THE GAZETTE
Page A-12
PEPCO
Continued from Page A-1 counties, is asking to increase its allowed rate of return for investors from 9.36 percent to 10.25 percent. Pepco’s request comes less than five months after the Public Service Commission raised the utility’s base rates and broke with precedent to grant it the
first tracker, or upfront surcharge, in the state. In July, the PSC granted Pepco $27.9 million of a $60.8 million rate increase request as well as $24 million of a $192 million request for a surcharge. Together, the decision tacked $2.47 a month on the average customer bill starting in July. Disappointing to both Pepco and its opponents, the July ruling is under appeal in Baltimore
MUSEUM Continued from Page A-1 It has artwork in every room, including sculptures and paintings, plus a Tree of Blessings, where people can share blessings or just give thanks. The museum also has a quiet room, where visitors meditate as long as they wish. In June 2012, the Meditation Museum organized the America Meditating initiative for Dadi Prakashmani Day, which honored a spiritual leader. According to Sister Jenna’s official biography, the initiative promotes awareness of personal empowerment and peace to increase harmony and a more vibrant America. She has devoted more than 20 years to meditation and relaxation techniques. She is the director of the Washington, D.C., branch of Brahma Kumaris, a worldwide organization with more than 8,000 branches in 120 countries. Kathy Satterley of Silver Spring, a certified life coach, met Sister Jenna in Miami and became intrigued with meditation. She was invited to lecture at workshops and found out there were many opportunities to serve people looking for empowerment and improvement in their lives. “We are all lifelong learners over here. We are constantly learning from each other,” Satterley said. Volunteers said first-time visitors have reported feeling peace when walking through the door and workshops often can generate emotions, leading people to identify the feelings they need to heal. “When people come in to the space, immediately they feel a sense of peace and calm. ... You come in here and it is a very peaceful and steady vibration because everybody that’s here is really working on them-
LIBRARY
Continued from Page A-1 ... we must first go to the County Council and provide material
ERVIN
Continued from Page A-1 Along with several other speakers, Leggett referenced Ervin’s direct way of dealing with issues. Ervin has been a friend and political supporter, but also one of his most vocal critics when they disagreed, he said. State Sen. Jamie Raskin (DDist. 20) of Silver Spring said
County Circuit Court. To Pepco’s critics, this latest request for more money is not surprising. Joseph M. Rigby, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Pepco Holdings Inc., told investors in November it would seek another rate hike. “It just seems to be endless,” said Abbe Milstein of Powerupmontco, a listserv for electric utility issues. “There seems to
selves,” Satterley said. Others have found in the museum the life answers they were looking for. Diamond Thorne, a real estate agent, said someone told her years ago that she needed meditation, but she never gave much attention to it. Then came a point in her life when, she said, “I was confused, really confused.” Thorne was attending a church in Takoma Park, but believed she was not getting the answers she was looking for — until one church member told her to visit the Silver Spring Meditation Museum. Thorne has been visiting the museum for almost three years and says it has changed her life. “I’ve been living for a long time and I had some answered questions like, ‘What was really going on?’” Thorne said. Khelan Dattani of Arlington Va., who works in the fast-paced financial industry, said that through positive thinking, people can change how they think about things. The meditation museum is not meant to be a place where people just sit and find peace. Dattani said the key is to find the right balance to find peace at home or work and come from that peace in actions. “That’s the training [and] that’s the study to really think about, what it is that is triggering my emotions,” Dattani said. Sister Jenna said that even politicians and corporate executives visit the museum to seek clarity on what to do next. “When the government shut down, a lot of people came as to find solace and to figure out what they should do,” she said. abarros@gazette.net
be no finality because the commission has no control here. The utilities are controlling the commission.” Milstein founded Powerupmontco after the June 2012 derecho left her neighborhood in the dark for eight days. If the past is any indication, a large portion of Pepco’s request should be rejected, Del. Heather Mizeur, a 2014 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said in a
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 s prepared statement. “Pepco’s return on equity should be tied to its performance and Pepco’s performance does not justify an increase,” said Mizeur (D-Dist. 20) of Takoma Park. “Marylanders deserve a commission that protects consumers and holds investorowned utilities accountable.” Even though Pepco’s rates have risen with each request, Montgomery County Council-
man Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda, an outspoken critic of the utility, noted that the commission has denied the lion’s share of what it asks for each time. Montgomery County has spent about $360,000 over the last four years fighting rate increases, county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said. kalexander@gazette.net
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Santosh Peraboina (right) of Silver Spring was among those attending a meditation workshop Friday at the Meditation Museum in Silver Spring.
terms and allow them to comment on our deal terms,” Ossont said. The same process is also required if the agency proposes the selling of any county prop-
erty for less than market value. “If we are going to sell the property for less than market value we must get explicit approval from the County Council. [The] county executive would
declare the land surplus from an executive order and that executive order must be approved by a resolution from the County Council,” Ossont added. The new library at the corner
of Fenton Street and Wayne Avenue has about 63,000 square feet planned, and is being funded by county funds and state grants with a total cost of $69.5 million, including the land purchase,
utility relocation, building construction, furniture, new books and permit costs, according to the project’s website.
he’s also been on both sides of conflicts with Ervin. But he praised her Tuesday for her passion, as well as her dedication to justice and solidarity. “Valerie Ervin is a justice politician,” Raskin said. Council President Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown said Ervin has been like a mother to him since he joined the council in 2010. Rice said he can’t thank her enough for all of the ways she’s
helped him be a stronger council member. Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring, who served with Ervin on the council and on the county’s Board of Education before that, said it was Ervin who first encouraged her to run for the school board. She said she’s happy that Ervin will be going on to another level with the new job. “I cannot think of anyone better than you to lead,” she said. Since the vacancy caused by Ervin’s departure is occurring
after Dec. 1 of the year before an election, no special election will be held, County Attorney Marc Hansen said Tuesday. The council will have 30 days to appoint a new member approved by a majority of the remaining members to serve out the rest of Ervin’s term, Hansen said. The new member will have to be a Democrat who lives in District 5, the same as Ervin, he said. If the council fails to act within 30 days, Leggett will appoint a candidate from a list provided by the county’s Dem-
ocratic Central Committee, he said. Silver Spring Democrat Evan Glass announced in November that he intends to run for the District 5 council seat. Ervin has been on the council since 2006, and served as president for the 2010-11 term. She serves as chairwoman of the Education Committee and as a member of the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. She also served on the Board of Education from 2004 until 2006. She has been a strong advo-
cate over the years for the poor, and was instrumental in making Montgomery the first in the country to have a countywide food recovery network. She called the food recovery network as one of her biggest achievements during her time on the council, as well as a program to provide meals over the summer for low-income children. Earlier this session, Ervin was a co-sponsor on a bill that will increase the county’s minimum wage to $11.50 an hour by 2017.
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