National Golf Club Menu

Janelle Cash, NGC Sales & Membership Director, writes:

"The restaurant will open on Tuesday, January 4th and will open every Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm to the general public. Please see attached the menu we will be serving."

Get to Know the Candidates Running for County Council District 8

(Click on the above image for the forum video)

(Click on the above image for Ebony's video)

The Conservancy of Broad Creek December 2021 Letter

(Click on the above image for the letter)

Watch this viral Christmas ad until the very end, and try not to cry

(Click on the above image for the ad)

"This year, the most beautiful gift of all is that we are doing well and we are healthy. That is why your health is also a matter close to our personal heart. So that you can take care of what really matters in life, especially at Christmas: spending a carefree time with the family and your loved ones. DocMorris wishes you and all your loved ones a happy and unforgettable celebration. Stay healthy!"

Story on Today.com at https://www.today.com/popculture/doc-morris-christmas-commercial-goes-viral-tear-jerking-ending-t203881

Thank You for Your Service!

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 making it an annual observance, and it became a national holiday in 1938. Then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day to honor all those who served the country in war or peace. On this day, the nation honors military veterans with parades and other observances across the country and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” –Winston Churchill

“The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” – Douglas MacArthur

“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” — George Washington

Tantallon Halloween Parade, October 31, 2021

Growing Green with Pride 2021 Report

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Saturday, October 30 for our Fall 2021 Growing Green with Pride event!  We had 8 volunteers and it ended up being a beautiful day.  The rain from earlier in the week made it much easier to dig the holes.  We planted 10 redbud trees along Fort Washington Road, 100 daffodils, and picked up trash.  Volunteers included Henrieta Dzurikaninova, Carter Ferrington, Ed & Jacque Akselrad, Louisa Buadoo-Amoa, Rebecca Richter, and Bill Bell.   A special thanks to Tony Mitchell for picking up the trees and supplies and placing them where they were planted--greatly appreciated!  

We would like to schedule more frequent clean-up events, perhaps every month or two.  Also, we could use some volunteers to help water the trees.  If you might be interested in either or both activities, please give Jamie Crist your contact information.  You can reach him by cell at 703-966-8757 or by email at jamiedoc@aol.com.

How Much Do Common Medical Procedures Cost in Maryland? It Depends on the Hospital.

(Click on the above image for the Maryland Health Commission's Wear the Cost site)

From Maryland Matters:

How much does it cost to give birth in Maryland? It depends on which hospital you choose.

In 2019, the Maryland Department of Health reported 209,836 live births. And, according to the Maryland Health Care Commission’s Wear The Cost campaign, if the mother had private insurance and underwent a cesarean section, she could expect the procedure to cost an average of $14,695 and, at its highest, $23,608.

Vaginal births that year had an average medical bill of $13,458, but could reach up to $18,414.

Those are huge financial discrepancies.

But the Maryland Health Care Commission said common procedures like c-sections and vaginal births are “shoppable,” allowing expectant families to compare prices before selecting a hospital.

The commission has updated its Wear the Cost campaign data to provide financial transparency for cost of childbirth and 11 other common medical procedures, including hysterectomies, knee replacements and tonsillectomies.

The lowest cost for a tonsillectomy at seven hospitals surveyed was $2,864. But the same procedure at a different hospital cost almost twice as much: $5,139. The highest cost reported for a colorectal resection was $55,613 — more than $21,000 more than the lowest cost among 14 hospitals surveyed.

“Patients have a right to know what private payers are paying for their health care, how that affects their out-of-pocket costs, and what to expect in terms of quality,” Ben Steffen, the executive director of the Maryland Health Care Commission, said in a statement.

The updated price information is based on private insurance provider data for 2018 through 2019. The costs include every service necessary to treat a medical need — like testing, prescriptions and visits before, during and after operations — for each procedure.

According to the Wear The Cost campaign website, prices at some hospitals can just be higher. But often, patients are hit with big medical bills because of potentially avoidable complications, which are oversights or errors that cause harm to the patient that may have been preventable.

