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Greetings District 8 Residents!
Did you know that District 8 has a church that is believed to be the oldest Black congregation in Prince George's County? The church is Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. The original church was constructed in 1888. In 1915, the present sanctuary, a small front gabled building with pointed arch towers and a three-story corner tower, was built.
The original church was destroyed in the 1920's and replaced by a series of church additions. The church's congregation preceded the construction in 1888. Traveling clerics in the late 18th century preached to a group of freed blacks in Oxon Hill who had built their own meeting house. This group is believed to have a connection to the African America Methodist congregation that in 1867 acquired the land on which St. Paul's was built.
For more on this District 8 Black History feature, Click Here for the Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church website. The church is located at 6634 St. Barnabas Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745.
During the pandemic, U.S. road deaths have risen at a alarming record pace. The National Highway Traffic Safeway Administration reported that in the first nine months of 2021, there was a 12% jump in fatal crashes and 31,720 people were killed. Speeding is one of the leading contributors to the "Epidemic on Roads". This week, District 8 was featured on CNN in a lead story on the critical issue of road safety.
We are interested in your thoughts on this matter. Where do you think speed cameras are needed in District 8? Please e-mail your response to rmaford@co.pg.md.us Your input is appreciated.
To view District 8 in the CNN report Click Here
Six Helpful Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco.
- Exercise for about 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help protect your heart. Aim to eat beans, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, lean meats, and fish as part of a healthy diet.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight — especially if you carry excess weight around your middle — increases your risk of heart disease.
- Get enough quality sleep. Sleep deprivation can harm your health. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
- Get regular health screenings. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels.
The Redevelopment Authority of Prince George's County announced $200,000 available in Community Impact Grants for County Community-based Organizations. For more information Click Here
We have received calls from constituents concerning the inconsistent service of "The Bus" in the past few months. Constituents have called 311 to report the lack of service and continue to experience no service.
We contacted the county office and shared these complaints. Here are the responses we received:
- There are operator shortages related to the pandemic, combined with external shortages of CDL drivers, and this has impacted service, across the board.
- Recently, The Department of Public Works and Transportation has assigned road supervisors to track bus performance to try to mitigate service delays.
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Constituents are encouraged to call the contractor’s (RATP-Dev) customer service line, 301.324.2877, which will provide real time accurate information about potential service delays.
- Riders can also obtain current service information on this link https://map.pgcwifi.com/home
Vax Cash 2.0: The Governor recently announced another vaccination lottery promotion, this time involving COVID-19 boosters. Residents who get boosted, or are already boosted, will be entered into a promotional drawing to win cash prizes, with drawings taking place each week over the next 12 weeks. A total of 12 Marylanders will win cash prizes in drawings that will be held each Tuesday from February 15, 2022, through May 3, 2022. For more information Click Here
Adult sized KN95 masks are now available at multiple locations countywide, while supplies last. KN95 masks are free and residents must show proof of County residency. Residents are eligible to receive 2 KN95 masks per person present. For a complete list of locations, Click Here
#PGCCOVID19
Las máscaras KN95 de tamaño adulto ahora están disponibles en varias ubicaciones en todo el condado, hasta agotar existencias. Las máscaras KN95 son gratuitas y los residentes deben mostrar prueba de residencia en el condado. Los residentes son elegibles para recibir 2 máscaras KN95 por persona presente. Para obtener una lista completa de ubicaciones, visite: Click Here
#PGCCOVID19
Comptroller Franchot urges Marylanders to shop local, get tax-free deals and protect the environment with ENERGY STAR appliances
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (February 8, 2022) - Comptroller Peter Franchot urges Marylanders to save the environment and their hard-earned dollars during
During the weekend, the following appliances bearing the ENERGY STAR label, purchased in-store or online, will be exempt from the state’s six percent sales tax: air conditioners, washers and dryers, standard-size refrigerators, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs, dehumidifiers and programmable thermostats. Solar water heaters are tax-exempt year-round.
“This is the best time of year to replace outdated appliances with something that runs better and more efficiently while saving money,” Comptroller Franchot said. “Consumers will not only be spared the sales tax on qualifying items, but many manufacturers, retailers and utility companies offer hundreds of dollars in additional up-front savings. Remember, the savings will continue long after your purchase in the form of lower energy bills.”
The Comptroller encourages Marylanders to make their purchases at locally-owned retailers that count on these sales during an otherwise slow time of year.
To receive the Energy Star label, a product must meet strict standards for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2018, ENERGY STAR-certified products helped consumers save 200 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, avoid $35 billion in energy costs, and achieve 150 million metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. label, a product must meet strict standards for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2018, Energy Star certified products helped consumers save 200 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, avoid $35 billion in energy costs, and achieve 150 million metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions.
The tax-free weekend for energy-efficient appliances began in 2011 and its impact has grown ever since. It's estimated the state loses $800,000 in direct tax revenue on the purchase of ENERGY STAR products, but additional sales on other taxable products generates unanticipated tax dollars while the environmental impact carries massive financial benefits.
For Hot Jobs Listing featuring positions in Hospitality, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare and other fields, Click http://www.employpg.org/Hot-Jobs/
Many County services will be suspended or closed on Monday, February 21, 2022 (except public safety agencies). Trash and recycling will not be affected.
Regular Collection/Service
· Residential Organics and Yard Trim Collections
· Trash Collection in County-Contracted Areas (Tuesday, February 22 through Friday, February 25)
· Curbside Recycling Collection in County-Contracted Areas (Tuesday, February 22 through Friday, February 25)
· Curbside Bulky Trash Collection in County-Contracted Areas (Two (2) Items Only; Tuesday, February 22 through Friday, February 25)
· Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill
· Brown Station Road Public Convenience Drop-off Center
· Missouri Avenue Solid Waste Acceptance and Recycling Drop-off Center
· Prince George’s County Materials Recycling Facility (1000 Ritchie Road)
· Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility
Closed
· Animal Services Facility (3750 Brown Station Road)
· Electronics Recycling Acceptance Site (Located at the Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill; Only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)
· Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance Site (Located at the Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill; Only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)
No Collection/Rescheduled Service
· Scheduled Bulky Trash Collection (White goods, appliances, or scrap tires)
TheBus, a public transit service operated by the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation, will operate a regular COVID-19 schedule on Monday, February 21, 2022, except Route 51 service to the Equestrian Center/Courthouse. Regular COVID-19 operations of Route 51 will resume on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. In addition, the County’s Call-A-Bus service, including the PGC Link and Orange Circulator, will not operate on Monday, February 21, 2022. Regular COVID-19 operations of the Call-A-Bus services will resume on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) will be closed on Monday, February 21, 2022. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Also, PGC311 will be closed on Monday, February 21, 2022, and will return to regular operations on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. However, residents can still submit service/issue requests online. Click Here
Your Voice Matters! Be Safe and Stay Healthy!
District 8 contact information:
Email: Councildistrict8@co.pg.md.us or
Call 301-952-3860
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