What a DIY Home Security System Will Cost You After 5 Years

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

"CR’s experts did the math on systems from the major players. Now all you have to do is decide."

The Newest Ways to Deal With Robocalls

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

• Know Their Tricks: The latest version of spoofing is what's known as neighbor spoofing. Robocallers transmit a number with the same area code and exchange as your own. "It encourages people to answer the phone because they think it's somebody in their community
• What to Do:
  Use Call Blocking
  Don't Answer Unfamiliar Calls
  Require Caller Input
  Block Anonymous Calls
  Don't Engage
  Don't Blame Your Neighbors

You Can Prevent Theft from Auto

Home Care: How to Give Your Parents the Help They Need

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

Caregiving is hard work for adult children, and hiring help is costly. These smart strategies can make your tasks easier.

How to Report Water Issues to WSSC

(Click on the image to use the tool)

You will need to create an account the first time.
This is an example of what comes back:

Or call 301-206-4001 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

2017 Snow Summit

(Click on the image for the briefing)

• Park Off the Street
• If You Must Park on the Street, Park on the Even Side of the Roadway
• Never Park on a Snow Emergency Route
• Clear Sidewalks Abutting Your Home (Front, side, & rear)
• Make Sure Students Can Use Your Sidewalk to Get to School!
• Clear Driveways and Mailboxes after Plowing Is Completed
• Stay off Roadways, If Possible
• If You Must Drive – Use Extra Caution
• Bridges, overpasses and cold spots freeze more quickly
• Wait twenty-four (24) hours after the snow stops before calling to request snow and ice removal services
• Double shovel, avoid trouble – shovel a few inches at a time
• If You Earn Money Shoveling Snow – Email TCA with Your Contact Information, the Area You Will Work In, and How Much You Charge (for Those of Us Who Can't Shovel)

Falls Awareness & Prevention Guide

(Click on the image for the guide)

• Each year, one out of three Americans over age 65 falls.
• Falls are the leading cause of injury to seniors in the United States.
• Fortunately, there are many things seniors can do to help prevent falls, and maintain health and independence.
• According to the National Hospital Discharge Survey, more than 90% of hip fractures are caused by falling. Three-quarters of all hip fractures occur in women.
• Approximately 25% of hip fracture patients will make a full recovery; 40% will require nursing home admission; 50% will be dependent upon a cane or a walker; and 20% will die within one year of the fall.

It Can Happen Here Too: Garage door opener burglaries

(Click on the image for  Neal Augenstein's WTOP report)

A rash of burglaries in Loudoun and Prince William Counties had one thing in common: the crook or crooks got into the houses using a garage door opener.
Since Oct. 13, the Loudoun County Sheriff says five burglaries have been reported in the Sterling area, in which residents were home while the suspect used a garage door opener from unlocked cars parked in driveways to gain entry.
Prince William County had several similar residential burglaries Oct. 8, in Manassas. Police say surveillance video captured suspects using garage door openers from unlocked cars to get into the homes.

• Don't leave your garage door opener in your car parked in your driveway! It's a key to your home.
• Double lock the door from your garage to your home.

Reduce the costs of healthcare in Maryland

(Click on the image for more information)

• The Maryland Health Care Commission is providing this cost and quality information so that patients and providers are aware of how cost and quality differs among hospitals.
• With this information everyone in Maryland can join a statewide conversation to better understand the differences in cost and quality that exist, work together to find solutions to reduce those differences, and help patients make the best choices for their care.

Beltway Speed Cameras Net Thousands of Citations

(Click on the image for Adam Tuss' News4 report)

The speed cameras are making the Beltway safer - drivers are slowing down:

	NB Outer Loop	SB Inner Loop	Total
July	12,896	222	13,118
Aug	7,434	11,902	19,336
Sep	2,765	5,316	8,081
Totals	23,095	17,440	40,535

Data from http://safezones.maryland.gov/locations.html

Why You Need To Keep Your Devices Updated!

(Click on the image for the Consumerist article)

• Researchers have discovered and disclosed a massive WiFi vulnerability that puts everyone’s private data at risk. How massive? Basically, if you can read this story, congratulations — you’re almost certainly affected.
• But there is good news: This flaw is patchable.
  Device manufacturers were all notified about the flaw before it was made public, and are working on updates to fix this particular danger. The best thing any home user can do is install security updates as soon as your devices prompt you to, and make sure you keep any computer, phone, or connected device as up-to-date as the manufacturer allows.

