Harbor Area

Rob Kasper's "editorial" about Artscape (Editorial notebook: "Artscape, a grouch's view," July 17) was interesting. Wait until we have the upcoming proposed NASCAR races in the Inner Harbor area, with spectators expected to double along with the irritations to neighbors and people driving in or near the area. Richard L. Lelonek, Baltimore

Water sloshed out of the Annapolis Harbor before dawn Tuesday, flooding the immediate City Dock area with a foot of water by 6 a.m. But city officials estimated that high tide could crest at 4.8 feet and stay high past 4 p.m. By 4 a.m., crews reported flooding there had begun. City officials were warning people to stay away from the City Dock, as well as other waterfront areas that could be submerged because of the wind-whipped high tide. "City crews are watching the high tide closely," said city spokeswoman Rhonda Wardlaw.

Brian Roberts, Orioles second baseman What is your favorite activity in Baltimore? It would just be a nice day, walking around the Inner Harbor. It's relaxing. It's pretty. You can sit outside and eat. I just think they've done a good job with the Inner Harbor area. On a nice day, that's probably as good as it gets here. We don't get a lot of time at night, so usually it's something in the day.

Braving sweltering heat, strident warnings of roving gangs and a killjoy calendar that let the Fourth of July fall midweek, Marylanders and visitors from around the world flocked to the Inner Harbor Wednesday night to catch their share of rockets' red glare. As the first fireworks soared skyward at 9:30 p.m., a crowd of a couple of hundred thousand seemed to be in high spirits - reassured by a highly visible but conspicuously laid-back police presence. Instead of a warning to people to stay away from the Inner Harbor - the site of some violent incidents after some recent large gatherings - the message tweeted by the Baltimore Police Department was something along the lines of "Come on down and join us. " Lt. Col. Ross Buzzuro, Area One Commander and the man in charge of Wednesday night's security operation, said just before the fireworks went off that the evening was off to a great start.

As a city resident, born and residing in Baltimore since the 1920s, it seems to me that Raymond Daniel Burke's op-ed ("City or oasis on the water?" June 12) and Roz Heid's letter of June 14 are unduly pessimistic and accusatory toward Baltimoreans who did not flee the city during its continuing evolution from the 1950s to the current time. To correct the record, the Inner Harbor concept and its authorization came prior to the riots of 1968. From 1963 to 1967, the developer, James Rouse, together with Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin and the City Council, conceived the plans and enacted the laws.

In yesterday's editions of The Sun, the location of the Sweet Adelines convention was listed incorrectly in Around the Inner Harbor. The convention will take place next week at the Baltimore Arena.REMEMBER 1492Mark a piece of history by watching the city's 102nd annual Christopher Columbus Parade in the Inner Harbor area Sunday starting at 1 p.m.Baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio will be grand marshal, greeting spectators from a float devoted to baseball.Besides floats, parade highlights will include marching bands, military units, and local dancers, musicians and, of course, politicians.

LOS ANGELES - Since the 1920s, the white, block letter Hollywood sign perched high in the hills above Hollywood Boulevard has served as a landmark for the movie industry, but recently it has become a pawn in a political battle that could tear this town apart. From one end of this sprawling 466-square-mile city to the other, secessionist fever is raging. Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley and the San Pedro harbor area want to break away and form independent municipalities. The state's Local Agency Formation Commission is analyzing the three secession plans and will decide whether they should appear on the November ballot.

The Police Department ousted its top leadership yesterday in the Central District, a move that comes amid violent attacks in the downtown area and one day after The Baltimore Sun reported that officers had failed to properly handle the robbery of a nanny in Bolton Hill. Maj. John Bailey, a 35-year veteran, and his second in command, Deputy Maj. Avon Mackell, a 21-year veteran, were stripped of their command positions after what sources described as a particularly heated exchange with department leadership after a woman was choked and robbed of an iPod while she walked with a baby Monday afternoon.

The transformation of Baltimore's Inner Harbor from rotting piers into a glittering waterfront recreational area is part of the nation's urban legend. But even as spring weather is drawing hordes of out-of-town tourists downtown, Baltimore promotion officials complain that thousands of locals never take advantage of attractions there.This weekend they are testing an intriguing question: If you throw a free party, will Baltimoreans come?On Saturday and Sunday, downtown shops, restaurants, institutions and neighborhoods will offer nearly 100 activities for everyone to explore.

