Aug 6, 2021

District Updates from Delegate Pat Young

Volume 27 | August 4th 2021

In this Edition: 1.BCPS Updates 2.Maryland Traffic Reaches Pre-Pandemic Levels 3.Federal Child Tax Credit Takes Effect 4.Baltimore County Liquor Board Votes 5.What's Happening in the County

BCPS fall athletics season to begin Aug. 11

Towson, MD – The fall sports season begins Aug. 11 in Baltimore County Public Schools, and BCPS is asking all students to register now for autumn athletics participation. “I encourage all students to consider participating in Interscholastic athletics,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Competing in sports is a great way to make friends, stay physically and mentally healthy, and strengthen discipline.” “We are extremely excited about the return of our traditional fall athletic season on August 11,” said Michael Sye, BCPS coordinator of athletics. “Our athletic directors, and coaches are looking forward to our student athletes returning and taking part in our interscholastic program.” The BCPS high school fall athletics season will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11, but online registration is open now for allied soccer, badminton, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, and volleyball. The middle school fall athletics season will begin on Monday, Sept. 13. Online registration information for badminton and cross country is available now. For all BCPS athletics, students must meet eligibility requirements and have a valid pre-participation physical. Questions should be directed to school athletic directors. Athletics will continue to follow the BCPS mitigation plan in the 2021-22 school year. At this time, all athletes are eligible and strongly encouraged to Receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find an updated list of providers and pre-register for an appointment near you at COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in Maryland. We continue to work with our health partners to examine practices to keep all students safe. Students encouraged to register for upcoming high school sports season

BCPS and Baltimore County Release Updated Recommendations for Long Term School Construction

Baltimore County Public Schools and Baltimore County Government released updated recommendations for the County’s Multi-Year Improvement Plan for All Schools (MYIPAS), developed by CannonDesign, a nationally recognized architecture and planning company. Under the updated recommendations, every school in Baltimore County would receive equitable capital improvements within 15 years and could be completed without any additional revenue increases. In total, the recommendations call for $2.5 billion in school construction, including all remaining Schools for our Future projects. The CannonDesign proposal also outlines strategies to bring school capacity down to 100 percent through additions and redistricting – eliminating the need for makeshift spaces or trailers. As part of the MYIPAS process, community members were offered opportunities to provide input through public surveys, virtual community forums, focus groups, and a public comment period. In total, more than 25,000 stakeholders provided input during this process. A final report will be issued in fall 2021.

Maryland Traffic Reaches Pre-Pandemic Levels Important Notice from MDOT

Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order on May 12, 2021, mandating that driver’s licenses (both noncommercial and commercial), learner’s permits, and identification cards that expired during the COVID-19 State of Emergency must be renewed by August 15, 2021. Marylander’s whose driver’s licenses expired between March 12, 2020 and August 15, 2021 must renew by this deadline. After this date, the standard legal requirement of having to retake both the written and behind the wheel portions of the driving test will be in effect for those with a driver’s license expired over one year.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has reported that Maryland travel numbers are close to pre-pandemic levels. The use of taxi and rideshare services, however, remains down. "Marylanders are getting back to business and back to their lives with growing confidence," MDOT Secretary Greg Slater said in a news release. "The numbers we're seeing around the state reflects the strong desire of travelers to work, play and experience everything Maryland has to offer – and it also shows the demand for reliable, safe and healthy transportation options." On Friday, July 2, BWI Marshall Airport experienced its busiest day for departing passenger traffic since the start of the pandemic, as the Transportation Security Administration screened 28,655 departing passengers. Overall, weekly volumes remain about 25 percent lower than 2019 levels as business travel still lags behind leisure travel, but air traffic continues to grow on a weekly basis.

Child Tax Credit Update

Eligible families should have received their Child Tax Credit deposit or check on July 15th, 2021. For every child 6-17 years old, eligible families will get up to $250 each month, and for every child under 6 eligible families will receive up to $300 each month. This July more than 650,000 families in Maryland will get a check to help 1 million children thrive.

Baltimore County Board of Liquor License Commissioners Vote to Resume “To-Go” Cocktails

The Baltimore County Board of Liquor License Commissioners voted unanimously to allow restaurants, bars, and taverns to sell “to-go” cocktails for carryout or delivery. Under legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year, local liquor licensing boards could adopt regulations to authorize the allowance of restaurants, bars, and taverns to sell and deliver to-go cocktails for two years.

Storyville Reopens In Woodlawn

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — An attraction for children is now open again in Baltimore County. Storyville reopened in Woodlawn on Monday, July 19. The Storyville in Rosedale also opened the same day. Both had been closed to prevent the spread of infection due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now that it is back open, the library is rotating out toys and sanitizing items between use.

Storyville is the library's popular "child-sized village" that promotes literacy for those up to 5 years old through themed learning areas such as the baby garden or grocery store; each section is equipped with books and activities. Now that they have reopened, the play-and-learn centers will operate at 50 percent capacity; that means 30 children total will be able to participate. Woodlawn's Storyville opened in 2010. The Rosedale location opened in 2008. The hours for Storyville are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Woodlawn branch of Baltimore County Public Library is located at 1811 Woodlawn Drive.

Banneker Fall BioBlitz: Reptiles, Amphibians and much more

The NHSM Herp Club had such a great time exploring Banneker Park this summer finding salamanders, snakes, turtles and frogs, we are going back this fall to look for more. All are welcome. Family friendly. SPACES ARE LIMITED! RSVP HERE: https://marylandnature.wildapricot.org/event-4422475 A BioBlitz is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area. While generating useful data for science and conservation they are also an excuse for naturalists, scientists, and curious members of the public to meet in person in the great outdoors and are a lot of fun! This is a full outdoor experience. Dress for the weather (RAIN DATE is September 26). Bring shoes for mucking around and dry shoes to change into. Bring a camera or phone to capture the data in the form of photographs. Gloves to move rocks and trees are recommended. Families are welcome to bring kids. Children must be supervised at all times. Please address any questions to bstrong@marylandnature.org This family friendly bike ride is an effort to bridge the gap between community, youth and law enforcement. Our community needs this!!! Bring your bike or rent one. Bring the family. Walk, Run or Ride!!! Activities for all youth. The first 50 youth registered will receive backpacks containing school supplies.

Committee Assignments and Caucus Memberships·

Deputy Majority Whip
Appropriations Committee
Oversight Subcommittee on Personnel - Chair
Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds - House Chair
Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology - House Chair
Capital Budget Subcommittee
Health and Social Services Subcommittee
Baltimore County Delegation - Chair
Veterans Caucus - Vice Chair