Inspiration

Review of Book–The Violin Conspiracy, a novel by Brendan Slocumb (2022)

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Anchor Books, Division of Penguin, Random House LLC

By the end of chapter one, this book had me by the throat because it turned into a mystery.  The young hero, Rayquan McMillian, is not complaining about his lot in life as a Black boy, but his love of playing the violin is all he can see in his future beyond high school.  However, everything and everyone seems to be against him.   When, as a boy, he asked his high school music teacher for lessons like the White kids got, his teacher, walking away replied “Why?”.

Here we have the emotional story of a man who has loved the violin since a boy but is not appreciated by his immediate family of Black people except for his grandmother, Nora, his aunt Rochelle, and one college female Black administrator who is professor of music at her university.   But the White world is not prepared to accept him because he’s Black.   “Look at his skin, hair, clothes.   He couldn’t possibly like or play classical music.”  His mother insists that he not waste time pursuing music, but work at Popeyes or the local grocery store. 

And, when his family, at the demand from his grandmother, finally listens to this high school young man play her violin (handed down through generations) from her great great grandfather for the first time on an instrument better than his rented one from school, even he had to admit that he had made the right choice as a Black man to pursue the violin as a career.   This chapter made me cry.   I think every one of us has had a situation when others don’t have faith in our abilities. 

His grandmother’s violin turned out to be a Stradivarius, worth millions.   More conflict developed from the Marks family, descendants of the original slave owners, once the real value of his grandmother’s relative’s violin came to public attention.  You can guess the trouble they caused.

Reading Slocumb’s book was like being there in every one of his character’s adventures—some great, some horrendous.   I enjoyed this book more than any monthly book our book club read in the 2 years I’ve been a member.   Never have I come across an author who can make you see and hear what Ray is playing on his violin, who so envelops you in the beauty of Ray’s playing.  I’ve always loved to hear a violin which is able to interpret any emotion. 

Although the book made me angry, too, I had a hard time putting it aside so much so that I finished the book in 3 days.  I learned a lot about what classical musicians had to go through—from local competitions to international ones.  It is an exciting book full of detailed characters.

 Quote from the book by Whoopee Goldberg:

“We’re here for a reason.  I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.”

Submitted by Rosa L. Griffin

Review of book, The Art of Hand Dancing: That Saved My Life, by Lewis Neal and Joseph McCray (2020)

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Lewis Neal’s book is thin, but quite a page-turner.  His book has a great cover of him dressed to perfection.   He is a Baltimorean who started hand dancing after serving in the military.

Hand dancing is just one category of the glamorous life of dancing.    He reveals so much I never knew about a career in dancing—what is involved in selecting contests, dance partners, costumes, etc. The contests took him all over the country.

During his career, Mr. Neal developed health problems and injuries.   He’s giving back by giving lectures on dancing, instructing dance classes, diabetes, and stroke because he had those experiences including his experiences with self-medicating which he does not recommend.   He gave us a much-detailed history of his experiences.

Hand dancing can be very provocative as well as great exercise.   I tried my hand at amateur hand dancing when I was younger and again after I was older but found it much too strenuous for me when done right.

I bought a copy of the Art of Hand Dancing through Amazon last year because I wanted to keep a copy for myself. 

Mr. Neal’s brother, Joseph McCray, is a certified addictions registered nurse and an author and speaker who specializes in help for drug addiction.

Written by Rosa L. Griffin

Say something positive every chance you get!

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I miss being in a group of like-minded positive people:  friends, other authors, worshippers, mothers, children, fathers, cousins, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, etc.   I find that phone calls, sending cards or letters, and even virtual meetings will suffice until things get better. 

What I have said a lot to people during this pandemic, “I miss… your smile, wisdom, pleasant personality, hugging you, etc.”   Elbow and fist bumps will have to do for now.

Things I have said to people in the past:

“I love the color of your suit.”   The female vice president thanked me for the compliment and her frown turned into a smile.

“Don’t let nobody tell you that you are not fiiinnneee (fine)!”  To a man who picked up my car to be serviced who looked like the reincarnation of a younger “Mr. Clean”—bald head, earrings, and muscles, too.   He blushed.

