Dear Friends,
I hope you have all had a fantastic week! Time is zooming by! I have been kept busy this week with meetings and bill hearings lasting late into the evening.
You can track and view this year’s legislation on the 2023 Maryland General Assembly Website here.
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I was excited this week- my first two bills have passed the Senate and made it to the House for consideration!
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The Green Bag was announced on the floor today. It contains 307 of Governor Moore's nominees for appointments to boards and commissions. The Senate is still waiting for about 400 additional names. The Executive Nominations Committee will meet again on February 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM. The meetings are live streamed. Find the link here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Details?cmte=exn
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SB228 Department of Aging - Dementia Care Coordinator and Dementia Care Navigation Programs
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Maryland's estimated 242,000 dementia caregivers need help. Roughly 69% of them have chronic health conditions, and 28% of them have depression. 14% are in poor physical health. Dementia caregivers provide nearly 371,000,000 hours of unpaid care each year and need aid so they can understand how to manage the life of their loved one with dementia.
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This program would have a range of goals including to:
- conduct outreach events, including cognitive assessments, to help identify individuals with dementia;
- educate individuals with dementia and their loved ones about the disease;
- assist with care planning and connections to support groups;
- engage individuals with dementia in regular exercise and social activities.
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DISTRICT 32 SENATORIAL SCHOLARSHIP |
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Applications Available Online Now! |
Mail all applications to
Senator Pamela Beidle Scholarship Committee
11 Bladen Street Suite 202, James Senate Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401
by the April 7th, 2023 deadline.
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You must attend a Maryland School.
Click here for the application.
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RABIES ALERT – 2/14/2023
The Anne Arundel County Department of Health is seeking anyone who may have come in contact with a raccoon near the 500 block of Greenwood Drive in Linthicum, Maryland. The raccoon tested positive for rabies.
If you or your pet had contact with this infected animal, or your pet has unexplained wounds, please contact the Anne Arundel County Department of Health at 410-222-7254 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 443-481-3140 after business hours.
Rabies is spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal, such as a groundhog, cat, fox, raccoon or bat. It is also spread when an infected animal’s saliva comes in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth or open cut of a person or another animal.
Preventive treatment might be required for anyone who handled, fed or was attacked by the infected animal. Rabies is a fatal disease, and preventive treatment (injections) must be started as soon as possible. The Department of Health advises county residents to take the following precautions to prevent the spread of rabies:
- All pets should have current rabies immunizations.
- Do not allow your pets to run free.
- Secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
- Do not leave pet food outside.
- Avoid contact with all wildlife, especially feral cats, raccoons, bats, and foxes.
- If bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water, and seek medical attention.
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Library for the Blind and Print Disabled |
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Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund |
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From the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development:
You may not need assistance to stay in your home, but you may know someone who does. The Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund can provide mortgage relief, weatherization, housing counseling, and legal services.
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My office is continuing to receive inquiries about Unemployment claims. If you or anyone you know needs assistance with their Unemployment Insurance claim, please click the link and fill out our Unemployment Insurance Assistance Form. We will contact our District Liaison regarding your claim.
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Anne Arundel County Public School News |
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AACPS Board of Education
Public Workshop on Redistricting
Interactive Redistricting Website Launched
An interactive web tool is now available online for members of the public to review and comment on a pair of potential redistricting scenarios developed in the first phase of a comprehensive redistricting initiative that will span the next three years. WXY Studio, which was hired by the Board of Education last year, has worked for months to create the potential scenarios. In addition to drawing boundaries for Old Mill High School West and West County Elementary School – both scheduled to open in the 2024-2025 school year – the scenarios reflect ways to better balance enrollments at schools in the Chesapeake, Glen Burnie, Meade, North County, Northeast and Old Mill clusters.
The web tool can be accessed through a link HERE. Users can see school assignments for their residence and how they may be impacted in either scenario. A dropdown in the upper right corner allows users to translate the entire page into Spanish.
Comments on the potential scenarios will be accepted through May 31, 2023. Dr. Bedell and his staff will examine and consider all comments before Dr. Bedell delivers his recommendation to the Board of Education in July 2023. The Board will then select an option or options to take to public hearing in October 2023 before adopting a plan for Phase 1 in November 2023. Comments to be considered must be left on the redistricting page, not on other social media pages.
The plan adopted by the Board will go into effect in August 2024. The Board has the authority to develop options other than the scenarios presented by the consultant or any recommendation from Dr. Bedell.
The full press release can be found HERE.
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Redistricting continues to be an ongoing issue in our county. If you have any questions or concerns, listed below is the contact information of your elected Board of Education Representatives. |
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Board of Education Contact Information |
Robert Silkworth:
AACPS Board of Education Member, District 2
(443) 534-5766
Gloria Dent:
AACPS Board of Education Member, District 1
(410) 991-5133
Melissa Ellis:
AACPS Board of Education Member, District 4
(410) 533-7940
Board of Education General Contact Information
BOE Office: (410) 222-5311
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This document is a guide for the modifications to MDOT MTA's core bus service for the Winter 2023 service change, effective Sunday, February 5, 2023.
These changes included schedule adjustments and modified supplemental service to select Baltimore City Public Schools. In addition, a list of bus stop modifications is provided, which includes new stops and removed stops.
Click the image to be directed to the document!
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Odenton Library Community Park Public Input Meeting |
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Tuesday, February 28 at 6 pm
The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works and Department of Recreation and Parks invite you to a presentation of the phase one design for the Odenton Library Community Park.
Attendees will hear and be able to comment on plans to build the first phase of the park.
The current design includes parking, stormwater management, a playground, pickleball courts, walking paths through the woods, wetland observatory decks and a picnic pavilion.
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Click image above for event link! |
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Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program
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The Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program is now open for 2023 grant applications! |
Grant applications will be accepted through February 13 with awards between $10,000-$25,000 going to eligible organizations who train service and support dogs or who provide equine therapy to veterans. The notice of funding availability, application, and associated materials are available on the MDVA website.
Click image below to find the application!
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For interested organizations that want to learn more about the program, the application, and ask questions regarding the grant process, join the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs technical assistance call on Friday, January 20th 10-11am.
Or dial (US) +1 321-529-7661 PIN: 810 156 978#
*Please note, the Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program provides grants to 501C3 organizations, not individuals seeking to apply for a service animal.
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Fort Meade Resiliency Services |
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Fort Meade has developed a resiliency campus with the goal of building strong, healthy service members, families and Department of Defense civilians. The mission is accomplished through a combination of military and civilian agencies that work together to provide hands on training and support in the five pillars of resiliency – Family, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual and Social.
Fort Meade Resiliency Services
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General Assembly Office Schedule |
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My Chief of Staff, Nancy Lipin Crawford, Legislative Aide, Ash-Lynn Randolph, and Interns, Zoey Nichols and Ama Addo will be working Monday through Friday to respond to any Constituent concerns.
I have enjoyed hearing all of my constituent's thoughts and ideas on legislation. Please continue to stay in touch with me. I encourage everyone to be involved in government and have their voice heard.
I will be taking virtual and in-person appointments this session. You can schedule by calling or emailing the office at pamela.beidle@senate.state.md.us or 410-841-3593. We are always happy to assist you.
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If someone forwarded this newsletter to you or you're viewing it online, you can subscribe here.
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Thank you for allowing me to serve as your District 32 State Senator!
Pamela Beidle
Senator, District 32
Finance Committee
Chair Executive Nominations
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