The Rawlings-Blake Review #122: Ending Childhood Hunger

Rawlings Blake Review Header
June 28, 2012

In this issue:
MAYOR'S HOT LINKS
Independence Day Holiday Service Changes
Baltimore CityView
Safari Express
CreateAThon
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day
Druid Hill Farmers Market
Flicks from the Hill
After Hours with the Animals
Cinema al Fresco
Charles Street Friday Market
Waterfront Wellness
Baltimore Farmers Market & Bazaar 35th Anniversary
Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration
African American Festival
Jazzy Wednesday Evenings
Caribbean Carnival Festival
Dear Friends:

Mayor Rawlings-Blake and Adam Jones help feed Baltimore kids
This week, I joined Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, the Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, and the Family League of Baltimore City to help raise awareness about free summer meals through the Baltimore City Super Summer campaign and to kick off the Baltimore Partnership to End Childhood Hunger.

The Baltimore Partnership to End Childhood Hunger is possible because of partners from across the city who are committed to making sure our kids have enough to eat throughout the year. We owe it to our kids to make sure they have enough food—it is a very basic and critical step to their success in school and beyond.

The Baltimore Partnership to End Childhood Hunger will be led by Kevin Keegan, President and CEO of the Family League of Baltimore, and Holly Freishtat, Food Policy Director for the City of Baltimore. It will also involve Share Our StrengthMaryland Hunger Solutions, the faith community, and more than 15 other City agencies and nonprofit organizations. The Baltimore partnership is part of the statewide Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland, led by the Governor’s Office for Children, Share Our Strength, and many other statewide organizations.

While summer offers a break from school for young people, it is also a time when students are at a higher risk of hunger and can lose critical knowledge and skills known as “summer learning loss.” In Baltimore City, nearly 20 percent of children at are at risk of hunger, yet only 47 percent of kids who got free school lunch got a free summer meal. Lack of awareness about free summer meals and other programming leaves kids farther behind academically and less prepared to achieve in school and beyond.

Families can go to www.youthbmore.org, call 2-1-1, or text “SummerMD” to 877-877 to connect to free meals, learning opportunities, reading, and recreation activities in their neighborhood and beyond.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at my website or by email at mayor@baltimorecity.gov. You can also follow the Mayor’s Office and be a part of the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore

Mayor's Hot Links


Baltimore Mayor, Orioles’ Adam Jones Serve Free Meals To City Children

WJZ

Rawlings-Blake Signs Bottle Tax To Fund Schools

WJZ

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Opens Downtown

WJZ

Organizers hope to grow Baltimore, D.C. food truck competition

Baltimore Business Journal

Bon Secours turns Baltimore neighbor green, with jobs

Baltimore Business Journal

Special Notices


Independence Day Holiday Service Changes

City offices will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, due to the Independence Day holiday. Please note the following changes to city services.
  • There will be no curbside waste or recycling collection. Trash or recycling that is normally collected on Wednesdays will be collected on the make-up day, Saturday, July 7.
  • There will be no bulk trash collection scheduled.
  • Citizen Convenience Centers, including Quarantine Road Landfill, will be closed.
  • All City buildings, with the exception of Police Headquarters, will be closed.
  • Citizens will be unable to access City offices for bill payments or permits. Some bills can be paid online at www.baltimorecity.gov.
  • Parking meters will NOT be in effect.

Baltimore CityView

Looking for City Services near you? CityView is Baltimore’s mapping portal, providing information on a variety of topics of interest for citizens, visitors, researchers, and businesses. The site is updated regularly. Simply enter your address to locate services such as city pools, cooling centers, parks, schools, and much more. To start your search, visit cityview.baltimorecity.gov.

Safari Express

Visit the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore for a wild adventure that will bring you face-to-face with more than 1,500 amazing animals! This summer, in partnership with the Baltimore Visitor Center and Veolia Transportation, the zoo will offer free transportation to and from the Inner Harbor. For more information, or a list of departure times, visit www.marylandzoo.org/visitor-information/safari-express-free-shuttle.

CreateAThon

Maryland's nonprofit sector continues to grow, and CreateAThon provides welcome relief for some of Maryland's more than 30,000 non-profit organizations. This pro-bono program offers free marketing and communications projects. CreateAThon is sponsored regionally through Purple Cat, a mid-shore public relations firm, and Octo Design Group, Philadelphia. Applications are available at www.purplecatpr.com or by contacting 410-604-2319. The deadline for applications is July 20.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day

Final Friday of each month
Northwest Citizen Convenience Center, 2840 Sisson Street
Baltimore City’s Household Hazardous Waste monthly collection provides an opportunity for Baltimore City residents to dispose of hazardous household materials such as oil-based paints, pesticides, herbicides, car and household batteries, drain cleaners, gasoline, pool chemicals, and many other items. Participants must show proof of city residency before they can drop off any hazardous items. Trash, asbestos, ammunition, fire extinguishers, industrial and medical wastes, and radioactive materials, including smoke alarms with a radioactive symbol, Will not be collected.

