Button offers instant gratification for those plagued by airplane noise

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

• "Barbara Deckert has a new weapon in the war against airplane noise — and she’s not afraid to use it.
  Every time a plane flies over her suburban Maryland home, rattling her windows and setting her teeth on edge, she presses a small white button and feels a tiny sense of triumph.
  That’s because with one click, Deckert has done what could have taken her hours to do a few months ago — she has filed a noise complaint with officials at the Maryland Aviation Administration.
  Thanks to the ingenuity of a software engineer from Southern California, Deckert and hundreds of others with similar beefs, and the Airnoise button, have an easy way to register their annoyance with the jets that fly over their homes.
  “It’s a fabulous tool,” Deckert said. “Clicking that button is really psychologically satisfying.”"
• A Tantallon neighbor who has one of these buttons notes, "Others in this area who are bothered by the airplane traffic might be interested."

Meet the members of the Prince George’s County Council

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

The Washington Post asked every council member: What’s your priority for 2019? What’s the biggest problem in Prince George’s, and what are you doing to fix it? What’s your favorite spot or thing to do in your district?

Not a Surprise: At Many Stores, the Sale Price Isn't Special

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

"Checkbook tracked prices of big-ticket items sold at major retailers for 10 months and found disturbing pricing policies at 17 of the 19 we studied. At these stores, many sale prices—even those that advertise big savings—are bogus discounts, with the same price called a sale price more than half the time. And at some stores the fake sales never end: For several chains Checkbook found most items we tracked were offered at a false discount every week or almost every week we checked. In other words, the "regular price" listed on all those price tags is seldom, if ever, actually the price customers pay."

Tired of Looking at Eyesores Like This? Here's What to Do:

From IHHAAC:

The problem is two-fold. For some communities with no overhead wires, the issue is the
boxes in many yards that become unsightly and hazardous. For those communities with
overhead wires, the issue is the left-over wires and conduits left hanging and askew. In
researching the issue, here is what we learned.

• The Cable Commission meets monthly at 6 pm in Largo. (Apparently the meetings seldom last longer than an hour.)
• There are five Commissioners. Some changes may be made during 2019 since the Commissioners’ terms coincide with the County Executive’s term. The meetings are streamed live and archived on the Prince George’s County Community You Tube channel.
• The staff maintains the records and files the complaints with the companies.
• The email to be used is: CableCommission@co.pg.md.us
• The Cable Coordinator is Ms. Gina Okolo.
• There is no specific complaint form to file. However, the staff suggests when possible, we submit the following information:

1. A picture of the issue,
2. The specific address of the issue,
3. The pole number if there is one, and
4. If the issue is a new one, the date the work was done.
5. If there are several problems, they should be submitted together.
6. The cable companies will then determine which of them is responsible.
7. They are required to report back to the Cable Commission, who will provide feedback to the complainant.

Please Recycle Your Christmas Tree

State report: Marylanders overpaying by nearly $55 million for electricity, gas from using third-party suppliers

(Click on the image for Ethan McLeod's Baltimore Fishbowl report)

• We’re nearly two decades out from the moment Maryland lawmakers decided to deregulate the state’s energy markets in hopes of boosting competition and driving down prices for consumers. A first-of-its-kind, state-commissioned report confirms what some observers already figured: Many Marylanders are getting swindled on their rates by third-party suppliers.
• The report, published this week by the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, concludes that based on the advertised rates of third-party electricity and gas suppliers—ones that aren’t the main provider for a coverage area, such as BGE here in Central Maryland, or Pepco in the D.C. area—consumers are paying roughly $54.9 million more for their energy than if they simply went with their assigned utility’s supply.
• That loss comprises $34.1 million in residential electricity expenses, and $20.7 million in residential gas expenses. Broken down among the 438,020 households who’ve signed up with third-party suppliers, that translates to about $169.38 per year.

