Month: June 2014

Annapolis 4th of July Celebration

Annapolis Mayor Michael Pantelides invites the public to the Annapolis July 4th parade and firework display on Friday, July 4th. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Amos Garret Boulevard and proceed down West Street, around Church Circle, and down Main Street.

Following the parade, the United States Naval Academy Concert Band will perform a public concert at Susan Campbell Park around 8 p.m.

The fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. The fireworks display will be launched from a barge in the Annapolis Harbor and can be viewed from many locations around the Harbor. For questions about boat restrictions during the fireworks, contact the City Harbormaster’s Office at 410-263-7973.

For those viewing the fireworks from land, Susan Campbell Park has a fantastic view, but it is also the most crowded. Views from Main Street and the Harbormaster’s Building area will be partially obstructed. Suggested viewing areas are public spaces northeast of the Severn River or any of the street-end parks facing Spa Creek.

Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to traffic beginning at 9:00 p.m. to create a spectator pier overlook offering an unobstructed view of the fireworks.

The closer you get to downtown the harder it will be to find parking and the harder it is to get out after the celebration. Park at Park Place or Knighton Garage and take the Circulator trolley to City Dock. The trolley stops at the garages and runs from 8:30 a.m. to midnight. An added bonus is both garages are on the parade route! The trolley is free from the garages, but not from the Navy-Marine Crop Memorial Stadium. That shuttle will run from 4 p.m. to midnight with a fare of $2.00 each way or $4.00 for an all day pass. Children 5 years and under ride free with a paying adult. (Limit of 3 children per paying adult)

Parking Restrictions

Parking on Prince George Street from the water to College Avenue will be resident only parking from noon to 11 p.m. Beginning at 4 p.m. and extending until about 10:30 p.m., parking will be prohibited and violators may be towed from the following areas:

City Dock

Main Street

Randall Street

Market Space

Both sides of Severn Avenue between First and Burnside Streets

East side of First, Second and Third streets between Severn and Chester Avenues

South side of Chesapeake and Chester Avenues between Riverview Avenue and Burnside Street

Bay Ridge Avenue between Sixth and Burnside Streets

Bembe Beach Road from Awald to end

Road Restrictions and Closures

In Eastport, vehicular traffic into the north side of the Eastport Peninsula will be restricted between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Pedestrian traffic will be permitted. Roadblocks will be set up at 9 p.m. at Sixth Street and Severn Avenue denying access to downtown via the Spa Creek Bridge.

In downtown Annapolis, College Avenue, Duke of Gloucester and Compromise Street will be closed to all but area residents. Prince George Street will be posted “Resident Only Parking” from the water to College Avenue from 2 p.m. to midnight. Vehicular traffic will be denied access to the downtown area beginning at 5 p.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m. Road blocks will also be set up in the following locations:

King George St. and College Ave.

Prince George St. and College Ave.

North St. and College Ave.

Church Circle and Main St.

Duke of Gloucester St. at Conduit St., at Green St., at St. Mary’s St. and at Compromise St.

Traffic will be allowed to flow down Duke of Gloucester Street from Church Circle and into Eastport (not into downtown Annapolis) until 9 p.m. At that time, the Spa Creek Bridge will be closed and Duke of Gloucester Street will be closed to ensure pedestrian safety and to facilitate the movement of foot traffic leaving the area after the fireworks display.

At approximately 9 p.m., Main Street will be closed and remain closed until approximately 10 p.m. Connector streets between Duke of Gloucester and Main St. will also be closed.

Boating Restrictions

The draw span of the Spa Creek Bridge (into Eastport) will be closed to boat traffic from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Because of the anticipated crowded conditions, boaters are urged to select their preferred viewing area anchorage early and are also warned to avoid the 1,000-foot Safety Zone around the fireworks barge.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages on the streets and sidewalks of the City is prohibited. Alcoholic beverages are also prohibited at Susan Campbell Park, City Dock.

The use of fireworks (including sparklers) is prohibited at Susan Campbell Park at City Dock. Also, the firing of pyrotechnics and flares is illegal.

Donations are still needed for the Annapolis 4th of July Event

Funding for the City’s 4th of July fireworks festivities is largely the result of donations by businesses and private individuals. Those wishing to help support this popular community event by defraying the cost of the fireworks are urged to do so. Please send your tax-deductible donation to: July 4th Annapolis, Inc., c/o First Citizens Bank, 890 Bestgate Rd., Annapolis, MD 21401.

