By Sim Campbell

Baltimore has many traditions and celebrations to signify certain times of the year, but few of them are as old and as anticipated as the annual Flowermart fair. Flowermart was first started in 1911 and was known as being the first large-scale floral exhibition in the nation. Today, the exhibition has blossomed into a two-day excursion for flower enthusiasts, a utopia for food connoisseurs, and an event for family and friends to enjoy some weekend relaxation. Numerous vendors flood the historic Mount Vernon district in an attempt to exhibit their products and entice potential customers. Even though the event may be called Flowermart, there is virtually something for everyone at the event. Live music, arts and crafts, numerous food selections, contests, and wellness education booths are just a small sample of what's available.

With the flowers in full bloom, its no wonder that Flowermart is known as Baltimore's festival to welcome the full grandeur of the spring. From spring comes new life and it is very apparent here. The area is festive and lively, full of people and colors. Dogs run around unleashed, people dress in interesting costumes, the mixed laughter of children and adults can be heard wherever one goes. "Its just a happy time, everyone here is happy and entertained which is a good thing," says Annapolis resident and Flowermart booth assistant Jon McDougall.

Flowermart would be nothing without its enthusiastic patrons and there are certainly many of them. "I come here for the atmosphere and great food," says Diana Wells a Cedonia resident."I've been here the past couple of years and it seems to get better ever year. There's something new each year. They've really expanded their offerings," she says. Despite the new additions to the fair, there will be old staples that fairgoers just can't seem to get enough of. One of them is the lemon stick, a pepperment stick jammed inside of a half-sliced lemon, a Baltimore favorite. Anne Jensen, a Wyndhurst resident and a volunteer at the lemon sticks booth says: "There's always been a high demand. People really enjoy snacking on these [lemon sticks], its a must when attending a this." Its not hard to believe as one can see many people walking around sucking on sweet and sour treat.

Beyond the shopping and material consumption of Flowermart, its apparent that a sense of community is important. "I really feel like this is something that brings out the best of the community. It brings together people for a good time, you know? Most of us are from Baltimore and we like seeing the best of what our city has to offer. Any way we can make the "Greatest City In America" even better we will," says Jensen.

Flowermart this year runs from May 4 to May 5 and admission is free to the public.

By Aaron Pinto

For a few days every May, Baltimore’s North Charles Street is at its most alive. The Maryland Film Festival is in full-swing and people flock to The Charles Theater to watch independent films of any and all genres. They talk movies with other people, they eat, they watch—they enjoy a Baltimore tradition. But for five years, an even more fun and unique experience has been happening just across the street at The Metro Gallery: Guy Werner’s Videopolis.

Videopolis is equal parts video, equal parts art. According to the website, “Videopolis hopes to juxtapose various forms of film and video, along with other mediums that comment upon or investigate the moving image, together in a relaxed environment…” The curator, Guy Werner, adds “We try to provide a place for types of art that doesn’t find its way into the traditional film festival.”

Friday marked the opening night for the exhibit, which, in addition to the numerous experimental and creative pieces, had exclusive live performances. Werner said, “[T]he performances are always great…it’s a temporal thing and that makes it very special.” Though these performances are exclusive to Videopolis’ opening weekend, the free exhibit will remain throughout May.

The fifth annual event, though mere steps away from The Maryland Film Festival, runs independently of it. Still, all of the artists in the gallery are Baltimore-based. The pieces range from video with three different audio narration tracks coming out of three individual headphones, to a series of banners hanging from the ceiling with translucent and nearly-still video portraits overlapping one another, to abstract concepts of video and color.

Abstract work like this can be found in the work of Kate Ewald, a film school attendee whose piece is featured prominently in The Metro Gallery, on the top of a wall—two projection screens with 15-minute continuous loops of what she calls “video feedback,” which she says, conceptually, is like putting a microphone up to a speaker. Ewald says that this process of filming a filmed image “ends up creating these really cool patterns and…weird visual noise.” She acknowledges that making experimental video art doesn’t pay the bills, but she still enjoys it all the same.

Whether you go for the unique pieces or the lively performances—even if you just happen to be walking by—you will not regret checking out a boundary-pushing exhibit like Videopolis. “I couldn’t choose one [favorite]—there’s so many great pieces,” said Werner, adding “but everyone else can.” In other words, ditch the filmstrip and head over to Videopolis, where the norms of the motion picture are constantly being broken, in the best way possible.

By Patrick Terwedo

In 1991, the religious leaders within the Archdiocese of Baltimore decided it was time to reach out to the low-income children of Baltimore. This was the beginning of Mother Seton Academy.