For example, patients who receive hip replacements expect to pay for certain services, like consultations, lab testing and radiology, surgery, nursing care, post-operation doctor visits, physical therapy and crutches. But often patients get saddled with bills for complications like infections, which can add an additional $20,000 to their hospital bill.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that 17.8% of Americans were struggling with medical debt collections in June 2020. And a 2020 poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation demonstrated that over 40% of its respondents would be overburdened with an unexpected medical bill of just $500.

“It’s no secret that many Americans worry about unanticipated medical bills, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” Steffen said. “This data provides Marylanders with accurate information for over a dozen of the most common medical procedures, empowering patients with the knowledge they need to choose the hospital that best fits their needs.”

Get Ready for Winter!

Neighbors in Prince George’s County are complaining a house is essentially a nightclub

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

Passing of Nita Evele

Dear Neighbors,

We are sad to report the passing of Nita Evele, sister of Lily Collins and brother-in-law of James Collins of Haxall Ct.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Nita at St. Columba Catholic Church on September 25, 2021 at 10 AM.

Please keep Nita and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

In Loving Memory of Nita Evele

Nita's biggest source of joy and strength was her family. She lived for her family, friends, and community. Nita was everyone's cheerleader. In her personal life, Nita loved outdoor activities she called: "learning from nature". She enjoyed playing tennis (making it the family's favorite sport) and sharing her African culture with her friends. She enjoyed Gardening with her Family.

Also, Nita would ride motorcycles with her husband and Friends.

Nita was born on July 15, 1974 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Daughter of Adele Amissi and Jean Evele, she is the youngest of a family of nine children. She pursued her primary studies in Zaire and Belgium, and then completed her undergraduate university degree in the Washington DC metro area at Trinity University. She is survived by her husband, Serge Tshibuabua and her two sons, Philippe, and JEAN-SEBASTIAN

And nothing in the whole world would give her more happiness than Philippe, Jean-Sebastien and Serge. Being a mom and a wife was Nita's biggest source for joy and strength. It is where she thrived and shined the most. They were her world!

Nita would have done anything for Philippe and Jean-Sebastien. And she often did. She fought for and loved her sons infinitely from the moment they were born until her last breath and beyond. And that love will never stop.

Nita was also passionate about justice for the humanity. A lifelong philanthropist, Nita was a woman strongly devoted to the causes of others, who had a zeal for connecting and bringing people together, along with her compassionate spirit and fierce pursuit for justice in her homeland and around the world. Very early on, she became an activist in several movements across the world. From «Friends of Congo» to the renown "Panzi Foundation" and all the many youth movements in Congo and around the world, she helped and supported each of them with the objective of restoring dignity to Congo. Nita was deeply vested to their causes, and engagement to bring change in the society at every level, and she believed in and fought for the human values that are crucial to building a strong,

thriving family and society.

Rarely in a lifetime do we get the chance to meet someone like her; who is so devoted to living life to the fullest and so passionately, and who is capable of spreading that energy around her. Everywhere she went. every person she met. every soul she touched, Nita has left a mark on. And we can all feel the void that her absence has left us. with. But chin up! If she were here, she would be cheering us up and forcing us to live and love each other even more. Providing and being surrounded by love was all Nita was about and we should learn from that. So, just think about that unique laugh of hers and smile.

That's what she would want •...

And so, keep that big smile on us Mama Nita. We will always love you.

Nita Evele

GONE, BUT ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS

Solar Panel Complaints: Unreturned Calls, Canceled Appointments

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

• With temperatures soaring above 90 degrees for a good part of the summer, you’d think solar panel customers would be thrilled -- a hot, blazing sun usually means money in their pockets. But the News4 I-Team has received a lot of complaints from frustrated customers who say going green has put them in the red.
• "Folks get excited about solar,” said Ramsden of Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit to help homeowners go solar. “It’s a wonderful technology, saves people money and sometimes they just take a step too quickly rather than taking some time.”

Waste and Recycling Toolkit

(Click on the above image for the toolkit)

Download DPIE Publications

(Use your smartphone camera to scan the QR code or click on the above image)

Prince George’s redistricting proposal could harm some communities. So what’s the alternative?

