 December 3, 2013 was the second annual #GivingTuesday. This initiative, which began in New York City, has spread across the world. In a growing economy that is bolstered by unofficial ‘holidays’ like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday urges everyone to devote the day to charity, give back to the community, and spread the word via social media or any means possible.
This year’s #GivingTuesday was particularly exciting in Baltimore, as we proved that we are the most generous city in America. I joined with local businesses and nonprofits to encourage Baltimore residents to give. The local campaign, Bmore Gives More, was organized by GiveCorps and set out to raise $5 million in just one day for more than 200 charitable organizations in Baltimore.
Donation incentives were offered throughout the day by local businesses, including B Bistro, Birrotecca, Dooby’s, Fleet Street Kitchen, Gertrude’s, Joe Squared, Tapas Teatro, Ten Ten, and The Helmand Restaurant. The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore held an all-day phone-a-thon. CrossFit Federal Hill sponsored a BMGM workout of the day and set out a donation change jar. Some businesses even created special BMGM items and donated a percentage of the proceeds or provided matching funds from those items for #GivingTuesday.
Baltimore really stepped up to the plate. At the end of the day, not only had we met our $5 million goal, but we exceeded it by at least half a million dollars. Hundreds of local charities and programs will benefit from the generosity shown by Baltimoreans on #GivingTuesday. I want to thank everyone who made the Bmore Gives More initiative a resounding success.
I also want to take a moment to thank the Baltimore City employees who roll up their sleeves every day to provide the services that keep Baltimore running. Last week, I visited a number of City employees in their places of work to express my gratitude for their service.
I stopped by the Thomas J. Burke Fire Station (Oldtown) to visit with members of the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD). A number of changes have taken place at the station in the past year—over $300,000 in renovation and construction. Oldtown is also home to some of our newest fire apparatus. The men and women of the BCFD, under the leadership of Acting Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal, are truly heroes, and I was thankful for the opportunity to personally thank them for their service and commitment to making Baltimore a safer city.
I also visited the Mayor’s Office of Information Technology (MOIT), which is responsible for leveraging information technology to enhance productivity, broaden our capabilities, and reduce the City’s operating costs. The talented and dedicated MOIT staff, led by CIO Chris Tonjes, have given us a year of great accomplishments, including advances in bridging the digital divide, implementing next generation infrastructure, and building a more innovative, transparent government. You may or may not know that the men and women of MOIT are responsible for operation of the City's 311 dispatch center—which operates 365 days a year—and the City’s CCTV crime prevention system, CitiWatch. I can't wait to see even more innovation from them in the future.
I want to, again, thank everyone at BCFD and MOIT for the work they do every day. I look forward visiting with employees at other City agencies in the new year.
During this season of giving, it is great to know that Baltimore IS the most generous city in America. I have always said that in Baltimore, we come together, we roll up our sleeves, and we get things done.
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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
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The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
WJZ
 The magnificent Lady Baltimore sculpture stands on display at the Maryland Historical Society. Lady Baltimore stood as an icon atop the Baltimore City Battle Monument for over 190 years. Two centuries of wind, rain, and pollution necessitated a restoration of the monument. A replica now stands atop the monument.
First raised on Defenders' Day, September 12, 1822, Lady Baltimore is depicted as a Roman matron. She wears a crown (thought to symbolize Baltimore) and holds a laurel wreath for victory in her raised hand. Her lowered hand holds a rudder, signifying navigation and stability. Atop the Battle Monument, Lady Baltimore faced the harbor—a source of Baltimore’s prosperity and fortune.
Photo by Mark Dennis.
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Baltimore Fire Department Home Safety Videos
Acting Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal and the Baltimore City Fire Department have released three new safety videos to help prevent fires and injury during the winter. These public service messages aim to make the holidays and winter safer for all. The videos include easy-to-follow safety tips and brief demonstrations about how you can make your home safer. Check out each of the videos on the Fire Department’s YouTube channel.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Applications
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts invites local organizations to be a part of the 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade on Monday, January 20, 2014 at noon. Eligible applicants include cheer & dance squads; college, high school, and community bands; equestrian groups; floats; honor & color guards; military groups; and civic & community organizations. The application deadline is Monday, December 16. For more information or to obtain an application, visit www.promotionandarts.org.
Bagged Leaf Collection
The Department of Public Works' bagged leaf collection season will continue through Monday, January 6. The Bureau of Solid Waste will collect up to 20 bags of leaves from each address every Monday throughout the season. Residents must call 311 to schedule pickup. Please call before 10:00 pm on the Sunday prior to your desired Monday collection. Residents may make appointments up to two months prior to the pick-up date. The Bureau of Solid Waste will also continue to collect up to 5 bags of leaves from each address on regularly scheduled trash collection days. Bags must be clearly labeled. Residents may also drop off bagged leaves at five Bureau of Solid Waste locations:
- Quarantine Road Sanitary Landfill, 6100 Quarantine Road
- Western Citizen Convenience Center, 701 Reedbird Avenue
- Eastern Citizen Convenience Center, 6101 Bowleys Lane
- Northwest Citizen Convenience Center, 2840 Sisson Street
- Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road
For more information visit publicworks.baltimorecity.gov.
Engine House #45 Annual Train Garden
Through January 4, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Glen Avenue Fire House, 2700 Glen Avenue
Celebrate the Holiday season at the Glen Avenue Fire Engine House #45 with the annual Train Garden. Admission is free, but personnel at Engine House #45 are collecting toys to be distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, and pediatric rehab centers, as well as needy families in the area. Take advantage of this holiday tradition and an opportunity to show your generosity during this season of giving.
A Victorian Holiday
Through Sunday, December 29
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park
The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens is proud to present a 125th anniversary poinsettia celebration. This annual holiday show will take you back to the Conservatory's early days as you explore hundreds of exquisite and unusual poinsettia specimens of every size, shape, and color. Revisit Baltimore's past, set against a backdrop of Victorian scenes, including an ornate parlor, a grand decorated tree, and a Victorian-style train. Santa Claus will visit the conservatory on December 14, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. For more information, visit www.RawlingsConservatory.org.
How to Grow Baltimore’s Economy
Various Dates
Various Locations (see below)
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Citizens Planning & Housing Association (CPHA) invite you to share your ideas in a community conversation. This forum is an opportunity to share your ideas about how Baltimore can grow its economy, increase access to jobs, and support commercial revitalization in your community. Visit www.baltimore2020.com or www.baltimoredevelopment.com, or call 410-837-9305 for more information.
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Tuesday, December 10, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
UB Learning Commons Town Hall, 1415 Maryland Avenue
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Wednesday, December 11, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church, 4640 Edmondson Avenue
Holiday Breakfast at the Y
Saturday, December 14 (times vary)
Your local Family Center Y: ymaryland.org/y-locations
Santa will park his sleigh at Family Center Y for a holiday breakfast hosted by the Y of Central Maryland. Children will enjoy pictures with Santa and a variety of fun, holiday-themed activities. Space is limited, so please register with your local Family Center Y at least 48 hours in advance. The holiday breakfast is free for members, $5 for nonmembers, and $10 for families. For more information, visit www.ymaryland.org or contact your local Family Center Y.
Casino Area Master Plan Working Group Presentations
Thursday, December 12, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Westport Academy Elementary/Middle School, 2401 Nevada Street
You are invited to join the Casino Area Master Plan conversation. Residents, business & property owners, City agencies, and other organizations have joined together to form six working groups to define a vision and preliminary recommendations. The Casino Area Master Plan will identify priorities for investing the millions of dollars of City Local Impact Funds to improve neighborhoods, promote jobs & business development, and enhance the quality of life for residents in the area. Revisit the progress of each working group and give your comments about the subjects that are of interest to you and your community. For more, visit baltimoreplanning.wix.com/casinoareamasterplan.
Moonlight Madness
Friday, December 13, 8:00 pm – 12:00 midnight
Federal Hill Main Street
Celebrate the Holidays Federal Hill style! Visit Federal Hill's many locally owned shops and galleries, which will stay open late to offer specials, discounts, and refreshments. Find wonderful, imaginative gifts for everyone on your list. Carolers will stroll the streets to serenade shoppers. The evening begins with a tree lighting at 7:00 pm. Don't forget to get your Moonlight Madness passport stamped at 5 local businesses for a chance to win prizes from local merchants. For more information, visit www.historicfederalhill.org or call 410-727-4500.
Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Holiday Bazaar
Saturday, December 14, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, 21 S. Eutaw Street
Visit the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower to browse resident artists’ studios and shop for unique gifts from a dozen local artists, including handcrafted greeting cards, jewelry, paintings, and prints. While you are there, explore artwork throughout 15 floors of working artist studios and special exhibitions, learn about the historical building, and participate in a $5 tour of the clock room. Clock room tour gift certificates will also be available for purchase. For more information, call 443-874-3596 or visit www.bromoseltzertower.com.
BSO & BSA Present The Nutcracker
December 20 – 22
Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mt. Royal Avenue
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore School for the Arts proudly present Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic The Nutcracker. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 410-547-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the box office from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday. This four-performance limited engagement will showcase the BSO, conducted by BSA graduate Maestro Andrew Grams, as well as 120 students from BSA’s high school and TWIGS program and backdrops created by students at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). For more information, visit www.bsfa.org.
Druid Hill Park Winter Solstice Celebration
Saturday, December 21, 6:00 pm
Druid Hill Park
The Friends of Druid Hill Park present the third annual Winter Solstice Celebration. Come and celebrate this important event in the calendar, which marks the time of the year when the darkness begins to fade and the earth prepares for a new cycle of growth. Bask in the light of a blazing solstice fire, take a hay ride, retell storied legends, create your own Winter Solstice resolution, and enjoy a number of other activities focused on the solstice. For more information, visit www.druidhillpark.org.
Winter Solstice Celebration
Saturday, December 21, 7:00 pm
First Unitarian Church, 12 W. Franklin Street
Mark the return of the sun at the 10th annual Winter Solstice Celebration. Celebrate the season with songs, poetry, drama, and seasonal refreshments. Participate in the extinguishing of the old year’s fire and the lighting of the new, as well as other annual rituals. For more information, visit www.firstunitarian.net, call Pat Montley at 410-252-6074, or email solstice@firstunitarian.net.
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