Creating a Jubilee County: Prince George's Co., MD

Are ugly tires littering your neighborhoods and streets? Did you know that if you get your tires properly taken care of in the state of Maryland that they charge you an 80 cent recycling fee? It's to clean up illegally scrapped tires.

You can help reduce the scrap tire problem. see the Department of the Environment's fact sheet here.

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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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Forwarded to me through many channels, apparently originating from Greg Anderson, Program Advocate & Counselor:

THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 
This is a program, funded by a grant from
the Department of Energy and administered
by the Department of Housing and Community
Development, to weatherize the homes of
Prince Georges  County residents at no cost.
To obtain more information, please call
301 883 5491 and/or check out their website
at: www.princegeorgescounty.gov. Click on
link for Housing and Community.
 
THE HOUSING LOAN REHABILITATION PROGRAM
 
This program provides financial assistance for
the rehabilitation of single - family homes to
persons of limited financial means for the purpose
of upgrading the quality of deteriorated dwellings
to contemporary minimum property standards.
To obtain more information, please call
301 883 5570 and/or check out their website at:
www.princegeorgescounty.gov. Click on the link
for Housing and Community.
 
THE QUICK HOME ENERGY CHECKUP PROGRAM
 
This program, provided by Pepco, provides
free energy efficient showerheads and aerators
for kitchen and bathroom faucets.
To obtain more information, please call
1 866 353 5798
 
THE OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS
 
The Office of Home Energy Programs
helps Maryland families pay their utility
bills, mininize heating crises, and make
energy costs more affordable.
To obtain more information, please call
301 909 6300 and/or check out their
website at: www.dhr.state.md.us/ohep.
 
THE MARYLAND ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 
The Maryland Energy Assistance Program
provides assistance grants to help with home
heating bills. Payments are made to your fuel
supplier and utility company on your behalf.
To obtain more information, please call
301 909 6300 and/or check out their website
at: www.dhr.state.md.us/meap.
 
THE ELECTRIC UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM
 
The Electric Uhniversal Service Program provides
financial assistance with electric bills. Eligible
electric customers may receive helpl to pay current
electric bills. lmay be able to pay past due electric
bills and provide referrals for energy efficiency
measures to reduce future electric bills. To obtain
more information, please call 301 909 6300 and/or
check out their website at: www.dhr.state.md.us/eusp.
 
THE WASHINGTON AREA FUEL FUND
 
The Washington Area Fuel Fund provides financial
assistance to pay utility bills to those who either do
not qualify for state funded utility assistance and/or
have exhausted their benefits for state funded energy
assistance. To obtain more information, please call
301 277 6103.
 
THE FHA LOAN REFUND PROGRAM
 
The FHA provides refunds on Upfront Morgage
Insurance premiums. The refunds are for homeowners
who had FHA Upfront Mortgage Premiums under
certain circumstances:
 
I. The loan started after 1 September 1983 and
    before December 8, 2008.
 
II. The borrower paid an upfron morgage insurance
     premium as part of closing on the house.
 
III. The borrower did not default on FHA mortgage
      payments.
 
To obtain more information, please call 1800 697 6967
and/or check out their website at: www.FHA.com.
 
THE ACCESSIBLE HOMES FOR SENIORS PROGRAM
 
This program, administered by the Maryland Department
of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland
Department of Aging, provides zero interest, deferred loans
to Seniors to make their homes more accessible.
To obtain more information, please call 301 265 8450
and/or check out their website at: www.mdhousing.org.
 
 
THE HOMEOWNERS TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
 
A property tax credit is abailable to all residential homeowners
who hav a combined household income under $60,000 and net
assets that do not exceed $200,000. Net assets do not include
the value of your home or the value of your qualified retirement
plans. To obtain more information, please call 1 800 944 7403
and/or check out their website at: www.dat.state.md.us.sdatweb.
 
 
HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT
 
After the first full tax year of ownership, the Homestead Tax
Credit limits the annual increase in taxable assessment on
owner - occupied residential properties to a fixed percentage.
To obtain more information, please call 1866 650 8783 and/
or check out their website at: www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/
 
FREE FLU SHOTS
 
The Prince Georges County Health Department offers FREE
seasonal Influenza vaccinations to the general public at
community clinics subject to vaccine availability and vaccine
quantities on - hand at the following locations:
 
 
ONGOING HEALTH DEPARTMENT WALK-IN FLU VACCINATION CLINICS

Beginning Tuesday, October 25, 2011 until further notice:
 
Tuesday | 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Maternal Health and Family Planning Program | D. Leonard Dyer Regional Health Center 9314 Piscataway Road, Clinton MD 20735
Beginning Wednesday, October 26, 2011 until further notice:
 