Volunteers are also needed

Want to help the 4th of July parade? Interested individuals should contact Felicia Nolan at fckaravellas@annapolis.gov.

There is no rain date for the parade or the fireworks. Come enjoy July 4th holiday with friends and family in Annapolis!

CDC study says asthma on decline

The latest statistics from the city’s Health Department shows that Baltimore leads the state in asthma mortality with 34 deaths per one million people. Charm City also has the highest pediatric asthma hospitalization rate in Maryland and one of the highest in the nation, and many who have the disease are African Americans who often are forced to rush to emergency rooms at alarming rates, according to health officials.

Statistics from the health department also reveal that 28 percent of high school students in Baltimore City reported having been diagnosed with asthma, compared to 20 percent of students nationwide.

“Living with asthma isn’t by any means a cake walk,” said Keith Brown, a retired Army sergeant. “Sometimes you are aware when an attack is coming, but most of the time it’s unexpected and it’s a devastatingly helpless feeling.”

However, a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 19, 2014, offers hope to sufferers like Brown. The survey suggests that asthma in the U.S. may

finally be on the decline. Over the past several years, about 8.6 percent of Americans have reported that they have asthma, but the CDC’s study, which officials conducted over the past year, noted that the number has decreased to 7.4 percent, the lowest mark in 10 years.

“We’re not really sure what’s going on,” said Jeannine S. Schiller, who holds a master’s in Public Health and works for the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland. “It was pretty flat for a few years, and then it dropped this year. We don’t know why. There was nothing that happened in public health or environmentally that you would say, ‘Oh, that makes sense.’”

CDC officials say that the largest decline was seen in African-American children and women. “Anytime there is some health report, we seem to always come out on the short end of the stick so it’s interesting that they are saying we are doing better with asthma,” said Terry Strothers, a forklift operator, age 55. “I have had asthma all of my life, but I guess I’m one of those who hasn’t had any recent problems but, for a long while here, I thought it was going to take me at some point.”

The study, where more than 47,000 adults and children took part in interviews with health officials, also revealed that asthma attacks declined from 4.4 percent in 2012 to 3.8 percent last year, the lowest mark in more than 15 years.

Local health officials say they are working to build a sustainable system of care to reduce emergency room visits, hospitalizations and school absences, and to improve the quality of life for children and adults with asthma.

While experts are not really sure what causes asthma, they say that attacks can be triggered by tobacco smoke, air pollution, pollen and cockroaches. It’s also believed that decrepit housing conditions and climate change are possible reasons for many asthma episodes.

“Nationally, I’m not aware of anything that would explain these statistics,” said Dr. Karen Freedle, an Emory University specialist in pediatric asthma.

While the study presents some good news, many say controlling the disease

remains crucial. Lisa A. Gilmore, the program manager at Building Connections for Better Health in Washington offered five ways in which patients can stay healthy.

Gilmore recommends the use of inhaled corticosteroids; a written action plan that highlights prevention and handling attacks; assessing the severity of the disease at an initial doctor’s visit to determine what treatment plan to follow; scheduling follow-up visits with primary care physicians at least every six months; and controlling environmental exposure to allergens and irritants that could make symptoms worse.

The CDC also cautions those with asthma to not let their guard down

because of the optimistic new study.

“We’re saying watch that,” Schiller said. “Because when something is relatively flat for so long and you have a statistically significant difference, you want more data points to support the trend that might be emerging.”

TV25 gets a makeover

On June 25th, something new and fresh hit the television airwaves. The all new CharmTV (Comcast 25). Gone is the continuous programming of government and hearings; in with new shows that spotlight everything good in Baltimore.

So why the change? General Manager, Tonia Lee explains, “So in looking at the channel, there definitely was room to do something that could benefit the community and showcase what a great city we have and the beautiful things to see and do here in Baltimore. Besides this show can be used to help with the Mayor’s, (Stephanie Rawlings-Blake), initiative of bringing new families here to Baltimore, but also giving folks a reason to stay and invest in Baltimore”.

