Livable Communities

AARP Maryland has presented its 2019 J. Joseph Curran Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding community service to Montgomery County advocate and intergenerational champion Austin Heyman.

OCTOBER 18, 2019 —AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond joined Washington County officials today to break ground on a new fitness park outside of the Washington County Commission on Aging in Hagerstown. The site at East Franklin and Willard Streets is the 11th of 53 AARP-sponsored outdoor fitness parks planned around the country to commemorate the organization’s 60th anniversary.

AARP breaks ground on fitness park Oct. 18.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Launches Age-Friendly Baltimore County

SeniorScapes is Changing the Landscape of Aging

Neighbor Ride Provides Affordable, Volunteer-Based Supplemental Transportation

Communities across Maryland are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages.

This article was writen by Darline Goyea, Strategic Communications & Outreach Specialist, for the Defense Health Agency.

Two decades ago energy companies and their lobbyist convinced legislators that Maryland consumers would save money if only they deregulated the electric and gas companies. During the 2019 session, the industry hired dozens of plugged-in lobbyists to advocate for a measure to change the way electric and gas utilities set their annual rates. HB 653 Electric Companies and Gas Companies – Rate Regulation – Alternative Rate Plans was sponsored by Chairman Dereck Davis. Under the radar of the Public Service Commission and consumer advocates, the bill passed the House Economic Matters Committee 20-0 and the full House 83-51. AARP Maryland, however, took notice and our members sprang into action, sending hundreds of emails and faxes to their senators urging them to kill this anti-consumer measure. The bill’s supporters complained about the “noise” made by AARP volunteer advocates, but our efforts made a difference. The more AARP members made “noise,” the more lawmakers began to pay attention and the bill stalled in the Senate.

By Michelle R. Davis