5.30.13 - Prince George`s Post

The Prince George’s Post
A CommuniTy newsPAPer for PrinCe GeorGe’s CounTy Since 1932
Vol. 81, No. 22 May 30 — June 5, 2013 Prince George’s County, Maryland
Newspaper of Record
Phone: 301-627-0900
25 cents
O’Malley, Miller, Busch
Sign Transportation Act
Legislation Supports More Than 57,200 Jobs,
Invests $4.4 Billion in Projects Statewide
By PRESS OFFICER
Office of the Governor
CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE PHOTO BY YAGANA SHAH
Mike Williams explains a homework assignment to Brianna McKinney, a junior at Walter Johnson High School in
Bethesda, during an AP World History class.
Complexion of Maryland Teaching
Corps Fails to Reflect Student Body
By YAGANA SHAH
Capital News Service
WASHINGTON - Mike Williams
recalls having only one, black, male
teacher during his K-12 education in
Montgomery County.
“I felt a bit isolated. That’s coming
from me, and I was fairly popular. I was
an athlete,” said Williams, 43, now a
social studies teacher at Walter Johnson
High School in Bethesda.
He is among the 3.7 percent of black,
male teachers in Maryland Public
Schools teaching a student body that is
nearly 18 percent black and male.
The state continues to recruit a teaching corps to try to accurately reflect its
student population because experts say
it's good for students to be taught by a
diverse faculty. Maryland has managed
to boost Asian and Hispanic representation in its teaching corps over the past
decade, but still has seen a fall in the representation of black teachers.
“There’s been a conscious effort. We
want our teaching population to reflect
our student population. Now that’s a very
lofty goal,” said Jeff Martinez, director
of staffing at Montgomery County Public
Schools.
The percentage of black teachers in
Maryland Public Schools has dropped
more than 4.5 points to 16.57 percent
over the past decade, while the percentage of Asian and Hispanic teachers has
grown relatively sharply along with their
respective student populations, according to a Capital News Service analysis.
The percentage of Asian students has
grown 1.1 percentage points, from 4.85
percent in 2003. The percentage of
Hispanic students has grown even more
sharply -- more than doubling from 6.39
percent in 2003 to 12.86 percent for the
current school year. (The Maryland State
Department of Education added Native
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and two or
more races as self-reporting categories in
2010, which may contribute to a small
degree of variation.)
Diversity in the teaching corps is crit-
ical in many ways, education experts say.
“When we look at this particular
issue, not only in the state of Maryland
but across the country, one of the things
we have to understand is that the picture
for students of who is in front of the
classroom sends a very important message about what they can be when they
grow up,” said Chance Lewis, professor
of urban education at University of North
Carolina at Charlotte, who has authored
several books on diversity in education.
That message is one that Williams
said he received growing up and stayed
with him until he got to college.
“It was going to Howard University
and seeing others like me...other black
males, despite what you saw in the
media, despite all the negative images, I
saw how brilliant and sharp black men
were,” Williams said.
Those examples of outstanding black
men at Howard University instilled extra
See DIVERSITY, Page A3
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 16,
2013) – Governor Martin
O’Malley, Senate President
Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., and
House Speaker Michael E.
Busch, joined by Lieutenant
Governor Anthony G. Brown,
today signed the Transportation
Infrastructure Investment Act of
2013 (Transportation Act). The
legislation will support thousands of jobs and invests an average of $800 million a year at full
implementation and a total of
$4.4 billion over the next six
years (FY 2014 - FY 2019). As a
result of the passage of the legislation, Governor O’Malley was
able to announce today the first
round of highway and transit projects to be funded with money
generated by the Transportation
Act.
“Working together with
Senate President Miller, Speaker
Busch and the members of the
General Assembly, we have
guaranteed a sustainable transportation funding source that will
support more than 57,200 jobs,
create a safer, more efficient
transportation network, and spur
economic development,” said
Governor O’Malley. “This historic transportation bill allows us
to move forward with the first
new major transportation projects in more than eight years and
get our construction industry
back to work. Today, I am
pleased to announce $1.2 billion
for key new highway and transit
See TRANSPORT, Page A5
Mikulski, Congressional
Colleagues Introduce
Legislation to Combat
Sexual Assalt in Military
By PRESS OFFICER
Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s Office
Bipartisan Senate-House Bill
Creates
Transformational
Change Needed for Real
Accountability In Military
Justice System by Removing the
Chain of Command From
Decision Making Over Whether
Serious Crimes Are Prosecuted,
Also Reforms Article 60 so
Commanders Cannot Overturn
Jury Verdicts for Serious Crimes
According to DOD Estimates,
More Than 26,000 Incidents of
Sexual Assault or Unwanted
Sexual Contact occurred in
2012; Overall Reports Increased
37%; Sexual Assault Crimes
Increased 6% to 3,374 Reports;
Only 238 Convictions
WASHINGTON – U.S.
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (DMd.) joined Senators Kirsten
Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan
Collins (R-Maine) and Barbara
Boxer (D-Calif.) to announce
new bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would reform the military justice system by removing
the prosecution of all crimes pun-
See ASSAULT, Page A3
Japanese Cars Represent Prince George’s County Launches
Best, Worst of Maryland Property Standards Anti-Blight Plan
Auto Emissions Tests
By PRESS OFFICER
County Executive’s Office
By JEREMY BARR
Capital News Service
WASHINGTON -- Marylanders
looking to purchase an environmentally
friendly car should look east, Far East,
new data shows.
Japanese automakers Lexus, Subaru
and Honda had the lowest failure rates
on emissions tests in Maryland in 2010
and 2011, according to a Capital News
Service analysis of more than 3 million
test records obtained through a Public
Information Act request.
Lexus, at 4.8 percent, was the only
automaker with a failure rate under 5
percent. Subaru and Honda followed
closely, with 5 percent and 5.1 percent
failure rates, respectively.
Even more impressive, Japan produced the nine car models with the lowest failure rates on the On Board
Diagnostic (O) Test, which accounts for
nearly 90 percent of all emissions tests
in Maryland.
But a Japanese automaker also ended
up on the bottom on the heap. If you
drive an Isuzu – a Japanese vehicle manufacturer that produced automobiles
with General Motors -- and had your
vehicle emissions-tested in Maryland in
See EMISSIONS, Page A7
Twenty-five point plan
released amid backdrop
at house demolition site
LARGO, MD – On Wednesday,
Prince George’s County Executive
Rushern L. Baker, III, and Prince
George’s County Council Chair,
Andrea Harrison, along with
Department
of
Environmental
Resources (DER) Acting Director
Adam Ortiz and other County officials, formally announced the launch
of the Property Standards Reform
Action Plan; a 25-point agenda outlining code enforcement services
PHOTO BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE
Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, County
Councilmembers Andrea Harrison, District 5 and Mary Lehman, District
1 and other government officials pose with happy community residents.
designed to enforce the County Code
and improve the quality of life in
See BLIGHT, Page A7
INSIDE
Fallen Heroes Memorial
In conjunction with Police Week
2013, the Prince George’s County
Office of the Sheriff officially dedicated its “Fallen Heroes Memorial”
memorializing the lives and service
of Deputy First Class Elizabeth
Magruder and Sergeant James
Arnaud who were killed in the line
of duty on August 29, 2002.
Community, Page A3
My Tea Party Comment ...
When I told MSNBC's Thomas Roberts
on May 14th that the Tea Party was "the
Taliban wing of American politics", a
firestorm erupted.
Arguing the IRS was correct to target
them for extra scrutiny, I also said, "Here
are a group of people who are admittedly
racist, who are overtly political" and
therefore worthy of IRS concern.
Opinion, Page A4
Purple Line Industry Forum
Seeking best practices and innovative
approaches to building and financing
the Maryland National Capital Purple
Line, Lt. Governor Anthony G.
Brown and the Maryland Transit
Administration hosted an industry
forum that drew more than 300 people including construction industry
leaders from across North America.
Business, Page A5
Movie Review “Frances Ha,”
Twentysomething drifts aimlessly,
tries to figure out what to do with his
or her life. That one-line summary is
practically its own genre in independent filmmaking. Plenty of movies
dealing with the subject have been
just fine, the sub-par entries that clog
festival schedules make it hard for
the truly special ones to be heard.
Out on the Town, Page A6
Earth Talk
Dear EarthTalk:
I'm concerned about toxic ingredients in my cleaning supplies, especially now that I have young children. Where can I find safer alternatives?
-- Betsy E.,
Hartford, CT
Features, Page A7
A2 — May 30 — June 5, 2013 — The Prince George’s Post
Towns and
NeighborS
In and Around Morningside-Skyline
by Mary McHale 301 735 3451
Memorial Day at
American Legion,
Resurrection Cemetery, &
Rolling Thunder
The Memorial Day service
at American Legion Post 259,
in Clinton, was held May 27.
Twin doctors who grew up in
the area, both of them Army
lieutenant colonels, were guest
speakers, along with Sen. Mike
Miller and other Maryland dignitaries.
Memorial Day Mass at
Resurrection Cemetery, in
Clinton, was on May 27 , honoring loved ones buried there.
Msgr. Barry Knestout celebrated the Mass.
Meanwhile at the VFW in
Morningside, Rolling Thunder
thundered in on Friday, May
24. The motorcycles arrived
from all over the U.S. to participate in Memorial Day services
at Arlington Cemetery and
throughout the Metro area.
The VFW gave them a good
send-off, with a spaghetti dinner on Friday, 5-to-7 p. m.
Applause
Congratulations to Albert
Lewis, 8th-grade language arts
teacher at Walker Mill Middle
School in Capitol Heights, who
has been chosen Prince
George’s County Teacher of the
Year.
Angela Andress and Yvette
Coley, teachers at Imagine
Foundations at Morningside
Morningside
(formerly
Elementary), were among the
nominees for County Teacher
of the Year.
Congratulation
to
the
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
softball team, the Raiders, on
clinching the County 4A
League title. They’ll face Glen
Burnie in the state semifinals
this week. I’m proud of granddaughter Claire Mudd, freshman left-fielder for the Raiders.
Xscape Theatres open in
Brandywine
Xscape 14 Theatres have
opened on Matapeake Business
Drive near the Brandywine
Crossing shopping center. You
can see “42” at 10 a.m. or “The
Great Gatsby” at 10:15 a.m. for
about $5—morning showings
are much cheaper.
