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#ENewsYouCanUse
Happy Holidays from the District 6 Team
Greetings District 6 Residents,
On behalf of myself and the District 6 Team, I bring you season's greetings and warm thoughts as we approach the Christmas holiday weekend. Hopefully, you are enjoying some down time and plenty of virtual connectivity with family and friends.
We have officially entered the Winter season and COVID-19 restrictions are preventing us from our standing holiday traditions. I reminisce on sharing a portion of my holidays with my friends and extended family. Social media memories remind me of the good times shared with my District 6 residents at our annual "'Tis The Season" celebration, filled with great music, laughter and love.
While I know this year has presented us with unprecedented challenges, please know that this period in time will soon pass. We will soon have those in person memories to build upon. For that to happen, we continue to stay vigilant in combating this virus. This newsletter provides you summaries and weblinks to all updates surrounding the County's efforts to address COVID-19, along with and developing measures regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Kindly review the information and pass along to other D6ers and County residents. When armed with factual information, we can all make informed decisions about how to move forward in the fight to combat this virus. Please pay special attention to important updates relevant to holiday services and initiatives through our respective County agencies.
As we gear up to close out the year known as 2020, let us continue to reflect upon those lessons learned through the year, the blessings bestowed upon us and the blessings to come. We also celebrate and honor those who have transitioned on and the legacies left behind.
May you and yours celebrate this holiday love in your heart, prosperous vision in your mind, and all of the joys the festive season brings. Sending thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas.
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Committed to Service, Committed to YOU!
 Derrick Leon Davis
Council Member, District 6
Prince George's County Council
REPLAY:
Celebrating With Gratitude | FAME'S 2020 Virtual Holiday Concert
Celebrate the joy and good cheer of the holiday season with some holiday entertainment. Click on the graphic to the left to review the listing of performers and artists. To watch the encore performance, please visit the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EAKec7I_ZU&feature=youtu.be.
Founded in 2004, the Foundation for the Advancement of Music Education's (FAME) mission is to give every young musician the best opportunity to succeed in life by providing music training and academic support. FAME is a harmony of music and education, preparing youth for college and career through a four-pronged approach:
Music Instruction – Middle and High school students receive college-level music instruction from college faculty and professional musicians to build the next generation of musicians and increase their confidence and enthusiasm for learning.
Educational Support – Students receive weekly instruction in STEM subjects, while also improving language skills. FAME’s music and educational components meet national standards and help students to excel in school and achieve advanced academic placement.
College Preparation – Students prepare for college education through academic tutoring, study skills development, SAT preparation, identifying college majors and requirements, and learning about the admissions and financial aid processes.
Work Readiness – Students develop technical skills for music industry-related occupations as well as soft skills such as organization, time management, goal setting, and networking necessary for employment in any industry.
FAME challenges students to set high expectations for their academic and life achievements by expanding students experiences to demonstrate that they are not defined by their current conditions or surroundings.
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REMINDER: COVID-19 Holiday Season Safety Tips
We continue to see the rates of COVID-19 cases increase throughout the County and statewide. As anticipated, the holiday season will look vastly different than what we are familiar with. The County Health Department has important guidance for the upcoming holiday season and encourages everyone to plan for the Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve holidays. It is strongly encouraged that all residents make plans to protect yourself, your family and your community from COVID-19 in preparation for the upcoming holiday celebrations, which it is my hope that the information provided will give you guidance in making this year's festivities enjoyable yet while remaining safe.
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If you must travel this holiday season, consider taking your own vehicle rather than public transportation, if you can. On a plane, train, or bus? Remember to use hand sanitizer and wipe down any surface you come in contact with.
The Health Department advises against holiday gatherings with those outside of your immediate household. If you do gather, please plan ahead to keep everyone safe and comfortable, keep the number of attendees small and be sure to wear a mask.
Any type of celebration must include everyone wearing masks, distancing at least six feet from each other, regular hand sanitizing and disinfection of high-tough surfaces.
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Whether you gather for Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Year gathering, please consider implementing these guidelines are designed to keep yourself and your loved ones as safe as possible, as they are designed to protect yourself, your family and the community from COVID-19.
To learn more, visit the County's official COVID-19 web portal at health.mypgc.us/coronavirus.
Please click on all of the infographics to the left to view larger versions and access additional details.
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REMINDER: Prince George's County Implements Updated Phase 2 Guidelines
As a result of the increasing rate of COVID-19 rates throughout the County, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that effective, Wednesday, on December 16, 2020 at 5:00pm, the County would implement updated phase 2 guidelines for restaurants and businesses in response to recent increases in key COVID-19 metrics. If you leave your home, please remember to be safe by wearing a face covering, practicing physical distancing, and washing your hands frequently.
Executive Order 27-2020 establishes additional restrictions for restaurants and businesses including:
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* - All Retail Establishments (including large retail, grocery stores and shopping malls) may open, operating with 1 person/household per 200 square feet, or a maximum capacity of 25%, whichever is lower. Online shopping and payment via digital platforms should be encouraged as much as possible.
