MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS CONTINUE OVERNIGHT FOR ALL WSSC CUSTOMERS

(Commercial & Residential)

Water from the tap is safe to drink despite reports of discolored water

Contacts:

I.J. Hudson

301-312-1468

(After hours number for media inquires only, customers with water/sewer emergencies should call 301-206-4002
Lyn Riggins
ihudson@wsscwater.com
lriggin@wsscwater.com

LAUREL - June 30, 2012: The mandatory water restrictions put in place early this morning will remain in effect at least overnight for all Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) customers, residential and commercial in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

Power has been restored to WSSC's water filtration plants, but we still face challenges in moving water through the distribution system because some pumping stations remain without power.
We are making progress, but need additional time to top off our system as we likely will face another very hot day and increased demand as more people regain their power.  We also want sufficient reserves to maintain pressure at the fire hydrants for firefighters.
WSSC's water is safe to drink, however it is imperative all customers follow the mandatory water restrictions as we work to refill our distribution system. Some customers are experiencing discolored water. This is common after a powerful storm. Sediment inside the pipes can be stirred up causing the water to become discolored. While this water is safe to drink, WSSC does not recommend using discolored water to prepare baby formula. Washing machines should be used sparingly during mandatory water restrictions and WSSC does not recommend washing clothes with discolored water.
Until the distribution system has refilled, it is imperative that all business and residential customers restrict their water use.

Customers need to:

·        Stop all outside water use - no watering lawns, shrubs, flowers; no washing cars, no topping off swimming pools

·        Use water only as necessary - i.e., shorter showers and turn off faucets after washing hands

·        Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use)

·        Postpone using washing machines and dishwashers

These mandatory water restrictions apply to all WSSC customers, commercial and residential, in Prince George's and Montgomery counties.
WSSC will provide updates through the local media and throughwww.wsscwater.com until mandatory restrictions are no longer necessary.

We understand the water restrictions are an inconvenience for our customers during this extremely hot weather. We appreciate your patience and cooperation. 

 

POWER OUTAGE TIPS FROM THE GOVERNOR:

 

June 30, 2012
Dear Friend,    We hope you and your family are safe after last night's violent storms. As a State, we continue to work with our local partners to assess the situation and will send out updates as we have them.

With temperatures expected to reach over 100 degrees today in parts of Maryland and more storms anticipated later today, we wanted to share a few safety tips with you and encourage those of you with power to open up  your homes to friends and family who have lost power.

• Drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic beverages
• If you are without power, visit a friend or family's house with air conditioning 
• If you are without power, visit a library, mall or other public location with air conditioning
• If you are without power, visit a local cooling center
• Stay away from downed wires
• NEVER operate a generator indoors
• Avoid the use of candles---use flashlights instead
• When a traffic light is out, treat it as a 4-way stop
• If your power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed to avoid food spoilage.

We are all in this together. Please check on your family and friends--especially the elderly--and invite them over if you have air conditioning.

Our emergency management team will continue to send updates. VisitMEMA's website to find out where cooling centers are near you and for more safety tips. You can also follow @MDMEMA on Twitter. I'll do my best to send updates from @GovernorOMalley.

Thank you in advance for helping ensure the safety of our people,
Martin O'Malley
Governor 

WSSC WORKING IN THE CITY the WEEK OF JUNE 11, 2012

 

The City has been notified by WSSC that they will be working on 29th and Shepherd Streets during next week (starting 6/11/12).  

As a result of this work, the 4000 block of 29th Street will be closed to thru traffic. 

Work will also be done on the 4000 and the 4500 blocks of 34th Street. 

Please act accordingly, and let your Council person and/or the City Manager know, if this poses and undue hardship for you.  

 

Thanks

HOLD THE DATE!

Mark your calendars NOW, and plan to join us on AUGUST 7, 2012 for NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.  It will be hosted at 37th and Otis Streets, and will be an exciting EVENT starting around 5:30pm/6:00pm.  Come out, invite your neighbors, and DEFINITELY bring your children.

LACROSSE ANYONE?

Ashley Russell, the director of the 501 (c) 3 organization, Prince George's Women's Lacrosse Association is very interested in introducing/bringing Lacrosse to Mount Rainier.  . Prince George's Women Lacrosse Association is a non-profit created to promote girl's lacrosse in Prince George's County and bring diversity to the sport. The Association provides a safe and positive environment for participants. There is no cost to the girls or their families as everything is provided by the organization. If you are interested and join there team now, you can start playing in the fall.  The first clinic is September 8th, 2012 at the Sports and Learning Complex.  View their website:www.pgwla.org. For more information, please contact me at mayormiles@gmail.com.

With the MML Summer Convention just around the corner, it is high time for PGCMA members and PGCMA Partners to purchase tickets to our Summer Scholarship Breakfast.  This is one of two fundraising activities that we hold annually, and we all know that the funds go to a GREAT CAUSE -- helping our youths who live in municipalities go to college or otherwise advance their education.  This year alone, we were able to award SEVEN (7) $1,000 scholarships to seven young people that are pursuing a college degree.  These awards have only been made possible by your attendance at our fundraisers, and the continued support of three businesses in our community.  The purpose of this email, is to ask you to make sure that you and your delegation to this year's MML Summer Convention, purchase tickets and attend OUR PGCMA SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST!

SAVE THE DATE AND SEND YOUR MONEY IN NOW

FOR

PGCMA’s Annual ScholarshipBreakfast

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Ocean City Convention Center

7am until 9am

Cost $35.00 (Tickets at the door will be $40.00)

For more information please contact:

PGCMA’s President, Denise Mitchell

DMitchell@CollegeParkMD.gov

(PLEASE submit your payment (check or money order made payable to PGCMA) 

To the Treasurer:  Malinda Miles, 4517 30^th Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712-1611)

Janet Reed is LEAVING Mount Rainier Elementary!

Since this will be the last PEACE PARADE during her tenure,  I wanted to request your presence and invite you to share in this momentous occasion with us as we once again celebrate our annual Peace Parade on June 1, 2012, promptly beginning at 9:00am.  This event is made more special because it is the last year that Mrs. Janet Reed will preside over the parade as our principal.  To honor her years of service and dedication to Mount Rainier Elementary we want to make this year’s parade a well attended and auspicious affair - your presence would help us achieve this goal.

We encourage you to invite members of the community and media outlets to the event as we hope to make this day a date that she will hold among the fondest of her career.  Again, your support for this event is greatly appreciated and we look forward to celebrating with you at the Peace Parade on June 1, 2012, Mount Rainier Elementary School, Mount Rainier Maryland. 

It has also come to my attention that Helen Stone, principal at Thomas Stone Elementary, will also be retiring.  Also, it is my understanding that Ms. Kimberly Washington will be leaving Hyattsville Middle School.  For further information on these departures, please contact our District 3, School Board Representative Ms. Amber Waller, amber.waller@pgcps.org; 301-952-6115.

MOUNT RAINIER DAY A MAJOR SUCCESS!

OKAY, Mount Rainier Day Festival has come to an end, AND if you did not make it out, YOU missed a beautiful day, great entertainment, a wonderful parade, fantastic food, and a host of great items offered by the many vendors up and down Rhode Island Avenue!  THANK YOU to EVERYONE that came out and supported Mount Rainier Day.  You were awesome, and you made me PROUD.  See all of you at NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, August 7, 2012.  More information will be posted as we get closer to the date, but MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE LIVING IN MOUNT RAINIER!

If YOU have never experienced Mount Rainier Day in Mount Rainier MD, then today is your day!  The Parade starts at 10:00am, and that begins the day of free music and entertainment.  Vendors of every persuasion will be there to delight your taste buds, enhance your jewelry collection, inform your mind, and in some way brighten your day.  The basketball tournament will be played again today for those who believe that they have skills.  Parents who want to get their children really tired so that they can sleep tonight, this is also the place.  The skate mobile and face painting (MNCPPC) will be waiting for them along with snow cones, and other treats.  So pack your bags, hop the bus, train or drive (limited parking), to Mount Rainier today.  All activities are in the down town area and metro buses are available to the center of the activities.  See you all there sometime during this sun shiny day!