Changing landscape
The National Aquarium is
closing September 30. Last
week I took grandson Richard
and daughter Kathleen to the
aquarium and we realized what
a treasure Washington will be
losing. The aquarium has been
around since the 1930s in the
basement of the Commerce
Department at 14th &
Pennsylvania Avenue. The
building will undergo renovation and the 1,500 fish will be
moved, many to the aquarium
in Baltimore.
Posted on the building—
which was Andrews Manor
Theatre back in the 1960s—
there’s a sign announcing
ShopSmart.
Do you know
what kind of business this is?
There was a hearing May 16
regarding the conversion of a
warehouse into a school in
Andrews Manor Shopping
Center.
The warehouse, I
believe, is adjacent to the Have
a Heart Ministry.
Strayer University has been
okayed for a preliminary plan
of subdivision for a building on
5.4 acres at Auth Place and
Brittania Way in Camp Springs.
A site plan has been
approved for 208 multifamily
residential units at 4500 Telfair
Blvd., off Auth Way in the
Chelsea East project.
Jacob & Sophia—again
For the last two years, Jacob
has been the most popular name
for boys and Sophia has been
the top name for girls. Jacob
has been number one for 14
straight years, followed by
Mason, Ethan, Noah and
William. This is the second
year in a row for Sophia, followed by Emma, Isabella,
Olivia and Ava.
The
Social
Security
Administration’s Website lists
the top 1,000 baby names each
year dating back to 1880 when
John and Mary were each number one. Now, John is 28th on
the list and Mary is 123rd.
May they rest in peace
Carl C. Burger, 69, longtime
resident of Woodland Road in
Morningside and a member of
the Morningside Sportsmen’s
Club, died May 4. He and his
late wife Denise held several
offices in the Sportsmen.
Survivors include his children,
Anna Fox, Diane M. Pierpont,
Cherie Marquart, Michael A.
Burger and Carl C. Burger Jr.;
12 grandchildren; one greatgrandchild; and a special
friend, Edna Seeney. Services
were at Cedar Hill Funeral
Home.
Arthur Fridley, D.D.S., 60, a
dentist with offices in Temple
Hills, died in Annapolis on May
7. He had been a 10-year resident of Shady Side and previously of New Carrollton. He
was past president of the
Maryland
State
Dental
Association, a member of the
International
College
of
Dentists and other dental organizations. He was a 4th degree
member of the Knights of
Columbus and a parishioner at
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic
Church in West River. His wife
Valerie; daughter, Stacey
Rainbold; and a sister, Donna
Lilly, survive him.
Milestones
Happy birthday to Dennis
Cook, Norma Edwards and my
son John McHale, May 25;
Christopher Nichols, May 26;
Gary Lewis, Sr. and Steven
Busky, May 27; my longtime
next-door neighbor Teddy
Burke and Kevin Nichols, May
30.
Counseling Corner
from the American Counseling Association
Understanding Teenage Depression
Virtually every teenager will have his or her
moody moments. Parents may find their
teenage child withdrawn, difficult to talk to, or
even openly hostile. It can be frustrating for parents and sometimes indicates a real problem.
It isn't difficult to understand why the typical
teenager years can be difficult. For both
teenagers and parents those years from 13 to 19
can sometimes seem out of control. There are
the ongoing pressures of school work, the normal conflicts of adolescent social life, the physical changes brought on by puberty, and the ever
present anxieties of our times, from school violence to terrorism threats.
While most teens are able to handle such
pressures with only occasional bouts of anxiety
and moodiness, there are times when teens may
find themselves overwhelmed by what is happening to them. That may result in a few days
of your teen being more moody, irritable and
withdrawn, or it may turn into a serious issue
known as clinical depression.
Clinical depression can be difficult to recognize in a teen. While adult depression is usually
seen as sadness, teens tend to "mask" what
they're feeling. Instead of seeming sad, they
may seem constantly bored, irritable and
uncommunicative. They may engage in risky
behavior and withdraw from activities that they
once enjoyed.
While it takes a professional counselor or
other mental health professional to diagnose
clinical depression, there are signs that parents
can look for: a prolonged sad, empty or anxious
mood; trouble concentrating; eating and sleeping problems; decreased energy; or excessive
feelings of guilt and worthlessness. When several of these symptoms are present for more
than a few days, it's time for a parent to pay
attention and take action.
A starting point is simply encouraging your
teen to share feelings and thoughts. Your job is
to listen without being judgmental while
acknowledging the reality of what your teen is
feeling. Most importantly, take any references,
threats or attempts at self-hurt seriously. Teen
suicides are this nation's third leading cause of
death for young people.
If what you're hearing sounds serious, and if
you've been seeing signs of depression for some
time, seek out professional help. It might be
your teen's school counselor or an outside professional counselor specializing in adolescent
and family issues. The right help can do much
get your teenager back on track and fully enjoying his or her adolescence.
"Counseling Corner" is provided by the
American Counseling Association. Comments
and questions to ACAcorner@counseling.org or
visit the ACA website at counseling.org
Neighborhood Events
PGCPS Cheerleaders Receive National
Recognition Competing in U.S. Finals
Brandywine-Aquasco
by Ruth Turner 301 888 2153
YARD SALE
Clinton United Methodist
Women’s Sale will be held on
Saturday, June 8, beginning at
8:00 AM. Table cost is $15.00
each. Our church is located at
10700 Brandywine Road.
Church telephone number is
301-868-1281.
Please call
Carol Hughes (301) 780-3633
or Judy Jones-Terry (202) 8322850 to reserve a table or if you
have
any
questions.
Refreshments will be on sale.
U.S. CHEERING and
DANCE COMPETITION
Prince George’s County
Public Schools earned National
Recognition in U.S. Cheering
and Dance Competition. These
cheerleaders completed against
cheerleaders from across the
United States in various areas
of cheer superiority. Winning
PGCPS cheerleaders included
Walker Mill Middle School,
Crossland
High
School,
Eleanor
Roosevelt
High
School, Gwynn Park High
School and Dr. Henry A. Wise,
Jr. High School.
UNION BETHEL CHRIST-
IAN EDUCATION MINISTRY
Come join us at Summer
Camp from June 10, 2013August 14, 2013. Hours of
Operation will be 6:00 AM to
6:00 PM. You can register now.
Call 301-372-8374 for more
information. Program Director
is Mrs. Anita S. Matthews. The
Camp will include Field Trips,
Guest Speaker, Computer Lab,
Reading and Math Tutoring.
There will be lots of Creative
Art and Culinary Delights.
Summer Camp address is 6810
Floral Park Road Brandywine,
Maryland 20613.
1ST DMV CORVETTE
SHOW
Come out on July 27, 2013
and enjoy a fun filled day with
live local jazz music. There
will be a generation of
Corvettes and an array of classic cars for all car lovers. There
will also be a Corvette judged
show for anyone who wants to
enter their Corvette. The show
will be held at the Lions Club in
Brandywine Maryland on July
27 and July 28 at 9:00 AM. The
cost is $20.00 and kids under 12
free.
SUMMER DAY CAMP
1,2,3 Go Summer Fun at
Day Camp at Camp Aquasco,
Maryland for girls entering K
through 6th grade who are
members of the Girl Scouts.
The Camp will be from June
17-21, 2013 9:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The fee is $40 per girl (nonrefundable).
This fee includes snack, tshirt and bus transportation.
There will be games, songs,
crafts and adventures. Financial
assistance is available upon
request. For more information
contact:
Association 21
Membership Specialist 301638-5353 extension 4021 or
visit
Assn21@gscnc.org.
Registration deadline is June 4,
2013.
HAT AND HEELS BRUNCH
New Hope Fellowship
(NHF) located at 15601 Brooks
Church Road Upper Marlboro,
Maryland 20772 presents Hat
and Heels Brunch on June 8,
2013 from 2:00 PM-5:00 PM.
Cost of ticket is $30.00.
Telephone number is 301-8882171.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Call 310-627-0900
UPPER MARLBORO, MD
- Prince George's County
Public Schools (PGCPS) middle and high school cheerleaders competed this month at the
U.S. Finals Cheerleading and
Dance National Competition in
Virginia Beach, VA.
The
U.S.
Finals
Cheerleading and Dance
National Competition is a culminating year-end event aimed
at crowning champions in
cheer in all divisions of cheer
and dance in the United States.
PGCPS cheerleaders competed against cheerleaders from
across the United States in various areas of cheer superiority,
including Varsity and Junior
Varsity (JV) Advanced, as well
as Varsity and JV Intermediate.
Winning PGCPS cheerleaders include:
•
Walker Mill Middle
School: 1st Place in the Middle
School Intermediate Division
and 1st Place in the Middle
School Advanced Division
•
Crossland
High
School: 1st Place in Varsity
Intermediate
•
Eleanor Roosevelt
High School: 1st Place in JV
Advanced
•
Gwynn Park High
School: 1st Place in Varsity
Advanced and 1st Place in JV
Intermediate
•
Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr.
High School: 2nd Place in JV
Advanced and 2nd Place in
Varsity Advanced
On the national scale,
Walker Mill Middle School
placed in the top ten amongst
all nationally competing cheerleaders in their category.
Competing PGCPS high
schools placed in the top five
amongst all nationally competing cheerleaders in their category.
PGCPS cheerleaders ranked
as the following in the U.S.:
•
Walker Mill Middle
School: 8th in Intermediate
Junior High School; 2nd in
Advanced Junior High School
•
Crossland
High
School: 1st in Varsity
Intermediate
•
Eleanor Roosevelt:
1st in JV Advanced
•
Gwynn Park High
School: 1st in Varsity
Advanced;
1st
in
JV
Intermediate
•
Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr.
High School: 4th in Varsity
Advanced; 2nd in JV Advanced
About PGCPS: Prince
George's County Public
Schools (PGCPS), one of the
nation's 25 largest school districts, has 204 schools, approximately 125,000 students and
nearly 18,000 employees. With
an annual budget of $1.6 billion, the district serves a
diverse student population from
urban, suburban and rural
communities. PGCPS is
nationally recognized for its
innovative programs and initiatives, including the expansion
of Advanced Placement courses and partnerships with businesses and institutions of higher learning.
