Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
Last week, we held a telephone town hall to provide an update on the County’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, as well as answer any questions or concerns from the community. At this time, both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for distribution across the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
I can assure you that, according to the FDA and our public health officials, these vaccines are safe and effective at protecting those who take it from COVID-19. Countless health experts have evaluated the vaccines scientifically and have all arrived at the same conclusion that these vaccines can prevent the spread of COVID-19, but only if we take them.
In fact, under the advice of our County health officials and emergency management personnel, I received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on December 22, along with our Chief Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter. As the vaccine becomes more widely available, I’m urging all Prince Georgians to join us in being Proud to be Protected from COVID-19 by getting the vaccine.
Our emergency management personnel and public health officials have a sound plan in place as we gear up for mass distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines. Moving forward, we are prepared to distribute the vaccine to those who need it most, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the amount of COVID-19 vaccines received initially will not be enough for the general public, our frontline workers and vulnerable members of our community will be among the first to receive the vaccines. The production of the vaccines will increase over the next few months, with the vaccines becoming more widely available in the new year.
As we move forward our goal is simple. We want to make sure every Prince Georgian is well informed and understands the promise these vaccines hold for a future free of COVID-19. When we do take this vaccine, it is critical we understand the vaccine not only protects us, it protects our spouses, family, friends, neighbors and those with whom we worship. We will be sure to keep the community updated, especially through our new vaccine webpage at health.mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine.
As we begin the distribution plan for the vaccine, we must also recognize this pandemic is not over. COVID-19 is still on the rise nationally, and we are seeing that same trend here in Prince George’s County. As we enter the holiday season, I want to be very clear that we must celebrate the holidays responsibly.
We must continue to connect virtually with the people we love and avoid gathering with people outside of our household. I want to thank all the Prince Georgians who are making the difficult decision to avoid gathering with friends and family in person this holiday season. This vaccine represents a light at the end of the tunnel, so if we continue to take the precautions necessary to keep each other safe, we can ensure that we’ll be able to celebrate with family and friends in person next holiday season.
Thank you again for your continued sacrifices to keep each other safe. While this holiday season will look much different, I am wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
COVID-19 Vaccine Phased Distribution Plan
 Prince George’s County will work with State and federal partners to distribute COVID-19 vaccines through a phased distribution plan. The County is currently in Phase 1A of its distribution plan, with the majority of vaccines going to hospitals, healthcare workers and long-term care facilities at this time. As additional vaccines become available, we will update the community via our vaccine webpage, newsletters, social media and other communications tools. Be sure to visit our vaccine webpage for regular updates.
Why Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
 The COVID-19 vaccines help prevent serious illness and protect not only you, but also your family, friends and neighbors. The vaccines are safe and effective, going through many difficult tests before being approved for distribution by scientists. Prince George’s County is committed to ensuring every Prince Georgian has the information they need to be Proud to be Protected and get the COVID-19 vaccine. To learn more about the vaccine, the County’s distribution plan, and why you should get it, visit our vaccine webpage.
COVID-19 Holiday Guidance
 We want to remind every resident of the Health Department’s COVID-19 holiday guidance. The Health Department advises against holiday gatherings with those outside of your immediate household. Instead, consider holding virtual gatherings with family and friends, such as a virtual holiday dinner. For full holiday guidance from our Health Department, click here.
Metrobus to Resume Front-door Boarding and Fare Collection
 WMATA has announced that beginning January 3, 2021, Metrobus will resume fare collection and front-door boarding as part of Metro's pandemic recovery plan that aims to preserve service and transit jobs. To learn more, visit the WMATA website.
Recycle Your Cut Christmas Tree and Holiday String Lights
 When you pack up your holiday decorations and take the tree down, be sure to recycle items responsibly. If you purchased a cut, live holiday tree, you could place your undecorated and unbagged tree at the curb for collection with yard trim on Mondays from December 28, 2020 to January 25, 2021.
