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Join us Wednesday, June 12, in Beltsville
Delegates Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and I will be meeting with Beltsville residents Wednesday, June 12, to report on the 2019 Maryland legislative session. The meeting will include residents from the Beltsville Civic Association, the Calverton Citizens Association, and other nearby homeowners associations. The event starts at 7 pm and will be held in the Media Center at Beltsville Academy (4300 Wicomico Avenue). We'll be discussing local issues and answering your questions. We invite you to share your views on important state and community issues.
Federal Real ID requirements—NOW is the time to ACT
If you haven’t visited the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) recently, you may be required to bring additional documentation on your next visit. The federal Real ID Act, legislation created post 9/11, now requires customers to provide proof of identity, Social Security, and Maryland residency documents when completing a transaction if you do not already have those documents on file with MDOT MVA. Starting October 1, 2020, a Real ID will be necessary to board commercial airplanes and enter federal facilities.If you’re unsure if your license is Real ID compliant, visit the MDOT MVA’s REAL ID Lookup Tool at www.mva.maryland.gov/realidlookup. The Lookup Tool will ask for a driver’s license number and advise if you need to bring in the required REAL ID documents. If you are required to bring in documents, the MDOT MVA REAL ID Online Document Guide, www.mva.maryland.gov/odg, walks you through the required documentation needed including one proof of age and identity, one proof of social security, and two proofs of Maryland residential address. To expedite your visit, the Online Document Guide gives you an option to make an appointment with a guarantee to be seen within 15 minutes of check-in. Learn more about Real ID at www.maryland.gov/realid.
Behnke Nurseries closing after 89 years
With great sadness, the Behnke family recently announced that this 2019 spring season will be their last. They had been discussing what to do with their aging property, and for many reasons, the ultimate decision was to close the nursery.Stephanie Fleming, Behnke’s vice president, shared the following: “The Behnke family and I would like to thank our wonderful customers. For three generations, our family has served your family. Many of you came here as children with your parents or grandparents. Others are newfound friends. Through the dedication of thousands of amazing employees over the years, we've helped make your gardening dreams a reality. In the process, it made us one of the largest and most well-known garden centers in the country.”Their closing sale will continue until sometime in June when they will close their gates for the last time. For 89 years, Behnke Nurseries has been an institution to Beltsville neighbors and businesses, providing quality plants and strengthening the social fabric of our community. They’ll be dearly missed.
Contact us
Please let us know if there are other issues you have questions or thoughts about. And, of course, feel free to be in touch if we can help you. Just email 21stDistrictDelegation@gmail.com or call 301.858.3141.