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Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Senior Call Check Program - Someone You Know Might Need This

(Click on the image for Michelle Murillo's WTOP report)
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Every day a telephone call will be placed to a participant at a regularly scheduled time. These calls will take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. as close as possible to the one-hour time block pre-selected by the participant. If the participant does not answer their first call, they will be tried two more times. If those calls go unanswered, additional calls will be made to notify an alternative person who is selected by the participant during program enrollment. This could be an adult child, a neighbor, or another loved one. The alternate will then be encouraged to check on the older adult program participant. The failure of the participant and alternate to answer may result in a Welfare Check by local law enforcement.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Any Maryland resident who is 65 years of age or older who has a landline phone or cell phone (TTY is available). The participant and alternates should not have automated call blocking technology (or they should disable that phone feature for this program).

There are 3 ways to apply. See https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/senior-call-check.aspx

Thursday, December 26, 2019

National Golf Club Is Under New Ownership

(Click on the image for more information)

It is with great pleasure to announce that National Golf Club is under new ownership.  Please allow me to introduce Mulugeta Tasfakiros as our new owner.  Mr. Tasfakiros is excited to be a part of NGC and is looking forward to moving the Club to the next level.  Over the next few weeks/month there will be many improvements made to the facilities and the grounds.
As for staff, the new General Manger will be Jim Butler (formerly NGC Membership Director), the new Superintendent will be Bart Miller, Christine Kuhn will continue as the Catering Director, Charles Palangdao will be our Operations Manager, and Gustavo Berrantes will be our Chef.  We are excited for the future of NGC and my hope is you will join us in that same excitement.
Thank you,
The Team at National

Monday, December 9, 2019

What’s DC’s new hot housing market? Prince George’s County

(Click on the image for Jeff Clabaugh's WTOP report)
  • “2019 will go on record as one of the best years ever for Prince George’s County’s real estate market,” said Yolanda Muckle, president of the Prince George’s County Association of Realtors.
  • The number of closed sales in the county in October was up 4.9% from a year ago, with a total of $290 million in sales.
  • Prince George’s County remains the most affordable housing market in the Washington region, but the median price of what sold last month was $315,000, up 12.5% from a year ago.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Passing of Tom McCaskill


Dear Neighbors,
We are sad to report the passing of Tom McCaskill, a former resident of Swan Creek Rd. Please keep Tom and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

From The Pilot.com:
Thomas B. McCaskill, 81, of Unionville, passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 1, 2019.
Tom was born Aug. 21, 1938, in Lee County, to the late Clinton and Audrey McKenzie McCaskill. A graduate of Carthage High School, he received an Associate of Arts degree from Wingate Junior College and a Bachelor of Science in engineering mathematics (honors) from NC State.
Tom’s professional life included 42 years as a mathematician and research physicist for the Space Applications Branch of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He was selected to participate in the NRL Edison Memorial Training Program and completed all required courses for a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Maryland. He was reclassified as a research physicist. As an NRL scientist, he made key contributions to the design of GPS. Tom received five NRL Research Publication Awards, one patent.
Tom was a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and a member of the Institute of Navigation. He was selected by the Institute of Navigation to serve as a Congressional Fellow and in 2005, he became a candidate for U.S. senator in the Maryland primary election with the campaign motto: “GPS Saves Lives.”
In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his infant daughter, Helen Elizabeth McCaskill. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Jane Latham; sons, Scot Alexander McCaskill, Latham Glenn McCaskill and his wife, Felicia Kantis, David Thomas McCaskill and his wife, Lisa Sypula; two grandchildren, Carver Kade McCaskill and Matthew Thomas McCaskill; and his five siblings, Robert Hugh Martin McCaskill, Frances Elizabeth McCaskill Ward, Lydia Alice McCaskill Parker, James Clinton McCaskill and John Worthy McCaskill.
Tom will be remembered by his personal and professional friends from Washington, D.C., and his dear family and friends in North Carolina and surrounding states.
The family will receive friends from 4–7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Union Presbyterian Church, 2000 Union Church Road, Cameron, with the Rev. Dr. R. Shane Owens officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the interment in the church fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Union Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 898, Carthage, NC 28327.

McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe is serving the family.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Tantallon News

Important: The November 20 meeting of the Tantallon Citizens Association will be held at Harmony Hall in the Silesia Room starting promptly at 7 PM. Two of our recent porch pirate victims will give you a first hand account of how they helped our police bring the culprits to justice. Police detectives will give us their view as well. It should be very interesting to hear and an important lesson for all of us to learn.


If you have an interest in drainage problems you should attend a meeting with Councilman Sydney Sydney Harrison, DPIE, DoE and DPW&T on Friday, November 22, 2019, 7pm, at the District VII Police Station.
The communities that initiated this event are compiling a list of drainage issues to be provided in advance to county government reps. The list has columns for address, name/email/phone, problem, and current status (what's been done so far. I would include 311 service request number). Given in advance, this information will help get you a response at the meeting. If you want your problem addressed at the meeting, you can send this information to me at weissster@gmai.com. Ron

  • Community Conversation with County Executive Alsobrooks – Dec. 17
  • Country Drainage Retrofit Has Silenced Sump Pumps in Horizon Estates (Expect to hear what the county is doing from the County Executive on Dec. 17 as she did on Oct. 30)
On the District VII Citizens Advisory Council Blog, https://dviicac.blogspot.com/:
  • PGPD Fugitive Unit Locates & Arrests Suspect Wanted for Fatal Stabbing Outside of Restaurant
  • People are calling an Omaha boulder a “hero” for taking out SUVs. This also has a deadly serious message.
  • Community Crime Report: November 6-12, 2019
On WTOP: Woman mauled by 2 American Pit Bull Terriers in Fort Washington
A woman is in critical condition after two of her dogs attacked her in Fort Washington, Maryland, Wednesday night.
The dogs were American Pit Bull Terriers, according to the Prince George’s County Animal Services Division.
“The young lady who was attacked by the dogs was the owner of the dogs,” said Rodney Taylor, chief of the animal services division.

Calling All Block Captains. We [District VII Police] are requesting a meeting with all block captains in District VII for the communities that participate in Neighborhood Watch. Commander Major Mitchell would like to meet and discuss strategies regarding the prevention of package thefts in our area. The meeting is on Nov. 19, 7 PM at the District VII Police Station. If you are interested please send me an email: vablackwell@co.pg.md.us . Thank you, Cpl. Blackwell #3216

From The National Golf Club:
Dear Members,
 It is with great pleasure to announce that National Golf Club is under new ownership.  Please allow me to introduce Mulugeta Tasfakiros as our new owner.  Mr. Tasfakiros is excited to be a part of NGC and is looking forward to moving the Club to the next level.  Over the next few weeks/month there will be many improvements made to the facilities and the grounds. 
As for staff, the new General Manger will be Jim Butler (formerly NGC Membership Director), the new Superintendent will be Bart Miller, Christine Kuhn will continue as the Catering Director, Charles Palangdao will be our Operations Manager, and Gustavo Berrantes will be our Chef.  We are excited for the future of NGC and my hope is you will join us in that same excitement.
Thank you,
The Team at National
Upcoming Events
December 7th - Toys For Tots Charity Tournament
December 14th – The Annual Member Holiday Party
January 1st – The Annual Mike Miller Tournament

Thursday, October 31, 2019

A Community Conversation (10/30/19)


Links to audio clips from the first Community Conversation of the fall held at Eleanor Roosevelt High School on October 30, 2019:

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Thank You Tantallon Cleanup Volunteers!

