are we talking about. christian schaffer helps us see both sides of the story. >> reporter: trees along pratt street were cut down this week but city officials say the tree- removal process has been going for a year and it doesn't just involve the grand prix. people who don't want see it the loss of the trees downtown are getting organized and they've gotten a lot of support in a short amount of time. >> this will leftly be grandstand number one overlooking the grand prix start/finish line on pratt street. to make room several trees were removed behind the federal courthouse. >> i think there were a lot of decisions made behind closed doors. >> reporter: entrepreneur and city resident david try to heard about the tree removal and started a web-based petition trying to stop it. >> we really just need more trees in our judgment to treat a more liveable human city and that's the kind of city people want in baltimore. >> reporter: a report published this week said 136 trees were being removedover placed along the grand prix route. councilman cole who's been a supporter of the plan said the actual number is 50. >> tree removal started several years ago long before the grand prix when they started taking down berms. >> reporter: cole said many of the trees have been moved other locations downtown. others will be replaced by planters so they can move again for the next four years of scheduled grand prix reconciliations. >> the net result will be more trees downtown, not less and that was the goal all along. >> reporter: david try to says he's not apposed to the grand prix but regardless of the number there's no replacement for mature trees lining baltimore's signature downtown street. >> the thing that disturbs me is the idea of looking at a bunch of trees in planters. that looks temporary, it looks makeshift. >> reporter: councilman cole says the city's sustainability coordinator has endorses the tree location plan. david troy just launched his online petition this afternoon. in it, he says he's considering an injunction against further tree removals. although, more than 350 people have signed onto that petition. christian schaffer, abc2 news. >> thanks, christian. even before they dropped the flag to keep drivers from putting the pedal to the metal mistakenly thinking they're the indy car drivers. police and professional waste car drivers talk about the smooth operator program. police are on the lookout for people driving too fast, following too closely and passing when they shouldn't. the program has issued hundreds of citations so far this year and it will be wrapped up september 4th, the day the grand prix rolls into town. there's a lot of excitement about the grand prix and we are working now to make sure you don't get frustrated about the traffic come the week of the race so there are going to be several roads closed downtown leading up to race day and so you nay need to find a different place to work. we have all of the links and maps on abc2news.com. right there where it says click here and you'll see the race route here yellow and purple and green but i also want to take you to the interactive map this is our trouble zone. let's say you're in zone six. you want to avoid the mess. there it is. there's your alternative route and zone 6 you can find your way around the maps. it's very informative and we suggest you keep it up there at abc2news.com and if you don't, if you don't want to avoid all of this you better bring your lunch, your dinner, your following lunch and dinner because you're going to need a lot of patience. don't get stuck. stay with abc2news.com. his first mayoral debate kicked off without incumbent. six candidates vying for the top stop took center stage. they talked about the major challenges including struggling schools and high crime rates and made note of the current mayor's actions. >> to say that i did pass stephanie rollins blake today as folks are out on the community but she should have been here. but let me just say it is obvious -- [applause] -- >> the primary election for the baltimore mayor's race is september 13th. mayor stephanie rollins lake missed the debate because she was kicking off national night out with residents and police. she started her evening in park heights. the mayor said she wishes she had a clone. >> i would be at ten different places tonight. this is an annual event. it happens the first tuesday of august every year for 28 years. i'm here to celebrate the same way i was last year and the year before. >> the mayor attended two events in park height and zigzagged her way throughout the city. >> there were a lot of events tonight making people ask the questions do you know who your next door neighbor is? do you know who those kids are hanging under the street lights? these are simple questions you should have an answer for. if not you should be outside like wheelock winspear did tonight. >> reporter: all young people love loud music. >> we're celebrating national night out with the rest of the country and this gives us an opportunity for our community to meet local