The efforts of six religious congregations finally made the project a reality.

Mother Seton Academy was founded in 1993 as a place where low-income families from Baltimore City could give their children a quality Catholic education.

The school opened with its first class of 20 sixth-graders; since then the school has relocated to the former St. Ann School location on Greenmount Avenue. Each year Mother Seton Academy educates 65-70 sixth, seventh, and eight grade students. Mother Seton Academy strives to provide an approach to education that allows students to be exposed to multicultural issues. By providing a well-rounded education, Mother Seton works to develop their students into socially conscious and responsible leaders.

Loyola University has partnered with Mother Seton Academy to help provide tutoring and fitness programs for the students.

The volunteer programs are peer mentors, homework companions, classroom assistants, and fitness instructors.

Peer mentors act as big brothers/sisters for non-academic programs, these students are assigned a mentee whom they spend time with every Friday throughout the semester. Homework companions provide one-on-one academic tutoring once a week.

The interactive fitness club meets once a week on Loyola’s campus. A group of students from Mother Seton Academy comes to Loyola to participate in a wide variety of fitness activities. These include swimming, soccer, capture the flag and much more. All designed to help the students stay active.

Sophomore volunteer Rachel Lobo says, “It’s really a fun way to do community service, and you almost forget you’re actually there doing service and not just having fun.” Lobo volunteers both as a peer mentor and with the interactive fitness club. “I got involved first as a peer mentor but when I started hearing from the kids how much fun they were having at the fitness club I decided to give that a try as well,” said Lobo.

Mother Seton Academy is really a unique place, says sophomore service coordinator Lauren O’Brien. “It’s awesome that Baltimore has a place like this, a lot of city’s don’t and really should,” said O’Brien.

The Center for Community Service and Justice at Loyola University is always looking for more volunteers to work at places just like Mother Seton. “I really hope people will see how wonderful Mother Seton is and want to be a part of it,” says O’Brien.

By Juliah Mason

Tucked away in Baltimore is a unique, eclectic community known and loved by both locals and tourists as Hampden. Hampden is a trendy, urban area that is defined by its lack of corporate offices and the flourishing of its small and locally owned businesses.

On the first friday of every month, referred to as, “First Fridays”, local shops, most of which are located on The Avenue, come together and celebrate the community by offering sales, free wine, and live music.

What treasures can one exactly find hidden in the streets of Hampden? Restaurants, antique shops, jewelry and clothing stores, alike, all open their doors and invite in the community to shop, talk, and dine.

Some stores like “Watermelon Sugar” have had their doors open for over 13 and a half years. These local businesses pride themselves on their handmade craftsmanship and their ability to get to know the people they are serving and providing for.

Owner of the “Antique Exchange”, Wesley Finnerty, when explaining why she wanted to move her business to Hampden said, “All [the shops are] one of a kind stores. Everything is one of a kind. Everything.”

Constance Scott, owner and creator of Studio C, a small jewelry and novelty shop on The Avenue prides herself and her inventory, classifying it as unique, hand-fashioned items that are held to a certain standard and degree of caliber that cannot be matched by any other store like hers on the East Coast.

So on the first friday of every month if you happen to venture out into the Hampden area, you can find yourself lost in a swirl of rich culture and lively entertainment, dining, and shopping. Some stores and restaurants will feature local artists, showing off the fine talent amongst their very own community. Many participating stores offer sales from 20-40% all items, stimulating its micro-economy, promoting tourism sales, and simply boosting basic income store revenues.

The First Friday experience in Hampden resonates a sense of liveliness and community amongst both members of the area and visitors. All are welcome to join in on the special offers and events that take place throughout the evening, some of which benefit charitable causes, such as Heartwares, a shopping event that benefits local, underprivileged and underserved city kids and adults. Proceeds from Heartwares' First Friday event are shared with Art With a Heart, an organization that provides a safe environment for these people while giving them an artistic outlet.

By Andrea Haimindra

The "Charles Street Massacre" between Hopkins and Loyola continued on Saturday at the Ridley Athletic Complex, as Hopkins extended its domination over Loyola to 47-3 all-time with their thirteenth straight win, 10-9 in overtime.

