January Newsletter
Happy New Year!
As we welcome the New Year, I am grateful for your continued support and engagement with the community. Your dedication is the driving force behind our shared progress. I hope your year ahead is filled with prosperity, good health, and many moments of joy. Let's build on our collective efforts and make 2024 a year of positive growth for Anne Arundel County. Happy New Year!
Honored to Support Local Kids
Working with the Marine Corps for Toys for Tots during the holidays allows me to witness the impact of our community’s generosity. The holiday season is full of presents and toys for many, but the holidays can mean uncertainty for some families. Toys for Tots ensures that every child experiences the joy of unwrapping a gift. Everyone wins when the Marine Corps comes together with the community to help care for tens of thousands of kids!
A Day On, Not a Day Off, MLK Day of Service
“The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others.” - Coretta Scott King
Every year, on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King’s National Day of Service means “a day on, not a day off.” MLK Day of Service is an important time for volunteerism. People from all over the country unite to make communities more equitable. Dr. King believed we could achieve this community, but he knew we needed significant changes in how things work and fought for those changes. His actions inspire us to make a real difference. As the sole federal holiday designated as a national day of service, MLK Day of Service encourages all Americans to volunteer their time to enhance their communities. You can find some ideas for volunteering HERE. How will you give back to your communities this MLK Day of Service?
Winter Activities to Get You Out and About
Spending the cold winter months hibernating like some of our local wildlife is tempting. Still, Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks offers many fun winter activities to entice you from your hibernation! Join the park rangers of Downs Park in Pasadena for an evening of s’mores and hot cocoa around the campfire on Saturday, January 6th. For more information and to register, contact Ranger Dan at 410-222-6230 or rprigg22@aacounty.org. Check out the Explore Recreation and Parks Winter Program Guide for fun winter activities.
New Year Ice Skating
Gather the troops and head to the Quiet Waters Park Ice Rink in front of the Visitor Center for family fun this month. Continue the festive spirit and extend those holiday vibes into the New Year. The Ice Rink offers a pleasant and safe environment to enjoy ice skating outdoors. They offer skate rentals and sharpen skates on-site. Come out for winter fun and make January a month to remember with an ice skating adventure! Find details HERE.
An Afternoon of Jazz
Known as America’s Big Band, the Jazz Ambassadors are the premier touring jazz orchestra of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-piece ensemble has received critical acclaim throughout the United States and abroad, performing America’s original art form, jazz. The Jazz Ambassadors will give you good reason to venture out in the cold of January with their concert on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 3 pm in the Hammonds Lane Theatre. Find out more HERE.
Boredom Busters at the Library
If you hear, “I’m bored!” from your kids this winter, it’s time to head to your Anne Arundel County Public Library branch! The library’s winter calendar includes fun activities like story time, craft projects, science experiments, music classes, and many great books! Find activities HERE.
