After More Than Three Months Election for Ward 2 Vacancy Announced!

After the resignation of former Councilmember Scott Cecil in October 2021, Mount Rainier's Mayor and Council finally posted the Ward 2 vacancy.

However, the notice does not provide information on how interested applicants should apply or any procedures to become a candidate for the Ward 2 vacancy.

If you are anyone you know is interested in representing Ward 2 please reach out to the Board of Elections supervisor, the Honorable Nicole Logan, Ophelia Baxter, Mario Cisnero, or any other member of the Board of Elections. You may get their contact information by calling Mount Rainier City Hall, at 301-985-6585.

Ward 2 deserves full representation on the Mount Rainier City Council and has gone without that representation for more than three (3) months.

Colder Weather is HEADED Our Way AGAIN!

Folks, let's get ready for some more real cold weather over the next few days. Dress in layers if you must go outside.

Senior, it would be best if we hung inside around the warmth and only go out if we must.

Temperatures will plummet today, Thursday, and Friday. A winter storm with snow will follow for the weekend. Here's what to expect.

https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/winter-weather-blitz-snow-subzero-wind-chills-in-dc-area-forecast/

Girl Scout Cookies Anyone?

 Time for Girl Scout Cookies! If you have your annual craving for Girl Scout Cookies, click on this link and place your order now! The cookie will be delivered to you in person, OR THEY WILL BE SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO YOU!

Thank you in advance for helping out the family's rising Girl Scout.

Select (gsdigitalcookie.com)

A Note of THANKS, and Request for Donations

 Good morning. As always, thank you for what you have already done to support The Front Porch Ministries (TFPM). Because of you, Mount Rainier residents have had a continuing source of food, diapers, coats, PPEs, and school supplies since the beginning of the pandemic. In short, we have been working hard to take care of OUR OWN! Thank you.

It has saddened me greatly to have so many of our young residents contract the COVID virus, a number of them pregnant or with young children who have also gotten the virus -- my family included. Being able to offer some outside support has meant a lot to me, but it has made some residents cry from gratitude.

Some of our seniors have come by to say how amazed they are to express their personal needs and have community members provide their necessities -- not wants, but things they require to have a quality of life, not just a dash.

THANK YOU, and as you have heard me say before, MOUNT RAINIER RESIDENTS ROCK! -- YOU DO, you really do.

Now that the holidays are over, I miss them already, TFPM is open to collecting all donations (no clothes unless we get specific requests -- not including coats, but we have enough coats for now).

There are specific requests for diapers of ALL sizes, with the greatest requests for 4s, 5s, and 6s. There is an ongoing need for adult diapers of all sizes, but more mediums and XL sizes.

With in-person learning back, the schools would also like to receive underwear for pre-k, kindergarten, first through third grade -- boys and girls. This is an ongoing need when school is in session.

Yes, every little bit helps, and I am grateful for your donations. I also appreciate the honesty and integrity exhibited in our community. For the most part, items left on the front porch stay on the front porch until I take them in. THANK YOU! That allows residents to drop things off and pick items up and maintain a little privacy while meeting their needs.

What we do in Mount Rainier is unique and SPECIAL! YEAH, WE ROCK! LOL

Federal testing website launches next week, 4 tests per home

  

ALERT! NOTICE! ALERT! NOTICE!

The federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests 

The federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests will begin accepting orders on Wednesday as the White House looks to address nationwide shortages, but supplies will be limited to just four free tests per home.

https://wtop.com/coronavirus/2022/01/federal-testing-website-launches-next-week-4-tests-per-home/

 

You Are Qualified, AND You Have Time TO FILE!

Just because your emails have been flooded with information about folks running for office in Prince George's County, DO NOT COUNT YOURSELF out if you are interested in running for ANY POSITION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND! Check out this link for details on how to file!

 Candidate Filing - 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election | Prince George's County, MD (princegeorgescountymd.gov)

It is snowing!

 So, you just love snow!  It is here for the second time in 2022!

Just in case you have not looked outside your window -- YET -- it is snowing, and the ground is already covered.

COVID Protocols, Rules and Regulations for Your Home

 Companies have rules for helping to keep workers safe, and your home should also have safety policies to keep your family members safe.

Our children are required to go to schools for in-person learning and around others who may not practice any of these safety precautions.  In addition, social distancing may not be possible in many of the classrooms, cafeterias, or hallways.  So, help your student protect themselves, you, and other family members by applying these rules in your home.

