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

Even if you don't have a highschool senior at home, please share this with someone who does. A great deal of scholarship money is being returned because of a lack of interest or because they don't qualify. If students need to get ready to qualify, their parents should check out the Gwynn Park Learning Center for tutoring and test preparation.


1) BELL LABS FELLOWSHIPS FOR UNDER REPRESENTED MINORITIES - http://www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP/info.html
2) Student Inventors Scholarships - http://www.invent.org/collegiate or http://www.invent.org/collegiate/
3) Student Video Scholarships - http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html
4) Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarships - http://www.coca-colaschola/rs.org/programs.html
5) Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships - http://holocaust.hklaw.com/
6) Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships - http://www.aynrand.org/contests/
7) Brand Essay Competition - http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.htm
8) Gates Millennium Scholarships (major) - http://www.gmsp.org/nominationmaterials/read.dbm?ID=12
9) Xerox Scholarships for Students - http://www2.xerox.com/go/xrx/about_xerox/about_xerox_detail.jsp
10) Sports Scholarships and Internships - http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html
11) National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ) - http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html
12) Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary) - http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr/jobs/stw.html
13) Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund - http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/sk_v6.cfm
14) FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid Scholarships - http://www.fina/id.org/
15) Presidential Freedom Scholarships - http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships/
16) Microsoft Scholarship Program - http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp
17) WiredScholar Free Scholarship Search - http://www.wiredscholar.com/paying/scholarship_search/pay_scholarship
18) Hope Scholarships &Lifetime Credits - http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope/
19) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students - http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm
20) Multiple List of Minority Scholarships - http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/blackhtml
21) Guaranteed Scholarships - http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/
22) BOEING scholarships (soma e HBCU connects) - http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships
23) Easley National Scholarship Program - http://www.naas.org/senior.htm
24) Maryland Artists Scholarships - http://www.maef.org/
26) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida ) - http://www.jackituckfield.org/
27) Historically Black College & University Scholarships - http://www.iesabroad.org/info/hbcu.htm
28) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students - http://www.beanactuary.org/minority/scholarships.htm
29) International Students Scholarships & Aid Help - http://www.iefa.org/
30) College Board Scholarship Search - http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html
31) Burger King Scholarship Program - http://www.bkscholars.csfa.org/
32) Siemens Westinghouse Competition - http://www.siemens-foundationorg/
33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds - http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html
34) CollegeNet ' s Scholarship Database - http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index
35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid - http://www.aflcioorg/schol or http://www.aflcioorg/scholarships/scholar.htm
36) Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel - http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm
37) Scholarship &Financial Aid Help - http://www.blackexcel.org/fin or http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm
38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group) - http://www.efg.net/link_scholarship.htm
39) FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info) - http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
40) Aid &Resources For Re-Entry Students - http://www.back2college.com/
41) Scholarships and Fellowships - http://www.osc.cuny.edu/sep/links.html
42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies - http://www.paralegals.org/Choice/2000west.htm
43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world) - http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination.html
44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities - http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html
45) INROADS internships - http://www.inroads.org/
46) ACT-SO EUR Olympics of the Mind "A Scholarships - http://www.naacp.org/work/actso/act-so.shtml
47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships - http://www.baeo.org/options/privatelyfinanced.jsp
48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing - http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html
49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide - http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORIT
50) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD - http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html
51) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund - http://www.roothbertfund.com

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Prince Georgians Care

Our Prince George's County Delegates at the Maryland General Assembly, where the laws are made, proposed a law to study the change of our county Board of Education. The proposed legislation, HB 1107, is here (PDF), a 4-page document, that would alter the governance structure of the public schools. The County Executive is proposing an amendment that is 53-pages long (PDF here).

I have not had the time to read it all and digest the legalese as I'm not a lawyer. I doubt if most of you reading this are lawyers either. This proposed state law could affects our schools and an important aspect of our county.

You have the opportunity to email the county delegation with your opinion, but there's not much time as the session is coming to a close. Take your democratic right to at least let them know your basic opinion on how you'd like your delegate to vote on this bill. For more information without the legalese, there are several articles, County Executive Baker's statement about his amendment, key aspects of the proposal, and the Board of Education's opposition statement.

If you're in District 9, Councilman Mel Franklin has a short survey, but I can't find a public link to it. You can contact him on Facebook or Twitter or at mel.r.franklin@gmail.com.

Please feel free to let us know how you have responded by commenting here.

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Prince Georgians Care

Men Aiming Higher is sponsoring a basketball game to support the recent shooting victims' families. It's only $5 a ticket, though you can make a larger donation. See Silence the Violence The Young Democrats are supporting this now as opposed to their previous actions (see previous blog posts).