There were mixed emotions as two playoff contenders fought for bragging rights. The sellout crowd of 6,000 roared as Loyola's sophomore attacker Justin Ward scored the equalizer with 5.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, pushing the game to overtime. With 2.3 seconds left in overtime however, Hopkins's sophomore midfielder Rob Guida tapped in the game winner from junior attacker Zach Palmer's pass, sweeping the stadium with silence. The loss snapped Loyola's undefeated season streak, dropping them to number three in the nation. Although they missed a chance to record the best start in the school's history, they remain 12-1 on the season and 6-0 in the ECAC.

Loyola got off to a sloppy start in the first half with 10 total shots and 13 turnovers, allowing Hopkins to take an early advantage. Loyola's lack of defense and offense resulted in a commanding 5-0 Hopkins lead 2:03 into the second quarter. Loyola nevertheless, struck back with three goals in the final 11:15 of the second quarter to cut the lead to 6-3 at the half. However, Loyola has statistically proven to be a second half team outscoring opponents 100-54, as opposed to 85-60 in the first half. Loyola came out fighting to keep their first place position, responding with four unanswered goals with less than 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, tying the game at nine, and forcing overtime. Loyola's late rally, unfortunately, could not carry them in overtime as Hopkins escaped their sensational comeback.

Graduate student attacker Erick Lusby and junior midfielder Davis Butts led Loyola's offense with two goals. Junior midfielder Chris Layne also contributed with a goal and two assists. Junior midfielder Josh Hawkins had six ground balls while other junior midfielder Scott Ratliff had five ground balls and caused two turnovers. Senior midfielder J.P. Dalton won 14 of 23 face-offs for the Greyhounds, and sophomore goalkeeper Jack Runkel had 14 saves. Overall, the game was evenly matched. Hopkins outshot Loyola 40-28, won the ground ball contest 34-30, and suffered one less turnover (15) than Loyola (16). On the Greyhounds side, Loyola beat Hopkins 14-9 in saves, and evenly split 46 face-offs.

Although fans were disappointed with the loss, sophomores Phillip Reid-Francisco and James Catuogno were confident about the Greyhounds' future and were proud of their team. "We played a good match. It was pretty disappointing, but I think we'll do well in the NCAA tournament," said Phillip Reid-Francisco. "I'm still proud of the boys, still proud of the Hounds, go Loyola," said James Catuogno. That kind of spirit and faith is exactly what any team needs to hear moving forward for success.

The Greyhounds earned the ECAC Lacrosse League regular-season and tournament title with an 8-0 record as the top seed. The Greyhounds defeated #4 Denver in the ECAC semifinals on Wednesday 14-13 with yet another exhilarating finish in overtime, and #3 Fairfield 14-7 on Friday evening. They are now 14-1 overall, and are awaiting their seeding for the NCAA tournament.

By Vincent LaGuardia

Music blasted through the quad, the scent of food filled the air, and students, faculty, and alumni packed the Evergreen campus at Loyola University Maryland this past Sunday to celebrate the school’s annual Loyolapalooza concert and carnival. The event, sponsored by the student government of Loyola, is a long-awaited treat for students and faculty after a lengthy and busy school year. Free food, carnival games, and a concert staged graced the campus and offered a relaxing day of fun before the start of final exams.

Lauren Duwan, a sophomore communications major from Darien, Connecticut was excited to enjoy the day with her friends before finishing up the school year. “It’s a great event that all of us look forward to every year. Everyone gets to enjoy one last day together before we take final exams and head home for the summer,” said Duwan, “What could be better than this?”

Each year, a recognizable and well-known band or performer headlines the event. This year, Jack’s Mannequin, a prominent rock band from California, stole the show with renditions of popular songs Dark Blue and Into the Airwaves. Past performers at the event include Citizen Cope, Eric Hutchinson, and Matt and Kim.

“Jack’s Mannequin rocked it! My friends and I listened from start to finish”, said Duwan. “You could hear the performance all around campus.”

Josep Valls, a senior exchange student from Barcelona, Spain, loved every second of his first Loyolapalooza experience. “ This has been an exciting semester in Baltimore, but Loyolapalooza really exceeded my expectations. It is exactly how I wanted to end my time in America”, said Valls. “This is an event that I will definitely tell all my friends and family back in Spain about.”

This year’s Loyolapalooza was particularly special in that it marked the culmination of the university’s first annual Homecoming Weekend. Ronny McDaniel, a college student from New York City, was at Loyola visiting some friends for the entirety of the weekend and was especially impressed with the Loyolapalooza festivities. “The events on Friday and Saturday were fun, but Loyolapalooza has been nothing short of awesome. “, said McDaniel. “It’s something I would love to bring back to my school. Loyola knows how to have a good time!”

