Growth in Urbana, putting stress on schools, businesses and other resources

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
By Amy Madert Urbana Maryland, a suburb in Frederick County, had a population of only 622 people in 2001. In 2015 that number increased to 11,154 people. The speed in which the population is growing impacts every aspect of a community – the people, the businesses and the resources. “We are building in the areas that people want to live in,” Denise Jacoby, Executive Officer at the Frederick County Building Industry Association (FCBIA), said. “These areas tend to be favorable by large populations, which lead to more development. The Villages of Urbana was first established in 1999. It has quickly become one of the most populated, desired and changed areas in Frederick. The plan for the community aimed to recreate a classic small town feel and way of living. Today the town of Urbana community plan includes five schools and a sixth set to open in the 2017-2018 school year, two parks and a third in development, a handful of amenities including a library, swimming...
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Growth Affect on the Fire Department

by Elizabeth Atwood Comment Closed
by Ellie Blaser Over the last five to 10 years, various types of growth have occurred in the city and county of Fredrick, Maryland, including population growth and comprehensive plan and zoning growth. As a result of this, the Frederick City Fire Department has had a larger population to respond to, and at times has had trouble responding to fire on time. “We are currently one of the second largest regions in the state behind Baltimore, and with that comes the increase call wave,” says Kevin Fox, Battalion Chief with Division of Fire Rescue Services. (more…)...
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Suicide Rates Are Growing With Frederick’s Population and Public Funding Can’t Keep Up

by Elizabeth Atwood Comment Closed
By Logan Samuels The Frederick County Board of Health and Mental Hygiene wants to focus on treatment and research for specific health issues, but budgeting for the public health system prevents this. Frederick County Health Officer Dr. Barabara Brookmyer explained that a hot topic issue in Frederick is the suicide rate. For the last 12 years, Frederick County has had a higher suicide death rate than the state. Henry Westray, Jr., the former chair of the Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention, said that Governor Martin O’Malley established an executive order to focus on suicide awareness and prevention as a severe health issue in 2009. For three years, the Governor’s Commission on Suicide actively fought to establish services, hotlines, plans, support groups, and advocacy groups for at-risk groups. There are various Maryland based foundations and groups that focus on suicide prevention and intervention like the Mental Health Association of Maryland, the National Alliance on Mental Illness: Maryland and the American Foundation for Suicide: Maryland. O’Malley planned to...
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