New Home, Award, Advocacy and Swine Flu
Mother of three, one with special needs, to receive keys to new home from Habitat for Humanity
In November of 2016, Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County hosted a Rehab Kick-Off ceremony at 23 Hamilton Avenue. At that time, the home was empty, gutted down to the studs, and in poor shape, but there was a buzz of excitement from crowd that gathered, including the future homeowner, Keysha Saxon, about the hope of what the home could, and would be, when the renovation was complete.
That day is now in sight. On September 27, Habitat hosts a Home Dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. at the property on Hamilton Avenue. As part of the ceremony, which is open to the public, Saxon will receive the keys to her new home.
Over the last 10 months Habitat staff, volunteers and partners have worked diligently to turn this property into a home for Saxon and her three sons [pictured above, photo courtesy of Habit for Humanity of Frederick County.] The work included installing new steel beams in the basement, pouring new concrete footings, removing a decaying back room, including its damaged foundation, along with the rotting front porch. With damaged portions of the home removed and a sure foundation underneath, Habitat’s efforts turned to rebuilding the house into a home, specifically a home that would provide wheelchair accessibility for Saxon’s12-year-old son Chaz.
Despite Chaz’s disabilities due to cerebral palsy, the Saxon family has never had a wheelchair-accessible home, much less one they owned. Now, Saxon will own her own home, one that provides accessibility for her son and ease for her in caring for him. Thanks to Habitat’s renovations, the home now has a wheelchair ramp entrance, an ADA compliant bathroom with roll-in shower, and a lift to aid Saxon in moving her son from his bed to his wheelchair, among other amenities.
At the beginning of the renovation in November, Saxon stated, “Every day I think of how much easier life will be for all of us when we get to move in.”
Saxon is purchasing this custom renovated home through Habitat’s Frederick County Affordable Housing Land Trust (FCAHLT) program. Through FCAHLT, Habitat purchases homes in disrepair throughout the County, then repairs and renovates the homes to be market ready. At that point, the home is sold, through a low-down payment, low-interest rate loan, to a qualified homeowner, minus the land. The homeowner enters into a 99-year lease on the property.
FCAHLT is Maryland’s first, and only, Community Land Trust, although the model is gaining in popularity across the country for the unique method by which it creates housing units that stay in affordability for perpetuity. The FCAHLT received the Innovation Award from the Community Development Network of Maryland in 2016 in recognition of its trailblazing efforts to make home ownership a reality for more people in Frederick County like Saxon. Now, Habitat is honored to have the Community Development Network of Maryland spotlight FCAHLT as part of Community Development Week.
In conjunction with weeklong activities, Wednesday, September 27, will focus on Community Land Trusts, featuring the work of FCAHLT and beginning the day at the Hamilton Avenue Home Dedication Ceremony. Representatives from housing programs around the state will attend the ceremony, followed by visits to other FCAHLT properties and a panel discussion on the Community Land Trust model.
National Federation of Republican Women
Recognizes Maryland’s State Federation for Achievement
The Maryland Federation of Republican Women (MFRW) won the national Betty
Heitman Award for State Excellence during the National Federation
of Republican Women (NFRW) 39th Biennial Convention held Sept. 14-17 in Philadelphia.
“Twenty-one Heitman awards were given to states to reward excellence and achievement in the development of community relations and outreach, campaign activities, programs and key state functions,” said NFRW Achievement Awards Chair Gwen Ecklund of Iowa. “Named in honor of former NFRW President Betty Heitman (1978-1980), the biennial awards program is designed to foster communication and encourage a strong mentoring relationship between state federations and their clubs.”
“I am honored to accept this coveted award on behalf of the hard-working members of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women”, stated Liz League, president of MFRW. “Our founders were suffragists and we proudly carry their legacy as we continue to engage women in the cause of good government. It's a great day to be a Republican woman!” [Pictured above, Liz League, photo courtesy of Marie Fischer-Wyrick]
Frederick County resident, Marie Fischer-Wyrick, joined nearly 900 fellow Republican leaders from across the nation at the convention, which focused on leadership training and GOP unity to secure victories in the 2018 midterm elections. Mrs. Fischer-Wyrick, a resident of Brunswick, MD, is the interim 3 rd Vice President for the Maryland Federation of Republican Women.
Mrs.Fischer-Wyrick is also the secretary for the Republican Club of Frederick County, as well as a member of both the Greater Frederick Republican Women and the Republican Women of Frederick County. During the four-day event, which centered on the theme “Where It All Began,” delegates and other registrants participated in a series of seminars in the areas of campaigns, elections, issue advocacy and membership and leadership development.
