Girl's Brand new bike to be given away!

Then just as I thought I had my life under wraps, I was given the honor and the pleasure of selecting one little girl in the entire City of Mount Rainier to present this beautiful bicycle to! That has become a major problem because school is out! 

Here are the criteria:

The little girl MUST LIVE IN MOUNT RAINIER.

She must be in a family that was unable to get her a bike for Christmas

She must be in the age category for this bike size

Her parents MUST be able to pick it up from my home

I must be able to take a picture of her on the bike.

NO OTHERSTRINGS attached!

Knowing me will not count!

Know such a little girl? Email me at mayormiles@gmail.com. Thank you in advance.

Mount Rainier "A City on the Move!"

Many people outside of Mount Rainier are beginning to discover this little jewel located just across the District's line.  It has almost always been there but not making much noise.  The right mix of people and businesses just hadn't come knocking on our doorstep.

However, over the past few years, a few developers and a large number of residents have found that Mount Rainier just may be the key to living in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia).  Where else can you live in harmony with your neighbors, where crime is low, and where you can be at the steps of the White House in less than ten (10) minutes?

Mount Rainier has always been considered a bedroom community to the District with its huge houses, large yards, tree lined streets, and neighbors who truly have a voice in City government.  Now, that new development is coming, and our artists are making names for themselves all over the Nation, others are finding that Mount Rainier has the quality of life that they have always wanted with the amenities of Washington, DC and surrounding area.  Mount Rainier has a great transportation system with nearby shopping malls.

Yes, there is a little bit of nimby (not in my backyard) in the residents, but then they had to grow into that sense of being because there is nowhere else to grow.  There is very limited open space.  The residents are not into knocking down to rebuild.  They are more into saving their history and preserving their way of life.  They love going downtown to the hustle and bustle, but the treasure returning home to a community where there are few sirens, and neighbors walk by with their children and their dogs and take a moment to say hello.  It's peaceful.

Someone else has learned about the great little City of Mount Rainier and has written about it in terms of its economic development.  Please check out what he had to say.  I am sure you will be packing your bags and looking for your next home in the great little City of Mount Rainier, MD.

I stand ready to welcome you!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/where-we-live/wp/2015/12/29/in-2015-the-housing-market-cooled-in-montgomery-while-prices-rose-in-prince-georges/?postshare=2111451435471960&tid=ss_fb

Just my thoughts during this Christmas Season!

Most folks are down to the wire with their Christmas shopping and holiday preparations.  The ovens are roasting turkeys, ducks, chickens and many other goodies for the Christmas day celebration.  Cookies are on the tables for family and friends, and many of us are wishing that this season will soon end.

Others are hanging and shaking their heads for loved one gone on ahead.  This season can be daunting and with a lot of tears that could be shed.  We often forget how painful this season can be when working to prepare for Christmas on Christmas Eve.   So, take a moment and look around to see how blessed you are and then remember to breathe.

Life is what you make of it no matter what hand you are dealt.  Christmas is but a day out of the year that remind us to be of good cheer. Christmas should be about giving the gift of life and not your credit card or your rent.  I come to remind you that whenChristmas day is over you will still need to pay next month's rent.

Regardless of your reason for celebrating this season, may you be blessed, prosperous, healthy, and at peace now and during the coming year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
HAPPY KWANZA!
HAPPY BELATED  HANUKKAH (CHANUKAH)!

YOU ARE INVITED and IT IS FREE

Saturday, January 2, 2016

at 6 PM - 8 PM

Gateway Arts Center

3901 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, Maryland 20722

Free and open to the public - please invite your friends - refreshments will be served.

In the 39th Street Gallery
"All that we see or seem"
Video by Tim McLoraine

Layering video within video, All that we see or seem explores the ways in which our personal histories amass to create the interpretive frameworks for how we live in the world, and the density of narrative that we each bring to both the profound and mundane. - Tim McLoraine

In The 39th Street Corridor:
Contemplation, intimacy, and growth in quiet solitude - processing during the dark months of winter. - Lisa Rosenstein

A Group Exhibition with Adam Dwight, Mary Freedman, Tom Green, Zofie Lang, Lisa Rosenstein, Nicole Salimbene, Alma Selimovic, and Jacob Utley.

The 39th Street Gallery and Corridor Exhibition Space.
Gateway Arts Center, second floor, 39th Street entrance.
3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD 20722

All programming at the Gateway CDC's 39th Street Gallery are generously supported by the MNCPPC's Department of Parks and Recreation, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division, Prince Georges County.

