A MESSAGE FROM WINGS' PRESIDENT

Since working to re-energize Women in Government Services for the past five years, I have had some of the old guard ask the question "Well why should I pay dues to WINGS, what have they done?" I could not help but LOL because that is the question I used to ask about WINGS years ago when it really was doing nothing and almost completely collapsed.

Needless to say, I had an answer, statistics, and proof of what WINGS had been doing and was doing at that time and has continued to do since then. I just found it interesting that the old guard raised the question, but had done NOTHING to help keep WINGS alive and still is doing nothing.

My Mother use to say if you live in a glass house you probably should not throw stones. WELL WINGS IS NOT A GLASS HOUSE and here is what we have been doing for the past six years.

1.           WINGS has provided the opportunity for more than six (6) women to attend the MML Summer Convention. This means that WINGS paid for hotel, registration and meals for more than six women to attend the MML Convention and network with other women.

2.           WINGS Executive Committee has met almost every month since July 2010.

3.           Written records and reports have been kept and publicized to not just the dues paying members but every elected woman that we were able to contact using the list provided by MML.

4.           WINGS has had a booth on MML's Main Street almost every year with information on WINGS, membership, scholarships, etc.

5.           A WINGS brochure has been developed and distributed during that time and is still being requested and circulated

6.           Membership cards have been developed and are distributed to all dues paying members.

7.           WINGS has a fully functioning website that is kept pretty much up-to-date, and visitors can send questions, comments and other information to WINGS leadership.

8.           WINGS has an active FACEBOOK PAGE where information is frequently posted.

9.           WINGS has a presence on the world wide web and can be googled by any interested party.

10.        Information about WINGS and WINGS activities is tweeted almost weekly.

11.        Women across Maryland are getting the message that WINGS is a viable organization even if they have not joined.

12.        Hosted a WINGS meeting at MML's summer convention EVERY YEAR! Hosted at least a few WINGS meetings at the MML Fall Conference.

WINGS Executive Board is fully functioning, and plan for the upcoming MML Summer Conference and is hosting the First Annul Breakfast on June 29, 2016, 8:30 am in Room 215 at the Ocean City Convention Center.

WINGS will be bringing two more women to Ocean City for the MML Convention.

WINGS has a booth on Main Street in booth space 707 and will be raffling off two gift baskets to two lucky winners.

AND NO WE HAVE NOT broken the bank. We have had at least one sponsor to bring two women to MML's Summer Conference.

We have had some membership dues coming in, and we have been able to negotiate terms and conditions with hotels including comp rooms.

SO WHAT HAS WINGS BEEN DOING? Looking for ways to involve more women in municipal government. Providing opportunities for women to network and carrying out the Mission and Vision of WINGS!

If you are a municipal elected woman and want the support of other women, WINGS is a good place to start. Dues are only $25. but the reward is so much greater.

Contact Councilmember Doreatha Epps, WINGS Secretary to get an application -- 3701 Lawrence Street, Colmar Manor, MD 20722. Or you may send your dues in NOW to Councilmember Vivian Jackson at the same address.

I look forward to working with you and seeing you at the MML Summer Convention Breakfast on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at 8:30 am in Room 215!

SEE YOU THERE!

Women in Government Services (WINGS) NEEDS your Participation

What a great meeting last night with WINGS Executive Committee. Here are some of the Highlights:

WINGS will host its first Scholarship breakfast at MML's Sommer Conference ! The room number for the breakfast is 215. The date of the breakfast is Wednesday, June 29. Breakfast will begin at 8:30 am. Watch for the flyer to save the date, and PLEASE distribute. The theme for this year is "Supporting Women in Municipal Government." A guest speaker will be announced at a later date.  Tickets are $35 each and are on SALE NOW. Send money to Vivian Jackson, 3701 Lawrence Street, Colmar Manor, MD 20722.

Two scholarships are available for two women to attend the MML Summer Convention. WINGS is accepting applications from municipal women from across the State of Maryland n interested in attending the MML Summer Convention. You may request an application by emailing Mayor Malinda Miles at mayormiles@gmail.com.

WINGS will have a booth on Main Street. The Booth Number is 707. Two baskets will be raffled off -- one each day. Women joining WINGS will get a set of WINGS on the Exhibit Booth and a WINGS pin to wear on their badge.

WINGS will develop and distribute a new brochure that promotes WINGS and its activities.

