Community Notes/Community Events/ Big News
Community Notes/Community Events/ Big News
Big News
Alsobrooks Hits The Airwaves In Maryland U.S. Senate Race Transformed By Hogan
Excerpt: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), who has seen her principal opponent in the Democratic Senate primary, U.S. Rep. David Trone, dominate the airwaves for several months, launched her first TV ad of the campaign Monday.
It’s partially a biographical spot with a few not-so-subtle digs.
The 30-second ad begins with Alsobrooks in half the frame, speaking to the camera, while small mug shots of U.S. senators — all white and mostly male and elderly — pop up on the other side of the screen.
Mentor, businessman aims to boost diversity in ‘green’ fields
Excerpt: Forget a business card. Randy Rowel needs a legal pad to list his various ventures.
He oversees the Chesapeake Research Consortium’s internship-placement and mentoring program, chairs the city of Annapolis Environmental Commission, operates a private company that builds green infrastructure and is working remotely on his doctorate from the University of Miami in applied learning sciences. As Rowel sees it, he has to stay busy.
“Some of my white counterparts in my industry, they’re always amazed. ‘You’re in this commission or that commission? You’re a grant writer? You're doing this? How do you do it all?’” said Rowel, who is Black. “My response always is this: I wish I did not have to do all of that. But being a person of color, we have to fight extra hard to get at the minimum bar.”
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Prince George’s County gets its first weather monitoring station
Excerpt: Prince George’s County’s first mesonet tower was set up in College Park on Feb. 7 as part of the Maryland Mesonet project, a partnership between the University of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.
A mesonet is a network of weather data monitoring stations used to measure the atmosphere and weather near the ground. This mesonet measures data such as temperature, humidity, rainfall and the amount of sunlight every three seconds, recording the figures online every minute, according to Maryland Mesonet manager James Hyde.
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UMD researchers say deer could transmit COVID-19, other respiratory viruses to humans
Excerpt: Two University of Maryland researchers are working on a project to analyze COVID-19 transmission between wildlife and humans in urban settings.
Environmental science and technology associate professor Jennifer Mullinax and assistant professor Travis Gallo aim to investigate the potential transmission of respiratory viruses — including COVID-19 — from white-tailed deer to humans in the Washington, D.C., area. The pair hope to understand the most common points of contact between deer and humans to mitigate future respiratory outbreaks.
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Commentary: Don’t balance Prince George’s County’s budget on the backs of our kids
Excerpt: For decades, Prince George’s County taxpayers have prioritized children by setting aside revenues to supplement state and county contributions to Prince George’s County Public Schools, including overwhelming support for a casino revenue lockbox for education.
Now, two last-minute bills — HB 396 and HB 398 — would ignore the will of Prince Georgians and redirect other revenue currently locked for education, putting more than $60 million in critical funding for PGCPS at risk. Instead of unlocking our students’ potential, politicians want to unlock the funding they need to succeed.
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SecEd Cardona Visits BSU, Touting Mental Health Efforts
Excerpt: Bowie State University, the first HBCU established in Maryland, hosted Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona during National School Counseling Week where he spotlighted efforts to improve mental health in education. He particularly touted two grants that will help the university continue their efforts to recruit Black teachers.
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New Baden Library Opens, County Hires First Black Chief Librarian
Excerpt: On Feb. 6, the Prince George’s library system celebrated the grand reopening of the newly-renovated Baden Library, fresh with new additions that will greatly enhance the library’s services. The Maryland State Library Agency’s Public Library Capital Grant Program contributed more than $2 million in funding for design, construction and furnishings for the project.
Community Notes
Saniya Pearson of Fort Washington named 2024 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate
Excerpt: Mitchellville, MD — On Thursday, January 11th, five outstanding youth poets performed and were honored for their creativity & community activism at The 2024 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate Finals. The poems performed, which covered a wide range of topics, displayed the depth, diversity and craftsmanship that belied their young ages.This event was the final, performative phase in determining who would represent the youth voices of Prince George’s County during the rest of this year, engaging the public in various forums, one of which will be their very own 2024 reading tour in conjunction with PGCMLS. The event also featured performances by former YPL Sainey Ceesay, a parting poem by outgoing 2023 Prince George’s YPL Precious Foreman, and a special appearance by Poet Laureate of Peorge’s County, Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman who also served as one of the judges for the evening alongside Poet, activist & Program Coordinator for Creative Suitland Arts Center, Pi-Anir the Poet, and the Inaugural Poet Laureate for Prince George’s County, Sistah Joy Alford.