  • Thank you to our volunteers for our annual fall clean-up!  We worked along Fort Washington Road to pick up trash and trim the crape myrtle trees planted in previous years.  There is still more to do, but we were able to clear out quite a bit of debris as well. 
  • Volunteers were Patti Holcomb, Sabrina Lemieux, Deb Raw, Diane Miceli, Kim Vu, German Cruz, Javier Samayoa, Allette Hannon, Jo Ann Davis, Eunice Theobalds, and Tony Mitchell.
  • The picture above is of one of the areas we worked on.  
Jamie Crist

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Updated: MD 210 Improvements (MD 228 to Kerby Hill/Livingston) Ranked 18th Project in State

(Click on the image for the Draft CTP. Rankings are on page APP‐A‐1)
  • The Prince George’s County Council will welcome Maryland Department of Transportation representatives to the County on Friday, November 1, 2019, for the annual statewide Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) Tour. The public meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. in the County Administration Building, Council Committee Room 2027, 14741 Gov. Oden Bowie Drive, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
  • Council Member Todd M. Turner (D) – District 4, encourages Prince Georgians to attend Friday’s public meeting with officials, residents and stakeholders, for updates on state highway, transportation and transit issues impacting Prince George’s County, “The Consolidated Transportation Program Tour offers a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from state officials concerning highway and transportation projects impacting Prince George’s County residents and provide feedback on the County’s transportation priorities. We look forward to an insightful meeting and dialogue.”
  • Video of the public meeting is here.
  • Each year, MDOT representatives visit with Prince George’s County, as part of its tour of all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City, to meet and share the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program, the state’s six-year capital budget for transportation projects.
  • The current Prince George's County transportation priority projects list is here.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Update: Does Giant Plan Something Like This for Livingston Square?

(Click on the image for a video clip)
  • Click here for pictures of the interior.
  • A related clip is "What's next for the Owings Mills Mall".
  • Attend Council Member Anderson-Walker's Transforming Communities meeting on Oct 29 to get the answer. The flyer is posted below.
  • Giant was a NO SHOW at the Transforming Communities meeting. Monique Anderson-Walker said that was an indication of Giant's disrespect of our community.

They're Called Leaves for a Reason!

(Click on the image for Ellen Paul's article in Greater Greater Washington)
  • Leave those leaves on the ground. Yes, get them off the sidewalk and steps, where they are slippery when wet. Get them away from the door so you won’t track them into the house. Get them off the storm drains. Otherwise, let them be.
  • But won’t leaves kill the lawn, you may ask? That’s an old myth. Research done at Michigan State University from 2003 to 2009 used mulched leaf litter on the campus lawns. The researchers found that that leaving the leaves on your yard in such a manner not only does your lawn no harm, but it can actually impede weed growth.
  • So long as you are mowing the lawn, the leaves get mulched in the bargain. Both the grass clippings – which help the chopped-up leaves to decay – and the leaves will actually benefit the lawn. Of course, your lawn guy disputes that. Leaving the leaves cuts into his revenue. Thank the lawn guy for his advice. Leave the leaves.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Thursday, October 17, 2019

I’ve only just a minute


I’ve only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.​
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it,​
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,​
But it’s up to me to use it.​
I must suffer if I lose it,​
Give an account if I abuse it,​
Just a tiny little minute,​
But eternity is in it.​
-Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

The late Rep. Elijah Eugene Cummings recited this poem during his first day on the House floor on April 26, 1996.
On that day he said his mission is to empower people to realize the power is within them, that they too can do the things they want to do.

Thanks to Lester Holt for this insight into a great human being.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Dispose Unused or Expired Prescription Medications in the District VII Lobby - Oct 26


If you don’t properly dispose of the unused or expired prescription drugs in your home, they might find a new one. 
The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America. The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends—and the home medicine cabinet.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Tantallon Home Has a Barn in its History

(Click on the image for Kathy Orton's Washington Post article)
“If you look at Fort Washington, it’s on the river,” he said. “The fort is a national park, and it’s less than a mile down the road. I’m an outdoors person. We like to run, cycle and hike. I didn’t know this existed. I didn’t know you could have miles of hiking trails within a mile of your house and still be 25 minutes from D.C.”

