Harford County release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2009
Media Contact: Robert B. Thomas, Jr. at 410-638-3258 or 443-617-1954
Harford Joins Baltimore County to Promote Growing Home Campaign
National Award-Winner Tree Planting Initiative
(Bel Air, MD) – - Harford County Executive David R. Craig today joined Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Jr. to announce the expansion of the Growing Home Campaign to Harford County. The Growing Home Campaign, now in its fourth year, is a national award-winning program for homeowners.
The growing home program is an innovative public-private partnership between Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County, nearly 50 local retail nurseries and garden centers and homeowners. The purpose of the program is to increase the overall tree canopy on private property in the Baltimore area. With the addition of Baltimore City and Harford County to the program, the Growing Home Campaign will reach over 1.6 million residents in the region and encourages them to plant a tree on their property.
“We are very pleased to welcome our Harford County neighbors into this easy and effective effort to increase the tree coverage in our communities,” County Executive Jim Smith stated. “So far, Baltimore City and Baltimore County residents have planted more than 4,000 new trees through the Growing Home program and we have high hopes that Harford Countians will follow suit,” Smith added.
Commenting on Harford County’s participation in the Growing Home Campaign, County Executive David R. Craig stated, “We are pleased to partner with Baltimore County and local nurseries and garden centers to provide incentives for our homeowners to plant trees. Simply stated, planting trees not only benefits homeowners and adds value to their property, but it is good for the environment as well.”
Homeowners can receive a $10 Growing Home tree coupon from the Growing Home brochure which is widely available from the City of Baltimore, as well as Baltimore and Harford County governments and the Growing Home Campaign website at www.growinghome.info. The website also contains helpful tips on how to properly plant trees, tree species selection, and maintenance.
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Harford Joins Baltimore County to Promote Growing Home Campaign
May 26, 2009
Page Two
Additionally, Harford County Public Libraries have displays and information pertaining to the program and the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension office also been distributing Growing Home Campaign materials through local outreach functions and gardening classes.
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“Preserving Harford’s past; promoting Harford’s fut

From Delegate Rick Impallaria:
Harford County Tea Party – Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 6 pm

On Tuesday, May 19, at 7 pm the Harford County Council will be discussing the County Executive’s proposed budget. This is the time when citizens can come and make comments about the budget.

In connection with this, a Tea Party has been scheduled for 6 pm at the County Council Building, 212 S. Bond St., Bel Air. People should arrive 5:30-6:00 with their protest signs. This is a high traffic area and will be very visible to passers-by. This is also an opportunity to bring your children to get an early lesson in participating in our free speech rights of protest.

Rick Impallaria
Delegate, District 7
rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us

Ruppersberger and Craig Announce $143,000 for Joppatowne High School’s Homeland Security And Emergency Preparedness Program

Money Will Keep the School’s Program on the
Cutting Edge and Allow it to Expand
(Joppatowne, MD)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Harford County Executive David Craig (R-MD) announced $143,000 for Joppatowne High School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program. The money will keep the program on the cutting edge and allow it to expand.

The program currently has 120 students and will add 65 new students next year. The curriculum prepares students for careers in the homeland security sciences, law enforcement and criminal justice, and information technology. The Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program at Joppatowne High School is now a pilot program. The curriculum is expected to be implemented at Dundalk High School in Baltimore County and Fort Meade High School in Anne Arundel County next year.

“Joppatowne High School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program is an incredibly innovative program. The goal is to teach students skills they can use in the real world to get a job after high school or prepare them for college. With the job market as challenging as it is and the nearly 30,000 jobs being moved to Maryland through the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decision known as BRAC, the curriculum will help prepare students for future opportunities whatever they may be,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).

Congressman Ruppersberger was joined by Harford County Executive David Craig, Harford County School Interim Superintendent Patricia Skeback, teachers, and students at a special ceremony on Monday, May 4, 2009 at Joppatowne High School.

WBAL.com

County Executive David Craig is out with a budget proposal that includes 6 unpaid furlough days for many county employees. Public safety and education employees would not be affected, but the furloughs would apply to all other emlployees, including elected officials. Craig tells the Baltimore Sun that details of the furlough plan will be announced soon.

In addition tot he furloughs, the budget includes no raises for Harford County employees this year, but it also includes no tax rate increases, and it features the largest cut in the general fund for the county in 25 years.

Baltimore Sun

The Harford County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday that it will investigate a loitering incident in Aberdeen last week that sparked a confrontation between police and several residents and led to the arrest of four people. The president of the NAACP’s Harford chapter alleged that the arrests were racially motivated.

Police have charged Troy Maye, 29, and his sister, Praschel Maye, 26, as well as siblings Deon Brooks-Anderson, 18, and Jasmin Brooks, 19, who are cousins of the Mayes, with resisting arrest, second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. All but Jasmin Brooks, who lives in Perryman, are residents of Aberdeen.