Loyolapalooza typically falls on the final Sunday in April each academic year and yields between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees. Students and faculty are admitted to the event free of charge.

SPIRTUAL FTINESS

By: Jonathan de Bernardo

At the end of the year Father Jack will be leaving Loyola University. He will be leaving to become the president of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis Indiana. Father Jack is very excited to lead to the co-ed Jesuit institution but will miss Loyola dearly. When asked what he will miss most about Loyola, Father Jack said, “The interaction with the kids. There were so many opportunities to meet kids through different programs or organizations here on campus.”

One of the easiest places for Father Jack to interact with the students he loves is the Fitness and Aquatic Center. Any Loyola student who has been to the gym more than once will know that Father Jack is a regular there. In the beginning after Father Linnane offered Father Jack the job as head of campus ministry he arrived to Loyola a little shy. “At first I was coming to the Fitness and Aquatic Center at 6am” explained Father Jack. “I have always been a morning person but the problem was that there wasn’t really anyone here.”

Thirsting for human connection and wanting to meet as many kids as possible with the potential to help them, Father Jack changed his routine and how he went about his normal day. Keeping in mind that he was a morning person and thus did his best thinking early in the day, Father Jack set aside the time to write his homilies. Then later in the day around late afternoon he would hit the gym. “After the first time I went to the gym around 3 in the afternoon I knew it was meant to be. It felt too natural, and I got to say hi to all the kids. It was great.”

While Father Jack will miss the students the most after he leaves Loyola in June he will also miss the Fitness and Aquatic Center as well. “The gym situation at the new school is pretty much a wellness center. It’s not like the FAC off course but it has some weights and cardio equipment” said a grinning Father Jack. The gym has become almost a second church for the priest as he gets to affect kids and help them grow as individuals. Many a workout has been interrupted by a long talk or a friendly handshake. But Father Jack will never complain. He’ll gladly get of the stair master for a few minutes to share a smile and swap some gossip.

By Caitlin Stein

With school coming to an end, students have already planned out their summer break. While several students at Loyola University will be working at an internship or spending time on the beach, there will be a select few spending their summer with the Army.

There will be eight juniors from the ROTC program at Loyola University whom will be attending required summer training throughout their break. Their training will first consist of a month long evaluation at Warrior Forge at Ft. Lewis, Washington. Warrior Forge is a five-week summer course to evaluate and train all Army ROTC cadets. Warrior Forge revolves around evaluations, which cadets receive in various leadership positions. Throughout the five-week summer course, cadets must pass an Army Physical Fitness Test and do well in written and practical land navigation proficiency tests. It is important for cadets to do well at Warrior Forge because their evaluations are used to determine their National Order of Merit List ranking. The Order of Merit List determines which cadets are eligible for the most sought-after assignments.

Preston Button, a junior in ROTC, will be one of the eight cadets attending Warrior Forge this summer. Button will be leaving for Warrior Forge in the beginning of July. Button is very nervous for Warrior Forge because his performance their will determine his future.

“It is easy to make mistakes at Warrior Forge,” says Button. “We have been training for Warrior forge for three years, I hope I’m ready”.

Button is one of many cadets nationwide who hope to branch Infantry after graduation Warrior Forge. Unfortunately, Infantry is one of the toughest branches to qualify for.

“I am going to have to do really well at Warrior Forge if I want Infantry,” says Button. “Last year, only two cadets in our program had the honor”.

Although Warrior Forge is a five-week commitment in the summer, several cadets will also be attending CTLT. CTLT is also known as the Cadet Troop Leader Training Program. CTLT is similar to an internship program because it places cadets in actual Army units acting as real Lieutenants. CTLT ranges from three to five weeks and allows cadets to gain a perspective on what they will be facing as future officers.  Generally, cadets are placed in platoon leader positions, leading 30+ soldiers and responsible for millions of dollars of equipment!

Meghan Clark, a junior in ROTC, is lucky enough to be attending CTLT immediately after Warrior Forge. Clark will be flying to the Republic of Korea in order to serve as a platoon leader in training. Clark will have the opportunity to attend leaders’ meetings and conduct training with her platoon.

“I can’t believe I am going to Korea,” says Clark. “It will be such a great learning experience because I will be acting as a platoon leader”.

Unfortunately, Clark will not have a relaxing break. “Because I am going to Warrior Forge and then CTLT, I will be in Massachusetts for only two weeks”.

Preston Button and Meghan Clark are only two of eight cadets who will be attending Warrior Forge and CTLT this summer. While their summer is not considered normal, their break will be an adventure.