 |
|||||
 |
|||||
| "Better, Safer, Stronger" | November 14, 2008 | ||||
|
Dear Friends: As we witness the courageous and professional efforts of our armed forces engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are all reminded of the tremendous sacrifices our veterans have made on our behalf. We pay tribute to the veterans who have honored the nation with their service, and their sacrifice. Some have even paid the ultimate price for freedom. In dying they renewed and sustained the freedom and the promise of our great nation. "Back on My Feet" Organization for Homeless Comes to Baltimore
I'm very excited that Back On My Feet is coming to Baltimore and was honored to help launch their efforts to expand services to area homeless shelters. This special grassroots organization provides motivation and self-esteem to our most needy citizens and its mission fits with City Government's many efforts to address homelessness. I would like to especially thank Kent Krabbe, Executive Director of Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund for leading the effort to bring Back on My Feet to Baltimore. Stephanie Rawlings-Blake |
|||||
|
|||||
| |||||
|
City Council This Week Monday, November 17 Voting Session: Urban Affairs And Aging Committee, Agnes Welch – Chair
City Council Meeting Tuesday, November 18 Hearing: Executive Appointments Committee, Robert Curran – Chair Wednesday, November 19 Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Ed Reisinger - Chair Thursday, November 20 Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee, Helen Holton - Chair Community Events Friday, November 14 Ready, Set Go! College/Career Prep Workshop Saturday, November 15 College Fair - Enoch Pratt Free Library Herring Run Branch Free Legal Clinic for Artists Winnie The Pooh stops by Children’s Story Time at JHU Barnes & Noble 2nd Annual Neighborhood Institute Book Discussion: Gather Together in My Name by Maya Angelou. Sunday, November 16 Sewer Tour/Stream Walk Tuesday, November 18 Justice for Breakfast Series Small Business Financing Resources Meeting on the Reisterstown Plaza Transit Station Urban Renewal Ordinance Wednesday, November 19 Career Fair sponsored by the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities One-day Grant Writing Session Thursday, November 20 Clipper Mill’s 3rd Annual Mingle at the Mill Holiday Event Upcoming/Ongoing
Book Discussion with Dr. Cornel West, Nov. 22, 2pm, the author will discuss his book, Hope On A Tightrope, Pratt Central Library Wheeler Auditiorium, 400 W. Cathedral St. www.prattlibrary.org Home Safety Conference, “What You Don’t Know Could Kill You,” presented by The Institute for Urban Research and the School of Community Health and Policy, Nov. 22, 10am-2pm, Morgan State Univ. New Student Center Rm 316, learn how to protect your house against environmental hazards. Pre-register 443-885-1249 or 3566. Vote to Name the Baltimore Aquarium’s New Female Dolphin Calf. Deadline is Nov. 22. The dolphin trainers and Aquarium volunteers have chosen five very special names: Bayley, Calli, Charm, Hanna and Sassafras. Get the name descriptions and vote at www.aqua.org Food Assistance provided by Project 100, an initiative of the Baltimore City Housing Community Action Partnership and New Psalmist Baptist Church, to help families with food security for 30 days in order to pay down other bills. It’s for residents of 21217, 21216, 21201, 21223, or 21229 who have children and do not receive food stamps or a utility subsidy from Section 8. 410-396-0893 Baltimore City Community College Launches Accelerated Associates Degree Program for Spring 2009. Baltimore City Community College has a new accelerated program for African American males to earn an Associate of Arts degree in one year. The program is entitled the "Quest." Orientation on Dec. 3, BCCC Liberty campus, 2901 Liberty Heights Ave., Gaare Auditorium, 6pm. Info: 410-462-7745 Open Minds is Creative Alliance's free book-based after school program. New visual and performing arts courses, including mural painting, photography, music production and breakdancing are beginning at Wolfe Street Academy, Hampstead Hill, Collington Square and with EBLO-Mi Segunda Casa at John Ruhrah. Call Karen Summerville at 410-276-1651. Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore offers Homebuyers Education Classes NHS Baltimore is a small non-profit organization that helps sustain and create homeownership opportunities through customized lending and consumer education in the Baltimore region. NHS is offering homebuyer education classes through December. For class schedules and registration call 410-327-1200, x135. www.nhsbaltimore.org 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 Power of Parents and Partners in School (P.O.P.S. Program) is a new program to encourage and address the needs of students who are expecting or parenting teens who have dropped out and want to return to school. Developed by the Laurence G. Paquin School. 410-396-9398/9399. Baltimore Speaks Out! Program, a great opportunity for children ages 11-15 to learn about video/film production. Offered at Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Herring Run branch, 3810 Erdman Ave. 410-338-0947. Free. Volunteers needed to read to students during American Education Week, Nov. 17-21, 9am-2pm, James Mosher Elementary School, 2400 W. Mosher St.. Books provided. Contact Marvella.Gray@ic.fbi.gov Baltimore's Thanksgiving Parade, November 22, 11:00am - 1:00pm. Pratt and Howard Streets, continues east on Pratt Street and disbands at Pratt Street and Market Place. Baltimore's Thanksgiving Parade kicks off the holiday season with spectacular floats, gigantic balloons, marching bands, and the official arrival of Santa Claus to Baltimore. After the parade, children can stop by Santa's Place, coordinated by Harborplace & The Gallery, to sit on his lap, share their holiday wishes, and have their picture taken. A Monumental Occasion, December 4, Mount Vernon Place, 6:00pm. Celebrate the holiday season with the 37th annual lighting of the Washington Monument. Pre-event festivities begin at 5:30pm in Mount Vernon. The evening includes performances, strolling entertainment, refreshments, and the official lighting by Mayor Dixon. The event ends with a colorful fireworks finale choreographed to music. Info: www.godowntownbaltimore.com or contact 410-244-1030. |
|||||
This week I was honored to join Mayor Dixon and a host of dignitaries to observe Veterans Day at the War Memorial Building and place a wreath at the Negro Heroes of the U.S. Monument in War Memorial Plaza. Each year we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I 90 years ago, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. From the Revolutionary War to our present conflicts, our veterans have stood in harm’s way in a dozen wars.
Last Thursday, I was pleased to join Councilman William Cole, State Senator Catherine Pugh and Greg Sileo from the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services to help launch a new organization to help Baltimore's homeless population. 
A trio of BCPSS students recently competed in the National Business Plan Competition sponsored by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Anne' Montague, a senior at Forest Park High School and Jamal Wills and William Mack, both juniors at Patterson High created and run their own businesses. They traveled to New York City last month in hopes of winning $10,000. Anne’, Jamal and William were able to network with other young entrepreneurs from around the nation, sell their products and make presentations to CEO's and Presidents of companies, including Nantucket Nectars, Ken Banks Development Company and The Boston Celtics. 
Congratulations to Kimberly Williams of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. She has been named a 2008 Student Leader by Bank of America for her passion and commitment to better her community. Kimberly maintains a 4.0 GPA and is active with the Student Sharing Coalition. She also coaches basketball and life skills for young people at local recreation centers.