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED for JUNE 5, 2012

Mount Rainier is nearing the completion of its budget.  Major decisions are being made: 

1.  About raising or not raising taxes based on the constant yield rate* which has been set at 0.79 cent per $100 of assessment on real property (your home/residence). 

2.  Cutting one position from Code Enforcement or retaining all three Code Enforcement officers

3.  Retain the same level of services, and

4.  Using $21,000 from the reserves to balance the budget.

* Constant Yield Tax Rate (CYTR): The property tax rate that when applied to new assessments

would result in the taxing authorities receiving the same revenue in the coming tax year that was

received in the prior tax year. The Department is required to certify the CYTR each year and local governments are required to hold a public hearing if the new tax rate exceeds the CYTR.  The Constant Yield Tax Rate is State Law.

As you may be aware, a public hearing has been held on the budget as required by our Charter.  At that time, the Council was not in favor of raising taxes, but was still in the midst of decision making.  Based on information provided to the Council in recent weeks, and the fact that the City has been using its reserves to balance the budget, at least three members of the Council wishes to raise taxes to 0.81 cents per $100 of assessment on real property to keep the City's current level of funding.

Raising the tax base from 0.79 to 0.81 (.02 cents per $100) will generate approximately $38,000, not enough to close the deficit (to close the deficit, the City would need to raise taxes .05 cents per $100).  Because it does NOT EXCEED the current/past CYTR, the City is NOT required to hold a hearing.  However, to keep our residents informed and to get their input, a hearing will be held on June 5, 2012.

It is my belief that the City should be considering a freeze on any new purchases such as computers, printers, cars (vehicles), copiers, etc.  I also believe that the City should freeze salaries (raises, merits, COLAs etc.) for the next fiscal year to stop the bleeding.  The City's salaries are going up annually.  They grow at the annual rate established by the cost of living rate which varies yearly, but is usually around 3%,

Another option that has not been discussed and/or considered is furloughing staff.  The State, County and DC government are furloughing staff, and Mount Rainier should also consider such measures.

Overtime, could be reduced and/or cut.  This is another area of the budget that has caused some of the over expenditure in our budget, and it continues to grow.

Benefits, especially health care and the pension fund continues to eat away at the City's budget at an alarming rate.  In many small municipalities these amenities do not exist, and those that do the employee share of the cost is much greater than that of employees of Mount Rainier, and even if they are equal, many of the municipalities have more expendable revenue.

You can be a part of this discussion.  A public hearing is scheduled for TUESDAY, JUNE 5 at Mount Rainier City Hall at 7:00pm.  Can't make it?  Send an email to mayormiles@gmail.com or to the City Manager jwallace@mountrainiermd.org voicing your opinions, concerns, and suggestions regarding the budget.

The PEPCO utility work for replacement of telephone poles was continuing in the 3100 block of Windom Road today.  The subcontractor broke a water main and WSSC is now at the site..  WSSC anticipates that the repairs will be completed approximately 10:00 pm tonight.  Service will be temporarily interrupted until the repairs are complete.  Code enforcement notified the residents who were home of the disruption and emergency repair work.  Notices are being placed on the doors of the property owners who are not at home.

White People, You Will Never Look Suspicious! by Michael Skolnik

Please Read. No matter how often we think that racism is a thing of the past or that it doesn't happen in my neighborhood or on my watch, it HAPPENS.

No matter how far up the corporate ladder or how far you have made it in the political arena, racism is still alive and well. No, you may not condone it, and no you may not accept it, but it still happens on a daily basis right here in your neighborhood. You do not have to go to Florida, California or any place outside of your hometown, if there is a Black population, racism exist. The following is a piece that struck a nerve with me when I read it. How about you?

White People, You Will Never Look Suspicious! by Michael Skolnik -- I will never look suspicious to you. Even if I have a black hoodie, a pair of jeans and white sneakers on...in fact, that is what I wore yesterday...I still will never look suspicious. No matter how much the hoodie covers my face or how baggie my jeans are, I will never look out of place to you. I will never watch a taxi cab pass me by to pick someone else up. I will never witness someone clutch their purse tightly against their body as they walk by me. I won't have to worry about a police car following me for two miles, so they can "run my plates." I will never have to pay before I eat. And I certainly will never get "stopped and frisked." I will never look suspicious to you, because of one thing and one thing only. The color of my skin. I am white.

I was born white. It was the card I was dealt. No choice in the matter. Just the card handed out by the dealer. I have lived my whole life privileged. Privileged to be born without a glass ceiling. Privileged to grow up in the richest country in the world. Privileged to never look suspicious. I have no guilt for the color of my skin or the privilege that I have. Remember, it was just the next card that came out of the deck. But, I have choices. I got choices on how I play the hand I was dealt. I got a lot of options. The ball is in my court.

So, today I decided to hit the ball. Making a choice. A choice to stand up for Trayvon Martin. 17 years old. black. innocent. murdered with a bag of skittles and a bottle of ice tea in his hands. "Suspicious." that is what the guy who killed him said he looked like cause he had on a black hoodie, a pair of jeans and white sneakers. But, remember I had on that same outfit yesterday. And yes my Air Force Ones were "brand-new" clean. After all, I was raised in hip-hop...part of our dress code. I digress. Back to Trayvon and the gated community in Sanford, Florida, where he was visiting his father.

I got a lot of emails about Trayvon. I have read a lot of articles. I have seen a lot of television segments. The message is consistent. Most of the commentators, writers, op-ed pages agree. Something went wrong. Trayvon was murdered. Racially profiled. Race. America's elephant that never seems to leave the room. But, the part that doesn't sit well with me is that all of the messengers of this message are all black too. I mean, it was only two weeks ago when almost every white person I knew was tweeting about stopping a brutal African warlord from killing more innocent children. And they even took thirty minutes out of their busy schedules to watch a movie about dude. They bought t-shirts. Some bracelets. Even tweeted at Rihanna to take a stance. But, a 17 year old American kid is followed and then ultimately killed by a neighborhood vigilante who happens to be carrying a semi-automatic weapon and my white friends are quiet. Eerily quiet. Not even a trending topic for the young man.

We've heard the 911 calls. We seen the 13 year old witness. We've read the letter from the alleged killer's father. We listened to the anger of the family's attorney. We've felt the pain of Trayvon's mother. For heaven's sake, for 24 hours he was a deceased John Doe at the hospital because even the police couldn't believe that maybe he LIVES in the community. There are still some facts to figure out. There are still some questions to be answered. But, let's be clear. Let's be very, very clear. Before the neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, started following him against the better judgement of the 911 dispatcher. Before any altercation. Before any self-defense claim. Before Travyon's cries for help were heard on the 911 tapes. Before the bullet hit him dead in the chest. Before all of this. He was suspicious. He was suspicious. suspicious. And you know, like I know, it wasn't because of the hoodie or the jeans or the sneakers. Cause I had on that same outfit yesterday and no one called 911 saying I was just wandering around their neighborhood. It was because of one thing and one thing only. Trayvon is black.

So I've made the choice today to tell my white friends that the rights I take for granted are only valid if I fight to give those same rights to others. The taxi cab. The purse. The meal. The police car. The police. These are all things I've taken for granted.

So, I fight for Trayvon Martin. I fight for Amadou Diallo. I fight for Rodney King. I fight for every young black man who looks "suspicious" to someone who thinks they have the right to take away their freedom to walk through their own neighborhood. I fight against my own stereotypes and my own suspicions. I fight for people whose ancestors built this country, literally, and who are still treated like second class citizens. Being quiet is not an option, for we have been too quiet for too long.

