(1/2020) Happy New Year! Frederick County had a great year in 2019, and I am excited for the opportunities that await us in 2020.

Congratulations to members of the Catoctin Cougars football team, who are celebrating their big win as Maryland 1A State Champions! Middletown Knights won the state 2A football title this year, as well, and the Oakdale Bears were golf and cross country champions. We can be proud of all our student athletes, musicians, and actors who invest hundreds of hours after class to pursue their dreams.

We are blessed to have a strong school system in Frederick County Public Schools. The State recently rated every school in Maryland to see how they are performing, and FCPS scored well. All of our schools earned at least 3 out of 5 stars in the new state rating system. Every school in the Catoctin and Walkersville High School feeder districts earned 4 stars or better.

General Assembly

For those of you who follow politics and watch the news closely, you already know that the upcoming state legislative session is going to be all about education. We need to make sure Frederick County has a seat at the table when legislators consider new funding formulas for our public schools. One of my administration’s top priority is education. That is why I will be actively participating in the conversation.

There are two important conversations about education taking place in Annapolis. On the operating side, lawmakers are deciding how to implement recommendations from the Kirwan Commission, which considered how to deliver a 21st century education to all Maryland students. The second discussion is about how to pay for school construction projects.

I’m pleased that Frederick County will have an education expert working on our behalf in Annapolis this year. Board of Education member Joy Schaefer is leaving that Board to serve as the County’s Director of Government Affairs. Joy’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable. She has strong working relationships with county and state officials, and she was a member of the Kirwan Commission, so she has a deep understanding of the issues. Frederick County is lucky to have Joy working on our behalf!

Mount St. Mary’s

Education is important topic for our employers, too, because today’s students will be tomorrow’s workforce. That is why we are excited to welcome Mount St. Mary’s University to ROOT, the county-owned business innovation center in downtown Frederick. The Mount has expanded with an office in ROOT, which will allow them to connect students from the Emmitsburg campus to more business opportunities throughout the county. Mount President Dr. Timothy Trainor and I signed the lease last month.

ROOT offers Mount St. Mary’s a chance to collaborate with other ROOT tenants, such as the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, the Frederick Innovative Technology Center Inc. technology incubator, the Chamber of Commerce, and Hood College. Higher education and the business community share many common goals, and ROOT was designed to encourage these kinds of connections and partnerships.

Activities for the New Year

With New Year’s Eve behind us, it’s time to start thinking about the year’s next big social event – the annual Daddy Daughter Dance. The County’s Division of Parks and Recreation is sponsoring the event on two different days, Jan. 31st and Feb. 1st. Take your little princess on a date to remember. The dance sells out each year, so register now by visiting recreater.com.

While you are visiting the website, you can sign up for teams, classes, and other fun activities being held this winter. There is a range of programs for young and old at the Thurmont and Walkersville recreation centers, and at parks and centers all across Frederick County.

Frederick County Public Libraries are great places to spend time when it’s too cold to go outside. Find out how to raise and train a dog at the Emmitsburg branch’s "So You Think You Want a Dog" session on Jan. 4th. The Thurmont Regional Library is bringing author Derek J. Sherwood to discuss his true crime book, "Nittany Nightmare," on Jan. 9th. There are open STEM lab hours, movies and cocoa, and reading time with dogs. Check out the full calendar at www.fcpl.org.

Finally, I hope to see many of you at the upcoming fire and rescue company banquets. Vigilant Hose Company, Thurmont Community Ambulance Company, and the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company have announced banquet dates this month. Thank you to everyone who serves our community through the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service. You are making a difference in people’s lives!