Baltimore St

INSIDE TODAY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TODAY'S SUN COLUMNISTS Top heavy What sort of fellow is Baltimore's new schools chief? Not the sort, it seems, to ask some really tough questions, such as: Why does school administration here cost so much? Maryland baltimoresun.com/kane Signing bonus? The celebrity autograph is a strange thing, speaking from the personal experience of asking Tony Danza for one. Today baltimoresun.com/cowherd OTHER VOICES Glenn McNatt on new show at Grimaldis -- Today Jay Hancock on a bad energy offer -- business 5 THINGS TO DO TODAY Beyonce in Baltimore -- Grammy-winning recording artist Beyonce at 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. 7:30 p.m. $57.75-$198.

A man was fatally shot in the head about 8:50 p.m. yesterday at a barbershop in the 1100 block of W. Baltimore St., a police spokesman said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, said the spokesman, Agent Donny Moses. The motive and number of suspects are unclear, he said.

The two Eastern District police officers who were shot Monday while responding to a report of illegal gambling in East Baltimore have been released from Maryland Shock Trauma Center, police said. Officer Karen Brzowsky, 29, who was shot in the arm, was discharged yesterday. Officer Loretta L. Francis, 34, who was shot in the abdomen, was treated and released Monday night. Brzowsky, driver of the car, and Francis, the passenger, were approaching the intersection of Orleans and North Port streets about 6:30 p.m. Monday when they were shot by a man armed with a stolen .357 Magnum handgun as he attempted to rob men engaged in a dice game near the intersection.

Flowers and craftsHave a bloomin' good time at the Maryland Home & Flower Show tomorrow through Sunday and March 12-14 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. The show will feature landscaped plots, a plant marketplace and vendors. It runs in conjunction with the Maryland Spring Craft Show, whose wares range from ceramic art to children's clothing. Hours tomorrow are 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and March 12-13; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday and March 14 (the craft building closes at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays)

In Baltimore City15 St. Ignatius pupils scheduled to leave for Cuba todayAfter rushing to secure passports, visas and a charter plane, 15 pupils from St. Ignatius Loyola Academy were scheduled to leave for Cuba today to visit with Cuban children and attend the Orioles' exhibition game with a local all-star baseball team Sunday.Headmaster Jeff Sindler met with parents yesterday to discuss the itinerary. The school arranged for a charter bus for parents to accompany their children to Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CityWestern DistrictShooting: Two police officers narrowly escaped injury yesterday when they drove into the middle of a shootout. Officers Irving Hinkson and Chris Malecki heard gunshots while patrolling by car near the 700 block of Kirby Lane shortly before 5 p.m. and went to investigate. They were caught in a cross fire between three occupants of a car and a man crouched behind a parked vehicle, said Sgt. Kenny Parks.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CityEastern DistrictCarjacking/robbery: When a woman stopped for a red light about 1: 15 p.m. Wednesday in the 2300 block of E. North Ave., two men, one with a handgun, entered her 1988 Dodge Omni, robbed her of more than $300 and ordered her to drive to several locations in the city. At each stop, one man got out, entered a building and reportedly purchased drugs with the victim's money. At Central Avenue and Fayette Street, the men got out of the car and fled.

First Union National Bank will close its landmark branch at Charles and Baltimore streets downtown this summer, but is attempting to buy the historic property as it expands its Baltimore work force by nearly 200 jobs.Bank officials said they would consolidate the 1 E. Baltimore St. financial center with a branch a block away at 7 St. Paul St., which also houses the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank's Maryland headquarters. The Baltimore Street branch's last day will be Aug. 10."We considered which of the two facilities would best meet our needs," said J. William Knott, First Union National Bank regional president for Maryland.

A triple shooting in West Baltimore early yesterday left one man dead and two seriously wounded, pushing the number of homicides in the city to 294 this year, police said.Michael S. Jones, 25, of the 1400 block of N. Carey St. was arrested about 2: 15 a.m. at the scene of the shooting in the 1500 block of W. Baltimore St., according to Sgt. Berry Grant of the homicide squad.Grant said police recovered a .38-caliber handgun that is believed to have been used in the shooting.Jones is charged with fatally shooting Lonnie Anthony Hardy, 19, of the 2500 block of W. Fayette St.Hardy, who was shot several times in the back, died a short time after the shooting at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.Baltimore CitySouthern DistrictBurglary: A fax machine and a computer printer, all valued at nearly $5,000, were stolen from Waste Management Inc. in the 1400 block of W. Hamburg St. between Friday and Sunday.Eastern DistrictRobbery: A man wearing a blue cap with a red letter "B" on the front robbed a woman, 50, about 6 p.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of E. North Ave.Robbery: A man armed with a knife robbed a woman, 48, of her purse containing less than a dollar and a set of keys about 3 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of Aisquith St.Robbery: A man known as "Stinky" is accused of knocking a woman, 34, to the ground during an argument and robbing her of $10 about 1 p.m. Sunday in the 2800 block of E. Madison St. He was being sought by police.

