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Home-brewing hops up in popularity around Prince George’s arts district
DCMILITARY.COM
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Sixth generation descendants of Darcey family visit Belle Chance
Sports and Learning Complex joins World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD.
2012 Consumer Water Quality reports available
NAF WASHINGTON CHILDREN DEFY ODDS
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 | VOL. 2 NO. 23
Commissary hours cut due to sequestration BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
July 8 through Sept. 30, the Joint Base Andrews Commissary will be closed each Monday due to furloughs under sequestration. Rick Brink, Defense Commissary Agency Public Affairs, Fort Lee, Va., said that shoppers at large bases like Joint Base Andrews, which have a large commissary and many customers, will not see much of an impact due to the sequestration cuts. “The furlough means the store will close. Andrews is a seven-day operation. The commissary will be closed just one day a week, which is not that big a deal as far as perishables go, and keeping the electricity running,” said Brink. “It certainly will inconvenience customers. People need to shop around it, and plan ahead.” Stores like the one at Andrews which are usually open every day are closing on Mondays during the furlough period. The day was chosen in part because it is
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ AIRMAN 1ST CLASS ERIN O’SHEA
Airman 1st Class Alexandra Aloba, 779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician, fills up a vial to monitor the amount of chlorine in a water sample Jan. 23 at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Bioenvironmental engineers are required to visit specific locations for testing once a month. BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS TONY PAULINE
779TH AEROSPACE MEDICINE SQUADRON BIOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, the base water provider, and Terrapin Utility Service, Inc., the base water infrastructure manager, have released their 2012 annual water consumer confidence reports. The reports detail water quality parameters and data collected verifying water quality. Under the Consumer Confidence Reporting Rule of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, community water systems are required to report water quality information annually to the consuming public. The WSSC and Terrapin reports present information on the water source, its constituents and any health risks associated with any contaminants. The WSSC report is available through their website at http://www.wsscwater.com/ home/jsp/content/wat-qual-report.faces. To contact WSSC, call 301-206-8100. The Terrapin report is available in pamphlet format and can be obtained at their Andrews AFB office at R69 Pennsylvania Avenue. To contact Terrapin, call 301-7354101. Questions about these reports can also be directed to Bioenvironmental Engineering at 240-857-3380. To ensure safe drinking water, the Environmental Protection Agency prescribes regulations to limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or by visiting their website at http://water.epa.gov/drink/hotline/.
see COMMISSARY, page 7 PHOTO/BOBBY JONES
Staff Sgt. William Stone, left, 11th Security Forces Group military working dog handler, monitors the aggression of Lana, a military working dog, against Senior Airman William Miller, 11 SFG MWD handler during a demonstration June 18. See more photos on page 4.
Prince George’s police, volunteers team up to provide free child ID kits BY JAMES P. MCLAUGHLIN
SPECIAL TO THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
Prince George’s County police and community volunteers took a proactive stand Saturday to protect children. The Concerned Citizens for Child Identification Program provided free identification kits to parents at Salon Plaza in the 10400 block of Campus Way South in Largo. Volunteer Dale Good of Laurel said 12 kits were provided to families. The kit includes DNA samples, fingerprints and photographs paired with an educational packet parents can use in case anything happens to their children, said Cpl. Jim Woody, the county officer who helped develop the identification program. Woody said that more than 2,500 child identification kits have been distributed since the program’s creation in 2010. Woody said the program was start-
PHOTO/JAMES P. MCLAUGHLIN
James and Tracey Follin of Upper Marlboro watch as Dale Good, a volunteer from Laurel, puts a lock of their daughter Amanda’s hair into a plastic bag Saturday during the child identification program in Largo.
ed when he received a call from a woman in the community inquiring about whether there was a county-run identification program for children. A
see POLICE, page 5
Caribbean Returning Nationals helps the diaspora stay connected BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
Thirty years after moving to the States to attend City University of New York and establish a career as a designer and event planner, Arlene Graham went on one of her regular trips back to Trinidad and Tobago, this time to bury her father, and realized that the community of her childhood had needs that were not being met. She returned to her home in Lanham, Md. wanting to make a difference, but without any real idea how. “I had an argument with God. I wanted to give back, and feel more fulfilled. I went to bed, got up in the wee hours and I saw the words, ‘Returning Nationals’ over my bed. I put together the mission statement for our organization that morning,” said Graham, now president of the fledgling nonprofit Caribbean Returning Nationals Foundation, Inc. After barely a year, CRN has already expanded its focus beyond helping struggling communities in the Caribbean to help Caribbean nationals living in the worldwide diaspora to network, support each other, invest in businesses in the Caribbean and, if they choose to do so, to return to the Caribbean to live. Launching the organization
see CARIBBEAN, page 5
YES Program expands to Fitness Center and Lodging BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
PHOTO/CHRIS BASHAM
Brandon Shields participated in the YES program throughout high school, to earn tuition assistance and learn valuable skills while assisting staff at the Joint Base Andrews Youth Center. Shields will use his YES tuition check at Virginia Commonwealth University this fall.