Friday, October 11, 2019

Country’s largest community solar project opens in Fort Washington

(Click on the image for Jessica Ricks' Sentinel report)
  • The 6.6-megawatt community solar project, located at the intersection of Tucker Road and Palmer Road, was initially announced last year. The project broke ground on Nov. 30, and although it was expected to have opened in March, the project finally got up and running this week.
  • As part of the Pepco service territory, the project will serve 1,200 subscribers making it what its owners believe to be the largest residential community solar project in the country.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Ron Haney to be Interred at Arlington National Cemetery - Dec. 6th

Ron’s interment with full military honors isn scheduled for December 6 at 11:00 AM at Arlington National Cemetery. It’s recommended you arrive at the cemetery between 10 and 10:15.
Please check https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Attending-a-Funeral for more information.
From the TCA Newsletter:

Ronald Haney, 69, of Arrow Park Drive died on July 8, 2019 from injuries sustained in a fall while repairing the roof of his home. A native of Michigan, he served in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band for thirty years in the tuba section. Ron was a well-established freelance tubist in the DC area, who played in every type of ensemble from Oktoberfest and Dixieland combos to classical orchestras and chamber ensembles. An active member of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club, Ron was a frequent and willing volunteer, always available to help in any capacity. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Barbara; they met/married while both were serving in “The President’s Own.”

Reduced Cost for Dog Adoptions in October

(Click on the image for the County's flyer)

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Police Thanksgiving Dinner

Dear Neighbors,

To express our thanks to the guardians of our community, the District VII Citizens Advisory Council is once again sponsoring a Thanksgiving appreciation meal for the police officers at District VII on Friday, November 15th.
Our community was very generous in providing support to this event last year and this year I again reach out to you for tax deductible donation.
Please make checks out to District VII Citizens Advisory Council and send them to Treasurer (Ron Weiss) at 12511 Haxall Ct., Fort Washington, MD 20744. I’ll provide our 501 (c) (3) EIN to you at your request.
You are welcome to visit District VII on Nov. 15 to personally thank the men and women who keep us safe.

Thank you.
Ron Weiss

Monday, September 30, 2019

How do Trader Joe’s, ALDI’s, and Lidl’s Prices Compare to Other Grocery Stores?

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

  • Overall, Trader Joe’s prices were about two percent lower than the average prices we found at surveyed area stores; its prices were about four percent lower than Giant’s, five percent lower than Harris Teeter’s, and 12 percent lower than Safeway’s.
  • For produce, Trader Joe’s prices were six percent lower than the average prices at all surveyed stores.
  • For meat, Trader Joe’s prices were about nine percent higher than average.
  • ALDI’s prices were an astounding 41 percent lower than the all-store average for our full market basket including comparable national-brand items. But these savings come with a downside: ALDI was rated relatively low on many aspects of quality—but not as low as Giant, Safeway, Shoppers, Target, Walmart, or Weis for “overall quality.” (We haven’t yet received enough ratings for Lidl to report quality ratings for it.)

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Prince George’s County Short-Term Rentals (STR)

From DPIE:

  • In September 2018, the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Council adopted legislation to establish a Short-Term Rentals Program in the County. The legislation will take effect on October 1, 2019. The program will be administered by the County’s Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE).
  • Under the County’s Short-Term Rentals Program, Prince George’s County homeowners whose properties comply with County Code and who meet certain other criteria may seek a Short-Term Rentals license to host renters working through established rental companies (platforms) such as Airbnb. The licenses cost $150 per year and expire one year from the date of issuance.
  • Please read the law carefully to learn details of the program. You may also want to begin researching the different platforms and their requirements.
  • Please note, the program does not take effect until October 1, 2019. If you are currently renting your home as a short-term rental through a company such as Airbnb, or on your own, you are operating without a Short-Term Rentals License. You may be permanently barred from participating in the program should your illegal rental be discovered. Anyone with information about illegal short-term rentals should report it to 311 (301-883-4748Call: 301-883-4748).
  • DPIE staff is pleased to have the opportunity to work with you. We hope your experience with the Prince George’s County Short-Term Rentals Program will be enjoyable for you and the guests you welcome.
  • Prince George’s County is a highly desirable vacation destination. Offering your home for rental presents visitors from around the U.S., and even the world, the opportunity to discover its breath-taking wonders, top-flight amenities and the warm and welcoming people who proudly call it home!
  • For more information, access our Short-Term Rentals FAQs page and our Short-Term Rentals Checklist.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Passing of Carol Bucher



