Champion Tree Tour

(Click on the image to register)

Join us for the Prince George's County Champion Tree Tour and learn about outstanding trees that stood witness to our nation's history. This bus tour will take you through a tour of notable trees in Southern Prince George's County.

Locally Grown Food Sources

Click on the image for the Washington Consumers' Checkbook article)

There are many local- and organic-focused markets and suppliers in the area. Their sheer number—and the fact that what’s in season or in stock constantly changes—make it impossible for us to make meaningful comparisons of their prices and quality.
Fortunately, however, nonprofit LocalHarvest.org at least makes it easy to find them by maintaining a searchable online database of farmers’ markets, CSAs, farm stands, pick-your-own farms, food co-ops and groceries, and restaurants.
LocalHarvest.org doesn’t check the bona fides of listed suppliers, and since some businesses make dubious claims, we recommend doing a bit of homework before buying. But the website does offer excellent advice on how to choose providers of locally grown and organic food, along with questions to ask suppliers.

‘Like the Wild West’: Prince George’s continues to fight abandoned cars, litter

(Click on the image for Rachel Chason 's Washington Post report)

• For decades, residents in Prince George’s have bemoaned litter in the county. For just as long, officials have tried to do something about it.
• Incoming County Council member Jolene Ivey said litter and illegal dumping were two of the issues raised most often when she was door-knocking this campaign season.
  “People want to live in a place that makes them feel proud, and it’s hard to feel that way if you’re surrounded by litter and nasty old mattresses and couches.”
• Adam Ortiz, director of the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, said although he recognizes that improvements could be made in enforcement, county workers and community groups “are picking up more trash than we ever have before.”
• But the county can do only so much, said Tiaa Rutherford, Prince George’s litter reduction program manager. There are 11 county employees charged with removing litter for the jurisdiction of nearly 1 million people, Rutherford said.
  “It’s not possible for us to do it all ourselves as the government,” Rutherford said. “Nor should that be our job. . . . We need community engagement.”

Farewell to DPW&T Director Darrell Mobley

Now former DPW&T Director Darrell Mobley and now Acting DPW&T Director Gwen Clerkley (Photo courtesy of ENPPhotography)

Quieter skies - Aircraft Noise Bother You? Here's What You Can Do

(Click on the image for Lori Aratani's Washington Post report)

Thanks to John Mitchell, Moyaone Reserve:

• There is an important proposed amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act, sponsored by MD Senators Cardin and Van Hollen, to seek greater dispersion of flights to avoid having them come over the a swath of the same residences every 90 seconds. The FAA Reauthorization bill has passed the house, and awaiting Senate action. Now is the time to contact the ranking Senators on the Senate Transportation Committee, asking for passage of the Markey/Warren/Cardin/Van Hollen Overflight Dispersion Restoration Amendment to the FAA Budget Reauthorization Bill. (See the Fair Skies Nation message at https://mailchi.mp/3503222f1410/take-action-for-fair-air-traffic-today-takes-only-a-minute-372555?e=93218c8141 for details.)
• The draft amendment seeks dispersion of flights and increase in arrival altitudes. For your reading pleasure: https://fairskiesnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/draft-faa-amendment-0618.pdf

See: "DC residents angry about airplane noise ponder next stop"
Click here for the online Reagan National aircraft noise complaint form.

Public Campaign Financing

• CB-004-2018, a bill to establish a Fair Election Fund to provide public campaign financing for a candidate for a County elective office, is being considered by the Prince George's County Council. Video of an informative briefing on public campaign financing is here starting at 22 minutes in.
• Related, is a Prince George's County Central Democratic Committee meeting on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 89 (2905 Old Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772), at 6:30 PM, to discuss making a public statement regarding unofficial "official" ballots (AKA, slates). They will be taking testimony from the public. If you wish to testify/or submit testimony, please send an email to the chair at: Cheryl.Landis@verizon.net.

Harmony Hall and Fort Washington Happenings

Happening at Harmony Hall:

Aug 25 (Sat.), 12:45 PM	Talks with the National Park Service held on the Harmony Hall grounds. Come visit and learn the important history of this house and property to this area. Free
Oct 6 (Sat.) 12-3 PM	Silesia Citizens Foundation and the National Park Service are looking for Volunteers to help us clean the Harmony Hall grounds. Bring your rakes, boots, gloves, bug spray, and clothing for yard work etc. We appreciate your help in spreading the word. Please respond if you can volunteer. (Rain date is the following Saturday, Oct 13)
Oct 24 (Wed.) 7:30-9 PM	Lecture and Power Point from Dir. of Archaeology Luke Pecoraro of Mt. Vernon. He is here to talk about the history of our area and George Washington's connection to Harmony Hall. This same lecture was held at St. John's Church of Broad Creek with great attendance and appreciation.

Happening at Fort Washington Fort:

Sep 29 (Sat.) 10 AM-4 PM

Good Neighbor Day: Held in the Fort at Fort Washington. Join our friends and Partners as we welcome you to Fort Washington Park. There will be displays, exhibits and talks from various groups on a wide variety of subjects. Fee Free Day.