Keep Henry & Patti in your prayers

From Trish Appelle Gallahan:

Patti [Horak] called and shared the sad news that Henry [Woltman] is failing and Hospice is being called to help.  He has had two episodes that required ambulances to the ER.  The doctors reminded Patti that this is terminal and that she needs to get Hospice in to help.  The last resort meds & chemo are being stopped.  She is emotionally drained as she prepares for the worse.  This month would be their wedding anniversary.  She knows you care and said I could share this news.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Love to each of you,
Trish

P.S.  Pass this to those that love them.

Hogan Aide Defends Stadium Maneuver as Criticism Mounts

(Click on the image for Bruce DePuyt's Maryland Matters report)

• A spokeswoman for Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) said he has met with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder at least twice to discuss Oxon Cove, a 300-acre parcel just inside the Capital Beltway near MGM National Harbor, and currently the site of a park and farming museum.
  “This is a major economic development project for the state,” said Amelia Chasse, Hogan’s communications director. “We think it’s a terrific site.”
• “I feel pissed off — and you can print it that way,” said state Sen.-elect Obie Patterson (D), who represented the Oxon Hill area on the County Council for eight years. “I’m sitting here — I’ve been in this area, in this county, since 1971. And I know Gov. Hogan is the governor, but we have a responsibility, too.”
• State Del. Jay Walker (D), who also represents the area, said a new stadium would be a burden on the community.
  “With transportation issues that we’re still trying to get fixed to this day, you almost have to say ‘what’s the transportation plan?’” Walker said.
• Community activist Sarah Cavett, a former member of the Prince George’s County planning board member, agrees. “If you’re talking a domed stadium, surface parking, you’re right on the [Potomac] River, there would be so much impervious surface, I think that would have a terrible deteriorating effect on the Potomac, on our entire area.”
  “Do I think it’s the best place for stadium?” Cavett added. “No, I don’t.”
• Monique Anderson-Walker (D), who succeeded Patterson on the County Council last week, remembers playing at Oxon Cove as a child.
  “I think it’s a great location for development,” she said. “I don’t know if a stadium alone is the way to go. I’d like to see diversified uses there, mixed uses. But that’s something that the people would have to determine that they want. The people should definitely have a say in how it happens and what they need.”

Useful Information from the Dec 6 Community Partners Meeting

(Click on the image for the briefing)

• Tips on Winter conditions: page 7
• Call-A-Bus improved service: pages 10-14
• Nuisance Abatement Board process: pages 22-27
• Administrative Hearing Process (speeding up compliance with property standards: pages 28-25
• Department of Environment (reduced cost for pets adoptions): pages 39-56

Medical Alert Devices - The Best Way To Get Help?

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

• Today more than 3 million (mostly senior) customers own these gadgets, and many models can use cell signals to communicate. They cost about $11 to $52 a month.
• How to find the best one? We’ll get to that. More important is to ask if a medical alert device is the best tool for the job of calling 911 for help. Most of them are not, and our tests of several different models found many companies actually delay emergency response, not facilitate it.
• See Susan Hogan's News4 report, "Some Medical Alert Devices May Actually Delay Response".

Our Local History - If You Are Curious, There's a Lot to Know

These books are available from:

• "Harmony Hall and the Silesia Community" - Carol Tilch, 301-292-3148, ctutt8@verizon.net
• "Along the Potomac Shore in Prince George's County" - Judy Meade, 301-292-9386, meaderj@msn.com
• "Accokeek (Images of America)" - Amazon Books

Alsobrooks to Have Smooth Transition to Prince George's Exec

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

Which Grocery Stores Offer the Best Prices and Quality?

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

Note: The summary is available to all but the individual store ratings require a subscription. Copies of Washington Consumers' Checkbook are available in local libraries.

Checkbook surveys consumers and evaluates the quality and prices of local service providers and products. Subscriptions help to fund this valuable source of unbiased information.