High school-aged dependents of active duty Air Force members have an expanded opportunity to bank tuition grant funding while learning valuable job skills and helping paid adult staff around Joint Base Andrews, now that the Youth Employment Skills Program has begun to expand. “No YES Program volunteers are working in the Fitness Center yet. Daran Steele (assistant Lodging manager) and I interviewed some of the teens...and will be making a decision at the end of the week of who might be working at Lodging and who might be working at Fitness Center, based on suitability,” said Fitness and Sports Director Suba Satyanarayan in an email. Until this summer, YES participants were eligible only to work as volunteers in the Youth Center. Due to an expansion of the program, volunteers are able to be placed in other organizations on base, including the Fitness Center and Lodging. Brandon Shields, a 2013 graduate of Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School who will be attending Virginia Commonwealth Uni-
versity in the fall to study graphic design, volunteered at the Youth Center helping staff monitor children, set up events and do activities with children and staff. “I maxed out my (YES Program) hours, and then continued volunteering for the Youth Center with graphic design,” said Shields. “Two years ago I submitted a proposal for the Mac Lounge, to provide four iMacs to make PowerPoints, iMovies and iPhoto collages. I was able to start making posters and teach other people how to do that, too. Hopefully they can expand the program.” YES is a program jointly sponsored by the Air Force Aid Society and Air Force Family Member Programs Flight at selected Air Force bases, and is only available to high school-aged dependents of active duty Air Force members. The students receive $4 per hour in tuition grant funds for every hour they volunteer under supervision at an on-base function. Over the four years of high school YES participants can log up to 250 volunteer hours, for a potential maximum of $1,000 to be used toward vocational, technical or academic tuition, books, fees or other educational expenses
after high school graduation. JBA also receives a $2 credit for every YES volunteer hour (up to $10,000 per year), which goes to support base youth programs. For Shields, the value of the program went far beyond the tuition grant funding he earned as a volunteer. “I felt like the Youth Center was a good place for me to start—somewhere where I feel comfortable, and can expand as far as my character. I was very shy; they helped me to open up and focus on leadership skills and communication skills that I’ll need in the real world.” While other youth volunteer programs sometimes can feel unsatisfying for participants, Shields saw his participation in YES as a good counterpoint to the academic work he did at school. “At YES they give you some complex directions but it achieves so much more than ‘clean this.’ They want you to think on your own, but also do a little bit more and be creative and try to get things done,” Shields said.
see YES PROGRAM, page 7
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Andrews Gazette
HOT TICKETS
Commentary
Does that sky look green to you?
Around Town June 21
June Chamber Festival Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Road, N.W., Washington, D.C. 7:30 p.m. The American Chamber Players perform works from the 18th through 20th centuries. For information visit www.kreegermuseum.org.
Through June 30
2013 Source Festival: On the Cusp: Six 10-minute plays Source Theatre, 1835 14th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Showtimes vary See six short plays on a variety of themes. For information visit www.culturecapital.org.
June 21
Great American Backyard Campout Irvine Nature Center, 8400 Greenspring Avenue, Stevenson, Md. 6:30 p.m. Pitch a tent and spend the night stargazing over campfire snacks. For information visit www.explorenature.org.
Through June 23
AFI Silverdocs Film Festival 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md. See independent films you won’t find in the big theaters. For information visit http://afi.com/afidocs/.
COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS
Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military. The appearance of advertising in these publications, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.
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Friday, June 21, 2013
BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
Last week I was caught in two separate tornadoes, days apart. A Maryland girl born and raised, that was, to say the least, not a sentence I have ever expected to write. But there it is. The first caught me absolutely flat-footed. I was in D.C. to pick my son up from the bus station, after a trip he’d taken to visit a friend on the Eastern Shore. Due to a couple of crossed communications, I got to Union Station more than three hours before he did. But it was a sunny evening, D.C. is full of fun things to do, and I’d surely find a place to park nearby, or, um...near something, or, well, I’d surely find a place to park at some point. When I finally did exit my car, I was surrounded by drab office buildings and churches. In the city of free museums, I found myself walking the street randomly, avoiding eye contact with the scruffier men on park benches. And then it started to rain. Hard. I ducked under an awning, until I realized the rain was not about to stop. My cell phone was blowing up with weather alerts about a tor-
nado in Prince George’s County, but it wasn’t particularly windy in D.C., so I walked back toward my parked car, stopped at a deli for a sandwich and some paper towels and spent the next couple of hours sitting in the car with a magazine. A few days later, sitting at my laptop, I started receiving more of those weather alert texts. A tornado was heading for my neighborhood, within the next 10-15 minutes. I looked out the window and saw darkening skies, wind and rain. My son and I went out to the balcony and watched a large, straight-sided cloud coming right at us. The sky was the most beautiful shade of teal I could imagine. Wait a minute. “Daniel, does that sky look green to you?” My son and I hustled back and forth between balcony and living room, hauling in all the furniture and most of the potted plants. We got them all inside just as the landscapers on the ground level were dashing across the parking lot to stow their lawn mowers and the sky opened up. The rain was tremendous, and the wind whipped the trees. We watched, from the middle of the living room, because, well—what else was there to do? The power was out, the Inter-
net was out, we had no particular place to go and all the projectiles from our balcony were safe inside. After a while, the storm passed. Our neighborhood was not hit particularly hard, mainly because all the larger trees were removed a while back to build our apartment complex, and the power lines are all buried underground. My son and I decided it made more sense to go out to dinner than to eat uncooked food in the dark in our living room, so we drove around a bit, noticing quite a few downed trees in the area. We were glad our home was not hit all that hard, but I was especially grateful for that brief period we had to batten down the hatches before the storm hit. I’m glad I signed up for weather alerts. Mine come from a couple of different county governments—the price I pay for living in a different county from the one in which I work. But those of you who have access to a DoD computer can also sign on for AtHoc warnings for severe weather and other dangers by clicking on the purple globe at the bottom of your computer screen. When heavy storms and other challenges come our way, a few minutes’ warning can be a real life-saver.
