U. Md. Hospital for Children a “Safe Haven” for Newborns
The University of Maryland Hospital for Children has declared itself a “Safe Haven” in the effort to protect and care for abandoned babies. The program will allow mothers in crisis to turn over their infants to the care of the Hospital under the cover of full confidentiality. The hospital’s program conforms with a recent bill signed by Gov. Ehrlich, the Maryland Safe Haven Act, which allows a parent to anonymously give up a child to another responsible adult or to an appropriate institution. Maryland is the 38th state to put into effect such a measure.
GED Program in Need of Tutors
The Baltimore County Schools’ GED program is looking for volunteers to serve as tutors for enrolled students. Tutors will be aiding young adults ages 16-21. Instruction includes GED preparation, development of job/retention skills, and exploration of computer use and management. Call 410-887-0133 or e-mail Volunteer Coordinator Erica Del Viscio at edelviscio@bcps.org for more details.
Avoid Unlicensed Contractors
Unlicensed contractors can take advantage of anxious homeowners in need of repairs, says Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation James D. Felder. Felder advises homeowners to select a contractor who has been licensed specifically by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), and to request to see, and photocopy, a copy of the contractor’s license. To find an MHIC contractor or for more information, consumers can call 410-230-6309, toll-free at 888-218-5925, or go to www.dllr.state.md.us/occprof/homeim.html.
SUVs Ticketed
On July 19, over 150 volunteers worked to ticket 15,000 SUVs in the Baltimore and greater D.C. areas as part of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s fight against SUV pollution. To see the full story or to find out what you can do to aid the Network’s fight, go to chesapeakeclimate.org.
Hurwitz is the new National Treasurer of Hadassah
Ruth B. Hurwitz, a native of Baltimore, has been selected as the National Treasurer of Hadassah of the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. A former Hadassah National Vice President, Hurwitz is now a member of the largest established Zionist organization. She also served as Chair of the Hadassah Magazine and as Vice-Chair of this year’s national convention. This convention, held in New York City, also included appearances by Daniel Ayalon, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Gloria Feldt, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Dr. Sreenath Sreenivasan, ABC-TV tech guru.
Maryland to Receive $2 Million of $300 Million National Settlement with Drug Manufacturers
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. is among 48 national units that have reached settlements, in principle, with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Bayer Corporation for violating the federal Medicaid drug rebate statute by failing to report “best price” information and failing to pay sufficient rebates to the state Medicaid programs in connection with their private labeling of certain drugs for health maintenance organizations.
In addition to the settlement, amounting to $87,600,922 in damages and penalties to the federal government and the states, GSK will enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. GSK will be required to certify its “best price” methodology, adding new responsibility for the manufacturer and enhancing future state enforcement.
Bayer has agreed to pay $242,126,570 in damages and penalties to the federal and state governments for purposefully misreporting its “best price” and underpaying its Medicaid rebates for Cipro and Adalat CC.
These combined settlements represent the largest national Medicaid fraud settlements ever
New Report Shows the Flaws of Public Schools in Diagnosing Dyslexic Children
According to a report by Kalman R. Hettleman of The Abell Foundation, 20 percent of children in Baltimore City public schools and other urban districts can be called ‘invisible dyslexics’ because of the failure of public school systems to diagnose the condition early. Discrimination against low-IQ and low-income children, the report asserts, has allowed dyslexic children to slip through the cracks, resulting in late diagnoses or no diagnoses at all. This happens through the special attention high-IQ children receive because of “larger discrepancies.”
The full report, titled “The Invisible Dyslexics: How Public School Systems in Baltimore and Elsewhere Discriminate Against Poor Children in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Reading Difficulties,” is available for download at abell.org.
Local Observatory Welcomes Stargazers
Located just minutes from Baltimore in Glen Rock, PA, The Spoutwood Farm Center Observatory holds “Evenings of Wonder Under the Stars” one Friday a month through November 28. Sessions begin at 6:30 p.m., rain or shine, and end at 10 p.m. and include breathtaking telescopic views of the moon, planets, stars and galaxies. Groups are encouraged to reserve places in advance by calling 717-235-6610 or 410-889-5996. Visit the observatory’s website at spoutwood.com for more information.
Pratt Library to Hold Free Fundraising Workshops
The Enoch Pratt Free Library will hold free fundraising workshops for nonprofit and community groups from May 5—June 23. Classes are taught by industry professionals.
Mon., May 5, 9:30 a.m.—4 p.m., Central Library, Poe Room—“Program Development” Tues., May 13, 10:15 a.m.—12 p.m., Central Library, Wheeler Auditorium—“Grantseeking Basics: An Orientation to the Funding Research Process” Wed., May 28, 6—7:30 p.m., Central Library, Poe Room—“Nonprofit Networking Night” Tues., June 10, 9:30 a.m.—4 p.m., Central Library, Poe Room—“Proposal Writing” Wed., June 18, 9:30 a.m.—12 p.m., Central Library, Poe Room—“How to Find Baltimore Neighborhood Information” Mon., June 23, 6—7:30 p.m., Central Library, Wheeler Auditorium—“Introduction to Fundraising Resources at the Pratt Library”
Registration is required. Call 410-396-1413 or email ssh@epfl.net
U. of MD Medical Center Opens New Surgical Facility
The University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore opened the country’s newest, most technologically-advanced surgical facility in May. Housed in the Center’s new Weinberg Building, the 52,000-square-foot facility will feature 19 operating rooms, two minor procedure rooms, a 28-bed post-anesthesia care unit, a same-day surgery center, and a surgical prep center for pre-operative assessments. The most advanced video and communications equipment will enhance patient safety and operational efficiency in the facility.
Baltimore Clayworks Holds Open House
Baltimore Clayworks presented an Open House for its Urban Crossroads project at Mondawmin Mall on Saturday, August 2. This program featured Syracuse Ceramics professor David MacDonald in collaboration with Coppin State College ceramics students and 20 neighborhood youth ages 13-17 who created a working studio while learning handbuilding with clay. Adults and young people from the community were invited to register for a one-time fee of $5 for ceramics classes valued at $180.
In East Baltimore, ceramic artist Leroy Johnson worked with teenagers from Baltimore City's Youth Works program on a tile mosaic mural titled "And Still I Rise," which will be installed on a wall of the new community center of St. Frances Academy, 501 E. Chase Street. Teens and adults from the neighborhood were welcome to pitch in to learn tile-making and help with what promises to be an exciting addition to the community.
For more information call Nicole Fall, Community Arts Program Director, at 410-578-1919 extension 12; or e-mail nicole.fall@baltimoreclayworks.org.