law enforcement and to bond with them. >> reporter: by celebrating with block party this evening at this spring lake swim club. >> it's a great neighborhood activity. >> reporter: young and old got to meet and talk with their police. >> the kids get to meet the police and realize they're people. >> reporter: to learn about home security tips and strengthen neighborhood spirit. >> good opportunity for this. the community gets together and make sure they support us, we support them. get to walk from my traffic team to my community outreach team and action team. everybody is here to enjoy it. it's a sign of solidarity. >> reporter: the kind of solidarity that sends a message to criminals that neighborhoods are fighting back. in spring lake, wheelock winspear, abc2 news. >> this is the 22th year for the national night out. it started with people leaving a light on and the event has taken in all communities. well anne arundel councilman daryl jones has been charged with failing to file a fax return. court records say the democrat earned more than $244,000 in 2005 but failed to file a tax return before april 17, 2006. jones who is an attorney, is serving his second term on the council, which expires in 2014. the search is on for a man who attacked a woman after crashing into her on interstate 83. it happened around 10:00 on friday night. according to police, the man driving a jeep pleads with her to take money to settle the accident. well, the woman, about to punch 911 ends up being punched by the man. here's a composite sketch of the guy. she ran into traffic for help and grabbed her off of the road, threatening her life. when she slugs him and gets into her car. he's a tomlin muscular build, dark eyes alone a buzz cut and police are looking for a jeep wrangler with pennsylvania tags. call 780-2700. all right, everyone. today was an absolute gorgeous day but now things are slowly but surely going downhill as we look at maryland powerful radar. we can see showers and thunderstorms into pennsylvania. also moving into western maryland at this time but we have a little storm popping numeral carroll county into the north of westminster moving into manchester at this time. that's going to be the scenario through the rest of the evening. we'll start to get more scattered showers and thunderstorms as we go through the overnight time frame. the temperature coming in at 82 degrees into baltimore. easten in the upper 70s. texan river 81. more of the same in charlotteville. things will be 68 degrees and we will cloud things up and see more showers after midnight. back to you guys. >> thanks. from manhattan beach to california to manhattan, new york, firefighters are making sure we never forget 9/11. they're raising money every step of the way for those who survived. tonight, that coast-to-coast adventure to remember is right here in baltimore. preston mitchum tells us what the 9/11 patch project is all about. >> we rise to the occasion when we need to. >> reporter: retired fire captain craig friedman is referring to our ability as americans to step up when needed. >> i had personal friends impacted by both the world trade center and flight 93. >> reporter: starting the pax project is his way of giving back. this big cross country journaly from california on its way to manhattan, new york made a quick stop in baltimore. >> it certainly promotes unity. >> reporter: with his 10 year anniversary craig and his project wants to make sure we never forget. local firefighters showed their support for this cause which benefits the children of the 344 firefighters killed on 9/11. >> after the attacks on the world trade center we had a lot of patriotism. a lot of flag waiving in the streets and that weaned off. >> ten years ago i think firemen could have walked on water and now, ten years later, it's not that way anymore. >> reporter: thousands of organizations country wide have come forward in support by purchasing these 9/11 patches and pins with a simple goal of making a difference. >> very important for us to look at the past and understand our history so we can move forward and have a healthy future and if we respect the past than we can have a better future. >> reporter: in baltimore, preston mitchum, abc2 news. >> and if you missed the group, tomorrow they will be in anne arundel at county's 9/11 memorial in front of county fire and police headquarters. well, hundreds of thousands of service members returning from the wars that followed 9/11 are coming home with guards we can't see. >> there were some treated for post traumatickic stress discord. coming up in one minute the problem with one of the most common treatments. the easy egg cracker is supposed to make breakfast a lot easier but does it work? we are testing it out for you to test it out for you before you buy it. a little girl's efforts to save a bird in trouble ended up with her parents in trouble. we'll explain in just 60 seconds they lined the street for a hero's homecoming in knox, indiana. it was 40 years in the making for a war hero from vietnam. warrant officer george