Join Us in Annapolis on February 11 Delegates Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and I work hard to keep in touch with Beltsville residents and help you understand what Maryland's state government is doing and how it can help you and your family. We attend the Beltsville Civic Association and other community meetings, visit local churches and schools, and host "mobile office hours" at local grocery stores. Now, we'd like you to visit us in Annapolis at our annual

Join Me, My Wife Sheilah—and UMD President Wallace Loh—Sunday, January 27, to Welcome 2019! I hope you can join my wife Sheilah and me for our Welcome 2019 Celebration on Sunday, January 27, from 11:30 to 2 at The Hotel at The University of Maryland (7777 Baltimore Ave), the new 4-star hotel on Route 1 just across from the university’s main gate in College Park. UMD President Wallace Loh is our special guest. Families are welcome. Please RSVP soon at www.SenatorJimRosapepe.c

Thank you! Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Delegate Ben Barnes, Delegate-elect Mary Lehman, and I appreciate the confidence the people of Beltsville have placed in us by electing us to the Maryland General Assembly. We look forward to representing you over the next four years. Thank you, Delegate Barbara Frush! After 24 years of representing our district, Delegate Barbara Frush is retiring when her term ends in December. But she still plans to remain active in helping shape

Vote November 6 Since so many elections here are effectively decided in the primary, sometimes people forget to vote in the general election. Please don't forget! The polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM. Candidates have significant differences on issues from school construction funding in Prince George's to investing in the University of Maryland. I hope you will educate yourself about the candidates and come out and vote. Below is a list of Election Day polling places in Beltsv

Child care subsidies available Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I were proud to support legislation this year to help with child care expenses in Maryland. The Maryland State Department of Education recently announced annual income limits for Maryland’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Program will increase dramatically. For a family of four, for example, that means a leap from $35,702 to $71,525. This translates to 65% of the State Median Income level.

Meet US Senator Ben Cardin in Beltsville September 5 Senator Cardin (D, Maryland) is coming to Beltsville at 6:30 pm, September 5, to hear our concerns and update us on national issues, including health insurance, drug prices, the Supreme Court, Russian interference in our elections, and federal jobs and contracts. To get the location (which was not confirmed at press time), just call 240.233.6883 or go to 21stdistrictdemocraticteam.com on the web. “Senator Cardin wants to he

Join the Delegates and me August 7 at the Beltsville Police Station Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I, along with Council Member Mary Lehman, hope to see you Tuesday night, August 7, 6–8 pm, for the 35th annual National Night Out. It will be held at the police station at Sellman and Montgomery Roads. Everything is free, including food, drinks, and fun activities for families. It's a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the po

Powder Mill Road (MD 212A) Project Update Progress is underway for the Maryland State Highway Administration's (SHA) project to establishing a consistent roadway width for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians traveling along Powder Mill Road between Route 1 and Pine Street. The improved stretch of road will ensure two travel lanes (one in each direction), 4-foot wide shoulders, a curb, and 5-foot wide sidewalks. The upgrades will add bus shelters, enhance pedestrian safety,

Vote Now—or June 26! Because of laws passed by the Maryland legislature, you don't have to wait until June 26 to vote. You can vote by absentee ballot NOW (you don't need an excuse anymore) or go to an early voting place from Thursday, June 14, through Thursday, June 21, from 10 am–8 pm in College Park or Laurel. For details, go to www.SenatorJimRosapepe.com. Free Health Fair—June 30 Brightwood College, at 4600 Power Mill Road, will be hosting a community health fair at its c

Highlights of 2018 Maryland legislative session Last month, Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I concluded the 2018 legislative session. Like last year, much of our work has been focused on protecting Maryland from the dangers posed by President Trump and his allies. Among the most important: • Restoring the personal exemption on Maryland tax returns taken away by the Republican federal tax law. • Based on the recommendation of the Health Insurance

Have fun—and learn—at the University of Maryland April 28 Every spring on Maryland Day, the university opens the campus to its neighbors and friends. This year, Maryland Day is Saturday, April 28, from 10 am to 4 pm. Games, booths, tours, performances—every department from dance to physics shows its stuff. It's fun and interesting for folks of all ages. And it's free. Just come down Route 1 and take a look. More details are located at www.marylandday.umd.edu. Reminder: schola

Reminder: Join Us in Annapolis on March 5 Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I work hard to keep in touch with Beltsville residents and help you understand what Maryland's state government is doing and how it can help you and your family. We attend the Beltsville Civic Association and other community meetings, visit local churches and schools, and host mobile office hours at local grocery stores. Now, we'd like you to visit us in Annapolis at our a

Join Us in Annapolis on March 5 Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I work hard to keep in touch with Beltsville residents and help you understand what Maryland's state government is doing and how it can help you and your family. We attend the Beltsville Civic Association and other community meetings, visit local churches and schools, and host "mobile office hours" at local grocery stores. Now we would like you to visit us in Annapolis at our annual

Join me and my wife, Sheilah—Sunday, January 14—to welcome 2018! I hope you can join my wife, Sheilah, and me for our Welcome 2018 Celebration on Sunday, January 14, from 11:30 to 2:00 at College Park Academy, 5751 Rivertech Ct, Riverdale. Families are welcome. Please RSVP soon at www.SenatorJimRosapepe.com. We look forward to seeing you! Energy assistance grant funds available to low-income households The state of Maryland is taking steps to ensure Marylanders will no longer

Reminder: Health Insurance Deadline Is December 15 Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I want to be sure all working families can sign up for affordable health insurance. Despite all the proposals in congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is still in effect. Now—through December 15—is the time to learn about coverage—and other ways to save money on health insurance. Open enrollment runs until December 15. Be sure to enroll or change pl

Health insurance deadline: December 15 Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I want to be sure all working families can sign up for affordable health insurance. Despite all the proposals in congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it’s still in effect. Now through December 15 is the time to learn about coverage—and other ways to save money on health insurance. Open enrollment runs from November 1 to December 15. Be sure to enroll or change pl

Learn about health insurance choices—October 28 In the legislature this year, we passed a resolution opposing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and cut to Medicaid and Medicare, and we set up a watchdog commission to monitor attacks and prepare state action to protect Marylanders. Despite all the proposals in congress to repeal the ACA, it’s still in effect, and you can learn how it can help you. Not sure what the ACA covers? Or how to choose the best insurance for

Thank you, Principal Robin Wiltison! Delegates Barbara Frush, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, and I are grateful for Robin Wiltison's exceptional leadership and strong commitment to academic excellence at Martin Luther King (MLK), Jr., Middle School, which spanned 35 years. We’ll miss her, and we offer our best wishes for a wonderful retirement. MLK Middle School's new principal, Rotunda Floyd-Cooper Rotunda Floyd-Cooper was hired as MLK Middle School's new principal earlie

Renters tax credit -- September 1 application deadline If a renter is over age 60 and has less than $200,000 in assets, they are eligible to receive a tax credit of up to $1,000. Also, Prince George’s County gives an additional credit of 50% of the state credit so the maximum credit in Prince George’s is $1500. The renters must be living in a building where the owner is paying real estate taxes (i.e. not a government owned building). The deadline for filing is September 1. T

The Beltsville Community will be losing a great educator and principal on July 1 as Robin Wiltison retires from Prince George’s County Public Schools. Many of us in the Beltsville Community have very fond memories of Mrs. Wiltison either as our principal or our 8th-grade history teacher. In her letter to the community, Principal Wiltison writes: “MLK has been my second home since 1983; I have spent more time here than at home during the last 20 years, so leaving isn’t easy. I