Envision Prince George's

County Maintains Key Credit Rating

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:40:44 +0000

[THE GAZETTE] Prince George’s County has again earned the highest possible grade by one of the top three Wall Street ratings firms. In a report issued last Monday, officials for Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the county from AA+ to the AAA bond rating, the highest score possible. The rating, which is the county’s equivalent of a perfect credit score, allows the government to pay lower interest rates on bonds it sells to finance major construction.

In this year’s round of ratings, Moody’s analysts said the county has made significant gains in its $106.5 billion tax base since 2000 and said that, despite a resident-imposed cap on property tax increases, Prince George’s is currently looking more financially stable than its neighbors.

Read more about the rating from this article in The Gazette.

Task Force Organized for County’s Small Horse Farmers

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:15:33 +0000

[THE GAZETTE] With so much attention being paid to the recent closure of Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Fort Washington resident David Turner asked Prince George’s County’s equine industry task force to also keep the needs of small horse farmers in mind when the group brings recommendations to county lawmakers next month.

From improving county horse trails to preserving enclaves of rural land inside the Beltway — such as the Broad Creek Historic District, where Turner lives — Turner said owners of small horse farms also need help to stay in business.

The County Council created the Equine Industry Task Force in April to consider how the county could better support its equine industry, which was worth more than $63 million as of the lone statewide equine census conducted in 2002. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is conducting a second equine census this year and plans to release the new numbers by January.

The task force’s recommendations so far include improving the marketing of horse farms to help keep owners such as Turner profitable, expanding the definition of “agriculture” in the county code to include the equine industry and attracting more events and horse-related activities to the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro.

For more on the Equine Industry Task Force, read this article in The Gazette.

Forest Heights Goes ‘Green’ with Eco-Friendly Building

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:40:55 +0000

[THE GAZETTE] Forest Heights has moved closer to becoming the “greenest” municipality in the state, as the town unveiled renovations to make its municipal building energy-efficient, including a new eco-friendly green roof.

During an Aug. 18 town meeting at the building, officials announced the renovations, which also include energy-efficient windows and doors. The renovations are part of a push by town officials to cut energy costs and reduce water pollution from the building into the nearby Oxon Run Creek.

The town has been mulling going green since 2008 when then-Mayor Larry Stoner and the Town Council identified the roof as in dire need of a replacement. The roof and building had not been upgraded since it was built in the 1950s and council members feared it would cave in. Stoner sparred with council members, who were in favor of a green roof, and Stoner said the upfront costs were too expensive. A traditional roof would have cost the town about $100,000 compared to the $150,000 for the green roof and window replacement.

Read the article in The Gazette to learn more.

A Vision for the County and Maryland

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:15:29 +0000

[THE GAZETTE] It’s Monday morning, parents are walking to the downtown Silver Spring Metro station after dropping off their children at summer camp for the arts and grabbing a quick cup of coffee at Panera Bread. A new bicycle shop is opening its doors for the first time, fulfilling a longtime dream of a new business owner, and the AFI theater is gearing up for another film festival for the summer.

Now instead of downtown Silver Spring, picture Addison Road or New Carrollton. Last month, on a beautiful Friday morning at the Naylor Road Metro Station, Gov. O’Malley, surrounded by community activists and elected officials, outlined a vision for Prince George’s and Maryland that was as promising as it was bold. The Department of Housing and Community Development is moving to Prince George’s.

With 14 Metro stations, Prince George’s has the largest untapped TOD potential in the state. We can bring the same sort of progress found in Silver Spring to Prince George’s County.

Read Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Raymond Skinner’s opinion piece in The Gazette.

“Green Street” Coming to Bladensburg

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:53:51 +0000

[Bicentennial Commission] The Town of Bladensburg is developing a “Green Street” for a 0.6-mile section of the Route 450/Annapolis Road corridor to prepare for the upcoming bicentennial commemoration.

This road overlaps part of the route of British troops during the Battle of Bladensburg. Several sites clustered along the proposed “Green Street” – including the Bostwick House, Magruder House and Market Masters House – were significant locations during the summer of 1814.

The project incorporates permeable surfaces, energy efficient lighting and advanced storm water management due to the proximity of the roadway to the Anacostia Watershed. It will also provide future jobs and support economic development for Bladensburg.

For more information, visit www.bladensburg.com.

NBA Star Kevin Durant Gives Back to Seat Pleasant Activity Center

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:42:07 +0000

[THE WASHINGTON POST] Youngsters in Seat Pleasant now have one of the coolest hangouts in Prince George’s County, courtesy of basketball star Kevin Durant.