Approved the Scholarship selection procedures.

Mayor Marnita King of Capitol Heights will be screening all application and making a recommendation to the Executive Committee two weeks before the close of early registration of the MMLL Summer Convention deadline.

WINGS will hold its annual elections in Ocean City at the WINGS breakfast. ALL positions are open for nominations -- president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and 11 board members to be appointed by their particular chapter. This is a change being proposed by the WINGS Executive Committee.

WINGS Executive Committee will be proposing to the membership the following Bylaw changes:

1. WINGS will change its membership base to include municipal women from across the State of Maryland

2. To increase membership and participation in WINGS decision making, that there be eleven women appointed by their chapters to serve on WINGS Executive Board and participate in monthly board meetings.

3. That WINGS will seek to ensure representation from across the State of Maryland on its Executive Committee.

NOT A MEMBER OF WINGS? You are missing an opportunity to be a part of CHANGE in government and in Maryland. There is an ever increasing number of women mayors across the state, and more and more women are serving on municipal councils that ever before.

ONE OF THOSE WOMEN COULD BE YOU!

Our schools are closed today because of the snow and ice!

 

ALERT: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - Code Yellow - Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) – Schools and offices are closed. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL only must report to work. Código Amarillo – Todas las escuelas permanecen cerradas. Todas las oficinas permanecen cerradas. Solamente el PERSONAL DE EMERGENCIA debe reportarse al trabajo.

Bishop John B. McIntyre and the Buffalo Baptist Church Congregation

...invite you and yours to come out and celebrate Black History month with 

The Buffalo Baptist Church, Bishop John B McIntyre, Pastor

In partnership with Mayor Malinda Miles

Celebrates

Black History Month 2016

Featuring Pastor Darin Mency,

Dramatic Rendition of  “I HAVE A DREAM”

And

A Black History Month Play  -  Black Heroes From the Past

Friday, February 26 @ 7:00pm

The Artist Loft's Community Room

3100 RHODE ISLAND AVE

MT. RAINIER, MD  20712

2016 Theme: Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories

SOUL FOOD WILL BE SERVE BETWEEN 

5:30-6:30 pm

For more information call

240-507-2786

Maryland Mayors from ACROSS THE STATE held their first PRESS CONFERENCE on Highway User Revenues

On Friday, mayors from across the State of Maryland came together to ask the State Legislature and the Governor to restore HIGHWAY USER FUNDS (JURS) to municipalities. This is a critical message that has echoed across the State of Maryland since the economic downturn in 2008. For example, prior to the major cut in HURS, the City of Mount Rainier received funding in the neighborhood of $200,000+. The year the cut was made, the City received roughly $19,000.

The mayors are asking the legislature and the Governor to put this money back, not only in the budget but into the law so that it is not subject to cuts at the whim of the State Government to fund other programs or deficits.

Because of this major cut in funding, our streets and roads have suffered to the tune of more than $1,600,000, and that's just Mount Rainier! There are 157 municipalities in the State of Maryland, and all were hit with this the cut of this major revenue source.

HELP us tell our Legislators and the Governor that we need the URS fully restored and legislated so that they will be protected from future cuts!

Here is the video of the press conference with President Peter Fosselman, (Maryland Mayors Association), and President Spencer Schlosnagle (Maryland Municipal League) hosting the press conference.  Click on or copy and paste in your web address line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmcwFKs9nGM&feature=youtu.be

Thomas Stone Elementary School's Calendar Dates to Remember

Some important dates to put on your calendar!

Please save the following dates in reference to dates that can be found on the Thomas S. Stone calendar and PTO Calendar for the rest of the school year.

February - Black History Month/ Counselor Appreciation Week

February 9th - PTO Meeting 6 pm (Tuesday)

February 18th - 19th Valentines Day Dance (Thursday - Primary/Friday-Intermediate)

March - Spring Break

March 11th - Black History Play 6 pm (Friday) 

March 15th - PTO Meeting 6 pm (Tuesday) -  (Testing)

March 23rd - (Tentative) Chuck E Cheese Night

April - Spring Break

April 19th - PTO Meeting (Voting/Title I)

May - Teacher's Appreciation Week / Mother's Day (Raffle)

May 2-6th - Mother's Day Shop(Tentative)

May 5th - Staff Luncheon during Staff Meeting (Parents)

May 6th - Mother's Day Celebration

May 12th - PTO Meeting (Elections)

May 26th - Spring Concert (PTO Raffle grade level baskets)

June - Promotion/ Fun Fair

June ?? - Last PTO Meeting of the Year - (Election Results)

June 11th - PTO Fun Fair (Tentative)

June 14th - Last Day of School(Tentative)

SNOW EMERGENCY LIFTED

The snow emergency has been lifted!  All snow routes are clean and open for parking.

