October 2007
Envisioning a future Annapolis
This and other issues...
A message from Sam
Eating together
Your alderman at work
Help monitor our waterways
Report that pothole
Now here's a thought!
Contact
Never has it been so difficult for the American family. It's like we're besieged from every direction.
If you're my age you remember the 50's when the term "American dream" was coined. The average new home in Annapolis was about 1200 square feet with a carport and maybe a garage, and one adult working 40 hours a week could usually support a spouse and three or four children easily.
Few had or needed health insurance. A visit to the local family doctor or dentist was usually less than a dollar.
Family dinner together was expected and even anticipated as a time for finding out what was going on and to get important interaction from other family members. A simple "Hey, Dad, can I go to the movies with Jeremy this weekend?" usually got input from Mom as well as everybody else sitting around the table.
Today our family loyalties are divided as never before, and fewer and fewer of us seldom share any family time together. The average size of a new home is approaching 3,000 square feet. And that simple "carport" has turned into two or three garages--a "necessity" for the two or three cars we possess. And two adults working 40-plus hours a week can't keep up with all the bills. That American dream of the 50s has turned into a real 2007 American nightmare!
The complexity of life today is putting a lot of strain on all of us--especially families. Mom and dad tend to commute longer distances for the better paying jobs, so we have less time to contribute to our families, church work, charities or other local causes.
We often throw larger contributions of money at different community needs instead of giving our own time-when really both are greatly needed. And according to recent FBI statistics adolescent crime is on the increase, especially in drug use and petty theft.
As a community we need to work together to simplify our lives. Each of us must decide exactly what this means; however, there is a lot of help available.
Speak with your pastor or rabbi or get other forms of counseling.
Our families are important, and when the family unit is in disarray, we all suffer.
Upcoming City Council Meetings:
Monday, October 8th, 7:30 p.m., City Council Legislative Meeting
Monday, October 22nd, 7:00 p.m., City Council Public Hearing
(The Thursday prior to each meeting agendas will be posted on the City of Annapolis website.)
Family meals together
by Teresa, The CuteKid
Studies have shown that something as simple as eating dinner together as a family every night can have a major impact upon the happiness and well-being of both parents and children. But with today's busy schedules most families are lucky to eat dinner together about four days a week and the numbers decrease as children get older. Yet eating dinner together is so important. It is one of the things that happy families do and here's why: Eating dinner together increases communication. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Colombia University found that parents who eat with their children at least five times a week report having a better relationship with their child. The reason is simple as you are sharing a meal you are also sharing conversation.
The dinner table is a perfect place to discuss what is happening in each family member's life, although parents do need to be careful not to control the conversation or discuss any topics that could cause conflict.
Better scholastic achievement
Children who eat dinner with their families have better academic performance In the same study researchers found that teens that eat dinner with their family are more likely to receive A's and B's than teens that do not. Elementary students also benefit academically from family dinners. Another study found that preschoolers who eat dinner together with their families have better language skills because they hear adult conversation around the table.
Healthier diet
Families that eat dinner together eat healthier. When meals are cooked at home they typically have less fat and higher amounts of fiber, minerals, and vitamins. A Harvard study found "that children who ate family dinners more frequently had more healthy eating habits" overall, even when not at home. They also typically "consume more vegetables, fruit and juice, and less soda."
Childhood development
Family dinners foster healthy child development. Family eating dinners together help ensure that a child will make good choices. In the report, The Importance of Family Dinners III, it shows that teens who eat dinner two or fewer night a week are more than twice as likely to smoke or try marijuana, and one and half times more likely to drink alcohol. Another study by Drs. Bowden and Zeisz reported that teens who ate dinner with their families were overall "less likely to do drugs or be depressed and were more motivated at school and had better relationships." Family dinners were a "marker for other positive family attributes" and provided the stability and source of communication that children need.
Of course eating dinner together as a family doesn't guarantee that your child will get A's in school or never smoke but statistically your chances are better if you just sit down at the table and eat dinner together.
For more information click here!
During the past month...
The environment
I continue to promote O-27-07--legislation that will prohibit the retail distribution of plastic checkout bags within the city limits of Annapolis.