Wednesday | 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Immunization Program | Cheverly Health Center 3003 Hospital Drive, 2nd Floor, Cheverly MD 20785
 
Thursday | 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Communicable Disease Control (CDC) Program | Cheverly Health Center 3003 Hospital Drive, 2nd Floor, Cheverly MD 20785
 

FREE CELL PHONE SERVICE
 
The Safelink and Assurance Wireless provide,
free of charge, a minimum of two - hundred and
fifty minutes each month. To obtain more information,
please call 1 800 Safelink and/or Assurance Wireless
at 18184888 and/or check out their websites at:
www.safelink.com and www.assurancewireless.com.
 
 
FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS
 
The Prince  Georges County Department of Social
Services provides a free listing of many of the food
distribution programs in the county. It is available
at the front desk.
 
THE INCOME ELIGIBLE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
PROGRAM
 
This program provides a Home Energy Assessment,
customized energy - saving home improvements and
a new replacement appliance (if qualified). To obtain
more information, please call 1866 353 5798 and/or
check out their website at: www.pepco.com/SaveEnergy.
 
THE ENERGY ADVISOR PROGRAM
 
This program provides access, free of charge,
to Energy Advisor's who can advise consumers
how to save money on their utility bill. To obtain
more information, please call 202 833 7500 and
ask to speak to a representative. Then ask to be
connected to an  Energy Advisor.
 
THE MARYLAND PRIMARY ADULT CARE PROGRAM
 
The Maryland Primary Adult Care Program covers primary
health care, some outpatient mental health services, certain
emergency hospital services, community based substance
abuse services, and prescription drugs for certain low income
eligible Maryland residents. Applicants must be 19 years of
age or older, not eligible for Medicare, and a U.S. citizen or
a qualifited alien who meets all requirements for benefits.
To obtain more information, please call 1800 226 2142
and/or check out their website at: www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mmahome.
 
THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 
The Medical Assistance Program is a comprehensive
healthcare program (including hospitalization), funded
by the state, federal and local governments, and is
administered in Prince Georges County by the Department
of Social Services. Please call 301 909 6000 to obtain
more information.
 
FREE DENTAL SCREENING
 
The Dental Hygiend Program at Fortis Colletge in Landover,
MD provides preventive dental hygience services(i.e., dental
cleaning). To obtain more information and to schedule a
screening appointment, call 301 459 3650 extension 4150 and/
or check out their website at: www.fortiscollege.edu.
 
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS AT PEPCO
 
To obtain more  information about Energy efficiency programs
at Pepco, please  call 1866 353 5798 and/or check out their
website at: www.pepco.com/energy/conservation.
 
 
THE CHRISTMAS IN APRIL PROGRAM
 
The Christmas In April, a nationwide nonprofit organization,
renovates one - hundred  homes in Prince Georges County
each year(at no cost to the homeowner). To obtain more
information, please call 301 868 0937 and/or check out
their website at: www.christmasinaprilpg.org.

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OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE LISTED HERE.

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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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Until April 20th, the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department will be accepting online applications for entry level Fire Fighter.  Starting salary is $40,000. Please share with your respective networks.
The website is www.princegeorgescountymd.gov.

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Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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Some people think they should write the governor to ask him not to sign it since it overrides the people's will. SB 848 has passed but has not yet been signed by the governor.

The bill is entitiled "Education - Maintenance of Effort". The synopsis says, "Authorizing a county governing body, for a specified purpose and under specified circumstances, to set a property tax rate that is higher than the rate authorized under the county's charter or to collect more property tax revenues than are authorized under the county's charter, notwithstanding any provision of the county charter that places limits on the county's property tax rate or revenues; etc."

On a search for a history of TRIM, I find this article on TRIM splits Prince George's from 2003. I also found a blog article about it entitled Overturning TRIM? Dernoga sounds the alarm. An open Yahoo Group on county politics also discusses this bill.

Do you want to pay more property taxes when more houses are being foreclosed? Yes, the county needs funds and this is said to be for education. If you know of other solutions, please comment here. The school board approved a budget and the facts contain: "How will you pay for this? Where does the money come from?" "As of January 25^th, we are projecting $1.6 billion in revenues for FY2012, which is $41 million (3%) less than this year. We receive funding from four public sources – mainly the state (54%) and county (39%)." "Do you have enough revenues to cover the projected costs?"   "Unfortunately, we do not." More on the school board budget here

Our government is primarily funded by taxes of one sort or another. And would we want it another way - like private investors with their own personal interests paying for it? We have too much corporate interest in government as it is. If you know how we can cut the budget efficiently without hurting the education of the children, then I suggest you contact the Board of Education members.