“You have beautiful skin”.  I told a lady who was helping me register for a class.

A lady told me that I have beautiful skin which both pleased and surprised me but was pleasant to hear.

I have even complimented people on their masks (political, nature, horror, sports, etc.), their eyes, their voices, their hair, etc.

You might be surprised how much it will help your day and theirs.   Passiton.com is a website with many positive stories.

The song below may be perceived as sad, but I don’t see it that way.   I had a boyfriend (one of a few) who wanted to break up with me but could not.   So, I broke up with him.   We had made an agreement at the beginning of the relationship that it was “friends with benefits” only.   I guess he thought that I would “act up”.   That has never been me!   So, I saved him the trouble.   It was really a relief because I have never wanted to stay with anyone who did not want me or was more trouble than they were worth (another story).

 Song:

“Say something, I’m giving up on you

I’ll be the one, if you want me to

Anywhere, I would have followed you…”

Sung by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera, 2013.

Source:  Musixmatch

Songwriters:  Campbell Mike/Axel Ian/Campbelle Mike

Lyrics © Reservoir 416, Ian Axel Music, Chad Vaccarino Publishing, Manhattan Astronaut Music, Songs of Universal, Inc.

It has a romantic melody, but maybe a sad message.   

Written by Rosa L. Griffin

The Good Enough Life

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Editor’s Note, “Wanting What You’ve Got”, p. 5.

“Acceptance is not acquiescence.  Acquiescence is quiet, desperate defeat.  Acceptance is the ability to distinguish between a want and a need, and to abjure [solemnly renounce] the former.

My husband wants a sienna-tiled villa hanging off an Amalfi cliff, with a yellow Porsche and a green Ferrari in the garage.  (I just want the house.)  But he concedes that he does not need it.  In fact, it would be a hassle to actually own it all.  Acceptance sheds the need.   Acquiescence is not wanting to let go of the need and doing so only reluctantly.

To pursue the good-enough life is to accept imperfection, not to acquiesce to terms that make one miserable.

From the Stoics to some of the best cognitive behavioral techniques of the 20th and 21 centuries, we are reminded of the importance of acceptance.

If we choose our battles well, if we frame the immutable as trade-off rather than dead-end, if we find that one talent rather than rue the ones we will never acquire, then ‘good enough’ is indeed the best path forward.”   Twitter: @KajaPerina

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You Are Good Enough, p.26

“You were not at the top of the class, not the employee of the month, nor are you the ‘10’ you think your partner wants.   But you are probably pretty spectacular in some way, and definitely good enough in most areas of life.  If ever there were a time to stop beating yourself up for being human, it is now.”

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The Good-Enough Partner:  When Your Partner Is Not Your Romantic Ideal, by Aaron Ben-Zeév, Ph.D., p.45

“Having a good enough partner implies making some compromises that are contrary to romance.

Enough can be defined as ‘as much as necessary.’  In ideal love, enough is not enough, and you cannot get enough of your partner—the better she [or he] is, the more you want.   Nevertheless, some people are not fortunate enough to have even a ‘good-enough’ partner—they might have a ‘just-enough’ partner or a ‘barely enough’ partner.   Consequently, many people settle for a partner who is no good for them at all. 

This becomes more complex, as someone who initially seems barely good enough can end up being the most suitable partner.  A nicer-looking wealthier woman might not be good for you if her values and attitude do not jibe with yours.  In short, constant comparison is lethal. 

We do not expect Mr. Right to fulfill all our needs, as some of these needs are fulfilled by us, ourselves.   As in the story of the pot of gold buried in the garden, sometimes the treasure can be found right at home.”

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How to Polish Your Personality:  …Change starts with a critical assessment of your traits and whether they work well for you—or don’t.  By Grant H. Brenner, M.D., pp.46-53.

“Katherine was grappling with a problem of identity, a problem, that, I find, is much more common today than is generally recognized.  Who she really was had been suppressed for years, in part due to her sense of duty, in part to her desire to please others, and in part to worries about what would happen if she did not conform.  Yet she never completely forgot who she was.