Let me introduce you to some TOP SHELF PEOPLE and BUSINESSES!

Please place these businesses, neighbors, friends and family on your TOP SHELF LIST -- they have earned it!:

Buffalo Baptist Church

Saint John's Episcopal Church

Paul and Debbie Abell

Jessie Muse

Norma and Christine Bedola

Margaret and Pamela Boozer Strothers

Urban Eats

Nisey’s Boutique

Jimmy Stoots

Fire Department

Anne L’Ecuyre

Councilmember Tracy Lol
Anonymous Donors

They are making it possible for the Christmas Baskets for our families! DON'T SEE YOUR NAME on the TOP SHELF? You still have time to make this list.

Donations may be dropped off at 4517 30th Street Mount Rainier, MD. Can't drop them off -- email me and I will pick them up --mayormiles!gmail.com.

Peace and blessings always.

A free meal and free food at St. Michael and All Angels Church

Hello everyone,

Thanks in advance for letting everyone know that TOMORROW, Saturday, December 19. 2015, is our monthly Meal and Grocery Give-away at 5 pm, at 8501 New Hampshire Ave. MD 20783 (St. Michael and All Angels Church). Those who participate will have a wonderful home cooked meal (including turkey, chicken, and ham) and receive free groceries such as rice, peanut butter, and fresh produce as available. We had a great meal during November and noticed some new families were with us. Thank you for spreading the word. The dinner next month will take place on Saturday, January 15th. Thank you for your support! Happy Holidays!

Regards,

Debbie D. Gibbs

240 882-0274

FRIENDS and NEIGHBORS we are almost there! 65 of the 116 baskets are in place.

Here is how our Christmas Baskets are shaping up!

Donation of 36 roasters to be delivered on Friday -- Got keep those babies cold! Using Paul Deb Abell, Anne L'Ecuyer, Tina and Norma Bedola, Tracy Lol's nonperishable donation to make up baskets for as many of these as possible.

Two full  baskets are being donated by Nisey's Boutique of Mount Rainier

Ten full baskets being dropped off on Friday from Buffalo Baptist Church

Two hams and a turkey from Paul Deb Abell needs nonperishables to complete three more baskets

Five complete baskets being dropped off by Greater Rock Creek Baptist Church on Monday

With the above donations, we will have at least sixty (60) baskets of the One hundred fifteen (115) baskets needed. I still have a cash donation of $120 that will provide us with about five turkeys (average price of a 16-pound turkey is now $23.04, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation). Giving us an additional 5 baskets bringing us up to 65 baskets -- making us almost HALF WAY TO THE GOAL OF 115 (now 116 because another family called and truly met the need for a basket).

Jess Muse, friend, and former coworker is dropping off her donation tomorrow

Saint John's one of the largest contributor during the Thanksgiving basket drive has not committed to a specific number of baskets but promised to help make this happen.

URBAN EATS is also collecting for this drive.

Others have also indicated that they going to be dropping off donations.

I KNOW -- it's hard out there, but it is even harder for these families. PLEASE HELP ME HELP THEM!

Don't have the time to shop? I will do the shopping on Monday to purchase any missing items from the baskets or to make up baskets. Let me know, and drop off the money or DONATE A GIFT CARD and the family can do the shopping. Either way, your gift will be appreciated and WELCOMED!

THANK YOU for STOPPING an EVICTION TODAY...

The past two days have been a little rough. I caught a chest cold that is beating me down, but I am feeling better with some rest. As I lay here being sick, there are so many people in trouble with their rent, their mortgage, their lights, their water, their gas and on and on until I've decided that rest is for the dead. Living people must live and help those that are on the brink of disaster. 

Over the past year, I have been working with my ministers and others to start a community charity fund to help some of the neediest in our community. The fund only collected a small amount of money, and it has already helped at least a few people. The need is bigger. People living next door to you are without heat, but they will never tell you. Children walking past you on the street did not have breakfast and will not be getting a free lunch at school because their parents make too much to qualify, but have nothing left after the rent is paid.

While laying around, I made a few phone calls to people I thought could help me help a man that worked hard for me and others. Each person I called came through. I will make the delivery to the landlord tomorrow morning (it was due to the landlord today, but I did not have enough nor the strength to take it to them).  

