Discusses MACo’s Advocacy for Maryland's Counties

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, President of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), met with local legislators on the lower Eastern Shore yesterday while he was attending the Maryland Municipal League’s annual conference in Ocean City. He spent time with the Worcester County Commissioners and the Wicomico County Council members as part of an ongoing tour of the state’s major subdivisions.

Leaders of these legislative bodies sat down with Kamenetz and MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson to discuss an overview of MACo’s advocacy for Maryland counties in Annapolis at this year’s General Assembly session and about the value of MACo conferences where local officials can learn from each other and build beneficial relationships. Wicomico and Worcester county leaders raised the issues of transportation funding from the state and the challenging constraints of the state’s school funding formula. Wicomico officials also touched on plans for water and sewer build-out and the local airport.

“I really appreciate the time that our colleagues in Wicomico and Worcester spent with us sharing their goals and challenges,” said Kamenetz. “It goes to show you that whether you are governing on Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore, in our mountains or in the City, we all have the same basic charge to provide our people with a good education, transportation options and basic health and safety.”

MACo, first organized in 1939, is a non-partisan organization that advocates the needs of local government to the Maryland General Assembly, representing all of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. Kamenetz is the fifth Baltimore County Executive to serve as President in the history of MACo, succeeding Christian Kahl, Dale Anderson, Dutch Ruppersberger and Jim Smith. With this new term, Kamenetz also becomes the longest serving current member of MACo, first joining in 1994 as a member of the Baltimore County Council. 

Kamenetz also brought greetings to colleagues from around the state at this week’s Maryland Municipal League’s annual conference in Ocean City. 

Kamenetz will proclaim July 12 as Unity Day in Baltimore County and will recognize  Khizr Khan, father of a Muslim U.S. soldier killed in combat (Gold Star family), and advocate for social justice, immigration reform and Constitutional rights for all

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz will host a regional rally to bring awareness to the ongoing importance of diversity and eradicating discrimination and hatred in communities in Baltimore County and across the nation. He will recognize Khizr Khan with a special citation for using his voice to stand up and speak out for the Constitutional rights of immigrant communities. Kamenetz will also proclaim July 12 as Unity Day in Baltimore County.

When:         

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
5-7 p.m.

Where:      

Patriot Plaza
401 Bosley Avenue, Towson Maryland 21204
 

Who:

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz
Muhammad Jameel, Baltimore County Human Relations Commission MemberKhizr Khan, Gold Star Family Members of various faith, cultural and community-based groups
DJ Darryl Bass

Says Libraries are an Important Key to Student Success

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz congratulated Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) for being named the 2017 National School Library Program of the Year by the American Association of School Librarians. The award was presented this weekend to BCPS as a school system that exemplifies the effective use and promotion of their library resources to staff and students.

“This is further evidence of the great job our schools are doing in preparing students for college and career success by teaching them how to do good research and harness the wealth of library materials and knowledge at their disposal,” Kamenetz said. “I thank and congratulate our school library professionals for helping to make learning exciting and for fostering a thirst for knowledge that really helps engage students.”

“The public education system’s ability to promote learning is important in creating future leaders and entrepreneurs,” said County Council Chair Tom Quirk. “This award shows that BCPS takes these ideals seriously and is doing an outstanding job at creating better learners.”

by Joylene John-Sowah, MD MPH, Division Chief, Communicable Diseases, Baltimore County Department of Health & Human Services

Summer brings backyard gatherings, picnics and travel. The fun should not be overshadowed by thoughts of Zika. At the Baltimore County Department of Health, we are doing our part to make this season safe. 

Aedes mosquitos can become infected with the Zika virus if they bite a person that has it. These infected mosquitos can then spread the virus to other people through bites. The majority of people who become infected with Zika never know it, while others may experience fever, rash, headache, joint pain, and/or conjunctivitis (red eyes). These symptoms usually last for several days to a week. Even though symptoms are usually mild and go away with rest and fluids, pregnant women are at risk of passing it on to their unborn babies. Zika has been linked to a number of birth defects, including microcephaly (small head due to small brain) and brain damage.

When travelling this season, it’s important to be aware of the areas with active transmission of Zika virus. In the continental US, active local Zika transmission by mosquitoes has been reported in Miami-Dade County, Florida and Brownsville, Texas.  Find out more about specific areas in the U.S. and other countries with active Zika transmission.

Mosquito control and protection are important to preventing mosquito bites and breeding opportunities. In order to prevent the spread of Zika virus, always remember to WRAP UP!

W: Wear long sleeved shirts, pants and hats.

R: Repair damaged doors and windows.

A: Always empty objects and containers that stay outside and hold water, to avoid creating mosquito breeding sites.

P: Protect yourself with an EPA-registered insect repellent.

U: Use condoms or abstain from sexual activity if you are pregnant, or if you or your partner has been in a Zika infested area.

P: Pregnant women should avoid traveling to areas affected by Zika.

By following these simple steps, we can all do our part to Zap Zika!

If you have a community organization that would be interested in having a representative from the Department of Health give an educational presentation about Zika virus, call 410-887-6011.