etery Administration scanned about 60 ledgers representing 36 cemeteries - about 113,097 individual records. NCA officials transferred the original ledgers to the National Archives and Records Administration. They join at least 156 military cemetery ledgers received earlier from the Army. The burial records include name, grade, company/regiment, date of death, age at death, date of burial and grave number. Many Civil War soldiers were buried where they fell in battle or in temporary cemeteries. Some of that information, along with religious affiliation, can be found in the ledgers. The files can be accessed by VA personnel and em-
ployees of two other federal agencies that maintain national cemeteries — Interior and Defense. Ledger data is also available at all NARA facilities and public libraries that subscribe to Ancestry.com. NCA cemetery staff will use the database to answer requests from the public. Public access of the database on personal devices is available through Ancestry.com’s regular subscription service. VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico, and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites. More than 3.7 million Americans — from the Revolutionary War to operations
Retiree Corner COURTESY OF THE RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE
Burial information goes digital
The Department of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with the Internet-based genealogy research firm Ancestry.com, has brought burial records from historic national cemetery ledgers into the digital age. From the 1860s until the mid-20th century, Army personnel tracked national cemetery burials in hand-written burial ledgers. Because of concern for the fragile documents and a desire to expand public access to the ledger contents, VA’s National Cem-
see RETIREE, page 9
Friday, June 21, 2013
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Andrews Gazette
With school board slots Home-brewing hops up in popularity around Prince filled, Prince George’s focuses on hiring a CEO George’s arts district BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
With the final three appointees to the Prince George’s County school board - a retired university administrator, an education consultant and a parent-education advocate - sworn in Monday, one more position remains to be filled: school system CEO. Earlier this month, a state-appointed panel held a public meeting and a telephone town hall to take input on what the public and elected officials are looking for in a school system leader. Panel chairwoman Charlene Dukes said there is no timetable for the search process, but her panel’s goal is to present three finalists to County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) before the start of the school year. Baker said he hopes to have the new CEO in position by the start of school, Aug. 19. The hiring spree is part of new legislation passed by the General Assembly in April that seeks to give the county executive more input in education matters. The legislation allows the County Council to appoint one member to the board and allows the county executive to appoint three to join the nine-member elected board. The county executive also gets to choose the board’s chair and vice chair, and select a schools CEO to handle daily school system operations. On Monday, Curtis Valentine, 34, of Fort Washington was appointed to the board by the County Council, along with Baker appointees Dan Kaufman, 45, of Bowie and Beverly Anderson, 69, of Fort Washington. “They are indeed impressive individuals. Make no mistake about it, they will be joining nine equally impressive individuals I have had the pleasure to work with and get to know,” said Segun Eubanks, who was appointed by Baker to the board June 1 and named chairman. Eubanks, 51, of Bowie is an education specialist with the National Education Association and the former brother-in-law of Baker. The County Council’s appointee was required by law to be a parent with children in the school system. Valentine has two children attending John Hanson Montessori School in Oxon Hill this fall. Valentine works as an education advocate, and in the fall will be working with the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan think-tank based in Washington, D.C., to look at education reform efforts worldwide, he said.
PHOTO/JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU
Dan Kaufman, a newly appointed member of the Prince George’s County school board, speaks Monday at his swearing-in ceremony at the County Administrative Building in Upper Marlboro.
Valentine said education reform must focus on parents of students in the school system and of children who have left the school system. “It’s important that we continue to create a system that brings trust back to them, that they will become a part of this process,” Valentine said. Kaufman, who has a 7-year-old daughter attending Kenilworth Elementary in Bowie and a 3-week-old daughter, is executive vice president of Widmeyer Communications, a public relations firm based in Washington, D.C., and New York that works with education, health care and other nonprofit agencies. Kaufman heads the company’s work in elementary and secondary school education, according to his biography on the Widmeyer website. “I’m really looking forward to collaborating with the rest of the board, both existing members and my new colleagues, to talk about how we can move the school system forward,” Kaufman said. Anderson, a former mathematics professor, provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of the District of Columbia, retired in 2009. She brings a wealth of academic and administrative experience to the board, Baker said. “I’ve been a little disappointed in how the schools have been performing, so I wanted to have an opportunity to do all I can to make governance as strong as it can be, so we can have an excellent school system,” she said.
Bill Updike of Mount Rainier displays how he caps a bottle of beer at his home. Updike is part of a local association of home brewers who meet every few months to discuss best brewing practices and different brews they are working on and to critique each other’s beer. BY TIMOTHY SANDOVAL
THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
In a section of the Gateway Arts and Entertainment District, flush with painters, sculptors and performers trying to master their art, some are honing another craft - brewing the perfect beer at home. The trend has become so popular, an informal community group of homebrewers formed about a year ago in and around Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Brentwood and North Brentwood - the municipalities that comprise the arts district. The district offers tax incentives to those who sell art or operate art-related businesses. Members of the home-brewing group include residents outside the district, as well. Adam Ortiz, who lives in nearby Edmonston and joined the group, said he
has gotten close to making the perfect India pale ale with his friends. “It was amazing,” said Ortiz, acting director for Prince George’s County’s Department of Environmental Resources. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the skill set to ever be able to reproduce it again, which is why we are going to keep on trying. We had the Holy Grail, and then we drank it.” Maryland state law permits homebrewing beer without a permit or license as long as it is not for sale, according to a database of home-brewing laws maintained by the American Homebrewers Association. Ortiz said he never knew brewing beer at home was such a large trend where he lives until he joined the group. The former Edmonston mayor said about a dozen people attended the first meet-
see HOPS, page 5
This story originally appeared in the June 18 edition of the Prince George’s Gazette.
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, June 21, 2013
NAF WASHINGTON CHILDREN DEFY ODDS The Navy’s Drug Education for Youth Program builds self-esteem in children ages 9 to 12 years old, with tools they need to resist drugs, gangs and alcohol. Naval Air Facility Washington children participated in DEFY summer camp this week on Joint Base Andrews.
PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES
DEFY participants play a game of concentration.
Navy Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class David Frech, a DEFY mentor, plays chess with Zaiden McBride, 9, center, as Christon Wall, 9, left, and Jordan Lewis, 12, observe.
DEFY participants raise their hands in response to questions about a video on ways to say no to drugs.
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Navy Aviation Supply 2nd Class Mary Lee, DEFY mentor, talks to DEFY participants about practicing good manners.
Navy Aviation Administrationman 2nd Class Amanda Moreno, DEFY operations coordinator, gives Junior DEFY mentors a brief.
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sixth generation descendants of Darcey family visit Belle Chance
The Darcey family cemetery on the grounds of Belle Chance dates back to the nineteenth century. It is one of several private Prince George’s County cemeteries. Belle Chance is also the home of the assistant vice chief of staff and director, Air Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. Tombstones mark the gravesite of the remains of Edward Darcey and his wife, Hannah.