This was sent to me by a friend so I thought it would be a good thing to pass around. I know this is true, but I haven't checked our local stores to see if it's the same as mentioned below:

Senior Discounts

Keep this list - - - and Send a copy to your senior friends and relatives.

As I was waiting in line behind an older gentleman at Wendy's recently, I heard him ask for his senior discount. The girl at the register apologized and charged him less. When I asked the man what the discount was, he told me that seniors over age 55 gets 10% off everything on the menu, every day.

Being of 'that' age myself, I figured I might as well ask for the discount too.
This incident prompted me to do some research, and I came across a list of restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, travel deals and other types of offers giving various discounts with different age requirements. I was actually surprised to see how many there are and how some of them start at the young age of 50.

This list may not only be useful for you, but for your friends and family, too. Pass it on!

Dunkin Donuts gives free coffee to people over 55. If you're paying for a cup every day, you might want to start getting it for free.

YOU must ASK for your discount!

RESTAURANTS:
Applebee's: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby's: 10% off (55+)
Ben & Jerry's: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan's: discount varies by location (60+)
Bob's Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili's: 10% off (55+)
CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Denny's: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin' Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
Einstein's Bagels: 10% off baker's dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker's: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
Gatti's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardee's: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off (55+)
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
Long John Silver's: various discounts at locations (55+)
McDonald's: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney's: 10% off Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak 'n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy's: 10% off (55+)
White Castle: 10% off (62+)

RETAIL & APPAREL:
Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk's: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots: 10% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
Clarks: 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 20% off (50+)
Kohl's: 15% off (60+)
Modell's Sporting Goods: 10% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

GROCERY:
Albertson's: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Fry's Supermarket: free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

TRAVEL:
Airlines:
Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

Rail:
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Bus:
Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+
Car Rental:
Alamo Car Rental: up to 25% off for AARP members
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members Best Western: 10% off (55+)
Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
Over Night Accommodations:
Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Clarion Motels: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler's Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)
Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)


ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT:
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa, FL: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 30% off Ripley's Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
SeaWorld Orlando, FL: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

CELL PHONE DISCOUNTS:
AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)
Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).

MISCELLANEOUS:
Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)
Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

NOW, go out there and claim your discounts - - - and remember --- YOU must ASK for your discount --- no ask, no discount.

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Prince Georgians Care

I've been told that at the organizational meeting last night, it was decided to cancel the counter-protest. I will edit my last post. There will be an event planned in the future to show support.

The Prince George's Suite magazine tells the story of a hearing at Suitland High School in response to a murder at the school and in the region. People have good reason to be concerned. Councilman Mel Franklin give his reaction in the Washington Post. More details about the violence problem is in the Huffington Post article: Suitland High School Student Shot Dead; 6th Prince George's County Student Killed In 6 Months.

Citizens are very concerned and want to do what they can to support Suitland students. There may be a special event to do that in the near future.

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Prince Georgians Care

The Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) is preparing to kick-off the Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) 2013.  The SYEP is a six-week, entry-level introduction to public service for the youth of Prince George’s County. This countywide initiative is intended to offer youth enriching and constructive summer work experiences in various assignments throughout our government.

Applications Available from 2/25/13 through deadline Friday, March 15, 2013:

http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Employment/summeryouth.asp

Eligibility:
·       Be a Prince George’s County resident
·       Be between the ages of 15 and 19 at the start of the program
·       Be eligible to work in the united States
·       Have an active email address

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Prince Georgians Care

The links in the previous posts here for the blog news will go to a 404 error page, because the new web site has all new links except the home page. It's easy to find things there, though, as there is a search engine and site map. It will be quicker and easier to add organizations to the site. If you know of any organizations, especially civic associations, that would be good resources for people living or working in Prince George's County, please send them for the web site. A link back would be nice, too. Note that the blog news page has a new address and is constantly updating. Remember when you're searching for old news that it's archived by categories, most of the categories are listed on the main news page.

If organizations have county-wide events, a board member or representative can post events on the calendar. Email info[at]pgcares.org if you're interested.

I won't move this blog since subscribers would have to re-subscribe.

