In Baltimore City
Halethorpe man killed, 2 wounded in Barclay shooting
A 19-year-old Halethorpe man was killed during a shooting that wounded two other men early yesterday in the city's Barclay neighborhood, police said.
Howard Smith, a resident of the 4000 block of Twin Circle Way, was standing in the 300 block of E. 20th St. about 12:20 a.m. with two other men - Marshall Johnson, 36, and Joe Lewis, 23, whose addresses were not available - when an unknown man approached and opened fire with a handgun, police said.
Smith was hit several times and taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:09 a.m., police said. Johnson was wounded in the left leg, and Lewis was hit in his left foot, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.
Convoy to draw attention to hunger awareness day
A convoy of trucks representing 20 to 30 companies that support the Maryland Food Bank will be driven through downtown Baltimore today to draw attention to National Hunger Awareness Day.
The procession of trucks - some carrying donations of food - will begin at 1:30 p.m., starting from and ending about an hour later at Ravens stadium. It is part of a national initiative to raise enough food to feed the hungry.
"They are reaffirming their commitment to us and saying that they will do more," William G. Ewing, executive director of the Maryland Food Bank, said of the participating companies.
Exhaust from cruise ship sets fire to section of pier
Nearly 400 employees and guests of First Mariner Bank had to disembark from the cruise ship Bay Lady a bit quicker than expected last night when heat from its port-side exhaust set fire to a section of a Southeast Baltimore pier while docking after an evening on the Patapsco River.
Kristin Lee, the bank's first assistant vice president for marketing, said the boat's crew assisted the 366 passengers in getting off safely about 8:45 p.m., moments before the arrival of city fire engines, fire boats and a police boat at the pier in the 1800 block of S. Clinton St.
No one was hurt, and damage to the pier was described as minor. Lee said the incident added a touch of excitement to end the four-hour "Thank You, Employees" cruise.
Auction set to benefit Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland will hold an auction Friday evening at Ravens stadium to raise money for its efforts against schemes that defraud the public.
Items for bid at the "Auction for Action Against Scams" include use of a Ravens and Orioles skybox for a game, a Johnny Unitas-autographed football, a laser vision correction procedure, and lunch with Baltimore television pioneer James K. McManus -known to television sports fans as Jim McKay.
David Modell, president of the Baltimore Ravens, will be auctioneer for the event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 and include hors d'oeuvres, dinner and an open bar. Information: 410-347-3990, Ext. 3002.
In Baltimore County
Council OKs plan to license rental property in 5 areas
TOWSON - The Baltimore County Council has approved a trial program to register and license rental properties in five older communities.
Sponsors of the bill, Vincent J. Gardina of Perry Hall and John A. Olszewski Sr. of Dundalk, both Democrats, say they hope it will help the county crack down on problem landlords and prevent the decline of the east-side communities - Colgate, Hawthorne, Middlesex, Old Dundalk and St. Helena. Gardina estimated that the county will charge landlords $25 a year for registration.
Several similar, countywide versions of the bill failed to win approval last fall and winter. The bill passed 4-3 Monday.
Meeting set to discuss Dundalk Avenue project
DUNDALK - A meeting to discuss a streetscape improvement program along Dundalk Avenue will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sollers Point/Southeastern Technical High School, 325 Sollers Point Road.
County officials and local leaders will discuss plans for the project, which has $100,000 in funding.
Information: 410-887-2483.
Public forum at library on Israel and Palestine
TOWSON - "Israel and Palestine: What Next?" is the topic of a free public forum from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 320 York Road.
Featured speakers at the forum, sponsored by Baltimore Jews for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, are Leah Harris, who serves on the executive board of Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel, and Margaret Zaknoen, director of programs for American Muslims for Jerusalem.
Information: 410-486-6307.