Complaints about noise from Washington-area airports skyrocket

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

• Complaints about noise from flights at the Washington region’s three major airports more than doubled last year, according to statistics compiled by the agencies that manage the facilities.
• Residents filed more than 96,000 noise complaints linked to flights at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall, Reagan National and Dulles International airports in 2017 — more than double the number filed the previous year.
• In a shift from previous years, the majority of complaints about National — roughly 31,000 — came from residents in Maryland. In previous years, D.C. residents, particularly in Northwest Washington, had been the most vocal about aircraft noise. The largest number of complaints came from people living in the Maryland communities of Accokeek, Bethesda, Potomac and Rockville.
• [How to Submit an Aircraft Noise Complaint for Reagan National]

Kindness Contagion

(Click on the image for Jamil Zaki's Scientific American article)

Conformity gets a bad rap, and it often deserves one. People abuse drugs, deface national parks, and spend $150,000 on tote bags after seeing others do so. Peer pressure doesn’t have to be all bad, though. People parrot each other’s voting, healthy eating, and environmental conservation efforts, too. They also “catch” cooperation and generosity from others. Tell someone that his neighbors donated to a charity, and that person will boost his own giving, even a year later. Such good conformity appears promising, but also narrow. Prior experiments, for instance, focus almost exclusively on people who observe others engage in a particular positive action (say, recycling) and later imitate that same action.
In a set of new studies, my colleagues and I highlight a broader flavor of positive conformity. We find that people imitate not only the particulars of positive actions, but also the spirit underlying them. This implies is that kindness itself is contagious, and that that it can cascade across people, taking on new forms along the way. To be a potent social force, positive conformity requires such flexibility. Not everyone can afford to donate to charity or spend weeks on a service trip to Haiti. Witnessing largesse in others, then, could inhibit would-be do-gooders who feel that they can’t measure up. Our work suggests that an individual’s kindness can nonetheless trigger people to spread positivity in other ways.

Here’s What Crystal City Will Look Like After Amazon Arrives

(Click on the image for  Marisa M. Kashino's Washingtonian report)

Planning for Snow

(Click on the image for the full briefing)

• Primary and Collector Roads – plowed during snowfall, treated only if needed during snowfall.
• Residential Roads – plowed after snowfall ends.
       Secondary Roads – plowed first
       Cul-de-sacs and Dead Ends – plowed last
• Park off the road if at all possible, on narrow roads - park on the even side, never park on a snow emergency route.
• Clear driveways, hydrants, mailboxes and sidewalks after plowing is completed.
• Remove hoses from outside spigots and drain interior pipes leading to the spigots.
• Be very careful with space heaters.
• Be prepared for power outages (does your sump pump have a battery backup?).
• Be prepared for water main breaks (WSSC reports 819 breaks in January alone).
• Look out for vulnerable neighbors.

Maryland Homeowners Surprised by $40,000 Flood Cleanup Bill

(Click on the image for Susan Hogan's News4 report)

"After flash flooding swept through Frederick, Maryland, in May, homeowners hired a company to clean up the damage, but they said they weren’t kept up to date about the cost of the cleanup and they were shocked when the bill came to more than $40,000."

Don't Get Bitten by Pet Insurance

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

To assess the true value of pet insurance, we gathered premium quotes from nine plans, obtained price data showing what veterinarians actually charge for hundreds of services, and interviewed executives from nine leading insurers. We worked with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine to develop a reasonable basket of vet services for our model pets: Woof, a medium-size male mixed-breed dog; and Kitty, a male mixed-breed cat. We then conducted an in-depth cost/benefit analysis of the nine plans.

Passing of Margaret Blewitt

Dear Neighbors,
We are sad to report the passing of Margaret Blewitt, a long-time resident of Willow Wind Circle. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