May 30 — June 5, 2013 — The Prince George’s Post —A3
CommuNiTy
Practical Money Skills
By Jason Alderman
Avoiding Hidden
Flight, Hotel Fees
By PRESS OFFICER
County Executive’s Office
The last few years have
been tough economically for
people.
many
Unemployment fears combined with plunging home,
stock and retirement account
values caused many to forgo
big vacations – even though
stressful times are when we
most need to recharge our batteries.
But with the economy turning around, many families are
cautiously dipping their toes in the travel pool once again.
Hotel occupancy rates have risen in many areas and airports
are as crowded as ever.
Airlines and hotels are notorious for tacking extra charges
onto their bills. Here are a few to watch out for:
•
A few airlines allow one free checked bag
(Southwest still allows two), but most charge up to $25 for the
first checked bag each way, and even more for additional
pieces. Plus, most now tack on hefty fees for overweight and
over-sized checked and carry-on luggage, so measure and
weigh your luggage carefully.
•
Expect to pay extra for things like changing flights,
extra leg room, priority boarding, unaccompanied minors,
pets, Wi-Fi access and food. Some airlines even charge extra
to speak to a live person or to buy your ticket at the airport
counter or by phone.
•
Airfarewatchdog.com, Travelnerd.com and Kayak
offer great fee comparison charts for various airlines; but
always double-check the airline’s own posted rules before
booking your flight.
•
Some hotels charge extra if you check in before a
certain time. Ask whether they’ll store your luggage for free
until check-in so you can begin sightseeing unencumbered.
•
Many hotels charge a hefty penalty if you don’t cancel a reservation 24 to 72 hours beforehand and some also
charge an early-departure fee – sometimes the equivalent of
one night’s lodging. Read the hotel’s cancellation policy
before booking, especially if you’re looking at a discounted,
non-refundable rate.
•
Minibars often have electronic sensors that trigger a
charge if you simply move the contents. Also, water or snacks
sitting on the dresser may appear to be complimentary, but
double-check before consuming.
•
Hotel parking in major cities can cost up to $50 a
day, and many have mandatory valet parking, which means
adding a tip on top of that. Research nearby municipal parking lots beforehand, or check the city’s tourism bureau for
hotels offering parking promotions. Sometimes using public
transportation and taxis is cheaper overall than paying for
parking.
•
Some hotels and resorts automatically add housekeeping or spa gratuities to your bill, so ask first before leaving your own tip – unless of course the service was terrific.
•
Most hotels charge exorbitant amounts for local and
long-distance calls made from room phones, so use your cellphone.
•
Resorts often charge extra for services they offer –
such as gym access or daily newspaper delivery – even if you
don’t use them. Find out the policy ahead of time and scrutinize your bill for unused services.
•
Ask to see your bill the night before you check out,
so you can review it carefully for overcharges.
•
If you’re traveling abroad, be aware that using your
cellphone can be mighty expensive. Research your carrier’s
international calling plan and ask whether your phone is compatible with foreign networks. You may need to rent an international cellphone, or buy or rent an unlocked phone and
international SIM card.
If your budget’s in good shape and you’re getting wanderlust, maybe it’s time to venture out into the world again. Just
be cautious about how hidden expenses can add up.
Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs.
To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.
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Upper Marlboro, MD... In
conjunction with Police Week
2013, the Prince George’s
County Office of the Sheriff
officially dedicated its “Fallen
Heroes Memorial” memorializing the lives and service of
Deputy First Class Elizabeth
Magruder and Sergeant James
Arnaud who were killed killed
in the line of duty on August
29, 2002.. The dedication – on
the
grounds of the Sheriff’s
Headquarters - comes during
the week of the 15th of May,
which was proclaimed Police
Week by President John F.
Kennedy in 1962.
Sheriff Melvin C. High, the
Deputy Sheriff’s Association
President Stanford Moore,
family members of Deputies
Magruder and Arnaud and
members of the Sheriff’s
Office were joined by, Prince
George’s County & 7th
Judicial Circuit Administrative
Judge Sheila Tillerson Adams,
Mr. Barry Stanton, Deputy
Chief Administrative Officer
for Public Safety, along with
Corporal Vince Canales,
President of Fraternal Order of
Police (FOP) Lodge 89 and
Mr. John Bartlett, President of
the Maryland FOP.
In his remarks, Sheriff High
said the moment of remembrance was important not only
for those who were lost, but as
well for the men and women
who have served, who currently serve and who will serve. Of
the ultimate
sacrifice of PFC Magruder
and Sergeant Arnaud, High
said, “Their sacrifice reminds
us that not all people believe in
Diversity from A1
motivation in him to achieve.
The diversity of teachers, or
lack thereof, sends a strong
message to students as it did to
Williams.
“When you look at AfricanAmerican teachers, AfricanAmerican students along with
students from other racial
Assault from A1
ishable by one year or more in
confinement from the chain of
command, except crimes that
are uniquely military in nature,
such as disobeying orders or
going Absent Without Leave.
“I'm volcanic about sexual
assault in our military ranks.
From Tailhook to Fort Hood,
sexual assault is not an isolated
incident, it is a systemic and
persistent problem,” Senator
Mikulski said. “It's time for real
action. This legislation will help
change the culture in our fighting forces. It will ensure that
victims of sexual assault are not
victimized again by commanders that looks the other way.
Our fighting women and men in
uniform need to know they
have a government and leadership on their side, and that sexual assault, rape and abuse will
not be tolerated.”
PHOTO COURTESY PGC
Sheriff Melvin C. High, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Stanford Moore, family
members of Deputies Magruder and Arnaud and members of the Sheriff’s Office were joined
by, Prince George’s County & 7th Judicial Circuit Administrative Judge Sheila Tillerson
Adams, Mr. Barry Stanton, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety, along with
Corporal Vince Canales, President of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 89 and Mr. John
Bartlett, President of the Maryland FOP
the sanctity of human life and
thus we are called to protect
our society, yet in doing so, on
too many occasions, our members must pay a heavy price for
safety and freedom.”
Judge
Adams
called
Sheriff’s Deputies the guardian
angel of the courts. In remembrance of Deputies Magruder
and Arnaud, she said “We forget that deputies go into people’s intimate spaces to serve
commitments of the courts and
we don’t realize how important
and volatile that can be.”
Mr. Barry Stanton, Deputy
Chief Administrative Officer
for Public Safety, representing
Public Safety and the Office of
County Executive Rushern
Baker Baker offered remarks
and read the Dedication
Proclamation Proclamation
from the County Executive
during the dedication. In
his his remarks, Stanton spoke
to
the
difficulty
of
forging ahead in the aftermath
of an officer lost in the line
of duty, saying,“We can’t
understand how hard it is on
those who serve, on those who
lead or on those who love.”
Deputy
Sheriff’s
Association President Corporal
Stanford Moore called the dedication a very special day, and
spoke about a total brotherhood of law enforcement officers, whether deputies, county
police officers, fire-fighters, or
municipal officers. ”Work and
family, we separate the two.
That’s what we signed up to
do; it’s not for everybody,” he
said.
Fraternal Order of Police
(FOP) 89, Corporal Vince
Canales said he remembered
the sad day when Deputy
Magruder and Arnaud were
killed because he was the officer in charge of the investigation. “I walked in today with a
sad memory that can now be
replaced by a happy memory
because of this memorial.”
State
FOP
Maryland
President Rodney Bartlett
spoke on behalf of the 23,000
law enforcement officers serving in the State of Maryland.
Councilmember
Mel
Franklin read the County
Council
Dedication
Proclamation, followed by Mr.
Stanton, after which Chief
Asst. Sheriff Colonel Darrin
Palmer asked everyone to draw
near to encircle the families
and President Moore as the
memorial was unveiled.
The ceremony closed with a
benediction by DSA Chaplain
Eric Douglas as Retired Lt.
Colonel Robert L. Kiker
played “Taps”.
For more information contact the Prince George’s County
Sheriff’s Press Information
Office at 301-780- 2773.
groups see low or no representation and so the perceived
ability for African-American
students to become a teacher
doesn’t become real,” Lewis
said.
That’s why Williams originally wanted to work for Prince
George’s County Schools when
he entered teaching in 2002.
Black students are 66.1 percent
of the population in Prince
George’s County Schools, and
Williams saw this as an opportunity to serve as a positive role
model for them.
He ended up landing a job
with Montgomery County
Schools but quickly came to
realize that it’s not only important for black students to see
teachers that look like him.
“It’s just as important for
white, Asian and Latino students to see me as an AfricanAmerican, male teacher,”
Williams said. “Diversity
across the board is essential
because what we’re trying to
do is dispel myths that help us
to equalize and treat people as
people first, as opposed to
stereotypes.”
“America is home to the
world’s best and brightest,
brave men and women who join
the armed services for all the
right reasons – to serve our
country, defend all that we hold
sacred, and make America’s
military the best the world has
ever
known,”
Senator
Gillibrand said. “But too often,
these brave men and women
find themselves in the fight of
their lives not off on some faraway battlefield, but right here
on our own soil, within their
own ranks and commanding
officers, as victims of horrific
acts of sexual violence. Our
bipartisan bill takes this issue
head on by removing decisionmaking from the chain of command, and giving that discretion to experienced trial counsel
with prosecutorial experience
where it belongs. That’s how
we will achieve accountability,
justice and fairness.”
“To be sure, the vast, overwhelming majority of our military personnel are honorable,
conscientious, and respectful
individuals, not rapists or
harassers. It is for their sake
that the pattern of covering up,
blaming the victim, and failing
to provide even the most basic
protections that has been all too
common for far too long must
end,” said Senator Collins.
“We must continue to work to
ensure that no woman or man
who joins the military is denied
the justice and the protections
available
to
civilians.
Ultimately, the military’s policy
of zero tolerance for sexual
harassment and assault must
become a culture of zero tolerance to prevent these crimes
from occurring in the first
place.”
assaults in the military, only
3,000 were reported and only
300 were prosecuted. That
means there are thousands of
felons walking around -- free
and dangerous -- in the military
today,” Senator Boxer said.
“This bill will encourage victims to report these heinous
crimes and know that they will
get swift and fair justice.”
