The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • Page B3

I BA TO THE SUN MARYLAND THURSDAY 03.09.2006 3B West-side school closings decried 250 at hearing, a number of whom protest plan to shutter or relocate city high schools BY SARA NEUFELD Students from west-side Baltimore high schools that are scheduled to close or be relocated turned out in force at a hearing last night to oppose the changes. In the auditorium at the Southwestern High School complex, dozens of them held up signs with messages including "Save Our Schools and Get Rid of the Fools at North Avenue," referring to the city schools headquarters. At least 250 people attended last night's hearing, the second of three scheduled this week on school closures. The school system is under pressure from the state to close schools in the face of declining enrollment and deteriorating building conditions. The system has space for 125,000 students, but only 85,000 are enrolled.

Five of the nine city school board members attended the hearing, after only two attended the first session Monday night. Members George VanHook and Douglas Kington attended both hearings; they were joined last night by board Chairman Brian D. Morris and members James Campbell and Diane Bell McKoy. The board will vote on the proposed changes March 28. Dozens of students from Harbor City West, an alternative high school, came to protest the proposed discontinuation of their school, which would disappear when its building 1 is taken over this summer by the Vivien T.

Thomas Medical Arts Academy. Thomas is one of four small high schools in the Southwestern complex, which is slated to close. "My students are fragile," said Harbor City Principal Al Thompson. "Move, change, I'm going to lose them." Brian Johnson, 17, talked about how Harbor City is turning his life around. "I messed up," he said.

"I failed. No one believed in I'm proving them wrong." Parents, teachers and students from the Thomas school, meanwhile, described the deplorable conditions in its current quarters, including overheated classrooms and bathroom stalls without doors. But they questioned where students will play sports in the Harbor City building. The other three small high schools inside Southwestern would move to extra space in middle school buildings, while the original Southwestern High, School No. 412, would move to Benjamin Franklin Junior High School until all of its current students graduate and then it would be closed.

Arrietta Dorsey, whose son attends the Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts at Southwestern, spoke vehemently against mixing high school students with younger children at Calverton Middle, where that high school is scheduled to move. She said she is especially worried about middle school girls interacting with high school boys. Many students protested the proposed relocation of Talent Development High School, on the campus of Harlem Park Middle School, which is scheduled to close in 2008. Talent Development Principal Jeffrey Robinson outlined hundreds of thousands of dollars spent in recent years to improve its space at Harlem Park. In addition, speakers talked about the many social services, including a Health Department clinic, now available on the Harlem Park campus.

Last night's session focused on the west-side schools; the final hearing, focusing on the entire plan for school closures, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane. In addition, the school board is accepting written comments through March 20 at sara.neufeld@baltsun.com International advisory panel is created O'Malley signs order to boost city's image around the world BY BRENT JONES Mayor Martin O'Malley signed an executive order yesterday creating an advisory council on international affairs, hoping to raise the city's awareness abroad while injecting life into Baltimore's long-standing Sister Cities program. The 13-member council, stocked with prominent business and community leaders, will meet every two months to formulate ideas and guide the city's international relations initiatives.

Topping the group's agenda will be reinvigorating Baltimore's partnerships with 11 sister cities around the world. Baltimore has developed relationships over the past 34 years with such cities as Gbarnga, Liberia; Kawasaki, Japan; Ely O'Carroll, Ireland; and Ashkelon, Israel but many of the partnerships have fallen off over time. Three years ago, city officials considering disbanding the Sister Cities program, but instead they chose to recommit to it and create the council, said Elizabeth Weiblen, director of the mayor's Office of International Affairs. The council will also be charged with offering suggestions to help increase immigration to the city, as well as developing international activities for youth. "We have to continue to promote Baltimore as a world-class city through trade, tourism and economic development," O'MalDIGEST Foster mother BY LYNN ANDERSON A foster mother who tried to delay the removal of a toddler After signing an executive order, will head Baltimore's 13-member DAVID HOBBY ley said.