Sharon Gorenc , wife of Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, assistant vice chief of staff and director, Air Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, welcomes Darcey family descendants, retired Maj. Gen. Gary Curtin, Ms. Lee Green, center, Shelly Muffley and Mrs. Karen Curtin to Belle Chance during a visit to the Darcey family gravesite.
dence. Gorenc provided details of the property and a brief tour of the home. The current home wasn’t part of the original property, but shares in the history of the property and family lineage. This was the first time that the Darcey
family walked the same paths their ancestors did. “Belle Chance is a beautiful home, and we are pleased that the Air Force has preserved it,” Gary Curtin said. Belle Chance predates the Civil War and will forever continue
to earn its place in history and its connection to Prince George’s County’s history and Air Force leaders who have called Belle Chance home. (Information from Belle Chance A Commanders Haven was used for this article)
donations of paper and plastic bags are vital to the program. Good said each kit includes an identification, description and education section. “Just to have an up-to-date picture - to have those fingerprints - is always so important to have in the event that your child goes missing,” said Maj. Irene Huskens, commander of the District 2 police station. “It’s huge, especially for young children who look different on a month-tomonth basis.” Woody said the descriptive portion of the packet is used to iden-
tify scars, birthmarks and any other unique aspect of the child, and suggested parents regularly update the sections as their child grows. The final section of the kit, the educational portion, is a packet that educates parents on how to keep their child safe, Woody said. “My favorite part is the code word,” he said. “It’s a code word that can be given to a trusted adult so your child knows they can be trusted.” James and Tracey Follin of Upper Marlboro brought their daughter, Amanda, 2, to the shop-
ping center to get an identification kit. “This is a way to ensure our daughter is safe,” Tracey Follin said. “It’s one step we don’t have to worry about should anything happen.” Woody said the next child identification programs will be held from noon to 2 p.m. June 29 at Central Parke at Victoria Falls retirement community, 13609 Autumn End Terrace in Laurel.
ing of the group he attended last year. The last meeting of the group, held in the summer of 2012, had about 25 people, said Christian Melendez, a Silver Spring resident who joined the group and works as the Edmonston urban farm coordinator for Eco City Farms, an urban farm that sells fresh produce to local residents. “There are more and more people, and for the first time, people are recognizing that it is a community,” Ortiz said. “I am learning of more people, even people I know, that do this as a hobby.” Ortiz said those in his group discuss best brewing practices and different brews they are working on, and gently critique each other’s beer. Ortiz, who describes his skills at “below intermediate,” said those in the group have helped him learn better practices and new recipes. Melendez, a home-brewer for five years, said it was great to meet others in the group and was surprised to find out how many people were interested in the craft. “There is a lot of camaraderie,” he said. Ortiz said he and fellow group member Bill Updike, a former Mount Rainier city councilman, brewed a strong batch of pale ale that contained a lot of hops - a flower used to give beer its bitter taste. Making beer with Updike was fun, because the Mount Rainier resident is a much more experienced brewer, Ortiz said. Updike, who has been brewing at home for about 15 years, has started to grow hops in his backyard to use with malt, sugar, grain and other ingredients to brew pale ales, lagers, stouts and India pale ales, among others. The ingredients are added to water, boiled and cooled, then fermented with yeast and set out for a few weeks before they are ready to drink, he said. Updike brews his own beer because he enjoys sharing it with friends at his home, he said. Updike said he also feels it is more ecologically sound, citing reports of large brewing companies that have been accused of contaminating nearby bodies of water. “It’s interesting to hear how people approach their own versions of home-brewing,” Updike said. “For a lot of us, it’s about the local economy and learning to do things that folks did 100 years ago. Everyone knew how to make their food, make their own beer and be more self-reliant.”
This story originally appeared in the June 19 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.
This story originally appeared in the June 19 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.
do a lot to create what Graham calls “a supportive and appreciative atmosphere” for returning nationals. “Getting information for business or to return to live in the Caribbean is not always streamlined, regarding legal affairs,” Graham said. “We recommend that each government agency has one person, or even half a person, assigned to direct and give information to returning nationals, and be the coordinator on the ground.” The nine-member CRN board hopes to create local business incubators for returning nationals across the Caribbean. “Support is very important. We want to encourage them to stay,” Graham said. “I’d like to see each Caribbean government have a CRN office. We’re getting there.” This August, CRN is hosting a Business Networking Forum in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the financial hub of the Caribbean. “Banking on Returning Nationals: A Solid Investment” aims to help CRNs learn about investment opportunities throughout the region and provide support and networking opportunities for people interested in a particular country, or in business sectors such as hospitality, medicine or investment. “We are saying to the govern-
ments that we are here, we are a valuable resource, we are untapped, and we can definitely make a difference,” said Graham. Familiarization trips for Caribbean returning nationals and international investors are planned for Belize and the Bahamas in the coming months, as is a migration study of Caribbean nationals living in New York, London and Toronto. CRN may coordinate a networking event in Maryland this coming November, as well. “Maryland has a lot of resources, and too many times people here have all their events in D.C.,” said Graham. Not everyone is in a position to make a large, financial investment in a business abroad, but the varied communities of the Caribbean have other needs, as well. CRN has established a “Students to Students” program to help connect Caribbean residents and Caribbean nationals living abroad with each other, relying on the modern ‘pen pal’ system of the Internet. “They use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Skype. We feel the connection is very important,” said Graham. “Students have a lot to share, from both directions. We believe a lot of partnership opportunities will arise from it.”
Another initiative, “Children for Children,” provides school supplies, books and other necessities for struggling families and for children in two orphanages in Trinidad and Tobago. Plans are in the works to expand the program to help children in Haiti as well. “We don’t want to just give, or put a Band-Aid on the problem. We’re trying to assist them on the path and encourage them to do better,” Graham said. Patrice Grosvenor of Bowie, Md. sees her efforts to help families in the Caribbean progress as a mother of four children, helping other mothers. She sends items to Trinidad each month, to cousins and others she knows, and is planning a “backpack drive” later this summer to provide school supplies for Caribbean students. “We can easily get a pack of paper for under a dollar at the dollar store, pencils, glue. I keep extras on hand,” said Grosvenor. “I’m glad that Arlene has dedicated a portion of the foundation to helping students and families with children trying to go to and stay in school. Children need their education, and with the proper supplies they can get it.” For information about the upcoming backpack drive, email info@caribbeanreturningnationals.org.
