The Christmas Holidays are HERE!

The needs in our community are also still here!  

I asked for your help for Thanksgiving and you met me at the door with turkeys, can goods, dried foods, water, drinks, and gift cards.  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Now, it is time to ask for your help again.  

The principals, teachers, and counselors at both schools made me aware that the families we served for Thanksgiving will also need help for Christmas.  Food needs are the same, however, the children will be looking for toys, coats, hats, gloves, socks, scarves and other presents under their tree.

What can you do to help meet those needs and expectations?

While you are out shopping for your loved ones, buy one item for a boy or girl for ages five to 12.  WRAP it, mark the age level, and list the gender on the package.

WE believe that we will have 40 baskets of food for the families, and would like to give at least two presents to each family for one or more of the children in the families.

Each of the families that we served for Thanksgiving had two (2) to four (4) children.  So, your food gift served at least 100 people.  That means we need to collect at least 100 gifts to give to our families.

YOU MAY DROP OFF GIFTS, GIFT CARDS, and FOOD to:

 MOUNT RAINIER CITY HALL

ONE MUNICIPAL PLACE

MOUNT RAINIER, MD 20712

City Hall is open from 9:00am until 5:00pm Monday through Friday.  Ms. Janis Lomax will be the contact for this project.  She can be reached at 301-985-6585!  If you cannot reach Ms. Lomax, PLEASE CALL ME email me at mayormiles@gmail.com.  I will respond.

THANK YOU for your help!

COME AND MEET MY CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT 47A!

Join

Mount Rainier Mayor Malinda Miles

State Delegate Doyle Niemann

Prince George’s County Council Chairperson Andrea Harrison

And Bladensburg Mayor Walter James

To support

Campaign Kick-off event

Fighting for Working Families

Getting Results

Thursday December 5^th

7pm- 9pm

Urban Eats Café

3311 Rhode Island Ave., Mount Rainier

Grand Opening Celebration of Tanger Outlets National Harbor

Media Advisory

For Immediate Release:

November 22, 2013

For Information Contact:

Scott L. Peterson

Deputy Communications Manager/Press Secretary

(240) 619-9400

Grand Opening Celebration of Tanger Outlets National Harbor

Upper Marlboro, MD – Today, Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III will be joined by Council Member Obie Patterson (D-District 8), Steven B. Tanger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc., and Milt Peterson, Chairman, Peterson Companies at the grand opening of the Tanger Outlets National Harbor.  Tanger Outlets National Harbor will consist of over 80 high end retail outlets.  This is the first outlet shopping center in Prince George’s County and the closest Tanger Outlet Center to any major U.S. city in their national chain.  “Voice of the Redskins” Larry Michael and WJLA’s Jummy Olabanji will emcee this event.      

“Tanger Outlets National Harbor is going to be a huge attraction that will bring people into Prince George’s County from all over the region and around the county,” said Prince George’s County Executive Ruhern L. Baker, III. “For years our residents have expressed a strong desire for more high-end retail in the County and the Tanger Outlets will be a wonderful addition to our retail mix.  Tanger’s decision to locate an outlet in Prince George’s County demonstrates to visitors, citizens, and business leaders that there is tremendous opportunity here and I applaud the company for its vision.  It will be great to have people coming to Prince George’s County to shop.”

Tanger Outlets National Harbor represents a private investment of almost $100 million dollars.  It is one of the largest retail economic development projects in the County and created an estimated 600 jobs during construction and approximately 1,000 full and part-time retail jobs.   The center is estimated to create an additional $6.5 million dollars in annual sales tax revenue for the State of Maryland and approximately $1 million in propert tax revenue to Prince George’s County.

For the opening day festivities of Tanger Outlets National Harbor, the Prince George's County Police Department's (PGPD) Special Operations Division (SOD) will handle traffic management.  To help drivers prepare for an expected turnout of 20,000 shoppers, PGPD will provide up-to-the-minute traffic and parking information via Twitter from @PGPDNews using the hashtag #OperationOutlets.