Paying for what we want is complicated work, if you have another suggestion for that, maybe you should contact the governor to not sign this bill and contact the county and press about how to do that.
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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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This year the Presidential Primary Election Day is April 3rd.  However, EARLY VOTING runs from March 24 through March 29th.  Refer to the Board of Elections web site for early voting locations, absentee ballot, and other information.

You can see your ballot from this link - if you know your precinct or where you vote, you can get the ballot for Democrats, Republicans, or NON party-affiliation (or affiliated with an unlisted party) in many precincts. People who are not registered to a party can vote for their Board of Education member. In some precincts there are several candidates. Do you know who they are? If they're not findable on a Google search, I'd wonder what they're hiding. You could call your local civic association to find out if they know about them or your local public school's PTA.

Everyone should care about our Board of Education, because they make important decisions about our public school system. The quality of our schools effect the children and youth in this county and the ability to sell a house to families looking to live in a good school district. Ask if the candidate has attended one of the trainings offered by the Citizens for an Elected School Board (as listed in my last post) and if not, why not.

I hope all voters are knowledgeable voters.
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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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This is my Vote 2012 & Beyond!
Voter Registration & Volunteer Training Partnership Meeting
 
We will host our second partnership meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7:00PM
9201 Basil Court Largo, Maryland 20772
 
We are excited about the energy generated around the 2012 Election Year process. We look forward to your participation as we begin to strategize to accomplish our goal of registering 10,000 new voters.
 
If you have questions, please give us a call @ 240-619-5431.
 
THERE IS POWER IN THE VOTE!
 
Additional dates for training
 
March 10th and 24th  @ 1:30

April 14th .@ 1:30 PM

May 19th@ 1:30 PM

9201 Basil Court Largo, Maryland 20774 in the Multipurpose room on the Basement level.
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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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Reposted for the Prince George’s Chapter of the Sierra Club and the College Park Committee for a Better Environment (CBE):

Invitation to Film Screening of…
 
Bag It: Is Your Life too Plastic?
 
When:  Saturday, February 25, beginning at 1 pm
 
Where:  College Park City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd floor, 4500 Knox Road, College Park, 20740
 
Cost and Registration:  Free but registration is requested: Email janiso[at]erols.com or leave a message at 240-888-6972
 
This 78-minute award-winning film (sometimes funny, sometimes very sobering) chronicles “everyman” Jeb Berrier, who embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of our plastic world and, closer to home, pledges to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. The film examines our society’s use and abuse of plastic and the harm it causes our environment—and our health.
 
A post-film discussion will include Prince George’s County Council member Mary Lehman (District 1) or her policy analyst, Matt Dernoga, who will summarize what’s happening with the local “bag bills.” Julie Lawson, organizer with the Trash Free Maryland Alliance (www.trashfreemaryland.org) will contribute as well.
 
Co-sponsored by the Prince George’s Chapter of the Sierra Club and the College Park Committee for a Better Environment (CBE)

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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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If you have a YouTube account, you can subscribe to YouTube videos. The county schools has a channel that contains weekly news besides other reports.

In the latest news video, the contents include: Laurel Elementary School receive appreciation for their support of the military. Rockledge Elementary School,one of the top performing schools, is visited by Bernard Sadusky, Interim State Superintendent, to observe model programs. County students who received scholarships, are recognized in this video. And a brand new IT course is highlighted.



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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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From M-NCPPC:

NOTICE OF SECOND JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PRELIMINARY PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREA FUNCTIONAL MASTER PLAN

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has published a preliminary Priority Preservation Area (PPA) Functional Master Plan. This preliminary plan was developed for Prince George's County in accordance with HB 2 (2006), Agricultural Stewardship Act of 2006. Landowner participation in agricultural preservation programs is voluntary.

The Priority Preservation Area Functional Master Plan lays the groundwork for protecting the PPA by continuing to use existing tools and programs and implementing new tools that serve to accomplish the preservation goal set for the PPA. The Plan provides guidance expressed through the vision, goal and objective, as well as policies and strategies to address the preservation of farm and forest land uses in areas best suited for these uses in the county.