Equifax breach may mean scammers can target more seniors

(Click on the image for Michelle Singletary's report in The Washington Post)

• More than two-thirds of caretakers reported that a scammer had targeted their elderly relatives, according to a new survey of more than 1,700 people conducted by the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA), a New England-based trade group. 
• The survey found that, most often, the attempted fraud was initiated with a telephone call. Nearly 22 percent of scam attempts were made via email or another online contact. 
• The CCUA also found that caregivers are worried about their elder relative’s ability to spot a fraud. And they’re right to be concerned. More than a quarter of respondents said that the elders under their care had fallen victim to at least one financial scam.

Read the article for what you can do to help protect an elderly relative.

Officers Proudly Wearing Badges Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month

(Click on the image to hear Sonya)

It’s estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Almost all of us know someone who is either right now or has in the past bravely battled this disease. In a show of our unwavering support to those affected by breast cancer, Prince George’s County Police Officers are proudly wearing pink badges to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Our officers purchased more than 500 of the badges, helping raise more than $2,500 for Susan G. Komen Maryland.

One of our officers, Sergeant Sonya Lancaster, is a breast cancer survivor. Please take a moment to hear her thoughts on the PGPD badges and the effort to raise awareness and funding for those impacted by this disease. We thank Sergeant Lancaster for bravely sharing her story.

On Friday, Chief Hank Stawinski will present a check for the money raised by the sale of the pink badges to a representative of Susan G. Komen Maryland. The presentation will take place at 11:00 am at the “Chief on the Go” event at the National Harbor. We hope residents across the county join us on Friday.

School Employees and Parents Uninformed about the Grade Tampering Hotline

(Click on the image for Tracee's News4 report)

If you want to report what you believe is grade tampering in Prince George's County Public Schools, call 833-535-6103 or email PGCPSSpecialReview@alverezandmarsal.com.

Don't Be a Victim of Gas Station Theft

(Click on the image for the short video clip)

Please take a moment to watch this surveillance video from a gas station in Camp Springs. On the video, a thief sneaks up to a car as the unsuspecting driver is pumping gas. Within seconds, the suspect snatches an item from the front seat and then quietly gets back into the getaway car. Two cars were targeted at this gas station. [More information here.]
[Avoid being a victim of this kind of crime by locking your car doors and keeping your purse with you.]

Russia Has Turned Kaspersky Software Into Tool for Spying

(Click on the image for Shane Harris and Gordon Lubold's report in the Wall Street Journal)

WASHINGTON—The Russian government used a popular antivirus software to secretly scan computers around the world for classified U.S. government documents and top-secret information, modifying the program to turn it into an espionage tool, according to current and former U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter.
The software, made by the Moscow-based company Kaspersky Lab, routinely scans files of computers on which it is installed looking for viruses and other malicious software. But in an adjustment to its normal operations that the officials say could only have been made with the company’s knowledge, the program searched for terms as broad as “top secret,” which may be written on classified government documents, as well as the classified code names of U.S. government programs, these people said.
[You should consider this when you decide on an anti-virus program.]

MGM National Harbor Gaming Floor Expansion

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission approved MGM National Harbor's request to expand their gaming floor to include additional VLTs and table game space on the second floor of the existing building.
MLGCA June 29, 2017 Minutes (see page 6)
MGM Request
MLGCA Staff Memo

2017 Local Development Council Grant Recipients

(Click on the image for the list)

How to put fallen leaves to work for your lawn, garden

(Click on the image for Mike McGrath's article on WTOP)

Tips:

• Do not let whole leaves lay on lawns
• Mow, mow, mow your leaves …

Protect Your Personal Information

(Click on the image to see how)

More information here.

50 Cars Broken Into in 48 Hours in Our County

(Click on the image for Kristin Wright's News4 report)

Click here for Chief Stawinski's advice.

Chief Stawinski Addresses DOJ Investigation

(Click on the image for the Chief's press conference)

As deer enter mating season, drivers should be more aware of road

(Click on the image for Kate Ryan's WTOP report)

Tips:

• Never veer for deer! Some of the worst crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and then end up striking trees, utility poles or other cars.
• Deer feed between sunset and sunrise so when driving during that period, remain alert for deer.
• Use your high beams where possible; high beams give drivers increased visibility over a wider area.
• Use peripheral vision; be on the lookout for deer to pop up alongside the roadway.
• If you do strike a deer, never approach the injured animal. Instead, pull over, put on your hazards and call police.

