Baltimore City

CHARLES "NUMBER ONE" ARMSTEAD, a well known master barber in Baltimore City, died on March 28, 2009 at his home. He was 75. Charles was born in Whatley, Alabama on February 20, 1934. He loved his family, cutting hair, making people laugh and going to the race track. He is survived by his wife Alice Armstead and many other loving relatives and friends. The funeral service will be held Friday, April 3, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2100 West Baltimore Street.

Baltimore City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake asked the Dixon administration yesterday to introduce zoning legislation needed for a gambling parlor and said she is "urging the city to move forward on slots." Rawlings-Blake made the request in a letter to Baltimore Development Corp. President M.J. "Jay" Brodie, saying that a delay in bringing slots to the city would "disregard the will of the people" after last fall's statewide referendum authorized expanded gambling in Baltimore and four other locations.

On December 27, 2008, Margaret (Peg) Clarke Dooley, a resident of Aigburth Vale, Baltimore, MD passed away at her daughter's home in Arlington, VA. Beloved mother of Karen M Leech of Ellicott City, Barbara A. Quinn of Baltimore, John Michael Dooley Family and friends may call at the Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, 6500 York Road, on Friday, January 2nd from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. Funeral Services will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Saturday, January 3rd at 10AM. Private Internment will be in New Cathedral Cemetery.

As freshmen a year ago, Poly's Joseph Pate and Towson's Hayden White each fell short of their goals of winning tennis titles in their respective jurisdictions at No. 1 singles. Pate was unbeaten in 15 matches last season before finishing second in the Baltimore City championships behind Marcus Addison of City. White, meanwhile, had lost once heading into last year's Baltimore County tournament. But after reaching the semifinals, academic priorities took precedence. "I had two math tests the next day," White said.

A Baltimore City lawmaker says he will introduce legislation to give the city and other relatively poor jurisdictions a greater share of state grant dollars. Del. Keith E. Haynes, a Democrat, says he wants to change the formula of a program designed to account for differences in the ability of governments to raise revenue from local income taxes. His bill would increase the total that Baltimore City receives under the disparity grant program from $78 million to $107 million, he said. Haynes, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the special session set to start Oct. 29 is an "opportunity to strategically leverage this unique opportunity to fight for Baltimore."

DOROTHY N. WILSON of Baltimore City, passed away on January 11, 2007. Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at Wylie Funeral Home, 638 N. Gilmore St. Visitation 10 A.M. Memorial Services 10:30 A.M.

Baltimore: Education BCCC names head of human resources Baltimore City Community College President Carolane Williams has named Lexsee Waterford as the college's new executive director of human resources. Waterford -- who took the position Feb. 12 -- was most recently executive director of human resources for a high school district in the Denver area. She also has worked for the U.S. Postal Service, a Denver-area construction services company and AT&T, and as a corporate consultant, according to college officials.

Long before integration, No Child Left Behind legislation and the discussion of achievement gaps, Natalie Woodson learned the importance of educating African-Americans. At age 8, Woodson, who is now the education chair for the Maryland chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, attended her first NAACP meeting with her grandmother. The agenda item? Woodson's cousin Donald Gaines Murray, who was in the midst of a civil rights battle led by his lawyer - Thurgood Marshall - over admission to the University of Maryland School of Law. Bigotry, raising a family, losing a husband, retirement from a career as an educator, and now her greatest challenge - battling a terminal illness - have not slowed the 79-year-old advocate, who accepted her current position in 1989.

Founded as a neighborhood for city commuters in the 1850s, Mount Washington offers a slower-paced suburban lifestyle in proximity to downtown Baltimore. "We're one of the first suburbs ever created, and we're still as convenient to downtown ... as when they first envisioned this community 150 years ago," said Mac Nachlas, president of the Mount Washington Improvement Association. Although Mount Washington straddles the Baltimore City and Baltimore County line and includes more than one ZIP code, a large portion of it is tucked nicely between the Pimlico Racetrack and Interstate 83, in an architecturally diverse area.

Records turned over to a federal grand jury investigating municipal tax-sale auctions show that two of Maryland's largest tax-sale investors didn't bid against each other for properties during the past four years in Montgomery County. Bidding lists were among documents demanded in the subpoena, which also sought any records from 2002 to 2007 that would show whether bidders communicated with one another about what properties they would bid on and prices they would pay, or about any inducement not to bid on certain properties or not bid at all. The subpoena is part of an investigation being coordinated by the Justice Department's antitrust division in Washington.