Residents can also bring their trees to one of our recycling centers located in Upper Marlboro and Brandywine. Please remove all tinsel, decorations, plastics bags, or other artificial items. Artificial trees are not accepted as they cannot be broken down and turned into mulch.
Unfortunately, broken holiday string lights cannot be recycled in your curbside recycling collection. Fortunately, when they are correctly recycled, different parts of the string lights can be made into other electronics, flatware, jewelry, roofing and construction materials, car batteries, and more.
From December 26, 2020 to February 2021, a collection container for holiday string light recycling will be available at the Brown Station Road Convenience Center in Upper Marlboro. Residents can also check with local hardware stores to recycle broken string lights.
Collection Schedule Changes for the Christmas and New Year Holidays
  County Government offices, with the exception of public safety agencies, will be closed on Friday, December 25, 2020, and Friday, January 1, 2021, in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays, respectively.
There will be no collection changes for yard trim on Mondays and those receiving County trash and recycling collections on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Due to the holiday, residents receiving trash and recycling collection on Friday will have their collections move to Saturday for both weeks. For more information on waste collection services, visit environment.mypgc.us.
Give the Gift of Recycling Right
 Too much online shopping this year? There is no better gift for the environment than to recycle right. After opening your packages, be sure to recycle those cardboard boxes in your residential curbside recycling collection this season. Learn more about reducing waste at environment.mypgc.us.
PGCMLS Curbside Service Temporarily Suspended
 The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System’s (PGCMLS) Curbside Service is temporarily suspended and will resume on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. The Ask a Librarian/Biblio Consulta service will be available Monday-Friday, 1:00-5:00 PM during the holidays (closed December 24-26 and December 31-January 1). Call the Library at 240-455-5451 or email askalibrarian@pgcmls.info for assistance. Book drops are closed until January 12, 2021.
Library Launches Wizards Winter Reading Challenge
 The Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) and Washington Wizards are teaming up to present the Wizards Winter Reading Challenge from January 1 through March 31, 2021. Students and families can read, watch Wizards games, attend virtual library programs, and stay active to participate. Log your activities to be eligible to win prizes such as a Wizards jersey, a Jr. Wizards Camp voucher, and a Wizards bobblehead. Pre-registration is now open, visit pgcmls.info/wizards to participate. Students can access the program using their LINK card number.
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
 By Presidential Proclamation, January is recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, with January 11 being recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, both of which bring attention and awareness to human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Throughout the entire month, the Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force, along with the Human Relations Commission and the Department of Family Services, have partnered to host and participate in a myriad of human trafficking awareness activities to highlight efforts to end human trafficking by identifying and rescuing victims, identifying and prosecuting traffickers, and educating the community.
This partnership is accomplishing these goals through the launch of an awareness campaign by way of radio ads, billboard signs and bus shelters ads. In addition, on January 11 and every Friday during the month of January, the Capital Wheel at the National Harbor will display the color blue in recognition of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The Family Justice Center will also host a series of “Code Blue” human trafficking conversations and multiple community education and awareness events. For more information, please visit familyservices.mypgc.us or civilrights.mypgc.us.
Employ Prince George’s is Accepting Applications for the Access 2 Education Scholarship Fund
 Employ Prince George’s has partnered with 2U, Inc., a Lanham-based education technology company, to launch the Access 2 Education Scholarship program that will build Prince George’s County’s pipeline of technical talent and put high-quality training programs within reach of residents from underrepresented backgrounds. The scholarship fund will allow historically underrepresented candidates in tech the opportunity to enroll in 2U’s career accelerating boot camps in coding, data analytics and cybersecurity through local universities like George Washington University.
Adult learners admitted into the program will receive a 65 percent tuition reduction, bringing the cost of the program down to $3,500. A 24-month, interest-free financing option will also be available. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2020, for part-time courses beginning in January and February 2021. To apply, please click here.