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Prince Georgians Care

Passing on an announcement from WSSC:

Community Meeting for Two WSSC Projects
February 6, 2013
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Mattaponi Elementary School Address: 11701 Duley Station Road, Upper Marlboro

Project 1: Proposed Water Storage Sites in the Clinton Zone of Prince George’s County
Proposed sites for additional water storage and water transmission in Prince George’s
County. A brief presentation will address:
• How elevated storage ensures water supply reliability,
• The site selection process and proposed
sites, and
• The process and timeline for the project.
Project Website

Project 2: Consent Decree Sewer Repair, Replacement and Rehabilitate (SR3) Program
WSSC is undertaking an extensive program to reduce sanitary sewer overflows by eliminating capacity restrictions in the WSSC sanitary system. A brief presentation will address:
• The project history, overview, and
current court ordered consent decree.
• Design decisions and how that effects
private property
• The project status and schedule
Project Website

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Prince Georgians Care

I recevied this from my County Council Member, Mel Franklin:

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III to Host Fiscal Year
2014 Public Budget Hearings
Three hearings to take place over the next three weeks in North, South, and Central parts of County, residents encouraged to attend and be heard

For Citizens Wanting to Register to Testify:
(301) 952-4547
 
Upper Marlboro, MD – Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III over the next three weeks will host a series of public hearings to engage citizens in a dialog about the County’s FY 2014 budget.  The hearings, which will be held in the northern, southern, and central parts of the County, will provide residents with an opportunity to provide their input and opinions on the Prince George’s County FY 2014 budget.  The County Executive will in turn use this feedback from the various hearings to help prioritize the County’s spending options for the upcoming year.

Citizens wishing to testify are requested to call the County Government at 301-952-4547, TDD (301) 985-3894) from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday for placement on the advance speaker’s list.  Time limitations of three minutes for all speakers will be imposed.  There may be only one speaker per organization.  Written testimony will be accepted in lieu of, or in addition to, oral comments.  Citizens who pre-register will be given priority during budget hearings.

Budget hearings will be broadcast live on the County’s website.

Schedule of FY 2014 Public Budget Hearings:

North

January 29, 2013, 7:00 pm
Prince George’s Community College
Rennie Forum
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD
 
South
 
February 6, 2013, 7:00pm
Friendly High School
Janella M. Moore Auditorium
10000 Allentown Rd.
Fort Washington, MD
 
Central

February 12, 2013, 7:00 pm
Laurel High School
Spartan Hall Auditorium
8000 Cherry Lane
Laurel, MD
 
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Prince Georgians Care

 

Prince George's County State's Attorney, Angela D. Alsobrooks sent out a message to active citizens to invite them to join a new initiative, "Community in the Courthouse" for monthly meetings "where everyday citizens come together to learn more about, get involved in and monitor the criminal justice system.".

The first one will take place on Friday, January 25 at 8:30 a.m in the Courthouse,14735 Main Street. in room M-0421 in Upper Marlboro.
 
"Guest speakers at this meeting will include administrators from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS)."
 
"We will discuss how our office collaborates with that agency and other things we can do to improve the quality of life of our county, as it relates to young people who may have involvement with the criminal justice system."
 
RSVP by sending an e-mail to Ola Hill at omhill[at]co.pg.md.us. They'll have coffee and breakfast items.
 
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Prince Georgians Care

 

I can't find any news about what is happening today as a result of yesterday's loss. The county executives made a bet, Rushern Baker was very sure the Red Skins were going to win. Football is more than just a game as there was money coming to the county if the Redskins win as well.

WTOP reported that Constantine will get a case of Eight O'Clock Coffee, which is based in Landover, Md. if the Redskins lost. Baker also agreed to mentor in the other team's jersey if their team loses and fly the Seattle flag. Anyone in Upper Marlboro see Seattle's flag flying?

There seems to be a long history of such betting. It doesn't appear in the Redskins history, though. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman sang "Hail to the Redskins" and picked up trash, according to Fox News. County Executive Johnson made wagers on games also.

The county apparently still benefited financially during their playoffs, but that apparently has come to a halt. I also see there's a "Redskins Rule" having to do with the Presidential election that didn't apply this year.

It's a very popular game here and the majority of households would have been either watching or listening to the game. It has more repercussions than just the feelings of the fans.

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Prince Georgians Care

On Dec. 12, 2012, the following historic districts became official by the National Register of Historic Places:

College Heights Estates Historic District,

Roughly bounded by Adelphi Rd., U. of Maryland College Park, University Park, Van Buren St., Wells Pkwy.,

University Park, 12001023,

(Historic Residential Suburbs in the United States, 1830-1960 MPS)

Early Family Historic District,

13900-13902-13904 & 13907 Cherry Tree Crossing & 14134 Brandywine Rds.,

Brandywine, 12001024,

University Park Historic District (Boundary Increase),

Roughly bounded by Adelphi, Queens Chapel, & Toledo Rds., Wells Pkwy., Van Buren & Underwood Sts.,

University Park, 12001025,

Upper Marlboro Residential Historic District,

Bounded by 14204 Old Marlboro Pike, 14519 Elm & 14508 Main Sts., Western Branch & 5600 Old Crain Hwy.,

Upper Marlboro, 12001026.