The CDC has issued guidance, protocols, and regulations for every place of business you can think of, and they have changed their minds on lots of their positions about COVID. However, I have yet to see (and maybe I've missed it) guidance, protocols, and regulations for homes. Homes, where everybody goes at the end of the day or leave early in the morning to get to those businesses.

Isn't that strange? People bring home COVID every day and expose their loved ones, those most vulnerable, and their children. There are no protocols beyond washing your hands, social distance, wearing your mask, and staying home if you can! BBAM. That is it.

After talking with my youngest daughter for about an hour this morning, I came up with the following. Please feel free to modify, but consider posting on your doors at home so those entering know the rules for helping to keep you and your family safe.

Remember to Shovel/Clean Your Sidewalks!

 If you got as much snow as I did yesterday, and you still have not shoveled off your sidewalks, you probably should do it NOW!

I just went outside to take a look-see, and the SNOW IS MELTING and can be swept with a BROOM! I know because I did it -- at least until I got tired and went back inside. (I was waiting for my kids to come by and shovel the snow, but so far, no one showed up.)

If you leave it until tomorrow, it MIGHT be hard to remove since it is going down into the twenties tonight.

It is also a good time to try to clean off your car. If you can't clean it off, sit inside with the heat on, and it will melt. The top will not melt, but the window will, and then you can sweep it off, or at least most of it.

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FYI -- Received from the City today.

Department of Code Compliance to Inspect Sidewalks on Wednesday, Jan 5

Post Date: 01/04/2022 12:16 PM

The Department of Code Compliance reminds the City of Mount Rainier residents and business owners to clear up sidewalks adjacent to their properties. Residents and business owners are responsible to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks adjacent to their property 24 hours after a snowfall as stated on city ordinance:

It shall be duty of every person in charge or control of any building or parcel of land, located in the city, fronting or abutting on a paved public sidewalk, whether as owner, proprietor, tenant, occupant or otherwise, within twenty-four (24) hours after the ceasing to fall of any snow, sleet or freezing rain, to remove and clear away, or cause to be removed and cleared away, such snow, sleet or freezing rain from such public sidewalk as is in front of or abuts on said building or lot of land. It shall be unlawful to fail, neglect or refuse to comply with this section.

Penalty. Every person who shall neglect or refuse to comply will be fined fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each incident.

To ensure the safety of community members in the City, the team of Code Compliance will be making their rounds through the city on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 starting at 10 a.m. to inspect sidewalks and walkways and serve a reminder to residents and business owners of the snow removal ordinance.

For more information, check this link: Snow Removal 

Free COVID Testing/Vaccinations/Boosters

 Do you still need a COVID vaccine or a booster?  Check out this flyer.

Minimum Wage in DMV Goes UP, WHILE Federal Minimum Wage REMAINS at $7.25

 We have NOT made it to a livable wage yet, but there has been some movement in the DMV. I guess it will take another ten years before CONGRESS figures out that they may be living high on the hog, and paying federal government workers decent wages, but the rest of the world is forced to live off of $7.25 an hour. In other words $15080 a year while paying t $12,000+ in rent or mortgages to have a place to live!

Did I mention the working public must also pay, electricity, gas, water, telephone, and food bills out of the $725?

I am sick and tired of CONGRESS, the senators, and the representatives. $7.25 an hour is ludicrous, and they KNOW IT!

Come New Year’s Day workers earning minimum wage will bring home bigger paychecks as Maryland and Virginia, among other states, up their requirements for salaries.

The following are the new minimum hourly wages, starting Jan. 1:

Virginia — $11

Maryland — $12.50 (for businesses with 15 or more employees)

D.C.’s minimum wage is currently $15.20 an hour.

Virginia’s minimum wage has been gradually moving up from the federally mandated wage: $7.25 an hour, that it was this year. On May 1, Virginia upped the hourly wage to $9.50.

Come New Year’s Day, workers earning minimum wage will bring home bigger paychecks as Maryland and Virginia, among other states, up their requirements for salaries.y may be living high on the hog and paying federal government workers decent wages, but the rest of the world is forced to live off of $7.25 an hour. In other words, $15080 a year while paying t $12,000+ in rent or mortgages to have a place to live!!

Click on or copy and paste this link for the news article:  New minimum wage in Maryland and Virginia on New Year’s Day | WTOP News