WHO:

Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III

Prince George’s County Council Member Obie Patterson (D-District 8)

Steven B. Tanger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.,

Milt Peterson, Chairman, Peterson Companies

WHAT:

Grand Opening of Tanger Outlets National Harbor

WHEN:

Friday, November 22, 2013, 10:00 am

WHERE:

Tanger Outlets National Harbor

6800 Oxon Hill Road

National Harbor, MD 20745

Still need TURKEYS, GIFT CARDS, PERISHABLE and NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS

My State Senator called to pledge ten (10) turkeys for the families in our community that needs help this holiday season!  That brings our turkeys up to 18.  My young neighbor and friend Brian has also pledged to help me with this project.  We may not make the forty (40) turkeys needed, but we will make a difference in the lives of some of our neighbors.  Need to know what is needed and how you can help?

Here is how you can help!

Pick one or more of these items perishables: turkeys, hams, chickens, fresh greens, eggs, sweet potatoes, pie shells, celery, fruit, butter, milk (whole, can), whip cream, bread, pies and cakes etc.

Pick one or more of these items -- non-perishables: can goods (yams, cranberry sauce, green beans, bread crumbs, jiffy mix, can broth, etc. Gift cards that will allow recipient to purchase his/her own food.

Keep it simple. Deliver EVERYTHING TO CITY HALL. I will check and pick up every day.

I will be publishing your name on my blog to say Thank You for the love!

Food items will be delivered to Thomas Stone Elementary and Mount Rainier Elementary on Tuesday, November 26.  PLEASE drop off all items by close of business Monday, November 25!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Report from Councilmember Jesse Christopherson

[This is a report from Councilman Jesse Christopherson.  There will be a Council meeting this Tuesday where this will be discussed.]

Over the next two years the county will remove about 200 trees from the Arundel Canal area, stretching from 30th St. to 34th St., northeastward behind the Queenstown Apartments, and ending at the 7-11 on Chillum Rd. At the city council work session on Tuesday, November 19 at 7 p.m. the county's Department of Environmental Resources (DER) will update Mount Rainier residents on the tree removal and other aspects of their Allison Street Levee Project.

The project will rehabilitate the pumping station in Brentwood, raise levee walls and berms, and replace the 34th St./Chillum Rd. bridge over the canal. Upon completion and certification, the project will provide superior flood protection and allow residents to purchase flood insurance. It will also provide sidewalks on both sides of the bridge.

Unfortunately, certification requires vegetation removal within 15 feet of the bases of the levees and berms. That includes the oak and plane trees that line Arundel Rd., most of the trees in Richardson Park on 31st St., and woody areas around the Nature Center on Arundel Rd. and behind Standard Pressing Machine Co. on Queens Chapel Rd.

Mount Rainier's Mayor and City Council, Green Team, and Tree Commission have been actively engaged with the DER in order to reduce the number of removed trees, ensure wall and fence aesthetic standards, obtain replacement trees to be planted around the affected areas, advise on traffic patterns and detour options, and ensure public awareness and input about the project.

The City has obtained a commitment from the DER to replace trees at a 2:1 ratio and to turn Arundel Rd. into a "green street" that improves storm water drainage and includes a bike/hike lane, trees, and other improvements.

We are in the process of verifying the tree impact indicated on the engineering contractor's plans, which have proven incomplete. We are creating a list of each tree to be removed in order to ensure full compensation for the project's environmental impact. We are also supplying DER with an updated list of vacant tree spaces, which has taken many hours to verify and compile.

At a recent stakeholders' meeting at DER's offices, the City Council invited DER to make an additional summary presentation and take questions at our work session this Tuesday. Please come to learn more about the project, including design options for the green street project, and express your concerns. To see the latest public information about the project online, click here. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0te3I9dkmYyODRaMDJVZ3hKZWs/edit?usp=sharing)

FREE THANKSGIVING DAY OUTREACH DINNER

Thanksgiving Day Outreach Dinner To The Community.

