In this Issue of Harford Local Connect

🌤️ Harford County, MD Weather

📖 Fallston and Bel Air Students Win Maryland State Fair Scholarships

🚒Volunteer First Responders in Harford County Receive Loan Repayment Assistance

🏛️ Local Government: Upcoming Meetings

📅 Local Events & Happenings

⭐ Local Business Spotlight

🏈Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals Thursday @ 8:15PM

⚾Henderson Becomes 8th Orioles Player to Win AL Rookie of the Year

Fallston and Bel Air Students Win Maryland State Fair Scholarships

Four winners have been selected for the 2023 F. Grove Miller Maryland State Fair Scholarship Program. Elisabeth Holmes and Kylan Keehan are among the recipients, with the other two winners coming from Carroll County and Washington County. Holmes, from Fallston, will be attending Elon University, while Keehan, from Bel Air, is currently enrolled at James Madison University.

The scholarship program, offered by the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society, aims to acknowledge the importance of education and youth participation in the state fair. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must have been exhibitors at the fair and be enrolled in a four-year college, post-secondary college, or trade school. They were also required to write an essay and create a video detailing the impact of their experience at the fair.

Each of the four winners will receive a $2,000 scholarship, providing them with financial assistance to further their education. This initiative reflects the commitment of the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society to support the advancement of local youth.

Volunteer First Responders in Harford County Receive Loan Repayment Assistance

Harford County in Maryland has implemented the Next Gen Responder Student Loan Relief Program, which aims to alleviate the student loan debt of volunteer first responders in the area.

The program provides repayment of student loans up to $5,000 per year, in a bid to both retain current volunteers and attract new ones. Harford County does not have paid fire services and relies solely on 12 volunteer fire companies spread across the county. A total of $305,000 was recently paid towards reducing the student loan debt of 61 volunteer first responders, with the funds being sent directly to lending institutions.

Cassilly, the Harford County Executive, expressed gratitude towards volunteer first responders and stated that this program is a way of showing support for their dedication to the community. Any volunteer first responder with student loan debt is eligible for the program, including recent graduates and college students studying any field.

To qualify, they must be a volunteer member of a Harford County volunteer fire or ambulance corps and earn 50 points in the Length of Service Award Program for qualifying service activities in the 12 months beginning on October 1st each year. Payments of up to $5,000 per year will be made directly to the student loan issuer, with a maximum of $20,000 over four years.

Focusing on Fraud Awareness Week

Welcome to Fraud Awareness Week, an important initiative to educate and empower individuals on the ever-increasing threat of fraud. This week we will be sharing tips and actionable information to help protect you and your family from the ever evolving fraud tactics!

Today Focus: Online Shopping Fraud, Medicare/Medicaid Fraud & Ponzi Schemes

Online Shopping Fraud:
Online shopping fraud is prevalent, so it's crucial to take precautions.

Only shop from reputable websites that have secure payment systems. Look for the "https://" and padlock symbol in the address bar before entering payment information.

Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and use credit cards rather than debit cards for online purchases, as they offer greater fraud protection.

Medicare/Medicaid Fraud:
Medicare and Medicaid fraud occur when scammers exploit these government programs for personal gain.

Be vigilant by reviewing your medical statements regularly and questioning any unfamiliar charges.

Guard your Medicare or Medicaid number like you would your social security number and beware of dishonest providers offering unnecessary services or products.

Ponzi Schemes:
Ponzi schemes promise high returns on investment but rely on new investors' money to pay off previous investors.

Protect yourself by ensuring any investment opportunity is registered with appropriate regulatory agencies.

Don't fall for promises of guaranteed returns or exponential growth as these are common signs of a Ponzi scheme.

Other Topics we have highlighted this week:

Identify Theft and Phishing Scams (Read About it in Issue #046)

Investment Fraud and Charity Scams (Read About it in Issue #047)

Check out our upcoming issues for more tips and actions you can take to protect yourself!

Upcoming Meetings:

November 15 - Harford County Development Advisory Committee Agenda

November 15 - Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Details

November 15 - Havre de Grace Police Department Agenda

November 15 - Havre de Grace Development Advisory Board Meeting Agenda

November 16 - Harford County Citizens Care & Rehabilitation Board Agenda

November 16 - Harford County Community Input Meeting (CIM) Agenda

November 15 Tech Time: Open Session Bel Air

November 15 First-Time Homebuyer Workshop Bel Air

November 16 Cash Bingo - Darlington VFC Darlington

November 16 Eggs & Issues Edgewood

November 16 Kid’s Bingo Darlington

November 17 Bonfire & Games Street

November 17 Teens After Hours Joppa

November 18 Craft Show & Bazaar - Norrisville VFC Pylesville

November 18 Bingo with the Grinch Street

November 18 All-Day Bingo Mania Aberdeen

November 18 Master Gardeners: Brambles,Berries, & Small Fruits Bel Air

November 18 Holiday Photo Sessions Abingdon

November 18 Holiday Bazaar Churchville

November 18 Holiday Books & Media Sale Bel Air

November 18 Sportsman’s Bingo - Jarrettsville VFC Jarrettsville

November 19 All You Can Eat Breakfast Street

November 19 Angel Ornament Workshop Bel Air

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Henderson Becomes 8th Orioles Player to Win AL Rookie of the Year

Baltimore Orioles' infielder Gunnar Henderson had a remarkable season in 2023 and was awarded the Jackie Robinson American League Rookie of the Year, earning a unanimous victory. Henderson received the honor ahead of Tanner Bibee of the Cleveland Guardians and Triston Casas of the Boston Red Sox. He was the only player to appear on every ballot, making him the 13th unanimous winner in the American League and the 27th overall, alongside National League Rookie of the Year, Corbin Carroll for this year. This marks the first time since 2017 that the top rookies in both leagues received unanimous selections.

Henderson, at the age of 22, becomes the eighth player in Orioles' history and the seventh since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954, to be named the American League Rookie of the Year. This win ends the franchise's second-longest drought without a Rookie of the Year winner, with the last one being Gregg Olson in 1989. Only the San Diego Padres, who haven't had a top rookie since 1987, have been waiting for longer.

Playing a significant role in the Orioles' successful season with 101 wins and their first AL East title since 2014, Henderson showcased his talent by recording a .255 batting average, .325 on-base percentage, and .489 slugging percentage. He hit 28 home runs, 29 doubles, drove in 82 runs, and stole 10 bases across 150 games. Additionally, Henderson displayed exceptional defensive skills at both third base and shortstop, splitting his playing time almost evenly between the two positions.

In addition to the Rookie of the Year award, Henderson also received the utility Silver Slugger award last week, solidifying his outstanding performance throughout the season.

As a result of his victory, the Orioles will receive an additional first-round draft pick in the 2024 season through the prospect promotion initiative. This initiative, introduced last year as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, also rewards Tanner Bibee, the runner-up, with a full year of service time.