Dear Neighbors,
We are sad to report the passing of Carol Bucher, who was a long-time resident of Prestwick Dr. Please keep Carol and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
CAROL ANN BUCHER  
Passed away on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at her home in Mitchellville, MD. She is survived by her three children, Craig, Christine and Kevin Bucher, her sister Marjorie Macchiaroli and predeceased by her husband Richard, whom she married in 1961 and brother Juan. Carol was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill, MD.
 Upon graduation, Carol joined the U.S. Air Force as a civilian employee, serving at Scott AFB, IL and in Wiesbaden, Germany during the height of the Cold War. Interrupting her career to raise her family, she returned to the workforce with the National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Foundation and, later, as the office manager for the Rockville office of Bensinger, DuPont & Associates, a provider of workplace drug testing and employee counseling services. In one of her proudest moments, she completed her Bachelor's Degree at the University of Maryland in 2005 at the age of 70.
A viewing and celebration of Carol's life will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 8 at the Lee Funeral Home in Clinton, Maryland, with a memorial service at 3 p.m. and an interment at Arlington National Cemetery to be held at a later date.
 In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Carol's memory to the American Heart Association at http://www2.heart.org/goto/CAB

Monday, September 2, 2019

Friday, August 30, 2019

Passing of Dan Tarpley



Dear Neighbors,
We are sad to report the passing of Dan Tarpley, who lived in Captains Cove, has many friends in Tantallon, and whose wife “Poss” has remained active in the Tanta-Cove Garden Club. Please keep Dan and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Jerald Dan Tarpley, Jr. "Dan” (Age 77)  
Of Alexandria, Virginia, passed away on August 22, 2019 surrounded by his family. He was born July, 1942, in Lubbock, Texas, to Dan and Moselle Tarpley. He married Hallie Beth Pierce "Poss," March 31, 1965. Dan is survived by his wife, Poss, of Alexandria, VA; two children, Sarah Tarpley of Reston, Virginia and Susannah Monteith of Alexandria, Virginia; brother Stephen Tarpley of Freeport, Maine; sons-in-law Joseph Cox of Reston, Virginia and Eric Monteith of Alexandria, Virginia; and grandchildren Ian and Isla Monteith of Alexandria, Virginia. Dan earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at Texas Tech University followed by a PhD in Astrogeophysics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Dan was the Chief of the Land Surfaces Branch of NOAA/NESDIS, for whom he worked for over three decades. He focused on using weather satellites to study the land surface for weather and climate applications before retiring in 2007. He enjoyed reading, playing bridge, canoeing, following the Washington Nationals, taking walks and participating in shooting competitions. His favorite pastime in retirement was time spent with his loving wife Poss and their grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 30, 2019 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 9801 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, Maryland 20744. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Holt International, at www.holtinternational.org

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Robocall Scams Get More Sophisticated and Costly

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

Imposter scams are rising because criminals are doing more research—especially on social media—to target and earn the trust of victims they think might result in a big payday.
The elderly are still the prime targets because, according to the FTC, older victims tend to lead to bigger paydays for crooks.
4 Popular Phone Scams:
  1. The Tech Support Scam
  2. Family Emergency Scam
  3. Government Imposter Scam
  4. Medicare Scam

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Invitation from The Conservancy of Broad Creek - Sep 14

Note: Waterside Court is near the River Bend Estates Community

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Travel Websites Mislead by Falsely Declaring Few Rooms Remain

