Mount Rainier has a number of events today, Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Each event is important, and it is unfortunate that a few today will be going on at the same time. It is not important as to why this is happening, but it is important to decide which one you will attend.
Today, Councilmember Celia Celina R. Benitez will be hosting the Dreamers (25 of them) walking from New York to the Nation's Capitol "The Walk to stay home." Many of our residents are supporting this walk with places to sleep, food, and SUPPORT. We are not sure what time they will be arriving today, but everyone is asked to make them feel welcome. Time estimates are 6-7:00 p.m. estimated time of arrival in Mount Rainier. Between 7-9pmthey will be placed with the families that will be providing sleeping accommodations. Then on February 28, 2018, at 7 a.m.they will meet a designated meeting point and will leave on their walk to the District at 8 a.m. along route 1 (Rhode Island Avenue).
At 7:00 p.m. at the Mount Rainier Nature Center, Prince George's County (Mr. Dwight Joseph and his team) will be presenting an update on the Allison Street Levee. This is a critical meeting for residents of Mount Rainier, Brentwood, and North Brentwood. The Levee will be renovated and brought up to the standards of the new FEMA codes. The project is expected to take up two years. The work WILL have an impact on Mount Rainier residents. The work will severely impact Thomas Stone Elementary School and the student, faculty, and administrators who work there.
THIS MEETING IS VITAL, and YOU need to be in attendance. The 34th Street bridge near Queenstown Apartments will be partially closed with one-way traffic for about two years. Trees will be removed from along the levee. Arundel Road will be upgraded and changed (narrowed and the slip turn will be removed) as part of this project. Depending on the work, some residents may be required or STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to purchase flood insurance (right now, the thought is that it will not be mandatory). Traffic will be re-routed as the work progresses.
In short, inquiring minds should be at this meeting to learn about the impact this infrastructure project is going to have on the quality of life in Mount Rainier.
Following this meeting. the project team for the Allison Street flood control project will do al site walkthrough to mark trees for preservation and removal. They will conduct the walkthrough on/at Tuesday, March 6th at 7:30 a.m. starting at the Mount Rainier Nature/Recreation Center, 4701 31st Pl, Mt Rainier, MD 20712
A special meeting of the Mayor and Council has been called for 8:00 p.m. at Joe's Movement Emporium to receive a presentation about the potential renovation of the Kaywood Theater.
As some of you know, I have a great interest in this project and for years talked about the value, the revitalization of the Kaywood Theater would be to Mount Rainier. A group of artists have been working on this project for the past several months and are ready to share their vision about how working with the City can make the Kaywood Theater an artistic and vital part of our community -- again.
This is an important meeting, but so is the levee renovation and discussion and I will be attending the Levee meeting. If you are closer to the downtown area, I recommend that you attend the Kaywood Presentation.
IF, you live on or near Arundel Road, in Queenstown Apartments, Arundel Apartments, Rainier Manor, or have a business in or near Queens Chapel Road, YOU SHOULD ATTEND the meeting at the Nature Center with the County presenters so that you can hear first-hand what is happening to the Levee, and the potential impact it will have on you for the next two years.
Hopefully, this meeting will be recorded and later televised on our cable channel, but I am not sure that it will be since the Kaywood Presentation should also be recorded and televised.