Big News/ Community Meetings/ Fall Weather
Big News/ Community Meetings/ Fall Weather
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This picture serves no other purpose than to let you know that Fall is here. As we come off a summer of intense heat, it doesn’t seem that Fall we be as cool as it has been in earlier years. The Atlantic Magazine reports:
America Could Be in for a Rough Fall
Excerpt: On Labor Day, you could drive from Minnesota’s border with Canada all the way to where Louisiana hits the Gulf of Mexico and not encounter a high under 90 degrees. The heat hasn’t broken: Today, nearly a third of Americans are sweltering under heat alerts.
Such weather is a fitting end to a devastating season, the kind you run out of superlatives for. This summer, climate extremes suddenly seemed to be everywhere, all at once. It was the world’s hottest June since humans started keeping track. July was even worse. Phoenix—which averaged 102 degrees in July—got so hot that people received third-degree burns from touching doorknobs. In Iowa, livestock dropped dead in their pens. The disasters weren’t limited to heat: Canadian wildfires blanketed large swaths of the United States in smoke, flash floods thundered through Vermont, and wildfires reduced parts of Maui to rubble.
Remembering Sept. 11
The Black Firefighters of 9/11, Our Forgotten Heroes
Article: Two decades have passed, but for Irene Smith, the pain remains as fresh as it was on that fateful day. The years may have dulled some of the edges of her anguish, but the memory of her son, Leon W. Smith Jr., one of 12 Black firefighters during 9/11, still burns brightly in her heart.
Leon Smith’s aspirations were simple but profound – he dreamt of becoming a firefighter. Growing up in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, the Smith family lived directly across from a firehouse. Irene Smith fondly remembers how she always knew where to find her son. “He knew his calling even then,” she recalled a touch of pride in her voice.
D.C. Region Marks 22nd Anniversary Of Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks
Article: It’s been 22 years since terrorists hijacked a plane and crashed it into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, killing all 59 passengers aboard and 125 people who worked in the building. Other planes destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York and crashed in a small town in Pennsylvania. In total, almost 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.
When American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, first responders from Arlington, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and elsewhere in the region rushed to the scene to contain the blaze, rescue people from the collapsing section of the building, and treat the injured.
“The day was clear, with a bright blue sky as summer was beginning to release us from its grip,” remembered Arlington firefighter Capt. David Santini.
Santini spoke at an Arlington County ceremony marking today’s anniversary with the formal laying of a wreath outside the county government’s offices and a moment of silence at 9:37 a.m., the moment of impact at the Pentagon. He paid tribute not only to the first responders, but also to the civilian and military workers, many of whom sprung into action to help evacuate the damaged building.
Undocumented Clean Up Workers Are The “Forgotten Heroes” of 9/11 Attack
Excerpt: An estimated 2,000 undocumented immigrant workers and volunteers took part in the efforts to clean up Ground Zero in the months following the 9/11 attacks. Yet, for more than two decades, many have continued to languish on the margins of society without the opportunity to obtain legal residency or citizenship. A 2021 bill introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez aimed to provide undocumented 9/11 workers with a pathway to citizenship, but the legislation has failed to make any headway in Congress.
Like Hernandez, four other undocumented migrants who spoke with Documented said that they feel neglected by the federal government and that they have been left to fend for themselves as they grapple with devastating health effects incurred by working at the site.
Hernandez migrated to New York from Honduras in 1999 and had very little luck finding stable jobs. She had been out of work for two years when on the day of the 9/11 attacks, as she was sleeping on the couch, her pager beeped. Her friend Sonia was calling.
Community News
Echoes of the Enslaved
Ticket Price: FREE
Age: All
Event Category: Echoes of the Enslaved Historical Events
Event Programs & Series: Echoes of the Enslaved Surratt House Museum
Surratt House Museum
301-868-1121 surratthouse@pgparks.com
Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project
The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project is having its General Meeting on Saturday, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. If you would like to sign up to attend the virtual meeting - email the organization at princegeorgescolmp@gmail.com. You can learn more about the organization here: https://pgclmp.org. Additionally, The Intersection covered one of their ceremonies. You can read it here.
Summer Jam Series
It's a party! Join your neighbors every third Friday of the month between June - September for Hyattsville's Summer Jams!
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at our last Summer Jam of the year on September 15, at Hyatt Park, 3500 Hamilton St, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Activities include:
Latino music
Delicious food
Adult beverage vendors
Family-friendly activities!
Capital Improvement Projects
The City uses both staff and contractors to keep our public infrastructure in good condition. Below is information on current and upcoming projects.
Please be advised that additional construction regularly takes place in the City limits by County, State, WSSC, Washington Gas, and PEPCO crews and private property owners. The City is not always advised when these projects are taking place. If there are any questions about work in the City, please contact (301) 985-5032.
Church Place Alley
The City of Hyattsville has been coordinating with the businesses along Church Place to address issues of traffic congestion and loading. Priorities in the redesign include clearly designated loading zones, increased signage and roadway markings, new parking spaces along Gallatin Street, the addition of a new public seating area. Learn more about this project at HelloHyattsville.com!
Saturday, September 23: Celebrating 10 Years of MDCEP
MDCEP is celebrating TEN years of research and advocacy for racial and economic justice. Help us continue the fight for good public policy!
Date and time: Saturday, September 23 · 2 - 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Reginald F. Lewis Museum 830 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202
Register here (Tickets art 75-175)
Prince George’s County Community Relations
The Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations will partner with the Commission on Common Ownership Communities on Wed. Sept. 27 at 3:00 p.m. to host a monthly virtual meeting. Please email coc@co.pg.md.us for more information.