“The fact is that out of the
26,000
estimated
sexual
Also
joining
Senators
Mikulski, Gillibrand, Collins
and Boxer were Senators Mike
Johanns (R-Neb.), Mark Begich
(D-Alaska),
Richard
Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris
Coons (D-Del.), Al Franken (DMinn.), Mazie Hirono (DHawaii), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.),
Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and
Representatives Dan Benishek
(R-Mich.) and Tulsi Gabbard
(D-Hawaii), Richard Hanna (RN.Y.) and Kyrsten Sinema (DAriz.)
A4 — May 30 — June 5, 2013 — The Prince George’s Post
CommeNTary
By Julian Bond
Chairman Emeritus of the NAACP and a
Professor at American University in Washington
My Tea Party 'Taliban Comment...
When I told MSNBC's Thomas Roberts on May
14th that the Tea Party was "the Taliban wing of
American politics", a firestorm erupted.
Arguing the IRS was correct to target them for
extra scrutiny, I also said, "Here are a group of people
who are admittedly racist, who are overtly political"
and therefore worthy of IRS concern.
I was not prepared for the slew of angry emails,
including two from self-identified Black people (your
worst nightmare, one said) I received.
Many of them suggested I leave the country, reminiscent of the "Go back to Africa" chants racist crowds
of Whites shouted at Black protestors in my youth.
One said my advanced age - I am 73 - meant I
would not be around to make such mischief much
longer, and I should prepare for that quick eventuality.
A few suggested my employer fire me, not knowing that I retired from that job a year ago. Several of
the messages were badly written with misspelled
words, including one from a relative by marriage - you
can't choose your in-laws - reading "Your calling folks
Talabans borders on Traitorism."
This same correspondent noted I had been "head of
the most classic Racist group in our country," referring
to the NAACP, whose board I chaired for eleven years.
Others characterized the NAACP, the nation's oldest
civil rights group, interracial in membership and dedicated to racial integration since 1909, in the same way.
After an exchange of messages with some of them,
trying to convince them that while I opposed it, I didn't condemn every member of the Tea Party, the interactions became more civil and less hostile. Some even
wished me well.
But to a person they rejected the labels "racism"
and "racist", even as I thought I had proved that the Tea
Party has had racist, anti-Semitic and nativist elements
from its beginning until today.
One source is a study conducted for the NAACP
by the Institute for Research and Education for Human
Rights.
Their study, called "Tea Party Nationalism", found
"Tea Party ranks to be permeated with concerns about
race and national identify and other so-called social
issues. In these ranks, an abiding obsession with
Barack Obama's birth certificate is often a stand-in for
the belief that the first black president of the United
States s not a "real American."
It says Tea Party organizations have given platforms to anti-Semites, racists and bigots and "hardcore white nationalists have been attracted" to Tea
Party protests.
The link between the Tea Party and the Taliban was
made by a prominent Republican office holder.
In 2008, the Washington Post reported that former
Chairman of the Republican Congressional
Committee and present day Congressman Pete
Sessions likened the GOP House minority to the
Taliban, saying, "Insurgency, we understand perhaps a
bit more because of the Taliban."
Just as my arguments failed to convince my correspondents, so apparently does the actual evidence: Not
the ugly racist signs and placards displayed at Tea
Party rallies, not the shouts of the "n" word aimed at
members of the Congressional Black Caucus, not the
spittle hurled at civil rights icon and Congressman
John Lewis, not the racists expelled from the Tea Party
for their venom, not the association of many members
with the Council of Conservative Citizens, a lineal
descendant of the White Citizen Council, not the antigay slurs aimed at former Congressman Barney Frank,
not the members whose racism, anti-Semitism and
xenophobia should be an embarrassment - not all or
any of this could get them to acknowledge the label
"racist."
My Black correspondents even claimed that their
race prohibited them from being racists, as if skin color
was a proscription against ignorance. And many of my
presumably non-Black correspondents accused me of
being a racist, so my race apparently offered me no
protection from this evil.
What is the lesson here? That the label "racist" has
become so toxic that almost everyone rejects it? That
the toxicity makes the label unacceptable but its actual practice is still tolerable for many? Or that it is a
defense against itself? As the relative-I-try-not-toclaim wrote, "I don't know any White people who hate
Blacks like you advocate Blacks should hate whites."
Or only that while the United States has made much
progress in race relations, we still have a long, long
way to go?
To Be Equal
Marc Morial, President and CEO
National Urban League
Biggest Crisis in America – Unemployment
“Too often, our politics aren’t focused on the
same things you are. Working hard. Supporting
your family and your community. Making sure your
kids have every chance in life.” President Barack
Obama
If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve probably noticed there’s no shortage of scandals or manufactured crises coming out of Washington these
days. But the biggest crisis of all – the epidemic of
double-digit unemployment and the huge gulf of
economic disparities that continue to plague millions of Americans -- seems to be attracting little
attention. This week, the National Urban League is
shifting the nation’s focus back to the jobs crisis, not
by reciting gloomy and well-worn statistics, but by
putting a comprehensive solution on the table.
On Monday in Cleveland, the National Urban
League launched one of the most ambitious economic rescue missions in our history. “Jobs Rebuild
America: Educate, Employ, Empower” is a $100
million public-private-nonprofit partnership aimed
at putting America back to work and targeting communities where help is needed most. Using a comprehensive community development approach to the
nation’s employment and education crises, this initiative brings together federal, corporate and nonprofit resources to create economic opportunity in
50 U.S. cities through the Urban League affiliate
network. The program consists of both community
investments and grassroots legislative advocacy.
The campaign’s five-year, $100 million community investment component includes job training for
youth and mature workers, college preparation, a
jobs network, entrepreneurship support, small business financing and resources, and tax credits.
The campaign’s grassroots advocacy component
will focus on federal legislative action in support of
a balanced and responsible fiscal plan as well as
backing for efforts that spur job creation in hardpressed urban communities. This includes our longstanding support for the passage of the Urban Jobs
Act, co-sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and
Congressman Chaka Fattah, and for the Project
Ready STEM Act, sponsored by Congresswoman
Marcia Fudge.
We stood with Acting Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Labor Seth Harris, Cleveland Mayor
Frank G. Jackson, Cuyahoga County Executive
Edward FitzGerald and Urban League of Greater
Cleveland President Marsha Mockabee to kick-off
the Jobs Rebuild America campaign. As a designated Jobs Rebuild America market, the Urban League
of Greater Cleveland received $950,000 in community investment competitive grants for three signature National Urban League programs – the Urban
Youth
Empowerment
Program,
the
Entrepreneurship Center program and Project
Ready: Post Secondary Success Program. This
funding will help the affiliate expand existing programs and introduce new ones to better serve the
needs of the local community, including the design
of a new 21st Century workforce development system to reach thousands of job seekers, while targeting some of the most vulnerable unemployed.
Since the start of the Great Recession, Urban
League affiliates in Ohio and across the nation have
served as economic first responders for communities devastated by job loss. For the Jobs Rebuild
America campaign, we have put together an
expanded coalition of public and private partners
who have pledged their expertise and resources.
They include the U.S. Departments of Labor,
Justice and Treasury and more than 20 major corporations.
As America faces the lowest labor force participation rate in almost 35 years and unacceptably
high urban unemployment, creating jobs and economically viable communities must involve all of
us working together, including the government, corporate and non-profit sectors. It’s time to shift from
the debate about the problem of unemployment to
taking concrete action to solve it. National Urban
League affiliates and our Jobs Rebuild America
coalition are primed to do just that.
The Train
The Train at Watkins Park
ANTIQUE CHESAPEAKE CAROUSEL & MINIATURE TRAIN, Watkins,
Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 301-218-6761.
The park features an authentic, hand-carved, hand-painted, 80-year-old
carousel. Featured on the Carousel are 45 animals with a rare combination of
kangaroo, jackass, goat and seahorse. Do not miss the train as it passes through
the lovely, wooded surroundings. The carousel and train are open Memorial
Day-Labor Day, Tues-Sun, 10-7 p.m. ($)
Child Watch
by Marion Wright Edelman
"Tolerance Of Poverty"
An edition of UNICEF's
report on child poverty showed
the United States ranks second
out of 35 developed countries
on the scale of what economists call “relative child poverty” with 23.1 percent of its
children living in poverty. Only
Romania ranked higher. It was
another shameful reminder
that, as economist Sheldon
Danziger put it, “Among rich
countries, the U.S. is exceptional. We are exceptional in
our tolerance of poverty.”
For the Lynch family in
Columbus, Ohio, headlines like
this aren’t news. Lucille Lynch
and her children Sarafina, 17,
Timeeka, 14, Daisha, 11, and
Elijah, 10, live on just slightly
over half of the federal poverty
level. The family’s only cash
income is the combined $1,200
per month Social Security disability checks for Elijah, who
has autism, and for Lucille,
who suffers from a lung condition, along with occasional and
minimal child support. Their
family is a portrait of deep
poverty in America. In 2010
20.5 million Americans were
living on less than half of the
federal poverty level.
The Lynches live in isolation in a dark house in a dangerous neighborhood between
several main roads. A church
that helps the family built a
chain link fence around the
house so Elijah can’t run out
into the street. A block and a
half away is a group home for
sex offenders. Lucille gets
advisory flyers in the mail with
photographs of the men and
their offenses—rape and gross
sexual imposition were listed
on two of the flyers on the living room table the day Pulitzer
Prize-winning reporter Julia
Cass met the family while on
assignment for the Children’s
Defense Fund. “It’s scary to
know that,” Daisha said. “You
don’t want to go out in the
street because of them.”
Elijah, 10, lives with his
mother and three sisters. The
family of five receives $583 a
month in food stamps. They go
to food pantries and raise tomatoes in pots but they often are
down to peanut butter sandwiches at the end of the month.
Lucille, 47, considers herself lucky she has the house
which she inherited from her
parents. She left high school in
the 11th grade—“It was horrible and I couldn’t learn. There
was too much violence.” Later
she took classes and became
certified as a nursing aide and
for seven years she worked in
nursing homes bathing, dressing, and diapering patients. But
in 2006 she began feeling ill
and by the next year, “I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t lift them
anymore at all.” She was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, which
causes inflammation of the
lungs, and had to stop working.
She’s done occasional babysitting since then.
One of the many sad consequences of deep poverty is that
autism often goes undiagnosed
longer, which is critical
because many therapies for
autism are most effective when
they begin before age three.
Elijah was diagnosed at five.
