Prince George's Co. police chief weighs in on race & policing (WUSA9)

(Click on the image for Ellison's video report)

By Ellison Barber. On Thursday, Chief Hank Stawinski, of the Prince George’s Police Department, spoke about issues facing police departments across the country and got personal when addressing the tension between law enforcement officers and the African American community.

In Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, a tale of two markets

Click on the image for Michele's report)

By Michele Lerner
Montgomery County and Prince George’s County both may be suburbs of Washington, but the two housing markets are very different by nearly every measure, including home prices, the pace of sales and the amount of new construction.
“Montgomery County and Prince George’s County are like mirror images of each other,” says Nela Richardson, chief economist for Redfin real estate brokerage in Washington.
Prices are significantly lower in Prince George’s, where the median home price from January to August 2016 was $250,000, up 8.7 percent from that same period in 2015, according to Rockville-based multiple-listing service MRIS. In Montgomery, the median sales price for that same period was $410,000, up 2.5 percent from 2015.

Do It Yourself Hose Faucet (Bib) Repair

A repair video is here for a hose faucet that is leaking from the vacuum breaker (the gray cap on top),
Repair parts, if you need them, are available here. You need a flat-blade screwdriver and pliers for the repair.

Robocalls Gone Wild

(Click on the image for Horace Holmes' 7 On Your Side report)

They call every day. Early in the morning till late at night.

They are robo calls. Those recorded calls any of us can get and most of us have received on our home or cell phones. Asking us to take a survey or informing us we've won something.
And if you think they're calling more frequently these days than they have in the past, you're right.
Get these numbers!
According to Youmail, a private company that tracks robo calls, just last month those calls hit an all-time high in the US of 2.6 billion up nearly 10 percent from July. That's 986 calls ringing per second across the country.
For just the DC area code 202, there were 19 million robo calls dialed in August. The ones marketing or trying to sell a product are against federal law.

[Free Nomorobo can help!]

Prince George's County Police Launch 'Chief on the Go' Program (News4)

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

By Tracee Wilkins
Amid unrest surrounding deadly police shootings across country, the Prince George's County Police Department -- once subject to federal oversight for its own allegations of abuse -- is seeking to boost relationships with the community. Police Chief Hank Stawinski spoke with residents and played with children in Brandywine on Friday.

66 Ways to Protect Your Privacy Right Now

(Click on the image for the report)

Consumers Report:
Ah, the joys of the connected life: opportunities to engage with global communities, be educated and entertained, and shop with ease. But these go hand in glove with intrusions from marketers and threats from criminals. The tips here, compiled with input from dozens of security experts, will help you take control. We also have pulled out a shorter list of just seven, super-fast steps you can take right now, in less than 10 minutes.

It's simple, wear your seat belt

BUCKLE UP ON EVERY TRIP. EVERY TIME. DAY AND NIGHT.
Your seat belt is your best defense against unsafe drivers – buckling up is the single most important step you can take to save your life in the event of a crash.

Technology Gets Newer and We Get Older

Our hearing and vision get weaker and our fingers tremble but we still need to use technology to take care of ourselves. Here are 4 websites that offer help and advice. There are many more.

• AARP 'Technology 101'
• Kiplinger 'Technology Helps Seniors Remain at Home'
• Microsoft 'Accessibility in Windows 10'
• 'Aging In Place Technology Watch'

How to Pick the Fastest Line at the Supermarket

(click on the image for the New York Times article)

By Christopher Mele.

You dash into the supermarket for a few necessities. You figure it will be 10 minutes — tops — before you are done and on your way home.

Then you get to the checkout lanes and they are brimming with shoppers. Your plan for a quick exit begins to evaporate.

But all is not lost.

For anyone who has ever had to stand in line (or if you are a New Yorker, you stand on line) at a supermarket, retailer, bank or anywhere else, here are some tips from experts for picking the line that will move the fastest.

Bob Dylan making a sculpture for MGM National Harbor casino

By Jeff Clabaugh, September 7, 2016

A metalwork sculpture by legendary musician Bob Dylan will get a prominent place at MGM’s National Harbor casino.
Dylan is creating a sculpture called “Portal,” a 26-foot by 15-foot sculpture that will be part of the casino’s west entrance. It is Dylan’s first permanent work of art for a public space.
“As a company founded upon entertainment, we’re truly inspired by artists who channel their energy into diverse paths,” MGM Resorts International Chief Executive Jim Murren said. “We’re proud to collaborate with Mr. Dylan and bring his vision to MGM National Harbor’s Heritage Collection in a way that enhances this sensory resort experience.” [Read Jeff's WTOP report here]

[Unconfirmed rumor has the casino opening Midnight, Dec 8, preceded by special events on Dec 1st and 5th.]