(Click on the above image for the Greater, Greater Washington article)

• According to the county charter, the county council must hold a public hearing on the redistricting commission’s proposed plan between September 16 and October 1 (i.e., within 15-30 days of receiving the plan). Then, it has until November 30 to decide whether to allow the commission’s plan to become law, or to draw its own plan.
• The council has tentatively scheduled the public hearing on the redistricting commission’s plan to occur on Tuesday, September 28. There will presumably be an opportunity for the public to submit oral or written testimony in connection with that hearing.
• However, you do not need to (and should not) wait until the public hearing to make your wishes known to the council. The earlier you can make your wishes known, the more likely it is that you can actually have an impact on the process. Ultimately, it’s up to all of us to help make our democracy better.

Download and View the Redistricting Commission Report

Important Dates:

• All Redistricting Commission meetings are held virtually.  Watch Live HERE.   
• September 1, 2021 - Proposed Redistricting Plan and Report Due to the County Council
• September 14, 2021- Briefing on the Redistricting Plan and Report by the Redistricting Commission to the County Council
• September 20, 2021 – County Council Public Hearing on the Redistricting Plan
• November 30, 2021 - If the Council passes no other law changing the proposal, then the plan, as submitted, shall become law, as of the last day of November, as an act of the Council.

More information at https://pgccouncil.us/326/Redistricting-Commission

WSSC Water Needs Your Feedback

WSSC Water needs your feedback, so consider joining our online Customer Feedback Community (CFC) to help us make your experience better, more efficient and user-friendly. Being a member of our feedback community is easy, convenient and can be done from the comfort of your home. You might even win a prize for participating. And by giving us direct feedback on important issues, you have a voice in how we manage our relationship with you. You must commit to a one-year term. CFC members typically participate in one activity per month, usually responding to questions or surveys, or providing reactions to WSSC Water products, tools or services.

 For more information, go to wsscwater.com/cfc. Or to become a member of the WSSC Water Customer Feedback Community, email us at communityoutreach@wsscwater.com.

Who holds the power in Prince George’s County depends on how its boundaries are drawn

(Click on the above image for the Greater Greater Washington article)

• In Prince George’s County, the county redistricting commission has been meeting since March. Two of its three members — former Maryland state senator David C. Harrington and former Prince George’s Community College president Dr. Charlene Mickens Dukes — were appointed by the Democratic Central Committee. (There are no Republican appointees, since the Republican candidates did not attain at least 15% of the votes cast in the 2018 County Council race.) The chair, Rev. James J. Robinson, was appointed by the County Council.
• The redistricting commission is required by the county charter to make final recommendations to the county council for new districts by September 1, 2021. The county council will then have until November 30 to either accept the commission’s proposed map or to reject it and draw their own instead.

"Shared Struggle: African and Native intersections with Racial Justice in Prince George's County" - Aug 27th

(Click on the above image to register)

Friday, August 27, 12:00 pm - In partnership with the Prince George’s Lynching Memorial Project’s Community Remembrance Committee, this program supports the outreach efforts to honor Thomas Juricks, a victim of a lynching in Piscataway, Maryland. Omar Eaton Martinez of Parks & Planning and Shemika Berry of the Accokeek Foundation will be part of the panel for this webinar event. 

The event will highlight the following:

1. Importance of oral history and remembering the trauma of racial terror despite efforts (historical and current) to erase that history.
2. Intersectionality of the African American and Native American experiences in Prince George's County.
3. Contemporary ways that people are remembering and honoring the victims of racial terror today (such as through Community Remembrance Projects)

Please Help Our Police Help Kids

 Please help put a big simile on a child's face.😊

Media Coverage of Our Protest on August 6, 2021

(Click on the above image for the media coverage)

Passing of Judy Murphy

Dear Neighbors,

We are sad to report the passing of Judy Murphy who with her husband Tim are long-time residents of our area. Please keep Judy, Tim, and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

From Kalas Funeral Home:

Judith Ellen (Fizer) Murphy died at her home in Fort Washington, MD on August 1, 2021. Judith was born December 20, 1941 in Dayton, Ohio to the late William D. and Mary Alice Fizer. She is survived by her husband of 56 years Thomas J. (Tim) Murphy, daughters Linda E. Murphy of Silver Spring, MD, Laura A. (Murphy) Houser (William) of Brookeville, MD, sons Timothy J. of La Plata, MD, and Brian W. of Milton, NY, as well as two grandchildren, Ryan Houser and Moira Houser.
Judith graduated from Francis C. Hammond High School in Alexandria, VA and from the Washington School for Secretaries. Judith taught children in preschool and at daycare, which brought her much joy; though, her greatest joy was her family.
Visitation on Friday, August 6, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in the school hall, 2317 Brinkley Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Judy on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in the school hall, 2317 Brinkley Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744. A private interment will be held at a later date at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham. Arrangements by Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 6160 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or Montgomery and Prince George’s Hospice.