There is an amazing line-up for CharmTV and yes, you will still be able to catch you government programming but with a twist of new local programming. Here is what you will find:

On Wednesdays: “My Town” hosted by TV Veteran, Karen Francis will feature the history and culture of Baltimore. That will be followed by “Born in Baltimore” that will feature local entrepreneurs and businesses in the area.

On Thursday’s, for all you foodies and wine lovers, Kate Beck will host, “Tasty Travels”; that will be followed by “Out and About” featuring Kuren Redmond. You don’t want to miss this show as this will give you insights on the new happenings and places to go. These shows will be in the coveted prime time slots starting at 8 p.m. If you miss an episode check the schedule to see when it will re-air.

“I am really excited about what we are doing here at CharmTV. I really believe that what we offering will really help to show our city in a different and bring everyone together” said “My Town” host Karen Francis. For more information on CharmTV: http://www.charmtv.tv. Check out our Facebook for clips from each show: www.facebook.com/TheBaltimoreTimes .

Baltimore resident receives SECU scholarship

LINTHICUM, Md. — Maryland’s largest financial cooperative, SECU awarded 13 scholarships as part of its annual State Employee Scholarship Program at a ceremony at Towson University’s SECU Arena recently.

To be eligible for SECU’s State Employee Scholarship Program, students had to be Maryland state employees or members of the immediate families of Maryland state employees. Winners had to be enrolled or accepted into a college, university, trade, or technical school. Twelfth graders who plan to attend college next fall were also eligible.

“The State Employee Scholarship Program reflects SECU’s continuing commitment to financial and scholastic education, as well as the special relationship SECU has always enjoyed with state employees,” says Peggy Young, Vice President of Marketing at SECU.

According to Young, SECU has awarded more than $210,000 in scholarships over the past seven years to Maryland state employees and family members participating in the State Employee Scholarship Program. For a complete list of all winners, visit https://www.secumd.org/community/scholarships.aspx.

Three ways to save your hood today

Self-defense. Private security. Police-community unity. These are the three pillars that comprise my strategy for successful anti-crime activism.

photo

Nadra Enzi

Notice that none of these three suggestions require blessings from on high (or low) from the bureaucrats who often are either indifferent or hostile toward citizens who are seeking safer streets, especially if those concerned citizens happen to be residents of the inner city.

In my opinion, “hood crime” is too often deceptively used as a cash cow by what I call “white power liberals.” They don’t talk very much to the black activists who live in dangerous neighborhoods, but they nonetheless do seek to use our problems, such as high murder rates, to boost their political careers and land crony capitalist contracts.

So, in the end, the act of really saving the hood is almost always going to end up the duty of its own concerned residents. This is the case, even if, our tax dollars are being withheld by those same liberals because they know that keeping the hood under-funded is what keeps their cash cow of hood crime fattened.

Self-defense is self-love, sisters and brothers! Being aware and being prepared for your own benefit as well as the benefit of others shows that you have reverence for and value all concerned.

Walking high-crime areas as a citizen on patrol also means that you also consider these zip codes to be as important as some people consider five-star hotels and gated communities elsewhere to be.

And hiring private security for inner city neighborhoods and the businesses located there also indicates a resolve to not allow violence and blight to destroy a community’s stakeholders.

There’s the notion of police-community unity. This is probably the most difficult part of my three-part strategy, as compared to the self-defense and private security portions, because such unity is often actively resisted in liberal-run cities.

While street cops and some of their supervisors are undoubtedly comfortable uniting with communities held hostage, it could be that their superiors don’t want this relationship to flourish into real culture change, in which youth stop seeing criminals as role models and cease considering all cops to automatically be their enemies.

The inevitable result of real and successful police-community unity, one figures, would probably cost these white liberals and their black flocks in the government offices and pulpits the stranglehold they currently have tightened around the residents of the hood because of inner city violence.

Once we understand this sad state of affairs and what needs to be done, conscious black citizens— whether you’re a conservative, a liberal mugged by reality or a nationalist demanding accountability for our safety— must promote self defense, private security and police-community unity. We must even realize it knowing that it’s a steep, uphill climb!

These three ways to save the hood today won’t change things overnight, but it can, alongside other efforts, make things livable in the zip codes where black life is now a desperate gamble.

Nadra Enzi is a member of the national advisory council of the black leadership network Project 21 and a community-policing activist in New Orleans. Comments may be sent to: Project21@nationalcenter.org.