From the Kalas Funeral Home website:
Margaret Hayden Blewitt of Fort Washington, Maryland. Born in Bronx, New York June 25, 1931. Passed away in her sleep from respiratory failure on November 2, 2018 at the age of four score and seven (87) years. Married Don Blewitt February 13, 1954. Mother of 6 children. Grandmother of 12. Followed by a career as a Bank Executive. Retired in 1999. Lived her remaining years and died as she wished at her home of 44 years in Fort Washington, Maryland..
Preceded by Parents John Hayden and Margaret Stapleton Hayden of the Bronx. Brother John Hayden of Bronx. Husband Donald Joseph Blewitt of the Bronx. Brothers and Sisters–in-law, Roy and Gloria Blewitt , Bill and Ginny Schlotman, Eileen Hayden and Joan Blewitt Peterson.
Succeeded by Sons Russ of Delaware, Don of Virginia, and Ted of Virginia. Daughters Jeanne of New York, Pam of Maryland and Deb of Maryland. 12 Grandchildren Mandy, Lauren, Matt, Robbie, Patrick, Skyler, Kellie, Chris, Tori, Drew, Madison and Bailey. 7 Great Grandchildren One surviving Brother in law, Joel Peterson of South Carolina, 21 Nieces and Nephews, well over 40 of their beloved Spouses, Great Nieces and Nephews .
Viewing at Kalas Funeral Home in Oxon Hill, MD. Friday November 9, 2018. 2-4 pm. and 6-8 pm.
Funeral Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Piscataway, Maryland. Saturday November 10, 2018 at 11 am.

Dr. Haitham Hijazi, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement, Retires

The Status of Retail and What the County Is Doing to Improve It (from Sep 2016)

(Click on the image for the briefing)

• Too many shopping centers (241) in county and too many are strip/convenience or neighborhood type.
• Too much inventory suppresses rent and encourages "Mom & Pop" stores to move to better centers.
• Lower-end stores at better centers discourage higher-end shoppers from shopping there and higher-end stores from moving there.
• The lack of higher-end retail causes consumers to spend $1.4 billion annually out of the county. That's the cost of MGM National Harbor!
• Response from local officials: Retail location decisions are made by private enterprise, not government. Fort Washington has the demand and the income but not the population density to attract higher-end retail.

Passing of Lloyd Richards

Dear Neighbors,

We are sad to report the passing of Lloyd Richards, a former resident of St. Alban Circle and River Forest Lane. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Lloyd Wayland Richards, Capt. USN, Retired

Lloyd Wayland Richards, Captain, USN, Retired passed away peacefully October 26, 2017 with his loving family by his side in Phoenix, Arizona.  Lloyd was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska on March 1st, 1931 (St. David’s Day in Wales) to Lloyd R. and Esther (Rice) Richards.  Growing up in Nebraska with younger brother Kenneth and sister Elizabeth, one would not expect that Lloyd W. would find a career in the US Navy. 

Yet, while attending the University of Rochester, Lloyd became deeply involved with the USN ROTC, which sealed his career.  There he met and married his first wife Joy E. Riefler, the mother of his four children; eldest son Jeffrey, daughters Holly, Tamara and Monica.  Joy passed in 1971 and Lloyd married the love of his life, Leola White in 1972.

Lloyd's career in the Navy advanced rapidly as a pilot of both the A-3 Skywarrior and A-6A Intruder.  During the Vietnam conflict, Lloyd deployed 7 times aboard USN Carriers, serving in Attack and Heavy Attack Squadrons; VA-215, VA-122, VAH-123, VAH-2, VA-128 and VA-196 earning the Bronze Star.  In 1969, Lloyd was shot down and severely wounded over Laos, earning him a Purple Heart.  Upon recovery, Lloyd returned to combat as the commanding officer of Attack Squadron VA-196.  Returning to the States, Lloyd attended and completed an MS degree at the National War College in Washington DC, achieving the rank of Captain in the USN and serving at the Pentagon.

Upon retirement, Lloyd along with Leola sold real estate for 24 years in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C.  His recreational interest was golf and lawn bowls.

Predeceasing Lloyd are his parents, his first wife Joy, his daughter Tamara and grandson, Jesiah Richards.

Surviving him are wife Leola, younger siblings Ken, Liz, his son and remaining daughters, 17 remaining grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Lloyd and Leola recently moved from Oak Harbor Washington to Sun City West Arizona where they are fortunate to have many friends.

Interment will occur at Arlington National Cemetery Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 9 AM. If you’re planning on attending, meet at the Administration building prior to 8:15am. Cars will caravan to the gravesite.