While growing up in Seat Pleasant, Durant spent countless hours at the Seat Pleasant Activity Center, honing the skills that have made him one of the NBA’s best players. Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder forward donated $25,000 to the center, which used the funds to renovate a gaming room/lounge. “Every memory I have growing up is in this center,” Durant said.

The room, dubbed Durant’s Den, has a whole new feel, with a vinyl floor made to replicate a basketball court, two 55-inch LCD flat-screen televisions, a projection screen, an Xbox 360, a PlayStation 3, bar stools, couches and lounge chairs.

“It’s great to see someone that was nurtured in our programs, which goes back to our whole philosophy of having youth grow to be really successful people,” said Samuel J. Parker, chairman of the Prince George’s County Planning Board and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commisison, which directs the Center. “Not only is Kevin a good athlete, he’s just a good young man. We’re just so proud to see him come back here, and it feels really good.”

Read more about Kevin Durant’s donation to his hometown and county.

New Upscale Restaurant at National Harbor a Local Destination

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:01:21 +0000

[THE GAZETTE] The aromas will make your mouth water. The views from the patios are breathtaking. The extensive private and open dining space is brow-raising. And judging by the doting customers and empty plates, Bond 45 is a welcome addition to Prince George’s County.

Owned by New York restaurateur Shelly Fireman, the New York-style Italian steak and seafood restaurant opened Jan. 25 on the National Harbor’s waterfront. It’s the second Bond 45; the original is in New York.

Dining here is an experience. The layout of the huge fine-dining establishment is as appealing as its food and service. The 9,000-square-foot facility seats 250 and features four large conservatory rooms, two semi-private saloon rooms with swinging saloon doors and two patios — one of which stretches along one side of the restaurant, which is an entire block. The other patio is smaller with four benches, potted shrubs and statues from Italy.

A standout inside is the open kitchen that customers walk through to get to the main dining rooms. A wide hallway separates the kitchen, which displays fresh cuts of meat and allows diners to see the chefs and cooks prepare meals on each side.

Read more and coment on this addition to the county’s upscale dining.

Rise in Four-Year Students Attending Community College

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:28:35 +0000

[THE WASHINGTON POST] Community colleges in the Washington region are doing brisk business this summer with students from four-year universities. The students are taking advantage of increasingly flexible transfer policies to load up on cheap, convenient credits that will help them graduate more quickly and at a lower expense.

Prince George’s Community College enrolled 136 students from four-year colleges this summer, nearly double last year’s number. “The community college is part of the rhythm of four-year college attendance, more and more,” said Cliff Adelman, a senior associate with the Institute for Higher Education Policy. The growing role of two-year colleges is part of a broader trend. Three-fifths of those who earn bachelor’s degrees attend more than one college, and the percentage is slowly rising, according to federal data.

Read more about the rise in attendance at community colleges from this article in The Washington Post.

New University of Maryland President Committed to Community

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:35:08 +0000

[THE GAZETTE] The University of Maryland, College Park, has selected Wallace D. Loh — the current executive vice president and provost at the University of Iowa — as its new school president, according to a statement released today by UM officials.

Loh, 65, will take over on Nov. 1, replacing current president C.D. “Dan” Mote Jr., who announced in February that he plans to retire Aug. 31. Loh was selected by the University System of Maryland’s 17-member Board of Regents after a board-appointed committee considered about 300 candidates.

He said his main priorities at UM include continuing the school’s academic success, making tuition more affordable for students and reaching out to city and Prince George’s County leaders.”Working very closely with community leaders is a very high priority of mine,” Loh said. “The reality is that all great universities are ultimately local as well. You cannot have a vibrant university without having a vibrant town in which it’s located.”

Learn more about the new president of the UMCP by reading this article from The Gazette.

New Student Member of School Board Ready to Go to Work

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:25:50 +0000

[THE GAZETTE] Jonathan Harris, 17, a rising senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, was elected in June by student delegates from the Prince George’s Regional Association of Student Governments, which represents county high school students.

“All the people making the decisions when it comes to education are adults,” he said. “When children come first, that means that the student voice should be included. We need to be heard and respected.” Among the issues Harris hopes to target are unity among students and transportation. Harris said he is hoping to get reduced Metro fares for students to and from school for evening activities, such as sports and clubs, when school bus transportation is not provided. Harris also hopes to hold more countywide events next year to celebrate achievements.

Learn more about the newest student member of the school board by reading this article from The Gazette.