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January 23rd, 2023
Dear Neighbor,
Governor Moore’s Inauguration!
What an exciting and historic week! Last week I was honored to witness Maryland’s first Black Governor and first South Asian woman and the first immigrant Lieutenant Governor to be inaugurated. I am so proud of Maryland, and thankful to have been in attendance for this historic day. I’m looking forward to the Moore Administration’s leadership, and am excited for all we will accomplish over the next four years together. I also had the pleasure of attending the inaugural ball with over 12,000 other attendees in Baltimore. Here are some photos from the big day!
House of Ruth Maryland Clothing Drive
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I am organizing on behalf of the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Maryland is hosting a clothing drive benefiting the House of Ruth Maryland.
House of Ruth Maryland is a wonderful organization, which leads the fight to end violence against women and their children by confronting the attitudes, behaviors, and systems that perpetuate it, and by providing victims with the services necessary to rebuild their lives safely and free of fear. House of Ruth Maryland was founded in May of 1977, and today is recognized as one of the nation’s most comprehensive domestic violence centers and has a staff of more than one hundred and twenty. Last year over 10,000 people turned to House of Ruth Maryland for support.
All clothing donated will go to assisting the women and children in need that House of Ruth serves. Any garments not needed for the clients will be put up for sale at Ruth’s Closet, House of Ruth Maryland’s resale clothing boutique that specializes in women's clothing and accessories at very discounted prices. All proceeds from Ruth’s Closet go directly to House of Ruth Maryland’s services for victims of intimate partner violence.
I hope you will join us in this clothing drive. New and gently used women’s clothing, shoes, handbags, and children’s clothing can be donated in the bin outside my office (HOB 161), or Miller Room 144 until February 13th. In lieu of clothing, you may donate to House of Ruth here, bit.ly/3iHGw5P. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office should you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your participation.
A Preview of this Session's Legislation
This month, I sat down with Mark Croatti with What’s Up? Magazine to talk about my legislative priorities ahead of this Session. A main goal of mine is to increase daily wages for election judges. These individuals work a job so fundamental to our democracy and deserve to receive at least a minimum wage for their efforts.
The safety of election officials is also a priority this Session as skepticism regarding election results has fueled violence and threats against state and local election officials. Here at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center, one of our election judges was confronted with a physical altercation during early voting this year. Nationally, drive-by and home shootings in New Mexico are targeting representatives and election officials. To protect these vital members of our staff in Maryland, I am working on legislation to increase penalties for in-person and cyber threats and harassment against them.
For more information about legislation this Session, read the full article here.
Snow Preparedness and Removal Tips and Resources
As the winter months continue, the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Highways has created a resource on their site explaining how they clear snow on our roads and some tips on public safety during severe weather. In winter months, as soon as snow begins to accumulate, equipment is dispatched to service main and collector roadways. Main and collector roads will be plowed to bare pavement. Our next priority will be ensuring residential roads are passable. Passable means that although the road may be snow-covered or snow-packed, at least one travel lane will be accessible with a front-wheel drive car. All-weather tires are a must. If our snowplow driver determines that your street meets our definition of passable, no further service will be provided.
Passable Bare Pavement
Here are some recommendations from the bureau in the event we navigate severe weather -
Prepare your vehicle: Adding snow tires or chains to your car and stocking it with a survival kit is helpful when driving in a storm. Some items to include are blankets, candles, matches, non-perishable foods, water, protective clothing, sand and a shovel.
Keep your gas tank full.
Keep and maintain home emergency equipment: Some items to keep on hand are battery operated radios, flashlights, emergency heating sources, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. It is also important to check and maintain furnaces, wood burning stoves, fireplaces and chimneys. Fireplace ashes should always be thrown away in an approved metal container.
Keep non-perishable foods, medicine and baby supplies on-hand.
Protect water pipes: To prevent freezing, it is important to make sure water pipes are properly insulated and that exposed pipes are drained.
Wear protective clothing: layers of loose-fitting warm clothing is more effective than one thick layer.
Pace physical activity: It is important, especially for elderly persons, to avoid overexertion in snow removal or pushing cars.
For more information about the Bureau’s snow removal practices, visit their website here.
Historic Annapolis: Sharing our Diverse History Virtual Lecture
I am happy to highlight The Museum of Historic Annapolis’s new exhibition: Annapolis: An American Story! The Vice President of Education and Interpretation, Mary-Angela Hardwick, will share the story behind the exhibit, some family narratives, unique images, rare and noteworthy objects at a virtual lecture on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. The general admission is $15 per household, military household is $10 and the event is free for Historic Annapolis members and docents. For more information, visit Historic Annapolis’s website here.
Kids’ Health and Wellness Fair
Annapolis Pediatrics is hosting its first annual free Kids’ Health and Wellness Fair! Mission BBQ will be providing lunch and there will be food boxes for the first 100 people from the Anne Arundel County Food Bank. Navy Football players will be leading activities, taking pictures, and signing autographs. The fair will be at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center at Truxton Park on Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit Annapolis Pediatrics' website here.
Free Cardiovascular Screening Day: Heart Healthy Maryland
Covid-19 Testing and Booster Shots
Make sure you are up to date on your Covid-19 boosters, and take precautions by testing before and after seeing friends and family! See below for options to receive FREE at-home testing kits, or to schedule a vaccine appointment in Anne Arundel County today.
Pick-up free at-home tests: https://www.aahealth.org/rapidcovidtests
Order free at-home tests to your door: www.covid.gov/tests
Schedule a vaccine appointment at one of 38 local clinics today: https://www.aacounty.org/covidvax
Keeping our Community Warm: Community Coat Racks
Need a coat? Take one! Want to help? Leave one! Nine of Arundel County’s public library locations are accepting coat donations and providing them to those in need. Busch Annapolis, Deale, Discoveries at the Mall, Edgewater, Linthicum, Maryland City at Russett, Mountain Road, Odenton and Severn will all be offering gently used, no-longer-needed winter coats. There have also been donations of gloves, mittens, scarves and one sleeping bag. For more information, visit the Anne Arundel County Public Library’s website here.
You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn about volunteer opportunities, community resources, legislative updates and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always contact my office by email at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.
Stay safe and healthy,
Delegate Dana Jones District 30A, Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
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