Don't Make Stormwater Drainage Worse with Your Fence

Visit the DPIE website at dpie.mypgc.us and see the reports below for more information: 

• Drainage and Flooding in Prince George’s County 
• DPIE’s Drainage Defects Complaint Program (for new homes)
• Information about Flooding and Flood Insurance
• DPIE Under Construction Newsletter May 2021
• Prince George’s County Stormwater Management Design Manual

The Swan Creek Forest Is a Bad Place to Build the K-8 School

(Click on the above image for a short video)

We want to show you this existing kindergarten to grade 5 school on Fort Washington Road in Fort Washington, Maryland. This school is underutilized and was not maintained for lack of funds and no interest by the Prince George’s County School Board. The County does not want to utilize this land and existing facilities, but wants to build a bigger and better “state of the art” school building on the adjacent 29 acres of land.

We want you to look closely at this land which has 100-200 year old trees like this. There maybe 30,000 trees here. Look how these trees help in purifying the air, managing the ground water and, during storms, preventing the flow of water with excessive speed, preventing flooding

Look at these trees. They provide shelter and home to wildlife consisting of several species of big and small animals, including turtles and snakes.

This land has wetlands, providing habitat for birds, amphibians, etc. The County wants to cut down the trees, destroy wetlands to make a new school on this land. The County is adamant on destroying this natural habitat.

The irony is to fully utilize the new school, Prince George’s County will bus kindergarten to grade 8 school students from neighboring town, where we are told the schools are over crowded.

Look at this Asbury Drive which will be on the other side of the school. Here developers have already cut thousands of trees and the wetlands have disappeared. We want to stop cutting the trees and preserve wetlands.

Look at this East Swan Creek Road which has a creek which gets flooded and the road is closed. Prince George’s County claims it has plans and resources to drain the water which will be there as a result of removing the trees. No one is paying attention to global warming which is happening because of removal of trees.

Don't Make Tantallon Flooding Worse!

(Click on the above image for the video)

As bad as flooding in Tantallon is now, it could get even worse!

A Gem Hidden in Plain Sight - Fort Washington Park

(Click on the above image for Megan McGrath's News4 report)

Some Prince George's School Board Members Want Chair Removed

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

From News4:

Some members of the Prince George's County Board of Education want the state to remove the board's chair as the board is split over basic policy and procedure, leaving some major issues unresolved for the school system.

The last Prince George's County Board of Education meeting capped a contentious year. Six Board members want to remove Chair Juanita Miller, who was appointed by County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. 

“Since her appointment, her tenure has been nothing less than chaotic,” Board member Shayla Adams-Stafford said.

The Board hasn't had an attorney for months. It approved hiring a lawyer, but the chair selected someone else, surprising some Board members.

“I quite frankly don't need this,” the attorney, Kevin Karpinski said at a Board meeting in June. “I'm not interested in being appointed attorney because I don't have time to do it.”

After a discussion with members, it was revealed the attorney did not have a contract with the board.

“It’s readily apparent to me that this board is entirely dysfunctional, and I would suggest to work very hard on getting a fulltime lawyer in here,” Karpinski said.

“There are a countless number of appeals that are currently before our board,” Board member Joshua M. Thomas said. “Some of these are employee appeals, some of these are student appeals, and without a Board attorney, we have no one that is in place to be able to process and set up a system where we actually as a board we can hear those appeals.”

Miller released a statement to News4 saying six elected board members have shown contempt and disregard since her appointment.

“It's unfortunate the board as a whole must suffer this dysfunction publicly, and it is unfair to our community,” she said.