Lucille said she knew something was wrong because “he
wasn’t speaking. He wasn’t
looking at people.” But pediatricians told her to wait and see
if he improved and he wasn’t
tested until he reached kindergarten age.
When Elijah was eight he
began having problems in his
special education classroom.
Lucille eventually found out a
child sitting behind him on the
school bus was hitting him and
another in his classroom was
choking him. She said that
school had one teacher and one
aide trying to handle two classrooms full of children with different special needs. Lucille
took him out of school and
enrolled him in Buckeye
Online – a statewide private
charter school that gives online
instruction and receives money
from the public education system.
The three girls experienced
school violence too, and now
Sarafina and Daisha also stay
at home and study with
Buckeye Online, which provided two computers for the family to use. Sarafina was just
starting middle school when
she had a gun pulled on her.
Daisha left school three years
ago. “I didn’t really talk to
other kids because they were so
mean to me,” she said. “I got
into a fight once but I didn’t
want to fight but I had to
because they kept hitting me.
Nobody stopped them.” Online
schooling means the children
are isolated at home. Church is
their major outside activity.
The family of five receives
$583 a month in food stamps.
They go to food pantries and
raise tomatoes in pots but they
often are down to peanut butter
sandwiches at the end of the
month and regularly eat filling,
starchy foods like rice, pasta,
and potatoes.
Lucille is hoping her children will “do better” than she
did. She has the idea that art
might help them get ahead
because they all have the family talent for it. “There’s a lady
See WATCH, Page A8
The Prince george’s Post
The Prince George’s Post
P.O. Box 1001 15207 Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-3151
Phone 301-627-0900 Legal Fax • 301-627-6260
Editorial Fax • 301-627-8147
Contents © 2013, The Prince George’s Post
Publisher
Legusta Floyd
Subscriptions/Legals
Liz Brandenstein
General Manager/
Legal Advertising Manager
Brenda Boice
Editor
Legusta Floyd
Legal Advertising Assistant
Robin Boerckel
Web Manager
Kyler Quesenberry
Prince George’s County, Md. Member National Newspaper Publishers Association,
and the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Press Association.
The Prince George’s Post (ISSN 10532226) is published every Thursday
by the New Prince George’s Post Inc., 15207 Marlboro Pike,
Upper Marlboro, Md. 20772-3151.
Subscription rate: 25 cents per single copy; $15 per year;
$7.50 senior citizens and students; out of county add $1; out of state add $2.
Periodical postage paid at Southern Md. 20790.
Postmaster, send address changes to Prince George’s Post, P.O. Box 1001,
Upper Marlboro, Md. 20772-3151.
May 30 — June 5, 2013 — The Prince George’s Post —A5
buSiNeSS
Business Spotlight
Lt. Governor Brown and Maryland Transit
Administration Host Purple Line Industry Forum
Private Sector Best Practices and Innovation Key to Delivering Proposed Light Rail Line
County Residents are
Encouraged to Register for
Emergency Text Alerts
In Wake of Deadly Tornado Destruction in Midwest,
Residents of Prince George’s County are Encouraged to
Register for Emergency Text Alerts, Take an Emergency
Preparedness Course, and Create Emergency Kits for the
Home and Family
Citizens should register for NotifyMe at https://notifyme.princegeorgescountymd.gov or TEXT 411912
Upper Marlboro, MD -- In the aftermath of the Oklahoma
City tornado, Prince George’s County is encouraging its residents to prepare and take precautionary measures by registering for NotifyMe, Prince George’s County’s Community
Emergency Alert Notification System.
Registered subscribers will receive critical, real-time
information on situations ranging from weather- related
emergencies to traffic alerts. Other notifications include:
amber alerts, school and government delays and closings,
utility interruptions and emergency preparedness measures.
In the event of an emergency, designated personnel in the
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) - will send text
messages, e-mail alerts and pages directly to your registered
devices. Register for NotifyMe Prince George’s today. Be
prepared, stay connected and get informed.
“As we witness the horrifying destruction from the tornados in the Midwest, we must use this opportunity to make
our residents prepared and ready for any natural disasters
that may impact Prince George’s County,” said Prince
George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “I
encourage all Prince George’s County residents to sign up
for our emergency text alerts, volunteer to take a preparedness class from our Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT), and to make sure that every home in the County has
an emergency preparedness kit ready and available if needed.”
In addition, Citizens are encouraged to get involved with
their local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
and become more active in their neighborhoods, communities and workplace. CERT offers a seven-week, 20 hour,
instructor-led training course that includes: Disaster
Preparedness, Fire Safety, Disaster Medical Operations,
CERT Organization, Light Search and Rescue, Disaster
Psychology and Terrorism. If you are interested in learning
more about CERT or obtaining information regarding
upcoming training classes, please contact:
·
Tonie R. Davis III, President, Prince George’s
County Council of CERT
Email: CERTpgmd@gmail.com
·
Calvin Hawkins, Office of Emergency
Management, Prince George’s County CERT
Email: CSHawkins@co.pg.md.us
“Being prepared is one of the most important things you
can do,” said Ronald E. Gill, Jr., Emergency Manager for
Prince George’s County. “Helping family, friends and communities during times of disasters or other significant events
are essential and helps save lives.”
Because hazards can happen anytime and anywhere, it is
important to have the six basic essentials of your supply kit
stocked in your home at all times: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing, bedding and emergency supplies. The Office
of Emergency Management encourages everyone to keep
the items that you would most likely need in an easy to carry
container and ensure that you have enough supplies for
three days.
OEM Director Ronnie Gill will be featured on WUSA9
this evening at 5:00 p.m. sharing emergency tips and best
practices. For more information about emergency preparedness, please contact the Prince George’s County Office of
Emergency Management at 301-780-8183.
HANOVER, Md. (May 15,
2013) – Seeking best practices
and innovative approaches to
building and financing the
Maryland National Capital
Purple Line, Lt. Governor
Anthony G. Brown and the
Maryland
Transit
Administration (MTA) today
hosted an industry forum that
drew more than 300 people
including construction industry
leaders from across North
America. Major regional,
national and international transportation contractors, engineering firms, rail vehicle manufacturers, financial investment
firms, and minority, womenowned, and disadvantaged business enterprise firms were also
in attendance. The objective of
the forum was for MTA officials
to gain valuable private sector
expertise on building and maintaining cost-effective, modern
transit lines. The forum also provided an opportunity for State
officials to present an overview
on Maryland’s new PublicPrivate Partnership (P3) law
which Lt. Governor Brown led
the effort to pass. The P3 law is
estimated to create 4,000 jobs
annually.
“Today’s turnout demonstrates the commitment of the
business community to work
with the public sector to build
the Purple Line and start creating more good paying jobs in
Maryland,” said Lt. Governor
Brown. “After passing our public-private partnerships legislation and the Transportation
Investment Act this Session, we
are making progress on putting
Marylanders to work building a
transportation network that will
spur new economic development opportunities, unite our
Transport from A1
projects
from
Western
Maryland to the Eastern
Shore.”
The $1.2 billion in new highway and transit projects are:
•
$82 M for construction
- US 15/Monocacy Boulevard
Interchange
in
Frederick
County/Western Maryland;
•
$125 M for construction - I-270/Watkins Mill Road
Interchange in Montgomery
County;
•
$100 M for construction - MD 210 at Kerby Hill
Road/Livingston
Road
Interchange in Prince George’s
County;
•
$20 M for design New Thomas Johnson Bridge in
Calvert and St. Mary’s counties/Southern Maryland;
•
$100 M for MARC
Enhancements (Penn-weekend
service, Camden-weekday 2
new roundtrips, New locomotives) – Baltimore and
Washington, D.C. regions;
•
$60 M for construction
I-695
Leeds Avenue
Interchange reconstruction and
bridge
replacement
in
Baltimore County;
•
$49 M for construction
- US 29 northbound widening
to three lanes from Seneca
Drive to MD 175 in Howard
communities and create thousands of new jobs”
Transportation
The
Infrastructure Investment Act
will support more than 57,000
jobs, while the Purple Line is
expected to create 2,600 direct
jobs during the six-year construction period. The forum is
the Administration’s first outreach effort with the private sector to provide the MTA with
valuable expertise as it explores
various project delivery methods
to build and maintain the transit
line connecting Bethesda in
Montgomery County to New
Carrollton in Prince George’s
County.
“Our ability to use the private
sector as a sounding board is
crucial as we determine the best
way to move this project forward,” said Acting Deputy
Transportation Secretary Leif A.
Dormsjo. “No matter how this
project is delivered, the Purple
Line will help reduce congestion
and help enhance neighborhood
revitalization and economic
development efforts.”
The Purple Line Industry
Forum will help the State move
this key east-west transit line
forward by helping MTA frame
the financing, construction and
operation plans. Above and
beyond a traditional project
delivery approach, MTA is
exploring innovative methods
that could result in savings of
time and money while ensuring
high-quality service into the
future. Using Maryland’s new
P3 legislation as a guide, forum
participants will also explore
whether it is advantageous to the
State to deliver the project
through a public-private partnership.
The new P3 law, championed
by Lt. Governor Brown and
signed into law by the Governor
last month, creates an enhanced
framework for future P3s that
will attract private investment to
help build new infrastructure in
Maryland. Specifically, the legislation provides the private sector
with a stronger, more predictable
and streamlined process, protects
public assets, ensures a strong
workforce, requires competitive
bidding for all projects and
allows the private sector to submit new “unsolicited” concepts
to address Maryland’s infrastructure needs. Initial estimates have
found that additional P3s could
contribute six to ten percent of
Maryland’s $3.1 billion annual
capital budget and create 4,000
jobs each year.
A similar industry forum for
Baltimore’s Red Line is scheduled for Monday, June 10 at the
Baltimore Convention Center.
Lt. Governor Brown leads
O’Malley-Brown
the
Administration’s
economic
development portfolio. In addition to his role as Chair of the
Joint Legislative and Executive
Commission on Oversight of
Public-Private Partnerships, the
Lt. Governor chairs Maryland’s
FastTrack initiative – part of
Made
Easy
Maryland
(www.easy.maryland.gov) – to
streamline the state permitting
process for businesses and
developers and serves as Chair
of the Governor’s Subcabinet on
Base Realignment and Closure.