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Prince Georgians Care

PG404-13, sponsored by Senator Peters and Delegate Walker, will require (that's right REQUIRE) the Board of Education to install an artificial turf field at every high school in the county by 2018. Go to this site to see the text of the bill.

Here is the Fact Sheet about this proposal from the Sierra Club:

Artificial Turf: Health and Environmental Risks

Safe, Healthy Playing Fields Coalition Fact Sheet

The Safe, Healthy Playing Fields Coalition recommends pursuing with the highest priority the following goals for the 2013 legislative cycle:

Outdoors:

1. Place an immediate moratorium on outdoor artificial turf (AT) installations.
2. End the use of tire crumb on both ‘in process’ and existing AT fields.
3. Identify and use safe, healthy infill alternatives.
4. Promote high quality natural surface fields with best practices from below the ground (including drainage and soil engineering as necessary) to appropriate durable grass type and maintenance.

Indoors:

1. End the use of tire crumb rubber infill; replace w/healthy, natural alternatives
The risk to our health and the environment has been ignored far too long. Montgomery and Fairfax Counties are rapidly moving to install artificial, aka synthetic, turf fields at high schools and at other complexes. Synthetic turf is being touted by its manufacturers as a superior product to natural grass fields because of its durability, even though very few natural grass fields have been constructed properly to withstand long hours of play, or had the resources committed to them to make them competitive with the artificial alternative.

Consumers should be made aware of the following serious drawbacks to synthetic turf fields: Synthetic turf is a big rug made from plastic. Plastic is made from hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are volatile compounds meaning they evaporate quickly in the presence of sunlight and heat. Even though they exist in solid form, they still off-gas to the atmosphere – think of the new car smell on a hot day.

To obtain the look and feel of grass, the plastic grass blades must be softened with plasticizers. Additionally, they must be stabilized to prevent photo-degradation from the sun and made non-flammable by the addition of flame retardants. The grass blades still become brittle with time and exposure and blade fragments become part of the mix within the crumb rubber dust.

The spongy surface between the grass blades is typically crumb rubber made by pulverizing vehicle tires. Tires are managed as hazardous waste, but when pulverized lose all regulatory oversight.

Crumb rubber contains dozens of complex hydrocarbons, heavy metals, carbon black and secret ingredients that are combined to create vulcanized rubber. The tire crumb, once pulverized to bird-shot-sized granules, continues to break down through the friction of play and exposure to the unrelenting ultra violet light from the sun. As the crumb rubber is worn down to dust, every component and molecule within it can become airborne to interact with the natural and human environment. Think human inhalation and water transport.

On clear warm days, synthetic turf fields get superheated to temperatures from 120o to 180o F. In this quite common scenario, the gasses rising from the field adsorb, or grab, the macroscopic particles of carbon black (a known carcinogen) and create deep lung inhalation exposures for athletes. The combination of the gasses and carbon black together is 10- to 20-times more toxic than the substances by themselves.

Storm water run-off from synthetic turf fields has been found to contain zinc. Zinc is poisonous to aquatic life forms such as daphne, at the bottom of the food chain.

Synthetic turf contains plasticizers, fire retardants and stabilizers. Crumb rubber contains at least 60 complicated compounds. Small concentrations of these compounds mimic the hormones that regulate bodily functions and the changes they produce may not show up for decades. Fetuses are highly susceptible to the small exposures that their pregnant mothers may encounter, perhaps years earlier.

Toxicologists that study these compounds have warned consumers for decades not to microwave in plastics. Why then would children be allowed to participate in grueling physical activity in an environment similar to a microwave oven heating plastics?
The complex compounds in synthetic turf fields need to have a quantitative risk analysis performed by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether they have short-term and long-term health effects on the human body.

Synthetic turf fields currently have no regulations, no monitoring, no standards and they are ALL children’s products.
These fields are brutal to players’ bodies. After all, they are just rugs placed on compacted rock. Synthetic turf is no longer used by professional baseball due to player injuries and complaints.

The Safe, Healthy Playing Fields Coalition invites you to join the effort to request public officials act swiftly to take these recommended actions to address these issues and ensure the health and safety of all who recreate on, or exist in the presence of, artificial turf fields. If you spend one hour with the resources listed you will surely agree – the time to act is long overdue.