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Council Member Blegay to Hold Minority Business Enterprise and Nonprofit Symposium
Excerpt: Prince George’s County Council Member Wala Blegay, Esq. (District 6) will hold a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Nonprofit Symposium on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bishop McNamara High School-Mona Center in Forestville.The MBE and Nonprofit Symposium will provide attendees with an opportunity to enhance networking and outreach at the local and state levels through participation in discussions led by industry experts. Attendees will also gain valuable insight concerning county guidelines, nonprofit strategies, MBE collaboration, and grant approvals.
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MD-4 Constituents for a Ceasefire
As I'm sure you have heard, Israel is planning a massive assault of Rafah where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. The same day that Israel announced its plans for this assault, Representative Glenn Ivey posted a photo (which he later removed) of himself smiling alongside religious leaders with a caption that we must provide humanitarian aid to Gaza AND military support for Israel BUT NO CEASEFIRE. This is unconscionable.
We have to let Rep. Ivey know that MD-4 constituents will not stand idly by while Palestinians in Rafah are brutally killed. Rep. Ivey needs to listen to his voters - not AIPAC - and call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire NOW.
We are urging to call Congressman Glenn Ivey at his DC office:(202) 225-8699
Community Events
Prince George’s County Community African American Studies Institute
This year, for Black History Month, the AASI is collaborating with the Center for Performing Arts, to present the Taratibu Youth Association—a Prince George's County youth dance ensemble, for their annual Black History Show. Taratibu has chosen the theme for this year and named it: From Kujichagulia to Afrofuturism.
The first show is TOMORROW night, February 16th at PGCC's lovely Center for Performing Arts at 7 p.m.
If you cannot make it tomorrow, TYA has two more runs of the show on Saturday, February 17th at Joe's Movement Emporium
(in the heart of Mount Rainier, MD's arts district).
Here is the link to Friday tickets at PGCC: https://www.pgcc.edu/about-pgcc/events/event-details/the-taratibu-youth-associations-kujichagulia---afrofuturism.php
Here is the link to Saturday tickets at Joe's: https://joesmovement.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0O5d00000j7DdvEAE
Follow @taratibuyouthassociation and @aasi_pgcc on Instagram for more.
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Presidents' Day
Date: February 19, 2024
Times: 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Prince George’s County Holiday Closings for Presidents' Day
Prince George's County government offices will close on Monday, February 19, 2024, in observance of Presidents' Day.
The following offices, services, and facilities will be closed or suspended on Monday, February 19, 2024:
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The 2nd Annual Black History Month Youth Talent Showcase: "A Night of Expressions"
Ticket Price: Free
Age: All
Event Category: Heritage Celebrations History Black History Black History Month
Cedar Heights Community Center
(301) 773-8881 cedarheightscc@pgparks.com
Contact: 301-773-8881
Friday, February 16 at 7 to 9 p.m.
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Black History Month Concert featuring the Prince George's County Choral Society
Ticket Price: $20
Age: All
Event Category: Heritage Celebrations History Black History Black History Month
Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex (SAARC)
(301) 782-1442 saarc@pgparks.com
Contact: (301) 782-1442
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2024
6:00 PM - 12:00 AM
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Black History Showcase
Ticket Price: FREE
Age: 21 and up
Event Category: Black History Black History Month History Heritage Celebrations
Upper Marlboro Community Center
(301) 627-2828 uppermarlborocc@pgparks.com
Contact:301-627-2828
Thursday, Feburary 22
11 - 2 p.m.
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Board of Ethics Meeting (Virtual) - February 21, 2024
Date: February 21, 2024
Times: 5:00pm 7:00pm
Please use the link below to join the meeting. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact OEA at 301-883-3445. Thank you.
Click here to join the meeting
BOE Agenda Final (2-21-24).pdf
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February 21, 2024 Cable Television Commission Meeting
Date: February 21, 2024
Times: 6:00pm
The Cable Commission governs the County's cable franchises, including Comcast and Verizon. We assist customers with complaints about:
service quality
billing and credits
service interruptions and outages
damage from construction issues
We meet on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. Any changes will be posted to the County website.
Visit the Cable Commission online
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Board of Ethics Meeting (Virtual) - February 21, 2024
Date: February 21, 2024
Times: 5:00pm 7:00pm
Please use the link below to join the meeting. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact OEA at 301-883-3445. Thank you.
Click here to join the meeting
BOE Agenda Final (2-21-24).pdf
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February 21, 2024 Local Development Council Meeting
Date: February 21, 2024
Times: 7:00pm
With the addition of MGM Resorts International in our County, a Local Development Council was formed per State law (view Relevant Law). This council allows for public input for several elements of the operation of the gaming licensee.
The LDC meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month on Zoom. We welcome you to attend to share your concerns or to watch the proceedings.