Although this has been a while coming, your patience, and assistance throughout has been greatly appreciated.

We are not quite back to business as usual, but we are fully open for business.

Public Works employees are still out there moving those mounds of snow and widening streets where possible.

As you can imagine, they are exhausted, but being the dedicated employees that they are, they want to see out streets CLEAN not jus passable!  So, if you get an opportunity to say thank you them, PLEASE DO SO!

34th Street has been REOPENED

34^th Street is OPEN!

Now the crew is working Rainier Avenue to Upshur and will continue working tonight until 12 midnight!

Once they finish tonight, they will return again tomorrow and possibly work until noon.

34th Street to Rainier Avenue Closed for a few hours to remove snow from curb to curb.

34th Street will be reopened as soon as the cleanup is completed.

The City continues to struggle to get all streets open.  Today’s goal was to open all emergency routes from curb to curb.

That has not happened!

Part of the problem are the parked vehicles on the street.  Until further notice, 34^th Street is closed from Rhode Island Avenue to Rainier Avenue.

In addition, the Snow Emergency will remain in effect until noon tomorrow, January 28, 2016.

Latest update on snow removal and street cleaning in Mount Rainier

UPDATE ON STREET CLEANUP AND SNOW REMOVAL

Yesterday, information flow was high and intense. Today, there seems to be a draught -- nothing flowing. That does not mean that the work has stopped or that the City is back to normal. It only means that there are so many hands in the pot and most of them are out there on the street that it has been hard to coordinate every single move.

What you should know! Every street has been plowed at least once and has, at least, a single lane. Salt is continuing to be put down, and the bobcat is still working to remove snow. PW crew is expected to work until 10:00 pm tonight. Some of the snow mounds are also being tackled. The snow mounds will be with us for a while, but work will continue on them tomorrow.

Help has come in from local municipalities (Brentwood, Bladensburg, Hyattsville to list the ones that have been confirmed) to help with this massive task and is expected to stick with us until we conqueror the streets and get them opened.  Street currently being worked on are

32nd and Upshur to 34th

29th Street

31st and Varnum

3000 block of 31st Street

If there are streets out there that we have not gotten to or are still blocked, please let us know. In other words, please keep those emails coming. As I receive them, I am forwarding them on to appropriate staff.

Our snow emergency is still in effect and residents are asked to PLEASE do not park on those streets.

There will be no trash pickup tomorrow.

City Hall is expected to be open on time.

There will be a meeting of the Mayor and Council tonight starting at 7:00 pm.

County works will also be having the day off tomorrow, Tuesday, January 26, 2016!

The Prince George’s County Government will be CLOSED on Tuesday, January 26^th. 

Henry

Henry Cauley

Training and Exercise Officer

Prince George’s County

Office of Emergency Management

301-324-4335 (Office)

240-755-9942 (Cell)

301-324-4417 (Direct-EOC)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CLOSED AGAIN TOMORROW

The Federal Government will be CLOSED tomorrow.  All major transportation systems will be on extremely reduced schedules.  Still waiting on a decision from the PGC government. 

Henry

Henry Cauley

Training and Exercise Officer

Prince George’s County

Office of Emergency Management

301-324-4335 (Office)

240-755-9942 (Cell)

301-324-4417 (Direct-EOC)

MOUNT RAINIER'S PUBLIC WORKS CREW still hard at work!

LATEST UPDATE!

In spite of some very yeomen efforts, we have not been able to get our streets cleaned.  Much has been done, but much is still left to be done.  Yes, the streets were pre-treated.  Yes, there was a meeting of all of the essential players prior to the storm.  AND, yes there was a plan in place for trying to make the clean up as painless as possible.

It did not work!  One of the trucks broke down.  The bobcat broke down.  Other mechanical problems occurred.  Bottom line, we still have streets that need to be cleaned and cleared so that residents can get out of their homes!

