St. Andrews Wall Repaired!

(Repair by Mariano Flaim)

Support SB 1143 in Memory of NeShante' and Chloe Davis‏

Every 9 Seconds A Woman in The U.S. Is Assaulted or Beaten

Dear Friends,
Today in Annapolis, members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hear Senate Bill 1143, Prince George's County - NeShante' and Chloe Davis Domestic Violence Prevention Task Force, which I sponsored after the tragedy that occurred in our district.
As many of you may remember the killing of 26-year-old NeShante' Davis and her 2-year-old daughter Chloe Davis-Green outside of their home in Oxon Hill last month, which left their families devastated and the community in shock. Ms. Davis, who taught 2nd grade at Bradbury Heights Elementary School in Capitol Heights, was also a recent graduate of Bowie State University.
SB 1143 will require the Task Force to study the effectiveness of current intervention strategies and explore new strategies for 'intervention before escalation' of domestic violence. It will also focus on expanding programs to engage and educate community stakeholders to be better informed about ways to identify, report, defend against and prevent domestic violence in the home and the community.
According to the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, there were 238 domestic violence related deaths in Maryland between 2010-2015.  SB 1143 is co-sponsored by 44 senators; and if passed, the task force will have to report its recommendations to the governor no later than December 1, 2016.
This legislation is very important not only to NeShante' and Chloe's family, but to our entire community; therefore, please take a moment and show your support of SB 1143, by signing your name as a supporter
(Click Here for Support of SB 1143).
Sincerely,
C. Anthony Muse
[See Tracee Wilkins report, Victim's Sister Talks to Lawmakers About Domestic Violence Problem]

Vigil held for Prince George’s Co. detective killed in gun battle (WTOP)

(Click on the image for the WTOP article)

By Dick Uliano, March 20, 2016
"He's in a better place and he's at peace," said his grandmother Barbara Rust, through sobs.
Police officers, family members and neighbors bundled against the chill, held candles and remembered the late Prince George’s County police officer Jacai Colson during a vigil Sunday outside the police station where he was killed a week ago.

District III Scars

National Colonial Farm Season Opening - April 2nd

Celebrate the season opening and join us for this popular event the whole family will enjoy: meet the barnyard babies, try your hand at making butter and cheese, learn how we process wool from sheep to scarf, and warm up with hot beverages, soup, and doughnuts.
Plus!:

• Celebrate Nigel’s first birthday with cake
• Play “The Hungry Games”
• Hayrides
• Lamb cuddles
• Soup by Panera Bread
• Doughnuts by Miller Farms
• $5 General admission, AF members and children under 2 are free. Additional cost for food and select activities.

Results of 75 Year Study - Good Relationships Keep Us Happier and Healthier

Harvard researchers discovered the one thing everyone needs for happier, healthier lives (The Washington Post) By Colby Itkowitz, March 2, 2016
My grandmother once told me this little story that stuck with me. One afternoon at a doctor’s appointment, her doctor moved her large purse to another chair and remarked how heavy it was. “You must be very rich,” he said to her. “I am,” she said affirmatively.
My grandparents lived modestly, still in the narrow two-bedroom rowhouse where she’d raised her family since her husband returned from World War II. They didn’t travel, eat lavish meals or shop at the finest department stores. Neither had careers that followed their passions. (She would have been an amazing teacher, he an exquisite artist.) Yet, she genuinely considered herself rich because she had a husband, children and grandchildren whom she adored.
My grandmother knew what Harvard researchers have since confirmed: Relationships are the key to a happy life.
Robert Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist, took over the more than 75-year-long Grant Study in 2003, becoming the fourth person to run it. He recently gave a TedTalk on it that has been viewed more than 6.5 million times since November 2015.

Boy Scout Troop Spring Mulch Sale

ISO Wet-Basement Expert

Our home got a bit of water in the basement mechanical room (thank goodness the carpet side of the basement stayed dry).    We need an expert on wet-Basement water redirection?!  I'm not certain.   We are fairly new to the area and wanted to use recommendations from neighbors over dialing numbers from the phone book. Thank you. [Please email TCA if you have a recommendation: tantalloncitizensassociation@gmail.com]

Blue Ribbon Commission Issues Preliminary Report

(Click on the image for the preliminary report)

From the report: "Based on current forecasts, and absent any intervention, the County will have an annual budget shortfall of between $65 and $250 million dollars beginning in Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2017 through FY 2022."
From Sarah Cavitt's October 2015 open letter to the Commission: "County leadership must earn the taxpayers’ confidence that monies are being used sensibly and appropriately. Instituting zero-based budgeting would be a significant first step. In addition, the appointment of an independent Inspector General is absolutely necessary so that citizens know there is someone to whom to report suspected abuse. Until those two initiatives are implemented, I suspect citizens will not have the confidence needed to change the current system, i.e. overturn TRIM."

