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.
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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,
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Sarah Pebworth
Serving District 133: Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, and Surry
207-479-4741
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Voting-Why wait until Nov. 3?
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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.
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Putting Racial Equity at the Heart of Lawmaking
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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.
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Financial Aid Info Sessions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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You can find a list of all Maine COVID-19 testing sites at get-tested-covid19.org.
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A Maine Department of Labor factsheet and COVID-19 webpage help navigate unemployment insurance benefits.
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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.
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Information and updates on child care, including a subsidy program for parents and guidance for child care providers.
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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.
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A website outlining Maine’s approach to restarting the economy.
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