Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
On Tuesday, August 3, I had the opportunity to reach out to residents across the community with our Police Department for National Night Out. We had more than 30 events across the County, and I was proud to join our Police Chief Malik Aziz, along with officers in our Police Department, to hear and address residents’ concerns while having some fun.
National Night Out seeks to promote positive partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve across the nation. In Prince George’s County, it’s another opportunity to bring public safety and our community together to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to help make our neighborhoods safer.
While we have seen an uptick in crime in the County similar to the increase in crime across the nation, I want to remind residents that we have been taking steps to reverse this national trend in our own backyard. More than anything, Prince Georgians should feel safe in every corner of our community.
As you may know, I have been working closely with Chief Aziz on a number of programs and initiatives to combat the uptick in crime. One highly visible example of this community building has been our community walks. Much like National Night Out, our community walks help our County Police Department and County agencies connect with residents, while supporting our efforts to bolster community policing. The community walks also help us address other quality of life issues within the community besides crime, such as litter reduction and illegal dumping.
We also launched the Alsobrooks Summer Passport Program. So far, over 250 young people have participated in sports programming, entrepreneurial classes, and recreational opportunities across the County. In addition, over 600 young people have participated in different events and activities through the Prince George’s Police Athletic League, which helps increase trust and engagement between our young people and our officers.
We are doing the work to provide for safer communities, and we are not laying down to watch crime increase. Our crime reduction efforts and our efforts in so many other areas are, in fact, community efforts. Together, we will keep Prince George’s County safe.
At the end of July, we also celebrated the launch of the Capital Area Food Bank’s Curbside Groceries program in the County, which provides retail groceries and fresh food to the community through a mobile grocery truck. I want to thank my County Council colleagues, the Capital Area Food Bank, and other community partners for working with us on this critical effort.
The launch of the Curbside Groceries Program will help remove transportation barriers, create access to healthy food, and enable healthier diets for residents across the County. The Curbside Groceries truck will operate in neighborhoods and areas with limited nutritious grocery options and offer residents a full market basket of fresh and affordable produce, meat, dairy, fish, baking, and healthy shelf stable items. Residents who live in food deserts now won’t have to choose between unhealthy eating and driving longer distances from their homes in search of healthy food.
The Capital Area Food Bank is working to finalize a schedule for the mobile grocery truck, and we will provide that schedule as soon as it is available. We will also continue working to make sure all of our residents have permanent access to fresh produce and healthy food options.
Finally, last week we welcomed U.S. Housing & Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge to Prince George’s County. Secretary Fudge and members of our federal delegation toured the Residences at Glenarden Hills, an affordable apartment community for seniors in the County. We are excited to continue working with the Biden-Harris Administration on their Build Back Better agenda, which includes increasing the number of affordable housing units in communities across the nation.
Despite the challenges our County has faced over the past year, we are continuing to move forward, together.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
Back-to-School Immunizations Now Available
 Back-to-school immunizations are available from the County Health Department at the Cheverly Health Center and at the County’s four school-based wellness centers. The clinics are open to all County residents and will also offer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible students (ages 12 and older) and their eligible family members. For clinic schedules and to make an appointment, please visit health.mypgc.us/immunizations.
Maryland law requires students stay updated on their childhood immunizations schedule to attend school. Maryland’s back-to-school immunization requirements are available from the Maryland Department of Health’s Center for Immunization.
New Mask Mandate
Due to a continued rise in COVID-19 metrics, the County has reinstituted the indoor public mask mandate. All residents and visitors over the age of 5 are required to wear masks in all indoor public venues and businesses in the County, even if they are fully vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible to protect yourself and those around you. Find the nearest vaccine site at mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine.
Stand Up & Deliver
 We are continuing to work hard to address food insecurity in our County, and we want to provide information on upcoming distribution locations for our Stand Up & Deliver program.
Saturday, August 14 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Kingdom Fellowship @ High Point High School – 3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD
- Ebenezer Church of God – 7550 Buchanan Street, Landover Hills, MD
Tuesday, August 10 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Templeton Elementary School – 6001 Carters Lane, Riverdale, MD
- Ridgecrest Elementary School – 6120 Riggs Road, Chillum, MD
Wednesday, August 11 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Maple Springs Baptist Church – 4313 Belt Road, Capitol Heights, MD
Friday, August 13 at 12:30 PM (Groceries)
- Turner Memorial AME Church – 7201 16th Place, Chillum/Hyattsville, MD
Saturday, August 14 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Kingdom Fellowship at High Point High School – 3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD
- Ebenezer Church of God – 7550 Buchanan Street, Landover Hills, MD
Additional food distribution locations can be found on our website by clicking here. This map is updated regularly. If you are able to make a contribution to our Stand Up & Deliver program, please click here to donate.