For those who have made a donation to help me help this very special person, THANK YOU SO MUCH. You have gone above and beyond what was expected and truly exemplify what this holiday means. We did not raise the entire amount needed, but he will retain his housing throughout the holiday season.

To the ministers, THANK YOU for working with me on my vision to have a place that residents can turn for help even if it is only a one-time occasion. Prior to your efforts, there was nothing. I hope that over the next year, we can really raise some money for the next winter and become a community-based organization that helps residents.

There are still people with compassion living in our world TODAY, and I am forever thankful!  They either live, work, come to, visit, own or wish they lived in Mount Rainier, MD.  Proud to be called the Mayor.

Peace and blessings always!

Who's Moved to Mount Rainier -- Don't forget to pick up your WELCOME PACKAGE from City HALL

It occurs to me that each day and each week someone new moves into our great City -- be it a resident or a business.  So, sitting here this morning, I thought wouldn't it be nice if we had a way to give a shout out to our new residents, businesses etc.?

So starting with this post, if you know someone new in town, PLEASE ship me an email so that I can feature them on my Facebook page and on my blog.

So, to get the ball rolling, I am going to start with a few that I have already welcomed, and will try to figure out how to catch up on those that I missed before this brainstorm struck.

PLEASE SAY HELLO TO THOM MINER and GOODBYE TO THE ROBINS FAMILY

Hello Mount Rainier neighbors!

We wanted to introduce you to your new neighbor, Thom Minner, who will be moving into 4505 31st Street this Monday, November 23, 2015! He is very friendly, and has had his eye on Mount Rainier for some time. We are so glad that he found 4505 (and its corn stove, solar panels and gardens!) and hope that you will take time to drop by and say hello! Click on this link to learn more about Thom. Here is Thom’s e-mail address should you wish to send him an e-mail:

trminner@gmail.com

And now for us: as many of you know we have been in our new GHI Coop home in Greenbelt, MD for over two months (wow!) and are loving it. We have always loved Mount Rainier but the need to downsize moved us on our journey over the last year to a place that we also treasured and felt would be the next step in our journey, our new chapter. We will always have fond memories of Mount Rainier (25 years’ worth) and hope the best for the city and its community. Please feel free to pass this on in case we missed anyone.

All our best,

Joe, Patience, Trez and “kateo” Robbins

---------------------------------

--------------------

WELCOME KEVIN BUSH AND FAMILY

I'm excited to say that we just purchased a home in Mt. Rainier. We moved in last Friday and are already in love with the community. Is there anything I should know as a new resident? For instance, I don't have any trash or recycling bins. Do I need to purchase a special bin from the City? 

Thank you so much for your help. I look forward to getting involved in the community.

All the best,

--

Kevin J. Bush

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bushkevin

----------------------

Bird Kitchen & Cocktails, a rare and new full-service restaurant for Mount Rainier -- 3400 34th Street, Mount Rainier, MD, 240-467-3045

Washington Business Journal had this to say about Bird Kitchen and Cocktails:

Bird Kitchen & Cocktails will be a 50-seat restaurant with an additional 25-seat sidewalk cafe and a 25-seat beer garden in back. Robinson hopes it will become a quintessential neighborhood spot, and has even been taking requests via Facebook for what beers to put on tap.

Mount Rainier has a couple of full-service restaurants, including Sweet & Natural Cafe and Urban Eats, though Bird will join mostly carryouts in the neighborhood.

The 50-year-old chef isn’t new to being a restaurateur. He previously owned two in Atlanta, the second of which closed after fallout from the economic downturn. Four years later, he’s ready to take the plunge again.

--------My contact information

Malinda Miles
Mayor, Mount Rainier

Send Business Mail to:
One Municipal Place
Mount Rainier MD 20712-1611
301-985-6585 (City Hall -- Leave a Message)


Send Personal Mail to:
4517 30th Street
Mount Rainier, MD 20712-1611
Home:  301-699-1378
Cell:  301-237-3889
Email:  Mayormiles@gmail.com and
http://themayorsspot.blogspot.com/

A CHANGE IS GOING TO COME -- Get invollved!

The Menkiti Group is revitalizing the old Singer Building and some other properties on Rhode Island Avenue.  If you missed the community forum to discuss and talk about what you would like to see happening in our City, PLEASE checkout this video of the forum.  There is some pretty good information here. 