BY ALETHA FROST
11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Nestled inside the gates of Joint Base Andrews, Md. lies Belle Chance, the residence of a top Air Force general officer and the site of the Darcey family cemetery, one of several private cemeteries in Prince George’s County. Five sixth-generation descendants of the Darcey family visited the home of Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, the assistant vice chief of staff and director of the air staff at Air Force headquarters, and their ancestral cemetery June 7 to share family history and view the grounds of their family’s past. Retired Maj. Gen. Gary Curtin, Karen Curtin, Sandra Curtin, Lee Green, and Shelly Muffley endured the rain to see the family’s burial plot, which stands less than 300 feet southeast of the current mansion at Belle Chance. “Belle Chance has not been in the Darcey family for more than 150 years, but the Air Force’s preservation of two family graves at the site makes it an important benchmark in our family history,” said Gary Curtin. Almost 171 years ago, the last Darcey family member was buried at Belle Chance. The remains of two Darcey family members are interred on the grounds, marked by a white picket fence more than three feet high and enclosing an area roughly 15 feet square. The headstone on Edward Darcey’s gravesite is engraved with the date June 30, 1842. The other gravesite holds the remains of Edward Darcey’s wife, Hannah, who died Jan. 12, 1807. “It’s interesting to think that Belle Chance property was sold by Edward Darcey’s grandson, William Fry, in 1848, and it’s likely that no Darcey family members had visited the gravesite in well over a century, until I visited in the 1980s,” said Sandra Curtin, family genealogist. “We really appreciate the work done to restore Hannah Darcey’s headstone.” During the visit, Sharon Gorenc invited the family inside to the assistant vice chief of staff resi-
POLICE, from page 1 group of 10 community members stepped up and assembled the information necessary for the folders, Woody said. Good, one of the volunteers who helped develop the program, said he volunteers his time because he wants to support the police. “I think they need more support to keep our community safe,” he said, adding that donations like the 2,500 folders from an Office Depot in Laurel and smaller
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTOS/ALETHA FROST
Darcey family descendants Sandra Curtin, Shelly Muffley and Lee Green view the gravesites of Edward and Hannah Darcey June 7.
CARIBBEAN, from page 1 has been such a large project for Graham so far, in between consulting work as a designer and event planner, that she admits that for a while she had pretty much forgotten to think of anything else. Now that the board is established and plans are coming together, she finally has the time and energy to think about opening herself up to a relationship, again, should the right man come along. Graham is convinced that the timing for investment in the Caribbean by those who once lived there is perfect, right now. “Vice President Biden’s recent trip to the Caribbean? We take that personally,” said Graham. “The Universe, God—things are just lining up.” Those “things” include efforts to coordinate between Caribbean governments to facilitate housing for returning nationals, devote a portion of new industrial park space to businesses owned by Caribbean nationals living abroad, and assign manpower to assist returning nationals as they transition back to live or invest in their country of origin. “We tell them to think of the returning nationals, and include us in their plans,” Graham said.
HOPS, from page 3
PHOTO/CHRIS BASHAM
Caribbean Returning Nationals, Inc. President Arlene Graham launched a nonprofit from her Lanham living room. The organization connects individuals within the Caribbean diaspora with opportunities, networks and people in need within the Caribbean nations.
“The governments are beginning to see our value.” A “brain drain” in the 1980s has stalled development in parts of the Caribbean, but many of that generation of the diaspora have lived abroad long enough to start imagining returning home in some fashion. Still, it’s not always as easy as just getting on a plane. Local governments can
6
Andrews Gazette
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sports and Learning Complex joins World’s Largest Swimming Lesson BY BOBBY JONES
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Children in Prince George’s County learned a little bit about swimming, while taking part in lessons that might just earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Starting at 11 a.m. June 18, approximately 31 children were given 30 minutes of official swimming and water safety instruction by a dozen life guards and water safety instructors at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in an attempt to help create the world’s Largest Simultaneous Swim Lesson. The center, along with three other aquatic centers in Prince George’s County, joined tens of thousands of children and adults at aquatics facilities worldwide for the fourth consecutive year as kids learned how to swim, flutter kick and float in a global attempt to set a new record and help combat childhood drowning. From the moment the official clock started Alicia Allen, Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex assistant aquatics manager, spurred on the life guards, water safety instructors and children to keep moving and do their best. Upon completion of the event the children received free give away bags for participating in the annual competition. It will be several weeks before the official results of the world-wide event will be calculated. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission provided official host location facilities for the WLSL 2013 event at Ellen Linson Swimming Pool in College Park, Md.; Fairland Sports and Aquatics Complex in Laurel, Md.; Rollingcrest-Chillum Splash Pool in Chillum, Md. and the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Md. Team WLSL holds the current Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson, which stands at 24,873 participants representing 15 different countries across five conti-
Christian Hollowell, far right, water safety instructor, watches participants have fun splashing water before the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson competition.
PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES
Christian Hollowell, water safety instructor, teaches a child how to float on her back.
A Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex life guard shows a group of children how to perform a freestyle stroke.
nents. The 2012 WLSL event generated more than 29 million media impressions, spreading the event’s important message to hundreds of thousands of families. The lessons offered ranged from basic water safety and rescue efforts to simple swim strokes for beginners. Tragically, drowning remains the leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for children ages one to five, and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged 1 to 4, A youth uses a float tube to pull Breyona yet few children receive formal swimming Trent, staff life guard, to safety during a simulated drowning scenario. or water safety training.
Ezhaun Coleman, Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex water safety instructor, teaches two youngsters how to hold their breath and blow bubbles in the pool.
Alicia Hinds Ward brings ANG voice to MSOY role BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY BP MEDIA RELATIONS, LLC
Alicia Hinds Ward was named 2013 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year May 9 at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. Hinds Ward is the spouse of Tech. Sgt. Edwinston Ward, D.C. Air National Guard 113th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
Alicia Hinds Ward was named 2013 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year May 9, at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. Six weeks later, she’s just starting to catch her breath and work on how to make the most of the coming year. “I didn’t see it coming. The first couple of weeks, I was just in a state of shock,” said Hinds Ward. “Now, I can focus on the job I was elected to do. It’s an amazing honor, and there is work to be done. It is a privilege, and at the end of the year my goal is to have done that job.” While continuing to support efforts she
Who inspired you to be who you are today?
Army Sgt. Cornelio Elias, U.S. Army Priority Air Transport Command unit supply specialist
2nd Lt. Tiara Puro, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Joint Base AnacostiaBolling Military Personnel Facility Commander
Staff Sgt. Albert Joyner , 89th Communications Squadron power production craftsman
“It goes back to Army heritage. My drill sergeant, Army Sgt. Stockton, set one of the best examples of leadership and professionalism. And I often think about his example he displayed during development as a junior officer.”