Patuxent Riverfront Advocate Urges Everyone to Protect Our Waterways
Prince George’s resident and Patuxent river advocate Fred Tutman tells us the importance of riverkeepers and provides a timely message on how we can protect our waterways. Click here to watch the WUSA9 story about how everyone can become a clean water watchdog.
Good Container Habits
 County trash containers can stink up over time if you don’t perform routine cleaning. Consider these tips to help prevent your trash and recycling containers from producing foul smells.
The Capital Market at Creative Suitland
African American farmers and businesses rally around sustainability, food and activism at the Capital Market.
The Capital Market is an outdoor farmers’ market that provides a wide range of local goods and produce grown in Prince George’s County and the DC Metro Region, with a focus to reverse the negative impact that racial inequality has on our food system by advocating for those most affected by systemic oppressions. This is a space where everyone can not only shop, but also connect with their food and neighbors in a meaningful way. Alongside programs from Creative Suitland like Poetry & Produce, The Capital Market serves as a cultural and artistic hub that showcases open mics with notable spoken word artists, creative placemaking initiatives, interactive visual art stations and more. The Capital Market takes place every Sunday, now through October 2021, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Creative Suitland Arts Center, 4719 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746. For more information, click here.
Home Maintenance: Find and Fix Small Problems Before They Become Big Problems
 The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) has some advice for homeowners interested in protecting their investment: make sure to perform routine home inspections and maintenance to ensure longevity and prevent expensive repairs down the road. Gone unchecked, leaky roofs, broken sprinkler heads, clogged pipes and other problems can lead to property damage. Homeowners should establish a schedule to check for problems and address any issues immediately.
Interior Checklist:
- Keep air (dust) filters clean to protect your HVAC system and have it checked periodically.
- Check floors around sinks, toilets, doors and windows and examine for firmness.
- Check sprinkler heads for dampness and corrosion. Replace any with problems and flush the sprinkler system occasionally.
- Check for cracks in walls and foundations and uneven door jambs and have them evaluated to determine if they are caused by structural problems.
- Seal (caulk) around windows, doors, tubs, sinks, kitchen counters, etc. to prevent leaks and water damage.
Exterior Checklist:
- Replace rotted wood around windows and doors inside and outside of your house.
- Have leaky roofs repaired or replaced.
- Keep branches, vines and roots away from structures to prevent damage to the brick or siding. Replace loose bricks or siding when needed.
- Refrain from placing large trees near homes to prevent root interference with foundations or pipes.
- Keep drains and areas around basement doors clear of debris to prevent flooding and make sure your sump pump is working.
Next Public Climate Action Plan Meeting
August 19
 Save the date for the next virtual community meeting on Thursday, August 19, 2021. The Department of the Environment is providing members of our community with an opportunity to give input and influence the focus of the County's Climate Action Plan. Click here to learn more and to register for the next public virtual meeting on August 19.
Together we can implement community-wide actions to adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enriching our local economy. Learn more at mypgc.us/climateactionplan.
Labor Day Waste Collection Schedule
County Government offices, with the exception of public safety agencies, will be closed on Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day.
There will be NO curbside collection of yard trim and organics on Monday, September 6. Regular collections resume Monday, September 13. All County-provided trash and recycling collections remain on a regular schedule, with collections September 7 through September 10.
For more information on waste collection services, visit environment.mypgc.us.
County Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center Open by Appointment Only
 The Prince George's Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center is continuing to provide essential services to County residents while keeping the health of staff and the community in mind. The Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center is open for services by appointment only.
To schedule a 30-minute appointment on a first-come, first-served basis, call 301-780-7201. To learn more, visit www.princegeorgespets4us.com.
Whisker Wednesdays
The County’s Animal Services Division has launched a Whisker Wednesdays cat adoption event. Every Wednesday in August and September, adopted cats and kittens are only $10! Adoption fees are for each cat/kitten and include microchip, spay/neuter, and current age-appropriate vaccinations.
To view available feline friends and learn more, visit www.princegeorgespets4us.com.
Office of Emergency Management Webinar Series August 17
 The Office of Homeland Security/Office of Emergency Management is pleased to present “Creating Resilient Communities: A Webinar Series!” This webinar series will provide residents with information and resources on how best to prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate disasters within your home and community. Each webinar is free and open to the community. Individuals and families, volunteers, community and faith-based organizations, local businesses, and government and private sector entities are encouraged to attend.
