Hello,

 

If my periodic newsletter doesn't land in your email box and you wish it did, please let me know. This is the one I sent out last week.

I was pretty cranky that summer left so fast but the beautiful weather and the changing colors this week have me looking forward to getting some pumpkins and apples and doing some bug-free hiking. I hope the autumn air will bring you some happy moments, too. 

As we continue to navigate COVID-19, things remain a little unusual. Adjusting to school in a pandemic has been a big change, and I cannot thank teachers, administrators, support staff, and parents enough for their resourcefulness, and our young people for their patience and resilience. The safety and well being of our kiddos is so important. I was heartened to see Gov. Mills allocated additional CARES Act funding to our school system to help facilitate some of the necessary changes. 

Please know that I am always available to serve you, and am here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have. Never hesitate to reach out. All the best, Sarah Pebworth Serving District 133: Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, and Surry 207-479-4741 Sarah.Pebworth@legislature.maine.gov

Voting-Why wait until Nov. 3?

Election Day is Nov. 3 but why wait? The safest way to vote this year is by absentee ballot. You can request your ballot at this website or through your local clerk’s office. Ballots must be requested by 5pm on Thurs., Oct. 29 and returned by 8pm on Election Day, Nov. 3. You can also vote early at your municipal office until 5pm on Fri., Oct. 30. You are still welcome to vote in-person on Election Day, but be sure to bring your mask, keep your distance, and allot a little extra time.  Not registered to vote? Fill out a voter registration card at this link. Then, deliver or mail it to your municipal office or send it to the Secretary of State's Office in Augusta at the Division of Elections: #101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101. Maine does not yet have online voter registration, but you can register in-person on Election Day.

Putting Racial Equity at the Heart of Lawmaking

Throughout the summer, after the public murder of George Floyd, people came together to call for racial justice in the United States. George Floyd’s death was a tragedy, but it was not the first of its kind, and it was a product of the structural racism that exists in the United States and extends into areas like housing, health care, and the wealth gap. Acknowledging the disparities that exist here in Maine, I joined 54 of my legislative colleagues this summer in collaborating with a Permanent Commission that advises Maine’s government on issues of racial equity to examine the role laws can play in fighting injustice.   Last week, the Permanent Commission released a report sharing specific recommendations with the Maine Legislature to put racial equity at the heart of lawmaking, including that future legislatures be proactive, intentional, and collaborative about drafting legislation that addresses inequities across policy subject areas, including criminal justice, education, food security, health care, environmental regulation, labor, and housing. This report will fundamentally change the way we legislate in Maine, and I look forward to reducing racial disparities in our state.   You can read the full report here.

Financial Aid Info Sessions

Students can apply for financial aid for the 2021-22 academic year starting Oct. 1. FAME is offering information sessions through the end of September to help students and families learn more about the financial aid process and how to afford higher education. For a list of sessions, visit this link.

Rental Assistance

Assistance is still available for those who cannot pay rent due to circumstances related to the pandemic. The payment amount has been increased from $500 to $1,000, and the $1,000 payment can be received for up to three months. The application for the program and additional information can be accessed here.

Have You Been Counted?

Maine is still behind in its Census response rate. An accurate count will ensure that the people of Maine receive an appropriate level of federal funding and fair representation in Congress. To fill out the Census and make sure you are counted, click here.

COVID-19 Resources

• Dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), text your ZIP code to 898-211, or email info@211maine.org for answers to all sorts of COVID-19-related questions.
• You can find a list of all Maine COVID-19 testing sites at get-tested-covid19.org.
• A Maine Department of Labor factsheet and COVID-19 webpage help navigate unemployment insurance benefits. 
• A compilation of resources, updates and help created by Maine Equal Justice help Mainers who are trying to manage health care, food security, evictions, court proceedings, and other issues.
• Maine crisis hotline: 1-888-568-1112.
• Information and updates on child care, including a subsidy program for parents and guidance for child care providers.
• A statewide COVID-19 response website that includes a directory of how each Maine agency is responding, as well as resources for health care, small businesses, education, family care and more.
• A website outlining Maine’s approach to restarting the economy.