On September 9, 2009, Friends may call at THE CHATMAN-HARRIS FUNERAL HOME EAST, 4210 Belair Rd., Monday 2-8 p.m. The family will receive friends, Tuesday 10 a.m., at the St. Paul's Apostolic Holiness Church, 1725 E. Baltimore St. Funeral services will begin 11 a.m. Inquiries to 410-488-5947.

Clubs, store penalized for underage drinking The city liquor board penalized three strip clubs Thursday on The Block for underage drinking and indefinitely suspended the license of a West Baltimore liquor store for repeatedly selling alcohol to minors. Mouse Trap II, at 406 E. Baltimore St., and Plaza Saloon, at 404 E. Baltimore St., were both fined $3,000, while Circus Bar, at 427 E. Baltimore St., was fined $500. Liquor board commissioners also ordered the owner of Wonderland Discount Liquors, in the 2000 block of Pennsylvania Ave., to sell its liquor license within six months.

Last Tuesday on Dining@Large I published a Top 10 list of lunch places for city jurors, from my own experience and from readers' suggestions. The list is in alphabetical order, and the times in parentheses are the estimated walking times from the courthouse from Google Maps. 1 Au Bon Pain at 1 South St. (3 min.) It's a chain, but a decent one. The real draw is the courtyard at the side where you can eat your lunch. 2 Cypriana Cafe at 120 E. Baltimore St. (2 min.) Excellent Greek pitas, salads and paninis.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Southeastern Baltimore Armed robbery: Police were seeking two men, one armed with a handgun, who entered Dunkin Donuts in the 600 block of Dundalk Ave. about 1:30 a.m. Monday and forced an employee to give up money from a cash register. The gunman and his accomplice fled with an undisclosed sum. Theft: A 2006 Ford Explorer was parked in the 1100 block of E. Baltimore St. on Saturday when someone entered the vehicle by breaking a window and stole a navigational system valued at $230, an MP3 player and its charger.

SATURDAY Tango night Some of the world's most sensual music will be the focus of "Volver! Noche de Tango," featuring bandoneon player Raul Jaurena, vocalist Gabriella Cavallero, violinist Jose Miguel Cueto, bassist Laura Ruas and others, at 7 p.m. Saturday at LeClerc Auditorium, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, 4701 N. Charles St. $15, $35. Call 410-655-5959. Dance concert Common Ground Dance Company is hosting its annual concert at 8 p.m. in the Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson.

Police reports in Baltimore city and county: Northern Baltimore Robbery A boy, 15, was walking in the 3000 block of Woodland Ave. in Pimlico about 6:10 p.m. Wednesday when he observed several teenage males sitting on the front porch of a house and heard one of them say something that sounded racial. When the teen reached the 2900 block of Woodland Ave., one of the youths the victim observed earlier approached him from the rear armed with a sledgehammer. That youth was joined by another, and together they robbed the victim of his cell phone.

police reports in baltimore city and county: Southwestern Baltimore Victim named The man fatally shot early Sunday in the 3300 block of Frederick Ave. has been identified as Fabian P. Palmer, 24, of the 3900 block of Nemo road in Randallstown, Baltimore County. Palmer was among at least four men shot by an unknown assailant and died later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The other victims survived. 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.

As spring approaches - it officially begins tomorrow - it's a good time to check on what's in season in the area's arts scene. The next few weeks bring such classics as an appearance by John Waters at the Maryland Film Festival and a performance of Mahler's Ninth Symphony by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. There's surprising fare, too, like an exhibit at the Contemporary Museum exploring culture, science and the environment (Reverse Ark: In the Wake), and a surreal comedy at Everyman Theatre (The Soul Collector)

police reports in Baltimore city and county: Western Baltimore Shooting A young male was shot in the leg and foot in the 1600 block of Bruce Court about 6 p.m. yesterday by an unknown assailant. The victim was taken by a city Fire Department ambulance to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Details were not available. Police also were investigating the shooting of another male who walked into Bon Secours Hospital in the 2000 block of W. Baltimore St. shortly after the man was shot on Bruce Court.

Police reports in baltimore city and county: Northern Baltimore Robbery A man, 29, was driving on 28th Street about 12:40 p.m. Monday and was turning onto the 2800 block of Lovegrove St. when his car was struck in the rear by a Chevrolet Malibu. While the victim and the driver of the other car discussed the accident, a passenger in the Malibu exited the vehicle with what appeared to be a handgun in his waistband and demanded the victim's money. The man gave up $28 to the gunman who, along with the driver of the Malibu, sped off. The victim drove off and called police.