The next webinar is on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 7:00 PM, and will provide residents with the tools and resources to properly prepare for a disaster. Register to attend today by clicking here.
Health Department Virtual Career Day August 19
 The Health Department is looking for the next generation of public health professionals to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of every Prince Georgian. The Department will host a virtual career event on Thursday, August 19, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Positions available at the Department include those in clinical, financial, administrative and community outreach programs. To register, scan the QR code in the above image or click this link.
Fitness Instructors Job Fair
 The M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation is a great place to share your skills and interests. The Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting a job fair for talented fitness instructors. Come prepared to meet facility managers, interview for an immediate job opportunity and complete instructor, trainer demo and skills assessments! The job fair will be held from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 17 and Thursday, August 19 at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785. Learn more at pgparks.com/fitnessjobfair.
Fall Guide: Get Outside. It’s Only Natural.
 Before the weather nudges us indoors, M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation wants you to be sure to carve out time to get outside and play. Enjoy our countywide, local and regional parks. Participate in sports activities such as golf, soccer, tennis and more. Walk or bike along our trails. Fish, canoe, or kayak along the Anacostia River and Patuxent River. Enjoy wellness activities with the “Fitness in the Parks” and “Yoga in the Parks” programs. To learn more, visit pgparks.com.
Movie Night for First Responders
 To show appreciation for first responders, M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation is partnering with Amerigroup to offer a free, park-in movie night on Friday, August 20, at Prince George’s Stadium, home of the Bowie Baysox. Join the Department of Parks and Recreation for a showing of Greenland. Parking lot opens at 7:30 PM. Showtime is 8:30 PM. Tickets are available at pgparks.com/baysoxmovietickets.
M-NCPPC Planning Department Announces Historic Property Grant Program Workshops
The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) will host virtual workshops on the Historic Property Grants program. The County’s Historic Property Grant Program is designed to preserve, protect and enhance historic properties, encourage others to preserve, protect and enhance historic properties, and to promote interest in and the study of historic properties. Grants will be awarded for the rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, or acquisition of historic property. The grant program is administered by the Prince George's County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
MONDAY, AUGUST 30 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
M-NCPPC Historic Preservation Section staff will guide workshop attendees through the application process and instructions for the Historic Property Grant Program, explain the requirements for the preservation easement, and give examples of successful projects.
All workshops are free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To register, click here to access the webform. Instructions on how to attend the virtual workshop will be sent to you via email after registration. Registration should be completed at least one business day before the start time of the workshop of your choice to ensure that you will have access.
For more information about the Historic Property Grant Program, click here.
Countywide Sectional Map Amendment Joint Public Hearing September 14 and 15
 The Prince George’s County Council, sitting as the District Council, and the Prince George's County Planning Board will conduct a Virtual Joint Public Hearing to take testimony on the Countywide Sectional Map Amendment (CMA) on Monday, September 13, 2021 and Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 5:00 PM. The CMA is the second phase of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite project that will apply new zones to every property in the County.
Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the virtual public hearing. Click here to pre-register to speak, submit written testimony, and download the legal ad outlining affidavit requirements. The public may view the Joint Virtual Public Hearing via live stream at the link provided at https://pgccouncil.us/LIVE.
For more details on the CMA and Zoning Rewrite project, click here. If you have questions regarding the CMA, please email the project team at ZoningPGC@ppd.mncppc.org.
Prince George’s County Teen
Crowned Rodeo Queen
Photo by Donovan Conaway
Prince George’s native Morissa Hall is the 2021 Maryland High School Rodeo Queen. Morissa also holds titles as the 2021 Maryland High School Rodeo All Around Champion, Pole Bending Champion, Rookie of the Year and Reserve Barrel Racing Champion. We are Prince George’s Proud of everything Morissa has accomplished and how she represents our County so well. Click here to watch Morissa’s story and how she hopes to inspire others.
Prince Georgians Help Lead Team USA Men’s Basketball to 4th Olympic Title
Photo by Wally Skalij
We are so proud of our two Prince Georgians, Kevin Durant and Jerami Grant who helped lead Team USA men’s basketball to its fourth consecutive Olympic gold title. Durant led the team in scoring throughout this Olympics, scoring more points than any player in U.S. men’s Olympic history. Click here to read more about Team USA’s journey to Olympic gold.
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