The Southern District Police Community Relations Council has honored Officer Jarron Jackson as its SDPCRC Officer of the Month.
Jackson is assigned to the Cherry Hill Crime Reduction Team. His duties include policing the Cherry Hill community. Cherry Hill has historically been one of the most violent areas of the Southern District. Since the creation of the Cherry Hill Crime Reduction Team there have been zero incidents of gun-related violence in the community.
During the past month, Jackson

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

How does your garden grow? It’s a question those living in Federal Hill and thereabouts will be able to answer soon, thanks to the City Farms Program. The program recently gave its approval for the formation of a new public farm, to be located in Riverside Park.

“Everyone’s really excited about it,” said Coleen McCarty, a horticulturalist at Cylburn Arboretum who acts as the City Farms coordinator. “This is the first new city farm

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Is the Middle Branch area the new Inner Harbor? The folks in charge of putting together the Middle Branch Master Plan say it is. In fact, they’re convinced of it. They say the area is poised to take off, and that all it needs is a push – from the right hands.

“This isn’t the first time people have talked about the potential of the park,” said Douglas McCoach, director of planning, “and about

by Mary Helen Sprecher
mhsprecher@baltimoreguide.com

If the first harbinger of spring is the robin’s red breast, the second might be the bluegill’s blue gills, or maybe the largemouth bass and its large mouth.

At least that’s what Bob Wall is hoping as the Patterson Park Boat Lake gears up for its Spring Kids’ Fishing Rodeo, to be held on Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Enoch Pratt Free Library hosts children’s Fairy Tale Festival

by Jenny Wierschem

In a land not far away at all, in a city sometimes called the Monumental City, and at a library called the Enoch Pratt, something magical is about to happen. The city’s children will become princes or princesses for a weekend.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library is holding its fifth annual Fairy Tale Festival at the Central Library this weekend, March 31-April 1. Enoch Pratt staff expect roughly

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

If you want to read the plain old black and white facts about Baltimore photographer A. Aubrey Bodine, you can find them in the biography on his website.

If you want a color portrait, talk to his daughter. Jennifer Bodine, who as biographer and custodian of her dad’s complete works, can add dimension and background to just about every photo in the collection. She’ll be sharing some of those insights when

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

The best-kept secret in the area is out. Finally.

When principal Susan Burgess first learned that George Washington Elementary, located in Pigtown, had been named a Nationally Distinguished Title 1 School, the good news came with a caveat: don’t tell anyone.

“We couldn’t tell anyone anything,” said Burgess, laughing.

That was early October. In late January, Burgess went to the National Title 1 School conference in Long Beach, Ca., where she was honored as

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

With the awarding of special event funding, a community-based organization has received support for an activity to enrich the neighborhood.

The Comcast Believe In Your Neighborhood program grants, offered to neighborhood associaitons and community-based non-profit groups, are used to fund activities such as festivals, street fairs, concerts and parades. The program, which provides grants in amounts ranging from $200 to $1,000, is offered by the mayor’s office and Baltimore Office of Promotion and the