"The opportunity for cultural enrichment is before us, and we have to take advantage of it. The Mayor's Advisory Council on International Affairs will help us to address many of the issues that allow us to put that best face of the city forward." The announcement with City Council President Sheila Dixon came as part of an International Women's Day ceremony at Druid Hill Park. Most of the members of the council a group that includes Kenneth Hackett, president of loses bid to delay more Department of Social Services lost her battle yesterday. DSS caseworkers arrived at the Randallstown home of Mary C. Coleman about 4:30 from her home by the Baltip.m.

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7 05 13 15 38 41 48 be worth an estimated $31 million. CRIME WATCH Woman gets 2 years in painkiller scheme A 28-year-old Anne Arundel County woman was sentenced to more than two years in prison yesterday for her role in a scheme to obtain prescription painkillers illegally. Elizabeth Kiss of Glen Burnie pleaded guilty last month to health care fraud for accumulating more than 40 prescriptions under false pretenses and to possession with intent to distribute OxyContin. Federal prosecutors said Kiss visited several physicians, each time requesting pain medication for reflex sympathetic dystrophy. With the prescriptions, she bought large amounts of OxyContin, using more than $4,000 in Maryland Medicaid funds, authorities said.

DOLAN TV reporter charged in assault A former investigative reporter for WMAR-TV was arrested Tuesday night and charged with domestic aggravated assault, accused of throwing a kettle of hot water at his wife during argument in their West Baltimore home, authorities said. Darryn M. Moore, 41, a reporter for WTTG-TV in Washington, was released on his own recognizance shortly after he appeared before a District Court commissioner, authorities said. According to the police report, shortly before 9 p.m., a Western District officer responded to a domestic violence call in the 1500 block of N. Bentalou St.

and was told by Moore's wife, Nicole, 38, that during an argument her husband picked up a kettle of hot water from the stove and threw it at her. The kettle missed hitting her, but splashed hot water on her legs when it hit the floor, the report said. The woman told the officer she was not injured. While the officer was speaking to the husband, he became agitated and continued to argue with his wife, according to the report. The officer reported that the woman told him she did not feel safe with her husband and believed he would attempt to harm her.

The officer arrested Moore, and he was taken to Central Booking and Intake Center. RICHARD POLICE BLOTTER Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reMayor Martin O'Malley shakes advisory council on international Catholic Relief Services, and Gary Vikan, director of the Walters Art Museum could not attend the ceremony. But Art Abramson, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, attended and said the advisory council formalizes the city's commitment to international affairs. "It raises it to a higher level than it was in the past," Abramson said. "It puts it on the radar screen." Council members said they anticipate specific projects to be formoving toddler ty, who had lived with Coleman since she was 4 months old, according to attorney Natalie H.

Rees, who represents Coleman. Coleman disagreed with a decision by DSS officials to place Serenity in her birth father's care weeks before an April 25 court hearing to determine the child's permanent placement. The girl's birth mother is also seeking custody. Coleman has said she would adopt the child if the court finds that neither parent is fit to raise her. The foster mother said she worried that a sudden move from her house to the father's house would be upsetting to the toddler.

She and her attorney also raised concerns about the father's ability to administer asthma medicine to the girl. ANNE ARUNDEL ANNAPOLIS Fire forces 10 from rowhouses Ten people were displaced from their homes yesterday morning when a three-alarm fire damaged a cluster of rowhouses near downtown Annapolis. Firefighters responded to 28 Pleasant St. at about 9:15 a.m. and found smoke coming from the unit next door, said Lt.

Ed hands with Amal Mansour, who affairs. malized in the coming months. Until then, Weiblen said she expects to strengthen some of the workings under Sister Cities, including a postcard reflections exchange between city schools and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. "This is tremendous," Vikan said in a later interview. "I'm very eager to be part of what Baltimore is about.