“It’s definitely been my mother. She was a single mother who raised three kids. At one time she worked three different jobs to support us. She taught me the value of responsibility at an early age.”
“My father is still inspiring me to be like him. I’ve never seen him lose his composure. He’s always cool, calm and collected.”
Staff Sgt. Delroy Wilson, 89th Maintenance Group knowledge operations manager
Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. In that role, Hinds Ward will focus most of her energies over the next year on attracting legislative attention to the needs of military spouses, particularly National Guard spouses. “Historically, we’re the most overlooked branch of the military,” said Hinds Ward. “Our original purpose was to protect the homefront, but over the last 12 years we’ve also been deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at tempos never before reached.” For Hinds Ward, that focus on legisla-
see SPOUSE, page 9
Keep your vehicle safe
JBA Buzz “My father was who inspired me: The way he carried himself and the wisdom he gave me every day.”
helped spearhead here on Joint Base Andrews, such as JBA Spouse Forums and the JBA Business and Community Support series of vendor fairs, working with the Exceptional Family Member Program, SHARE discounted food distribution and other volunteer initiatives and performing her duties in the Military and Family Support Center helping families assimilate into life at Joint Base Andrews, Hinds Ward has also been working to strengthen and guide her platform as the new DoD-wide Military Spouse of the Year. Hinds Ward’s husband, Tech. Sgt. Edwinston Ward, serves in the 113th Wing of the Air National Guard. Hinds Ward is the first National Guard spouse to be named
BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
School’s out, the weather is finally cooperating more than usual and it’s officially clear: summer is here. Unfortunately, summer is not only about relaxation in the sun or splashing in the pool. Summer is also the high season for vehicle theft, and for personal property theft from inside vehicles. In 2012 there were 17 reported incidents of vehicle theft or personal property theft from a vehicle on base. So far in 2013, there have been nine reported incidents. Most car thefts and property thefts happen in the summer for a combination of reasons: young people are out of school and unsupervised, while drivers are out on the streets more often. The secondheaviest season of vehicle theft and personal property theft is winter, mainly because people tend to leave their car keys in the ignition while the car warms up. It’s a comfortable practice on a cold morning, but illegal in the state of Maryland, and often proves too tempting for car thieves. Those car thieves also target certain types of cars. It’s not the sexy, new sports cars or expensive models that necessarily attract thieves. Older-model cars that lack alarm systems are much more appealing targets, because they are easy. Cars that have valuables in plain sight, such as loose change, cell phones or GPS displays, are also tempting for thieves looking for a quick profit. Joint Base Andrews today is not 1980s New York—drivers don’t need to display “No Radio” placards inside their vehicles to deter thieves. Still, there are steps
drivers can take to make their own vehicles less appealing to a passing criminal: Before exiting your vehicle, place all valuable items out of sight in the center console or glove box. Roll up all the windows. Lock your car and activate the alarm. Park your car in a well-lit area. If you have LoJack, The Club or any other form of extra protection, use it. Much of the time, the way to avoid being a crime victim is just to make your car the least appealing target among all the other vehicles in the parking lot. Not all vehicle-related crimes happen after the driver exits the vehicle. Carjackings, while not as frequent in our area as they once were, still can happen. Drivers can protect themselves and their vehicles by having an exit plan ready as they drive. Stopping at a stop light? Make sure you leave space between yourself and the car in front of you, to make room for you to escape someone who seems to want to enter your car. Drive with your doors locked. Most importantly, park in well-lit areas and be aware of your surroundings when you exit and enter your vehicle. If your car is stolen, immediately notify law enforcement. If it happens off base, call 911. When you call, have available your car’s make; model; color; VIN number; license plate tag number; and any other details, markings or decals that might help officers identify your vehicle if they find it. If you saw the carjacking or theft when it happened, tell the officer what direction the car was traveling when the thief drove off in it. Keep your car registration and an up-
see VEHICLE, page 7
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Andrews Gazette
Fitness tip
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YES PROGRAM, from page 1 The opportunity to hone his leadership skills has already paid off. Shields was named Maryland’s 2013 Military Youth of the Year. 11th Force Support Squadron Teen Director and YES program coordinator Anne Tierney Young administers the program, recruiting teens to volunteer and units across the base that might benefit from a youthful helping hand. Due to program regulations, YES participants are not assigned to chapel, retail, thrift store, child
COMMISSARY, from page 1 usually the day with the smallest number of shoppers. Smaller stores that traditionally are closed on Mondays will have their furlough day on Tuesdays, creating a larger impact on shoppers. The greatest impact will be felt by commissary employees, whose hours will be cut during the furlough, like many in the Department of Defense. “For those employees, it’s a 20 percent
VEHICLE, from page 6 dated copy of proof of insurance in your car, but not the car’s title or bill of sale. After you’ve called to report that your car was broken into, while you wait for law enforcement to arrive, leave the car as it is. Don’t clean it up, don’t move it,
Take your vitamins! BY SABINE LOPEZ
FITNESS AND OPERATIONS SPECIALIST WEST FITNESS CENTER
If you’re of a certain age, you remember your parents telling you to take your vitamins. You probably also remember wanting them to buy the fruit-flavored, chewable vitamins in the colorful box. If you are one of the lucky kids who actually got to eat those vitamins, you probably remember they were chalky, tarry, and generally not as “pleasant” as the television made them appear to be. Multivitamins have come a long way - “vitamins” were first described accurately around 100 years ago, and vitamin supplements came along in the 1920s and 1930s. Now that you’re grown up and able to make your own decisions, it’s time to consider whether or not a multivitamin supplement is the right choice for you. The first question, of course, is whether or not you NEED to take a vitamin supplement. A recent Harvard study concluded that if you have a consistently good diet already, you won’t see a substantial improvement in your health if you take a multivitamin. On the other hand, if your diet is deficient in any areas, a multivitamin will probably provide health benefits to you in the areas of disease prevention, weight loss, and even brain health. That’s not exactly an earth-shattering revelation, but it does pose the question back to you: Is your diet consistently good? You don’t have to worry if you eat poorly once in a while. Instead, consider how you are doing from day to day or week to week. The next question, especially if you have looked at the vitamin and supple-
care, waitressing or Red Cross positions on base. “On average we end up with eight to nine youth involved each year,” said Young. “We help them think through their plans, saying, ‘Yes, your ideas are great, but how are we actually going to put that into play?’ They learn to reach out to different organizations on base or in town to get support or use their equipment.” To volunteer with YES, or to learn about how to integrate YES participants into your office, contact Anne Tierney Young at anne.tierney@afncr.af.mil. pay cut, so it really impacts them,” Brink said. Although the JBA Commissary will be closed on 11 consecutive Mondays between July 8 and the end of September, “the main thing DeCA is doing is working with suppliers, vendors and employees to continue to deliver the benefit so it is still something people want to come in and take advantage of,” Brink said. For more information please visit www. commissaries.com or call the Joint Base Andrews Commissary at 240-857-6512.