The purpose of the Priority Preservation Area Functional Master Plan is to:
*    Meet the requirements of the Agricultural Stewardship Act of 2006 relating to the process for certifying the county’s agricultural preservation program;
*    Define the priority preservation area where farm and forest landowners who volunteer to participate in preservation programs will benefit from PPA status for funding sources;
*    Identify the local policies, tools, and programs that will stabilize the farm and forest land base;
*   Amend the 2002 Prince George’s County Approved General Plan to include farmland
preservation as a priority;
*    Affirm General Plan goals for the Rural Tier to retain sustainable agricultural land, maintain rural character, limit nonagricultural land uses, and protect landowners’ equity in their land;
*    Improve communication and coordination between jurisdictions, agencies, communities, organizations, and citizens regarding preservation of valuable and irreplaceable farm and forest land for food production, environmental stewardship, and other future needs.

The purpose of the public hearing is to give stakeholders and interested persons the opportunity to express their views concerning the preliminary Priority Preservation Area Functional Master Plan. The public hearing will be held:
Persons who spoke at the first joint public hearing are not required to resubmit their comments, which will be included in the public record for this plan.

Persons desiring to speak at the second joint public hearing may register in advance or fill out a registration form available that night at the hearing site. Individual speakers and representatives from a group or groups will be limited to three (3) minutes. Written testimony and/or exhibits will be accepted in lieu of, or in addition to, oral testimony. The record will be kept open for 15 days after the public hearing for written comments. To be accepted into the record, written testimony or comments must be original, signed documents. E-mails or faxes will not be considered, unless followed by an original mailed to the Clerk of the Council. Written comments may be submitted until close of business on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, to the Clerk of the County Council, County Administration Building, Room 2198, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.

TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO SPEAK, CONTACT THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, M-NCPPC, AT: 301-952-4584/TTY 301-952-4366 OR REGISTER ONLINE AT www.pgplanning.org/Planning_Board/Testify_at_Hearings.html.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO RESIDENTS, BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS: The hearing is important because the plan establishes policies that will help define the type, amount, character and location of future agricultural practices in Prince George's County.

For further information, please contact the M-NCPPC Countywide Planning Division at 301-952-3650 or e-mail the project manager, Fatimah Hasan, at preservefarms@ppd.mncppc.org or visit the project website.

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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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C-SPAN ran a wonderful program tonight: Tavis Smiley Forum "Remaking America: From Poverty to Prosperity". They had a great panel. They had a big audience, too.

Roger Clay said that President Obama should talk about the problems of black people, but I believe he would get a big backlash if he did. Politics is difficult, especially for the first black President. He could speak about the problems of the poor. Tavis Smiley spoke about all races and ethnicities and that he should talk about the problems they have.

Barbara Ehrenreich made a good point about how businesses don't want to hire the unemployed and there are other things in our system that creates a spiraling down of people who are already in trouble. She says, "There's a war on the poor." Roger Clay made some good points, including about how people think they're going to get rich and so they protect the rich. "We have to change the systems." Vicki Escarra said we could work on simplification of systems like food stamps. "How far does $130 a month go?... When people say we're spending too much on these programs, that's absolute nonsense."

Years ago, I was on food stamps when the government paid more. Even then it was tough - it's even harder to get more support. Welfare doesn't include funds to get to the unemployment office if you don't live within walking distance. The system seems to encourage "cheating" which is usually breaking the law.

People are tweeting about this on #RemakingAmerica @SoulRevision said, "In the future, I would LOVE to see those CURRENTLY living in poverty on this panel to hear their thoughts". Cornel West then tweeted, "The poor are just as precious as politicians, professors, the press and others."

According to the U.S. Census, there were about 67,000 people in Prince George's County under the poverty level. There's more than that now. Last year it was reported that 43% of our children are low-income. Anyone know how many? Anyone know how we can get their voices heard? Anyone have any thoughts on solutions?

It is good to see services to help people in foreclosure problems to help keep them from going from middle class to poverty. We have a lot of good organizations working to help the children and unemployed in this county. I tried to list those organizations and how they're helping, but it was a community service and I haven't had the time to update it. I've asked for volunteer help with no response. I'm willing to train, but the person would have to have access to a computer which many poor people don't have. I'm willing to make some acommodations for someone who'd be really interested in helping. Or maybe I can just link to a web site who has a full list of all the organizations in Prince George's County and how they're helping people. Then we need to get that information out to those organizations - about the other organizations that are helping so they don't have to turn anyone away and we can help more people working together to help get people out of poverty.

The government does give grants to many of these wonderful programs. The government is having economic problems, so I think we need to listen to President Obama when he said, "Our success has never just been about survival of the fittest. It’s about building a nation where we’re all better off. We pull together. We pitch in. We do our part."

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Also check out the latest Prince George's County blogger posts and news here and specific news about the county from many sources at Newsvine.

Our video playlists on YouTube include Prince George's Vital News, Prince George's Education/Youth, Prince George's History and more.

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