Crime Alert: The Guide has received calls from residents who have been approached by individuals claiming to be city workers, contractors and others. These people are saying that they need to get into a person’s home in order to check water pipes, repair or update phone lines, read meters, etc. There have also been reports of individuals knocking on doors and asking to come inside to speak to elderly residents about their Medicare Part D coverage.
An elderly woman

by Jenny Wierschem

Art is going outside of gallery walls and into the outdoors for a new Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts event at the Inner Harbor. Each Sunday in June, artists will set up tents at the harbor’s West Shore Park on Light Street between the Visitor Center and the Maryland Science Center. Throughout the day, artists and craftspeople will display and sell artwork and demonstrate how their craft is done.

“The whole idea was to provide

Quilts! The Walters Art Museum has a panel discussion to correspond with its exhibit, “Gee’s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt,” on Friday, June 15, 7 p.m., for $10/person. Quilters from Gee’s Bend will discuss their work and sign books. Pre-registration recommended. Info: www.thewalters.org or 410-547-9000, ext. 238.
Big Bang: The Orioles have fireworks following their Friday, June 15 game. There’s still time to get tickets—or to watch the pyrotechnics from a nearby roof deck.
Bark! The Humane

This weekend, head east for the Greek Folk Festival (above), held in and around St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at 520 Ponca Street, Greektown. The festival is held Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., and Sunday, noon-10 p.m. Then head west for the St. Anthony Festival in Little Italy (top), held Saturday, noon-8 p.m., and Sunday after the 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Leo the Great Church. Both festivals offer ethnic foods, crafts, entertainment and dancing—and both have free admission.

Photos by Anna Santana (Little Italy), Jacqueline Watts (Greektown)

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Those who are frustrated with traffic delays, or who want to voice their own suggestions for improvement are about to get their chance.

The Southeast Traffic Plan Open House series is held on Wednesday, June 13, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue, and on Wednesday, June 20, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the General Wolfe Elementary School, 245 S. Wolfe Street.

In a flyer to community members, officials noted, “Development

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

There might be a new school in town in a few years. But it’s not a charter school, and it’s not a re-opening of one of the soon-to-be-defunct middle schools.

In fact, it’s not really new, come to think of it.

The school is St. Casimir’s, or it will be, when the parish once again takes the reins of the school.

For now, it’s still Father Kolbe School.

The story actually began a long

Grand opening: The Southeast Anchor Library, Eastern Avenue and Conkling Street, will officially open its doors Saturday, June 9, at 10 a.m. with speeches, a ribbon cutting and a performance by the Baltimore City College Choir. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. and segue right into the kickoff for the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Summer Reading Program. The theme this year is “Reading Road Trip,” and encourages children and teens to “explore different places through reading,” according to Ellen Riordan,

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

The way Mary Jo Lazun looks at it, the Canton branch of the library is sort of like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree: all it needs is a little TLC to bring it back.

“It’s a great old building,” said Lazun, treasurer of the Friends of the Canton Branch.
That’s the problem, though. It’s an old building. It dates back to 1896, long before the time of climate control and the Americans With Disabilities

Note: The Class of 2007 is an annual feature in which local high schools nominate students whom they feel have been particularly outstanding, for recognition.
by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Integrity is a word that gets kicked around a lot. But according to Roger Shaw, principal at Dunbar High School, it’s particularly demonstrated by one student — Dalonte Keemer.

“What impresses me most about Dalonte is his integrity,” said Shaw. “He’s been in situations where he has to

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Between the first robin and the last day of school, the most telling harbinger of warm weather is the Patterson Park Fishing Festival. And make no mistake, this year’s event, which will be held on June 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., will be able to keep kids occupied all morning.

“We have a lot going on,” said Mark Burke, recreation director in Patterson Park.
The lake has a thriving population of trout, bluegill and

Go Greyhound: Greyhound Pets of America-Maryland, Inc. holds its 17th Annual Greyhound Reunion Picnic at Oregon Ridge Park in Hunt Valley on Sunday, June 3, (rain or shine), 10 a.m.–3 p.m., $2 donation per family helps pay for the park. Statewide celebration of retired racing greyhounds to which people and their hounds (or even people wishing for hounds) are invited. Info: 410-744-4542.
Feats Of Clay: June 1-3 is ClayFest 2007 at ClayWorks, 5707 Smith Avenue.Enjoy a Seconds Sale Preview,

Memorial Day: Memorial Day is Monday, May 28. There will be no trash or recyclables pickup, and city offices and schools are closed. Parking meters still need to be fed. The offices of the Baltimore Guide will be closed for Memorial Day as well.
African Children’s Choir: The African Children’s Choir will perform Wednesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 306 E. 23rd St. The 21 children in the choir come from Uganda and Rwanda, and

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

BikeJam, the city’s annual festival of all things two-wheeled, is nine years old, and it shed its training wheels long ago. The event, which this year will be held on Saturday, May 26 in Patterson Park, will bring out pro racers, stunt riders and big names.

But it also hasn’t lost sight of the little things—namely the kids who are, after all, the sport’s future.

According to Gardner Duvall, one of the coordinators of

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Cooking burgers and hot dogs on the grill. Getting into the pool and (ouch!) getting the first sunburn of the summer. Dressing up as a favorite sci-fi character and attending a Saturday night masquerade.

Cue the music: “One of these things is not like the other/One of these things just doesn’t belong…”

Ah, but it all does belong in the Memorial Day scheme of things, particularly here in Baltimore. For the past several years,

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Note: Have a comment on this article? Post it at www.baltimoreguide.com.

One week to go.

The 80-year reunion of St. Rita School takes place Saturday, May 19, from 2 p.m.-5 p.m., and organizers are counting down. The school, which closed in 2006, welcomes back its alumni, their parents, former teachers and community members for a day of reminiscing and catching up.

“It’s going great,” said Denise Szimanski, one of the alums working on the

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Note: Have a comment on this article? Post it at www.baltimoreguide.com.

It’s time for Fells Point’s regular check-up. At next Wednesday’s Town Hall Meeting, it’ll be time to check the overall health of the community—and to look for any aches and pains as well.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 23 at Louisiana Restaurant, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

“We will have an agenda for the evening,” said Jason Sullivan, executive director of the

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Note: Have a comment on this article? Post it at www.baltimoreguide.com.

Officials at Our Lady of Fatima Parish have been exploring the possibility of developing an affordable senior housing community on the parish grounds. And if all goes well, according to Catholic Charities, which is serving as the developer on the project, construction may begin within two years.

According to Fr. Kevin Milton, pastor at Our Lady of Fatima, older parishioners and those in

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

Note: Have a comment on this article? Post it at www.baltimoreguide.com.
The Class of 2007 is an annual feature in which local high schools nominate students whom they feel have been particularly outstanding, for recognition.

The challenges the typical high school student faces—family responsibilities, trying to get good grades, worrying about college acceptances, trying to resist peer pressure—are formidable enough.

Now think about doing all that when English isn’t your first language. And

Roar and Snore: Ready for a wild sleepover? Join the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore for its Roar and Snore from 5 p.m. Friday, May 18-11 a.m. Saturday, May 19. Pack up the family and the camping gear for a night of flashlight adventures, pizza and a huge campfire complete with s’mores and songs. The next morning, enjoy a truly wild outdoor breakfast with the animals. Prices vary; call for info. Reservations required; call 443-552-5276, extension 8062, www.marylandzoo.org.

Bird’s Eye View: