The next Edgewood Community Council meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 13th at the Edgewood Recreation and Community Center (ERC), 1980 Brookside Drive.  The February ECC meeting is scheduled for February 10th at 7:00 pm at the ERC.

Commentary and Goals: ECC Jan 2010 Agenda (By Jansen Robinson, Chair, ECC)

In 2010 the Edgewood Community Council will place a laser-like focus on two major areas- (Political and Economic Development) that play significant roles in improving our quality of life.

We will continue to address those social issues that affect our quality of life. But we can ill-afford to sit on the sidelines and complain about where we find ourselves, when WE possess the means to affect positive change.

The ECC will work with our local and state government representatives as well as such agencies as the Harford County Small and Disadvantaged Business Center to educate and engage our community about the potential that we already possess. At each of our meetings time will be set aside to discuss how to proceed in each of these areas.

The Edgewood Community has recently shown that when we work collectively (as we did in the the Prologics project), for the common good of our community-we can accomplish great things. Lets take that momentum into 2010.

POLITICAL Development: We want our elected officials to be partners in improving the quality of life in Edgewood. To ensure that we are part of the decision-making process means that we must strategically build our Political Clout. To do so we must take advantage of this political season to address the areas listed below.

2010 Census
Voter Registration
Candidates for the elected offices
Candidates for District A Board of Education

ECONOMIC Development- It does us no good to be Politically developed if we are economically disadvantaged. BRAC can have a significantly positive impact on our Community, if we get involved. The areas that we will pay particular attention to in 2010 are the following-because we can’t continue to expect the government to solve our problems.

BRAC and the Edgewood Community
Edgewood Master Plan
Small Business Development
Green Jobs Training Programs

There is an old adage that I think appropriate for where we find ourselves…”If we always do what we have always done— we will always get what we have always gotten.”- If we are not satisfied with where we find ourselves as a community and individually then we must do something strategically different.

(input by Monica Worrell)
Sheriff’s Office Receives Grant
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office has received a grant provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention to target motorists who fail to stop for school buses that have their red lights flashing.  Over 34,000 Harford County students ride a bus to and from school each day. This grant enhances the Sheriff’s Office enforcement efforts of the state law requiring motorists to stop their vehicles when they approach a school bus with its red lights flashing. “Our goal is to keep our children safe,” said Sgt. Joseph VanSeeters, Supervisor of the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit.  “This grant will provide the funding for a deputy to follow school buses where we have identified a chronic problem of violations.” Maryland law requires the driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking a school vehicle to stop at least 20 feet from the rear or front of the school vehicle when its alternating flashing red lights are operating. The driver of any vehicle meeting or overtaking the school vehicle may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the alternating flashing red lights are deactivated. A violation of this article may result in a fine of $570.00.  For additional information, please contact the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Traffic unit at 410-692-7872.

The Sheriff’s Office offers the following tips for motorists driving during school hours:

• Drive slow and watch for children traveling to and from school when driving in neighborhoods with marked school zones
• Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
• Learn and understand the flashing light system school bus drivers use to alert motorists for stopping.

Newsletter
Sign up for our Constant Contact email list through our website at www.harfordsheriff.org to keep on top of the news about crime and to receive periodic safety tips.  Remember, Crime Prevention starts with you!

(Submitted by Omar Simpson)
Census Team Volunteers Desperately Needed So You Don’t Get Underfunded
Edgewood Desperately Needs YOU!  The 2010 Census is almost upon us.  The Census data will be used to determine funding for Edgewood programs, facilities and much, much more.  Edgewood can not afford to be undercounted or you and your loved ones will be short changed!  To prevent this, we need volunteers that are willing to help pass out fliers and email information to folks in these communities, especially if you are from one of these communities:

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I chose these communities because, based on prior Census data and a study commissioned by the Census Bureau, these communities are the most likely to be undercounted and thus UNDERFUNDED!  So, please help me help you by volunteering.

I will host a planning meeting with all the Census Team volunteers on Jan 14th  at the Edgewood Recreation & Comm Center? – 1980 Brookside Drive , Edgewood , MD? at 7:00 pm.  Hopefully you and a few friends will come!  If you can’t come, but still wish to participate in this effort, email or call me.  Omar J. Simpson, Esq.   Telephone: 443-504-7220.

Harford County Health Department: (Excerpts from a posting by the Dagger Press, 8 January 2010)

During the observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week, January 10th through January 16th, the Harford County Health Department will hold an  H1N1 influenza injectable vaccine clinic for the general population on Wednesday, January 13th at the Woodbridge Station operations center located at 1321 Woodbridge Station Way in Edgewood. The vaccination clinic is available at no cost.   The January 13th vaccination clinic at Woodbridge will be held between the hours of 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Appointment times are available (but not required) by calling the appointment Call-Center at 410-877-1050. Walk-ins are welcomed. Persons with appointments are reminded not to arrive more than ten minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.

Celebrate a New Habitat Home for the Hoke Family!

JOIN US FOR THIS GREAT OCCASION:DATE: Friday, January 15, 2010
DEDICATION TIME: 10:00 am – 10:30 am
LOCATION: 838 W. Spring Meadow Court, Edgewood, MD

Tour of home and light refreshments to follow!
RSVP by January 11 to Martha Tozzi marthatozzi@harfordhabitat.org
Harford Habitat for Humanity, 205 S. Hays Street, Bel Air, Maryland 21014 (410) 638-4434