What You Need to Know About Tech Support Scams

(Click on the image for the NBC report)

"It starts when your computer suddenly freezes and a pop-up warns you of a problem. Next, a "technician" offers to fix it, if you allow him to gain access to your computer. Here's how to spot the scammers."
[If you actually need tech support, go to someone you trust because allowing access to your computer potentially opens up all the personal information stored on it. See the report on Windows 10's Quick Assist here.]

County Zoning Rewrite Listening Sessions

The Prince George’s County Planning Department is conducting a comprehensive rewrite of the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. These laws define how land in certain geographic areas can be used. The current Zoning Ordinance is more than 1,200 pages, inconsistent and difficult to use. Our hope is to create a 21st Century Zoning Ordinance for Prince George’s County, transforming the current zoning code into a more modern and user-friendly ordinance.
Project Goals:

• Streamline and simplify the regulations and development approval process
• Modernize and consolidate our zones and development standards
• Incentivize economic and transit-oriented, mixed-use development
• Protect and enhance stable residential neighborhoods

How to prevent your security camera from being hacked

(Click on the image for the article)

"a Houston mother learned the security camera in her daughter's bedroom was being broadcast online."
Ron's advice: It's better to watch for potential criminals outside your home with external cameras than to risk having criminals watch you inside your home with inside cameras.

What's My Flood Risk?

(Click on the image to go to floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/)

Annual premium for an example home in the moderate to low risk area for the maximum $250,000/$100,000 building/contents coverage is about $500 from USAA.

The History of Broad Creek

(Click on the image for the Conservancy website)

You don't have to be a member to learn the history of Broad Creek (but they would like you to join!)
Topics under the "BCHD Information" tab:

• Broad Creek National Register Nomination
• Broad Creek History
• Broad Creek Historic District Preservation Planning Study
• History of St. John's Episcopal Church
• Broad Creek Historic District Historical Marker
• History of Harmony Hall

Permaculture Design Offers a Solution

(Click on the image for the website)

Permaculture Design is a process for managing your land and dwelling to be highly productive in an ecological manner.
Space is available for the 2016/2017 Permaculture Design Certificate Course. Classes take place weekends at the Accokeek Foundation in Piscataway Park from 10 am to 6 pm, on the following dates:

• September 24–25: Bioregionalism, Ecosystems, Ethics & Principles, Design Process
• October 15–16: Patterns in Nature, Site Analysis, Water Harvesting, Soil & Gardening
• November 5–6: Nutrient Recycling, Design for Disaster, Social & Economic Permaculture
• March 25–26: Renewable Energy, Natural Building & Small-scale Technology
• April 22–23: Grains, Aquaculture, Forest Gardens, Guilds, Agroforestry, Animals, Cash Crops
• May 20–21: Forest Garden Installation, Final Design Presentations & Certificate Awards

Trash Troubles

(Cick on the image for Tracee's Report)

News4: Thousands of Prince George's County residents have signed a petition to change the way the county collects trash. They want haulers to come pick up garbage twice a week.

New CountyClick System Coming Aug 16th

Will You Be Able to Help Your College-Age Child in a Medical Emergency?

(Click on the image for the report)

From Consumer Reports:
Early one October morning, Sheri E. Warsh, a mother of three from Highland Park, Ill., stepped out of the shower to a ringing phone. On the other end, her 18-year-old son’s college roommate delivered terrifying news: Her son—270 miles away at the University of Michigan—was being rushed by ambulance to a nearby emergency room with severe, unrelenting chest pain. “I was scared out of my mind, imagining the worst,” Warsh said.
In a panic, she called the ER for details about the medical emergency. What she got instead was a rebuff from the nurse. “She asked me how old my son was, and when I said 18, she told me I had no right to talk to the doctor,” Warsh said.

Obie Calls for Volunteers

Please complete the attached form and email the attached form to jtwalkerbey@co.pg.md.us, by August 15.  Thanks.

Why Your Credit Card Is a Consumer Protection Superweapon

(Click on the image for the report)

Washington Consumers' Checkbook: "credit cards are more than just a convenient way to pay for stuff; when you use one, you automatically get incredibly strong protections against most lousy-service scenarios and companies that sell faulty goods."

Cars Stolen with Laptop Help

(Click on the image for the ABCNews report)

Laptop used to "hot-wire" the cars. Video says cars were unlocked but that's not certain.
Low-tech theft from unlocked cars is Prince George's top crime and it's the most preventable.
Don't Be a Victim! - Hide It, Lock It, Keep It

Are You Registered to Vote?

Use this website to:

• Review your voter registration record.
• Request a duplicate voter registration card.
• Find out where to vote.
• Find out your voting districts.
• Find out your local board of elections.
• See the status of your absentee or provisional ballot.
• View your sample ballot.

Register online here If you are not yet registered to vote.

Water Main Break on Asbury Dr Swallows Car

Water main broke at 2:30 am on August 3. Water was shut off about 6 hours later.

US Prison Costs Grossly Exceed Public Education Spending

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The relative modern day cost of incarceration in the US relative to public expenditures on elementary-secondary education strongly supports social policy planning that puts education first. Assuming that the total number of people imprisoned in the United States was 1.2 million in 2010, the average per-inmate cost was $31,286 and ranged from $14,603 in Kentucky to $60,076 in New York. In contrast, the US government spent $602 billion on the nearly 50 million elementary-secondary students in public schools in the US in 2010, or about $12,800 per student, according to the US Census Bureau. This is more than two times less than was spent on average per inmate.
[Source]