Hosted by: Gospel Faith Mission Int'l
When: November 28, 2013
Time: 12 noon- 4 pm
Where: 3808 38th St. Brentwood, MD
(At the corner of 38th and Perry)

Dinner is free of charge to those that are in need.  Contact Angel Dickson at (andickso@gmail.com for  more information.

Would a good meal help you and your family?

No strings attached!  

On November 6, 2013 from NOON to 4pm, First Baptist Church of Mount Rainier, 3103 Shepherd St, Mt Rainier, MD 20712 is providing meals to anyone who comes by.  We'd really like to reach those in need.  Can you pass along, thank you.

For more information call:  301-927-5565
Yvette Barnes

Seeking Support of Elected and Appointed Municipal Women

REQUEST for HELP with our tree canopy!

Hi Mount Rainierites,

Please consider helping out on Saturday!

Come help inventory tree planting locations in the Mount Rainier this Saturday, November 16 from 10:00 - 12:00. The Tree Commission needs your help in finding ideal tree locations along our City streets. Many hands will make for light work. This is in preparation for several hundred trees to be planted in the City this spring to replace over 100 trees to be cut as part of the Allison Street Levee Improvement Project. 

No experience is needed, only an interest in building the City's tree canopy. We will break into teams of two and work across the City to gather information on vacant tree sites. We will supply maps and data sheets. Please bring a clipboard if you have one. This is a good project to bring along your dogs, children and neighbors!

Where: Meet at 4002 31st St. for general instructions before we split into sections

When: 10:00 AM 

RSVP: Please RSVP to trees@20712.org to help us get an idea of #s or just show up

Ten Facts about Social Security and the Elderly

It is an amazing fact, but a true one.  We are all getting older, and if we live long enough, we will become eligible for social security benefits, at least, that is the theory on which many of us contribute to FICA!  With that in mind, I wanted to share the following link with you:

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3261

Veterans Day Program and Reception

VETERANS DAY PROGRAM & RECEPTION

FOR

MOUNT RAINIER’S VETERANS

“Honoring those who GAVE so much!”

November 10, 2013

2:00pm til 4:00pm

One Municipal Place

Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Welcome by Mayor Malinda Miles

Presentation of Colors Bowie Navy ROTC with Captain Kenneth Trass

“The Star Spangled Banner,” Chavon Rhabb

Pledge of Allegiance -- Audience

“America the Beautiful,” Chavon Rhabb

Message from the Mayor Malinda Miles

(Introduction of Council, and honored guests)

“Veterans Day – How it Began” Mayor Bruce Wahl, Chesapeake Beach, MD & President-elect for MML

Introduction of (Keynote Speaker) for Veterans Day Message

Guest Speaker, Asiya R. Abdella, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Honoring those who GAVE so much!”  -- Secretary Edward Crow

(Presentation of certificates and pins by Mayor Miles and Secretary Crow, Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs)

Introduction of Veterans Families Mayor Malinda Miles

Showing of Video - “Before You Go” -     by Samuel R. Bierstock

Thank yous – Ward 1 and Ward 2 Councilmembers

Dismissal

Thank you for participating with us,

as we honor these brave men and women in our community!

Mayor's Special Project with Captain Stoots

Captain Stoots of the Mount Rainier Police Department has for years solicited the names of families that require a little extra help during the Thanksgiving Christmas Holidays from our two elementary schools .  Captain Stoots always serve at least ten families.  This year, the Mayor will be teaming up with Captain Stoots to serve an additional five families.  

Your help and support of this effort will be greatly appreciated.  Food, toys and cash or gift cards welcome!  These items can be dropped off at the police station or the home of Mayor Miles.  Instead of Turkeys, frozen items, and other perishables we request food cards from Safeway, Giant, Wegmans, and/or other food stores so that the families can select the items that say Christmas to them.  ALL items may be dropped off any time between now and December 21, 2014.

Here are the scheduled school closings for this calendar year:

Wednesday, November 27 starts the Thanksgiving Break, and schools are closed for students and teachers, but all school offices are open.  Schools remain closed until Monday, December 2, 2013.