Redevelopment Authority Announces $1 Million in Funding for Its Commercial Property Improvement Program
 The Redevelopment Authority of Prince George's County (RDA) has $1 million in available funding for its Commercial Property Improvement Program (CPIP) and is now accepting applications for funding. Applications must be submitted by 3:00 PM on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. The CPIP was established to assist owners of shopping centers and main street retail space with improving exterior facade, place making, lighting and major building systems improvements that enhance retail competitiveness and viability.
The CPIP Notice of Funding, application and responses to questions can be found on the RDA website. Questions may be sent to Victor E. Sherrod at vsherrod@co.pg.md.us. The RDA will post responses to all submitted questions on January 27, 2021. Please mail hard copy submissions to: Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County, 9200 Basil Court, Suite 504, Largo, MD 20772; Attention: Victor E Sherrod, Project Manager.
Community Stakeholders are Invited to Participate in the Adelphi Road/Purple Line Sector Plan Survey
 The Prince George's County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is conducting community engagement for the Adelphi Road-UMGC/UMD Purple Line, Station Area Sector Plan and seeks input from residents and stakeholders. Once completed, the Sector Plan will guide future development surrounding the Adelphi Rd-University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)/University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) Purple Line Station and the surrounding neighborhoods for the next 25 years. M-NCPPC invites County residents and stakeholders to complete a brief survey by Friday, January 8, 2021, available in both English and Spanish.
To learn more about the project, view a presentation from the virtual kickoff event, or schedule a virtual meeting with a member of the project team, click here.
Prince George’s County Planning Department Hosts Virtual Open House for the West Hyattsville-Queens Chapel Sector Plan
 Residents and stakeholders are invited to parallel, virtual open house meetings, in both English and Spanish, for the West Hyattsville-Queens Chapel Sector Plan on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 7:00 PM.
The West Hyattsville-Queens Chapel Sector Plan will examine the area’s existing conditions, issues, opportunities, and market potential. Preliminary findings highlighting the existing conditions for the plan area will be discussed during the virtual open house. The presentation will focus on baseline conditions in eight elements from the Prince George’s County Plan 2035, and a virtual question and answer session will be held where stakeholders can ask questions of community planners.
To participate, register at Eventbrite. Log-in information will be provided prior to the meeting to all who register. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by 5:00 PM on January 12, 2020. To learn more about the sector plan, visit our website or contact the project team at WHQC@ppd.mncppc.org.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission encourages the participation of persons with disabilities or language interpretation in all its programs and services. For special assistance (i.e., large print materials, assistive listening devices, sign language or language interpretation, etc.) call the Public Affairs Office at 301-952-4584.
The Prince George’s County Cultural Arts Study Would Like to Hear from You!
 The Cultural Arts Study would like to learn more about how you connect with the arts and cultural expressions in Prince George’s County. Take 10 minutes and participate in the online survey. Missed the virtual community meeting? Visit our website to view the presentation, hear ideas shared at the virtual community meeting, and to learn more about the Cultural Arts Study. Connect with the arts because art is what you make it!
County Executive Alsobrooks Joins Panel to Discuss Leadership during COVID-19
 County Executive Angela Alsobrooks recently joined a panel of Black elected officials that included London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco, California; Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C.; Melvin Whitfield Carter, III, Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota; Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia; and Randall Woodfin, Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama to discuss leadership during COVID-19. This panel discussion was hosted by the National Museum for African American History and Culture. Watch the panel discussion moderated by Michel Martin here.
New Holiday Hit ‘Jingle Jangle’ Written and Produced by a Native Prince Georgian
Looking for something great to watch at home with the family this holiday season? Did you know the new Netflix holiday hit ‘Jingle Jangle’ was written and directed by Prince George’s County native David Talbert? We are certainly Prince George’s Proud that a County native and Central High School alum has provided us a new holiday classic!
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