They heard from Republican leaders, elected officials and other notable guests, including U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt and Pat Toomey, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Kentucky Treasurer Allison Ball. “Philadelphia is where the greatness and governance of our nation began,” said NFRW President Carrie Almond. “We came here not only to reflect but also to be reminded why we must work hard to rebuild our great nation in unity with our elected officials in Washington, D.C., and our home states, and to prepare for the upcoming midterm elections to ensure Republican victories across the country.”
“This convention is not only laying the groundwork for 2018 election victories, but also for our future as Republican women. We are all working hard to reach out to our young ladies who will be our future Republican leaders,” said Mrs. Fischer-Wyrick. “When I hear people talk about the so-called ‘Republican war against women’, I realize they have never been to an NFRW Convention.”
Founded in 1938, the National Federation of Republican Women is the largest and most influential Republican women's group in the nation, proudly representing the party that first made it possible for women to vote in the U.S. The NFRW works to increase the effectiveness and relevance of women in the cause of good government. Our mission remains to recruit and elect Republican candidates, promote the principles of the Republican Party, educate the public, and inform the media. www.nfrw.org
New Charitable Fund Supports Low-Income Senior Needs
A charitable fund supporting specific needs of low-income seniors being served through the Adult Evaluation and Review Services (AERS) program at the Frederick County Health Department has been created by Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County, a non-profit organization devoted to advocating on behalf of the county’s poorest and frailest seniors through public policy and partnership development.
The state-wide AERS program conducts in-home evaluations and assessments for aged and/or disabled adults who meet eligibility guidelines, with the goals of helping individuals live independently in their homes whenever possible and reducing unnecessary admissions to long- term care facilities. AERS nurses and social workers follow-up assessments by linking clients to home and community-based services, and by providing a continuum of care and oversight once a client’s care plan is in place.
“We know that some of the problems seniors face in living independently can be solved with a specific service or product, but often there will be no available funding for that item,” said Melanie Cox, Advocates for the Aging president. “It could be as simple as a microwave oven for reheating meals when using a range has become difficult to use, or something larger, such as a wheelchair ramp or an alert system. Our goal is to provide the resources to meet those specific needs on a case-by-case basis using the expertise of our AERS professionals.”
The AERS Support Fund at Advocates for the Aging (AAFC) allows individuals and businesses to make tax-deductible contributions knowing that the funds will be used for these specific community needs that have been determined to be part of an individual’s care plan and are overseen by the AERS staff, and that AAFC maintains transparent records available to the public through the organization’s annual financial report.
Gifts to the fund may be made online, or by mail to P.O. Box 3625, Frederick, MD 21705.
“Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County is not a direct service provider,” Cox said, “so we are not accepting requests for funding from individuals or caregivers. This fund specifically serves individuals receiving care through the AERS program, and we encourage anyone knowing of a senior in need to contact the AERS program at 301-600-1736 to schedule an in-home evaluation or for more information on AERS services.”
Influenza A Detected in Swine Exhibited at The Great Frederick Fair
Further testing taking place to determine specific strain
The Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Department of Health and the Frederick County Health Department are investigating 11 cases of influenza in pigs recently exhibited at The Great Frederick Fair.
Preliminary tests show that the pigs are infected with influenza A, but it is not yet known if this strain is potentially transmissible to humans. Additional testing and investigation is underway by the Department of Agriculture.
All swine at the Frederick County fairgrounds are under a quarantine order from the Department of Agriculture and will not be released until seven days after the last pig shows signs of influenza illness. To report sick pigs, or if you have questions about pigs and influenza, please call the Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5810 or after hours at 410-841-5971.
It is rare for influenza viruses that normally infect pigs – often called “swine flu” – to spread to people, but it is possible. Most commonly, human infections with swine flu occur in people who have been exposed to infected pigs (e.g., children handling pigs at agricultural fairs or workers in the swine industry). Limited human-to-human spread of swine flu has been detected previously, but no sustained or community spread has been identified.
The symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to non-swine influenza and can include fever, cough and sore throat. Prescription influenza antiviral drugs can treat swine flu infections in people, especially when started early. Health officials recommend that people with influenza-like illness contact their healthcare provider and inform them if they have had pig contact within the past seven days. Providers are advised to contact their local health departments if they suspect swine flu in their patients to coordinate appropriate testing with their local health department.
The Frederick County Health Department can be reached at 301-600-1029.
In accordance with the Secretary of Agriculture’s Hold Order (September 19, 2017), all swine exhibitions and any other activities involving swine will remain closed at the St. Mary’s and Calvert county fairs. All other movement or activities involving swine, including slaughter and butchering can proceed as usual.
Influenza viruses do not affect the safety of properly cooked pork. As with any raw meat, pork should always be properly handled and cooked to eliminate a range of food safety concerns. Follow MDA on Twitter @MdAgDept.