Following the service, there will be an informal reception from 11am to 2pm at the Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston (4610 Fairfax Dr. Arlington VA 22203, Phone 703-243-9800).

Refreshments will be available.

With questions or concerns please email Leola at, leola@richardsweb.com or call 360-632-8092.

Donations may be made in memorandum to the US Navy League or the Tailhook Association.

Prince George’s approves matching funds for local candidates — starting in 2026

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

• The Prince George’s County Council narrowly approved public financing for local political candidates early Wednesday, following a marathon meeting that marked the end of this year’s legislative session.
• Citing concerns about how the county would afford to provide matching funds to political candidates who agree to forgo large donations, the council delayed implementation of the bill until 2026.
• To participate in the program, candidates must not accept donations exceeding $250. Donations up to $150 that do not come from family members would be matched by public dollars.
• Advocates heralded the bill, which passed 5-to-4, as a key way to open politics to new, diverse candidates and increase the power of small donors. Its opponents said taxpayer dollars would be better spent on issues such as education and public safety.
• “It’s about democracy,” said bill sponsor Mary A. Lehman (D-District 1). “It’s about allowing people to run on ideas . . . not dialing for dollars, actually talking to voters.”

Prince George’s County Council approves strict regulations on short-term rentals

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

• "One week after the D.C. Council delayed a vote on similar legislation, the Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to ban residents from renting out second homes on short-term platforms such as Airbnb."
• "The bill prevents homeowners from renting their properties on platforms such as Airbnb for more than 30 consecutive days. They can rent their properties for up to 90 days a year when they are not home, or up to 180 days a year when they are home — but the total number of rental days cannot exceed 180."

The Campaign to End Loneliness

(Click on the image for the campaign's homepage)

The Campaign to End Loneliness believe that people of all ages need connections that matter.
There are nine million lonely people in the UK and four million of them are older people. Many older people find constant loneliness hardest to overcome. They lack the friendship and support we all need.
[Note: Loneliness is not just a problem in the UK and it's not just a problem for older people. "A survey by Action for Children found that 43% of 17 – 25 year olds who used their service had experienced problems with loneliness, and that of this same group less than half said they felt loved.
Action for Children have also reported 24% of parents surveyed said they were always or often lonely."]

Advice From Health Care’s Power Users

(Click on the image for Margot Sanger-Katz's New York Times report)

"If the health care system seems confusing to you, you are not alone. In a large recent survey of the most seriously ill people in America, we learned that they, too, find it difficult to navigate. But they have developed a few strategies for getting through. Here are some tips and pitfalls about how to be sick from a group with lived experience."

• Keep records and bring them
• Find an advocate
• Ask questions, and listen

"When asked about specific types of misunderstanding, 18 percent said advice by different medical professionals conflicted, and 15 percent said they couldn’t even understand what was being done to them. Twenty-two percent said that hospital staffers weren’t responsive to their needs.
Perhaps that’s why seven of the survey’s respondents also offered the following advice: Pray."

Thank you to our 3 volunteers for Clean Up, Green Up Day

Despite one of our lowest turnouts ever (only 3 other people participated), we still managed to plant 5 crape myrtle trees, 10 red bud trees, 50 daffodil bulbs, and pick up trash.  The trees are along Fort Washington Road between St. Andrews and the southern intersection with West Tantallon Drive.  We added one crape myrtle on the small island on St. Andrews Drive to replace the tree that had died there a few years ago. 
Thank you to Carter Ferrington (who helped me plant the trees), Jacque Akselrad, and JoAnn Davis.  And a big thank you again to Mariano Flaim, of Flaim Brothers, Inc., for picking up the trees, mulch, and bulbs from the county!  We really appreciate his help, as I would not have been able to pick up the trees myself.
Please consider helping us in the future.  It doesn't take that long, and we all enjoy the fruits of our labor.
The trees will need water, so if anyone is interested in watering them, please let me know.   We could also use some help trimming the vines off of the fences along Fort Washington Road. 

