Spotlight on Domestic Violence

(Click on the image for a 1 minute video)

As you move around Prince George's County Monday night, look up to the sky, as we shine spotlights on domestic violence.

• We REMEMBER those who lost their lives to domestic violence.
• We HONOR the survivors.
• We ENCOURAGE the silent ones to speak up and speak out.
• We are ALL in this TOGETHER

Do You Want to Participate in a Curbside Organics Collection Pilot?

• Why is the County conducting this pilot and why should I compost?
  Nearly half of the materials that end up in the landfills can be composted.  Collecting food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings at the curb will help keep valuable materials out of our landfills, reduce harmful greenhouse gases, protect our environment and help Prince George’s County get closer to our zero waste goals.
• What can I compost?
  There are a variety of materials that can be composted including yard trim, leaves, grass and brush.  Examples of food items include, fruits, vegetables, meats, bones, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, soiled paper napkins, soiled pizza boxes, tea bags and loose tea leaves, dairy products, and seafood shells, to name a few.
• How can I participate?
  After opting in, we will provide you with a 2 gallon kitchen pail, in addition to a 32 gallon exterior wheeled cart to place all of your organics. We will also provide you with a box of compostable liners for your kitchen pail to get you going. Additional liners may be purchased at local retail stores. A list of tested and approved liners is available in your welcome kit.
• If enough Tantallon households are interested, we can participate in a pilot project. Email TCA (tantalloncitizensassociation@gmail.com) if you want to participate.

Council moves ahead with “rocket docket” for complaints

(Click on the image for Emily Blackner's report in the Sentinel)

• "On Sept. 20, the county council’s Transportation, Housing and the Environment (THE) committee voted 4-0 on a “favorable with amendments” report of CB-64-2017, which creates a new procedure for administrative hearings on violations of housing and property standards. The bill was drafted at the request of County Executive Rushern Baker, III, and representatives from his office explained the goal was to help county residents get faster action on their code complaints."
• "The bill, alongside companion legislation [CB-63-2017], gives the existing Nuisance Abatement Board (NAB) additional powers and creates an administrative hearing officer position to conduct administrative hearings on code violations. When a county inspector issues a citation, the property owner has 30 days to respond to the citation by paying the fine and correcting the issue or requesting a hearing to contest it. If the cited person does not respond within 30 days, the case moves to court, where a judge can issue an enforceable order to correct the deficit and/or pay the fines. The new process would allow the administrative board to conduct a hearing on the citation and “order against the person or property cited and impose a civil penalty,” the bill reads."
• "The bill also specifies that while it shall become law on Jan. 1, 2018, the board will not begin hearing cases until July 1, 2018."
• Click here for the DPIE briefing on the new, faster process.

Why a Credit Freeze Is Better Than a Credit Lock

(Click on the image fro the Consumer Reports article)

"Consumers worried about identity theft after the Equifax data breach are being encouraged by all three credit bureaus to use a credit lock rather than a credit freeze.
But although credit locks and freezes do essentially the same thing—prevent anyone from opening an account in your name—there are some important differences to keep in mind when deciding which to use (you can’t do both). In most cases a credit freeze offers better protections against fraud and can be cheaper, making it the best option."

Please Help the Florida Keys Victims of Hurricane Irma

• According to an article in the September 26 issue of USA Today, “While the nation has turned its eyes toward the island-wide destruction in Puerto Rico and the mounting deaths from the earthquake in Mexico, the Keys are still operating in full disaster mode more than two weeks after Hurricane Irma made landfall here as a Category 4.”
• Sponsored by Denison Landscaping and Nursery, Mike Weller (son of Rosemary and Joe Weller) is taking the truck he drives for Denison (Joshua and Levi are two of John and Donna Denison’s grandsons) down to the Keys the weekend of October 13. The truck will be full of donations of “pretty much anything it takes to live”.
• Donations are being accepted at the now closed Garden Center at 8911 Oxon Hill Rd during the week from 9am to 4pm. You can contact Mike at Mweller@denisonlandscaping.com or 240-304-7562.

Former Tantallon Neighbor Pat Lawson Muse Surprised on 35th Anniversary on News4

(Click on  the image to see Pat's surprise)

Pat and her husband, Sen. C. Anthony Muse, were residents of Monterey Circle. Pat worked to get the first Neighborhood Watch sign on the street.

Distracted Driving Stops Are Up in Maryland

(Click on the image for Scott MacFarlane's News4 report)

Don't text and drive! Maryland State Police are stopping more people for distracted driving. State police records show that 26,000 drivers have been stopped for distraction in 2017 thus far. That's 3,000 more stops than police made this time last year.

Hooked: how slot machines are designed to be addictive

(Click on the image for the guardian.com report)

• Poker machines use a range of design features that leverage psychology to keep people playing. 
• All of these features combine to make poker machines more appealing to people. While not every player is a gambling addict, one in six people who play the pokies regularly has a serious addiction, according to Australian government statistics.
• 'I don't think most people understand how addictive these devices can be. They are essentially addictive devices, and they are designed to be so. They are designed the maximise the amount of time and money people put into them.'