It's one of the 10 up-and-comers. With Baltimore coming up as it is now, the new Baltimore, we've got a tremendous connection to the world." brent.jones@baltsun.com Hadaway of the Annapolis fire marshal's office. Residents of the three homes had evacuated the buildings after they were alerted by smoke detectors. No injuries were reported. Damage estimates are pending, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

NIA HENDERSON MARYLAND WATER TAXIS Mikulski supports NTSB suggestions U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski urged the U.S. Coast Guard yesterday to immediately adopt recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board this week in its findings on the capsizing of a water taxi in Baltimore Harbor in March 2004.

The Maryland Democrat wrote a letter to the commandant, Adm. Thomas H. Collins, in which she questioned whether the Coast Guard is moving quickly enough to prevent accidents similar to the one that killed five passengers on the Lady D. In a summary of its findings Monday, the NTSB found fault with the Coast Guard's practices for certifying watercraft, as well as the passenger weight assumptions. MICHAEL ports in Baltimore and Baltimore County.

BALTIMORE EASTERN HOMICIDE ARREST Darryl Chase, 24, was arrested yesterday at his home in New York City by police and U.S. marshals on a warrant charging him with the June 20, 2004, Father's Day murder of one man and the attempted murder of another in the 1900 block of Perlman Place in East Baltimore. David Anderson, 20, was killed, and his half-brother, Michael Deal, wounded in a car as they were leaving the home of Deal's former girlfriend to take their two daughters out for a Father's Day celebration. The girls escaped injury when Anderson, the driver, threw his body across them as they sat in the car, police said. A warrant was issued the next day charging Chase, who was the woman's boyfriend at the time of the shooting, according to police.

SHOOTING A 31-year-old man was standing in an alley in the 2000 block of Robb St. about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday when someone fired several shots, hitting him at least once in the right leg. The victim fled to a store in the 1100 block of E. North where police found him sitting behind a counter.

He was reported in good condition at Johns Hopkins Hospital. WESTERN ARREST Timothy Cunningham, 16, of the 1000 block of E. Monument was arrested Monday morning at his home by members of the Regional Warrant Apprehension Task Force on a warrant charging him as an adult with attempted murder. Cunningham is accused of shooting Andreas Richardson, 18, of the 1800 block of Ruxton Ave. on Dec.

30 in the 1800 block of W. Lexington St. Police had no motive for the shooting. Cunningham was being held at Central Booking and Intake Center. SOUTHWESTERN STOLEN VEHICLE A black 2002 Hyundai Elantra with tags LMC 428 was stolen Sunday in the 700 block of Grantley St.

BURGLARY Someone broke into Nationwide Recovery in the 400 block of Brunswick St. between Sunday night and Monday morning through a rear window and stole a 13-inch television and a hedge trimmer. BURGLARY Power and hand tools, a computer, jewelry, a carpet cleaner, coins, two cameras and several digital video discs all valued at $5,400 were stolen Monday from a house in the 700 block of Allendale St. SOUTHEASTERN BURLARY Someone entered Icon Inn in the first block of N. Kresson St.

Sunday night or early Monday and stole more than $600. Police said there were no signs of forced entry and that a key to the business that was lost or stolen may have been used to enter the building. BALTIMORE COUNTY NORTH POINT SHOOTING A 26-year-old passenger of a Cadillac whose driver was attempting to turn around in an alley in the 2700 block of Dunwood Court was shot in the face by an assailant about 7 p.m. Tuesday. Police said the motorist drove the passenger to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where his condition was not available.

The driver remained at the hospital and led police to his bloodied car on the parking lot. Police had no motive for the shooting and asked that anyone having information should call the precinct at 410-887-7320. FRANKLIN BURGLARY Someone broke into a garage in the first block of Huntfield Court in Owings Mills Monday or Tuesday and removed a hammer, two flashlights and three pairs of sunglasses from a vehicle there. The property was valued at $315. PIKESVILLE BURGLARY Several pieces of jewelry and a watch all valued at $1,700 were stolen Tuesday from a house in the 7100 block of Liberty Road by someone who entered through a rear door.

WILKENS BURGLARY Someone broke into an apartment in the 2400 block of Tionesta Road through a door Tuesday and stole electronics, jewelry, clothing and cigarettes all valued at nearly $2,200..