"http://mrtv.pegcentral.com/embed/?video=94b0f63f0dad7ee717047b49b66942d2&state=0"

As proposed, Menkiti is planning to restore the three properties and to create a dozen residential units and 10,000 square feet of commercial space in the buildings. On tap is a 5,500-square-foot hardware store and 12 residential units at 3300 Rhode Island Ave., a 3,110-square-foot ReCreative Spaces arts incubator at 3308 Rhode Island Ave., and a 1,360-square-foot cafe by Englert at 3310 Rhode Island Ave.

Don't hesitate to contact the Menkiti Group should you have questions, concerns or suggestions.  Working together we WILL make Mount Rainier a DESTINATION!

SENIOR GALA IN MOUNT RAINIER

Last year, many of the seniors in our wonderful City were able to participate in a number of events that got them out of their homes and networking with each other.

One of those events was a Gala that made so many smiles and memories.  On December 20, 2015, there will be a Gala held at Saint John's Episcopal Church.  The event will begin at 6:30 pm and end round 10:00 pm (clean up etc.).

Who's invited:  Residents (male and female) who are 62 or older

How do I dress?  It's dress-up night.  Put on your good stuff, and high heel slippers and come out to have a good time!

Will there be food?  What is a gala without food?  There will be food and music and dancing and laughing and just downright good fun.

So, when is this affair or Gala?

WHEN:       Sunday, December 20, 2015

WHERE:     Saint John's Episcopal Church, Bunker Hill and Rainier Avenue, Mount Rainier, MD 20712

TIME:  6:30 pm until 9:30 pm

DRESS:   After Five

COST:   Your attendance, good spirits, and participation

NOTE:  If someone must come with you to assist you, PLEASE PLEASE let me know in advance.  IF YOU ARE COMING, Please let me know in advance.  I need a head count for the food, the tables, etc.

MEMORIES FROM 2014:

Please come out and be in the pictures for GALA 2015!

LOOKING FOR a way to use YOUR skills in Mount Rainier? This might just be the place.

Gateway Community Development Corporation Announces

Board of Directors Election Process 2016

The mission of Gateway CDC is to drive economic revitalization along the U.S. Route 1 Corridor through business and neighborhood development initiatives including promotion of the arts as a community-building strategy. We serve the Prince George's County, MD municipalities of Brentwood, North Brentwood and Mount Rainier, and work with multiple partners to ensure the success of the entire Gateway Arts District.

Are you interested in supporting this mission and serving on the Board of Directors? To run for a seat on the Gateway CDC Board, you must be a current member and live or work in the municipalities we serve.

There are two elected seats for each municipality (Brentwood, North Brentwood and Mount Rainier), totaling six seats open for election to the Board. We are looking for individuals with expertise in:

Urban Planning

Marketing and/or Communications

Non-Profit Management

Strategic Planning

Business Administration

Public Art

To get more information please join us at the Membership Meeting and holiday celebration on December 10 at the 39th Street Gallery (Gateway Arts Center, 2nd floor) from 7-9pm. There will be light refreshments and information on Gateway CDC's election process.

Facebook users: click here to let us know you are coming.

Feel free to invite others.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact officers Tony Lee (Vice President) at alee@triton-development.com, Shahidat Abbas (2nd Vice President) at shahidata@gmail.com, or Laura Rogers (President) atljrogers33@earthlink.net. We will interview you and guide you through the nominating process.

Nominations are due to the board by January 6, 2016 and we'll announce the slate of candidates by Friday, January 8. The election will be held on January 23rd at 3pm at the Annual Membership Meeting.

Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at the celebration on Thursday, December 10 from 7-9pm!

Sincerely,

Laura Rogers

President, Board of Directors

4102 Webster Street

North Brentwood, MD 20722

What should I include in a Christmas Basket?

Matthews 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

WHAT WOULD BE NICE IN A CHRISTMAS BASKET

Of course, food would be nice in a Christmas basket, and if you are like me, I like certain things on Christmas day. So here are my suggestions, but PLEASE make the basket yours and personal IF YOU ARE DOING A COMPLETE BASKET.

A turkey, ham, roaster, chitterlings, cornish hens, large stuffed fish, duck etc. (A meat)

Collard greens, spinach, kale, turnips, or some other leafy vegetable

Green beans -- any kind

Cornbread -- (all ingredients or Jiffy mix or other brands)

Dinner rolls (pre-cooked or all ingredients for making it)

Stuffing mix (or ingredients for making it from scratch)

Macaroni and cheese (box or scratch ingredients)

Potato salad (potatoes, celery, eggs, salad pickles, paprika and mayonnaise)

Mashed potatoes (white potatoes or Irish potatoes)

Candied yams (sweet potatoes, sugar, cinnamon, butter, and marshmallows for some)

corn on the cob

Rice

Cakes, pies, banana pudding, cookies, candy etc.