Spotlight on Domestic Violence

(Click on the image for a 1 minute video)

As you move around Prince George's County Monday night, look up to the sky, as we shine spotlights on domestic violence.

• We REMEMBER those who lost their lives to domestic violence.
• We HONOR the survivors.
• We ENCOURAGE the silent ones to speak up and speak out.
• We are ALL in this TOGETHER

Do You Want to Participate in a Curbside Organics Collection Pilot?

• Why is the County conducting this pilot and why should I compost?
  Nearly half of the materials that end up in the landfills can be composted.  Collecting food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings at the curb will help keep valuable materials out of our landfills, reduce harmful greenhouse gases, protect our environment and help Prince George’s County get closer to our zero waste goals.
• What can I compost?
  There are a variety of materials that can be composted including yard trim, leaves, grass and brush.  Examples of food items include, fruits, vegetables, meats, bones, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, soiled paper napkins, soiled pizza boxes, tea bags and loose tea leaves, dairy products, and seafood shells, to name a few.
• How can I participate?
  After opting in, we will provide you with a 2 gallon kitchen pail, in addition to a 32 gallon exterior wheeled cart to place all of your organics. We will also provide you with a box of compostable liners for your kitchen pail to get you going. Additional liners may be purchased at local retail stores. A list of tested and approved liners is available in your welcome kit.
• If enough Tantallon households are interested, we can participate in a pilot project. Email TCA (tantalloncitizensassociation@gmail.com) if you want to participate.

Council moves ahead with “rocket docket” for complaints

(Click on the image for Emily Blackner's report in the Sentinel)

• "On Sept. 20, the county council’s Transportation, Housing and the Environment (THE) committee voted 4-0 on a “favorable with amendments” report of CB-64-2017, which creates a new procedure for administrative hearings on violations of housing and property standards. The bill was drafted at the request of County Executive Rushern Baker, III, and representatives from his office explained the goal was to help county residents get faster action on their code complaints."
• "The bill, alongside companion legislation [CB-63-2017], gives the existing Nuisance Abatement Board (NAB) additional powers and creates an administrative hearing officer position to conduct administrative hearings on code violations. When a county inspector issues a citation, the property owner has 30 days to respond to the citation by paying the fine and correcting the issue or requesting a hearing to contest it. If the cited person does not respond within 30 days, the case moves to court, where a judge can issue an enforceable order to correct the deficit and/or pay the fines. The new process would allow the administrative board to conduct a hearing on the citation and “order against the person or property cited and impose a civil penalty,” the bill reads."
• "The bill also specifies that while it shall become law on Jan. 1, 2018, the board will not begin hearing cases until July 1, 2018."
• Click here for the DPIE briefing on the new, faster process.

Why a Credit Freeze Is Better Than a Credit Lock

(Click on the image fro the Consumer Reports article)

"Consumers worried about identity theft after the Equifax data breach are being encouraged by all three credit bureaus to use a credit lock rather than a credit freeze.
But although credit locks and freezes do essentially the same thing—prevent anyone from opening an account in your name—there are some important differences to keep in mind when deciding which to use (you can’t do both). In most cases a credit freeze offers better protections against fraud and can be cheaper, making it the best option."

Please Help the Florida Keys Victims of Hurricane Irma

• According to an article in the September 26 issue of USA Today, “While the nation has turned its eyes toward the island-wide destruction in Puerto Rico and the mounting deaths from the earthquake in Mexico, the Keys are still operating in full disaster mode more than two weeks after Hurricane Irma made landfall here as a Category 4.”
• Sponsored by Denison Landscaping and Nursery, Mike Weller (son of Rosemary and Joe Weller) is taking the truck he drives for Denison (Joshua and Levi are two of John and Donna Denison’s grandsons) down to the Keys the weekend of October 13. The truck will be full of donations of “pretty much anything it takes to live”.
• Donations are being accepted at the now closed Garden Center at 8911 Oxon Hill Rd during the week from 9am to 4pm. You can contact Mike at Mweller@denisonlandscaping.com or 240-304-7562.