Credit Union's Homewood branch undergoes renovations

The evolution of the Johns Hopkins Federal Credit Union continues with the renovation of its Homewood branch, located in the basement of Gilman Hall. The renovation work, which began in mid-August, is intended to give the branch a "better aesthetic appearance" and enhance member service, said Lynn Gregory, the Federal Credit Union's vice president of marketing.

The renovated branch, which originally opened in 1973, will occupy the same amount of space as before, but the front door and the teller counter have both been moved. Also, the location will now feature a drop box for after-hours deposits and two partially walled offices in which members can conduct business transactions.

"We have tried to reconfigure the space so that member privacy will be better addressed," Gregory said, adding that in the past members had to sit at a non-enclosed desk near the front door. "The branch will also get a new paint job and carpeting. We're trying to make it a nicer and more attractive environment."

The Johns Hopkins Federal Credit Union, which has 24,000 members, owns and operates two locations and eight ATM sites. The branch in East Baltimore was moved earlier this year to 2027 E. Monument St, the former site of the State Theater. The credit union plans on opening its third branch, on the Bayview campus, sometime next year and also is considering additional ATM locations. "As Hopkins continues to expand, we will try to follow that expansion where we can," Gregory said.

Renovation at the Homewood branch is expected to be completed by early October.

Performances, tours to highlight Peabody open house

A free open house featuring performances, demonstrations, tours and activities for the whole family will take place throughout the Peabody campus from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26, in conjunction with the Baltimore Book Festival. Visitors should enter campus at 609 N. Charles St., where an information table will provide a complete schedule of performances and activities.

Ensembles from both the Preparatory and Conservatory--among them the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, the Peabody Concert Orchestra, Peabody Wind Ensemble, Young Person's String Program and the Preparatory Dance Department--will perform in Friedberg Hall, Leakin Hall and various other locations on campus, including the Peabody Plaza, where there will be live entertainment throughout the day.

An instrument petting zoo will feature brass, woodwinds, percussion, guitar, strings and harp, and visitors can attend demonstrations in piano and dance classes.

Guided tours, starting every half hour, will include the Peabody Library and the newly renovated Griswold Hall with its Holtkamp organ and 16th-century Flemish tapestry.

Opening officially at 3-5 Centre St. will be the new campus music and bookstore, operated by Barnes & Noble, and the Jordan Kitts Piano Salon, both of which are open to the public. The buildings will include Maestro's Cafe, a coffee shop operated by Sodexho and serving Starbucks coffee.

Date set for Women's Board's Best Dressed Sale

For the 35th year, the Johns Hopkins Women's Board will be holding a Best Dressed Sale and Boutique. The event--which last year attracted more than 1,500 shoppers and raised more than $160,000 to support patient care at the hospital--features items for the entire family, including delicately used designer fashions, vintage clothing, furs, evening wear, shoes and accessories.

Extra shopping days have been added this year. A preview sale takes place on Oct. 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. Sale days are Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clearance day is Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The sale takes place at the Evergreen Carriage House, 4545 N. Charles St. Preview admission is $25; all other days are free. For more information, call 410-955-9341.

Wednesday Noon Series begins with Clio winners

An Oct. 6 showing of the 1999 gold and silver Clio Award- winning TV commercials will open the fall 1999 Wednesday Noon Series, presented by the Office of Special Events. The Clio Awards were founded in 1959 to recognize creative excellence in advertising.

All programs in the series are held noon to 1 p.m. in Shriver Hall on the Homewood campus and are open to the public. Admission is free; no ticket is required.

Other upcoming events are Oct. 13, "Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Mexico's Best-Loved Music," a performance by Los Mariachis de Los Compadres; Oct. 20, "A Talk on Y2K: The End of the World or a Bump in the Road?" a panel discussion moderated by Michael J. Cleveland, information technology analyst, Networking and Communications, Johns Hopkins University; Oct. 27, "Buried Treasures," a performance of chamber music by Trio Latre.

For further information, call the Office of Special Events at 410-516-7157.

Correction: Annual security report

In the annual security report that appeared in The Gazette on Aug. 30 and was recently distributed throughout the university, the Washington Center incorrectly appeared in the crime statistics chart as being part of only one division of the university. The Washington Center is the site of classes for both the School of Professional Studies in Business and Education and the School of Public Health. The Security Office regrets the error.