Monday-Wednesday, December 23-25 , starts the Christmas holidays, and December 26-January 1, 2014 schools are closed for the winter break.  Schools reopen Friday, January 3 at their usual time.

Mayor and Council Meetings for November 5, 2013

                 As a reminder, please be advised that the regular scheduled Mayor and Council Meeting will take place at 8pm.  

The Mayor and Council will hold a special closed meeting from 6 to 7:30pm, which will be a CLOSED session to discuss the development of the 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue with representatives from Prince Georges County

AGENDA

SPECIAL MEETING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UPPER LEVEL

6:00 PM

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Council vote to adjourn to CLOSED meeting to discuss development of 3200 Rhode Island Avenue with representative from Prince Georges County Government.

Please Note:   Pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, State Government Article Section 10-508(a), the Council by majority vote may retire to executive or closed session at any time during the meeting. Should the Council retire to executive or closed session the chair will announce the reasons and a report will be issued at a future meeting disclosing the reasons for such session.

The public agenda is as follows:

AGENDA

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UPPER LEVEL

8:00 PM

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Review and Approval of Agenda

Review and Approval of Minutes

Announcements

Official Reports

Mayor

Council

City Manager

Department Heads

General public comment (Limited to three (3) minutes per person per subject matter)

Old Business

Ordinance 9-2013 – an ordinance amending Chapter 13 traffic of the city code revising certain parking regulations and adding a new section for residential parking permits (Second reading/vote)

Ordinance 10-2013 - an ordinance transferring the appropriation of $10,000 from the Restricted Public Safety Fund Balance to Speed Camera for a comprehensive review and revision of the Mount Rainier Police Department’s Policies and Procedures Manual and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with the law firm of Funk & Bolton. (Second Reading/Vote)

Ordinance 11-2013 -an ordinance transferring the appropriation of $17,000 from the Restricted Safety Fund Balance to Speed Camera – Public Safety Related Expenditures for the purpose of equipping all Mount Rainier Police patrol officers with wearable body cameras (Second Reading/Vote)

Ordinance 13-2013 - an ordinance revising Chapter 3 of the city code, Section 3-105 Permit Fees, imposing a Mitigation Fee for Impervious Surface Construction (Second Reading/Vote)

New Business

Ordinance 12-2013 an ordinance amending Chapter 12B Forest of the City Code for tree permit applications and criteria, and permit approval process or denial for tree trimming and tree removal on private property (First Reading)

Council vote to approve curb to curb resurfacing of the 3800-4000 blocks of 34^th Street in partnership with Washington Gas; the City and Washington Gas will share the cost of the resurfacing. Total allocation and appropriation line item to be determined

Council to vote to approve up to a maximum of $1,000 for the purchase of T-Shirts, pens and other memorabilia to be sold during the December Craft Sale, and future events; funding is to be appropriated from community programs budget

Council to vote to approve amendments to Council Rules and Regulations

Council to vote to approve the Process and Procedures Guidelines for City Appointed Advisory Bodies

Rules for Speakers

The Mayor and City Council invite and welcome comments at public meetings.  The Mayor or presiding officer will recognize you.   Please introduce yourself at the podium (spelling your last name, for recording purposes) and give the name of your street and block number (e.g., 4300 block of 34^th St.).  Time limits for speaking are indicated on the meeting agenda. 

While speaking, please maintain a courteous tone and avoid personal attacks.

If you wish to lodge a complaint about the performance or conduct of any City employee, please bring your concern to the attention of the City Manager, who will look into the matter and respond to you.

As a courtesy to other residents and businesses, the Council requests that speakers not use specific addresses or names of individuals when describing a situation or making a complaint.  Noting the block is preferred over a specific address.

Code enforcement and public safety issues should first be brought to the attention of the appropriate department and/or one of your Council members.

Please Note:   Pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, State Government Article Section 10-508(a), the Council by majority vote may retire to executive or closed session at any time during the meeting. Should the Council retire to executive or closed session the chair will announce the reasons and a report will be issued at a future meeting disclosing the reasons for such session.