B'more Involved - November 2010

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B'More Involved

Serving Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties and the Cities of Annapolis and Baltimore.

November 2010

Dear Monica,
Thank you for subscribing to B'More Involved! B'More Involved is designed to provide you with helpful information on transportation planning, opportunities for public involvement, and environmental justice. This important information, e-mailed out on a regular basis and now posted on Facebook and Twitter, is a great way for you to learn more, stay up-to-date on important events and news, and, of course, let you know how you can B'More Involved! In this issue: Public Invited to Annapolis City Dock Roundtable Discussion Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding - Meetings scheduled in November and December B'more Involved: Here's How! Imagine 2060 Photo Contest - Entries Due December 30 B'more Involved Is All A Twitter! In The News		Stay up-to-date with current news and events by joining B'more Involved on Facebook and Twitter! Follow us! Become a fan!

PUBLIC INVITED TO ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT CITY DOCK
Department of Planning and Urban Land Institute Seeking Input on November 9-10
In the first in a series of public events to kick off a yearlong planning effort to re-envision City Dock, Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen has invited the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to town to get citizen input on the area's potential and provide recommendations for transforming the city's signature public space. The Department of Planning & Zoning is organizing this two-day event to assess issues such as: How to make the area more attractive to tourists and residents alike How to make City Dock more pedestrian-friendly How to balance the demand for parking with other potential uses of the area How to alter City regulations to allow for more flexibility What investments the City should pursue for City Dock Assessing the market potential for commercial spaces in and around City Dock Join the discussion about Annapolis City Dock! Open to the public Tuesday, November 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. - The public is invited to participate in informal roundtable discussions with ULI representatives. Wednesday, November 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. - ULI will present its findings to the public. All events are open to the public and will be held at the Annapolis City Council Chambers, located at 160 Duke of Gloucester St. Additional events will be organized by the City Dock Advisory Committee (CDAC) over the course of the next year. >> Learn more about Annapolis' planning effort for City Dock

BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
Commission meetings set for November 15 and December 2 and 17 in Annapolis
Earlier this year, the Maryland General Assembly established a Blue Ribbon Commission to review, evaluate and make recommendations concerning transportation funding, particularly as it relates to: The current State funding sources and structure of the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund; Short and long-term transit, highway, and pedestrian/bicycle construction and maintenance funding needs; Options for public-private partnerships, including partnerships with local governments; The structure of regional transportation authorities and the ability of those authorities to meet transportation needs; The impact of economic development and smart growth on transportation funding; and Options for sustainable, long-term revenue sources for transportation. The next meetings of the BRC are currently scheduled for Monday, November 15 from 10 a.m. to noon; Thursday, December 2 from 3 to 5 p.m.; and Tuesday, December 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Annapolis, MD. The commission will be in effect for a period of 2 years, through June 30, 2012. An interim report of its findings and recommendations is due on or before January 1 and the final report is due on or before November 1, 2011. >> Get details about the Blue Ribbon Commission

B'MORE INVOLVED: HERE'S HOW!

Check out these great ways to B'more Involved in November and December

Tree Planting, Tree Maintenance & Cleanup - Saturday, November 6
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Plant a tree Please join the Patapsco Heritage Greenway in planting 50 trees along a section of Herbert Run on the University of Maryland Baltimore County Campus, as well as tree maintenance for trees at Arbutus Middle School (across the street).

The fun doesn't stop there! Volunteers can splash in the stream as they help clean up a section of Herbert Run that flows next to these sites. Join in this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon (registration starts at 8:45 a.m.) at UMBC (Parking lot near Shelbourne Avenue in Arbutus, across street from Arbutus Middle School). Pre-register online at:

www.patapscoheritagegreenway.org/eventcal.html

Fall Foliage Hike - Saturday, November 6
Enjoy the crisp fall weather with a naturalist-led hike focusing on tree identification and why/how leaves change color.