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

  • It’s the oldest sales trick in the book: Tell customers demand is high and supply low, and if they don’t act quickly an offer will disappear. Many hotel-booking websites take this tactic to extremes. Shop for rooms on many of them, and search results issue constant warnings about scarcity.
  • Among sites we tested, Priceline had the most claims of room shortages. For the 10 searches we conducted using it, on average 21 of its first 25 listings had warnings about low availability. Orbitz was the next-worst in this department, with more than half the listings giving warnings about shortages. And the other six websites also advertised shortages that typically don’t really exist.
  • We found several sites don’t try to stress out their customers: Google.com/travel, Kayak, momondo, Travelzoo, and trivago don’t display these kinds of warnings. But it’s difficult to give them much credit, given that all these sites are operated by Booking or Expedia, which also own the websites that do display misleading claims about availability. Plus, Kayak, et al., often send you to sister sites that deceive.

Friday, July 26, 2019

Adventist HealthCare to Acquire Fort Washington Medical Center

(Click on the image for the Washington Business Journal report)
"Adventist HealthCare is taking another local hospital — its first in Prince George’s County — under its wing.
The Gaithersburg-based system has signed an agreement to take over Fort Washington Medical Center, a small acute-care hospital run by Oxon Hill-based Nexus Health Inc. Adventist plans to invest $35 million over five years in the facility at 11711 Livingston Road in Prince George’s County, and says it is not planning any staff changes or layoffs.
Adventist and Fort Washington announced Wednesday they will determine a plan for operations and services in the coming months. Pending state review, the transition is expected to take effect this fall and would significantly grow Adventist’s footprint in Prince George’s County, stretching it 27-some miles south of its planned new hospital in Montgomery County’s White Oak neighborhood. Currently, Adventist operates an urgent care center in Laurel, and primary and specialty care locations in College Park and Greenbelt.
The hospital will be known as Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center."

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Fort Washington golf club teed up for sale

(Click on the image for the Washington Business Journal report)
"Colliers International is marketing the 127-acre, private golf course in Fort Washington to interested buyers and hopes to drum up interest ahead of an early September online auction to be held by Ten-X Commercial. The brokerage, in marketing materials, touts the Ted Robinson-designed 18-hole golf course and its proximity to MGM National Harbor, about eight miles away, among its selling points. The Ten-X auction is slated to start Sept. 9, with an opening bid of $1 million and bid intervals set at $250,000.
It's the second time in as many years that the site at 300 St. Andrews Drive has been put on the market. Philadelphia-based Golf Property Analysts listed the property for sale in spring 2018 with an asking price of $4 million. The property is owned by an affiliate of Manassas-based Fore Golf Partners, which acquired the site for $5.45 million in 2005.
Keith Cubba, a senior vice president at Colliers who is part of the team marketing the property, said there has been a lot of interest in the property and that the market "is very deep with prospects." While golf courses aren't the typical property listed for Tex-X auctions, National Golf Club is a strong, cash-flowing asset that offers a better return than conventional commercial real estate investments listed on the platform, he said."

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Author of "Uncle Tom's Journey" to Speak at Accokeek Library - Aug. 3


In her book Uncle Tom’s Journey from Maryland to Canada: The Life of Josiah Henson, Edna M. Troiano recounts the true story of the amazing life of a Maryland hero, Josiah Henson, and why his name has almost disappeared from history.   

Born into slavery in LaPlata, MD, Josiah Henson was auctioned off as a child to pay his owner’s debts.  After numerous trials and abuse, he earned the trust of his slaveholder by exhibiting intelligence and skill.  Daringly, he escaped to Canada with his wife and children.  There he established a settlement and school for fugitives, and at great risk of life and liberty repeatedly returned to the United States to help lead over 100 others to freedom along the Underground Railroad.  He published a bestselling autobiography and became a popular preacher, lecturer, and international celebrity.  He is immortalized as the inspiration for the title character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  

Sponsored by the Friends of the Accokeek Library. 
Book cover depicts Henson meeting Queen Victoria.

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

When a Tree Falls, Who Pays for the Damage?