--Jamie Crist

Vote!

Which Grocery Store Has the Best Prices? (Spoiler, it's not Safeway)

(Click on the image for Susan Hogan's News4 report)

The Washington Consumers' Checkbook report is here.

What Flood Insurance Does and Does Not Cover

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

Of the millions of North and South Carolina homes damaged by recent flooding from Hurricane Florence, only about 339,000 are covered by national flood insurance, according to the most recent records of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The many victims without flood coverage will not get help from their homeowners insurance policies. Only flood insurance covers water damage caused by weather and other external forces.
It’s wise to consider buying flood insurance even if you don’t live in a flood-prone area, because flooding isn’t only caused by big storms. In fact, some 20 percent of claims through the government-run National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are from homeowners and renters in areas considered at low or moderate risk of flooding.

Passing of Sharon L. (Passero) Crist

Dear Neighbors,
We are sad to report the passing of Sharon Crist, mother of Jamie Crist, a long-time resident of Inverness Lane and organizer of Tantallon's Clean Up-Green Up events.
Sharon died on September 21 at age 79. A visitation and funeral mass will be held in the next few days in Rochester, NY.
Please keep Jamie and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Passing of Macy Cooper West

Dear Neighbors,

We are sad to report the passing of Macy West, wife of Bob West and mother of Keith West, TCA Treasurer. Macy and Bob West are long-time residents of Surrey Circle Dr and have many neighborhood friends.

Please keep the West family in your thoughts and prayers.

From Mary's obituary (Kalas Funeral Home):

Macy Cooper West, 86, of Fort Washington, MD, passed away September 22, 2018. She was born on August 15, 1932, in North Carolina to the late John Carr Cooper and Juanita Honeycutt.

Macy valued and exemplified love of family, sweetness, kindness, generosity, and devotion to her church. She consistently put her faith into action and her faith never wavered. She had been an active member of the Oxon Hill United Methodist Church since 1963, and also served as the Lay Visitor from 1967 to 1993. She enjoyed being with her family and friends, shopping, playing bridge, attending Bible study, and going to the pool, Myrtle Beach, and the family lake house in North Carolina.

Macy is survived by her beloved husband, Robert Elmon West, to whom she was married for almost 66 years. She also leaves to mourn her beloved children Keith West and Lynn Linde (Karl), grandchildren Macy Ketcham (Jeremy), Karl Linde (Renae), Clarissa Linde, Cooper Linde (Sarah), Dietrich Linde (Carlie), Caroline Vining (Louie), and her great-grandchildren Hope Ketcham, Caleb Ketcham, Hannah Ketcham, Kylie Ketcham, Kezia Ketcham, Jayden Linde, Priya Linde, Kevon Linde, Henry Linde, and Cecilia Linde. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Ruth Honeycutt, and many nieces and nephews.

Macy was predeceased by her brothers George Cooper and J.W. Cooper, her sisters Mary Anna Bryan and Elizabeth Wade, and great-grandchildren Alvin Linde and Azzi Linde.

A Life Celebration will take place on Monday, October 1, 2018 from 5-8 pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 6160 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. A Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 11 am at the Oxon Hill United Methodist Church, 6400 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Interment will follow at the Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery. 11301 Crain Hwy, Cheltenham, MD 20623.

Donations in Macy’s memory can be made to Oxon Hill United Methodist Church, 6400 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745.

Tantallon Home Featured in the Washingtonian

(Click on the image for Mimi Montgomery's report in the Washingtonian)

Kristin Corrigan and her husband, Sam, moved to their Fort Washington home in 2015 after living in Capitol Hill for four years. They were drawn out of DC by what Kristin calls the “modern, quirky house,” which is located in the waterfront community Tantallon.
“It’s so peaceful here, while still being close to the city and our offices,” says Kristin. “I go for a walk every morning on the tree-lined streets winding through the golf course and check out all the other homes.”