Families, ages six and over are welcome to join the hike on Saturday, November 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Willow Grove Nature Education Center at Cromwell Valley Park (2175 Cromwell Bridge Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234). Reservation required and small fee, call 410-887-2503. See web site for additional events in November and December.
www.cromwellvalleypark.org/scheduleOfEvents.html

Emergency Preparedness Program Coming To Dundalk - Starts Tuesday, November 9
"Neighbors Helping Neighbors", a five-week program to teach people the skills required to get through the first, critical 72 hours following an emergency, begins November 9 in Dundalk. Topics include: emergency preparedness and natural and technological hazards; fire safety; crime prevention and awareness; and first aid and CPR. The sessions are free. Call 410-887-2715.

www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Contact/neighborshelping

Plan It 2035 To Be Discussed at BRTB Meeting with Elected Officials - Tuesday, November 23

On October 26, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) approved the finals goals for Plan It 2035. Each of the 8 goals includes a number of strategies to meet the goal.

Later this month at a biannual meeting with elected officials on Tuesday, November 23 at 4 p.m., the BRTB will consider three key items in the planning process for Plan It 2035: (1) Financial Forecast - a listing of resources that can reasonably be expected to be available through 2035; (2) Project Ranking and Evaluation Criteria - the process used for evaluating, ranking, and selecting transportation projects. This also includes principles for selecting projects that have regional significance. Also at the beginning of this meeting, there will be an opportunity for interested members of the public to speak. Registration is encouraged by calling 410-732-0500 x1043.

www.baltometro.org/transportation-planning/plan-it-2035

Preparing our Communities before a Disaster Strikes - Submissions accepted through January 2, 2011

The Challenge: To come up with ideas on how we can all help prepare our communities before disaster strikes and how the government can support community-based activities to help everyone be more prepared.

The sky is the limit. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking ideas from across the spectrum, from within whichever field you work, for whatever community in which you live. If you're a doctor, what role can the medical community play? If you're an artist, how can you use your medium to contribute? This could be a new project or means of engaging the public to prepare for disasters on the individual or family level; a public service announcement about business preparedness to play on local radio or TV stations; or a new device, technology, application or piece of equipment to mitigate the effects of disaster. Submissions will be judged based on originality, level of community engagement, and ease of implementation. Entries must be submitted by January 2, 2011.

challenge.gov/challenges/87

IMAGINE 2060 PHOTO CONTEST - ENTRIES DUE DECEMBER 30

Pull out your cameras and capture what you value most about our region

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Submit your best photo for the Imagine 2060 Photo Contest The BRTB would like to encourage area residents to pull out their cameras and capture images of what they value about our region.

Photo entries will be accepted through noon on Thursday, December 30 in the following categories:

Transportation (pedestrians, bikes, buses, cars, boats, trains, planes, etc.)
Community (walkable & vibrant places, neighborhoods, town centers, rural/small towns, people, places, art, culture, food)
Natural Environment (bay, lakes, rivers, preserves, parks, sky, wildlife)
Prosperity (plazas, port, buildings, retail, employment centers, small businesses, neighborhoods, boulevards, agriculture)

Submissions to the imagine 2060 photo contest may be showcased on the imagine 2060 web site and in BRTB publications.

>> Submit your photo today!

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Imagine 2060 is an initiative sponsored by the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. Through imagine 2060, residents and organizations throughout the Baltimore region have shared their ideas on the future of transportation in the region.
www.imagine2060.com

B'MORE INVOLVED IS ALL A TWITTER!
Great updates are being posted on our Facebook & Twitter pages - are you in on it?
Did you know that B'more Involved is on Twitter and Facebook and that we're posting a lot of really great events, meetings, news, and links to news you can use. Check out these great tweets we're posting: Free Energy Checklists for Home (ow.ly/2X9xz) or office (ow.ly/2X9Bp). You Have the Power! #EnergyAwarenessMonth What will transportation in the Baltimore area look like in twenty-five years? New series on WYPR's Maryland in Motion! ow.ly/2QDTd This month's #PlanMaryland is {Food Deserts & Food Access}. Share your thoughts, learn about this issue at ht.ly/33mtd @SmartGrowthMD The number of drivers over 70 will triple in the next 20 years. How should we plan for this? NYT discusses @ ow.ly/2WNZ7 Don't forget! Charm City Circulator winter operating hours begin on Monday, November 1. bit.ly/bAAfB2 @CharmCityCirc Collect leaves from your stormdrains to keep them clog-free & use as free mulch around your plants or in compost bin. RT @LiveGreenHoward Get ready for America Recycles Day (Nov 15) by starting to recycle or taking your recycling efforts to the next level bit.ly/97tT9z Ready to get connected? Join us on your preferred social network!
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