Baltimore's powerful spending panel voted Wednesday to reject all bids for two huge public works contracts, overruling objections from a roomful of lawyers and CEOs, some of whom argued that the decision favored a local firm and sullied the city's reputation. Baltimore-based Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. bid $39 million on one water facilities contract and $115 million on another. But problems arose with both bids: The firm included Doracon Contracting as a minority subcontractor on both projects, even though Doracon owes $787,156 in back state taxes.

The colorful murals on the side of the Hollins Street Market glittered in the afternoon sun as small knots of middle school students and their teachers walked up and down the street looking astonished at the art they had created. Seven murals made by Baltimore City and Baltimore County public school students had been inserted into the large arches, an art project that celebrates the neighborhood's rich history and the creativity of children unfamiliar with Union Square or Hollins Market.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Eastern Baltimore Shooting: A man, 19, was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant in the 500 block of McElderry St. about 3:30 p.m. Sunday and was found minutes later in the 1100 block of Orleans St. by police responding to a report of a shooting. The man was treated at an area hospital. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call district detectives at 410-396-2433. Northern Baltimore Robbery: Moments after a man entered the Dunkin' Donuts in the 1000 block of W. 41st St. about 2 p.m. Sunday and ordered blueberry doughnuts, he pulled out a small semiautomatic handgun and demanded the clerk give him money from the cash register.

If you're a renter and have issues with your place, you're in good company. Half the rentals in the Baltimore metro area had at least one problem in 2007. But don't feel bad: 41 percent of owner-occupied homes did, too. Those are two nuggets from a new report by the Columbia-based National Center for Healthy Housing, which used federal American Housing Survey data on 45 metro areas to show "a critical need to improve housing conditions in many U.S. cities." The nonprofit group says substandard residences can cause illness, injury or death.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Southern Baltimore Victim named: Police identified Eugene Chambers, 20, of the 1600 block of Cypress St. as the man who was shot near his home in the 1600 block of Cypress St. on Friday night. He died a short time later at Harbor Hospital. Metro Crime Stoppers at 410-276-8888 is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and an indictment. Central Baltimore Shooting: Police are seeking three men in the shooting of a man, 18, as he and others walked in the 500 block of N. Paca St. about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

A new law in Baltimore City prohibiting trans fats in restaurants and other eateries took effect on Sunday. Do you support the ban? Yes 50% No 46% Not sure 4% (1,116 votes, results not scientific) Next poll: : Should the Baltimore city school system automatically and permanently expel any student found to be involved in setting a fire? Vote at baltimoresun.com/vote

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Southwestern Baltimore Shooting: A boy, 16, was shot in the upper right leg about 9:20 p.m. Saturday as he was about to enter a car after he and another youth argued during a football game at the Leon Day Field in the 1200 block of N. Franklintown Road. There were no arrests. The victim was attending a Pop Warner football game when he became involved in an argument with another youth. Police said the victim walked away and was about to enter a car many yards from the field away when he was shot.

Baltimore prosecutors have dropped charges against a woman accused of first-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend. She had told police that he had been choking her when she stabbed him. Tiesha Sakeyra Bennett, 27, was charged in July in the death of Jermaine Womack, 32, on June 22 in the 300 block of Charter Oak Ave. But the charges were dropped in Baltimore District Court on Sept. 3, according to online court records. Bennett's defense attorney, Ivan J. Bates, said city prosecutors overreached in accusing Bennett of murder.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Southwestern Baltimore Shooting: Police continue to seek the person who fired at least one shot at a male motorist in the 3100 block of Baker St. about 8 p.m. Saturday afternoon, striking the man in the right arm. The victim drove himself to University of Maryland Medical Center and was reported in good condition. Anyone with information is asked to call the district at 410-396-2488. Southern Baltimore Burglary: Someone broke into Head & Toe clothing store in the 1100 block of Hollins St. through the front door between Thursday night and early Friday and stole clothing and other items, all valued at nearly $8,700.

Baltimore City has no money set aside for future payments to members of its oldest fire and police pension system, according to a just-released state audit of Maryland's local governments, but city officials said no one will miss a payment. The state report also showed six municipalities, including Cumberland and Cambridge, closed the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2008, with a deficit. Meanwhile, results were uncertain for tiny Forest Heights in Prince George's County: The town of 1,000 hasn't filed the required audit for the past two fiscal years.