What is being done?  As of 4:30 pm today, City Management met with some Councilmembers presents and made the following decisions:

Our crew will work on the following streets for the remainder of the day

Salting will occur on 29, 31st and 22 streets today and will change to salting whenever possible

Bob cat will Work on Newton Street and on 28^th between Eastern and Taylor

After this work is completed, the crew will go home for the evening, and will return to work tomorrow morning.  They have already worked 36 hours straight.

Prior to going home, the Public Works Acting Director will seek to rent an additional bobcat for work tomorrow.

City Hall will be open at 9:00 am tomorrow and will remain open for business.  There will still be no trash, garbage or recycling pickups until further notice.

The Work Session for Mayor and Council will be held at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall providing that there is a quorum.

ALL CITY SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

UPDATE: City Hall remains closed today. Public Works crew and our PoliceDepartment remain on the job.

Help is being brought in from Btentwood and Cottage City to help with snow removal on our streets. The backup occurred because of one of our trucks breaking down during the early hours of the snow removal.

The City reached out to surrounding municipalities for help, and now that their streets are cleaned they are asking other municipalities who are able to us plow out. As of now, PW is working on 30th, 29th, 32nd today with the backhoe. They're working their way down on the side streets starting with Varnum as the day warms up.

As you dig out your cars, PLEASE pile the snow behind your car. DO NOT THROW IT OUT ON THE STREET.

CLOSINGS:

Mount Rainier’s City Hall is closed. (Public Works and the Mount Rainier Police Department will continue to work throughout the clean-up process.)

ALL public schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

Prince George’s County Government closed today.

Limited underground Metrorail service will be available. Metro - About Metro - News - Metro plans restoration of limited underground Metrorail, "lifeline" Metrobus service for Monday, January 25

SO FAR-- SO GOOD -- No power outages in Mount Rainier

Power Outages/Utilities:

During the storm, there were minimal power outages throughout the County. As the snow begins to melt and become heavier, power outages still may occur.  To report a power outage or gas/water failure, please contact your utility companies at the following phone numbers:

Pepco: 1-877-737-2662

Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E): 1-877-778-2222 or 1-800-685-0123

SMECO: 1-877-747-6326 or 1-888-440-3311

Washington Gas: 1-800-752-7520

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC): 1-800-828-4002

BE CAREFUL AND LOOK OUT FOR BLACK ICE!

Warning all residents -- Be aware of possible re-freezing on our roads and sidewalks over the next several days.  As roads and sidewalks clear and melt during the daytime hours, they may experience re-freeze in the evenings and create dangerous “black ice” conditions where icy roads and sidewalks may not be visible. 

Meeting the NEEDS of NEIGHBORS and the COMMUNITY

It is freezing outside!

BUT a family's home of seventeen years reached the end of the condemnation process.  They were given until noon today to move!

HARSH story?  Yes, it is.  AND as always, there is a story behind the story.

A single mom was raising her children on a salary of $39000,  with a mortgage, insurance, transportation, food, education, water, electric, taxes, and on and on and on.  There was no money left for maintenance, frills or luxuries.  Mom couldn't even pay the mortgage on time, and YES, she got behind, and now the house is  unfit for human habitation.

SAD story but a familiar one.  This story is playing out all over my neighborhood, and probably yours too.

Thanks to LOTS of help, this family is moving our of their home today into an apartment  Now, mom has a mortgage to pay, and apartment rent to pay!  Where she was underwater before, is is now drowning!  Without your help, she will continue to be a statistic.

PLEASE donate to this fund.  Please copy and paste this link in your browser:   https://www.gofundme.com/meeting-theneeds

Thank you.

https://www.gofundme.com/meeting-theneeds

Disability Residential Parking Signs INSTALLED by the Municipalities!

A resident had her handicap parking sign taken down recently.  She came to the City Council meeting to request that it be replaced.  After contacting the State Highway Administration (SHA), here is some information that I thought you could use.

For future reference, neither SHA nor Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) installs handicap signs. MVA approves a resident’s request for a dedicated handicapped space and it is left up to the particular municipality to decide where to install the sign and do the physical installation.

 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

State Rules for Obtaining a Disability Residential Parking Space

Request for Disabled Parking Space in Residential Area

If you or someone living in your home has a disability, you may be able to reserve a parking space near your home. The steps for you to follow in requesting the action are described below:

If you do not live in Baltimore City, you should request an Application for Personal Residential Permit for Reserved Parking Space from the MVA. You may obtain the form:

By calling the Customer Service Center.