Once-a-Week Trash Collection

Viral-video star, 106, keeps young by helping kids

(Click on the image for the WTOP article)

The 106-year-old who’s earned rock star status in a viral video of her dancing with the President and First Lady thinks volunteering has helped keep her young.

“She’s the jewel in our crown,” says Cheryl Christmas, of the UPO Foster Grandparent Program, about centenarian Virginia McLaurin. “Grandma has been working at this program, Foster Grandparents, for 22 years.”

“And I love it,” McLaurin quickly chimed in. “I love kids!”

Ft Washington Community Schools - NO CHANGE NOW

(Click on image to sign the petition)

Potomac Landing Elementary School and Fort Washington Forest Elementary School have joined forces to stop the pending BOE vote on 2/25/16 that could change the current school boundaries. We are urging residence in Fort Washington to show up (sign up to testify) to the next Board of Education Meeting on FEBRUARY 23rd at 7 pm (14201 School Lane, Rm 121, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772). This has an impact on the community, because schools are among the top priority for people when deciding where they want to live or if they want to sell!

Click here for a Summary of the Proposed Boundary Changes

FY 2017 Budget Hearing Brief

(Click the image for a copy of the hearing brief)

General Fund Outlook: $73.1M Deficit, but "Through the FY 2017 budget development process, the County will align revenues and expenditures for a balanced budget."

Test Your Home for Radon

What to Do with Leftover Cooking Oil?

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Give that turkey frying oil a proper disposal. Never down the drain!

Where to place home security cameras (Cnet.com)

Around 65.8 percent of burglaries in the US are residential and a well-placed camera can help identify intruders.
If your security cameras are placed in the wrong areas, you may not be as protected as you think. Here are a few tips for putting your security cameras where they will do the best work.
The optimal places to install security cameras
The front door, back door and first-floor windows are the most common entryways for criminals, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In fact, around 81 percent of burglars enter through the first floor, so put your cameras where burglars are most likely to enter. Plus, the front door is a great place to put a security camera because you can use it to see who's at the door before answering.

(Read the full article here)

Citizens Organized for Public Safety

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

We gathered Nov 16th to:

• Commend our Police on reducing crime over the last 4 years.
• Ask our county officials to restore the public safety budget so we can train enough police recruits to keep up with the demand for police services during our county's economic growth.
• Click here to download pdf of letter from CM Mel Franklin to CE Rushern Baker.

How to Keep “Parcel Pirates” from Swiping Your Doorstep Packages (Ackerman)

(Click on image for article)

Everyone loves shopping online, especially during the holiday season. You can purchase your entire Christmas list from your couch! And who doesn’t love the idea of coming home to a package sitting on their doorstep?
Unfortunately, those doorstep packages are vulnerable to “parcel pirates.” These thieves follow delivery trucks, stealing packages from doorsteps when no one is home.
So how do you protect yourself packages from these parcel pirates? Here are 3 tips.

Proposed Development at Route 5 & Allentown‏ Rd

Provided by IHHAAC: Proposed site for the rumored WaWa and Lidl's Grocer (German company).
More information at:

• Allentown Andrews Gateway Center
• Lidl confirms U.S. expansion
• Lidl website
• Washington Business Journal

Pr. George’s lawmakers are proposing these bills in Annapolis (Washington Post)

                                          (Mark Gail/The Washington Post) (Click on the image for the article)

By Arelis R. Hernández, November 16
"Authorizing a bag tax, establishing an inspector general for county schools and changing liquor laws are among the legislative priorities for Prince George’s County lawmakers who return to Annapolis in January for the next legislative session.
The county delegation unveiled more than two dozen proposed bills that could introduce new taxes, changes in bi-county agencies such as the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and increased oversight measures for the county education system."