Upcoming Events


Druid Hill Farmers' Market

Wednesdays through September 26, 3:30 pm-7:30 pm
Druid Hill Park, Next to the Rawlings Conservatory
At the farmers market, there's something for everyone! Browse local produce, fresh baked goods, free range eggs and meats, arts & crafts, and more. Activities include, but are not limited to, family yoga, live music, kids’ crafts, hay rides, and workshops. For more information, call 443-469-8274 or 410-396-0008. A list of events can be found at www.rawlingsconservatory.org or druidhillpark.org.

Flicks from the Hill

Thursdays, July 12-August 23, 9:00 pm
American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway
Grab a blanket, picnic under the stars, and watch a great film selection inspired by AVAM's current exhibition ALL THINGS ROUND: Galaxies, Eyeballs & Karma. The Hughes Family Outdoor Theater features seating for more than a thousand on the natural amphitheater formed by Federal Hill. Enjoy a twinkling view of the city and an amazing FREE community experience. Admission to the museum is free between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm on movie nights! For more information, visit avam.org or call 410-244-1900.

After Hours with the Animals

Thursdays, July-August, 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Druid Hill Park
Experience an evening at the zoo with a cool summer stroll among the animals. Every Thursday in July and August, the zoo is open late! Bring the family or someone special for a rare chance to explore the exhibits after hours. After 4:00 pm, enjoy half off regular admission rates. For more information, visit www.marylandzoo.org.

Cinema al Fresco

Fridays, July-August
Little Italy, High Street and Stiles Street
Little Italy's open air film festival is in its 15th year! Arrive early to set up a lawn chair, stroll the neighborhood, and eat dinner before watching an Italian-related feature film. Many Little Italy restaurants will offer carryout or movie night specials. For more information or a list of films, visit www.littleitalymd.com/activities.htm.

Charles Street Friday Market

Every Friday, 4:00 pm-8:00 pm
Station North, 1700 block of Charles Street
Celebrate the season's fresh, local produce with live music, local artists, and a selection of prepared foods. Purchase groceries for the weekend while you wind down from the work week in Baltimore's Station North Arts and Entertainment District. For more information, visit www.charlesstreetfridaymarket.com.

Waterfront Wellness

Sundays through September 30, 8:30 am-12:00 pm
West Shore Park, Inner Harbor
Get outside and get fit! Join the Waterfront Partnership for free adult wellness classes taught by area professional instructors. Challenge yourself with yoga, boot camp, Barre, and Zumba. For more information or to register, email beth@waterfrontpartnership.org.

Baltimore Farmers' Market & Bazaar 35th Anniversary

Sunday, July 1, 7:00 am-Sell out
Saratoga Street, Between Holliday and Gay streets
The 35th anniversary of the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar will be a special celebration. Market-goers can pick up the season’s freshest fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, dairy products, spices, and a variety of made-to-order foods from longtime favorites and new vendors. In addition, dozens of regional artisans offer original arts and crafts. Enjoy music by the Baltimore Islanders Steel Band and meet recipe guru Charlotte Galley in person. For more information, visit www.promotionandarts.com or call 1-877-BALTIMORE.

Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration

Wednesday, July 4, 4:00 pm-10:00 pm
Inner Harbor
Visit Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on Independence Day for live music and a spectacular fireworks show! Enjoy live entertainment at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater and throughout the harbor. Before the fireworks, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will welcome guests and kick off Baltimore’s the celebration. At 9:30, colorful fireworks will ignite the sky above downtown Baltimore. For more information, visit www.promotionandarts.org.

African American Festival 

July 7-8, Sat. 12:00 pm-10:00 pm, Sun. 12:00 pm-9:00 pm
M&T Bank Stadium, Lots B & C
Celebrate black history with an eclectic mix of regional and nationally-known entertainers, including top soul and R&B recording artists, educational exhibits, arts and crafts, foods, and children’s activities. The African American Festival is part of the Showcase of Nations. For more information, call 410-244-8861 or visit www.africanamericanfestival.net.

Jazzy Wednesday Evenings

Wednesday, July 11, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park
Enjoy fine jazz and R&B as you relax on a gorgeous summer evening. Browse Baltimore's newest farmers market and enjoy the beautiful sights of the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens. This month's performance will feature Ryze Band & Chandra. For more information, call 410-396-7459.

Caribbean Carnival Festival

July 13-15, Fri. 4:00 pm-9:00 pm, Sat.-Sun. 12:00 pm-9:00 pm
Clifton Park, Harford Road and St. Lo Drive
The Caribbean Carnival Festival brings island traditions to the states with the popular carnival parade, live reggae and soca performances, colorful costumed dancers, and authentic Caribbean cuisine. The Caribbean Carnival Festival is part of the Showcase of Nations. For more information, call 410-362-2957.