More than 100 billion plastic checkout bags are distributed by retail businesses annually. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency greater than 95 per cent are not recycled. Instead they end up in landfill or loose in the environment. And they last for 500 to 1000 years! They just keep accumulating!
This legislation is intended to provide additional improvement and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding tributaries for future generations.
The legislation has been reported worldwide and is being considered by numerous other cities and counties. It is making its way through various Annapolis committee hearings and will likely come up for a final vote on Monday, November 12.
The legislation has strong support from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Alice Ferguson Foundation, the Sierra Club of Anne Arundel County, the Alliance for Sustainable Communities, EarthEcho (the Cousteau family), the Audubon Society, Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and other environmental organizations. To find out why this legislation is so important click here!
Work continued at Back Creek Nature Park under the able direction of Mel Wilkins and Peter Gray and a lot of muscle from USNA's 25th Company and help from many community volunteers! Shoreline restoration and plantings of thousands of indigenous plants accomplished. Pressure treated wooden beams were set in place to mark pathways and garden areas. Construction on pervious parking areas and renovation of what's to become the Osprey Nature Center will begin soon. Go take a look!
Ruth Berger alerted me to an auction of a historic free African American cemetery on the banks of Back Creek that was to take place the end of September. I provided the City Attorney with documentation, a letter was sent to the auction company halting the auction, the City is seeking to preserve the property.
Traffic congestion
I co-introduced with Alderman Stankivic R-45-07 and R-46-07 requesting the State of Maryland conduct feasibility study of rail links between Washington and Annapolis and Baltimore and Annapolis as well as a rail link from Parole to the Historic District.
I attended a national conference "Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century" in Denver on September 27.
I believe we need adequate alternative transportation and mobility so we can leave our cars at home.
Public safety
Our fourth meeting of an ad-hoc committee to secure affordable housing for Annapolis police was held. Various methods of federal, state and local funding were considered. Several plans of program development were considered.
The committee will continue to meet until the program is funded and all 23 vacant positions on the police force are filled.
Also, I requested a City Council study session with the Annapolis Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. I will be requesting stricter enforcement of laws and stiffer penalties for serving underage drinkers and for over-serving other restaurant/bar patrons.
The study session will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, October 8th, prior to the City Council meeting.
Smart growth and development
The City Council passed O-32-06, an ordinance limiting growth by demanding that developers address the question of adequate public facilities, such as utilities and public safety services.
I voted against this amended version of the bill because it excludes impact on traffic to surrounding developments. The traffic impact of new development is far too important to omit from such legislation.
I will be seeking an amendment to this legislation that will include adequate traffic studies prior to permitting new development.
Racial reconciliation and healing
A third ecumenical, interracial gathering of ministers was held to discuss racial reconciliation and harmony in our community. The group is studying ways to promote greater interaction between predominantly white and black congregations.
A fifth meeting of an ad hoc committee promoting private parochial scholarships for community housing youth was held at the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA). The group is seeking funding for scholarships to Annapolis Area Christian School, St. Anne's School, St. Mary's School and the Key School.
A scholarship meeting was held with the Anne Arundel Community Foundation to help organize a program for giving to the scholarship fund.
World Water Quality Monitoring Day
Be a water quality monitor!
You can help our Annapolis Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs (DNEP). City residents are invited to participate in World Water Monitoring Day. This International Education and Outreach Program is going on through October 18, 2007.
It's easy to do! Just request a testing kit by calling Cindy Tait at 410-263-7970. The kit will be mailed to you. Then select a stream or river in the City of Annapolis. Collect the water sample and complete the test, and then e-mail the results back to DNEP!
To get information on this and other possible activities going on in Annapolis you can listen to the latest city podcast by clicking here!
Want to report a pothole or a street light that's out?
The Annapolis Department of Public Works is led by a very qualified staff. You can get information about how to report potholes. You can learn about the City's mosquito management program, get recycling hints, or find out about the many other services offered by the department by clicking here!
Now here's a thought!
"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." ~ Erma Bombeck
"An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship." ~ Spanish Proverb
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