* - Indoor dining at restaurants and other similar establishments that sell food or beverages for consumption in is prohibited. Dining at banquets, receptions and meeting rooms in hotels, conference centers and similar establishments is also prohibited.
* - Restaurants may open to the general public, provided that food or beverages are promptly taken from the premises, i.e., on a carry-out or drive-through basis; or delivered to customers off the premises.
* - Outdoor dining at Restaurants will be permitted provided that an establishment has current approval for outdoor dining or receives a Restaurant Temporary Outdoor Seating Area authorization. Additionally, restaurants should ensure that tables are seated at least six feet away from each other, except for households seated together; the prohibition of groups larger than six persons to be seated together, except members of the same household and a capacity limit of 50% for outdoor dining space as approved by the County.
* - Large gatherings indoors are limited to one person/family unit per 200 square feet or a maximum of 10 persons, whichever is lower.
* - Outdoor gatherings are limited to one person/family unit per 200 square feet or a maximum of 25 persons, whichever is lower, unless otherwise specified in the Health Order.
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* - Face coverings are now required outdoors in any public location in Prince George’s County. Residents and visitors must continue to wear face coverings inside all businesses and on public transportation, and businesses must continue to enforce social distancing.
Data that County health officials have obtained from contact tracing show that some of the highest risk activities for the spread of COVID-19 transmission include family gatherings, indoor dining, gyms and bowling alleys. Additionally, the County has opted to impose a restriction on the movement, by way of a curfew, on juveniles at National Harbor on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as of the date of this order to reduce or prevent the spread of COVID-19. No juvenile or person seventeen (17) years of age or younger may be or remain in or upon a public street, avenue, boulevard, alley, walkway, right-of-way, or publicly accessible parking garage, place or street at the National Harbor during the period beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and ending 6:00 am on Saturday and at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and ending 6:00 am on Sunday and at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday and ending 6:00 am on Monday, effective Friday, November 20, at 5:00pm. More information can be found by reviewing the official health order and reviewing the Directive and Order Imposing the Juvenile Order at National Harbor and accompanying infographic.
More information on the measures being implemented can be found the in the press release provided by the office of Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Residents are also encouraged to view last week's press conference on YouTube: http://ow.ly/DZrQ30rjYLt.
Residents can receive the latest updates on the County's response to the COVID-19 crisis by visiting the Prince George's COVID-19 Dashboard, designed to providing the latest information on COVID-19 data trends to the public. The Prince George's Health Department is working closely with state and federal partners and is committed to keeping all residents, employees, and visitors to Prince George’s County safe and healthy. Additional guidance can be found on the County's official Coronavirus web portal including fact sheets and various infographics to assist in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
Effective hygiene practices and social distancing is imperative to prevent the spread of the virus. As always, remember to:
- Wear face coverings to assist in preventing the spread of the virus, as it is now a requirement in outdoor and public spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Prince George’s County Health Department Coronavirus hotline at (301) 883-6627 to receive updated information about the coronavirus disease.
Council Corner
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REGISTER TODAY:
Virtual Community Workshop
Largo Town Center Wayfinding,
Branding and Placemaking Strategy (1/12/2021)
Residents,
Join the Prince George's County Planning Department at a virtual community meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, to discuss elements of a new strategy to help implement the vision of Plan 2035 for #DowntownLargo by creating a walkable, identifiable, pleasant environment with vibrant public spaces as part of the move to a transit-oriented center.
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Please note that that is an online virtual event.
- Details to access the virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams will be emailed to those who register here on Eventbrite prior to the event: https://lwbps.eventbrite.com. Be sure to check your inbox or spam folder for meeting details. Microsoft Teams Meeting Participation Instructions can be found by visiting the following weblink: https://www.mncppc.org/.../Teams-Meeting-Sign-In-Process.
The Largo Wayfinding, Branding, and Placemaking Strategy will unveil options for the brand for Largo Town Center, create an implementable wayfinding strategy that markets the brand, and identify placemaking opportunities for people to gather and engage in public spaces. Other key goals are to:
- Create an implementable strategy supported by the community, local institutions, and development partners;
- Identify the roles and responsibilities of public and private stakeholders.
Should you have any questions on this project, please contact the project manager, Jonathan Greene, at jonathan.greene@ppd.mncppc.org. For more details on the project visit: https://bit.ly/LWBPS.
For more information on the Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, visit: http://www.pgplanning.org.
Constituent/Agency Resources
Holiday Waste Management Schedule
Residents, please be advised that County Government offices, with the exception of
public safety agencies, will be closed on Friday, December 25th, 2020, and Friday,
January 1st, 2021 in observance of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, respectively.
There will be no collection changes for yard trim, on Mondays, and those receiving County
trash or recycling collections on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Due to the holiday,
residents receiving trash and recycling collection on Friday will move to Saturday, both weeks.
For more information on waste collection services, visit environment.mypgc.us.