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

  • When an oak topples in the forest and no one’s around to hear it, who cares? But when your neighbor’s tree falls on your roof, you’ll care—and want to know whose homeowners insurance will pay.
  • The short answer: Tap your own coverage. Make a claim through your insurer for tree damages to your property, even if the tree was rooted in your neighbor’s yard.
  • In the opposite case—a tree from your yard causes damage to the property next door—it’s up to your neighbor to put in a claim with his or her insurer. 

Saturday, July 6, 2019

Aging in place helps you to avoid a retirement community or nursing home

(Click on the image for Jennifer Barger's Washington Post report)
“I’d like to move to a nursing home or assisted living,” said no older adult ever. In fact, a recent study by AARP found that nine of 10 older Americans preferred to live in their homes as long as possible. The aging-in-place movement seeks to let seniors do just that, avoiding heading to a retirement community or skilled nursing facility for as long as possible — or forever. But staying put requires planning, and the sooner you start, the more prepared you’ll be, whether you remain spry until 103.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

The "Hold Harmless" Provision Transfers Millions of Tax $ Generated in Prince George's County to Baltimore City


And, there is no "Sunset" to this provision - it goes on forever!
"Hold Harmless" provision:
This provision was billed as ensuring that Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County would not be harmed by the opening of the MGM gaming facility in Prince George’s County. It created a formula, without a sunset clause, designed to make certain that their revenues would be no less than before MGM opened.
Since MGM’s opening, both Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County have seen their casino’s gaming revenues increase. Despite their prosperity, the hold harmless provision has resulted in Prince George’s County receiving far less in benefits than its neighbors. Baltimore City, which now generates more than a million dollars more per year today in local impact grant fund revenues than before MGM’s opening, now receives approximately $11M more per year in local impact grant fund revenues distribution as a direct result of the hold harmless provision. Prince George’s County (MGM) generates approximately the same VLT local impact grant fund revenue as Anne Arundel County (Maryland Live), yet we receive about $11M less in distribution because of the hold harmless provision.
Thanks to Jay Krueger for the explanation and analysis.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Please Support the Conservancy of Broad Creek

(Click on the image to enlarge)
Find out what the Conservancy does at http://www.theconservancyofbroadcreek.org/about.html

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Harrowing delirium afflicts millions after surgery, especially the elderly

(Click on the image for Muriel Dobbin's Washington Post article)

"It is a ghost disease.
More than 2 million Americans are haunted every year by postoperative delirium, a strange, creeping state of confusion that the medical profession admits it neither understands nor can cure.
It is a problem that affects the brain, divorces its victims from reality and plunges them into a state of derangement — and few doctors can tell them why. Indeed, physicians usually cannot even see the symptoms of this disease until the patient already is in its grip.
I know about this harrowing syndrome because it overtook me last summer after I was sent to the hospital following a fall in my apartment building. I had surgery to repair my hip as a result of the fall, but the greater injury was the delirium associated with that hospitalization. It turned my life upside down, leaving me in a lingering state of confusion, anxiety and befuddlement, flailing for answers."

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Seniors were sold a risk-free retirement with reverse mortgages. Now they face foreclosure.

(Click on the image for  Nick Penzenstadler and Jeff Kelly Lowenstein's USA Today report)

In a stealth aftershock of the Great Recession, nearly 100,000 loans that allowed senior citizens to tap into their home equity have failed, blindsiding elderly borrowers and their families and dragging down property values in their neighborhoods.
In many cases, the worst toll has fallen on those ill-equipped to shoulder it: urban African Americans, many of whom worked for most of their lives, then found themselves struggling in retirement.
Alarming reports from federal investigators five years ago led the Department of Housing and Urban Development to initiate a series of changes to protect seniors. USA TODAY’s review of government foreclosure data found a generation of families fell through the cracks and continue to suffer from reverse mortgage loans written a decade ago.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Piscataway Bioenergy Project