By calling or mailing a request to the MVA Investigation and Security Services division

In-person from an MVA branch office.

By calling the MVA fax-on-demand system; or

By downloading a copy from the MVA's web site on the Internet.

If you live in Baltimore City, contact the branch office within the Department of Public Works.

Note: If you are requesting a space on behalf of a private business or an apartment or condominium complex, you must contact your local county government, rather than the MVA.

When you receive the application, complete and return it. The MVA Investigation and Security Services (ISS) division will review the application to see whether any of the following conditions exist that may disqualify your request:

Your doctor certifies your disability is not permanent;

Your residence is located in a private community or is located on a private roadway;

Off-street parking is already available (e.g., garage, driveway, parking pad);

No member of your household has a Maryland registered vehicle; OR,

Your residence is on a street where parking is prohibited.

If your application is accepted, the MVA Investigation and Security Services (ISS) division will mail a medical certification form to your doctor to verify your disability.

The MVA Investigation and Security Services unit will conduct a site visit.

If everything is acceptable, you will receive a letter and stickers for up to 2 different vehicles. In Baltimore County, the county traffic division makes the final decision on reserving a space and will notify you.

Disabled parking signs will be installed within 60 days after the letter of approval is sent.

If your request is denied, you will receive a letter with information about how to appeal the decision.  

Fees:

There is no fee charged to reserve the parking space.

Contact Information:

MVA
Investigation and Security Services (ISS) Division
6601 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

FAX on Demand (Catalogue #28) – 410-424-3050

MVA Customer Service Center:	1-410-768-7000
TTY/Hearing Impaired:	1-301-729-4563

Check this website for more information:  http://www.mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/info/12100/12100-01T.htm 

Seeking local  help for local problems --  light, water, gasbills and emergency help with evictions.

Just got your NEW TAX ASSESSMENT! Need to get more information about it.

Then you should mark your calendar and plan to attend the public meeting of the Mount Rainier Mayor and Council on February 2, 2016.

On February 2, 2016, Mount Rainier will have two experts, Dan Puma (State)* and Linda Allen (County)**, on Tax Assessment at its public meeting. If you have questions about your recently received tax assessments, this is the meeting to attend. WRITE YOUR QUESTIONS DOWN so that I can make sure that they are answered. Bring your new tax assessment with you to the meeting.

The new tax assessments were mailed to owners on December 28, 2015. You should have received it by now if you are the owner.

*Daniel R. Puma Jr., Prince George's

County, Supervisor of Assessments, Maryland Department of Assessments & Taxation will be discussing the tax assessments.

**Linda Vaughn Allen is the Chief of Treasury for Prince George’s County - Office of Finance discussing residential real property taxation. 

White House Tour for Seniors 62 and Over

This is a first come first served event for seniors.  The exact number that will be able to attend has not been determined.  At this moment, there is "NO COST."  However, we all need to chip in to pay for a driver to take us to and from the WHITE HOUSE.  I am working on transportation now.

During the Gala, I mentioned that our next activity would be a visit to the White House.  I have made the request, and it is being honored!

I need your help in getting the word out and the names of your residents that are 62 and over that would like to participate in this event.  TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

I need to KNOW IMMEDIATELY who would like to be on this trip.  Once I know how many, I will be able to seek transportation to get us there and back.

Here is what I need:

1.  Your name as it appears on your state or federal identification --, i.e., driver’s license, state ID, passport, or other official identification that has YOUR PICTURE.

2.  Your emergency contact information should someone need to be notified --, i.e., husband, brother, sister, mother, daughter, son, friend, etc.  I need their name, address, telephone number (cell, work, and home), and email address.

3.   Will you need any assistance to make this trip, i.e., wheelchair, walker, or other individual needs?

4.  I NEED this information no later than January 29, 2016.  PLEASE NOTE that there will be no exceptions to this date or the information requested.  If it is NOT COMPLETE when I receive it, I will NOT BE GETTING BACK to you to request it.

5.  Send your information to mayormiles@gmail.com.  There is no need to call.  IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN EMAIL ACCOUNT, please send the information to One Municipal Place, Mount Rainier, MD 20712.  Please WRITE LEGIBLY so that your information can be read.

My White House contact is being very gracious to arrange a SPECIAL TOUR for my seniors, and I want to make sure that we get our information to her promptly.

Depending on how well this adventure goes, we will set our sights on the Capitol for a tour.