-Michael SkolnikMichael Skolnik is the Editor-In-Chief of GlobalGrind.com and the political director to Russell Simmons. Prior to this, Michael was an award-winning filmmaker. Follow him on twitter @MichaelSkolnik

EARLY VOTING IN MARYLAND

Leaving town? Going on "spring break?" Want to vote early? Well, no matter what you are going to be doing, IT IS IMPORTANT that you CAST your VOTE in the Maryland Primary.

Early voting centers will be open 10am to 8pm, Saturday, March 24 – Thursday, March 29, 2012, (Sunday Hours Noon – 6:00 p.m.). Voting is convenient, accessible and on your schedule. YOU MAY VOTE AT ANY OF THE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS.

Prince George’s County Early Voting Center Locations:

Upper Marlboro Community Center 5400 Marlboro Race Track Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

College Park Community Center 5051 Pierce Avenue College, Park, MD 20740

Bowie Library 15210 Annapolis Road Bowie, MD 20715

Wayne K. Curry Sports & Learning Center 8001 Sheriff Road Landover, MD 20785

Oxon Hill Library 6200 Oxon Hill Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745

For more information, contact the Prince George’s County Board of Elections at (301)430-8020

Community Gardening -- Interested?

Growing Community Gardens A gathering for Prince George’s County gardeners to build community, learn from each other, and gain gardening skills Saturday, March 24, 2012, 10 am – 3 pm University of Maryland Center for Educational Partnership,6200 Sheridan St., Riverdale, MD 20737.

Join us for workshops, a panel discussion, and lunch.

$20 per person

Workshop #1: Plant and Pest Identification and Organic Control by Jon Traunfeld, Director of the University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center and State Master Gardener Coordinator.

Workshop #2: Garden Planning and Crop Rotation by Elizabeth Olson, Master Gardener and Certified Professional Horticulturalist. Panel Discussion: “Successful Community Gardens” with Esther Mitchell from University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Coordinator; Alexandria Lippincott, Co-Chair, Sheridan Street Community Garden Club; Dave Kneipp from the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation; and Gül Güleryüz from M-NCPPC.

Register at http://growingcommunitygardens.eventbrite.com/.

Contact Christie Balch at cbalch@umd.edu for more information or to register by mail. Sponsored by University of Maryland Extension Prince George’s County Co-sponsored by: Eric C. Olson, Council Member, District 3, Prince George’s County Council Ingrid M. Turner, Council Member, District 4, Prince George’s County Council, MOM’s Organic Market, Prince George's County Farm Bureau, Inc.

University of Maryland Extension programs are open to everyone without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability.

You are invited to attend a celebration of academic excellence demonstrated by students from your community. The celebration takes place on Friday, February 24, 2012, at 7:00pm. Parents, faculty, community members, and PGCPS leadership will demonstrate their support of academic excellence by attending a Celebration and Reception for Northwestern High School's 408 Second Quarter Honor Roll and 284 Perfect Attendance Award recipients.

The theme for this special program is "Excellence Without Excuse: Our R.O.A.R. Gets Louder.” In addition to performances by Northwestern's award-winning Music Department, NJROTC Drill Team, and others, the celebration will feature special performances by PGCPS Board Member Amber P. Waller, leading the Marching Band during the ceremony and Prince George's County Councilman Will A. Campos, who will play his saxophone with the Jazz Band during the reception.

Along with the honorees, families and its staff, local schools and community organizations to include churches, fraternities and sororities, Northwestern expects to be graced with the presence of many local officials and community leaders. This is where you come in. It would be a great show of support for these students if you could participate in this event. The students and staff of Northwestern are working hard to continue to do great things in this school and in the community. It would be a wonderful gesture if you could represent these constituents in your community by attending this event and showing your support of Northwestern students.

According to Principal Edgar P. Batenga, “Our mission is to continue to transform Northwestern High School into a world-class school. Our student body exemplifies the tenets of R.O.A.R: Respect, Opportunity, Achievement, and Responsibility. We praise our students for exhibiting the principles of R.O.A.R. and for theiracademic accomplishments and exemplary attendance.” I hope you will be able to attend this important event. Supporting your constituents in this way will go a long way to help in transforming this school. If you are able to participate, please contact Douglass Jones, Assistant Principal at 301-985-1820 or via email at dfjones@pgcps.org. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for considering this. I hope to see you there. Best regards,
Chris Hinojosa

For more information contact Chris Hinojosa at:

hinojosa@umd.edu
tel) 301-405-6286
fax) 301-314-9583

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING

Resident, our Public Works Department will be conducting its Electronic Recycling Event for 2012 on March 17, 2012, from 9 AM - 1 PM at the Public Works Department in Mount Rainier. Come on out and be a part of this event. It is just one of the things that we are doing to keep our environment footprint as small as possible.

Got other ideas you would like to see happening in Mount Rainier? Great, contact City Hall and become a memmber of Mount Rainier's Green Team! The number to City Hall is 301-985-6585 or send and email to jwallace@mountrainiermd.org and express your interest to join the Green Team.

Wintry Weather Headed OUR WAY!

Pepco Prepared for Rush Hour Rain, Sleet, and Snow
Wintry Weather Could Prove Hazardous, Customers Need to Prepare

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pepco is closely monitoring the wintry mix that has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Weather Advisory for northern portions of the Washington Metro Area. The National Weather Service predicts that later today the local region will experience a wintry mix of rain, sleet, and snow at the onset, changing over to all snow that will continue through the end of the evening commute. No ice accumulation is expected. Largest snow accumulations will occur in northern sections of Montgomery County.

Heavy wet snow can weigh down tree limbs bringing them into contact with power lines causing power outages. Also, the combination of wet snow, and rain, can adversely affect saturated soil causing trees already weakened by previous storms to fall onto power lines and equipment causing power outages.

In anticipation of the inclement weather, Pepco has scheduled additional line personnel and tree trimming crews for this evening and through tomorrow morning. Pepco will continue to monitor the weather and customer outage activity, and can adjust its resource plans accordingly throughout the evening.

PLEASE CALL TO REPORT OUTAGES AND ASK FOR CALL BACK

Customers are urged to report outages and downed wires by calling, 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) and follow the prompts. Customers may also report outages by visiting pepco.com.
Customers’ reports are extremely vital to Pepco’s restoration efforts. Combined with other customer calls and Pepco’s technology, it helps the company identify the precise location of outages more quickly. Pepco also recommends that when reporting an outage, customers request a call back to confirm their power has been restored.


Pepco urges its customers to prepare for potential power outages and act to ensure their safety. Here are some tips:

• Have adequate prescription medicines and/or infant supplies on hand.
• If a customer or someone the customer knows uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there during a prolonged outage.
• Assemble an emergency "storm kit." Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler, and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.
• Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and will not work if there is an outage.
• Protect electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.
• Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances, if it is safe to do so. However, if the customer has an electrically operated sump pump, the customer should not turn off the power.

Safety Tips

• Stay away from downed wires.
• Tune to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.
• Follow the advice of local emergency management officials.
• Take cover if necessary.
For more information and updates, visit www.pepco.com and follow Pepco at ww.twitter.com/PepcoConnect.

####

Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 789,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.




=================

Jerry Pasternak
VP Pepco Region
Maryland Affairs
701 Ninth Street, NW
Suite 9212
Washington, DC 20068

(202) 872-2524 (office)
(202) 872-2032 (fax)

INTERESTED Growing Community Gardens

Save the Date for

Growing Community Gardens

A gathering for Prince George’s County gardeners to build community, learn from each other, and gain gardening skills

Saturday, March 24, 2012, 10 am – 3 pm

University of Maryland Center for Educational Partnership,
6200 Sheridan St., Riverdale, MD 20737

Join us for workshops, a panel discussion, and lunch

$20 per person

Register at http://growingcommunitygardens.eventbrite.com/. Contact Christie Balch at cbalch@umd.edu for more information or to register by mail.

