Prince George's County is still hosting "Growing Green with Pride" this fall despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the month of October, we invite organizations and community groups to help keep our County clean and beautiful by participating in this semiannual effort.
Traditionally the event takes place each spring and fall on one Saturday. Because of the pandemic and the importance of practicing social distancing, the event will be held throughout the month of October. This countywide effort will focus on litter collection only. We hope to return to planting shrubs, flowers and trees next year.
The Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) will provide gloves, trash bags, litter grabbers and safety vests to each group that registers. These tools will be available for pickup each Friday throughout October. Please select a specific day on the registration application. For contactless pickup, supplies will be labeled for each organization and placed at the entrance of DPW&T's Maintenance Facility at 8400 D’Arcy Road, Forestville, MD 20747.
While participating, please remember to wear face coverings, maintain physical distance from others and wash or sanitize your hands often.
Applications will be available on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at dpwt.mypgc.us. Applications should be returned via email to Regina Ford at RBFord1@ co.pg.md.us.
 The COVID-19 pandemic has meant adjusting and finding alternative means to continue serving the residents of Prince George’s County. To keep you safe and informed, the seasonal Community Partners' Meeting went virtual for the first time on Thursday, September 24, 2020.
You can view the Fall 2020 Community Partners' Presentation, which features important information from DPW&T, the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) and the Department of the Environment (DoE), here.
 Have you completed the 2020 Census yet? There are only days left to complete it. The Census is completed every 10 years, and your information and privacy are protected.
Your response will help determine how federal funds are allocated for schools, roads, and other public services in your community. It will also determine the number of seats Maryland has in Congress and political representation at all levels of government.
It only takes 10 minutes to complete but will have a lasting impact on our County and your community. Take it now by phone at 1-844-330-2020 or online here.
 Don’t Wait, Vote Safe! You can request a mail-in ballot to avoid in-person voting. Prince George's County is dedicated to making sure everyone has the opportunity to make their voices heard through the power of voting, while remaining safe during the pandemic.
You can find information about voting sites, ballot drop box locations and voter registration on the Prince George’s County Board of Elections 2020 General Election Information and Mapping Site at https://bit.ly/2ZSquJC.
Obtain a mail-in ballot in three easy steps. Your request must be received by October 20th. If you already requested your ballot, check your ballot status at http://bit.ly/2JRPQQH.
 Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions Americans with roots from Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean have made to American society and culture.
The celebration is observed annually in the U.S. from September 15th to October 15th. It began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was extended in 1988 to a 30-day period by President Ronald Reagan.
Erv's Story
During this month many DPW&T employees have shared highlights about their culture with us, including their heritage, traditions and experiences. One person proud to share his Latino roots is Erv Beckert, P.E., Chief of the Highway and Bridge Design Division.
Erv's mother, Maria Isabel Philips, was born in Lima, Peru and came to our nation as a young adult. She met and married Erv's dad, Theodor Alois Beckert, an immigrant from Germany in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Erv grew up in Philadelphia surrounded by family members from Peru where he developed an understanding and appreciation for his Latino heritage.
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Erv is proficient in Spanish, which has proven to be a useful skill as the Latino population continues to grow in Prince George’s County. Pictured are Erv with his family and mother taken in Peru where the family toured Lima, Cuzco, Arequipa, the Sacred Valley and Machu Pichu. While Erv’s mother has passed away, her memory and love of Peruvian culture has stayed with him and his family.
We are grateful for the diverse workforce and for the vast contributions, knowledge and perspective it provides us. Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
Visit https://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/ to learn more about virtual discussions, presentations and performances.
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October is Pedestrian Safety Month! We invite you to join DPW&T virtually for WALKTOBER, which will include a series of free webinars that highlight pedestrian safety and walking as important elements of active transportation.
The Walktober Walkinar series, hosted by the Maryland Department of Planning, will help planners, local officials, pedestrian advocates, and the public at large learn how to advocate for safe walking infrastructure. Panelists will identify key resources to build, strengthen, and sustain local partnerships and share new tools and technologies being used across the country to identify and plan for pedestrian-accessible routes for all ages and abilities. You can learn more about Prince George’s County’s walk and bike resources here.
All webinars will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. EST on Thursdays. See the specific dates and registration information at the Maryland Department of Transportation's Walktober page.
 The Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation’s Annual Report highlights the strides the agency has made in current operations and provides an outlook on the future direction of the Department.
 The County Executive launched Vision Zero Prince George’s on July 25, 2019 as a countywide strategy to eliminate traffic-related serious injuries and deaths by the year 2040. Positioned as a collaborative community model, Vision Zero Prince George’s focuses on supportive road and transportation design coupled with education and safety measures for all roadway users.
In the Vision Zero strategy, everyone in the community shares responsibility for ensuring the safety of all roadway users, whether people are walking, biking, driving or using transit.
You can take the and learn more about Vision Zero Prince George's at www.VisionZeroPrinceGeorges.com.
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