“Out of the Vineyard” Written by Psalmayene 24 Directed by Tony Thomas
September 8-24, 2023
Joe’s Movement Emporium, in conjunction with the Freedom Stories Initiative, proudly announces the upcoming premiere of Out of the Vineyard. This innovative play is written by the esteemed playwright Psalmayene 24 and based on the historical book A Question of Freedom: The Families who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to Civil War by William G. Thomas III.
Out of the Vineyard is a vivid, deeply researched narrative, constructed from interviews with descendants of enslaved families and individuals closely associated with the history of freedom suits in Prince George’s County. The play illuminates a buried chapter of American history, demonstrating the lingering effects of slavery in our society today.
Fort Washington: Forward Farmers Market North and South
We will host the Farmers Market on the 2nd Saturday at PLES and 4th Saturdays at Friendly High School beginning in June through September, with a pop-up on October 14 and November 18.
North Market (Allentown Rd.):
June 24, July 22, August 26, September 23. November 18
South Market (Fort Washington Rd.):
June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14.
Legislation
Bill: CB-081-2023
Status: To Committee
Sponsors: Krystal Oriadha, Wala Blegay
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE for the purpose of providing that the Police Accountability Board may conduct its own investigation independently from, but concurrently with, the law enforcement agency of complaints of police misconduct; providing that the Police Accountability Board shall be entitled to certain evidence and shall have certain investigatory powers; providing for a certain review of the findings of the Police Accountability Board’s own investigation independently from, but concurrently with, the law enforcement agency of both external and internal complaints by the Administrative Charging Committee; and generally regarding the Police Accountability Board and the Administrative Charging Committee.
Bill: CB-082-2023
Status: To Committee
Sponsors: County Executive
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING GROCERY STORE TAX CREDITS for the purpose of increasing both real and personal tax credits for eligible grocery stores within the designated healthy food priority areas.
Bill: CB-083-2023
Status: To Committee
Sponsors: County Executive
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS for the purpose of updating the training requirements for volunteer firefighters, volunteer line officers, and volunteer chief officers according to the national standards and to streamline the process of updating the standards to Fire/EMS General Orders.
Politics
Heading into the 2023 cold and flu season, what’s the state of COVID-19 in Maryland?
Excerpt: As we approach yet another winter since the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed in the United States in January 2020, the landscape of what has been a deadly virus looks vastly different.Federal health officials approved another iteration of the COVID vaccine this week to protect against the newest strains of the virus. The Maryland Department of Health, in May, moved away from daily COVID updates to weekly updates. Social distancing and masking now are largely voluntary measures.
Yet the number of COVID hospitalizations are increasing in Maryland and nationally, though not nearly to the extent seen in previous pandemic years. With all these factors at play, how concerned should Marylanders be about COVID-19 heading into fall and winter when respiratory viruses usually spread quickly?
Maryland Department of Health officials said they are staying cautious and tracking rising numbers, but currently there are not plans to recommend additional social distancing and mask measures.
‘I’m personally invested in this work’: Meet Prince George’s Co.’s new Latino Affairs Liaison
Excerpt: In Prince George’s County, the newly hired Latino Affairs Liaison is bringing nearly 20 years of experience into the role.
Enter Samantha Howard.
Howard was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and said she remembers coming to Prince George’s County in 1990 when she was 7-years-old. She graduated from Largo High School, and then went on to attend Prince George’s Community College and earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
“I came into Prince George’s County when the county was transitioning demographically and [I] was probably one of the few Hispanics that had come into the county,” Howard told WTOP. “I was always the first or the only.”
17-year-old boy charged in shooting of teen girl outside Prince George’s Co. high school
Excerpt: A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old girl, who was struck by gunfire trying to break up a fight outside of DuVal High School in Lanham on Monday.
Technology
Is AI the next frontier in preventing gun violence? This Prince George’s Co. company believes so
Excerpt: “Artificial intelligence” is one of those terms you hear about all the time now. These days it seems it can write a paper, flavor your Coca-Cola and do so many things humans used to do on their own. Can it also detect a gunman before a gunshot is even fired?
A Prince George’s County, Maryland, company is betting that it can.
Wave Welcome occupies a small office in the National Harbor area, and is led by Vennard Wright, a former Chief Information Officer in Prince George’s County and for WSSC Water, among lots of other companies.
Prince George’s Council Passes Gas Station Bill
Excerpt: During its Sept. 6 session, the Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously to enact legislation requiring gas stations to prominently display credit card prices on their signs.
The measure was authored by Council member Edward Burroughs III (D-District 8). In a statement, Burroughs said the bill is about protecting consumers.
Religion
Exclusive: 'We have to forgive,' says sister of murdered Greenbelt teacher
Excerpt: The sister of a Prince George's County third grade teacher who was murdered and dismembered by an apparent stranger says her family's devout Muslim faith demands forgiveness, even in such extreme circumstances.
“It’s difficult but we have to forgive," said Fati Toure, sister of victim Mariam Sylla in an exclusive interview with WUSA9. “Mariam is fine where she is, because she is with God."
What is Rosh Hashanah and how is it celebrated?
Excerpt: The two-day holiday known as Rosh Hashanah kicks off the beginning of the Jewish "High Holidays," a ten-day period of repentance and reflection that culminates with Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
But what exactly is Rosh Hashanah and how is it celebrated? Here's everything you need to know:
What is Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah, meaning "head of the year" in Hebrew, is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. During Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people around the world ask God for forgiveness for mistakes they’ve made over the past year and remind themselves not to repeat those mistakes in the coming year.