Sponsored by University of Maryland Extension Prince George’s County

Co-sponsored by:
Eric C. Olson, Council Member, District 3, Prince George’s County Council
Ingrid M. Turner, Council Member, District 4, Prince George’s County Council
MOM’s Organic Market

University of Maryland Extension programs are open to everyone without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability.

Warmly,

Christie Balch
University of Maryland Extension Program Coordinator
Center for Educational Partnership
6200 Sheridan St.
Riverdale, MD 20737

Mount Rainier seeks proposals from qualified developers!

January 31, 2012

The City of Mount Rainier is seeking proposals from qualified developers for the purchase and redevelopment of an approximately 32,906 square foot site located in the Town Center of the City of Mount Rainier, at the northeast corner of the intersection of Eastern Avenue in Mount Rainier, Maryland. Bid package documents are available via a link on the city’s website at www.mountrainiermd.org. Users are directed to click on the Economic Development tab on the home page, and then click on the “documents” tab on the left hand column to download the following documents and links:

• Mount Rainier Town Center Urban Renewal Plan (June 2004)
• Site Analysis Torti Gallas and Partners, March 31, 2010
• Land Disposition Agreement (LDA)
• Market Study: Partners for Economic Solutions/Green Door Advisors, May 25, 2009
• RFP for Mount Rainier Town Center Development (January 31, 2012)
• Site Boundary Survey (January 2011)
• Zoning, Prince George’s County, SUBTITLE 27. ZONING http://egov.co.pg.md.us/lis/default.asp?File=&Type=TOC
• Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission Mixed Use Town Center (M-U-T-C) guidelines http://www.pgplanning.org/Resources/Publications/Mount_Mount_Rainier_MixedUse.htm
• Approved Section and Section Map Amendment for the Gateway Arts District (11/04 http://www.pgplanning.org/page10253.aspx

An informational meeting pre/bid conference is scheduled for February 29, 2012 at the City of Mount Rainier Municipal Building, One Municipal Place, Mount Rainer, MD 20712.

Please feel free to direct inquiries to Jeannelle Wallace, City Manager, at the above referenced phone number or by email to jwallace@mountrainiermd.org

LET ME HEAR FROM YOU!

The Maryland General Assembly will be discussing the following potential sources of new income form Maryland, and I need YOUR opinions on each of them.

Would you be supportive of a new

· Gas Tax

· Gambling Slots

· Bag Tax

· Sales Tax increase

· $100K+ income tax increase (recently proposed by Governor O’Malley)-- the numbers provided below are extremely rough estimates.

Here's additional information for you to consider on each of the above as provided by Senator Victor Ramirez.

· Gas Tax -- A 15 cent gas tax is proposed over a 3 year period expected to generate $471 million in revenues for the State.

Gambling Slots/Tables -- Slots only are expected to generate $360 million

Slots and table games are expected to generate an estimated $650 million

5-cent Bag Tax -- This is a fee to be charged and collected per disposable carryout bag provided to a customer. This is a fee not subject to sales or use tax. Stores may retain 1 cent of every nickel fee collected. If they opt to participate in a credit program then they may retain 2 cents for every nickel. This bill may prove to have a substantial positive financial impact on small businesses. The bill is expected to generate $5 million for the state after small business deductions. The revenue estimate is based on estimated participation rates.

· Online Sellers Sales Tax – expected to generate $21 million

· Income tax increase and caps on personal exemptions for singles making over $100k and couples making over $150k -- expected to generate $280 million

SEND your response to mayormiles@gmail.com. NEEDED ASAP!

MAIL FRAUD -- If it is too good to be true, it is PROBABLY not True!

Mount Rainier's Police Chief reported the following:

Mail fraud – 1:15 pm. Officers spoke with the victim who said that she had received a letter notifying her that she had won $125,000. The letter included a check for $3,875 to cover taxes on the winnings and instructions that she was to cash the check and then send the money to an address in London, England via Western Union. Several days after complying with this process she was informed by her bank that the check she cashed was no good.

Residents, usually, NO ONE gives away money. If it is too good to be true, before you accept it on face values, thoroughly check it out before getting caught up in it and taken to the cleaners. This is a hard lesson to learn, but an ounce of prevention is often better than a pound of cure.

Stay AWAY from "Forensic Loan Audits."

Escalating foreclosures provide criminals with the opportunity to exploit and defraud vulnerable homeowners seeking financial guidance. One of the newest foreclosure rescue schemes, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is known as a "forensic loan audit." In exchange for an up-front fee of several hundred dollars, so-called forensic loan auditors, mortgage loan auditors, or foreclosure prevention auditors who are backed by forensic attorneys, offer to review mortgage loan documents.

The documents are reviewed to determine whether a homeowner's lender complied with state and federal mortgage lending laws. The "auditors" claim you can use the audit report to avoid foreclosure, speed up the loan modification process, reduce the loan principal, or even cancel the loan. According to the FTC and its law enforcement partners, there is no evidence that forensic loan audits will help get a loan modification or any foreclosure relief. To make their pitch, this new breed of foreclosure rescuer looks for homeowners in distress, especially those already facing foreclosure.

For more information see the Consumer Affairs website at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/12/dont-fall-for-a-loan-audit-scam.html

Mayor and Council Work Session Agenda 1/17/2012

MAYOR AND COUNCIL WORKSESSION
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UPPER LEVEL
7:00 PM

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Develop criteria for 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue /Council / 30 minutes
Permanent barriers at Perry Street location /Bolin/Jan Townshend / 20 minutes
CIP Plan – Discussion /Council/Mike Jackson / 15 minutes
Purchasing Ordinance /Ivy Thompson / 15 minutes
Code Enforcement Compliance Committee /Mayor Miles / 15 minutes
Assistance Fund for Mount Rainier Residents in Need /Tarlau / 10 minutes
Recreation Council requirements (partnership with Town of Brentwood?) / Mayor
Federal Highway Enhancement Program /Updike / 10 minutes
MR Sustainability Plan/ Sustainable Maryland Certified /Updike / 10 minutes
Uncurbed food truck temporary suggestions for vacant spaces /Mayor / 10 minutes

General public comment limited to one minutes per person per subject matter

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 34th 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.

THANK YOU to Mount Rainier's Police Department

A Mount Rainier resident sent a major shout out to the Mount Rainier Police Department. Here's what she said:

Chief Scott,

We just wanted to write to thank you and your officers for responding to the calls for police attention at ________. A couple of weeks ago -- the call for the woman screaming/fighting with someone in their back yard that resulted in a couple of arrests. We are right next door to that house and it is a constant problem -- people hanging out in front (or in back) all night being loud, yelling, carrying on, drinking, doing PCP, throwing trash all over the block, and who knows what else -- and since that arrest, the house has been quiet. I guess the young man who was arrested who lives there doesn't want to jeopardize his bond. In any case, we just wanted to let you know that we very much appreciated the police department's intervention. I know you all were just doing your job, but it has meant a rare period of peace and quiet for the block that is much needed.

Best,

What's the message here? Here things, see things, know things that are suspicious in our neighborhood -- CALL OUR POLICE 301-985-6565! The response time is quick, and the officers know our neighborhood.

FiOS TV Enhanced for Business package will be increasing by $10.00 a month

This is to inform you of rate changes to Verizon’s FiOS® TV for business service as fully described in the attached customer notice. Due to the rising cost of providing quality premium programming, the FiOS TV Enhanced for Business package will be increasing by $10.00 a month, effective March 17, 2012.

We realize that our customers have other alternatives for entertainment and our goal is to offer the best choice and value in the industry. Verizon appreciates the opportunity to conduct business in your community.

Should you or your staff have any questions, please contact me at 212-406-6443 or email darian.e.gill@verizon.com.

