Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 26, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my latest and unofficial report on our last city council meeting along with the full text of a section of the Maryland Code that is relevant to one of the items discussed. Most of the report addresses important issues about which you may not be aware as we continue to make progress in a variety of ways to improve our home town.

I hope this is helpful, informative, and an interesting read.

As always, be safe.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 1, 2020

Dear Readers:

Here is my unofficial report from last night’s city council meeting. We had a few separate moments of disagreement and raised voices but were able to complete the work of the city with decisions that I think are based on known facts and reasonable arguments. I know that having these meetings outside of the City Council Chambers does not make it easy for citizens to be active participants in the process, but it is new to us as well.

So I would urge to to take a chance and call in to our next meeting and let us know what is bothering you or what you think we are doing well. We need to hear from you.

Our next meeting will be on May 26th, which is a Tuesday rather than a Monday, which is Memorial Day. So be sure to put us on your calendar and call in at 6:00 p.m. on the 26th to let us know what you are thinking.

All the best.

Be safe.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 9, 2020

Dear Readers:

Please find below and attached some wonderful information from the John and Janice Wyatt Foundation and its Executive Director Matt Peterson about its outreach here in Dorchester County and Cambridge.

Steve

Subject: News update from the John & Janice Wyatt Foundation

Friends and colleagues,

I hope this email finds you all well during these challenging times. To perhaps brighten the day heading into the weekend, I wanted to share some of the latest news on the John & Janice Wyatt Foundation.

For those whom I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, John and Jan hired me in December 2019 to run their family foundation. Since then, we have been making substantial progress in shaping our long-term strategies focusing on early childhood education and after-school/summer programming as initial ways to help level the playing field for disadvantaged youth in our community. As a result of COVID-19, we did make the decision to pivot to short-term response interventions which we expect will evolve back into a longer-term recovery effort that stays true to our original strategy.

Our initial COVID efforts are outlined in a press release that we sent to the media yesterday in the hopes of getting broader coverage next week. I wanted to share this with you first. Attached is a more substantive version of the release so that we can provide as much information to you as we can. In addition, please do take a look at our website at www.j2wfoundation.org. We have begun to post this work on our Current Programs and Program Design pages.

This is just the beginning. We look forward to evolving and growing within the county and acting as a resource, a convener, and a support mechanism to further the great work that currently exists as assets within the community. We also look forward to a future normalcy where we can meet in person and work together for the common goal of improving the lives of all of our children.

Moving forward, I’d love to continue sharing our work with you and hope to connect sometime soon. Have a great weekend!

Respectfully,

Matt

Matthew T. Peterson, M.A.
Executive Director
John & Janice Wyatt Foundation
mpeterson@j2wfoundation.org

Please visit our website at https://www.j2wfoundation.org

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 8, 2020

Forwarded From: Patrick Comiskey
Date: Fri, May 8, 2020 7:17 PM
Subject:Cambridge City Facilities

Dear All:

The following is information regarding City of Cambridge facilities:

“The City boat ramps at Great Marsh Park and Franklin Streets are now open for boating access. The city marina is also open for operations.

The city parks are open but play structures, picnic benches, and pavilions are still closed to the public. Gatherings are still limited to 10 people or less. Social distancing rules are still in effect. Masks are required to enter public businesses.”

Have a good weekend!

-Patrick

Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 6, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my short report on Commissioner Hanson’s and my efforts to encourage the County Council to increase the city tax differential to help reduce your county taxes. It is also about how we all can improve our governments and how important it is for each of us to be as engaged as possible in what the city and county are doing.

Stay safe!!

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 1, 2020

Dear Readers:

Here is a short report on our first budget work session this past Friday with two more to come. I welcome your comments and suggestions. I have received a number of great ideas about how we can address some of the fiscal issues that we will face but welcome yours.

Stay safe.

All the best

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
April 30, 2020

Dear Readers:

A few days ago I received the email below regarding the recycling containers. In it Wolf Hehn detailed what he had learned from Republic in a call to their main number. I have followed up with the County and they have confirmed what Wolf indicates below. I hope that this helps those wishing to recycle to know more about what is now being accepted for recycling. Thank you, Mr. Hehn, for bringing this to my attention.

Steve

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Commissioner Rideout,

In the past, the large white truck carried recycle containers indicated that only plastics numbered #1 & #2 should be placed in the containers. No such indication is given for the new large blue Republic Services containers which have replaced the old recycle containers. I placed a call to the Republic 800 number  inquiring about restrictions regarding plastic containers and was told beyond plastic bags, bubble wrap and other thin plastic film, any plastic container regardless of number was recyclable. Is this indeed the case? If so, this would be nice, as numerous plastic containers are classifies as #3,  #5, #7. Thanks,

Wolf F. Hehn

Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
April 27, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my most recent unofficial report on what took place last evening as part of the work of your city council. It was a relatively short meeting with most of the time being taken up by the presentation by CWDI.

I hope that you continue to be and stay safe and well.

Thanks to all of you who have written support letters for Snip Tuck’s grant application.

Thanks to all of you who are making face coverings for friends and people in the community. When this is all over, I would like for us to have a display of the many different and, I think, beautiful works of art and protection that you have made.

All the best.

Steve

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