You Can Count on YOUR
We’ll have you riding in style!
don’t touch or move anything at the crime scene. The last thing you want to do at this point is to destroy evidence before the police even arrive on the scene. Just get yourself to a safe place and wait. Joint Base Andrews Security Forces Crime Prevention/Community Policing NCO Staff Sgt. Juan Garcia contributed to this article.
WES GREENWAY’S WALDORF VOLKSWAGEN & SUBARU
ments section of your store lately, is which vitamins to take. The research is pretty clear on this one: there is conclusive evidence to show that most multivitamins (from reputable companies) perform just about the same. Further, there is NO conclusive evidence to show that massive doses of any particular vitamin are better for you. So, to summarize this research, pick a brand you know, make sure it provides a large range of vitamins and minerals, and don’t worry about trying to take massive doses of any particular vitamin. For the last 70 years or so, most vitamin supplements have been created from “synthetic” vitamin substances. Recently in the vitamin supplements industry, there has been a focus on “natural” or “whole foods” vitamins. There is quite a bit of evidence to show that your body doesn’t know the difference between synthetic vitamin A and natural vitamin A (for example). However, your body needs to have combinations of certain vitamins in order to absorb the vitamins properly, and those combinations (surprise) are most naturally found in regular foods. In the end, the choice is up to you. If you believe you have an excellent diet already, you may not see great benefits from a vitamin supplement. As you decide, though, here’s a last comment from the recent Harvard study: the strong benefits of taking a multivitamin, compared to the large costs and problems if you do not have a consistently good diet, suggest that a person is playing it safe by taking a multivitamin regularly, even if they feel like they have a pretty good diet. So, take your vitamins! Your health is worth it.
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Andrews Gazette
Prince George’s stormwater costs may trickle down to property owners BY ALAN J. MCCOMBS
THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
Prince George’s County officials seek to raise about $12 million through a new fee for property owners in response to new state and federal rules requiring jurisdictions to reduce stormwater runoff. The proposed fee comes as officials consider creating about $1.2 billion in infrastructure projects, such as rain gardens and water filtration systems, that trap and filter rain water where it lands as opposed to traditional systems that use pipes to divert water to local waterways. The county is aiming to finish the
build-out process by 2025 and will take out bonds to pay for the construction and use the tax revenue to pay off the debt and maintain the new system, county officials said. “This is not just about planting bulbs and trees. It’s pretty intensive surgery into our infrastructure,” said Adam Ortiz, acting director for the county’s Department of Environmental Resources, which developed the proposed program. The county’s efforts come in response to federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations that requires states in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to protect local waterways and reduce stormwater
runoff by 2025. Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants and debris into the local watershed, upsetting the ecological balance and health of area waterways, county officials said. Only about eight percent of the waterways in the county are in good condition while the rest are in poor shape or need to improve, according to county planning documents. The cost to residents and business owners will vary based on property size and the estimated amount of runoff for a location. Given that the county is about 500 square miles, county officials used computer mod-
see STORMWATER, page 10
Friday, June 21, 2013
Help keep children safe this summer BY HEALTH NET FEDERAL SERVICES
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - More than 3,500 people die from unintentional drowning each year; one in every five of those are children 14 and younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whether you’re at the pool, ocean, river, lake, or pond, play it safe this summer by using common sense and paying attention. It could save your life or the life of someone you love. Health Net Federal Services, the managed care support contractor for the TRICARE North Region, offers the following water safety tips:
At the pool
* Enroll your child in swimming classes taught by a certified instructor. * Stay within an arm’s reach of children and watch them at all times. * Take your children with you if you need to leave the pool area or make sure another adult is watching them. * Don’t eat food or chew gum while swimming. * Enclose pools with a 5-foot high fence to prevent access when unattended. Make sure gates self-close and selflatch, and install latches high enough to be out of reach of your child. * Remove any toys or inflatable items in the pool when not in use so they don’t tempt a child. * Don’t run around the pool; always walk to avoid slipping. * Avoid drinking alcohol before swimming or when you’re watching children. * Keep radios, televisions and electrical appliances away from the pool, and don’t operate them when you’re wet. * Make sure non-swimmers wear life jackets and only use pool toys in the shallow end of the pool.
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* Stay within designated swimming areas, preferably where there’s a lifeguard, and don’t go too far from shore. * Pay attention to all posted warning signs. * Be aware of currents and tides. If you get caught in a current, swim parallel to the shore until you feel the current relax, then start swimming towards shore. * Do not jump off of bridges, cliffs or rocks. The water may be shallow or you may hurt yourself when you hit the water. * Find a spot that has good visibility and is safe for swimming. Murky water, hidden underwater objects, unexpected drop-offs, and aquatic plant life are all hazards. * Never swim alone; children should always have a buddy. * When boating or kayaking, always wear a life jacket. Please keep these safety tips in mind as you enjoy your summer. For more information and wellness tips, go to www.hnfs.com > Beneficiary > Wellness.
9
Andrews Gazette
Friday, June 21, 2013
DEFAC CELEBRATES ARMY’S 238TH BIRTHDAY
SPOUSE, from page 6 tive efforts is made slightly easier to handle because of her location at Joint Base Andrews. “As MSOY I could travel, but we’re at the epicenter of government, here. It is convenient for me to be stationed in the National Capital Region,” said Hinds Ward. As a longtime Key Spouse, Hinds Ward is convinced that “there’s no mission readiness without family readiness. As a representative for 1.1 million military spouses, I plan to do my level best. When people see what you’re trying to do, they help.” Hinds Ward is used to rallying others around her to achieve a goal, so it was only natural for her to immediately reach back and form “Team 2013,” enlisting this year’s two runners-up for the award to help work on her platform.