Martin Luther King, Jr Celebration

On Monday, January 16, 2012, Joe's Movement Emporium will host the third annual MLK program. RESIDENTS, VISITORS, NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES are invited to come out and be a part of this great celebration.

The AGENDA/PROGRAM

10-11:30am Community Activity and Projects with Quilt of Valor

11:30am to 1:00pm A Grand Performance

1:00pm until 2ish Lunch

There will be guests speakers

Buffalo Baptist Church Choir

Students in Art Education will also be performing

Want to RSVP: VISIST www.joesmovement.org

WE WANT TO SEE YOU THERE: 3309 Bunker Hill Road Mount Rainier, MD 20712-1922

(301) 699-1819

Want to Become a MASTER GARDNER?

BECOME A MARYLAND MASTER GARDENER

The Maryland Master Gardener Program is designed to train participants as volunteer horticultural educators to help Maryland residents.

Participants receive 50 hours of basic training from University faculty staff and Master Gardeners, and complete 40 hours of required volunteer service during the first year to receive certification.

2012 SPRING MASTER GARDENER BASIC TRAINING BEGINS:

DATES: Monday, March 5th and every Monday and Wednesday until May 9th

TIME: 6:00pm – 9:30pm every Monday and Wednesday.

PLACE: 4-H Center, College Park, MD

COST: $200 for Prince George’s County residents; $300 for non county residents

Interested?? Contact Esther Mitchell at estherm@umd.edu or 301 868-8781 for an application.

Please consider your time, whether you will be able to complete the training, and, the required 40 hours of volunteer service.

Just heard from Christie Balch, and I wanted to pass along the word about the Master Gardener Program in Prince George’s County. The flyer is posted in this message. A volunteer application can be picked up from Mount Rainier City Hall. For more info, contact Esther Mitchell at estherm@umd.edu.

The Mount Rainier Tool Shed Committee is supporting this endeavor and encourage interested RESIDENTS to PLEASE participate.

From the Desk of Mayor Miles: SAFE and Happy New Year

From the Desk of Mayor Miles: SAFE and Happy New Year: From our County Executive, Rushern Baker New Year's is a time for celebration, not tragedy. Do your part: don't drink and drive. With the ...

SAFE and Happy New Year

From our County Executive, Rushern Baker

New Year's is a time for celebration, not tragedy. Do your part: don't drink and drive. With the SoberRide program offering free taxi rides all evening, there's no excuse to put yourself and others at risk. Call SoberRide toll-free at 800-200-TAXI and check out the article below for more details. Here's to a fun, safe, and happy New Year's Eve!

From the Washington Post

SoberRide offers free trip home
By Mark Berman

Area residents who drink have an easy way to avoid driving: The SoberRide program, which provides free taxi rides to people who shouldn’t be behind the wheel, runs through Sunday morning.

The service is available to people age 21 and older and covers a cab fare up to $30 (riders have to cover anything over that amount). Area residents can call SoberRide toll-free at 800-200-TAXI each night from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.

SoberRide is available in the District as well as Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, eastern Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park) and Maryland (Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the cities of Rockville, Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt and Takoma Park).

The Mayor Speaks Out on Youth Violence

Something must be done to address youth violence in the Mount Rainier, Brentwood, and North Brentwood neighborhoods. Law enforcement alone will not solve this problem. Pushing money at the problem will not solve the problem. Putting more police on the streets will not solve the problem. Increasing police on the streets supplement overtime pay for officers, increases the City's expenses, and forces crime to a different location.

These supplemental actions (as of yet) has not had any input from those who it affects the most—the City’s young people. This must change. We want our streets safe. We want our young people involved, and yet they have not been invited to the table.

On Wednesday, December 28, 2011, Team Mount Rainier Against Violence Society (Team MAVS) was formed. Its purpose is to work with our Youth, Mayor and Council, and other residents to address youth violence in the City.

City policies that affect young people will be reviewed. It is suspected that there are more policies and codes on the books about dogs and other animals than there are about the City's youth. I will be proposing that there be a review of curfew laws and their impact on youth.

Knowing that most crimes committed by minors are during specific after-school hours, the City must invest in after-school programs and activities that are age appropriate. We must stop letting our older teens invent their own entertainment. Programs for our youth must be developed in conjunction with our youth, their parents, the schools, and Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC). This will require the community sitting down with the youth and these stakeholders to create effective programs and activities.

The key to deterring late-night youth violence is to provide alternatives to the streets in the form of entertainment venues. There should be weekly and monthly organized events and activities for our youth that build healthy character. The old shove them off the streets attitude and tactics have simply not worked! There needs to be a safe place and space for our teens to get off the streets, protect the community, and even have some fun in the process.

This, of course, will require some funding from various sources, but should be a priority for the City of Mount Rainier! The budget for such planning is estimated to cost about $100,000, most of which could come from grant. Until the City is able to raise the kind of money needed to help build a facility for its youth, most of this funding would be spent on providing secure transportation back and forth to current MNCPPC parks and recreation centers. City police would be involved in making this transportation possible using the City's van and caller-a-bus. It would also require the hiring of a youth program and events coordinator that would work with the Mount Rainier Youth Council, Police Department, MNCPPC, and the community's youth and parents to determine appropriate activities and events.

Rather than patrolling the streets in their cars all night where their only interactions with youth are punitive, police officers could be used for proactive measures. Police officers could be very useful as a quiet deterrent at events, during transportation to and from events, and sitting in on planning meetings of the shareholders. Police officers could also be useful as a precautionary insurance policy outside of events. This proposal would simultaneously provide safety, without the youth feeling menaced by the police, build relationships with the youth in the community, and provide parents and the community with a safer environment. In addition, police could be working alongside the youth to make the community safer.

This is all needed because youth in Mount Rainier deserve better than what they have been given over the years. For example, the nearest "free" swimming pool is in Chillum. The pool in the community is and has been out of reach for our youth. Although improving, the Nature Center does not provide an outlet for youth 15 to 22 years of age.

In light of all of the issues surrounding the complexities of violence, the Mayor calls for the following actions:

• Police Department—review and report data to access the role youth 13 and over truly play in contributing to violence in our community, youth arrests, criminal activity, and homicides.

• Mayor and Council —host a public forum on youth recreation and youth violence in the community with youth(13 to 22) participation.

• Mayor and Council —prepare an outline of how they will address youth recreation and violence in the City of Mount Rainier, with a review of curfew laws, their implementation and/or prohibitions, specifically in regards to how youth will be detained and where they will be taken should such a law becomes policy, and budget/funding.

• MNCPPC—review it budget, protocol, and past recreational services in the City of Mount Rainier, providing recommendations for assisting the City in addressing it youth recreation and youth violence issues.

The need for real, comprehensive violence prevention is desperately needed, and the only good solutions are those that begin and end with community involvement, and where law enforcement is a mere tool when needed rather than the centerpiece. The City must open its ears to the voices of what is so often called this City’s future—our young people.

The City needs to provide solutions that our young people believe will work because so far the City has done very little to engage our youth, and the results are obvious! Another murder of a youth in Mount Rainier is UNACCEPTABLE!

PEACE and BLESSINGS today and ALWAYS

On this day that we have set aside to honor the birth of Jesus, I want to take a moment to say to all of my family, friends, neighbors, residents and others that it is truly a blessing to have you in my life. I am sure that we all have different feelings and beliefs, but I also know that we have one thing in common, and without it we cannot live -- AIR.

We are all breathing the same AIR. We exchange it between us regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sexual preference, nationality, etc. It is exchanged without purification. It is what it is, and today it is no different. So whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or nothing, our similarities are greater than our differences, and so I extend to you peace, love, blessings, respect, hope, and all those things that just by our humanness we hold dear, and WHOLEHEARTEDLY wish them to you and yours today and every day into the future.

Viewing and Wake Scheduled

One of our young residents departed this life on Friday, December 16. The Family has provided the following information:

Dontae John Cook
Sunrise: August 25, 1995
Sunset: December 16, 2011

Viewing and Service
Monday, December 26, 2011
Viewing: 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Service: 10:00 a.m.