When the circumstances of her life and marriage changed, the authentic needs and personality traits she had long downplayed took on new importance.  She now had more opportunities and the freedom to pursue them.   The awareness of mortality can be clarifying.  It drives a lot of our decisions.”

Source: Psychology Today, psychologytoday.com, March/April 2021.

Submitted by Rosa L. Griffin

Caregiving Part One: Family and Friends

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“Caregiving is providing care for the physical and emotional needs of a family member or a friend at home.   It may involve assisting with meals, personal care, and transportation, helping with medical procedures and therapy”.   (Source:  www.benzieseniorsources.org)

“The most common type is the family caregiver who takes care of a family member without pay.   Other types include professional, independent, private, informal, and volunteer caregivers.”  (Source:  www.griswoldhomecare.com)

“Communication is key in the relationship between a caregiver and a patient.   It is important to both openly share feelings and remain empathetic to the situation.”  (Source:   Patient Empowerment Network, www.powerfulpatients.org)

Two interesting articles:

“Caregiver Tools:  10 Things to Add to Your Toolkit”, Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.D., written by Ann Pietrangelo, updated on November 21, 2016.  Healthline.com.

  1. Documentation
  2. Medication management
  3. Caregiver calendar
  4. Home accommodations
  5. Me time [the most neglected]
  6. Mutual respect
  7. Objectivity
  8. Limitations
  9. Balance and boundaries
  10. Why the caregiver tools matter

“Very Much like Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, the Symptoms of Burnout can Begin Surfacing Months after a Traumatic Episode.”   “Caregiver Burnout”, by M. Ross Seligson, Ph.D., P.A., May 11, 2017, Today’s Caregiver magazine at Caregiver.com.  

I joined the two groups below after I no longer had outings and other distractions to help me bear with my relative’s depression and bipolar symptoms during this pandemic.   I’ve always been a caregiver for someone most of my life, but I never realized until now that was what I was doing.

  1.  Coffee Tea and Me Caregiver Support Network on Facebook.  Shirl Parnell is the founder.  Located in Baltimore, MD, you can call Shirl at 443-538-1815 if you have questions about joining.

I found out about their existence from a member of an outdoor exercise class I was in that was discontinued due to cold weather.    I miss the hugs, handshakes, and physical closeness with others that helped to distract me away from depression myself.

Coffee Tea and Me Caregiver Support Network on Facebook has group prayer via conference call each Thursday morning at 6 a.m.  They also have guest speakers on the prayer line occasionally.   I found a little bit of God’s gold in the form of a conference call (425) 436-6397, access code 8363910 and you will be prompted to add an #. [If you have a Metro PCS or T-Mobile phone, you may have to use CTM’s back-up number 206 451 6063 before you use their regular number and access code]

  1. Another caregiving support group that I joined is DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance).   I signed up for the Family and Friends Group which is currently meeting on Zoom first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:15 p.m.   You can contact Louis M. Borowicz on email at louandvicki@verizon.net or call 410-467-4709 in the greater Baltimore area.  Website:  you can join the Persons w/Mood Disorders Group or the Family and Friends group (https://www.dbsalliance.org/helping-a-friend-or-family-member/dbsa-support -groups/).   Louis also recommended a book entitled YOU NEED HELP! by S. Conrad.

I can’t think about caregiving without thinking of the homeless.   One homeless man told me years ago that he was homeless because he refused to follow the rules of his brother’s house. 

I watched a documentary where a son was trying to help his estranged alcoholic father.   He got his father into Alcoholics Anonymous and even rented an apartment for him.   But his father continued drinking and nearly caused the apartment to catch fire.   So, the son decided that he would just help the father whenever he could and hoped that one day his father would stop drinking on his own.

Another problem that occurred in the 60’s was that President Ronald Reagan closed many state mental health facilities.   “1967 Reagan signs the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and ends the practice of institutionalizing patients against their will, or for indefinite amounts of time.  This law is regarded by some as a ‘patient’s bill of rights’.   Sadly, the care outside state hospitals was inadequate.   The year after the law went into effect, a study shows the number of mentally ill people entering San Mateo’s criminal justice system doubles”.  (“Did the Emptying of Mental Hospitals Contribute to Homelessness?”, Jessica Placzek, December 8, 2016, kqed.org)

And, lastly, I don’t know if you have ever watched the television show, MOM, on CBS.  It has been on 7 seasons going on 8.   It is a drama, comedy, and romance.   The show is all about addictions:  alcohol and gambling mostly.  