“We plan to move our platform together. We’re a band of sisters,” Hinds Ward said of Alina Wilson and Christine Vance. The three hope to increase support for military spouses seeking employment, publicize resources for military families that might not be well-known and improve access to helpful programs for families with an Exceptional Family Member. Hinds Ward also intends to help spouse groups at other installations recreate the type of successful, familysupporting programs she has helped to launch and run at Joint Base Andrews. Even with a team to work together, Hinds Ward has a full calendar. “This past month, trying to get Alicia to sit down for a minute is like nailing Jell-O to a tree,” said 779th Medical Operations Squadron Key Spouse Kathaleen Berheit. “She’ll do great things, though.”
For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,
Soldiers from U.S. Army Priority Air Transportation Command were honored with a cake from the Freedom Hall Dining Facility to celebrate the Army’s 238th birthday June 14. All of the patrons in the dining facility sang “Happy Birthday.”
CAPTION THIS
Send your favorite captions for this week’s silly photo to cbasham@dcmilitary.com. The funniest one will be used in a future edition of The Andrews Gazette.
RETIREE, from page 2 in Iraq and Afghanistan — are buried in VA cemeteries on approximately 20,000 acres of land.
Keep DFAS current
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service sends unpaid retired pay to designated beneficiaries following notification of the death of a retiree. Only a retiree can designate an Arrears of Pay Beneficiary. Over a lifetime, retirees can change who will be their designated beneficiary; to do this, retirees must update their DFAS records. The advent of myPay has simplified this process. It can be accomplished in a matter of minutes online. Pull up the name of the current APB. If a change is needed, type in the new name. For those without a myPay account, completion of a DD Form 2894 is still acceptable, but you must allow time for mailing and processing before the change takes effect.
DoD offers lodging
Navy Lodges offer free Wi-Fi to guests. Guests also enjoy oversized guest rooms that feature a kitchenette complete with microwave and utensils, cable TV with premium channels and DVD player. Most Navy Lodges also accept cats and dogs up to 50 pounds. To make a reservation at a Navy Lodge, call 800-628-9466. For other military lodging options, call 888-235-6343 (Air Force); 800-462-7961 (Army) or visit the DoD Lodging website at www.dodlodging.com. The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call us at 301-9812726. Our e-mail address is rao@andrews.af.mil. Call the office before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO has a website at www.andrews.af.mil, Under “Helpful Links” click on “Retirees Activity Office” for information on retiree subjects, including past copies of “Retiree Corner.”
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10
Andrews Gazette
Friday, June 21, 2013
JBA HOSTS ANNUAL PIANO RECITAL Parents and music enthusiasts gathered at the Andrews Youth Center gymnasium June 8 for the annual piano recital.
Owen Sze, 4, looks for his parents just before his concert performance of “Big Ships” and “The Butterfly.”
PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES
Countess Gordon is congratulated by her mother, Yvette Spears, after playing “Yankee Doodle” and “Morning.”
Religious Services
STORMWATER, from page 8
on base Islamic
Prayer Room in Chapel 1 Annex Daily Prayer Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Prayer Service Friday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Jewish
Kiddush/Sabbath dinner Friday, 6 p.m. All are welcome. To RSVP and for location contact: Rabbi, Capt. Schechter at 240-671-2270 or sarah.schechter@us.af. mil. You can find a complete listing of Yom Kippur services in the National Capital Region through www.jewishindc.com.
Protestant
Sunday Services Chapel 2, Traditional Service 9 a.m. Base Theater, Contemporary Service 10 Gospel Service 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday Family Night at Base Theater Family meal 5 p.m. Christian Education and AWANA Kid’s Program 6 p.m.
Roman Catholic
Reconciliation by appointment, call 301-981-2111 Daily and Saturday Mass have been temporarily suspended. Chapel 1, 1345 W. Perimeter Road. Mass Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Chapel 2, 3715 Fetchet Ave. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) classes Monday, 6 p.m. For information, pastoral counseling and religious accommodation of all faith traditions call 301-981-2111 or visit the chapel office at 1345 W Perimeter Road.
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eling to determine the fee structure, said Jerry Maldonado, manager of the county’s water quality and compliance team. Homeowners would pay between $26.84 and a max of $62.38 annually depending on the development tier of their home. Those who can prove that the fee would be an economic hardship would be able to get an exemption, Ortiz said. For businesses, their fee would be based on a formula that charges $372 per acre of land plus an administrative fee of $20.58. Cost are expected to be about $124.89 for a convenience store on .28 acres of land and up to $12,000 a year for a shopping center spread across 32 acres, according to county documents. In 2012, the General Assembly passed House Bill 987, which allowed Prince George’s and eight other Maryland counties and Baltimore city to impose a fee to pay for the cost of stormwater management systems. The County Council is expected to discuss the new fees and program before its August recess, Ortiz said. The fees will help pay for a system that is expected to create about 50,000 water filtration structures across the county and involve as many as 5,000 workers in the
construction process, said Larry Coffman, DER’s deputy director. “We have a serious problem with flooding and wet basements, not only in Mount Rainier but across the area,” said Brent Bolin, a Mount Rainier councilman (Ward 2).”It’s an investment in our quality of life. If we build green infrastructure across the county, the county will both look better and work better.” To implement and maintain the new construction projects, the county is looking for a private business to partner to help create a new public-private agency, Ortiz said. While details have to be worked out, whatever company that would be created through this partnership would be expected to be based in Prince George’s or have a majority of its operations in the county, Ortiz said. As many as 1,500 people may be needed to maintain the system once the infrastructure is complete, Coffman said. Some residents expressed concern that the new fee would do more harm than good. “I don’t know how it would stimulate anything other than have people move away,” said Anne Kelly of Hyattsville. “The taxes here are very high, and if they increase it, I think it might make other people move away.” This story originally appeared in the June 18 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Andrews Gazette
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, June 21, 2013