About the Purple Line: The
Purple Line is a 16-mile light
rail line between Bethesda and
New Carrollton. With federal
funding approval, the State is
targeting 2015 as a construction
start date with the goal of having
the light rail line complete and
open for revenue service after
2020. With an estimated cost of
$2.2 billion, the Purple Line will
have 21 stations. For more information on the Purple Line, visit
the project website at: www.purplelinemd.com
County;
•
$44 M for construction
- Aberdeen Proving Ground
BRAC
Intersection
Improvement
in
Harford
County;
•
$54 M for construction
- US 301/MD 304 Interchange
in
Queen
Anne’s
County/Eastern Shore; and
•
Transit Funding for
Final Design (Red Line $170M,
Purple Line $280M, Corridor
Cities Transitway $100M) –
Baltimore and Washington,
D.C. regions.
Over the summer months,
the State will continue to
review project needs and make
investment decisions.
The
Maryland Department of
Transportation’s draft six-year
transportation budget will be
published on September 3rd.
This budget, known as the
Consolidated Transportation
Program, will provide a full list
of the new projects funded by
the Transportation Act. This
budget will be posted on
MDOT’s
website
at
www.mdot.maryland.gov.
The Transportation Act
allows the State to activate
long-term funding strategies to
invest in Maryland’s roads and
transit systems. By putting
people back to work in the
transportation industry with this
new funding, Maryland will
create hundreds of millions of
dollars in economic activity and
provide Marylanders with the
transportation infrastructure
necessary to grow and prosper
for decades to come.
“The D.C. and Baltimore
metropolitan areas are the 1st
and 5th most congested in the
nation,” said Speaker Michael
E. Busch. “House Bill 1515
earned the support of numerous
business groups and chambers
of commerce because our transportation network is the backbone of the State’s economy.
We worked hard to balance the
impact on the consumer with
the urgent need to address the
State’s aging infrastructure and
relieve road congestion.”
“One of the best ways to
continue to attract employers to
Maryland is to invest in our
infrastructure. This legislation
will create thousands of jobs
and allow Maryland’s economy
to continue growing,” said Lt.
Governor Anthony Brown.
“Combined with the PublicPrivate Partnership law that is
estimated to create 4,000 jobs,
we're sending a clear signal that
Maryland is the best place in
America to launch and grow a
business.”
By creating a sustainable
transportation funding source
that is sensitive to inflation for
the first time in Maryland’s history, Maryland’s Transportation
Trust Fund will be able to keep
up with the ever-increasing
demand for highways, transit
and rail and the growing cost of
materials and labor needed to
build major infrastructure projects. Improving Maryland’s
infrastructure is vital to quality
of life and economic prosperity.
Marylanders commute 32 minutes on average to work, the
longest commute in the nation,
and lose $6.2 billion each year
on our congested and deteriorated roads. Furthermore, 95
percent of goods shipped annually from Maryland travel on
state roads, and quality infrastructure is a key factor businesses consider in deciding
where to locate, invest, expand
and create jobs. (Fast Facts
Sheet)
In a recently released report,
AAA states that average gas
prices are down 20 cents
statewide and down 22 cents in
Baltimore City in the last month
alone. Since a year ago, average gas prices are down about
45 cents statewide and in
Baltimore City. Bucking normal trends of rising gas prices
in the spring and summer, AAA
predicts gas prices will continue
to decline this summer.
Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown
PHOTO BY CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE
A6 — May 30 — June 5, 2013 — The Prince George’s Post
TOWN
OUT ON THE
ERIC D. SNIDER'S
IN THE DARK
Movie Review
by DAVE ZIRIN
“Frances Ha”
“Frances Ha,”
Grade: ARated R, some strong sexual
dialogue, a lot of F-bombs
1 hr., 26 min.
Twentysomething drifts aimlessly, tries to figure out what to
do with his or her life. That oneline summary is practically its
own genre in independent filmmaking, and while plenty of
movies dealing with the subject
have been just fine, the sub-par
entries that clog festival schedules make it hard for the truly
special ones to be heard over
the mumbling hipster roar.
Noah Baumbach and Greta
Gerwig must have known that
when they decided to collaborate on “Frances Ha,” especially since several movies of this
sort have had their names on
them (mostly separately, though
Gerwig starred in Baumbach’s
“Greenberg”). But they’ve risen
to the occasion. Smartly written, expertly acted, and gorgeously filmed (in sumptuous
black-and-white), “Frances Ha”
could be the post-college-angst
comedy of the ’10s. This is
what
happens
when
Mumblecore grows up and
turns into a real movie.
Gerwig, who wrote the
with
director
screenplay
Baumbach (“The Squid and the
Whale,” “Margot at the
Wedding”), brings her considerable everyday charm to the
role of Frances, a 27-year-old
Brooklyn girl living a carefree
bohemian lifestyle with her
roommate and BFF Sophie
(Mickey Sumner). Sophie
works in publishing, while
Frances ekes out a living as an
apprentice and junior instructor
at a dance company. When
asked how they know each
other, Frances’ stock reply is,
“We went to college together,
and we’re the same person.” As
far as Frances is concerned, this
state of prolonged adolescence
– of cigarettes on the fire
escape, of play-fighting in the
park, of skipping around town
like characters in a French New
Wave film – could go on indefinitely.
But this is not to be, as you
may have surmised. Sophie’s
changing circumstances require
a move to Tribeca, and the
BFFs are no longer roommates.
Thrust from her cozy nest
before she was ready to fly,
Frances struggles – in that lowstakes, not-life-or-death way
that people her age and demographic “struggle” in the big
city – to find her place, both literally and metaphorically. She
becomes a roommate to fedorawearing Lev (Adam Driver)
and spec-script-writing Benji
(Michael Zegen), trust-funded
kids in their early 20s who can
afford to lounge around all
weekend drinking, watching
movies, and being young.
When that arrangement
doesn’t work anymore because
of Frances’ declining financial
situation, she crashes with a fellow dancer (Grace Gummer), a
serious woman whose disinterest in nonsense makes her a
poor substitute for Sophie, who
has become more involved with
boyfriend
(Patrick
her
Heusinger). Frances pays a visit
to her parents in Sacramento.
Then she tries something else.
Then something else. And so
on.
This sounds like a sham-
Rep. Steve King:
"Why Won't Obama
Call Tim Tebow?"
ROTTENTOMATOES
Frances (Greta Gerwig) lives in New York, but she doesn't really
have an apartment. Frances is an apprentice for a dance company, but she is not really a dancer. Frances has a best friend named
Sophie, but they aren't really speaking anymore. Frances throws
herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality
dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has but lives her
life with unaccountable joy and lightness. FRANCES HA is a
modern comic fable that explores New York, friendship, class,
ambition, failure, and redemption. (c) IFC Films
bling, low-budget kind of
movie, the sort that uses handheld cameras and has semiimprovised, naturalistic dialogue spoken by actors who are
friends of the director’s. In
terms of story and characters, it
is that kind of movie. But
instead of a rough, do-it-yourself look, “Frances Ha” is polished and steady, artfully shot
and smoothly edited, with a
screenplay that’s loose and
funny – it’s alive with crackling, quotable dialogue – while
still being structured and purposeful.
I can scarcely say enough
about Greta Gerwig’s perfectly
enchanting lead performance. I
was worried at first that Frances
was going to be the most manic
of pixie dream girls, flitting
from one frivolous endeavor to
another without consequence.
But those fears faded in about
The Edge of Sports
five minutes: the movie’s point
is actually the exact opposite.
Frances is lovable and effervescent, but she needs to get her act
together. The movie is about her
painful process of figuring out
how to become a functioning
adult without losing her
Francesness.
As director, Baumbach
deserves credit for creating an
evocative cinematic version of
the “New York in your 20s”
subculture that feels strikingly
familiar even if you never lived
in New York in your 20s. The
reluctance to grow up; the feeling of betrayal as friends grow
up ahead of you; the desire to
live on irony and fun and being
frustrated by the need to pay the
bills: none of this is new in
movies, of course. But
Baumbach and Gerwig give it a
graceful and poignantly funny
new feel.
Of the legions of unemployed in the United States,
the most famous may be a person best described as, "Tim
Tebow: Full Time Icon/PartTime Quarterback." After
being released from the New
York Jets last week, the man
who was the toast of the NFL
just one year ago cannot find a
team willing to sign him. Even
the Canadian Football League, long the refuge for quarterbacks cast out of Babylon, doesn’t want any part of
"Tebowmania."
We know that Tim Tebow isn’t very good at the whole
throwing thing—always a drawback for a quarterback—but
he has shown tremendous ability as an athlete and a divine
flair for leading dramatic comebacks in the fourth quarter. He
also would be an upgrade from several quarterbacks currently littering NFL rosters. There have simply never been so
many bad quarterbacks leading NFL teams, yet Tebow’s
phone isn’t ringing.
His inability to get signed, as Yahoo! Sports columnist
Mike Silver laid out very persuasively, owes less to his abilities under center than all the frenzy that surrounds him. Tim
Tebow is a neon distraction in a league that prefers the equivalent of men in gray flannel suits. If Tom Brady is the Don
Draper of quarterbacks, then Tim Tebow is Megan Draper,
flashing some skin and singing French pop songs, equal parts
transfixing and excruciating. In other words, even if many an
NFL owner shares Tim Tebow’s politics, they don't share is
his need for attention. Our pro football bosses like doing their
political business in shadows, and Tim Tebow has become a
living, breathing avatar for those fighting the Gary
Bauer/Focus on the Family culture war like it’s still 1992.
Tebow is the only NFL player who can be described as
having a base: a group of rabid fans who love him independently of his play and extol his greatness on the basis of his
religiosity, his support for Focus on the Family or his wholesome whiteness. His base extends the tentacles of the culture
war into any locker room he inhabits, turning any team he's on
into catnip for media fiends to follow his every move, which
only further alienates his teammates. The most powerful critique of Tebow, in my humble view, is that he has resisted any
effort to disavow either his base or media attention, seemingly welcoming the distraction and even trying to leverage it to
leapfrog toward more playing time. Your typical control-freak
NFL head coach would rather have a player with a communicable plague than a player—especially a quarterback—who
welcomed this kind of constant distraction.