Mother Bonnie (played by Allison Janney) is a past alcoholic, thief, con-woman, drug mule, etc. who only thought about herself and had a child Christy that she totally neglected (played by Anna Faris).   Now, both of them are in Alcoholics Anonymous with a group of female friends in the same boat.   

In season 6, episode 18, (“Soup Town and a Little Blonde Mongoose”) Bonnie’s daughter Christy is so sick that she cannot stand up (the second time I can remember Christy being this sick).   But this time Bonnie steps up to the plate and becomes, of all things, a CAREGIVER!   She avoids going to an Eagles concert to stay home with her daughter (of course, after making her boyfriend turn around and drive her all the way back home to help Christy).

Then, we get to see a side of Bonnie we have never seen.   Christy becomes her only priority—washing her clothes, getting her medicine, bathing her, helping her to get to the bathroom to vomit, etc. to the point that she gets totally worn out herself and in tears because Christy’s sickness lasts for days.  

Christy never got this kind of care as a child and the lack of care helped push her too into alcoholism, stripping, gambling addiction, and helping her mother with a life of crime.  In other words, survivors at other people’s expense.  Christy reverts back to being a child for a while from this special treatment.   While marketing, Bonnie even helps another mother who is stressed about a sick child and unfortunately leaves a recovering Christy alone in the market which is Bonnie’s usual modus operandi.   I love the show but sometimes I just want to smack Bonnie and Christy!  

Rebecca Ancheta-Blum is the director of MOM (many projects back to 1980 In Living Color), creator and writer Chuck Lorre (a man of many tv shows including Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Young Sheldon, etc. back to 1988.), co-creators Gemma Baker (also Two and a Half Men and movie The Replacements), and Eddie Gorodetsky (also Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Bob Hearts Abishola, and many more back to 1980s.)

Written by Rosa L. Griffin

Believe in Yourself and Make This a Brand New Day of Love. The Rest is Still Unwritten.

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These are songs of love and hope at a time when we all need them.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE, SWEET LOVE

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It’s the only thing that there’s much too little of.

What the world needs now is love, sweet love.

No, not just for some, but for everyone.”

Excerpt from Source:  Musixmatch.   Songwriters:  Hal David and Burt F. Bacharach.  Lyrics © New Hidden Valley Music Co., Casa David Music, Bmg Rights Management (uk) Ltd (Hal David).  

We “still” need love because in the last four years we seem to have less and less love for each other.   No matter what your religious or political view, there should be something that you have in common with another human being.   Try it!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

“Believe in yourself, right from the start
You’ll have brains
You’ll have a heart
You’ll have courage
To last your whole life through.

If you believe in yourself
As I believe in you.

If you believe
Within your heart you’ll know
That no one can change
The path that you must go.”

Excerpt from Source: Musixmatch.   Songwriter: Charlie Smalls.  Believe in Yourself (Dorothy) lyrics © Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp.

This song was in the 1978 movie The Wiz with an all-star cast consisting of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne, Theresa Merritt, and Mabel King.  I loved The Wiz. Directed by Sidney Lumet who also directed other movies I’ve loved:  12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Serpico, and the Verdict.

You can do it.   Keep believing in yourself.  Don’t be discouraged.

A BRAND NEW DAY

“Everybody look around
‘Cause there’s a reason to rejoice you see
Everybody come out
And let’s commence to singing joyfully
Everybody look up
And feel the hope that we’ve been waiting for.

Everybody’s glad
Because our silent fear and dread is gone
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can’t you feel a brand new day?

Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness

Hello world
It’s like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we’d be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we’ve got liberty

It’s such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can’t you feel a brand new day?”

Excerpt from Source: Musixmatch.   Songwriter: Luther R. Vandross.  Music composed by Quincy Jones, Charlie Smalls, and Anthony Jackson.  A Brand New Day lyrics © Wb Music Corp.