Dozens of bodies buried next to MGM casino outside Washington will be moved

(Click on the image for Justin Moyer's report in The Washington Post)

• "A centuries-old cemetery yards from the MGM National Harbor casino that was the subject of a court battle is being moved.
  The Addison family cemetery, on a hill across from the MGM’s ride-sharing pickup, is the final resting place for a colonial family that settled on the banks of the Potomac in the 1600s. Amid legal wrangling, at least 36 bodies buried hundreds of years ago are being exhumed and moved to a nearby church connected with the Addisons."
• "After a family vote and approval from the Prince George’s County Office of the State’s Attorney earlier this year, the cemetery will be moved to St. John’s Episcopal Church Broad Creek in Fort Washington, a congregation about four miles from the casino that the Addison family helped found."

Why Drivers Speed and the Price of Speeding

(Click on the image for the complete Weiland Upton infographic)

Penalties for a Maryland Speeding Ticket

The consequences of a speeding violation depend on the circumstances. But generally, speeding ticket carries a fine and adds “points” to the motorist’s driving record. Here’s an overview of the penalties for different types of violations:
Violation of the basic speeding law. $90 fine and one point + the following:

• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 1 to 9 miles per hour. $80 fine and one point.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 10 to 19 miles per hour. $90 fine and two points.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 20 to 29 miles per hour. $160 fine and two points.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 30 to 39 miles per hour. $290 fine and five points.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by at least 40 miles per hour. $530 fine and five points.

Generally, the fines and points are increased if a speeding violation contributed to a collision.
[A speed camera generated citation is $40 and no points]

The most important penalty is the loss of the lives of the victims of fatal crashes. For example, 5 to 6 lives were lost per year on Indian Head Highway on average over the last 10 years.

Residents Push to Make Md Route 210 Safer

(Click on the image for Jackie Benson's News4 report)

Acting District VII Commander Jim Keleti: His officers stopped 49 vehicles in 7 hours. The average speed was 78 mph and one was going 100 mph.
Most of the 2,800 traffic citations written so far this year on MD 210 were for speeding.

Also see "Calls for change along deadly stretch of road in Prince George's Co." and 

"With rising death toll, questions on how to make Indian Head Highway safer"

Why Did WTOP Call Indian Head Highway (MD 210) "The Highway of Death"?

(Click on the image for the short video)

See WTOP report: Highway of death: Why has Indian Head Highway had so many fatal crashes?

Our Police, County and State governments, several community/civic associations, and concerned citizens are working toward making Indian Head Highway the "The Lifeline of South County".
Please drive gently.

U. S. Park Police Chief Robert MacLean Visits the South County Community Roundtable

(Chief MacLean is just to the front and right of Sgt. Moss, the tall guy in the back row middle)

Chief MacLean visited the South County Community Roundtable (SCCR) on September 13.
He writes, "It is an honor to serve and be part of your community.  Attached is the awesome photo we took that really speaks to us working together."
Also in the picture is Prince George's County Sheriff Deputy Brooks (second row, left of center in brown uniform) who on September 16th received 2nd place at the @360Wholeness 5k run/walk event.

Wrong Tree, Wrong Place

To be followed by Right Tree, Right Place

PGPD takes the community fight against thefts from autos to Hollywood

(Click on the image for Chief Stawinski's video)

No cell phones were hurt in the making of this video.
Spoiler alert! Pippin was adopted.😊

Air Duct Scams

(Click on the image for the video report)

Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection is alerting consumers of a growing scam based on air duct cleaning services.

Equifax: Personal Data for 143 Million Americans Potentially Exposed

(Click on the image for the NBC Nightly News report)

"The credit reporting agency says the data breach involved the names, addresses, social security numbers, birth dates and even the driver’s license information for 143 million people."
See also:

• How to Reduce Your Risk After Equifax Breach
• Equifax finally responds to swirling concerns over consumers’ legal rights
• Don’t Take Equifax Up On Its Credit Monitoring Offer

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

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

"Three forms—HIPAA authorization, medical power of attorney, and durable power of attorney—will help facilitate the involvement of a parent or other trusted adult in a medical emergency."
See also NEWS 4's "Help Your College Student in a Medical Emergency" video report.

Robocalls Are Even Worse in Area Code 202

(Click on the image for Megan Cloherty's WTOP video report)

• If you are getting more robocalls, it could indicate your phone number "was flagged as a “good number,” meaning the robocallers know there’s a person who answers the phone."
• “So if it ever asks you to press 9 to get off the list, don’t. Because pressing 9 will put you on the list. … Just the mere fact you answer will put you on the list. That’s why it’s so important not to answer these calls and to have services that try to fool robocallers,”
• "let unknown numbers roll to voicemail, use call-screening services and remain skeptical."

Elder Care and Assisted Living: Who Will Care for You?

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

See also: Long-Term-Care Insurance Gets a Makeover