CAR CRUNCHING, METAL MUNCHING . . . :That's right, folks. It's hot, it's hype, it's the U.S. Hot Rod Grand Slam of Motorsports at the Baltimore Arena at 8 p.m. today and tomorrow and at 2 p.m. Sunday.You know all about it: MONSTER TRUCKS making a din, jumping ramps, crushing cars and, whatever this phrase from the promotional literature means, "munching metal." Not to mention, you'll witness Quad Wars -- races among four-wheeled carts as they roar over hill and dale with an occasional mishap.

As a city resident, born and residing in Baltimore since the 1920s, it seems to me that Raymond Daniel Burke's op-ed ("City or oasis on the water?" June 12) and Roz Heid's letter of June 14 are unduly pessimistic and accusatory toward Baltimoreans who did not flee the city during its continuing evolution from the 1950s to the current time. To correct the record, the Inner Harbor concept and its authorization came prior to the riots of 1968. From 1963 to 1967, the developer, James Rouse, together with Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin and the City Council, conceived the plans and enacted the laws.

The organizers of this weekend's Artscape seem to be fascinated by 1982, the year the outdoor festival made its debut. Let's consider 1982 Baltimore. A double feature of "Poltergeist" and "Star Trek" was playing at the Hippodrome ; Barry Levinson's "Diner" was at the Senator and later at the Pikes. The first Artscape was held in June along Mount Royal Avenue, signaling a momentous year for the neighborhood. The Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall would open that September. The Lyric simultaneously underwent a dramatic renovation that gave it an enlarged lobby and a rearranged orchestra seating.

At least six people were arrested Monday night as police were called from across Baltimore to help disperse a crowd at the Inner Harbor, shortly after two teenage boys were stabbed several blocks away, according to the department. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi described those arrested as facing minor charges for nonviolent offenses and said they were not connected to the stabbings. He said about 100 teens came to the harbor after Easter Sunday, on one of the last days of spring break for city students.

Rob Kasper's "editorial" about Artscape (Editorial notebook: "Artscape, a grouch's view," July 17) was interesting. Wait until we have the upcoming proposed NASCAR races in the Inner Harbor area, with spectators expected to double along with the irritations to neighbors and people driving in or near the area. Richard L. Lelonek, Baltimore

Even if the sight of cars racing at up to 200 miles per hour down Pratt Street toward the Inner Harbor doesn't rev your engine, the idea of adding another sporting event with the economic impact of the Preakness to Baltimore should. That's why the Board of Estimates' anticipated decision today to approve a five-year agreement with Baltimore Racing Development to bring an annual Indy Car race to the city, possibly in August of 2011, deserves cautious optimism. We're still a long way from seeing Danica Patrick fueling up at a pit stop near Camden Yards -- Indy Car's governing body hasn't committed to the race yet -- but the groundwork that has been laid so far suggests that the odds of it coming here are good.

After you and your kids have had your encounter(s) with Curious George this weekend, here are five more things you might want to do in the Inner Harbor area. Maryland Science Center (601 Light St.; 410-685-2370 or mdsci.org): Dinosaurs! Amplified body sounds! Machines that make your hair stand on end! And a movie screen five stories high! What's not to love about the Maryland Science Center? And we haven't even talked about Baltimore's coolest museum gift shop. (OK, maybe the Visionary Art Museum's is better.

After you and your kids have had your encounter(s) with Curious George this weekend, here are five more things you might want to do in the Inner Harbor area. Maryland Science Center (601 Light St.; 410-685-2370 or mdsci.org): Dinosaurs! Amplified body sounds! Machines that make your hair stand on end! And a movie screen five stories high! What's not to love about the Maryland Science Center? And we haven't even talked about Baltimore's coolest museum gift shop. (OK, maybe the Visionary Art Museum's is better.

HIPPITY HOPHippity-hoppity down for the Mayor's Spring Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow at 34 Market Place, formerly known as the Brokerage and future home of the Children's Museum. There will be visits from the Easter bunny and Peter Rabbit, Captain Seweed, magician Steve Garner and FunFit, who will provide interactive games for the children.After the festivities, all are invited to participate in Baltimore's largest bunny hop.Children's activities will also be going on from 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Inner Harbor.

This week marks 35 years since the death of Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin, twice mayor of Baltimore and two-term governor of Maryland. The passage of three-and-a-half decades - and more than 40 years since he last held elective office - have, unfortunately, obscured his considerable achievements. McKeldin, who served as mayor from 1943 to 1947, governor from 1951 to 1959, then again as mayor from 1963 to 1967, was a Republican in a state which then - as now - elected few from the GOP to statewide office.