Big jump in number of Maryland drivers who illegally pass school buses

(Click on the image for Donna St. George's Washington Post report)

The total number of violations during the survey nearly tripled in Prince George’s County — from 230 last year to 658 this year — but was similar to its 2014 count of 669 violations. School officials said the county’s six-year average is 564; the county has 20 buses equipped with stop-arm cameras.
“Even one driver passing our buses is too many,” a schools spokeswoman said in a statement. “With our students back in school, it is important that motorists keep their eyes on the road and their minds on safety.”

What You Need to Know About Tech Support Scams

(Click on the image for the NBC report)

"It starts when your computer suddenly freezes and a pop-up warns you of a problem. Next, a "technician" offers to fix it, if you allow him to gain access to your computer. Here's how to spot the scammers."
[If you actually need tech support, go to someone you trust because allowing access to your computer potentially opens up all the personal information stored on it. See the report on Windows 10's Quick Assist here.]

County Zoning Rewrite Listening Sessions

The Prince George’s County Planning Department is conducting a comprehensive rewrite of the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. These laws define how land in certain geographic areas can be used. The current Zoning Ordinance is more than 1,200 pages, inconsistent and difficult to use. Our hope is to create a 21st Century Zoning Ordinance for Prince George’s County, transforming the current zoning code into a more modern and user-friendly ordinance.
Project Goals:

• Streamline and simplify the regulations and development approval process
• Modernize and consolidate our zones and development standards
• Incentivize economic and transit-oriented, mixed-use development
• Protect and enhance stable residential neighborhoods

How to prevent your security camera from being hacked

(Click on the image for the article)

"a Houston mother learned the security camera in her daughter's bedroom was being broadcast online."
Ron's advice: It's better to watch for potential criminals outside your home with external cameras than to risk having criminals watch you inside your home with inside cameras.

What's My Flood Risk?

(Click on the image to go to floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/)

Annual premium for an example home in the moderate to low risk area for the maximum $250,000/$100,000 building/contents coverage is about $500 from USAA.

The History of Broad Creek

(Click on the image for the Conservancy website)

You don't have to be a member to learn the history of Broad Creek (but they would like you to join!)
Topics under the "BCHD Information" tab:

• Broad Creek National Register Nomination
• Broad Creek History
• Broad Creek Historic District Preservation Planning Study
• History of St. John's Episcopal Church
• Broad Creek Historic District Historical Marker
• History of Harmony Hall

Permaculture Design Offers a Solution

(Click on the image for the website)

Permaculture Design is a process for managing your land and dwelling to be highly productive in an ecological manner.
Space is available for the 2016/2017 Permaculture Design Certificate Course. Classes take place weekends at the Accokeek Foundation in Piscataway Park from 10 am to 6 pm, on the following dates:

• September 24–25: Bioregionalism, Ecosystems, Ethics & Principles, Design Process
• October 15–16: Patterns in Nature, Site Analysis, Water Harvesting, Soil & Gardening
• November 5–6: Nutrient Recycling, Design for Disaster, Social & Economic Permaculture
• March 25–26: Renewable Energy, Natural Building & Small-scale Technology
• April 22–23: Grains, Aquaculture, Forest Gardens, Guilds, Agroforestry, Animals, Cash Crops
• May 20–21: Forest Garden Installation, Final Design Presentations & Certificate Awards

Trash Troubles

(Cick on the image for Tracee's Report)

News4: Thousands of Prince George's County residents have signed a petition to change the way the county collects trash. They want haulers to come pick up garbage twice a week.

New CountyClick System Coming Aug 16th

Will You Be Able to Help Your College-Age Child in a Medical Emergency?

(Click on the image for the report)

From Consumer Reports:
Early one October morning, Sheri E. Warsh, a mother of three from Highland Park, Ill., stepped out of the shower to a ringing phone. On the other end, her 18-year-old son’s college roommate delivered terrifying news: Her son—270 miles away at the University of Michigan—was being rushed by ambulance to a nearby emergency room with severe, unrelenting chest pain. “I was scared out of my mind, imagining the worst,” Warsh said.
In a panic, she called the ER for details about the medical emergency. What she got instead was a rebuff from the nurse. “She asked me how old my son was, and when I said 18, she told me I had no right to talk to the doctor,” Warsh said.