That's what made Monday's speech by congressional
Neanderthal Representative Steve King all the more tragic for
the future career prospects of Mr. Tebow. In the well of the
House of Representatives, where John Quincy Adams risked
arrest and assassination by inveighing against slavery, King
decided to talk about his favorite subject, “the gays.” (Dan
Savage doesn’t dwell on the “LGBT lifestyle” as much as
Steve King.) Normally whenever the Iowa congressman
speaks, you roll your eyes, check your phone and, just in case,
put the Southern Poverty Law Center on speed dial. But in
this case, he invoked the name of Tim Tebow as a contrast to
the athlete he sees is “undermining Western Civilization”:
Jason Collins. Collins, of course, just became the first active,
male, North American athlete to come out of the closet.
As King said, "We've got Tim Tebow who will kneel and
pray to God on the football field. Meanwhile we have a professional athlete that decides he’s going to announce his sexuality and he gets a personal call from the United States to
highlight the sexuality of a professional ballplayer. These are
ways that the culture gets undermined, where it gets divided.
The people over on this side take their followership from that
kind of leadership. One notch at a time, American civilization,
American culture, western civilization, western JudeoChristiandom are eroded."
First of all, “followership” is not a word. Second, moments
like this are precisely why Tim can't find work, and it's a
shame. As long as he's not on my team, I actually like Tim
Tebow. In the “No Fun League,” the one thing you would
never accuse Tim Tebow of being would be boring. But while
NFL owners might financially support the Steve Kings of this
world, people like him are seen as strangely gauche: the relative you keep locked in the attic when company arrives. Tim
Tebow, if he so desired, could disavow Representative Steve
King, the same way he cancelled a speaking engagement at a
new $130 million Dallas mega church after finding out its
pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress, believed Jews, Muslims and gay
people were going to hell (it's worth noting that Tebow did not
condemn these comments and according to Jeffress, has plans
to reschedule). But at this point, the former Heisman trophy
winner may have better future prospects as a speaker on the
evangelical gravy train than as a quarterback, and if there is
one thing we know about Tebow Inc., it knows where their
bread is buttered. I fear, however, it will soon learn that the
true Sunday mega church in the USA is an NFL stadium.
Without a team, Tim Tebow in time may find himself, without a flock.
May 30 — June 5, 2013 — The Prince George’s Post —A7
Calendar of Events
May 30 — June 5, 2013
Down & Dirty Mud Run Ongoing Registration
Date & Time:
Sunday, July 21
The Merrell National Mud Run Obstacle
Description:
Course series has finally come to the Washington, DC area!
Registration is open now for the July 21 event to be held at
Prince George's Stadium.
Compete in the pull up contest, test your skills on the 5K or
10K courses, challenge yourself in tunnels, the monkey cross
and slippery mountain! Let your child have a ball on the children's course.
Location:
Prince George's Stadium
4101 Crain Highway, Bowie, MD 20716
Contact: For more information about registration, pricing,
schedules visit www.downanddirtymudrun.com
Senior Days
Date and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 8 am-12
Description:
Seniors (Prince George's County residents
only) are allowed FREE use of both the fitness center and pool
during these times.
Cost: FREE
Ages: 60 & up
Location: Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex
8001 Sheriff Road
Landover, MD 20785
Contact: 301-583-2400; TTY 301-583-2483
Fine Wine Fridays
Fridays, May 3, June 7 & July 5, 6:30-8 pm
Date & Time:
Description:
Mingle as you enjoy the scenic location of
historic Snow Hill Manor while tasting wines provided by some
of the best vineyards and wineries in Maryland. Live music and
an informative reception will make these summer evenings
memorable.
May 3: Basignani Wineries
June 7: Boordy Wineries
July 5: Linganore Winecellars
These events are held in conjunction with the Laurel Historic
Society.
Cost: $25/person
Ages: 21 & up
Location:
Snow Hill Manor
13301 Laurel Bowie Road, Laurel 20708
Contact: 301-249-2004; TTY 301-446-6802
LIVE at Montpelier! Dukes of Bluegrass
Date & Time:
Friday, May 31, 8 pm
Description:
Bluegrass has its roots in Celtic folk music,
but has become a musical genre that covers a vastly diverse
pool of musicians. The Dukes of Bluegrass are a high energy
bluegrass band that’s a must see for bluegrass lovers.
Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members &
seniors
Montpelier Arts Center
Location:
9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel 20708
Contact: 301-377-7800; TTY 301-490-2329
New Carrollton 60th Anniversary Celebration
Date & Time:
Saturday, June 1, 11 am-7 pm
Enjoy a day of performances, vendors, sponDescription:
sors and more.
Cost: FREE admission
Ages: All ages
Location:
Beckett Field
8511 Legation Road, New Carrollton 20784
Live Animal Show
Date and Time: Saturday, June 1, 10-11 am
Description:
Come out to see and meet up close some of
the nature center's live animals. You'll have a chance to touch a
snake, turtle, toad, or other live animals. Pre-registration
through SMARTLink is strongly encouraged.
Cost: Resident $2; Non-Resident $3
Ages: 2 & up
Location:
Clearwater Nature Center
11000 Thrift Road; Clinton 20735
Contact: 301-297-4575; TTY 301-699-2544
SMARTlink #: 1144315
New Carrollton 60th Anniversary Celebration
Date & Time:
Saturday, June 1, 11 am-7 pm
Description:
Enjoy a day of performances, vendors, sponsors and more.
Cost: FREE admission
Ages: All ages
Location:
Beckett Field
8511 Legation Road, New Carrollton 20784
Adelphi Day
Date & Time:
Wednesday, June 5, 2:30-6:30 pm
Description:
Bring the whole family and enjoy a fun day of
activities including skating, games, face painting and more.
Cost: FREE admission
Ages: All ages
Location:
Adelphi Elementary School
8820 Riggs Road, Adelphi 20783
Fine Wine Fridays
Date & Time:
Fridays, May 3, June 7 & July 5, 6:30-8 pm
Description:
Mingle as you enjoy the scenic location of
historic Snow Hill Manor while tasting wines provided by some
of the best vineyards and wineries in Maryland. Live music and
an informative reception will make these summer evenings
memorable.
May 3: Basignani Wineries
June 7: Boordy Wineries
July 5: Linganore Winecellars
These events are held in conjunction with the Laurel Historic
Society.
Cost: $25/person
Ages: 21 & up
Location:
Snow Hill Manor
13301 Laurel Bowie Road, Laurel 20708
Contact: 301-249-2004; TTY 301-446-6802
EARTH TALK ... Alternatives to toxic cleaning supplies.
Dear EarthTalk:
I'm concerned about toxic
ingredients in my cleaning supplies, especially now that I
have young children. Where
can I find safer alternatives?
-- Betsy E.,
Hartford, CT
It is true that many household cleaners contain potentially toxic substances, so parents
especially should make an
effort to keep them out of the
reach of children or, better yet,
replace them with safer alternatives.
“We use a wide array of
scents, soaps, detergents,
bleaching agents, softeners,
scourers, polishes and specialized cleaners for bathrooms,
glass, drains and ovens to keep
our homes sparkling and sweetsmelling,” reports the Organic
Consumers Association. “But
[many] contribute to indoor air
pollution, are poisonous if
ingested and can be harmful if
inhaled or touched.” The group
adds that household cleaning
products are responsible for
almost 10 percent of all toxic
exposures reported to U.S. poison control centers, with more
than half of cases involving
kids under six years old.
to
the
According
Washington Toxics Coalition,
leading offenders include corrosive drain cleaners, oven
cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners. Contact with these chemicals can cause severe burns on
the eyes and skin and can damage the throat and esophagus if
ingested. The chlorine and
ammonia contained in some
can each cause similar problems, and the hazardous gases
unleashed when they combine
Blight from A1
neighborhoods. The five-part
action plan addresses key areas
that include policy, operations,
management, staff, and technology and equipment. “Few functions of the Prince George’s
County Government are as critical to our quality of life as our
code enforcement programs,”
said Prince George’s County
Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.
“This plan was developed collaboratively with the County
Council, County employees,
municipal officials, engaged residents, and civic and homeowners
Emissions from A1
2010 or 2011, you had a nearly
one-in-five chance of failing.
Vehicles
branded
by
Plymouth, 15.6 percent, and
Mitsubishi, 15.2 percent, had
the second- and third-highest
failure rates over this period.
State law requires vehicles
to be tested before registration
and every two years.
Motor vehicles account for
one third of all carbon dioxide
emissions in Maryland, according to the Maryland Department
of the Environment. And excess
carbon monoxide or hydrocarbon emissions can cause lasting
environmental damage.
“The goal behind the Vehicle
Inspection Program is to make
sure that vehicles are running
the way they’re supposed to,”
said Tad Aburn, director of
MDE’s air and radiation management administration, which
oversees the program. “I personally believe it’s worked
extremely well.”
About 90 percent of days are
considered “good” or “moderate” air quality days in
Maryland, according to the
agency’s 2012 Clean Air
Progress in Maryland report,
representing a steady increase
in the last 10 years.
“In Maryland, we have some
fairly complicated air-pollution
issues. We’ve made tremendous
progress over the last 20 years
in reducing emissions,” Aburn
said.
Vehicles can fail the test if
CREDIT: EARTH FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
Household cleaning products are responsible for almost 10 percent of all toxic exposures
reported to U.S. poison control centers. Fortunately, there are plenty of safer alternatives available, from brands like Ecover, Seventh Generation, Green Shield and Earth Friendly Products,
pictured here.
can be lethal. Other ingredients
to avoid for many reasons
include diethanolamine (DEA),
triethanolamine (TEA), 1,4dioxane, ethoxylated alcohols,
butyl cellosolve (aka ethylene
glycol monobutyl ether), and pnonylphenol.
Meanwhile, the fragrances
added to many cleaning products can cause respiratory irritation, headaches and other
symptoms in those with chemical sensitivities, allergies or
asthma. And since fragrance
formulas are considered trade
secrets, manufacturers aren’t
required to disclose constituent
ingredients, leaving even educated consumers in the dark
regarding what kind of nasty
chemicals they may be spreading around their homes just to,
ironically, make their cleaning
products smell less chemically.