andrews house was declared missing in action when his plane went down. earlier he was identified through his remains. his parents didn't live long enough so the town served as his surrogate family. he will be buried at arlington national cemetery. many veterans coming home from war are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, ptsd. there's a variety of medicines used to treat it but not all are working. it could be creeking some other problems. anthony dozier is a veteran of desert storm and shield. his post traumatic stress disorder returned shortly after coming home. >> it was like i didn't fit into this life. >> reporter: this former drill sergeant faced a long, hard road. >> i didn't realize what was going on with me mentally at the time because i'm a soldier. i i-can fix anything. that's my training. that's what i do. >> he couldn't fix his ptsd but did find treatment, finding a good therapist and medications that helped. >> the average doctor treating the average patient with ptsd is often describing a number of add on medications to improve the treatment in a second generation anti-psychotic agent it'd often used in conjunction with two approved depressantpaxil and zoloft. doctor john crystal from the veterans affairs national center for post traumatic stress disorder tested the effectiveness of it relieving ptsd systems. 200 people participated. >> people who are getting the currently fda-approved treatment but still need an add- on medication did not seem to benefit when it was added to their treatment over six months. >> the study appears in this month's jamma. journal of the american medical association. >> just because it is widely prescribed doesn't mean it's necessarily helpful for post traumatic stress disorder. >> today he say he's happy and he's encouraging words for people with ptsd. >> recovery is possible. it never goes away but you can live a healthy and prosperous life. researchers also say that some study participants cited side effects including weight gain. >> this is an issue that effects hundreds and thousands of service members. >> look at what the department of veterans affairs have come up with now. they've come up an app to help anyone suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. one had to learn about it. self assessment, manage your symptoms and you can upload songs or or pictures you find soothing when you feel these symptoms coming on and assessments if you need to find a doctor. you can learn more about this app on abc2news.com. it's in the featured story section on the home page. well, you've seen the ads tv and chances are you've asked yourself cousin it work. abc2 news is working for you tonight putting products to the test. >> a rosedale mom giving it a c. tonight we're testing the ez egg cracker. joyce nelson took it to a place where certainly is a whiz with eggs. >> cracking eggs can sometimes be a hassle. we've all had to pick these broken shells out of our food. >> not anymore. clausing ez cracker that lets you easy open eggs without the mess. >> another example how abc2 works for you. >> we went to the house and diner and asked part owner to put the ez cracker to the test. >> here we go. dropped right into the dish. let's try one more time. one more egg. let's see if this will -- perfect, this one came out perfect. >> reporter: so now let's try separating the yolk. >> it went off the top because i tilted it. >> reporter: i guess we could call that user error. >> let me get another one. >> the idea is to keep it into the cup. -- there it is. the white went down and the yolk stayed within the cup. very good. yeah in,. >> reporter: our final test was to see how the ez cracker worked with a hard boiled egg. >> you still have to use your hands. >> reporter: though the ez cracker may not be practical for the busy kitchen and diner. -- don't ruin another egg dish again, just crack, crack, crack away with ez cracker. we want to hear from you right now. is there a product you want us to test out. e-mail us at worksforyouwmar.com and if you're willing to be a tester or there's a product you want to test out we'll get back to you. meanwhile, log onto abc2news.com, click on consumer to see more about thegirobowl and the ez egg cracker. all right , was definitely a good day. right now temperatures not so bad around 82 degrees. the humidity is starting to increase coming in at 66%. the winds are calm. the barometer's at 29.74 and it is falling. as we look at maryland's most powerful radar we can see it's starting to have a few thunderstorms trying to move in here but most of the activity is up to the north sliding over into western maryland at this time. we do have a little bit of a thunderstorm into carroll county. it's pushing past manchester and also westminster. that's definitely good news but this is the only thing pretty much isolated as of now. as we go through the rest of the evening and overnight that's when we'll start to see more showers in the forecast and thunderstorms in the forecast. temperature wise elsewhere fredrick 82. hague town at 83 