Dear Friends, 

I hope everything is going well in your community and with you.  The 2009 Council Session will end on November 17th and I am pleased to report that the bill I sponsored to limit the type of items that can be accepted or sold at pawnshops passed out of committee and will be voted on by the entire Council soon. 

Specifically, my bill would prevent the pawning of health and beauty products, infant formula, over-the-counter medication, and other items that are either ingested or that are used on one’s body. The legislation’s purpose is two-fold: there is a health and product integrity concern when products intended for consumption or use on one’s body are not from the original source; and second, area retailers have reported millions of dollars of these products as being stolen.  Unlike other goods that are pawned, it is difficult to believe that an average individual would have cases of razors, infant formula, or the like, on hand to pawn.  At the committee hearing, representatives from Target, Giant, and CVS as well as the County Police Department testified in support of the legislation and I look forward to working with these retailers as well as the Police in the future to curb crime in the county. 

Soon, you will be receiving my fall 2009 print newsletter.  If you did not receive a copy, please visit my website www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/district3/.  I have also placed a copy of all of the Neighborhood Outreach materials, which were dropped off in several District 3 neighborhoods this summer on the website.  I’ll be visiting more communities with this information over the winter, but in the meantime, please visit the website to print materials in English and Spanish for yourself or your neighbors.  The materials include information on county permits, parking regulations, code enforcement, important county phone numbers, and recycling.

Take care and if you need any assistance, please call my office.

Eric Olson
Council Member, District 3

(301) 952-3060

SPEED MONITORING PUBLIC HEARING
The County Council will be holding hearings at the following locations to gain input from residents on school zones that should be considered for speed camera monitoring. 

Add dates

As you may remember, the State Legislature passed legislation in spring 2009 enabling jurisdictions to set up speed cameras in school and construction zones to help address ongoing speeding and safety concerns.  Speed cameras will be in place starting in early January.  More details on the program and speed camera locations will be available in future enews editions.

H1N1 Vaccination Information
The County is providing H1N1 shots to all school children at their school and to CDC priority groups by appointment only (1-888-561-4049) at the Cheverly Health Clinic from 9-12pm every Thursday.  For information on CDC priority groups and additional details, please visit Flu Vacciincations.

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDT) ANNUAL CAPITAL PROGRAM TOUR MEETING
MDT will hold its Annual Capital Program Tour on Wednesday November 4, 2009 from 2:00pm-3:30pm.  This event will be held in the auditorium of the State Highway Administration Building (9300 Kenilworth Avenue in Riverdale).  For more information please contact Donald Halligan at (410) 865-1288.

Please join the Prince George’s County Health Department and Prince George’s County Public Schools as they sponsor the 5^th Annual Holiday Food & Fitness Expo to promote healthy lifestyles in our county. Come gather information, get screened for various health conditions, sit up healthy goals and follow-up appointment, etc.  This event will be held at the Wayne K. Curry Sports & Learning Complex (8001 Sheriff Road in Landover) from 9:00am-2:00pm on November 19th.  For more information please contact Melony Griffith at (301) 883-3153 or mggriffith@co.pg.md.us.

NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, EXPERIENCE KIDS EURO FESTIVAL 2009
The National Children’s Museum will host programs for the 2009 Kids Euro Festival, in conjunction with 27 participating European Union Member States.  There will be more than 100 free performances including mimes, storytellers, bubble blowers, puppeteers, etc.  Listed below is an upcoming event. All events will take place at the NCM Launch Zone, 112 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745.   For more information please email info@ncm.museum, visit http://ncm.museum, or www.kidseurofestival.org.  

November 7, 2009 from 11:00am-4:00pm
Poland, Beware of the Wawel Dragon Reading Workshop
Explore dragons, castles, and caves in a traditional Polish folktale presented through interactive storytelling.
The story will be read at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

TAKE CHARGE JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM, INC.
The Take Charge Juvenile Diversion Program, Inc. will present participants with a gang prevention presentation during the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning 25^th Annual Park & Recreation Safety Management Conference on November 18, 2009.  This event will be held at the College Park Holiday Inn (10000 Baltimore Avenue in College Park) from 11:00am-12:00pm.  For more information please contact Blythe Patenaude (301) 420-7395.

DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEED RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) is expanding its rental assistance program thanks to increased funds from the Federal HOME program. Funds are available for security deposits for eligible low to moderate income residents.  To apply, call UCAP at 301-322-5700 between 8:30am and 8:00pm Monday-Thursday or 8:30am to 5pm on Friday.

ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES
The State government is expanding its home weatherization program, designed to benefit low and moderate income families across Maryland.  Qualifying citizens can receive home energy audits and home improvements at no expense to the owner.  For more information, or to see if you qualify please contact the Office of Energy Programs at 1-800-332-6347.   

LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER NOW IN DISTRICT 3
The Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources & Property Standards Group now has a satellite office in District 3 at 5008 Queensbury in Riverdale Park at the Riverdale Park Town Hall.  This office can assist citizens living in Council District 3 with their concerns about Housing, Zoning & Commercial Properties.  Resident walk-ins are welcome.  Hours of Operation are Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 - 12:30 p.m.  

INTERNET ACCESS TO CRIME DATA IN THE COUNTY
Interested in knowing more about crime in your community? Visit www.crimereports.com to see a map of your community with details on incidents in your neighborhood.  Note: The easiest way to use the system is to type in your zip code.

PLANNING PROJECT UPDATE

Purple Line
Maryland Transit Administration is reaching out to communities along the Purple Line route to discuss the plans in detail for the preferred alignment.  Over the next two years, detailed engineering will be completed and this fall the state will apply to the federal government for funding.  For more information, please visit www.purplelinemd.com.

Route 1 Sector Plan Update
The public hearing on the plan was held.  Park and Planning is now reviewing the comments and will be recommending amendments to the plan.  For more information please visit Community Plans  

Route 450/ Central Annapolis Road Corridor Sector Plan
Park and Planning held a series of design workshops in mid October and will be back in the community in December.   For more details on the planning process and for meeting information, please visit Annapolis Road

New Carrollton TDOZ/TDDP Metro Plan
Park and Planning has reviewed proposed changes based on the public hearing and will be presenting them to the County Council on November 10^th.  For more information, please visit New Carrollton Plans.

Glenn Dale/Lanham/Seabrook Master Plan and Sectional Map Amendment
The public hearing on the plan was held.  Park and Planning is now reviewing the comments and will be recommending amendments to the plan.  For more information, please visit Glenn Dale Plans.

Urban Centers and Corridor Nodes Development Code Legislation
(New Mixed Use Zone)
The Planning Department recently transmitted legislation in June to establish a new mixed use zone in the county for the County Council for review.  This legislation will be reviewed in PZED on Monday, November 2nd and is scheduled for Public Hearing on November 17th.

Back in June, I expressed some concerns about parts of the legislation and some changes have been made to improve public participation since then.  If you have any additional thoughts on this legislation, please let me know.

ENJOY THE COMMUNITY

COLLEGE PARK FARMERS MARKET OPEN—EVERY SATURDAY
The College Park Farmers Market is open on Saturdays and will continue service until November 21, 2009 in the parking lot of the Herbert Wells Ice Rink (5211 Paint Branch Parkway in College Park).  The farmers market operates from 7:00am-12:00noon every Saturday.  For more information please visit College Park Farmers Market or contact Phil Miller at (301) 399-5485.