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THE GAZETTE
Thursday, June 19, 2014 bo
MIKE YOURISHIN/PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Eric Brown (left), the Prince George’s County director of housing and community development, and County Executive Rushern L. Baker III announce the winner of the county’s third annual house lottery at the county’s housing fair Saturday.
Second place is good enough for county housing lottery First-place winner declines prize to purchase District Heights home n
BY
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
Catherine Gantt said she was convinced that the house on Keystone Manor Court in District Heights would be her home. But when her name was not announced at the Prince George’s County housing fair as the winner of the house lottery Saturday afternoon, she said was devastated. “I had high hopes. I had my support team in place,” Gantt said. “I’ve never prayed so much in my life. I’ve dreamed about living in this home. I just knew it was mine.” So when the 36-year-old from Washington, D.C., got the call Tuesday morning that the lottery winner, Porsha Hartwell, decided not to accept the prize after a previous bid on another home was accepted, she realized her dream would come true. “I was just so excited. Tears just came down,” Gantt said. “Words can’t express how I feel. I’m just so glad.” Gantt is now the winner of
the county’s third house lottery, a raffle that gives eligible families the opportunity to purchase a renovated home in Prince George’s County with up to $30,000 in financial assistance. Gantt, who said she has spent more than a year looking for a home to share with her daughter, is looking forward to buying the home and hosting family get-togethers. “I’m happy to be able to share my home with the rest of my family,” Gantt said. “It’s not just a win for me, but a win for us.” Nine families applied to the contest, but only three families met requirements such as being first-time home buyers and being pre-approved by a lender for a $200,745 loan. Saturday’s housing fair, which was held at the Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, featured more than 50 exhibitors who provided prospective homeowners with information on borrowing loans, caring for their property and even furnishing their kitchens. Linda Raysor, 23, of Capital Heights attended the housing fair with her mother, Gwen Raysor, 53, also of Capital Heights. Linda Raysor, a registered nurse,
said she is planning to buy her first home and said an explanation of the home buying process from an M&T Bank representative was helpful. “A lot of times people don’t know what to do,” Linda Raysor said. “It’s good to be educated on it so when it’s time to purchase your home, you know what to do.” Margeau Gilbert, a Laurel based real estate agent, answered questions related to all aspects of home buying and ownership. She said this housing fair is a critical service for prospective homeowners. “These people are hungry for information,” Gilbert said. “They don’t know where to go or who to trust. This is a service that people need.” For renters like Sheila Baker, 54, of Largo, the housing fair is a chance to obtain all the information she needs to make her goal of homeownership achievable. “It can be an investment for me and a tax write-off,” Baker said. “With the many years you work on your job, you should be able to accomplish something like purchasing a home.” kpetersen@gazette.net
Sheriff’s summer academy kicks off Free sessions will be held in Temple Hills n
BY
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff is offering two sessions of its Deputies Assisting Youth Corps Summer Academy for middle school students in Temple Hills. During the D.A.Y. program, students will learn about etiquette, conflict resolution, bullying, gangs and substance abuse, said Sgt. Paul Washington, the director of the program. “Our goal is that once they leave our D.A.Y. Corps Summer Academy, they will have a better understanding of law
enforcement and just have a better idea of how to deal with conflicts that arise in their lives,” Washington said. The academy will feature guest speakers and field trips to the Air and Space Museum, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial and the Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. For Washington, the most rewarding aspect of the program is giving youth the opportunity to have new experiences, such as watching the honor guard at the air force base. “We enjoy that the kids can experience something they may have never experienced before, That gives us the most joy,” Washington said. The program is free and open for children ages 11 to 14. The first session of the academy
will take place June 30 through July 11 at Thurgood Marshall Middle School, 4909 Brinkley Road in Temple Hills. The second session will be held from July 21 to Aug. 1 at Benjamin Stoddart Middle School, 2501 Olson St. in Temple Hills. Both programs will be held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Each participant will also receive a free breakfast, lunch and snack. For more information on the summer academies, contact Sgt. Washington at 301-780-2574 or email pwwashington@co.pg.md.us. kpetersen@gazette.net
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