Drinks -- any kind

These are SUGGESTIONS FOR A CHRISTMAS BASKET for a CHRISTMAS MEAL. 

This may not even be what you think of for your Christmas, so make your Christmas Basket YOURS. REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY may not have anything, and they will be HAPPY WITH YOUR GIFT NO MATTER WHAT!

Matthews 35:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Peace and blessings always!

REQUEST FOR CHRISTMAS BASKETS FOR OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS

INFORMATION ABOUT DONATIONS FOR THE CHRISTMAS BASKETS

GOOD MORNING! Yes, I am shouting it this morning. What a day to be alive and amongst the living. I am still asking for YOUR HELP in putting together 115 CHRISTMAS BASKET for families in our local area. During the Thanksgiving holiday season, I got to see and meet a very few of the families that received our baskets, and I can tell you they brought tears to my eyes.

You may not know how powerful it is to see an older man cry, but I have had that experience as I ran around like a chicken wit his head cut off.

You may not have ever seen the depth of gratitude a woman offers when she receives a basket of food that meant she could go in HER KITCHEN and prepare Thanksgiving dinner for her family.

Those are just two of my critical moments in November during the Thanksgiving season. These people were not the greedy with their hands out, but those who were truly in need with their hearts out! I was going to try to repeat my Thanksgiving drive for Christmas, but these two families made me more dedicated and determined to do it all over again. As Mayor Robinson from North Brentwood said a few days ago, "Mayor you worked your butt off, but you got it done." Yes, I did, and yes, I did.

With all of that being said, I NEED YOUR HELP! Those families are still in NEED, and now it is the Christmas holiday season. I am NOT COLLECTING TOYS, (I probably should be), but I am collecting food. Food can be dropped off at 4517 30th Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712.

YES, gift cards are acceptable if you just don't know what to buy or don't need the hassle. If you are bringing and dropping off food here are my suggestions to make my life JUST A LITTLE EASIER, but if you can't do what I am asking just bring the food and let me worry about packaging it.

1. Please provide enough in your basket, if you are doing a basket, for a family of FOUR.

2. Please provide four cans of each can good item, if you are dropping off can goods. If you can only give one can -- PLEASE BRING IT AND DROP IT OFF! I have never seen ANYONE TURN DOWN AN ODD can of food. They eat it.

3. Please bring turkeys, hams, roasters and other perishables on MONDAY, December 21, 2015, if FROZEN. I have no space to keep unfrozen items This last round, perishable items came early and half frozen making me scramble for ice and dry ice to keep them safe and healthy for eating.

4. PLEASE bring items before TUESDAY MORNING, the day of delivery to the families. Parents were waiting at the schools for their baskets, and I was still home trying to put late arrivals together.

5. If you are bringing a complete basket -- Full Thanksgiving meal -- PLEASE label it so that I am sure of what is in the basket when I deliver it to the family. If it is not complete but have most of the items that is okay, I will add missing items (remember those single cans).

6. PLEASE feel free to drop by on Monday to help us package baskets and pack them for delivery. We had three or four shifts for Thanksgiving, and we were still working at midnight and early the next morning because of late deliveries. So, call, email or inbox me if you wish to join the packing team

7. FINALLY, if you would like to write a Thanksgiving note to the family, PLEASE DO SO! For the Thanksgiving baskets, I wrote a Thanksgiving card and included all of the names of those I knew contributing and those who helped to put the baskets together and deliver them. IT IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT, and I appreciate you for your donation to this drive.

SO FAR, I have received 1 turkey and 1 ham! They are in my freezer and waiting to go out. I have also received 2 bags of perishables and they are ready for a basket. I have a promise for 36 turkeys! Grand total of 38 perishable items for 38 baskets. WE have a long way to go to meet our goal, but hey, I am talking about residents of PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY who have a sense of COMMUNITY and will make sure that their neighbors, friends, seniors, and children will eat well during this holiday season! THANK YOU.

Remember I do not have to be home for you to drop off none perishables. JUST LEAVING THEM ON MY FRONT PORCH!

PEACE AND BLESSINGS ALWAYS!

(NOTE SEE NEXT POST if you need a list of what to put in your basket!)