Whether we and our politicians know it or not, nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do. Wendell Berry

Additional resources and testimony citations:

Videos:

ABC News report: “What's the Deal with Synthetic Turf Particles? (artificial soccer / football sports fields)”  A summary of the toxicity of turf fields issue is summarized in this.

The TRUTH: About Synthetic Sports Turf – artificial SBR soccer / football fields:  (Oct 28, 2009 www.synturf.org, 3:41 min) which conveys these areas of concern in public settings:
Virulent bacterial infection, including MRSA staph
o Ingestion and inhalation
o Extreme temperatures
o Tire crumb contains 5 known carcinogens & lead in unregulated & unquantifiable amounts according to U Conn Health Center

“A Question of Ingestion - Synthetic Artificial Turf in San Francisco, CA - (montage) / asthma” 

Dr. David Brown, ShD toxicologist, is one of the few qualified US scientists, who is NOT paid by the artificial turf industry, who conducted primary toxicology research on the tire crumb fields. A condensed interview of him explaining the unaddressed toxicity concerns surrounding the fields is found here: www.tirecrumbfields.com

PEER: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
News releases:
o Artificial Turf Field Heat Dangers Require Safeguards: Synthetic Turf Temps as High as 200 Degrees Pose Particular Peril to Children (Sept 6, 2012)
o Lead Limits Needed on Tire Crumb Playgrounds: CPSC Ruling on Artificial Play-Areas as Children’s Products Sought (July 12, 2012)

The PEER press releases link to a number of important recent studies including two on lead and particulates in artificial turf: Evaluating and Regulating Lead in Synthetic Turf by Gregory Van Ulirsch et al. Environmental Health Perspectives (2010 October; 118(10): 1345–1349.) 
An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields Submitted to: Alan Stern, Dr.P.H. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Submitted by: Stuart L. Shalat, Sc.D. (July 14, 2011)  NOTE: THIS IS S VERY IMPORTANT STUDY!

There is also a PEER press release on heat effects: Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research: Synthetic Turf Heat Evaluation – Progress Report; January 2012 (Summary: heat high on plastic as well as tire crumb - no “magic bullet” to cool off the fields made with these materials).

Articles: Articles and publications raising high concern about artificial turf and/or tire crumb:
o  Environ. Sci. Technol. Feb 21, 2012, 46, 3326−3334; Automobile Tires a Potential Source of Highly Carcinogenic Dibenzopyrenes to the Environment; Ioannis Sadiktsis, Christoffer Bergvall, Christer Johansson, ö, ˜ and Roger Westerholm õ Sweden “…Through the release of PAHs from stockpiled scrap tires, 41 PAH emissions from pyrolysis of scrap tires 42 or leaching of PAHs from recycled tire rubber material, 30 tires are a source of environmental pollution of PAHs throughout their entire lifecycle.”
o  Hazardous organic chemicals in rubber recycled tire playgrounds and pavers Review Article ; Chemosphere, 22 August 2012; Maria Llompart, Lucia Sanchez-Prado, J. Pablo Lamas, Carmen Garcia-Jares, Enrique Roca, Thierry Dagnac;

Abstract: In this study, the presence of hazardous organic chemicals in surfaces containing recycled rubber tires is investigated. …..The analysis confirmed the presence of a large number of hazardous substances including PAHs, phthalates, antioxidants (e.g. BHT, phenols), benzothiazole and derivatives, among other chemicals. The study evidences the high content of toxic chemicals in these recycled materials. The concentration of PAHs in the commercial pavers was extremely high, reaching values up to 1%. In addition, SPME studies of the vapor phase above the samples confirm the volatilization of many of those organic compounds. Uses of recycled rubber tires, especially those targeting play areas and other facilities for children, should be a matter of regulatory concern.

Sierra Club report on Safe, Healthy Play Fields Coalition (March 26, 2009);
Environment and Human Health, Inc., 2007 report: Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground Up Rubber Tires – Athletic Fields, Playgrounds, Garden Mulch

The precautionary principle: "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the precautionary principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action." - Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle, January 1998.

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CB-87-2012  was passed by the Prince George's County Council yesterday.

The county web site describes it as, "An ACT concerning County Recycling Program For the purpose of amending the recycling program provisions in Prince George’s County to establish updated recycling goals, setting forth the time for compliance; amends the residential recycling program for multifamily facilities establishes a commercial and industrial recycling program and pilot food composting program, amends the Solid Waste Management Advisory Commission; and generally relating to the recycling program."

Eleven groups testified in favor of the bill with the goal of zero waste.

There was a story about the bill prior to passing here: Prince George's may make recycling mandatory
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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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SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG with EMAIL here.



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