06-0190R
Investigative Hearing - Fighting "Quality of Life" Crimes
06-0191R
A Request for Legal, Enforcement, and Legislative Action
Against Illegal Guns
07-0340R
Request for State Legislation - Exempt Baltimore City from the
State Preemption of Firearm Regulation
07-0327R
Informational Hearing - Is Legalization of Drugs the Answer
for Baltimore City?
These hearings will be broadcast
live on Cable TV 25.
Thursday,
November 15, 2007
Voting Session: Taxation and Finance Committee, Helen
Holton - Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th
floor, City Hall
07-0801
Minority and Women's Business Program -
Reauthorization Hearing: Urban Affairs and Aging
Committee, Agnes Welch - Chair 3:00 PM Du Burns
Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall 07-0716
Labor Peace Agreements for Hotel Projects3:30
PM 07-0304R
Pilot Program - Baltimore City Housing Apprenticeship
Program 4:00 PM 07-0760
Baltimore City Landmark List - Upton Mansion 07-0761
Baltimore City Landmark List - Roland Park Water Tower
07-0776
Baltimore City Landmark List - American Brewery 07-0777
Baltimore City Landmark List - Bolton Square 07-0778
Baltimore City Landmark List - Riverside Park 07-0780
Baltimore City Landmark List - W.E.B. Du Bois House
5:00 PM 07-0829
Dangerous Animals - Required Restraints
Community
Events
November
9-11
Maryland Irish Festival
Timonium
Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road Friday 6-11pm, Saturday noon-11pm,
Sunday 10am Mass, festival closes at 7pm. www.irishfestival.com
Athenian Agora Greek Festival
Greek
Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Preston St. and
Maryland Avenue. Fri-Sat 11am-midnight. Sunday noon-6pm www.goannun.org
Friday,
November 9
Harbor Lights: 2007 Fiesta
Baltimore
Museum of Industry, 1417 Key Highway, 410-727-4808. This year,
Harbor Lights will celebrate the influence that Latin American
immigrants have had on our city. Latin food, salsa lessons,
music by Mambo Combo. Funds raised by this event will support
education and preservation programs at BMI. Details at www.thebmi.org
Senior Friendly Fridays
Patterson Park
Recreation Center, 2601 E. Baltimore St., 410-396-9156.
Limelight Gala, Disco Divas Benefit Concert for
Children with AIDS
Linda Clifford, Martha Walsh
and Jeanie Tracy perform, 8:30 p.m., Hippo, 1 W. Eager St.,
410-576-0018, $50.
Komics for Kidz Comedy Show and Silent Auction for
the Urban Leadership Institute
Walters Art Museum,
600 N. Charles St., 8 p.m., www.urbanleadershipinstitute.com,
410-467-1605.
Saturday,
November 10
The Bea Gaddy Family Center 24-Hour Food Collection
Drive
425 N. Chester St., Bring turkeys, canned
goods and non-perishable foods. Collection starts at 9am.
410-563-2749.
Greater Baltimore Leadership Association's 5th
Annual Benefit Masquerade Ball
Maryland Science
Center, 410-523-8150.
Pythias A. and Virginia I. Jones African American
Community Forum on Memory Loss
8:15 am - 1:30 pm,
Coppin State University, New Dining Hall, 2500 West North
Avenue
Sunday,
November 11
An Evening with Bill Maher
Lyric Opera
House, 140 W. Mt. Royal Avenue 7:30 pm Tickets are available
at the Lyric Box Office in person, over the phone at
410-547-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT, and through TicketMaster.
Cylburn Chamber Music Series
Cylburn
Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave., 3 pm, 410-367-2217
BMA Free Family Sundays
Baltimore
Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, 2pm www.artbma.org
Monday,
November 12
VETERAN'S DAY HOLIDAY: No municipal trash,
bulk or recycling collection. Parking meters are in effect.
Children's Book Week
410-396-5430,
www.prattlibrary.org.
March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction, Cocktail
Reception & Food Tasting
Marriott Waterfront
Hotel, 700 Aliceanna St., 6 pm - 9 pm, 410-752-7990.
Wednesday,
November 14
Sip and Shop Cross Keys to Benefit The House of
Ruth
Village of Cross Keys, 410-532-6900, $10
donation.
Holiday Artisan Market at The Village Learning
Place
2521 St. Paul Street, 7-9 pm, 410-235-2210.
November
14-17 - Healthy Teen Network Conference
On Their Turf: Creative
Approaches to Supporting Teens & Young
Families
Hyatt Regency, 300 Light St. This
3-day conference features advances in the fields of teen
pregnancy, parenting and prevention and offers concrete
strategies for profesisonals to serve youth in the 21st
century.
Details at www.healthyteenconference.org
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Upcoming/Ongoing
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MTA Red Line Community Open
House
The MTA invites you to share the latest information
on the Red Line Corridor Transit Study. The proposed Red
Line is a 12 mile, east-west transit corridor connecting
the areas of Woodlawn, Edmondson Village, West
Baltimore, downtown Baltimore, Inner Harbor East, Fells
Point, Canton and the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical
Center Campus. The goal of the Red Line is to improve
mobility in the Baltimore Region, and connect existing
transit systems. This year's meetings will be in an Open
House format, which will allow you an opportunity to see
the latest plans and obtain updated information on
various Red Line topics. MTA staff and consultants will
be available to address your questions and concerns. The
MTA encourages all interested citizens, community
leaders, business owners, transit riders and others to
take part in the development of the Red Line - MTA's
next rapid transit line. For more information about the
project, please visit the project website at www.baltimoreredline.com
or call 410-767-3754.
All workshop locations are accessible to persons with
disabilities. To request special services, such as an
interpreter for the hearing impaired, please call
410-767-3754 one week prior to the meeting.
Tuesday, November 13
Holy Rosary
Church
408 S. Chester St.
Accessible by MTA bus
#10
Wednesday, November 14
Carter
Memorial Church
745 W. Fayette St.
Accessible by
MTA bus #1, 20
Thursday, November 15
Our Lady of
Fatima Church
6420 E. Pratt St.
Accessible by MTA
bus 23, 40 |
Children's After School Art Program at School 33
Art Center
Is your child yearning for an outlet
after a long day of school? Joining the after school art
program at School 33 is your answer. Workshop sessions consist
of one class for six weeks. Last day to register is November
23. Session 2 starts on Tuesday, December 4. See
flyer for more details
www.school33.org or
410-396-4641
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
Project Reach One holds SAT Prep classes
every Monday and Wednesday, 6pm-8pm, at Mt. Royal Recreation
Ctr., 120 W. Mosher St. Free 410-396-0848.
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.
Sweet Thursdays-Dessert and Art Showings by
Sculptor Herman Williams
130 S. Highland Ave.,
410-732-1189, Free.
Turkey Trot & Skateboard
Contest
November 17, Carroll Park Bike and Skate
Facility, 800 Bayard St. 12 pm - 4 pm, 410-244-0833.
Night of 100 ELVISes
Friday, November
30th & Saturday, December 1st, Lithuanian Hall, 851-3
Hollins Street 7pm-2am
A Monumental Occasion: 36th Annual Lighting of the
Washington Monument
December 6, Mt. Vernon Place,
6pm
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