and cambridge around 72 degrees. we do have the dew points rising. you can see them in the upper 60s in d.c. 72 in cullpepper. inner harbor at 73 and we're at 65 into annapolis now. for tomorrow, the temperatures, they're going to be a lot cooler than what they were today. we're actually going to be below seasonable levels into 83 degrees. pasedena at 84 and it's going to be clouds out there on that easterly flow. and with that, the clouds, the rain showers across the area. so speaking of the clouds, yes, they're already streaming in across the area this evening and again most of the activity of rain and thunderstorms back up into the midwest across the ohio valley at this time. the weather pattern, we are going to start to see this low pressure dive into the area and behind it we're going to start to see this cold front pass through and that's what is going to bringing us the chance of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow. the good news is behind that front by friday we're definitely going to feel a lot better just like today. here's your forecast as we put it into motion here. future caster showing you that cold front got roll through the area, bringing us a chance for the showers and thunderstorms once again in the forecast and we do have tropical storm emily to talk about. the wins sustained at 507 miles an hour. it's moving to the west/northwest about 12 miles an hour and it has picked up some forward momentum the last time i showed you map. it's forecasted to go over hispaniola. they definitely don't need this type of more rainfall across their area. it gained more speed, gets more life into it and we could be seeing it brush the coast of the carolinas also into georgia. right now it's too early to tell what it's going to do but we're definitely going to keep you updated. 85degrees cloudy and cooler with showers and storms tomorrow in the forecast and we'll be 69 tomorrow night, mostly cloudy, still showers and thunderstorms possible and here a check of the seven-day forecast as we start to improve once again, drying out thursday and friday, going to be very nice with more showers and thunderstorms returning as we head into the weekend. back to you guys. >> lacks a lot. coming up in minutes a young girl's evers to save a baby wood pepper and her parents get a ticket. here's terry moran with a look at what is coming up on "nightline" at 11:00. chilling home video from the couple who kidnapped jaycee dugard. what was law enforcement doing while they stopped other little girls. plus the gluten-free diet. is it helpful or a fad. what doctors have to say coming up on "nightline" right after abc2 news at 11:00 ♪ [ rock ] [ chattering ] [ man on tv ] 96309. [ man ] ♪ she got it, you got it ♪ i got it, we got it [ groans ] ♪ who's got it see you later. ♪ yeah! ♪ come on, she got it you got it, we got it who's got it ♪ we're all different. that's why there are five new civics. the next-generation civic. only from honda. there's a new tenant at this apartment building in central park. decided he wanted to live the high life so he flew the zoo. crowds have gathered to see it. officials say he doesn't pose a danger but they don't urge people to approach it either. you see this baby woodpecker it was about to be a snack for a cat until 11-year- old schuyler kapull came to the rescue. she couldn't find the mama so she brought it home. she told them it was illegal to transport baby woodpeckers so schuyler released the bird when they got home. two weeks later guess what arrived in the mail? >> kids should be able to save a baby bird and got end up going home crying because their mom has to pay $535. i just think that's crazy. >> crazy , was a fine. >> geez. >> wildlife official that's the ordinance 55462 you cannot cart baby woodpeckers. they finally canceled the ticket and saying it was a clerical error. the large oak tree that played a key part of the movie shaw shank redemption has been seriously damaged by storms. it's where morgan freeman finds a note we're getting rid of trees and there's one that's been damaged there. >> all about norway from a muslim takeover we'll be right back. stay with us if i were a customer, i'd like nonstop travel because it's quicker. because it's convenient. it's just the best way to go. keeps the cost down. [ male announcer ] southwest airlines has added new nonstop flights from bwi airport to south carolina. it means more time doing the things i want to do. it's easy. it's hassle-free. there's no headaches. [ male announcer ] fly southwest airlines' new nonstops from bwi airport to greenville-spartanburg and charleston, south carolina. i like nonstop travel because... you don't got any more stuff. [ laughter ] [ ding ] you wanted the cooler weather well your wish is. command. we're going to see temperature at 88 degrees but showers and thunderstorms in the forecast as well. >> thanks. >> 12 more seconds. >> you're giving them back. >> we'll see you tomorrow, have a good night. "nightline" is next. have a good night. 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