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Dear
Friends,
Many
of you have contacted me over the past month on a host of
concerns—the county budget, economic development, good government,
and code enforcement. Thank you for your thoughts and
suggestions. As you may know, in a couple weeks the County
Executive will formally present his budget for the County Council to
review. At the same time, we are engaging with our state
legislators and the Governor to secure our fair share of Education
and Transportation funding. There will be a great deal of
discussion on the County Budget over the next several months, so
please note the future public hearing dates included in this
newsletter.
I
am pleased that several economic development priorities in the County
are proceeding, including redevelopment on the Route 1
Corridor. By summer, there will be more places to shop and eat
both near the University and in Hyattsville. Soon, the WMATA
Board and Maryland Department of Transportation will formally announce
the development team chosen to redevelop the New Carrollton Metro
Station area and later this year, I hope, the Federal Transit
Administration will approve the Purple Line light rail to join a list
of transit projects eligible for federal funding.
The
County Council and County Executive have come to an agreement on
legislation to implement key reforms to ensure that the development
review process is a fair and open process. I am committed to
balancing the needs of both the development community to invest in
the County, and of residents and communities to have their voices
listened to as development is proposed.
Take
care and please call our office with any questions,
Thank
you,
Eric Olson
Council Member, District 3
(301) 952-3060
ITEMS OF INTEREST
PREDATORY
LENDING & HOME RETENTION EVENT
Federal,
State & Local Government Officials, housing counselors and
private organizations will provide news and updates on renter’s
rights, home retention, scams to avoid, credit improvement and
more. This program will be held on Saturday, March 5,
2011 at Refreshing Spring Church – Fellowship Hall (6200 Riverdale
Road in Riverdale) from 10:00am-2:00pm. If you wish to receive
a free legal consultation at the event please contact the Pro Bono
Resource Center of Maryland at 1-800-396-1274.
 EXPO.JPG)
SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS (STEM) EXPO
The
National Council of Negro Women, Inc. & Center for Minorities in
Science and Engineering will host their Spring STEM Expo on Saturday,
March 5, 2011 from 9:30am-4:00pm at the University of Maryland Riggs
Alumni Center. Activities include cyber security, robotics, nanotechnology,
and more. For more information please visit www.cmse.umd.edu or contact
Bruk Berhane at (301) 405-3878. Pre-Registration is
required. This event is free!
MEALS
ON WHEELS FUNDRAISER
Please
support the local Meals and Wheels fundraiser, St. Patrick’s Day
Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, March 12, 2011 from 4:00 – 7:00
PM. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for children 12 and
under. Carry out is also available. For tickets, call
301 474-1002. The Meals on Wheels of College Park is located at
College Park Methodist Church, 9601 Rhode Island Avenue.
VA
PROVIDES CASH RELOCATION ASSISTANCE TO FORECLOSED VETERANS
In
the Veterans Administration’ s latest effort to assist members in
crisis, mortgage servicers are now authorized to provide veterans
with up to $1,500 in relocation assistance to sway costs associated
with moving. For more information please click this link.
DAUGHTER
FOR THE DAY, Inc.
Daughter
for the Day, Inc was founded by Tonja Lark in 2005 in dedication to
her relationship with her grandmother. This non-profit
organization is devoted to providing one-on-one personal assistance
to seniors in the form of a pseudo son/daughter to help with the
completion of day to day tasks essential to healthy living. For
more information or to volunteer please visit the website or call
(301) 203-7050.
UNIVERSITY
OF MARYLAND “GOLDEN ID” PROGRAM
The
University of Maryland has a program dedicated to seniors interested
in returning to school. Roughly 75 seniors, 60 years and older
currently take advantage of UMD’s Golden Card Program. For more
information please contact Addie Beaty at (301) 314 8219/8240.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The
Maryland Delegates and Senators have funds set aside to assist young
people. Many of their scholarship dates are approaching
rapidly. If you or someone you know is in need of a
scholarship, please call the offices listed below or visit their
website to find out more information.
Legislative 21 (College Park)
Senator Jim Rosapepe:
(301) 858-3141
Delegate Ben Barnes:
(301) 858-3046
Delegate Barbara Frush:
(301) 858-3114
Delegate Joseline
Pena-Melnyk:
(301) 858-3502
Legislative 22 (Berwyn Heights, University
Park, Riverdale Park, Riverdale area, Woodlawn, New Carrollton,
Lanham)
Senator Paul Pinsky:
(301) 858-3155
Delegate Tawanna Gaines:
(301) 858-3058
Delegate Anne Healey:
(301) 858-3961
Delegate Justin Ross:
(301) 858-3652
Legislative 23 (Glenn Dale, Seabrook,
Woodstream, Glenwood Park, Glenn Estates)
Senator Douglas Peters:
(301) 858-3631
Delegate James Hubbard:
(301) 858-3103
Delegate Geraldine
Valentino-Smith: (301)
858-3101
Legislative 47 (Landover Hills, Bellmead, West
Lanham Hills, West Lanham Estates, Finns Lane, Frenchman’s Creek)
Senator Victor Ramirez:
(301) 858-3745
Delegate Jolene Ivey:
(301) 858-3478
Delegate Doyle Niemann:
(301) 858-3326
Delegate Michael Summers:
(301) 858-3340
TOP
COP AWARD
The
Colours Performing Arts Program is promoting one of it’s
parents/volunteers Sergeant Susie Johnson of the Hyattsville Police
Department. Sgt. Johnson is a nominee in the Top Cop Program
dedicated to phenomenal public servants. Colours asks that you
take a look at her webpage and
vote. For more information on Colours youth programs, please
contact Jason Cook, Director of Colours Performing Arts at (301)
454-8388.
SNOW
REMOVAL
Please
follow this link to find
county policy information on snow removal in English &
Spanish. I urge you to help by shoveling sidewalks when there
is a snow event, and spread the word to neighbors.
FIRE PREVENTION
We
have had several tragic house fires this year – please install smoke
detectors (they are available free at our fire departments) and check
them regularly. Generators should never be operated inside – we
have had tragic deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning when generators
have been operated inside homes when power is out.
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