The Conservancy of Broad Creek Invites You to Join Them

(Click on the image for our website)

Dear Conservancy Members:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Conservancy, I want to thank you for your support over the past year. It is because of your membership that the Conservancy is able to undertake several projects and programs aimed at improving the Broad Creek Historic District, providing continued stewardship of the Broad Creek Woods and in providing new educational lectures free to our members and the general public. I am pleased to report that the Conservancy has had great success this past year in pursuing its goals, as well as planning for the future.
The Conservancy’s Broad Creek Woods, a 72-acre forested property located across from St. John’s Episcopal Church on Livingston Road has been a continued focus of the Board of Trustees. The Conservancy received a Community Improvement Grant as well as a Prince George’s County Council Special Appropriation Grant from Councilmen Obie Patterson. Both grants were used to remove invasive bamboo and greenbrier from the property. Driving along Livingston Road, you can see that a major portion of the bamboo strand has been cut and the land treated to reduce the prospect of new bamboo sprouting. The remaining bamboo will continue to be harvested by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Further in the interior of the Broad Creek Woods, some 2 acres of greenbrier, an invasive weed with thorns, was cut and removed. The Conservancy also successfully petitioned the Maryland Highway Department to install metal guard rails along the dirt right-of-way road that is located at the corner of Old Fort Foote Road and Indian Head Highway (route 210). This new guardrail will prevent the illegal dumping to trash that has existed for years to be stopped.
With these initiatives completed, the Conservancy can start the work to create a public educational trail through the Broad Creek Woods. The goal of this proposed trail is to provide identification and information about the various trees and plants on the property. It will also offer information on the conservation of wooded areas.
The Conservancy also presented two lectures during this membership year, one in the Fall of 2017 and one in the Spring of 2018. Jennifer Stabler, the County’s archaeologist with the Historic Preservation office, gave a lecture on the historic cemeteries in Prince George’s County. This event took place on September 16, 2017 at St. John’s Episcopal Church. A tour of the historic St. John’s cemetery followed the lecture, along with a reception.
The spring lecture was entitled, “To Do Right and Overcome: Reflections on Some Prince George’s County Women.” It was held in Bayne Hall at St. John’s Episcopal Church on June 9, 2018. The Speakers were Dr. Rita Robinson and Dr. Leigh Ryan. Rita Robinson focused on County members in the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, while storyteller Rita Robinson followed the life of a county slave. Following the lecture was a reception.
As with most Conservancy events, these two lectures were free to members and the general public. It is a continuing theme of the Conservancy to offer these educational lectures on elements of Prince George’s history. They were made possible through the membership dues of the Conservancy.
It is hoped that another educational experience can be offered by the Conservancy this coming fall. It will be an Educational Treasure Hunt for kids as well as parents. The game will feature historic sites and landmarks in our southwestern part of the County. More information on this upcoming event will be announced later this year.
As has been said in years past, in order for the Conservancy of Broad Creek to be at all effective and credible, it needs the support of its members. Having a growing and caring membership allows the Conservancy to stand tall and be respected when it speaks and engages with others. Knowing that there is a community of support behind it, gives strength to the Conservancy to pursue its mission and goals.
I truly hope that all of you will continue to be members of the Conservancy, and will ask your friends and family members to join and support the Conservancy of Broad Creek as well. If you have already renewed your membership, I truly thank you. If you have not, please consider renewing your membership today.  [Membership application here]
Again, thank you for all of your past support to this non-profit organization.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Leventhal, President, Board of Trustees

Fort Washington Clippers Youth Lacrosse featured on Fox 5 News

(Click on the image for the Fox5 report)

From Clippers founder Arthur Cutler: "Our 3rd-4th grade Championship Team also received the Hometown Team Award. Members of this team reside in Fort Washington, Brandywine, Accokeek and Clinton. This was a great and proud moment for our first year program and the Fort Washington/ South County community."
If you know of any young men in grades Kindergarten through 7th grade who are interested, email fortwashingtonlacrosse@gmail.com

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"

Community Shred - August 18

[The Air Force Sergeants Association building at the corner of Auth Rd. and Mercedes Blvd.]