New Horizon Christian Faith Church
2211 Varnum Street
Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Repass
Mount Rainier Nature and
Recreation Center
4701 31st Place
Mount Rainier, Maryland 20712

Intermittent
National Harmony Hills Cemetery
7101 Sheriff Road
Landover, MD 20785

John and Dania Cook
Sister, Dajona Cook
3202 Upshur Street
Mount Rainier, MD 20712
301.779.5515

A trust fund is being established
for “Dontae John Cook.” Details
will be provided once finalized.

STOPPING the VIOLENCE

What's on my mind? This morning that is an excellent question. For the past two weeks, I have pondered what can be done to help our young men and women understand that violence is not the answer. Two Fridays in a row, our community has lost TWO young men ages 21 and 17 to gun violence. Senseless destruction of families, friendships, community and the sense of peace that one gets living in our community.

Guns have their place in our society -- law enforcement, the military, etc., but not in the hands of our juveniles! When guns are used for violence, they do not destroy just the person that got shot, but the shooter, both families, AND the communities in which both the shooter and the victim were participants. TODAY, my shout out is a PLEA to the young men and women in Mount Rainier, Brentwood, and North Brentwood. PLEASE PLEASE stop the violence. Let's find other ways to resolve our differences.

I am organizing a mediation program in Mount Rainier to address some of the differences and the disputes that young people are having with each other. For many of you, the skills were taught at Mount Rainier Elementary under Mr. C (Mr. Cantano who started the peace parade at Mount Rainier Elementary, and carried on by Ms. Reid the current principal at Mount Rainier).

Some how we have forgotten to respect life -- ours and that of our neighbors. We have walked away from values, such as honor, integrity, honesty, working for a living, helping one another, choosing right over wrong. Moral values are the standards of good and evil, which govern an individual’s behavior and choices. Each of us are born with it and our religious beliefs, government, community, family, friends and associates all work together to define those values.

I am ashamed to be a part of a community that says it is alright to shoot and to kill for pleasure, for things, and for no reason at all! This is Mount Rainier. This is our HOME. Respect it.

MNCPPC's New Nixle Community Messaging Service

December 1, 2011


SUBJECT: New “Nixle” Community Messaging Service

This week, the Department of Parks and Recreation has launched a new community notification and messaging service called “Nixle” to improve communication with people who live, work, and recreate in our area. The system provides a quick, efficient, and secure way to get neighborhood-level information out to community members who subscribe to the system. Through www.nixle.com, the Department will be able to send text message (SMS) and e-mail alerts to subscribers in a specific area (down to a quarter of a mile) or the whole community.

Notifications could include weather-related Departmental closures and program cancellations, incidents such as a broken water main that might cause one particular facility to be closed, or a young child who walks away from a program—in that case, the alert could include a picture of the child with a map identifying the area where they were last seen. Other uses might include trail access updates, or even parking notifications at large festivals and events.

Through Nixle, we will deliver messages securely to subscribers (including staff) by e-mail and cell phone, supporting and expanding our community outreach efforts. Any public messages we send out via Nixle to post instantly on our website and on our Departmental Facebook page and Twitter feed, as well.

Obviously, the system will be most effective when we have large numbers of subscribers. You will soon see our registration campaign on www.pgparks.com, in the e-newsletter, on Facebook and Twitter, and on flyers at the front counter of facilities. We’re also issuing a challenge to all staff to ask five friends, neighbors or family members to sign up before the holidays! Please help us spread the word about our use of the system and add this information to the bottom of your e-mail signature: “Get up-to-the-minute notifications from the M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation by e-mail and text: sign up at www.pgparks.com ”.

Nixle is a secure communications service available only to municipal, county, and state government agencies. The system is available at no cost to our customers and residents (standard text message rates will apply for subscribers who do not have text plans with their cell phone providers). Subscribers can receive technical and non-technical assistance directly from Nixle by sending email to support@nixle.com.

Sign up today: go to www.pgparks.com, click on the Nixle widget on the left side of the page, and follow the simple registration steps.

Nixle messaging is managed 24/7 by our Public Affairs and Marketing Division, with support from the Help Desk.

Monday December 5, the 4000 block of 34th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for repairs

After several inspections it has been determined that the hole in the center of the road in front of 4010 34th Street is seriously undermining the stability of the roadway. After consultation with WSSC and the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation, it appears for now that the repairs are solely the responsibility of the City until further investigation reveals otherwise.

In an effort to ensure the safety of our residents and those who use 34th Street, the necessary repair work will be carried out starting Monday December 5th. As a result, the 4000 block of 34th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the repairs. At this time we do not know how long the street will be closed as the scope of work is not yet known. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Michael E. Scott
Chief of Police
Mount Rainier Police Department
3249 Rhode Island Avenue
Mount Rainier, Maryland 20712
301-985-6580
mscott@mountrainierpd.org
Chief's Blog: http://mrpdchief.blogspot.com
Twitter: @MRPDChief

A Message from the Governor

November 22, 2011

A Message from the Governor


Dear Friend,

In two days, families across our State will celebrate Thanksgiving. They'll enjoy great food and company, rejoice in the Ravens victory over the 49ers and pore over websites for the best deals on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. But the holidays are about more than that. They're about coming together as a community, celebrating our shared traditions and lending a helping hand to neighbors in need. So as you continue to prepare for the upcoming holidays, I wanted to share three easy ways that you can make it a Maryland holiday.

Volunteer: Marylanders are a compassionate and generous people. In fact, over the past two years alone, 1.3 million Marylanders volunteered nearly 200 million hours of community service, making our State one of the top six states in the nation in the number of hours our people volunteer. That's why we launched the Maryland: Stronger Together campaign to shine a light on the important work of Maryland volunteers and to connect more Marylanders with volunteer opportunities. Visit this site and sign up to volunteer today.

Support Maryland Small Businesses: 85% of Maryland businesses employ fewer than 20 people. These are our neighbors, our friends and our local grocery store owners, and they are the backbone of our local economies. On Saturday November 26, you can help support local Maryland small businesses by shopping for Small Business Saturday. All you need to do is present this flyer at any of the businesses listed on this website and you'll receive a special discount while helping build a stronger future for our communities. When you shop, shop local.

Buy Local: Local food tastes better, it's healthier, it preserves our agricultural traditions and it supports our local economies. We're blessed in Maryland with an abundance of locally grown, manufactured and caught products and there are few better times to buy local than around the holidays. I can say firsthand how delicious a locally raised turkey is, and I cannot wait to eat our family's turkey that's coming straight from Maple Lawn Farms in Howard County, Maryland. Click here for a list of where to buy local near you.
I hope you'll join Katie and me and make it a Maryland Holiday. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,


Martin O'Malley
Governor

P.S. If you plan on traveling this holiday season, know before you go. Check Maryland's new 511.

THE IRAQI WAR COMES TO AN END

THE IRAQI WAR COMES TO AN END

Our Attention Must Focus on Our Returning Troops



Senator Cardin visits with soldiers at the Warrior Transition Unit at Ft. Meade.
Dear Friends:

I want to commend President Obama for moving to end a long, painful chapter in our nation’s history by announcing the full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Over the past nine years, I joined millions of Americans in praying for the safe return of the nearly one million troops and diplomats who served in harm’s way in Iraq. The President’s announcement means our hopes have been fulfilled, and that our brave men and women in uniform will be coming home after what at times has seemed like a war with no end.

While we celebrate the courage, excellence and love of country that our returning troops exhibited in Iraq, we solemnly remember the more than 4,700 Americans, including 83 Marylanders, who selflessly gave their lives for the future stability and peace of Iraq. They showed bravery and heroism during fierce fighting and in situations that were often brutal and horrifying. We are forever grateful to them and their families for all they have sacrificed for our nation.