This song was also in the 1978 movie The Wiz with an all-star cast consisting of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne, Theresa Merritt, and Mabel King.  I loved The Wiz. Directed by Sidney Lumet who also directed other movies I’ve loved:  12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Serpico, and the Verdict.

UNWRITTEN

“I am unwritten
Can’t read my mind
I’m undefined
I’m just beginning
The pen’s in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it

No one else can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes
But I can’t live that way

The rest is still unwritten.”

Excerpt from Source: LyricFind.   Songwriters: Danielle A. Brisebois / Natasha Anne Bedingfield / Wayne Steven Jr Rodrigues.   Unwritten lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Domino Publishing Company.

I fell in love with Natasha Bedingfield’s singing of “Unwritten” the first time I heard it on the radio.   Phrases like “break tradition”, “outside the lines”, “conditioned to not make mistakes”, “live your life with arms wide open”, etc.   The song could apply to writers or anyone living his or her life.   And it is a hopeful song with a great beat.

Merry Christmas to all and God bless us everyone!

Submitted by Rosa L. Griffin

Ray Bradbury’s still got it!

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As a child, I used to hang out in the Pratt library in east Baltimore by myself.   The public library is where I developed my taste for Science Fiction, Gothic Romance and Black Literature.   I remember coming across Ray Bradbury’s books.  

Recently, I was delighted to find that there was a marathon of his short stories broadcast on Comet tv called The Ray Bradbury Theater on Sunday afternoons.   Ray Bradbury himself speaking about how he came up with story ideas was repeated before each story began.

On September 20, 2020, I saw an episode of a Ray Bradbury short story called “A Miracle of Rare Device” (season 3, episode 2, 7/14/89, starring Pat Harrington, Jr. formerly of the “One day at a time” tv show; Wayne Robson, and William Kircher).   It is a story about two scraggly guys who drove around in their beat-up truck looking for whatever they could find to make money.   There was a less scraggly bully on a motorcycle who was always after them to get whatever they could find.

One day they outran the guy by sheer luck and found an opening in the desert on the side of the road in which they hid.   The more intelligent of the two saw over the horizon a mirage of New York City.  It was hard for his partner to see it, but eventually he did also.

The more resourceful fella figured he could charge one dollar per vehicle for others to see it.   A scam coming, right?   But it turned out that others saw what they really needed to see.   Yes, the two men made money, but to them, it became a miracle for the people who came.   The visitors told them what they saw and it seemed like miracles to the two men, who really started appreciating the mirages as miracles.

Of course, the motorcycle man found out about their money-making and took all their money.  And, although he could not see the mirage at all, he planned on taking over, but none of the people who came after that could see the mirage at all either.    Motorcycle man gave up and left the two honest men there with nothing but their truck, not even the mirage.   But eventually they could see it again and they decided to let people see the mirage for free from now on.  

I cried when the individual people told what they saw and when the men concluded that this was something of God.   I had forgotten how good Ray Bradbury’s stories were.  I’ve seen two marathons so far and look forward to seeing more.

Written by Rosa L. Griffin

Review of book American Apartheid by James S. Wright (2013)

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“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.   That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.   That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.  (his quote from the Declaration of Independence)

This is a short history of three races—Native Americans, the first Americans who were nearly enslaved, African Americans who were enslaved, and the attempted decimation of the Jews during the Holocaust.   There were times in American history in which the things that happened to the three races were interrelated.

Mr. Wright explains the origin of Native Americans and how eventually they were moved west from their land so often that many of them died along the way, for example during the Trail of Tears.  Agencies that were supposed to help them did not.  If they were not Christian, they were considered savages.   Also, freed black slaves were recruited by the Union army to fight against American Indians in the “Indian Wars”.

He repeatedly says that his book is not a history book.  Rather it is his opinion so he does not include footnotes or a bibliography.   Actually, I believe footnotes, etc., would interrupt the flow of his narrative.

There are so many details lacking in many histories that his book should be taught as part of a history curriculum starting at least by middle school when I feel that children of all races should begin to start understanding issues.  

I remember when I was starting junior high school, we had a white history teacher who said that “all slaves did all day was sit on the porch playing the banjo.”   I don’t remember anything else she ever taught us.

