Gov. Martin J. O’Malley is proposing that the six percent state sales tax apply to gasoline sales at your local filling station. The tax would be imposed instead of the 15-cent gasoline tax proposed by a blue ribbon transportation commission last year. Some highlights:

• The sales tax would be phased in over three years, two percent at a time.

• The tax would be collected on the retail price of the gasoline minus any state and federal gasoline taxes already reflected in the price. Currently the state imposes a 23.5-cent tax and the federal government collects 18.4 cents a gallon.

• The sales tax would not be applied to home heating oil.

• The cash collected, estimated at $613 million per year when the tax is fully imposed, would be used for transportation projects and maintenance of bridges and roads.

Maryland State Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller calls it “a tough sell.” What do you think? We’ll print some of the printable comments next week.

—Jacqueline Watts, editor

Playbook Bar hearing rescheduled to evening, Feb. 21

The Baltimore City Municipal Zoning and Appeals Board has rescheduled its hearing concerning the Play Book Sports Bar, located in the 5300 block of German Hill Road. The hearing will take place during the 5 p.m. docket on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
The location will be the Board of Estimates Room, no. 215, in the City Hall building, 100 N. Holliday Street.

The hearing was previously scheduled for Feb. 7, but was changed to accommodate the number of community members who wanted to be present for the hearing.

According to Celestine “Babe” Grabowski of the Graceland Park Improvement Association, the bar would like to be able to have live music and dancing (it presently has entertainment provided [Read more...]

The Baltimore Health Department continues to offer vaccination clinics for local residents.

In previous flu seasons, the H1N1strain of flu was a big fear; however, this year, say Baltimore Health Department officials, the flu shot individuals will receive will be a combination vaccine which will also guard against H1N1 as well as other flu strains.

The drive to fell the flu has already kicked off. Free flu shots are available throughout December to everyone (children, adults and seniors) as follows:

Wednesdays and Mondays (Feb. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 22, 27 and 29): Baltimore City Health Department Immunization Office, 1800 N. Charles Street, Suite 600: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Thursdays and Tuesdays (Feb. 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23 and 28): 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Baltimore City Health Department Eastern District, 620 N. Caroline Street.

Monday, Feb. 20 is a holiday, and no vaccination clinics will be held.

Bring all vaccination records; call 410-396-4454 with any [Read more...]

Making college affordable
If the ivy walls of college are hiding behind a big cloud of doubt, some help is on the way.

The Maryland Public Television rebroadcast of “You Can Afford College” runs on December 28 at 2 p.m.Each year, the program presents updated college financial aid information and new interviews.

The show examines new avenues for obtaining scholarships and grants, common pitfalls in planning for one’s college education finances and how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Viewers can obtain free personalized advice directly from a financial aid professional via phone (800-222-1292), Twitter (#MPTycac) or e-mail (outreach@mpt.org) during the live show.

A Spanish-language version of “You Can Afford College” will be available online at video.mpt.tv in January 2012. Information is available at mpt.org.

College Goal Sunday
Those who would rather receive in-person should know that College Goal Sunday, a free program where high school students can receive in-person help in filling out the FAFSA, will be presented in Baltimore on Sunday, Jan. 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Druid Hill YMCA (1609 Druid Hill Avenue), on Sunday, Feb. 5 from noon-3 p.m. at Loyola University Main Campus (4501 N. Charles Street), and on Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Ray of Hope Baptist Church (3000 Parkside Drive).

Information on all College Goal Sunday events in Maryland is available at http://CollegeGoalSundayMD.org/

Education for adults
Patterson Park Public Charter School offers free classes for adults starting in 2012.

Patterson Park Public Charter School, located at 27 N. Lakewood Avenue, will offer classes as well as testing and registration. Info: Dr. Liz Obara 410-558-1230, ext. 374, LObara@pppcs.org.

Pre-GED Class: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. from [Read more...]

Have community meetings, church bazaars, clean-ups and other special events on the schedule? The Baltimore Guide is now accepting entries for its Community Calendar in 2012.

Notices for non-profit events that are open to the public, and which do carry an admission or participation charge of $50/person or less, will continue to be printed free of charge. However, for non-profit events that charge more than $50/person, the Guide will charge a nominal $20 fee for publication per week.

These paid items will be highlighted in the calendar [Read more...]

Free classes for adults in 2012

Free Adult Classes: Patterson Park Public Charter School, 27 N. Lakewood Avenue, has free classes for adults. Info: Dr. Liz Obara 410-558-1230, ext. 374, LObara@pppcs.org.

Pre-GED Class: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. from Jan. 17-March 29. Testing and registration: Jan. 3/Jan. 5, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Spanish Beginner: Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Jan. 4-June 4.

Spanish Intermediate: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Jan. 5-May 29.

Computer Class: Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Jan. 18-March 28, Orientation: Jan. 5, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Other education notes

Visit PPPCS: Patterson Park Public Charter School, 27 N. Lakewood Avenue, has open house on Jan. 29, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Info/RSVP: 410-558-1230 or enrollment@pppcs.org.

HeadStart Openings: HeadStart, a free pre-school programs with meals for ages 3, 4 and 5, has openings at the Our Lay of Fatima site, 6400 E. Pratt Street. Info: 410-558-0919

Thanksgiving Holidays: Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, Nov. 24. Trash and recycling, both curbside and City containers will not be collected, landfills are closed and no bulk trash collection is scheduled. Parking meters do not need to be fed. (Saturday, Nov. 26 is the make-up day for trash and recycling that wasn’t picked up on Thursday).

Friday, November 25 is a mandatory citywide furlough day. Trash and recycling will be collected on schedule. No bulk trash scheduled. Parking meters do not need to be fed. Landfills are closed.

Those who wish to pay city bills may be able to do so online at the website, www.baltimorecity.gov.

Help feed the hungry this holiday season. The following organizations are seeking donations:

The Church of St. Leo the Great in Little Italy holds a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless on Thursday, Nov. 17, noon-3 p.m. in the church hall.

The St. Anthony Society of St. Leo’s serves its annual Christmas dinner for the homeless on Monday, Dec. 19, noon-3 p.m. in the church hall.
For both events, the ministries gratefully accept donations of desserts, especially assorted pies, as well as monetary donations to help offset the dinner costs. Bring items to the parish office. Mail donation checks to: St. Leo the Great, 227 S. Exeter Street, Little Italy, MD 21202. (Please identify a check donation as “Thanksgiving/Christmas Dinner for the Homeless.”)

The Southern District Police Community Relations Council is accepting donations of canned and dry goods to help fill Baskets of Plenty that will be given out to the area’s needy. Bring donations to the Southern District, 10 Cherry Hill Road at any time, or to the SDPCRC Council meeting on Nov. 17 or call 410-354-5169 and arrange for the donations to be picked up.

Many Baltimore-area Giant Food stores are accepting donations for the Ravens Food Drive now through Nov. 20. Contriubute non-perishable food items such as plain oatmeal, sugar-free canned fruit, low-sodium canned vegetables, canned tuna and peanut butter. Can’t get to the store? Go online at the Ravens virtual food drive (www.mdfoodbank.org/ravens), running now through Nov. 21.

The Maryland Food Bank is trying to fill its empty shelves in order to help hungry residents find food. Help by donating items, or by going online and making a donation. $10.50 feeds a hungry person for a whole week. [Read more...]