Michael E. Cryor receives 2014 Icon Award from ABC

The Associated Black Charities (ABC) honored Michael E. Cryor, Chair of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Board of Visitors and President of The Cryor Group, LLC, with an Icon Award during its ABC2014 Annual Gala in Baltimore.

Cryor is the founder and president of The Cryor Group, a strategic communications firm in Baltimore. He has more than 30 years of strategic communications experience, serving as an advisor to some of the nation’s leading corporations and nonprofits specializing in urban policy, health care, and technology-based initiatives. He has a long, distinguished public service and corporate career in the City of Baltimore and throughout the state of Maryland.

“We are pleased that the Associated Black Charities has recognized Michael E. Cryor for this high honor,” said Dean E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of the School of Medicine. “Michael’s unique ability to join the powerful forces of the private and public sectors has greatly enhanced the School of Medicine and other great institutions in so many meaningful ways. He is truly one of the community’s greatest assets.”

Cryor’s impact is exemplified by his commitment to improving lives of Baltimore’s citizens.

When Gov. Martin O’Malley was Baltimore’s mayor, he asked Mr. Cryor to lead a public affairs campaign to stop the increase in crime and addiction in Baltimore City. The seminal “Believe Campaign” was a huge success with a compelling message that appealed to Baltimoreans. It ran for years— instead of its intended weeks— and was recognized nationally and internationally.

Cryor currently chairs the Board of Visitors at UM SOM, and in 2007, received SOM’s distinguished Gold Medal for his exemplary service at the school. He also has won the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s Award of Excellence. In May of this year, he was presented an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He also holds an Honorary Doctorates from Montclair State Univeristy and Morgan State University.

At the ABC2014 gala on Saturday, June 21, 2014, Cryor was honored alongside Calvin Butler, Esq., CEO of Baltimore Gas & Electric Company; Thomas LaVeist, Ph.D., Director of the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions at the Johns Hopkins University; and Angela Celeston, Managing Director of Human Resources at OneMain Financial, a Division of Citi. Each of this year’s Icon winners demonstrated a proven track record of leadership within the business sector.

“The Associated Black Charities Annual Gala and Awards is one of the most prestigious recognition programs for African American corporate leaders. It is a tremendous honor to receive the Icon Award for leadership in the business sector,” said Cryor. “This award demonstrates my commitment to serving the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, and the larger community beyond.”

Iraq again, hell never ends!

Iraq— now we know where hell is! Hell is supposed to be a place of torment reserved for some people after death. Unfortunately, too many have ended up there before they died. Is there no end to the turmoil in Iraq and Afghanistan? We will never see peace and quiet in either of these two countries. Hell never ends.

The religious factions of these countries hate each other. They want to kill each other. These factions are crazy. America is killing itself and our troops trying to fix crazy religious people. The only thing worse than a crazy person is a religious crazy person because they invoke the name of God or Allah or somebody during every crucifixion or beheading they perform. As they torture, murder and rape they move on in the name of their religion.

Some Americans thought we were finished in Iraq. When it comes to Iraq or the Middle East there is never a period but always a comma. Craziness does not end but only grows.

The only way to have some civility in Iraq or Afghanistan is to station 30,000 soldiers in five or six bases throughout each country. We can be assured if we do there will never be a time that our soldiers will not be in danger of ambush, bombs or the native soldiers turning on us as has happened numerous times. I think this is a bad idea.

Most Americans did not want us to go to Iraq or Afghanistan but we did. Over four thousand troops have died fighting the Iraqi cause. Where did all of that death get us? What do Iraq or America have to show for it?

The same scenario will happen in Afghanistan. Thugs sometimes called the Taliban

will band together to steal, kill and retake any part of the country that surrenders to them as played out in Iraq recently.

Do we keep 30,000 troops in Afghanistan to help them police their country and continue to lose our American troops? Physically, emotionally and financially we can’t keep thousands of troops in Afghanistan or send thousands back to Iraq.

There is no ending to this boiling pot of the world. Turbulence in the Middle East will never stop. In recent months we could have justified sending troops to Syria as well and then we could be in three countries. How thin can we spread our soldiers, as well as stretch our American dollars?

Hell is a hot place and we will never extinguish the fire.

Glenn Mollette is an American columnist and author. To contact Glenn Mollette, email: GMollette@aol.com.