We also remember the more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians who perished during the war, and we share in the grief of their families and loved ones. It is my real hope that the memory of all those who sacrificed – Americans and Iraqis -- will inspire Iraq’s leadership to bring real stability and peace to the nation.

From the very beginning, I opposed the Bush Administration’s lack of strategic planning in the implementation of the war. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I voted against granting President Bush the authority to invade Iraq in 2003. We cannot change the past and it’s now time for us to focus on the needs of our nation while the Iraqis take full responsibility for the security and sustainability of their own country.

After nearly a decade in Iraq, America has learned the importance of a more thoughtful and multilateral approach to foreign policy, characteristics that were too often absent from much of our mission in Iraq. Our success in removing Moammar Gadhafi from power in Libya proves that America can act in concert with other nations -- without putting U.S. boots on the ground -- in achieving our foreign policy goals.

Now that our troops are finally coming home, we will do everything possible to support the health and well-being of the brave men and women returning home from war. Unemployment today among veterans is too high. Nearly 32,000 soldiers were wounded in battle and our attention now needs to be on making sure that they and their families have the resources and support they need to fully recover and resume their lives. We owe them no less.

Sincerely,

(Senator Ben Cardin's Statement/Letter)

FEMA, DHS and FCC will conduct First National Test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS)

On November 9th FEMA, DHS and FCC will conduct the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test. This test will kick off at 2:00 p.m. (EST). The test will be nationwide, running concurrently across all time zones.

This system test is the first of its kind. It is designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public. Nothing like it has been conducted in the history of the country. There have been tests in the past but none to all parts of the Nation at the same time. The test will run concurrently on all radio and TV band and the message will run for three (3) minutes. Most messages in the past were anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

There is great concern in local police and emergency management circles about undue public anxiety over this test. The test message on TV might not indicate that it is just a test. Fear is that the lack of an explanation message might create panic. Please share this information with your family and friends so they are aware of the test.

Below are two websites, that will provide more information regarding this test.


http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

https://nationaldialogue-emergencyalertsystem.ideascale.com/

Need more information? Contact Jim Flynn 240-417-9098 cell

DEA is to Unused Prescription Drugs OUT of your HOME

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring a third National Take Back Initiative for unwanted and unused prescription drugs on October 29, 2011 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The Mount Rainier Police Department is a proud co-sponsor of this important initiative.

The DEA reports that over 309 tons of drugs were turned in during the last two events.

Prescription drug abuse continues to be a serious health issue among Americans. Removing expired and/or no longer needed drugs from the home can assist in curtailing illegal and dangerous drug diversion, as well as ensure these drugs are not flushed into our waters.

Individuals can turn in their unused, expired or no longer needed prescription or over the counter drugs at the Mount Rainier Police Department located at 3249 Rhode Island Avenue this Saturday, October 29th between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm.

For further information please call 301-985-6580.

Halloween at the Farm

Looking for a fun event for the family check out the Halloween at the Farm
Old Maryland Farm at Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro/Mitchellville, MD

Sunday, October 23 4 - 7 pm
$2 per person (adult and kids)
Hayrides, costume contest, treats, live animal show, crafts, farm animals
NO pony rides this year – they have taken ponies out of the park permanently
301 218 6770

Also, between 1 and 4 you can ride the carousel, train, and have popcorn, a hayride and crafts—unlimited for $5

14th Annual 2012 Teen Cotillion

MNCPPC's 14th Annual Teen Cotillion is a 16-week co-ed comprehensive program that runs from January-May, 2012 for young men (beaus) and women (debs) ages 14-17. Through a series of workshops, special events, service learning projects and more, the 2012 Teen Cotillion program offers leadership and growth opportunities to participants. Career development, etiquette, social skills and team building activities are included in the program.

Debs and beaus are selected from among a group of teens who complete applications and submit essays. Applicants write inspiring essays about leadership and about pursuing their dreams. The Teen Cotillion program promotes positive leadership skills and is designed to inspire youth to take the steps needed to attain their dreams. This extraordinary 16-week program ends with a spring Cotillion ceremony—a formal, coming-out gala where these young adults make their debuts before families and friends.

To obain the application, please click below.

http://www.mncppcapps.org/pgparks/xtreme_teens/cotillion/cotillion_registration.asp

2012 Teen Cotillion Interest Meeting

To learn more about participating, you are invited to attend the 2012 Teen Cotillion Interest Meeting for Parents and Teens (ages 14-17) on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, from 7-9 pm at the Prince George's Ballroom. Pre-register at any M-NCPPC community center in Prince George's County for SMARTlink course barcode #696814.

From the Desk of The Mayor October 2011

It has been a while since I have had or taken the time to try to collect in one place all that is going on around our wonderful City. Thank God, we have other members of the Council that send out updates about our many activities. Here are some things that may not be on your horizon from other sources.

ANACOSTIA HOURS
GLUT has a growing surplus of Hours. Members are encouraged to patronize GLUT, and it's clear that many people have. But we also need to guard against overburdening GLUT with too many Hours.

Short-term, the solution is not hard: Hours users can buy groceries with US dollars, and receive Hours in change. Or you can simply buy Hours from GLUT's cash register at the exchange rate of 1 Hour = $10. This will reduce the surplus to a more comfortable level, and help achieve the desired circulation of Hours into the community.

Longer term, the idea is to use the Hours for diverse goods and services - not just one store. The 2011 (yellow) directory, including the monthly additions list of new members, includes more offerings than ever. For example: bread and other baked goods, tutoring in academic subjects for elementary school kids, plumbing, handyman services, professional audio recording, music lessons, a lawyer, a realtor, web design and IT consultation, haircuts, and more.

Diversification is the key! Use your Hours around town for various goods and services. GLUT has been a supporter of Hours for years. Let's keep the Hours circulating and avoid a bottleneck at GLUT.

Many thanks for supporting local economic self-reliance!

WELCOME TO ALL NEW RESIDENTS
The past year has seen a tremendous growth of new residents in the City, and they have come invigorated and ready to work. Many of our new residents have joined committees, reached out to their new neighbors, attended a Council meeting or other activity in the City. This is inspiring and uplifting. Thank you for making Mount Rainier your new home and we hope that you will continue to be a part of the City. If you have not found a Committee that you are interested in joining , don't worry, we are always open to new committees, new ideas, and individuality. That is why we have "The Glut," "Nisey's," "Joe's," and, of course, the green police station, a round-about on a State Highway, and one of the first green rooftops in the metropolitan area. As with you new home, explore Mount Rainier, you will find a lot of reasons to love living here. I did 43 years ago, and I am still excited about the possibilities that lie within its borders!

PARTNERING WITH NORTH BRENTWOOD
In today's world of crisis economic and crisis management, it is harder to get things done without partners. Over the past few months, there have been discussions about the heavy snows that we had a few years ago, and how to get more of the money from the federal government when there is a snow emergency and we use up all of our allocations. Well, one of the things that keeps coming up is partnering. Municipalities working together to make limited resources go farther. With that in mind, the Mayor and Council are in discussions with the Town of North Brentwood to share snow removal activities this winter. Over the past few weeks, Luther Smith and Mayor Petrella Robinson have walked the streets of North Brentwood to see what additional resources would be needed to do snow removal in both municipalities. It is my hope that this will be the first step in an inter-beltway snow removal consortium that would include, Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Cottage City. Pooling our resources, these municipalities could share cost, services, resources, and best practices for handling snow emergencies.