Miller said the Board's leadership team will continue to operate professionally.

The Prince George's School Board members who want Miller out have 30 days to make their case. If the state moves forward, it could end up in the hands of an administrative law judge.

The Board is in recess. It's not clear when it will resume as members could not agree on a date.

Happy 4th of July!

 Stay Safe! - Be Happy!

Proposed Local Impact Grant (LIG) Fund Multi-Year Plan (Fiscal Years 2022 – 2024)

(Click on the above image for the briefing and plan)

'We’re concerned that we have been ignored' - Homeowners sign petition regarding new Prince George's school location

(Click on the above image for Nicole DiAntonio's WUSA9 report)

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — There is a petition growing online about plans to build a new K-8 school in Prince George’s County.

The proposed school building is scheduled to be built at the corner of Fort Washington Road and East Swan Creek Road.

As of Friday morning, more than 1,260 people have signed a Change.org petition to protest the building.

“The citizens of the Tantallon area of Fort Washington, MD oppose the building of a 2000 student school on the 23-acre wooded lot at the corner of Fort Washington & East Swan Creek Roads. This development would have a great impact on the environmentally peaceful area by adding increased flooding, traffic, light and noise pollution to the surrounding neighborhoods,” organizers wrote on the online petition.

Nancy Bhargava organized marches throughout the neighborhood nearly six weeks ago to protest the proposed school.

"We’re concerned that we have been ignored. Our community, the residents here have been dismissed," said Bhargava.

On Saturday, Bhargava plans to be back out at the intersection of Fort Washington Road and East Swan Creek Road, ahead of a scheduled groundbreaking next week.

"I'm concerned because we are going to be losing a lot of tree canopy. The tree canopy absorbs the water and prevents the water from flowing out into the road and into my house, my backyard and my neighbor's yard and causing serious issues," said Bhargava.

'Dysfunctional' Prince George's County School Board at a standstill

(Click on the above image for Nathan Baca's WUSA9 report)

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Prince Georges’s County High School student Alvaro Ceron-Ruiz solemnly took an oath of office Friday morning as the newest member of his district's school board. But the night before, his fellow school board members were not as solemn and serious, as chaos broke out amongst the members. 

"You’re out of order, you’re out of order!" Board Chair Dr. Juanita Miller told board member Raaheela Ahmed during a heated debate. 

"You’re out of order!" Ahmed retorted. 

Minutes later, board member David Murray told Miller, "It was a yes or no question that I asked you."

"No, you don’t tell me yes or no," Miller snapped back. 

After two failed votes, the school board couldn’t even agree on a calendar of when to meet in the future.

"When this board cannot operate in a functional and efficient manner, students don’t benefit, employees of our system don’t benefit, board members don’t benefit," board member Joshua Thomas said. "At the end of the day, we know we have a lot that needs to be done for kids."

Even outgoing student board member Ninah Jackson had harsh words for the adults on the board.

"Since the turn of this calendar year, this Board of Education has unequivocally been its own worst enemy," Jackson said. "We fail to effectively communicate, only to stand before the public bickering and arguing."

One hundred and six union employees of an after-school program eliminated by the school district can’t currently appeal for their jobs, because the school board no longer has an attorney, because he quit halfway through the last meeting.

"I’m not terribly interested in being involved in your political drama," Kevin Karpinski said to the board members. “It’s readily apparent to me that this board is entirely dysfunctional.”

Karpinski's presence as board attorney was the flashpoint that set off Thursday's conflict. A majority of the board voted for another law firm to take over the position of board attorney. Miller declined to hire that attorney, instead awarding the contract to one of her choice, Kevin Karpinski, claiming an exemption allowing her to sign contracts below $25,000. 

The majority of the board disputed that rule existed, and Karpinski withdrew from the position of board attorney by the second half of Thursday's meeting.

According to Tim Traylor, AFSCME union executive director, employees affected by the board standstill include cafeteria workers, nurses, bus drivers, security personnel, paraprofessional educators and more. 

Miller did not respond to WUSA9's requests for comment.

Now, newly sworn-in board member Ceron-Ruiz is left not knowing when he’ll be able to advance his own goals of advocating for history lessons highlighting communities of color. 