Indie Soul Student of the Week: Phillip Freeland

This week’s student of the week is Phillip Freeland, a two-sport scholar-athlete. First and foremost, he is dedicated to his academic success. He is excelling in high school and his last report card boasted three A’s and one B at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School where he is finishing his freshman year. Phillip is also a competitive squash player through SquashWise, a youth development program that empowers Baltimore City students by teaching them the sport of squash and providing intensive tutoring, academic enrichment, and college preparation. Phillip is a leader on the football field at his high-school. He will continue to develop his leadership skills this summer on the Outward Bound Get Out And Lead program, a challenging 10-day experiential leadership course.

According to Abby Markoe, Executive Director Baltimore SquashWise,”Phillip stands out among his peers in his sheer dedication to school, athletics, and leadership. He continues to impress us with his kindness and maturity, and we can’t wait to see what lies in store for him in the future. He is going to go far in life.”

Phillip just won first place in a national essay competition held annually at the National Urban Squash Championships at Amherst College. The topic was “What do you stand for?” Phillip wrote a moving essay about grit and determination carrying him forward in school, sports, and in life. His essay was selected in the Under-17 age division from among more than a dozen other programs similar to SquashWise.

These are the kind of students we need to uplift in the community! Congratulations to Phillip Freeland our Indie Soul Student of the week.

Each week during the school year, Indie Soul will spotlight a student who excels in academics and in the community. To nominate someone for “Student of the Week,” call 410-366-3900 ext. 3016 or email pdemps@btimes.com with “Student of the Week” in the subject line.

Julie D. Goodwin receives NACUA Distinguished Service Award

The National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) is pleased to recognize Julie D. Goodwin as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for her extraordinary service both to NACUA and to institutions of higher learning over an extended period of time, and for her outstanding contributions to the work of the Association.

Julie D. Goodwin has served as General Counsel for Morgan State University in Maryland since 1992. Prior to her current position, she served for ten years at the University of Maryland College Park. Julie also served as a legal intern for the Honorable Harry A. Cole, Associate Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals and as a law clerk for the Appellate Division of the Maryland Public Defender. She is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and Maryland Bars.

She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she served as Assistant Editor of the Maryland Law Review. She also served as Vice Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and as a member of the University of Maryland School of Law Black Law Student Association, from whom she recently was awarded the Practitioner of the Year Award.

A NACUA member since 1985, Julie served on its Board of Directors as an at-large member from 2001 – 2004. In addition, her committee service is significant, and includes service on the Committees on Nominations and Elections, Finance and Audit, Membership and Member Services, Publications, Strategic Planning, Program for the Annual Conference, and Honors and Awards. Her record of attendance and speaking engagements at numerous NACUA conferences is exemplary.

In addition to her extensive NACUA service, Julie’s community service and memberships include: President of the Board of Directors of Sunnyfield Estates Homeowners Association; Chesapeake Kayak Adventures; Potomac Valley Samoyed Club; and many others.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NACUA is the primary source of higher education law programming and information for its members and for the higher education community. Founded in 1960, the Association serves more than 1,700 public and private higher education institutions and more than 4,000 attorneys throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and several other countries including Canada, Australia, and Lebanon. To learn more about NACUA, visit www.nacua.org.

Towson 4th of July Parade

TOWSON, Md. — The parade will begin at the intersection of Towsontown and Bosley Avenue and will continue down Bosley, Allegheny and Washington Avenue.

For more than 70 years, the Towson 4th of July Parade has celebrated the lives of men and women who have served our country. These brave soldiers have allowed America to remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Last year over 60,000 people attended the Towson 4th of July Parade and the Chamber expects a greater turnout this July.

The Towson 4th of July Parade will consist of costume characters including Mario from the Nintendo Mario Bros, Doc from Towson University, and Baltimore’s finest Natty Boh and Utz Girl. In addition, local dance groups, antique vehicles, floats and much more will be featured in the parade.

Many extravagant bands will be returning this year. Included in the lineup are the Baltimore Marching Ravens, Calvert Hall, Carolina Gold, Reading Buccaneers and several others.

Before you head to the beach, come to the best 4th of July parade in Baltimore! Bring your friends and family and enjoy our 70-year plus tradition in the heart of Towson. Parking is only $5 all day at County lots in and around Towson.