GOING GREEN
As many, if not all of you know, Mount Rainier is one of the greenest communities in the Washington metropolitan area http://www.dccondoloft.com/top-ten-green-neighborhoods-in-the-dc-metropolitan-area/. This is only half the story. Over the past few months, we have been visited by Sean Gavin from EPA to verify that we are a green community. Sean walked our police station. Visited our City Hall. Toured our Artists Loft and green roof. Saw and talked with residents who had no clue who he was, and learned from them first hand that green is a way of life in Mount Rainier and not a fad that just took life. As a result of his tour of our City, he now uses Mount Rainier in his speeches around the Country to tell other communities how baby steps over a long period of time will make a difference in our environmental footstep on our planet. So, just to keep up our momentum here is what is going on and what you can do:

1. Mount Rainier is one of the fourteen founders of Sustainable Maryland Certified (SMC) http://www.sustainablemaryland.com/ , and organization growing out of the University of Maryland to help municipalities go green and stay green. This program is modeled after Sustainable New Jersey Certified.
2. To achieve our BRONZE recognition, we must carry our several projects and reach 150 point by June 2012. Please visit this site http://www.sustainablemaryland.com/actionlist.php to see what must be done. We have accomplished many of the task on the list, but there are still others that we must do and report.
3. The major task is to form a green team that is representative of our entire community. We have all of the components, but they are fragmented and must come together under one umbrella to meet the requirements of SMC. Your Mayor and Council is working on this and making it a priority.
4. We MUST recycle. Recycling is more than bottle, can, and cardboard. We can recycle clothes, containers, bikes, pots and pans and a whole lot more. Get creative, and report out on what you are doing to help Mount Rainier grow green.
5. Visit our website. Visit our cable channel. Read our newsletter. Talk with your neighbors. Going Green is a mind set and should be ever present on your mind.
6. Mount Rainier met all of the qualifications to become registered with Maryland's Green Registry http://mde.maryland.gov/marylandgreen/Pages/GreenMembersList.aspx. Next goal is to win the Maryland Green Registry' gold award.
7. The Environmental Protection Board has taken off running to put in place a green plan for the City of Mount Rainier. The plan will be introduced to the Mayor and Council at its next work session. Residents are encouraged to get a copy, review it, comment on it, and embrace it as our way of reducing our footprint on our environment.
8. October 27 - 29, 2011: Maryland Clean Energy Summit. This event has been rescheduled to take place at the Hilton Inner Harbor in Baltimore. A discount registration rate is available through October 7th and the final registration date is October 21st. Note that the Consumer Trade Show on Saturday 10/29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. is free to the public. For more information go towww.mcecsummit.org or call 301-738-6280.

TOOL SHED RE-OPENS
With the push of Devon Brown and Joe Robbins, the Mount Rainier Tool Shed will re-open for business on October 29, 2011. The new Tool Shed Committee members are Evan Wilder, Chairperson, Mimi McKinley-Ward, Rebecca Lane, Kathryn Wolfe, and Anthony Brown. This new Committee invites the community to come out and see the tool shed, have a glass of cider and some very healthy treats while learning about composting. The event will take place from 10:00am on Saturday, October 29, 2011 to 12:30pm. Got some old tools that could be recycled within the neighborhood? The Mount Rainier Tool Shed is just the place to get those tools working hard for you and the community. Donate. You will be glad that you did.

JOINING A MOUNT RAINIER COMMITTEE
It has been impressive and heartwarming to see new members joining the various committees in Mount Rainier. If you have not joined a committee, here is the golden opportunity to do so. For your consideration, here is a list of committees with an asterisk by those that need your membership, ideas, and creative juices:


Gateway Community Development Corporation (CDC)* Branding/Development in the Gateway Arts District

Personnel Review Committee Oversee and ensure proper implementation of City personnel policies and procedures and union contracts

Emergency Preparedness* Responsible for preparation and implementation of City’s emergency plan for elderly and disabled residents

Anacostia Trails Historical Association (ATHA) ATHA is a composition of municipalities along the Anacostia that seeks to preserve its heritage

Mixed Use Town Center Design Review Committee (MUTC) The Town Center Design Review Committee is the official name given to a group of municipal representatives, residents, and business/property owners who review applications for, and make recommendations on, exterior renovations and new development in Mount Rainier’s Mixed-Use Town Center Zone. This zone extends along Rhode Island Avenue from the city limits at Eastern Avenue into the 3400 block, and along 34th Street from the 3700 block into the 4000 block; it also includes part of Bunker Hill Road.
Tool Shed*

Community Tool Shed Loans, tracks, and replaces tools to community residents. Provides forums, workshops, plant swaps, and community gardening opportunities

MRTV* Responsible for oversight of City’s cable operation, including the creation of programs

MRBA Mount Rainier Business organization with purposes of helping improve City businesses

Tree Commission The City of Mount Rainier Tree Commission was established to regulate the planting, maintenance, and removal of street and park trees in public places. The Tree Commission consists of five (5)members, all residents of the City of Mount Rainier, appointed by the Mayor with approval of City Council. http://trees.20712.org/

Mount Rainier Election Board* Oversees all aspects of Mount Rainiers City Elections

Design Review Board The Mount Rainier Design Review Board (DRB) is established to advise and assist the Council on design-related issues including but not limited to, fence, retaining wall, public plantings, construction proposals, building alterations, and regulations of design issues. Members of the DRB consist of five (5) City residents who are appointed by council with at least one member being an architect.

Environmental Protection Board The purpose of this board is to promote and sustain a clean, healthy, sustainable environment that enhances the quality of life for current and future generations and that protects our natural resources.

Neighborhood Watch* Richardson Park & Upshur St park

Neighborhood Watch* 35th Street

Youth & Recreation, Sub-committee (Skate Park)* The Mount Rainier Recreation Committee aims to facilitate multi-generational recreational opportunities in the areas of sports, appreciation of our natural environment and the arts. The committee supports the work of activity specific recreational committees and ad hoc interest groups as needed. The Committee is the steward for the City of Mount Rainier recreational resources insuring that residents have full access and take full advantage of our neighborhood treasures.

Snow Removal Task Force Make recommendation for improving City's snow removal process

Mount Rainier Day* Day of celebration for the City

Beautification Committee* Created to help residents take pride in their yards and their homes and in turn increase the value of their homes.

Farmers Market* Created to help provide fresh, healthy, nutritional, and affordable foods to the community as well as create a place and space for community to come together to learn about foods and nutrition.

Community Foundation* Created to help start a community fund to assist residents with small project around their homes and/or start small projects that are beneficial to the City.

Green Team Required by Sustainable Maryland Certified (SMC). Is an official group created by legislation. It is similar to other boards, committees, and commissions created by the City and is governed by all state and local government rules for conducting open meetings, providing public information, and honoring ethical laws and ordinances. Green may have up to 15 members representing citizens, local elected officials, and local appointed officials, businesses, etc. Geen Team members may come from all City appointed committees, commissions, boards, task forces, etc. The Green Teams shares information re conservancy and preserving environmentally sensitive land, improving water quality, and developing local recreational resources. The Green Team does , not administer properties, and is not concerned like environmental committees, with the protection and improvement of the natural health and welfare of the environment.

WEBSITES and BLOGS
Malinda Miles --- www.malindamiles.com
Malinda Miles' Blog --- http://themayorsspot.blogspot.com/
Chief Michael Scott's Blog --- http://mrpdchief.blogspot.com/
Historic Mount Rainier Maryland --- http://www.mountrainiermd.org
Mount Rainier Police Department -- http://www.mountrainiermd.org/government/police/index.html
Bunker Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company --- http://www.mrvfd.org
Mount Rainier Elementary School --- http://www.pgcps.org/~mrainier/
Thomas Stone Elementary School --- http://www.pgcps.org/~tstone/index.htm
Hyattsville Middle School --- http://www.pgcps.org/~hyattsms/
Northwestern High School --- http://www.pgcps.pg.k12.md.us/~nwest
Prince George’s County Municipal Association http://www.mdmunicipal.org/chapterweb/pgcma
Maryland Municipal League --- http://www.mdmunicipal.org
Friends of the Mount Rainier Library (FOL) --- http://www.mtrainierfol.org/
Mount Rainier Business Association (MRBA) – http://mrbassociation.org