Curbside Bulky Trash Collection
Accepting March Appointments
Remember Residents! Items that are too big to fit in your trash bin won’t be hauled away in your regular curbside trash collection. Schedule your curbside bulky trash appointment today by calling 311 or visiting: bulkytrash.princegeorgescountymd.gov. To view a larger version of this flier, click the graphic to the left. You may also access the latest edition of the DoE (Department of Environment) Sprout in this embedded link.
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WATCH: Winter Community Partners' Meeting
Residents,
Did you miss the Virtual Winter Community Partners' Meeting that took place on December 3, 2020?
The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE), Department of the Environment (DoE) and Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) hosted its Winter Community Partners' Meeting on December 3, 2020. The quarterly meeting is designed to provide citizens with news about current projects, upcoming programs and concludes with a question & answer segment with residents.
To view the Winter Community Partners' online presentation, please visit the embedded weblink. You can review the accompanying .PDF presentation by visiting the following link: . Visit DoE's website to view news, updates to programs, Q & A and more at environment.mypgc.us.
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DPW&T's The Dispatch Newsletter - December, 2020
Be sure to check out the Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T)
December edition of "The Dispatch", DPW&T's monthly newsletter for those tips and other agency information: http://ow.ly/TtVw30rpWzE. In this edition, residents can find information regarding
the agency's mobilization of county officials for the first snowstorm of the Winter, additional
information on this month's Virtual Winter Community Partners' Meeting, the opening of the
County's first bike/bus lane and holiday transit schedules.
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DPIE's Under Construction Newsletter - December, 2020
Looking for helpful information on DPIE’s Administrative Hearing Unit (AHU)? Trash and debris littering? Vehicle-related violations? Virtual inspections?
The Department of Permitting, Inspection & Enforcement (DPIE) has you covered! Check out the Year of Review edition of "Under Construction", DPIE's monthly newsletter for those tips and other agency information: http://ow.ly/a12Q30rjYMX.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Prince George’s County is receiving its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is currently in Phase 1A of its vaccination distribution plan. Click on the graphic to the left to view additional details.
Residents are encouraged to visit health.mypgc.us/COVIDvaccine to access frequently asked questions and all information on the County's vaccination phased distribution.
Other COVID-19 Resources
MD COVID Alert
The Maryland Department of Health has launched MD COVID Alert, a program that allows Maryland residents to receive COVID-19 exposure notifications on their smartphones. When you see “MD COVID” on your caller ID (or the phone number 240-466-4488), that means one of our public health professionals is reaching out with important information about COVID-19 and your community. This is your opportunity to protect your family, friends and neighbors.
Click here to learn more about this program, how it protects your privacy, and how to set it up on your smartphone or click on the flier above.
County Businesses Encouraged to Apply for Employ Prince George's COVID-19 Workforce Development Recovery Rapid Re-Employment Grant Program
Due to COVID-19, thousands of Prince George's County businesses have closed and over 100,000 residents have become unemployed. Employ Prince George's (EPG) has established COVID-19 Workforce Development Recovery Program Rapid Re-Employment Grants to help businesses reopen and build their capacity.
Businesses that hire County residents are able to receive grants through the new Rapid Re-Employment Grant program. Businesses are eligible for up to $50,000 in grants to cover salaries for new employees. Learn more and apply at: http://www.employpg.org/covid-19-workforce-development-recovery-program/. Click on the graphic to the left to view additional details and to download the flier.
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REMINDER:
Face Covering Required in Prince George's County
COVID is not over. Get vaccinated, wear a mask, stay six feet apart from others, and wash your hands frequently. Save a life. It is that simple.
We must utilize all the tools we have to protect our families, friends and neighbors from COVID-19.
Please click on the above flier to view additional details.
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Retesting Policy
Retests are available at our Health Department’s COVID-19 testing sites.
Currently, to get more than
one test at a County-operated site, residents must fall into
one of the categories in the attached infographic which details the following:
• have a known/suspected exposure to a positive case
• have symptoms
• are part of a County
contact tracing case investigation and were
directed to be tested.
For more information about testing, residents can also call our COVID-19 hotline at 301-883-6627 for questions about testing or other COVID-19 concerns. Stay updated at: health.mypgc.us/coronavirus.
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Business Compliance – Resident Reporting
Residents that see a COVID-19 safety protocol violation in a County business can report that violation via phone or email.
The County’s COVID-19 Ambassador Compliance Team will then perform a site visit to follow-up on that concern. Click on the flier above for additional information.
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Employ Prince George's COVID-19 Hourly Employee Relief Fund
According to the American Payroll Association, nearly 3 in 4 American workers would have difficulty paying their bills. Employ Prince George's wants to help those hourly workers meet immediate needs, such as utilities, gas, and food through its Prince George's County COVID-19 HOURLY Employee Relief Fund.
The COVID-19 Hourly Employee Relief Fund is now distributing $300 visa cash cards to County residents whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19. Residents who previously received a cash card but remain unemployed can now apply again. Apply online today at: https://employpgedge.com/.
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Contact Us!
Derrick Leon Davis
Prince George's County Council
Council District 6
Council District 6 Email: councildistrict6@co.pg.md.us
District 6 Office: (301) 952-3426
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