If you have questions or need more information please call Carol Tilch, Silesia Citizens Foundation, 301-292-3148

DPIE Launches Administrative Hearing Process to Streamline Adjudication of Code Enforcement Violations

August 15, 2018
The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) has started a new program to reduce the time it takes for property standards citations to be adjudicated. The Administrative Hearing Process will allow hearing officers to adjudicate citations issued for properties in violation of Prince George’s County code, instead of waiting for courts to hear the cases.

Dozens of times each day in Prince George’s County, codes and property standards are violated, leaving homeowners and business leaders frustrated. The current process takes as long as nine months from the time a complaint is received to the time the respondent appears in District Court for a final disposition. The Administrative Hearing Process was created in response to legislation passed by the County Council in 2017 – CB-64-2017.

“The objective is to streamline the process,” said Adjudications Administrator Eric Wardford. “Currently, it takes too long to get these cases into court. This process will exponentially speed up the time it takes to adjudicate these matters.”

The process will be implemented in stages, with certain jurisdictions targeted for the first phase, which began August 1 with DPIE property standards inspectors issuing citations in those areas. The process will be operational County-wide by early 2019. The first hearings will be held in September 2018.

The hearing officers are trained attorneys who have the power to issue summonses, notices and default orders for noncompliance. They will handle complaints about unlicensed vehicles; debris; tall grass and weeds; commercial vehicles on residential property; and other property standards issues.

“This new Administrative Hearing Process will benefit our citizens, neighborhoods and businesses and offers the County a powerful tool that will resolve property standard issues much more expeditiously,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.

Citizens with complaints about code violations should call 311 to make their initial report. [or use CountyClick] The calls will be forwarded to DPIE. Citations will be issued to the property owner, who can request a hearing within 30 days of the issuance of a citation. The hearings will be held within 30 days of a request.

Testimony and evidence will be presented at the hearings. The hearing officer will issue a decision within five days. If the respondent is held liable, civil and monetary fines can be assessed and the respondent will be ordered to abate the violation.
Parties aggrieved by the decision have the right to request reconsideration by the adjudications administrator. The administrator’s decisions can be appealed to the Prince George’s County Nuisance Abatement Board. That board’s decisions can be appealed to the Prince George’s Circuit Court.

Wardford, the adjudications administrator, is an attorney who previously served as a hearing examiner with the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles and the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services (DYRS).

The hearings will take place at DPIE headquarters, 9400 Peppercorn Place, Suite 500, in Largo.

Are Your Investment and Retirement Accounts Protected?

(Click on the image for the Washington Consumers' Checkbook report)

Bank robbers used to target banks because that’s where the money is.
But the real money these days is someplace else: Individual investors hold far more assets in stocks, mutual funds, and retirement accounts than they do in bank and credit union checking and savings accounts.

Weighing the costs and need for long-term care insurance

(Click on the image for Nina Mitchell's report on WTOP)

According to Fidelity, the average couple retiring today at age 65 can expect to pay $280,000 in health care costs assuming lifespans of 87 for a man and 89 for a woman. However, this estimate does not include the cost of long-term care, such as home health aides or assisted living.

Summary of Genworth’s median annual 2017 long-term care costs are below:

• Adult Day Care (5 days/week)              $18,200
• Assisted Living (one-bedroom)             $45,000
• Homemaker Services (44 hours/week) $47,934
• In-Home Health Aide (44 hours/week) $49,192
• Nursing Home (semi-private room)      $85,775
• Nursing Home (private room)               $97,455

Take precautions against mosquitoes to prevent West Nile and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Prince George’s County Confirms its First Human West Nile Virus Case of 2018

LARGO, MD – The Prince George’s County Health Department has confirmed the county’s first and locally acquired human case of the West Nile virus of the 2018 season. It’s reported the person showed symptoms last month. Lab results later identified the West Nile virus as the cause. The person is currently under medical care.
In 2017, there were six reported cases of the West Nile virus in Maryland with no fatalities. None of the reported cases were in Prince George’s County. The county works with the state to routinely track and respond to mosquito-borne infections.
The West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus cannot be transmitted from one person to another or from birds to people. The virus affects the nervous system. Most individuals infected with West Nile will not have any symptoms, however some people may experience:

• Body Aches
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Rash
• Swollen Lymph Glands
• Vomiting

While West Nile is the most common virus spread by mosquitoes in the United States, bites from an infected Aedes species of mosquitoes spread the Zika virus, as well as dengue and chikungunya viruses.
The Prince George’s County Health Department reminds residents to follow the three D’s to keep mosquitoes away:

• Drain: Standing water attracts mosquitoes. Empty out any outside water containers near your home at least once per week
• Dress: Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Defend: Properly apply an EPA-registered repellent such as DEET, picaridin, IR 3535, or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.

Watch Justin Finch's News4 report, "How to Protect Yourself From Mosquitoes"