"We never really focus on the successes, the impact they’ve had on the country," Ceron-Ruiz said. "That’s really what I think students want -- that proper representation."

Proposed Development Across Cornett St from Winegardner's

(Click on the image above for the currently available information)

Alliance for Greater County Transparency Opposes K-8 Wetlands Permit

(Click on the above image for the legal filling)

Alliance position:

• K-8 project did not thoroughly investigate alternative sites.
• Wetlands permit application must go through a complete permitting process
• Must be an informational hearing.

Historic 300-year-old church in Prince George's County faces threat of ongoing floods

(Click on the above image for Nicole DiAntonio's WUSA9 report)

From https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/st-johns-episcopal-church-faces-threat-of-ongoing-floods/65-ca609814-1001-48cd-ba26-01b02e658c30

"We are hoping to be able to survive as a viable, alive community and not as a historical relic. We want this to be a living church."

By Nicole DiAntonio, June 21, 2021

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Founded in 1692, St. John’s Episcopal Church is the oldest church in Prince George's County. 

St. John's Episcopal Church has weathered storms both literally and figuratively throughout its more than 300-year-old history. Now members of the congregation say they face significant flooding several times a year.

Pastor Sarah Odderstol said when there is a big storm, water will flood the basement of the historic church. They've also had issues with flooding in their historic graveyard.

"In the time that I’ve been here, we’ve seen major flooding. At one point we had water two feet deep running across this graveyard and swirling around graves," said Pastor Sarah Odderstol.

One big issue is when the water jumps the banks of Broad Creek, which is located directly behind Parish Hall of St. John's Episcopal Church. 

"If Broad Creek jumps its banks, which happens very frequently, all bets are off," said Pastor Odderstol. 

During a heavy storm, they will have to pump tens of thousands of gallons of water out of the church basement. 

"And that basement level, the sump pumps cannot keep up and water starts coming in through the windows it’s a real problem," said Pastor Odderstol. "When you have that much water running through the foundation of your building, you have mold problems, mildew problems, you have that in old buildings anyway, but the water issues are constant here."

RELATED: Neighbors in Fort Washington area share ongoing concerns about flooding that has lasted many years

Beatrice James began attending the church more than 30 years ago.

"The church was beautiful but the congregation was even more beautiful. I came to visit because I am an Episcopalian and I was looking for a church to attend. When I came to visit, the kindness of the people, the love that you could feel in this environment brought me back and I thought this was a place I would want my children to grow up. I’m very pleased, I think they did a good job of growing up here," said James.

As treasurer of St. John’s Episcopal Church, James knows the cost of flood damage.

"I see how much it costs us every time it rains. Every time it floods, we have to do mitigation and we have to bring in crews for the mold and it takes away from some of the things we would like to do. We are trying to plan for something that cannot be planned for and we are trying to finance something that is difficult to finance," said James.

During the pandemic, St. John's Episcopal Church has partnered with another church in the area to offer a food bank to people in the area. Now they are looking for other ways to continue ministries --- since they cannot always depend on the church building.

"We cannot depend on having that space available. I’ve had to cancel graduation parties, people used to be able to use the space for events and we cannot depend on it because of the way flooding has increased in our area," said Pastor Odderstol. 

RELATED: Homeowners sign petition expressing concerns of new Prince George's school location

While there has been flood remediation done in this area, they said it is not enough with the recent increase in development.

Now they are looking for state and federal help with more voices coming to the table to find a more permanent solution.

"I think it is going to take bringing all the players to the table, all the agencies that have land here and land around us. This was formerly a dredged waterway, that involves the Army Corps of Engineers because it was once a navigable waterway. It involves Maryland National Park and Planning and it involves the National Park Service. Lots of people have an interest in this property and the edges of this property," said Pastor Odderstol.

St. John's Episcopal Church is not the only historic property to experience flooding concerns. 

Pastor Sarah Odderstol said one thing we can all do is to ask questions about flood remediation and make sure that additional development will not have a negative impact on historic properties in the area.

"We are hoping to be able to survive as a viable, alive community and not as a historical relic. We want this to be a living church and in order to do that we have to be able to maintain it," said James.

To help financially support St. John's Episcopal Church, click here.