“I believe in God.  I love my family, and I think the United States of America is the best country in the world.   [However]  For the past 15 years or so, the Civil Rights Movement, which was aggressive in the 60’s and 70’s, has slowed to a crawl.  Hopefully, this book will inspire a rebirth of the Civil Rights Movement…  This book is a wake-up call for those of us who have gone to sleep on the problem of racism in America.”   James S. Wright

Mr. Wright’s book is easy-reading nonfiction and flows well from chapter to chapter.   His opinions are eye-opening.   He also includes the contributions of the races to America.  This is an appropriate book for these tumultuous times with people of all races demonstrating in masses all around the world against racial, economic, and cultural injustices.

American Apartheid is my personal copy and it should be yours, too.   The reading of his book would certainly be worthy of your time.

Written by Rosa L. Griffin

Pass It On

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Empathy

“When someone opens up and shares how they are feeling,

Just listen,

And be there—

You don’t have to have an answer or response.”   Alfred Adler

Empathy is something that is lacking in society today.   And in spite of someone’s political affiliation, we should be able to talk to them about something we have in common—other than politics.  I believe with all my heart that we can agree to disagree.

I remember a Bible verse which says “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.   The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”  Proverbs 15:1-2, New International Version.

“The values we live by are worth more when we pass them on.”   Passiton.com

I had been seeing these wonderful commercials on television and wondered who produced them.  They are produced by the Foundation for a Better Life.  

“Their goal is to offer inspirational messages to people everywhere as a contribution toward promoting universal values, good role models and a better life.”   They have ads and commercials on tv, radio, billboards, videos, and more.   Check out their website at passiton.com.

I have been inspired and uplifted each time I see their commercials.   I have also subscribed to their emails. Pass it on!

Written by Rosa L. Griffin

V O T E ! The 2020 Presidential Election in Maryland

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Unlike the ballots automatically mailed to most registered voters for the June primary election, voters in the General Presidential Election will have to apply for the mail-in ballot.

Ballot request forms (applications) were mailed to Maryland’s 4 million registered voters from August 24 through the end of August.    The actual requested ballots will not be mailed back to those requesting a ballot until early October.   The State Board of Elections has set a deadline of October 20 to request a mail-in ballot (apply).   Election day, November 3, is the deadline for ballots to be received.

The law has been changed so that in Maryland absentee ballots are the same as mail-in ballots.   Absentee voting is the same as mail-in voting.

Early voting begins Monday, October 26 through Monday, November 2 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

To get a mail-in ballot

Go to elections.maryland.gov   

Click on the Request a Mail-in Ballot graphic or Mail-in Voting under quick links.   Complete and return one of the forms by U.S. mail today or fax to 410-886-0894 today or email a scanned attachment to the fax number today.  There are English and Spanish versions.

Or Text Message

Text VBM (English) or VPC (Spanish) to 777-88 today.  The election board will text you a link to request your mail-in ballot online.

Or Go to the local Board of Elections

Fill out and turn in the form as soon as possible.   The Baltimore County board of elections is located at 11112 Gilroy Road, Suite 104, Hunt Valley 21031.   Phone 410-887-5700, fax 410-887-0894.

When you receive your form, read the instructions, complete the form, print it, sign it, and return it by U.S. mail or place it in a drop box.  There will be at least 270 ballot drop boxes.

Otherwise, Vote In-Person

Early voting begins Monday, October 26 through Monday, November 2 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.  At elections.maryland.gov, you will find the locations for approximately 80 voting centers statewide.

General Presidential Election is officially Tuesday, November 3, 2020, same hours as above.

Election Judges Needed

To become a judge, visit baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/elections/ or call the Baltimore County Board of Elections at 410-887-5700 whether you are a state employee, college student, etc.

Source:  Northwest Voice, July/August 2020 (A free publication serving Owings Mills, Pikesville, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Windsor Mill, Woodlawn and Catonsville neighborhoods), P.O. Box 47266, Windsor Mill, MD 21244, Phone:  410-508-1424, Web:  nwvoicenews.com, Email:  info@nwvoicenews.com, Publisher:  Kenneth C. Brown, kennybrown@nwvoicenews.com