Fortunately there are plenty
of safer alternatives available
today, but deciding which ones
are truly healthier or just
designed to look that way isn’t
so easy. That’s where the
Environmental Working Group
(EWG) comes in. The group’s
“Guide to Healthy Cleaning”
rates and reviews over 2,100
household cleaning products
on the basis of health and environmental safety. EWG lists
top products in each cleaning
category—from dishwashing
and laundry detergents to
kitchen and bath cleaning to
floor and furniture care—and
also offers a “label decoder”
that helps consumers learn how
to spot trouble on product
labels and ingredient lists.
Some of the brands that garner
high marks from EWG in more
than one category include
Ecover,
Earth
Friendly
Products, Seventh Generation
and Green Shield. Look for
these online as well as at
Whole Foods or other markets
with big selections of healthy
or natural products.
EWG also maintains a Hall
of Shame where it lists cleaning products that either “greenwash” consumers with misleading label information or
contain hazardous ingredients
(or are banned abroad but still
available in the U.S.). EWG
makes all of this information
free on its website, but a $5
donation will get you a wallet
card packed with tips on how to
read home cleaning product
labels and shop smarter.
associations as well as the business community. It will result in
more effective and efficient service of our government for all
who live, work, and invest in
Prince George’s County.”
renaissance taking place across
Prince George’s County.”
backdrop of a house demolition
located at 7003 Hawthorne Street
in Landover, a neighborhood
within the County Executive’s
Transforming
Neighborhood
Initiative of Kentland/Palmer
Park. The abandoned property
had received numerous violations
and had been cited by DER over
many years, resulting in the
Department exercising its legal
authority to have the property
demolished.
County Council Chair Andrea
C. Harrison (D) – District 5,
“Vacant and blighted property
has a debilitating effect on communities and the welfare of our
residents. The Department of
Environmental Resources’ 25point plan provides solutions to
help rid our neighborhoods of
blighted houses, and prepares
communities to share in the
DER Acting Director Adam
Ortiz also added that the plan
reflects the high standards that
our community stakeholders pay
for, expect and deserve. This initiative is about the standards we
see every day. By ramping up
demolitions of blighted properties, holding property owners
accountable and bringing illegal
businesses into line we will
restore home values and attract
the people and investment we
need in our County” he said.
The event took place amid the
they exceed standards for
hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide, according to a guide produced by Maryland’s Motor
Vehicle Administration, which
jointly administers the program.
Other reasons for failure
include: leaks in the exhaust
system, improper engine adjustments, a faulty malfunction
indicator light on the dashboard, malfunctioning or missing emissions control equipment or an improperly-fitting
gas cap.
Two Toyota vehicles -- the
energy-efficient Prius (.3 percent failure rate) and the Yaris
(.4 percent failure rate) had the
lowest failure rates of any
model tested at least 5,000
times. Just 14 of 5,455 Prius
vehicles failed the emissions
test.
The next-best model performance was turned in by the
Lexus ES 350, with a .8 percent
failure rate.
Overall, 92 percent of vehicles passed the O Test. The
other test, the Idle Tailpipe (B)
Test, is administered to older
passenger vehicles (model year
1977-1995) and the heaviest
vehicles.
Maryland’s
General
Assembly toughened emissions
standards in 2007, though the
change only applies to model
year 2011 cars and later.
“Maryland is doing a really
good job in reducing its emissions,” said Hakob Avetisyan, a
civil and environmental engineering doctoral student at the
University of Maryland who
studies vehicle emissions.
The Ford Windstar was the
worst-performing model on the
O Test, with a failure rate just
under 25 percent. The Cadillac
Deville (19.9 percent failure
rate) and Nissan Maxima (18.9
percent failure rate) also performed poorly relative to other
models tested at least 5,000
times over the two-year period.
Many Chevrolet models did
not fare well on the B Test, as
the American manufacturer produced the five vehicles with the
highest failure rates among
models tested at least 1,000
times. Chevy’s Astro, G20 and
G30 vans all failed at a clip of
over 30 percent.
It was a different story for
Chevrolet’s Silverado pickup
truck, though, which had the
lowest failure rate of any model
-- 3 percent.
When all models are included, Volkswagen (21.8 percent),
GMC (18.2 percent) and Isuzu
(17.4 percent) all had higher
failure rates than Chevrolet on
the B Test. Hummer was the
surprising winner, with just a
5.1 percent failure rate, owing
largely to the success of its H2
model.
“Government officials must
ensure that emissions programs
are both reasonable and cost
effective, and produce the
desired emission reductions,”
said Ragina C. Averella, a
spokeswoman for AAA MidAtlantic, which advocates for
motorists. “State programs
Organic
CONTACTS:
Consumers
Association,
www.organicconsumers.org;
Washington Toxics Coalition,
EWG’s
www.watoxics.org;
Guide to Healthy Cleaning,
www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners.
EarthTalk® is written and
edited by Roddy Scheer and
Doug Moss and is a registered
trademark of E - The
Environmental Magazine
( w w w. e m a g a z i n e . c o m ) .
Send questions to:
earthtalk@emagazine.com.
Subscribe:
www.emagazine.com/subscribe.
Free Trial Issue:
www.emagazine.com/trial.
In July 2013, PSD is slated to
move to the Department of
Permitting, Inspections and
Enforcement (DPIE).
should be subjected to comprehensive and periodic review to
ensure accuracy of the data collection and the EPA’s computer
modeling system.”
Vehicle age matters, the data
shows. The failure rate
decreased steadily with each
model year, starting at around
20 percent for cars made in
1996 . Just .2 percent of cars
made in 2010 failed the test.
“It’s all about the technology,” Avetisyan,
of
the
University of Maryland, said.
“New technology emits less.
They use less energy or they
use cleaner types of fuel, like
hybrids or electric vehicles.”
Aburn agreed. “The general
rule of thumb is that older vehicles aren’t as clean as newer
vehicles,” he said, adding that
the testing system is set up to
acknowledge this difference by
creating separate standards.
Failing vehicles can be
retested once for free; after
that, owners must fork over
another $14 for the test.
Vehicles must be retested until
they pass or receive a repair
waiver, which requires proof
that the car underwent at least
$450 in emissions-related repair
work.
But, Aburn said, the test has
become far less of a hassle than
it used to be, even as standards
remain high.
“We have continued to
evolve the program to simplify
it and to make it more streamlined,” he said. “We’re the
best.”
A8 — May 30 — June 5, 2013 — The Prince George’s Post
CouNTy
ChurCh direCTory
UNITED METHODIST
BAPTIST
BAPTIST
UNITED METHODIST
WESTPHALIA
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
OF HIGHLAND PARK
First Baptist Church of
College Park
Union
Welcomes You Where Jesus
Christ Is Lord and King
Stephen L. Wright, Sr., Pastor
United Methodist Church
United Methodist
Church
“A CHURCH ON THE REACH FOR GOD”
9363 D'Arcy Road
Upper Marlboro, MD
Two Worship Services:
8 and 10:30 a.m.
Sunday School: 9:30
‘A Bible Based, Christ Centered
& Spirit Led Congregation’
6801 Sheriff Road Landover, MD
20785 (301) 773-6655
Sunday Biblical Institute:
9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship:
7:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 6:00 p.m.
(301)735-9373
Fax: (301) 735-1844
‘WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS
WITH JESUS’:
Rev. Dr. Timothy West,
Pastor
12 noon (The Power Hour) and 6:45 pm
ALL ARE WELCOME
Worship, & The Word”
Web Site:
www.westphaliaum.org
Dr. Henry P. Davis III, Pastor
BAPTIST
“A Time of Prayer, Praise,
www.fbhp.org
BAPTIST
Forest Heights Baptist Churh
We exist to strengthen your relationship with God.
6371 Oxon Hill Road
Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745
Sunday School (Adults & Children) - 9:30 A.M.
Worship Service - 11:00 A.M.
Wed. Prayer Service & Bible Study - 7:00 P.M.
Office (301) 839-1166
Fax (301) 839-1721
E-mail: Office FHBC@verizon.net
Pastor: Rev. Waymond B. Duke
5018 Lakeland Road
College Park, MD 20740
301-474-3995
www.fbc-cp.org
Sunday School 9:30a.m.
Sunday Worship 11a.m.
Holy Communion 1st Sunday
Wednesday Bible Study 7-8p.m.
Wednesday Prayer Service 8p.m.
14418 Old Marlboro Pike,
Upper Marlboro, MD
COMMUNITY CHURCH
THE PRINCE
WORD OF GOD
GEORGE’S
COMMUNITY
POST
CHURCH
“The Church Where Everybody is Somebody and
Jesus is Lord
4109 Edmonston Road Bladensburg, MD
CALL
Church (301) 627-5088
(301) 864-3437
301-627-0900
Sunday School: (Children/Adults) - 8:30 a.m.
Intercessory Prayer:Sundays - 8:30 a.m.
FAX
Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m.
Church School: - 9:15 a.m.
Morning Worship Celebration- 10:30 a.m.
Rev. Kendrick D. Weaver, Pastor
Wed. Night Bible Study - 7:45 p.m.
Elder Willie W. Duvall, Pastor
301-627-6260
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EDUCATION SERVICES
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BANK LAKE PROPERTY LIQUIDATION! Smoky Mountains
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LOTS & ACREAGE
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LAND SALE! 2.4 Acre Estate
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THE
PRINCE
GEORGE’S
POST
CALL 301-627-0900
FAX 301-627-6260
Editorials & Calendar
Watch from A4
who volunteers at the church,
an artist,” Lucille said. “She’s
going to help them make portfolios. Sarafina wants to present hers to the Columbus
College of Art and Design.”
Lucille is still holding onto the
American Dream for her children—but for now, the Lynches
are living a much sadder
American reality.
At the Children’s Defense
Fund National Conference in
Cincinnati July 22-25 we will
have a series of plenaries,
mini-plenaries, and workshops
focused on economic inequality and child poverty. Join us to
learn more about what we
know works to reduce pover-
ty—and how we can work
together to insist we do what
works and set different national priorities. It’s time to end
child poverty in rich America.
Marian Wright Edelman is
President of the Children's
Defense Fund whose Leave No
Child Behind® mission is to
ensure every child a Healthy
Start, a Head Start, a Fair
Start, a Safe Start and a Moral
Start in life and successful
passage to adulthood with the
help of caring families and
communities.
For more information go to
www.childrensdefense.org.
Mrs. Edelman's Child Watch
Column also appears each
week on The Huffington Post.
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