Promotion

March is observed across the nation as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Many survivors, patients, caregivers and others whose lives have been affected by colorectal cancer come together to generate awareness of the importance of getting screened and also encouraging loved ones to get screened. According to the American Cancer Society, excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States. In 2013, the American Cancer Society estimates 102,480 new cases of colon cancer and 40,340 new cases of rectal cancer will be reported.

A concert featuring the rapper Gucci Mane that was scheduled to occur Saturday at the Pikesville Armory has been canceled because promoters lacked the proper permit, according to officials at the state's Military Department, which owns the facility. "My understanding is that they didn't file the proper permits with the county, and we were directed that we should cancel it," said Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, a department spokesman. The concert was apparently scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Saturday, officials said.

The Orioles announced a set of front office promotions Tuesday, most notably naming Orioles Hall of Famer Brady Anderson vice president of baseball operations. Anderson's former title was special assistant to the director of baseball operations. Ned Rice, who previously was assistant director of major league operations, is now director of major league administration. Mike Snyder, who was assistant director of scouting and player development, is now assistant director of player personal.

Annapolis Restaurant Week begins on Feb. 25 and continues through March 3. Restaurants participating in the dining promotion will be offering fixed-price dinners for $32.95 and two-course lunch menus for $15.95. Again this year, Miss Shirley's is offering two-course breakfast menus for $12.95. The restaurant week promotion is sponsored by the Annapolis Business Association. For a list of participating restaurants, go to the Annapolis Restaurant Week website . Follow Baltimore Diner on Twitter @gorelickingood

A year ago, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced an ambitious goal to grow Baltimore's population by 10,000 families in a decade. Today, in her State of the City address, she began to lay out her vision for how to make that goal a reality. She is seeking to increase investments in the things that will make city living more attractive and to reduce the costs that make it unaffordable. Her proposals reflect a clear-eyed view of Baltimore's assets and liabilities and a remarkable willingness to take on politically unpopular causes.

Two Baltimore city lawmakers have proposed legislation that would draw funding from the state's lottery revenue to support expanding early childhood education programs. The legislation would create a program called "Race to the Tots," -- named after the federal "Race to the Top" program- - and allow local districts to compete for grants that would "stimulate innovation for and expand access to high-quality early childhood education in Maryland," according to a release sent jointly by the bill's sponsors Sen. Bill Ferguson and Del. Sandy Rosenberg.

Looking for a place to not watch the Pro Bowl on Sunday night? Three municipalities are currently presenting Restaurant Week promotions. It's the last night for Baltimore County Restaurant Week and the next to last night for Howard County Restaurant Weeks . Baltimore City's restaurant week promotion is just getting started. It's day three of the 10 day promotion, and some 100 restaurants are offering fixed price menus of $30.13 (or $20.13) for three-course dinners and $15.13 for two-course lunches during Baltimore Winter Restaurant Week . Check out our lavish, meticulously produced photo gallery of participating restaurants.

Formstone may be out, but what about putting more wood into 21st century versions of Baltimore's classic urban dwelling, the row home? Hoping to encourage more use of climate-friendly wood in housing, the U.S. Forest Service is teaming up with City Hall to offer $10,000 in prizes to local architects and builders who come up with the most innovative row home designs that incorporate recycled and sustainably harvested wood and wood fiber. The "Carbon Challenge," as the design contest is called, is to be announced Tuesday morning at a press conference in the city's Oliver neighborhood.

Because the Ravens won on Saturday, the Z-Burger in White Marsh is making good on its promise to give away free hamburgers on Sunday. The promotion was scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The promotion is over, but you can read about the scene at Z-Burger on Sunday in Lorraine Mirabella's story . Only one free burger per customer. To claim a free Z-Burger hamburger, you just have to say the secret password - "SuperBowl" Follow Baltimore Diner on Twitter @gorelickingood  

A recent Sun editorial ("Jobs for city residents" January 9), suggests that city government has done little to promote local hiring and job creation and that by ensuring proposed city ordinances are legally-sufficient, the Baltimore City Law Department is somehow impeding the city's progress. The truth is that under the leadership of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, much has been done over the last three years to achieve the goal of increasing local hiring and job opportunities without violating the law and exposing taxpayers to the great risk of costly litigation.