(Click on the image for the Prince George's Community Television video report)
From WSSC:
An exciting project currently in the design phase at the Piscataway Water Resource Recovery Facility is transforming the way WSSC handles waste from five existing treatment plants. The Piscataway Bioenergy Project - the largest and most technically advanced project ever constructed by WSSC - will employ innovative technologies to recover resources and produce green energy. In the coming years, our Piscataway plant will evolve into a bioenergy production facility that uses efficiency, technology and sustainability to enhance the financial and environmental health of the region. This $262 million project will serve our customers for the next 100 years.
The Bioenergy Project will transform how WSSC handles biosolids -- the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the wastewater treatment process -- from five existing WSSC water resource recovery facilities (formerly known as wastewater treatment plants). Using cutting-edge “green” technology, the new facility will significantly reduce the amount of biosolids left over from the treatment process, thus reducing costs to haul and dispose of the product. The remaining biosolids will be significantly cleaner (Class A), making the disposal process much easier and allowing the final product to be sold and distributed as fertilizer. With cleaner Class A biosolids, WSSC will also save money by eliminating the use of lime, which is currently applied to Class B biosolids to control odor. This new process will save money for our customers by reducing operating costs by more than $3 million per year.
As an added benefit, the process to create the Class A biosolids will generate renewable fuel to help run the plant. This new process produces methane gas providing green energy that will help run the Piscataway Water Resource Recovery Facility. The new process will reduce WSSC’s greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent.
In addition to critical sustainability benefits, WSSC’s investment in bioenergy is a conscientious investment decision to spend now in order to save going forward. Bioenergy will demonstrate significant cost savings over the long term by reducing power consumption from fossil fuels and reducing disposal costs. The Piscataway Water Resource Recovery Facility will become WSSC’s showcase for achieving optimal value by investing in a green future.
Phase One of the project is now underway and includes design and early construction, which entails demolition of existing on-site facilities and relocation of existing utilities. Phase Two is expected to be awarded fall 2019. The entire project should be complete and operational in spring 2024.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Deadly Falls in Older Americans Are Rising. Here’s How to Prevent Them.

(Click on the image for Katie Hafner's New York Times report)
As the population ages, the number of older Americans who die following a fall is rising. A study published Tuesday in the medical journal JAMA found that for people over 75, the rate of mortality from falls more than doubled from 2000 to 2016.
Here are some measures you can take to help prevent a fall:
  • Exercise! (You knew that)
  • Mind your meds
  • Re-accessorize
  • Eliminate tripping hazards
  • Early and often to the bathroom

A Cut Above: How to Get the Perfect Lawn

(Click on the image for advice from Consumer Reports)

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Senate report reveals nearly 400 troubled nursing homes

(Click on the image for the report)
From the WTOP/AP article on the report:
"About 1.3 million Americans are nursing home residents, cared for in more than 15,700 facilities. The senators’ report noted that problem nursing homes on both lists account for about 3 percent."

The senators' list includes 5 providers in Maryland and 5 providers in Virginia.

Friday, May 31, 2019

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

How to Choose an Assisted Living Community

(Click on the image for the Washington Consumers'Checkbook article)
  • Once you’ve identified a handful of prospective communities, call them and ask a lot of questions. There’s much at stake, so you need to choose smartly. Some require buy-in options, sizeable financial commitments that are typically difficult or impossible to back out of. Even if you choose a residence that charges only monthly rent, there are usually a lot of upfront moving costs and a minimum one-year lease. “In many ways, it’s like buying a car—there’s the sticker price, but when you finally sign on the dotted line, it has nothing to do with the final amount you’ll pay,”
  • The advice is free to all, but you need to be a subscriber to see their online ratings of 202 assisted living communities in the area. Prince George's County Memorial Libraries have hard copies. It's worth seeing the ratings just to see how much assisted living costs.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Around 1/3 of the bills introduced this session of the MD General Assembly were passed

(Click on the image for Daniel Oyefusi and Jake Gluck's Capital News Service Report)

A total of 2,497 pieces of legislation were introduced in the 2019 Maryland General Assembly. About 45 percent, 1,124, made it to a final floor vote in at least one of the chambers. About 77 percent of these, 866, were passed into law. In total, 35 percent of the bills introduced this session became law. This data includes joint resolutions.